Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Description: hardback in original cloth Very Good octavo 624pp., Contains the first two books & chapters 1-9 of A Tale of Two Cities. Original blind-stamped green cloth with signs of wear, but tight & internally very good indeed. Owner's engraved bookplate on front paste-down. Scarce in original publishers' binding
Seller: Andrew Barnes Books / Military Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Price: US$676.30 + shipping
Description: Orig. green publisher's cloth, blocked in blind, spines lettered in gilt; a little rubbed, inner hinges split in places. Vol. I lacks leading f.e.p. The first appearance of A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations, complete, in the weekly issues. Also contains the first appearance of Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$990.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Tight binding in nice condition. Appears to have been rebound around 1900. Has some marks/stains on lower part of back-board. Not in book though. The binding is tight. There is some foxing in book but still very good. Illustrations intact in good condition. Some small discoulrstion on lower part of spine and boards. The errattas has been fixed so this is 2nd or 3rd impression. But first edition of a tale of two cities from 1859 is really hard to find.
Seller: Great and rare books, Uppsala, UPPLA, Sweden
DICKENS Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. , 1859.
Price: US$1024.69 + shipping
Description: First edition, second state. With 14 illustrations by H. K. Browne, frontispiece and title vignette. 8vo. viii, [2], 254 pp. Original green cloth, re-backed and repaired, gilt lettering to spine, and blind stamped to spine and boards. London, Chapman and Hall. In the scarce olive green secondary binding, which according to Smith are probably of a later state. Page 213 is correctly numbered which also indicates a later state. A fair copy, with a good deal of repair work, quite noticeable soiling to boards and fading and browning to spine, corners rubbed and a little frayed, plates a little toned and preliminaries spotted. Walter E. Smith, Charles Dickens in the Original Cloth, Part 2, 13.
Seller: Maggs Bros. Ltd ABA, ILAB, PBFA, BA, London, United Kingdom
Charles Dickens; Wilkie Collins. All the Year Round. Chapman and Hall 1859-1863, London, 1859.
Price: US$1024.69 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Eight volumes of Charles Dickens's literary periodical bound in six, and including the first publication of 'A Tale of Two Cities', and 'The Woman in White'. Consisting of eight volumes bound in six, running from volume I, number 1, April 30, 1859 to volume VIII, number 200, February 21, 1863.This Victorian periodical was founded and run by Charles Dickens, forming a direct successor to his 'Household Works' periodical, which was abandoned due to differences with the publisher. This journal hosted the serialisation of many prominent novels, and ran until 1895.Present here are the first eight volumes of the periodical - each retaining their volume title page - alongside the four Christmas numbers of 1859-1862.This set contains the complete first publication of Dickens's 'A Tale of Two Cities' consisting of thirty-one issues, from volume I, number one, April 30, 1859 to volume II, number thirty-one, November 26, 1859.Also present is the complete first publication of Wilkie Collins's 'The Woman in White', present in forty-four issues, from volume II, number thirty-one, November 26, 1859 to volume III, number seventy, August 25th, 1860.With the bookplate of D.B. Anderson to the front pastedown of volume I. In half calf bindings, with marbled paper covered boards. Externally, very smart, with fading to back strips and light minor rubbing to joints and board perimeters. Hinges of volume I, IV and V-VI strained, but firmly held. Front hinge of volume II strained to tail. Front hinges of volume III and VII-VIII strained and a touch tender. Bookplate to front pastedown of volume I. Internally, firmly bound, but with third leaf of volume I detached to tail. Pages lightly age toned, but generally clean and bright. Very Good
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Dickens, Charles. A Complete Set of the Nine Extra Christmas Numbers of ALL THE YEAR ROUND. , 1859.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Description: London: Office of All The Year Round / Chapman & Hall, 1859-1867. [In nine volumes.] Original self-wrappers (first four) and blue printed wrappers (last five) -- as issued. First Editions of all nine "Extra Christmas Numbers" of this periodical that Charles Dickens founded, and edited for its nine years of existence. (Previously he had likewise founded Household Words, which likewise lasted nine years -- and which has nine Extra Christmas Numbers as well.) In addition to editing these tales, Dickens also wrote a portion of them -- specifically (per Eckel): Christmas 1859: THE HAUNTED HOUSE. Dickens wrote "The Mortals in the House," "The Ghost in Master B's Room," and "The Ghost in the Corner Room," as well as most of the other opening paragraphs. Christmas 1860: A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA. Dickens wrote Chapters I, II and V, plus passages in the others; the rest is by Wilkie Collins. Christmas 1861: TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND. Dickens wrote Chapters I, VI and VII. Christmas 1862: SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE. Dickens wrote "His Leaving It Til Called For," "His Boots," "His Brown-Paper Parcel," "His Wonderful End" plus part of "His Umbrella." Christmas 1863: MRS. LIRRIPER'S LODGINGS. Dickens wrote Chapters I and VII. Christmas 1864: MRS. LIRRIPER'S LEGACY. Dickens again wrote Chapters I and VII. Christmas 1865: DR. MARIGOLD'S PRESCRIPTIONS. Dickens wrote Chapters I, VI and VIII. Christmas 1866: MUGBY JUNCTION. Dickens wrote "Barbox Brothers," "Barbox Brothers and Co.," "Main Line" and "No. 1 Branch Line." Christmas 1867: NO THOROUGHFARE. Dickens wrote the Overture, Act III, plus parts of Act I and Act IV; Wilkie Collins wrote the rest. As for condition, all nine issues are near-fine (the self-wrappers of the first four have some minor expert restoration; the latter five's blue wrappers are just about fine except for some small ink-drops on the fifth; the leaves of the 1864 and 1867 issues are unopened). It is very tough to assemble all nine of these in this condition. Podeschi (Yale) E11 + E13-E20. Housed in a handsome (though lightly scuffed) full-morocco case with inner chemise.
Seller: Sumner & Stillman [ABAA], Yarmouth, ME, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Complete Set of the Nine Extra Christmas Numbers of ALL THE YEAR ROUND. , 1859.
Price: US$1350.00 + shipping
Description: London: Office of All The Year Round / Chapman & Hall, 1859-1867. [In nine volumes.] Original self-wrappers (first four) and blue printed wrappers (last five) -- as issued. First Editions of all nine "Extra Christmas Numbers" of this periodical that Charles Dickens founded, and edited for its nine years of existence. (Previously he had likewise founded Household Words, which likewise lasted nine years -- and which has nine Extra Christmas Numbers as well.) In addition to editing these tales, Dickens also wrote a portion of them -- specifically (per Eckel): Christmas 1859: THE HAUNTED HOUSE. Dickens wrote "The Mortals in the House," "The Ghost in Master B's Room," and "The Ghost in the Corner Room," as well as most of the other opening paragraphs. Christmas 1860: A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA. Dickens wrote Chapters I, II and V, plus passages in the others; the rest is by Wilkie Collins. Christmas 1861: TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND. Dickens wrote Chapters I, VI and VII. Christmas 1862: SOMEBODY'S LUGGAGE. Dickens wrote "His Leaving It Til Called For," "His Boots," "His Brown-Paper Parcel," "His Wonderful End" plus part of "His Umbrella." Christmas 1863: MRS. LIRRIPER'S LODGINGS. Dickens wrote Chapters I and VII. Christmas 1864: MRS. LIRRIPER'S LEGACY. Dickens again wrote Chapters I and VII. Christmas 1865: DR. MARIGOLD'S PRESCRIPTIONS. Dickens wrote Chapters I, VI and VIII. Christmas 1866: MUGBY JUNCTION. Dickens wrote "Barbox Brothers," "Barbox Brothers and Co.," "Main Line" and "No. 1 Branch Line." Christmas 1867: NO THOROUGHFARE. Dickens wrote the Overture, Act III, plus parts of Act I and Act IV; Wilkie Collins wrote the rest. As for condition, all nine issues are near-fine (just some very minor wear to the edges, the last with a damp-mark at the top of the front wrapper); the fourth, eighth and ninth annual issues still have unopened leaves. The last one includes the loosely-inserted ad leaf for the Grand Christmas Number of the periodical "London Society." It is very tough to assemble all nine of these in this condition. Podeschi (Yale) E11 + E13-E20.
Seller: Sumner & Stillman [ABAA], Yarmouth, ME, U.S.A.
DICKENS Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. , 1859.
Price: US$1921.30 + shipping
Description: With illustrations by H.K. Browne. First edition, second state. 8vo. Original publishers primary binding of red cloth, board blocked in blind, spine in blind and gilt. London, Chapman and Hall. Endpapers possibly replaced at a very early date. Neatly recased, otherwise very little wear or soiling, with a small crease along the spine, beginning to crack, and corners slightly bumped with the very faintest hints of fraying on one or two. Page 213 has corrected numbering, i.e. second state, reading '213' rather than '113'. Plates very lightly foxed; text clean. Overall a very good copy. Podeschi A143. In a stout, functional leatherbound case.
Seller: Maggs Bros. Ltd ABA, ILAB, PBFA, BA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$2369.60 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form, attractively bound. Dickens's great historical romance, set during the French Revolution, remains one of his best-known and most widely read works. "In its tightly organized and highly romantic melodrama and the near-absence of typical 'Dickensian' humour and humorous characters, A Tale of Two Cities certainly stands apart from all his other novels" (ODNB). The novel was issued in monthly parts from April to November 1859 and serialized in Dickens's weekly journal All the Year Round in the same period, before publication in book form in November that year. Eckel, pp. 86-90; Gimbel A142; Hatton & Cleaver p. 331; Kremers, pp. 108-12; Smith 13. Octavo (216 x 135 mm). Recent red half morocco, dark green morocco label, marbled sides and edges. Engraved frontispiece, vignette title and 14 plates by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz). This copy with the secondary state of p. 213 correctly numbered and the secondary state of the list of plates without signature "b". A couple of minor blemishes to plates, far less pronounced than usual. An excellent copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$2687.50 + shipping
Description: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."A TALE OF TWO CITIES in All The Year Round, Volumes 1, 2 & 3 complete, Volume 1, April 30, 1859 thru Volume 70, August 25, 1860, lst ed., fine copies with near fine contents rebound in half leather with raised spines and leather labels with gold-gilt lettering. A nice set free from any foxing. The true first appearance in print of this most famous work. Also contains 6 installments of THE UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER & HUNTED DOWN complete by Dickens, 3 episodes of Eugà ne François Vidocq, An early essay concerning Darwin's NATURAL SELECTION & the first appearance in print of THE WOMAN IN WHITE (complete) by Wilkie Collins.
Seller: THE FINE BOOKS COMPANY / A.B.A.A / 1979, ROCHESTER, MI, U.S.A.
DICKENS, CHARLES. A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Chapman & Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$2991.91 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: pp: [vii]viii 6-254. FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE. Rebacked in full brown calf with gil trim, raised bands, title in gilt. Top edge gilt, and all edges trimmed. Blue paste down and endpapers, frontispiece with tissue guard. Preface dated November, 1859. Page 213 is corrected. Includes all plates by Browne called for. Overall, a very good copy with some rubbing along the edge of the boards. The text block has no foxing.
Seller: MAPLE RIDGE BOOKS, UXBRIDGE, ON, Canada
Price: US$3138.12 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Very attractive full set of 20 volumes, April 30th 1859- Nov. 28th 1868. All quarter bound in dark tan calf with marbled boards and original green grey endpapers.Owners name to volume One. No other names or inscriptions.Joints good and all volumes bright ,tight and clean. Includes 1st printing of Tale of two Cities and Great Expectations and Wilkie Collins Woman in White and The Moonstone.Heavy set ,will require extra posting.
Seller: Borderland Books, Llangollen, SELEC, United Kingdom
Price: US$3143.05 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Full title: "All The Year Round. A Weekly Journal. Conducted by Charles Dickens. With which is incorporated Household Words". Volume 1: April 30 - October 22, 1859 through to Volume 20: June 13 - November 28, 1868; 26 weekly issues in each volume. Represents all of series 1. Includes serialised first printings of Dickens' classics "A Tale of Two Cities" [first item in Volume 1] and "Great Expectations". Also serialised first printings of Wilkie Collins' mysteries "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone" . Initially published by Dickens out of Wellington St with later issues also published through Chapman and Hall. Volumes 2, 3, 7, 12, 14 contains ownership signature of GW [George Woodroffe] Goyder [esteemed South Australian surveyor; 1826-1898]. Some inscriptions include "Warrakilla" [Goyder's homestead in later life]. Cloth binding with gilt to the spine; varied brown to green in groups of between two and five Overall interior condition very good to good; overall cover condition good to fair. Faults include missing endpapers/title pages, pencil doodling to some endpapers, occasional loose pages, light foxing, worn extremities, split/separated hinges; semi-detached spines [more detail available on request]. Volume 11 lacks contents page and pages 1-2 [affected piece is "Quite Alone" by George Augustus Sala]; volume 13 lacks contents page. Overall a good solid set, rare in its entirety.
Seller: Orchard Bookshop [ANZAAB / ILAB], Adelaide, SA, Australia
DICKENS, Charles.. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman & Hall. 1859, 1859.
Price: US$3170.14 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, 2nd issue. Front., engr. title, plates by H.K. Browne, with the orig. front wrapper to Part I bound in preceding front.; prelims & titlepage v. sl. browned. Handsomely bound in contemp. full tan calf by Bickers & Son, London, gilt spine, triple-ruled borders & dentelles, red & blue-green morocco labels; v. sl. uneven fading on front board. Armorial roundel of R.D. Jackson. a.e.g. A very attractive copy. The second issue of the first edition, with the corrected pagination on p.213 and no signature on the list of plates.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
DICKENS, Charles.. A Tale of Two Cities.. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859, 1859.
Price: US$3202.16 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form, attractively bound. Dickens's great historical romance, set during the French Revolution, remains one of his best known and most widely read works. "In its tightly organized and highly romantic melodrama and the near-absence of typical 'Dickensian' humour and humorous characters, A Tale of Two Cities certainly stands apart from all his other novels" (ODNB). The novel was also issued in monthly parts from April to November 1859 and serialized in Dickens's weekly journal All the Year Round in the same period, before publication in book form in November that year. Eckel, pp. 86-90; Gimbel A142; Hatton & Cleaver p. 331; Kremers, pp. 108-12; Smith 13. Octavo (207 x 130 mm). Early 20th-century calf by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, spine lettered in gilt, gilt in compartments, triple gilt fillet to covers, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Engraved frontispiece, vignette title and 14 plates by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz). This copy with the secondary state of p. 213 correctly numbered and the secondary state of the list of plates without signature "b", not indicative of priority of issue (Kremers, p. 112). Spine a little darkened, very light rubbing at extremities, contents clean and fresh save for scattered very light toning and foxing. A very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
DICKENS, Charles.. A Tale of Two Cities.. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859, 1859.
Price: US$3522.38 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form, attractively bound. Dickens's great historical romance, set during the French Revolution, remains one of his best known and most widely read works. "In its tightly organized and highly romantic melodrama and the near-absence of typical 'Dickensian' humour and humorous characters, A Tale of Two Cities certainly stands apart from all his other novels" (ODNB). The novel was also issued in monthly parts from April to November 1859 and serialized in Dickens's weekly journal All the Year Round in the same period, before publication in book form in November that year. Eckel, pp. 86-90; Gimbel A142; Hatton & Cleaver p. 331; Kremers, pp. 108-112; Smith 13. Octavo (213 x 131 mm). Modern dark green morocco, spine with raised bands, gilt lettering in compartments, marbled endpapers and edges. Engraved frontispiece, vignette title and 14 plates by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz). This copy with the earlier states of p. 213 misnumbered "113" and the signature "b" on the list of plates, not indicative of priority of issue (Kremers, p. 112). Contemporary ownership inscription of one H. Snowden to head of p. 1. Intermittent and mainly marginal foxing to contents, sporadic marks, small tape repair to lower margin of one leaf, otherwise internally clean. A very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
DICKENS, Charles.. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman & Hall. 1859, 1859.
Price: US$4226.85 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, 1st issue, b.f.t.p. Front., engr. title & plates by H.K. Browne. Attractively bound in contemp. half maroon calf, spine gilt in compartments, brown leather label, marbled boards & e.ps; spine faded to tan, v. sl. rubbing to extremities. A v.g. exceptionally clean copy. The first issue, with the uncorrected pagination '113' on p213, and the signature 'b' printed on the list of plates.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman and Hall 1859, London, 1859.
Price: US$4483.02 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: ix, 254 pp., First Edition, First Issue. Bound by Bumpus in half red morocco with blue marbled boards, with all edges gilt and marbled endpapers. Binding firm with some minor scattered spotting but generally bright. Illustrated in black and white by H. K. Browne with the usual darkening and offseting to some of the plates. A First Issue of the First Edition with p.213 misnumbered p.113. 8vo. Illustrated
Seller: Foster Books - Stephen Foster - ABA, ILAB, & PBFA, London, United Kingdom
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman & Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition, first issue. Three quarter leather binding over marbled boards, with marbled endsheets. Light rubbing to leather at corners and fore edge. Previous owner details to prelim, with a short repaired tear. Pages sporadically foxed, a bit heavier to plates. The classic Dickens tale set during the French Revolution, with the iconic opening line "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Price: US$4537.50 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue; 8vo (220 x 150 mm); 16 engraved plates (including additional title and frontispiece) by Hablot K. Browne, very occasional light spotting to plates but in the main, unusually clean and bright; near-contemporary half-calf over marbled boards, matching endpapers and edges, worn and rubbed at extremities but sound; otherwise a very good copy indeed. A first issue with p. 213 mispaginated as 113 and signature 'b' on 'List of Plates' leaf and 'affetcionately on p. 134, line 12 With one of the most famous opening sentences in history, A Tale of Two Cities ranks among the novelist's finest, anatomising the conflict between democratic and aristocratic principles during the French revolution. An 'intensely cold mist' covers the land 'like an evil spirit'. After 18 years as a political prisoner, Doctor Manette is released and reunited with his daughter, the beguiling Lucie, who captivates the affections of two suitors, an aristocratic Frenchman named Darnay and the English lawyer, Carton. This tale of two cities (London and Paris) is also a tale of three lovers, with a plot-twist of self-sacrifice inspired by Wilkie Collins' play The Frozen Deep, in which Dickens acted. Epic in historical scale, it is also an intimate book, showing how the personal and political intermingle and what the causes and effects of violence are, including the struggle to retain one's sanity under systemic abuse. Dickens focuses throughout on two sets of relationships: between father and daughter, and between subject and state. Those facing the guillotine do not hope to gain the "pity of the people", but it is a measure of Dickens's skill that he makes us feel sympathy towards them. Eckel, pp.86-90; Smith I, pp. 96-98.
Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom
Charles Dickens. A Tale Of Two Cities. Chapman & Hall,, London:, 1859.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Description: First Issue Professionally re-backed preserving much of the original back strip and the blind embossed, red cloth covered boards with new end sheets. An octavo of 8 3/4 by 5 1/2 inches. Overall in very good plus condition with slight foxing to the engraved title pages. Page 243/244 has a 1 1/2" closed tear at the lower edge which has been repaired. The plate facing page 72 has been professionally reattached; however, its extreme lower edge is soiled. The top edge of the text block is soiled. 254 pages of text followed by the publisher's Catalogue of Books 32 pages dated November, 1859. With 14 plates and the frontispiece and the vignette titlepage by H. K. Browne ['Phiz']. The list of plates shows the signature letter "b", the page number error on 213 is present as is the misspelling of "affectionately" on page 134, line 12, all of which evidence this copy as a first issue. (Eckel p.86, Podeschi, A143; Smith 13)
Seller: Town's End Books, ABAA, Deep River, CT, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A TALE OF TWO CITIES [first edition, first issue]. Chapman and Hall: London, 1859.
Price: US$5175.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Illus. by H.K. Browne, 8.75 x 5.5", half green leather; marbled boards, 254pp, covers rubbed, some abrading to leather, extremities bumped, front endpaper through dedication page detached (but present), illus. toned and spotted; old (1860) ink ownership inscription at top of title page; a well-used copy of the FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE (with all points listed in Walter E. Smith's CHARLES DICKENS IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH). Housed in a two piece green cloth and marbled boards case.
Seller: John K King Used & Rare Books, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$5500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue of one of Dickens' most enduring works. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including frontispiece and title vignette. In very good condition, name to the front free endpaper. The most famous and possibly the most popular of Dickens's novels, A Tale of Two Cities shows a master of dramatic narrative extracting gold from the ore of history. If the bloody tableau of the French Revolution were not in itself sufficient for a dozen novels, Dickens added to it a professional resurrectionist, an authentic ogress, and an antihero as convincingly flawed as any in modern literature. âDickens had always admired Carlyleâs 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 âcartloadâ of volumes⦠So great was [Dickensâ] enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed âtaken in possessionâ of him⦠The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickensâ real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destinyâ (Ackroyd, 858). The last of Dickensâ books to be illustrated by H.K. Browne (âPhizâ), with 16 engraved plates by him. âBrowne, for 23 years responsible for all the etchings which had so successfully embellished these [Dickensâ] books, produced his last drawings for the present work⦠Bradbury and Evans, the printers of all and publishers of five of Dickensâ works as issued in monthly parts, had ceased to act in this dual capacity after completion of Little Dorrit⦠[resulting] in the return of Chapman and Hall as publishers of this and all succeeding worksâ (Hatton & Cleaver, 333).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$6500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue of one of Dickens' most enduring works. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. Sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including frontispiece and title vignette. The most famous and possibly the most popular of Dickens's novels, A Tale of Two Cities shows a master of dramatic narrative extracting gold from the ore of history. If the bloody tableau of the French Revolution were not in itself sufficient for a dozen novels, Dickens added to it a professional resurrectionist, an authentic ogress, and an antihero as convincingly flawed as any in modern literature. âDickens had always admired Carlyleâs 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 âcartloadâ of volumes⦠So great was [Dickensâ] enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed âtaken in possessionâ of him⦠The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickensâ real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destinyâ (Ackroyd, 858). The last of Dickensâ books to be illustrated by H.K. Browne (âPhizâ), with 16 engraved plates by him. âBrowne, for 23 years responsible for all the etchings which had so successfully embellished these [Dickensâ] books, produced his last drawings for the present work⦠Bradbury and Evans, the printers of all and publishers of five of Dickensâ works as issued in monthly parts, had ceased to act in this dual capacity after completion of Little Dorrit⦠[resulting] in the return of Chapman and Hall as publishers of this and all succeeding worksâ (Hatton & Cleaver, 333).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
DICKENS, CHARLES. A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Chapman & Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$6507.41 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: pp: [vii] viii-x [1]2-254. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Bound in full red calf with gilt trim, raised bands trimmed in gilt, title stamped in gilt. All edges trimmed in gilt. Held in matching red slipcase. The love theme triangle in the novel was likely inspired by a similar situation in 'The Frozen Deep', a play in which Dickens acted. Frontispiece and fourteen plates. Page 213 mis numbered as '113'. Gimbel A143. The 45-chapter novel was published in 31 weekly installments in Dickens' new literary periodical titled All the Year Round. From April 1859 to November 1859, Dickens also republished the chapters as eight monthly sections in green covers.The first weekly installment of A Tale of Two Cities ran in the first issue of All the Year Round on 30 April 1859. The last ran thirty weeks later, on 26 November. This was the last of Dickens' novels to be illustrated by Browne.
Seller: MAPLE RIDGE BOOKS, UXBRIDGE, ON, Canada
Price: US$6947.79 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Octavo : pp. (6) viii (1, list of plates) (1, blank) (1) 2-254 : 16 plates by H.K. Browne (Phiz) including frontis and vignette title : pale green e.p.s : half leather over marbled boards : five raised bands and gilt lettering to spine. Slight rubbing to boards; plates with occasional closed tears to edges, not affecting images; historical expert cleaning to some leaves; contemporary ownership signature. An exceptionally clean copy, handsomely bound. First edition, first issue, bound from the parts, of Dickens' second historical novel. It has proved one of his most enduring works - a tale of self-sacrifice set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. This was the last of Dickens' books to be illustrated by H.K. Browne ("Phiz"), with 16 plates engraved by him. "Browne, for 23 years responsible for all the etchings which had so successfully embellished these [Dickens'] books, produced his last drawings for the present work.Bradbury and Evans, the printers of all and publishers of five of Dickens' works as issued in monthly parts, had ceased to act in this dual capacity after the completion of Little Dorrit.[resulting] in the return of Chapman and Hall as publishers of this and all succeeding works" (Hatton and Cleaver, 333). Originally published as a serial in Dickens' weekly journal All the Year Round, issued in eight parts from June to December 1859. First issue, with page 213 misnumbered and the signature mark "b" on the List of Plates and all other first edition points as called for. [Smith I:13; Hatton and Cleaver 333-42; Gimbel A143].
Seller: Archives Fine Books (ANZAAB, ILAB), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman, 1859.
Price: US$7000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A very good, first edition, first issue, rebound in leather, with all first issue points. As Hatton and Cleaver note in their bibliography, A Tale of Two Cities has "practically no 'points' sufficiently outstanding to distinguish the earlier printings." However, both H&C and Smith agree that copies with the misprint on page 213 corrected and lacking the signature "b" on page ix are decidedly second printings. This copy has the first issue points. Foxing, all plates and some pages have been inserted. All plates and pages are present, except no publisher's catalog, which is not present in all copies. Housed in custom-made collector's cloth slipcase.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$7500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue of one of Dickens' most enduring works, with p. 213 misnumbered "113," the signature mark "b" at the foot of the plate list, and the misspelling "affetcionately" on line 12, p. 134. Octavo, bound in three quarters leather over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers. Sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including frontispiece and title vignette. In near fine condition. Ownership signature. The most famous and possibly the most popular of Dickens's novels, A Tale of Two Cities shows a master of dramatic narrative extracting gold from the ore of history. If the bloody tableau of the French Revolution were not in itself sufficient for a dozen novels, Dickens added to it a professional resurrectionist, an authentic ogress, and an antihero as convincingly flawed as any in modern literature. âDickens had always admired Carlyleâs 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 âcartloadâ of volumes⦠So great was [Dickensâ] enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed âtaken in possessionâ of him⦠The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickensâ real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destinyâ (Ackroyd, 858). The last of Dickensâ books to be illustrated by H.K. Browne (âPhizâ), with 16 engraved plates by him. âBrowne, for 23 years responsible for all the etchings which had so successfully embellished these [Dickensâ] books, produced his last drawings for the present work⦠Bradbury and Evans, the printers of all and publishers of five of Dickensâ works as issued in monthly parts, had ceased to act in this dual capacity after completion of Little Dorrit⦠[resulting] in the return of Chapman and Hall as publishers of this and all succeeding worksâ (Hatton & Cleaver, 333).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman and Hall, London, Great Britain, 1859.
Price: US$7500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a first edition, rebound copy, with slipcase. There are 14 illustrations in black and white. Book has gilt on top edge with previous owners name on end paper. Appears signature is very old. A nice, clean copy of a great piece of literary history. A rebound, clean copy of a literary piece of history. Slipcase
Seller: Pandora's Books, Riverside, CA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859.
Price: US$7500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Original maroon cloth covers, rebacked with matching leather spine. With Illustrations by H.K. Browne. 1859. First edition, second state with title-page still dated 1859 but with corrected pagination on page 213 and no signature "b" on the list of plates. Octavo. [i-vii]viii[ix-x], [1]2-254 pp. Sixteen inserted plates, including frontispiece and vignette title, by Browne ['Phiz']. From the silk manufacturing family empire of George Courtauld, signed and dated 1859 by George Courtauld (unclear if the father or the son) on the front free endpaper, and with the bookplate of (son or brother) Sydney Courtauld on the front pastedown. A vestige of British history. Far more desirable with the original cloth instead of the far more common complete rebinding. Housed in a custom-made collector's slipcase.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles; Browne, H. K.. A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$8000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition in book form of this classic story of love and the weight of family history set during the French Revolution, one of Dickens's best-known works. First issued in serial format like most of Dickens's novels, A TALE OF TWO CITIES features a setting that "had been [Dickens's] historical favorite for many years." He reportedly "entered the mental and mechanical work" of writing the story "with great spirit" (Eckel, 86). Dickens began TALE shortly after starring in the Wilkie Collins play THE FROZEN DEEP, which features the familiar theme of a love triangle in which one member sacrifices himself for the good of the remaining two. TALE has been adapted for stage, screen, and radio numerous times, with the villainous Marquis St. Evremonde being played by Basil Rathbone and Christopher Lee. This is an attractive copy of the beloved novel, with all of Smith's first issue points present. Octavo, 8.5'' x 5''. Full 19th-century green polished calf boards with gilt thistle cornerpieces dentelles, brown spine label. Skillfully rebacked, with original spine laid down, renewed endpapers. All edges. gilt. Illustrated with engraved frontispiece, pictorial title page and 14 full-page plates (16 total). Page 213 misnumbered 113 and all other textual points for the first edition listed by Smith. Bound without list of plates and publisher's catalogue. viii, 254 pages. Binding with light edgewear, corners a touch bumped. Tiny dampstain to upper gutter of frontispiece and pictorial title page. Leaves with scattered foxing, mild offsetting from plates to facing pages; the first 30 pages standing a bit proud. Tight.
Seller: Type Punch Matrix, Silver Spring, MD, U.S.A.
Dickens Charles. A TALE OF TWO CITIES. London Chapman and Hall 1859, 1859.
Price: US$8250.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, First Issue with p. 213 mis-numbered 113 and signature b to the list of illustrations leaf and the required mis-spelling at p. 134. With 16 illustrations by H. K. Browne, including a frontispiece and vignette title page. 8vo, very handsomely bound in antique three-quarter tan calf, the covers with fine marbled paper over the boards, the spine elaborately decorated within panels gilt tooled at the borders and with central gilt ornamental pieces between raised bands, lettered in gilt on contrasting maroon and brown morocco lettering labels, l blue marbled endleaves, a.e.g. viii, list of plates, 254pp. A fine and very handsome copy indeed, the prelims with some browning from long ago. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. TALE OF TWO CITIES ranks amongst the most famous works in the history of literary fiction. It is one of only two works of historical fiction by Charles Dickens and stands out from most of Dickens's other novels as the one containing the least humour. That is not surprising, as the historical context of the novel, the French Revolution and Reign of Terror, were a bit bleak to allow for the wackier characters Dickens is known for. This fact has in no way impacted the novels popularity, it has never been out of print and by the start of the 21th century had sold an estimated 200 million copies worldwide.
Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$8800.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue of one of Dickens' most enduring works, with p. 213 misnumbered "113," the signature mark "b" at the foot of the plate list, and the misspelling "affetcionately" on line 12, p. 134. Octavo, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, panels decoratively triple-ruled in gilt with gilt floral cornerpieces, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Sixteen plates after H.K. Browne including frontispiece and title vignette. In near fine condition. The most famous and possibly the most popular of Dickens's novels, A Tale of Two Cities shows a master of dramatic narrative extracting gold from the ore of history. If the bloody tableau of the French Revolution were not in itself sufficient for a dozen novels, Dickens added to it a professional resurrectionist, an authentic ogress, and an antihero as convincingly flawed as any in modern literature. âDickens had always admired Carlyleâs 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 âcartloadâ of volumes⦠So great was [Dickensâ] enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed âtaken in possessionâ of him⦠The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickensâ real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destinyâ (Ackroyd, 858). The last of Dickensâ books to be illustrated by H.K. Browne (âPhizâ), with 16 engraved plates by him. âBrowne, for 23 years responsible for all the etchings which had so successfully embellished these [Dickensâ] books, produced his last drawings for the present work⦠Bradbury and Evans, the printers of all and publishers of five of Dickensâ works as issued in monthly parts, had ceased to act in this dual capacity after completion of Little Dorrit⦠[resulting] in the return of Chapman and Hall as publishers of this and all succeeding worksâ (Hatton & Cleaver, 333).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities [First Edition in Parts]. Chapman and Hall, 1859.
Price: US$10995.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: A complete set of the first edition in original parts, housed in a stunning full plum morocco solander case, 'spine' with raised bands and elaborate gilt floral tooling. First edition of the original 8 parts issued in 7 numbers. Octavo. [i-vii], viii, [ix-x], [1], 2-254 pages. 16 inserted plates by Phiz. Original green printed wrappers, designed by Phiz. Wrappers correct except: back pf Part V supplied from a Dorrit; front of VII/VIII is actually doctored from a Part I, and back of that number is from a Dorrit. In Part III the called-for 'Morrison's Pills' ads is replaced with the 'Morisonian Monument' ad (as it often shows up). Part V wants its 'Advertiser' and slip to follow (and has a superfluous ad for Waterlow). Part VII/VIII lacks the rarely seen Cornhill ad and substitutes several more common ads. Otherwise matches Hatton & Cleaver. Page 134 line 12 has the first issue misspeling 'affetcionately'. List of Plates lacks the signature 'b' (a later state). The set show quite well with little soiling, it has some tears, nicks, wear, and less paper restoration that one would expect. Text and plates are clean and bright, and the text is partly unopened. A TALE OF TWO CITIES was issued in book form November 21st, 1859. This issue in parts is one of the rarest works in Dickens' canon, and marked the end of his working relationship with Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne). Hatton & Cleaver pp. 333-342.
Seller: Arundel Books, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
DICKENS, CHARLES. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman & Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$11000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Full Hunter Green morocco leather gilt. Gilt ruled 6 times on front and rear panels with olive branch decorations. Spine with 6 compartments and elaborate gilt. Gilt dentelles with 8 gilt ruled panels over patterned endpapers. Followed by marbled pages front and rear. All edges gilt. All by MARIUS MICHEL and so signed. Housed in cloth slipcase consisting of the original red cloth binding. Conforms to Major 1st ed 1st printing points of page 213 printed 113 and letter b at bottom of plate list. Some wear along joints. Darkening of leather on spine. Mild foxing to front blanks but text remarkably clean. A beautiful copy of one of the Dickens favourties. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall
Seller: Contact Editions, ABAC, ILAB, Toronto, ON, Canada
Dickens, Charles.. A TALE OF TWO CITIES.. Chapman and Hall: London, 1859.
Price: US$11500.00 + shipping
Description: 8.5 x 5.25, full gilt ruled crushed gold morocco with raised bands; aeg, SIGNED BINDINGS BY BAYNTUN-RIVIERE, 254 pp + List of Plates, covers a little rubbed, hinges a little loose, pp toned with a little finger soiling else a finely bound beautiful copy of the FIRST ED with "affetcionately" on p 134, missing "lf" on p 166, and "113" on p 213.
Seller: John K King Used & Rare Books, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.
DICKENS, CHARLES.. A Tale of Two Cities. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859, 1859.
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition; first binding; publisher's maroon cloth; 32 page publisher's catalogue (not present in all copies); owner's 20th century ink notation on the front free endpaper; hinges and spine archivally mended (not rebacked or recased); some foxing; a very good copy. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing with the First issue point with page 213 misnumbered "113." The book is bound in the publisher's ORIGINAL red cloth with NO restoration. The binding is tight with some wear to the spine and boards. The book has the inserted frontispiece with the decorative title-page and fourteen other inserted plates. Includes yellow half-sheet slip inserted between pages two and three announcing "Discontinuance of Household Words" and its merging with All the Year Round. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in book. A wonderful copy housed in a custom clamshell slipcase for preservation.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Price: US$13500.00 + shipping
Description: . A Tale of Two Cities. With Illustrations by H. K. Browne London: Chapman and Hall, 1859. Full Description: DICKENS, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. With Illustrations by H. K. Browne London: Chapman and Hall, [June-December] 1859. First edition, first issue, in the original eight numbers, bound in seven monthly parts. Octavo (8 5/8 x 5 1/2 inches; 220 x 140 mm). [i-vii]viii[ix-x], [1]2-254. (No half-title called for.) Sixteen inserted plates including the frontispiece and the vignette title. Set collates complete, with the exception of Part V which is lacking all ads, and part VI only has one of the two leaves of the back advertisement. With the often-seen substitution of the Morison "Monument" ad for the Morison "View" ad in Part III, as in all other copies we've been able to trace. Also present is the scarce advertisement in the final part for Thackeray's The Cornhill Magazine, rarely present. Text is first issue with p. 213 showing "113", "affectionately" misspelled on page 134 and the List of Plates bearing signature "b." Original blue printed wrappers. All spines have been neatly renewed. Some light dust soiling to parts wrappers. Text is generally very clean. Plates with some occasional toning. The top of the front wrappers of parts II, III, V and VI are trimmed close, just touching the boarder and the date on part III. The front advertiser is occasionally trimmed close along the top margin. Parts II, V and VI with previous owner's old ink signature on front wrapper. Part II with some fraying along edges of front wrappers and along the blank fore-edge margin of the two plates. Bottom edge of of wrapper of Part III lightly frayed. Part V with some darker soiling front front wrapper. Still overall, a very good set. Housed in a chemise and a full green morocco clamshell. A Tale of Two Cities marks the final collaboration of Phiz and Dickens, as well as Dickens' return to Chapman and Hall. It is one of the rarer novels in parts. The serialization in All the Year Round ran weekly from 30 April to 26 November, with the book being published on 21 November. 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 âcartload' of volumes.Apparently Dickens read, or at least looked through, them all; it was his aim during the period of composition only to read books of the period itself, and so great was his enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed âtaken possession' of him.Dickens's knowledge of the French Revolution was strengthened by Carlyle's wonderful history, which had appeared twenty-two years before.According to Carlyle's biographer, Froude, Dickens carried with him everywhere a copy of A History of the French Revolution at the time of its publication in 1837.Certainly some episodes from A Tale of Two Cities are established upon Carlyle's own narrative.Carlyle's history may also have prompted Dickens's use of hidden documents which play so large a part in the working out of his plot.in A Tale of Two Cities Dickens took from Carlyle what he needed and then refashioned it in the light of his own highly idiosyncratic or immediate preoccupations with imprisonment, with rebirthâ"and, more particularly, with self-sacrifice and the renunciation of love.The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickens's real sense of transcendence, from his ability to the sweep of destiny" (Peter Ackroyd, Dickens, pp. 858-868). A Tale of Two Cities was first serialized in Dickens's periodical All the Year Round, from April 30-November 26, 1859. Its appearance in monthly parts (June-December 1859) and book form mark Dickens's return to his old publishers Chapman and Hall, after a long stay with Bradbury and Evans. The extremely large audience for the novel in All the Year Round, however, left less than the usual demand for the parts issue and, at first, for the book, both of which are now quite rare. This title also marks the author's final collaboration with "Phiz," Dickens's most evocative and most sympathetic illustrator. Hatton and Cleaver, pp. 333-342. HBS 69014. $13,500.
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$17611.88 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION, 1st issue. Front., engr. title & 14 plates by H.K. Browne; sl. browned. Bound from the parts in original red morocco-grained cloth, blocked in blind, spine lettering in reversed out of gilt. Endpapers early replaced with similar pale yellow paper. Armorial bookplate of William Edward Kelly. A very well-preserved copy in custom-made cloth box. Smith I, 13; with all the issue points attributed by him to the first issue, including the uncorrected pagination '113' on p213, and signature 'b' on the list of plates ('omitted. in later copies'). This copy is bound without the catalogue, which Smith says appeared 'in some copies'. A Tale of Two Cities is probably the most difficult Dickens first edition in cloth. This copy has slight marking to the back board; there is slight rubbing but it is v.g. - and probably as good as it is possible to obtain. From the library of William Edward Kelly of St. Helens, Westport, County Mayo.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman and Hall, 1859.
Price: US$20000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: London Chapman and Hall, 1859. Beautiful First edition, First Issue in the Original Red Cloth DICKENS, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. With Illustrations by H.K. Browne. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859. First edition, first issue in the primary binding. Octavo 8 3/4 x 5 9/16 inches; 222 x 141 mm. [i-vii] viii [ix-x], [1] 2-254; Sixteen inserted plates, including frontispiece and vignette title, by Browne ['Phiz']. All eight of Smith's internal flaws necessary for the first issue present, including page 213 misnumbered 113. Publishers primary binding of deep red sand-grain cloth, covers stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt. Edges uncut. Cloth on boards is still a rich red. Housed in a full leather decorated red morocco clamshell case. An excellent copy. A Tale of Two Cities was first serialized in Dickenss periodical All the Year Round, from April 30-November 26, 1859. Its appearance in monthly parts (July-December 1859) and book form mark Dickenss return to his old publishers Chapman and Hall, after a long stay with Bradbury and Evans. The extremely large audience for the novel in All the Year Round, however, left less than the usual demand for the parts issue and, at first, for the book, both of which are now quite rare. This title also marks the authors final collaboration with Phiz, Dickenss most evocative and most sympathetic illustrator. Smith I, 13. Hatton and Cleaver, pp. 333-342.
Seller: Bookbid, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$22500.00 + shipping
Description: Original printed wraps with near-invisible restoration to some spines. A Near Fine, largely unopened copy, with occasional marginal foxing or offsetting from the plates. First printing with p. 213 numbered 113 (and the other points in Smith), but without signature "b" on the list of illustrations. Complete with all sixteen etched plates by "Phiz" and all advertisements called for in Hatton & Cleever (including the scarce Thackeray ad for Cornhill Magazine), plus an additional sixteen pages of ads in parts VII and VIII not mentioned in the bibliography. Housed in a custom slipcase with chemise bearing the bookplate of Michael Sharpe. Published in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is considered one of the greatest of Dickens' works and contains one of the most recognizable openings in the English language: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Originally released in parts, after its completion A Tale of Two Cities became (and still remains) one of the most widely read novels in history, selling over 200 million copies to date. The book follows events in London and Paris around the time of the French Revolution, and Dickens used Thomas Carlyle's history of the French Revolution as both a source and inspiration. A complex novel of opposites and foils, its exploration of national and individual identity, selfish and selflessness, love and sacrifice has inspired countless operas, musicals, and films including a 1935 movie nominated for Best Picture.
Seller: Whitmore Rare Books, Inc. -- ABAA, ILAB, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities.. Chapman and Hall June-December 1859, London, 1859.
Price: US$25000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue of one of Dickensâ most enduring works, with p.213 in part 7/8 mispaginated "113", and signature mark 'b' present on List of Plates at end, etched frontispiece, additional title and 14 plates by "Phiz" (Hablot K. Browne). Octavo, original blue-green wrappers. Complete with all the advertisements called for by Hatton & Cleaver, and the two rare slips in parts 1 and 5. Includes three variant issues of part 1, one with Morison's 'premises' advert, the second with Morison's 'lion' advert, and the third with the rare French version of the Morison's 'lion' advert. In near fine condition. A scarce and desirable complete set in original parts. Housed in a custom folding clamshell box. The most famous and possibly the most popular of Dickens's novels, A Tale of Two Cities shows a master of dramatic narrative extracting gold from the ore of history. If the bloody tableau of the French Revolution were not in itself sufficient for a dozen novels, Dickens added to it a professional resurrectionist, an authentic ogress, and an antihero as convincingly flawed as any in modern literature. âDickens had always admired Carlyleâs 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 âcartloadâ of volumes⦠So great was [Dickensâ] enthusiasm for the story that it had indeed âtaken in possessionâ of him⦠The force of the novel springs from its exploration of darkness and death but its beauty derives from Dickensâ real sense of transcendence, from his ability to see the sweep of destinyâ (Ackroyd, 858). The last of Dickensâ books to be illustrated by H.K. Browne (âPhizâ), with 16 engraved plates by him. âBrowne, for 23 years responsible for all the etchings which had so successfully embellished these [Dickensâ] books, produced his last drawings for the present work⦠Bradbury and Evans, the printers of all and publishers of five of Dickensâ works as issued in monthly parts, had ceased to act in this dual capacity after completion of Little Dorrit⦠[resulting] in the return of Chapman and Hall as publishers of this and all succeeding worksâ (Hatton & Cleaver, 333).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. Chapman and Hall, London, 1859.
Price: US$25000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing. This is the TRUE FIRST EDITION with the First issue point with page 213 miss-paginated. The publisher's catalog is present and dated November 1859. This copy is SIGNED by Charles Dickens on a laid in check dated 1859, the same year this book was published. A wonderful UNRESTORED copy bound in the ORIGINAL publisher's Red Cloth. The binding is tight with light wear to the boards. The pages are clean with minor discoloration to the endpapers. There is NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a lovely copy of this First Edition SIGNED by the author. We buy Charles Dickens First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.