A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA

1860. An Extra Double Number of of All The Year Round. [New York: J. M. Emerson & Co., 1860.] Original self-wrappers, bound in at the rear of the February 1861 monthly issue, which has its own pale-yellow printed wrappers.

First American Edition, "published simultaneously in London and New York " (according to the front wrapper) -- of the second of the nine extra Christmas numbers of All The Year Round. Dickens actually wrote only the first, second and fifth chapters of A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA, the remainder having been written by his son-in-law's brother, Wilkie Collins. This was the second of the nine extra Christmas number of All The Year Round, of which Dickens was the editor. This is the only one of the nine annual numbers to be illustrated -- having on page 5 a woodcut of the actual "message from the sea." This example has the 48-page Extra Christmas Number bound in at the rear of the February 1861 monthly issue (which includes the weekly issues of January). Included in those weekly issues are the first two serial parts of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, the first of which leads off with the well-known "My father's family name being Pirrip...". Quite scarce -- much scarcer than the London edition. Very good condition (wear at the corners). Not in Podeschi (Yale) -- see E13; see Eckel pp 195.