Our Mutual Friend, in the Original Monthly Parts: FIRST ISSUE of the Wrappers and FIRST ISSUE of the Text.
London [May 1864-November 1865]: Chapman & Hall. First Edition. Original Wraps. Item #09572
In the original monthly parts, 20 parts in 19. Original green printed wrappers; ALL wrappers are correct. ALL the ads, slips and Advertisers called for by Hatton & Cleaver are present, except for the rare ad "The Economic Life Assurance Society" following the plates in parts 14 and 19/20. FIRST ISSUE of the wrappers, without the imprint at the foot of front wrapper of part 1, and with the FIRST ISSUE TEXT, with the misspelling "pricipal" in part 14, page 115, line 38. Part 9 with the text UNOPENED. The plates are very good to fine; tissue guards are in place. Several spines are expertly and invisibly renewed. Small loss at spine end of parts 5 and 9. Light soiling to a few wrappers; small repair to front wrap of parts 2 and 6; small corner repair to rear wrap of part 19/20. Our Mutual Friend has more of the Advertiser ads than any of Dickens' other works, having 320 pages and 89 insets and slips in the rear of the parts. Altogether a lovely set, lacking just two (rare) ads and having the first issue points in the wrappers and text. Handsomely presented, and it has a pedigree - it is from the famed (Thomas) Hatton & Cleaver (bibliographers) collection. Housed in a handsome tan half leather slipcase, with chemise. Provenance: The Hatton & Cleaver Collection, The Heritage Bookshop, Charles Parkhurst Rare Books.
Price: $3,200.00