DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870). The Battle of Life. A Love Story. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846.
8vo. Half-title; engraved frontispiece and vignette title by John Thompson after Daniel Maclise, numerous wood engravings in text after Maclise, Leech, Stanfield, and Doyle; 2pp. publisher's ads at end. (Light marginal toning, occasional spotting, Dickens poster stamp mounted on front free endpaper.) Original red horizontally ribbed cloth, blocked in blind and gilt, gilt-stamped spine, all edges gilt (spine a bit darkened and slightly leaned, fore-corners rubbed, light soiling to covers); folding chemise and morocco-backed slipcase.
FIRST EDITION WITH THE RARE SECOND ISSUE VIGNETTE TITLE (Todd C2, Eckel 2), bearing “A Love Story” etched in viny letters on a scroll that is part of the plate not carried by a cupid, above the three-line publisher’s imprint, but with the letter “D” in “BRADBURY” broken. This second issue vignette was long thought to be the first issue until another issue was discovered. Only 3 copies are known to exist of the first issue, and the second issue “is becoming rather scarce and is rapidly rising in value” (Eckel). Ibid, pp.127-130; Sadlier 681; Smith II:8.
[With:] DICKENS. The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. London: Bradbury and Evans for Chapman and Hall, 1845. Half-title, 1p. advertisement, 13 illustrations including frontispiece and vignette title. (Some spotting.) Original decorated red cloth gilt; folding chemise and morocco-backed slipcase. FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE of the vignette title-page. Eckel pp.116-118; Smith II:5.
