Sketches by Boz : illustrative of every-day life, and every-day people : the second series, complete in one volume. [Original Cloth]

London: John Macrone [from 1836], 1837. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine+. Second series" of this collection of short pieces of literary journalism that marked the launch of the young author's meteoric career. Crown 8vo (194 x 120mm): [4],viii,377,[1],]pp, with 10 steel-engraved plates (including frontispiece and vignette title page dated 1836) by George Cruikshank. Complete with catalogue of Macrone's publications, dated December, 1836. Page vi is misnumbered "viii;" list of illustrations gives "Vauxhall Gardens by Day" twice in error and omits final plate, "Mr. Minns and his Cousin." All required first edition points present, per Smith, who notes: "it does not appear possible to associate definitely early or late copies totally with states of the spine, endpapers (pale yellow or blue), location of the plates and whether or not they contain the volume number, the absence or presence of the list of illustrations, and internal flaws." Publisher's original moderate red morocco-grain cloth, covers bordered and decorated in blind with wreath centerpieces, black pigmented panels on spine lettered in gilt, yellow coated end papers. Blind-embossed in tiny type centered at foot of front cover: "Remnant & Edmonds, London" (see Ramsden, p. 121 and Jamieson, p. 11.) Housed in made-to-order folding box. Excellent original cloth (barely any lightening), plates moderately foxed (but mostly marginally so), pages generally clean, bright, and virtually free of foxing. Original spines very expertly relaid, retaining "dark pigments" for both lettering pieces. The fragile cloth makes this second series devilishly difficult to obtain in such collectible condition. Smith I: 2. Sadleir 700 Eckel pp. 12-13. First Edition of Dickens's rare first work (second series) in original cloth, introducing a major literary talent to Victorian England. In February 1836, John Macrone published Sketches by Boz, illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People, which came to be known as the "first series." This "second series" appeared in December. Sadleir ranked both series on his list of Dickens raities (although in our experience, the second series is now the more elusive.) "Dickens originally published most of the pieces collected under Sketches in a wide variety of newspapers and periodicals between December 1833 and December 1836, at the beginning struggling just to appear in print. . . . The appearance of 'Boz' as Dickens's pen-name (a corruption of a family nickname Moses, via Dickens's younger brother's mispronunciation) in one of these seven pieces, "The Boarding House", marked to a certain degree the young writer coming into his own. . . . " (Literary Encyclopedia) N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).