17 “It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times” 12DICKENS, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. London, 1859. Octavo, contemporary full green pebbled morocco gilt rebacked with original spine laid down. $13,500 First edition, first issue, bound from parts, of Dickens’ second historical novel, in nicely restored contemporary full morocco-gilt. “Dickens had always admired Carlyle’s History of the French Revolution and asked him to recommend suitable books from which he could research the period; in reply Carlyle sent him a ‘cartload’ of volumes… So great was [Dickens’] enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed ‘taken in possession’ of him… The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickens’ real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destiny” (Ackroyd, 858). With 16 engraved plates by H.K. Browne. Originally published as a serial in Dickens’ weekly journal All the Year Round, issued in eight parts from June to December 1859. Smith I:13. Interior quite clean and fine; corners rubbed, gilt bright. A nicely refurbished copy in handsome contemporary morocco-gilt. “A Clarity And Pungency That Surpasses The Rest Of His Work” 13DICKENS, Charles. Bleak House. London, 1852-53. Twenty parts in 19, as issued. Octavo, original blue paper wrappers, custom slipcase and chemise. $9500 Scarce first edition in original parts and wrappers, with 40 engraved illustrations by Hablot Knight Browne (“Phiz”), including ten dramatic “dark plates.” An excellent copy in original blue paper wrappers, with all but one advertisement present. “The Dickens cosmos, his phantasmagoric London and visionary England, emerges in Bleak House with a clarity and pungency that surpasses the rest of his work, before and after” (Bloom, 311). Ten of the 40 plates are Browne’s striking “dark plates,” deeply etched with a mezzotint-like chiaroscuro contrast (Hatton & Cleaver, 276-77). It is common with this work for several advertisements to be absent from the individual parts: in this copy, only one advertisement, in Part XVI, is absent. Small contemporary owner signatures on front wrappers of all but two of the parts. Plates and text in excellent condition, exceptionally fresh and clean; original wrappers with minor wear to spine ends and a few corners, spine to part XIV expertly restored. A beautiful copy.
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