[Literature] Dickens, Charles. Sketches by "Boz," Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People

London: John Macrone, 1836. In two volumes. First edition (with all of Smith's internal flaws, except on plate facing p. 329 in Vol. I and p. 287 in Vol. II). 12mo. Illustrated with two engraved frontispieces and 14 engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Publisher's olive green cloth-covered boards, stamped in gilt on spines, spines browned, soiling to rear board of Vol. I; all edges trimmed; yellow-coated endpapers; scattered spotting to text; light to moderate foxing to plates; wear in lower gutter at A2 in Vol. I; short closed tear, lower fore-edge E12 in Vol. II; in marbled paper-covered slip case. Smith I, 1; Eckel, p. 11

Together with:

Sketches by Boz: Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People. The Second Series
London: John Macrone, 1837. First edition, second issue (with printed list of illustrations; illegible commas on "The Free and Easy" plate; first page of Contents in 17 lines; "Vol. III" erased from bottom of each plate). 12mo. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, engraved vignette title-page, and eight engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Publisher's pink beaded cloth-covered boards, stamped in blind, gilt, and in brown, spine ends repaired (possibly rebacked), spine faded, boards unevenly faded, scattered light soiling and rubbing; all edges trimmed; yellow-coated endpapers; book-plates of William Marchbank (armorial), Kenyon Starling, and William E. Self on front paste-down; contemporary ownership signature on verso of title-page ("W.R. Wray"); foxing to plates, some offsetting from same onto text; in green cloth fall-down-back box. Smith I, 2; Eckel, pp. 12-13

A stunning set of Charles Dickens' first work to appear in book form. These short sketches first appeared in magazines, except for "A Visit to Newgate," "The Black Veil," and "The Great Winglebury Duel," and in the Second Series, "Our Next-Door Neighbours" and "The Drunkard's Death."

[Literature] Dickens, Charles. Sketches by "Boz," Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People