“PLEASE, SIR, I WANT SOME MORE”: FIRST ISSUE OF OLIVER TWIST, 1838

DICKENS, Charles. Oliver Twist; Or, the Parish Boy's Progress. By "Boz" London: Richard Bentley, 1838. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary full purple calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, green morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom quarter morocco slipcase. $11,000.

First edition, first issue, of Dickens’ classic, with “Boz” title pages and 24 illustrations by George Cruikshank, including the canceled “Fireside” plate.

"When Bentley decided to publish Oliver in book form before its completion in his periodical, Cruikshank had to complete the last few plates in haste. Dickens did not review them until the eve of publication and objected to the Fireside plate which depicted Oliver at Rose Maylie's knee [Volume III, page 313]… Dickens had Cruikshank design a new plate [with Rose and Oliver in a church interior]… This Church plate was not completed in time for incorporation into the early copies of the book, but it replaced the Fireside plate in later copies… Dickens not only objected to the Fireside plate, but also disliked having 'Boz' on the title page. He voiced these objections prior to publication and the plate and title page were changed between November 9 and 16" (Smith, 35). First issue, with both the Fireside plate and "Boz" on the title pages. Bound with half titles in Volumes I and II only; with publisher's advertisements. Smith 4 (especially note 3). Eckel, 59-62. Podeschi (Gimbel) A27. Cohn 239.

Light foxing to interiors, spines evenly toned to brown. A handsomely bound, extremely good set of the scarce first issue.