Books and Manuscripts

London: Richard Bentley, 1838. In three volumes. First edition, first issue. 8vo. Illustrated with 24 plates by George Cruikshank, including the "Fireside" plate ("Rose Maylie and Oliver") facing p. 313 in third volume. Full tan calf, stamped in gilt, green and black morocco spine labels, joints rubbed, corners lightly worn, scattered faint scratching to some boards; all edges gilt; marbled endpapers; by Bayntun; lacking ads at end of first volume and beginning of third volume; light foxing to plates (as usual). Smith I, 4; Eckel pp. 59-60

A handsome first edition of Dickens's second novel. "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...Dickens had Cruikshank design a new plate which retained the same title and showed Rose and Oliver standing before the tablet put up in the church to the memory of Oliver's mother. 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..." (Smith, Charles Dickens in the Original Cloth, Volume I, p. 35)