In the Original Weekly Parts, The Most Scarce Version
Master Humphrey's Clock. by "Boz"
London: Chapman and Hall, 1840.
BROWNE, Hablot Knight, [illustrator]. CATTERMOLE, George, [illustrator]. Master Humphrey's Clock. by "Boz" London: Chapman and Hall, 1840.
Full Description:
DICKENS, Charles. Master Humphrey’s Clock. With Illustrations by George Cattermole and Hablot Browne. London: Chapman and Hall, 1840[-1841] [i.e., 4 April 1840-27 November 1841].
First edition, first issue, in the eighty-eight weekly parts. Large octavo (10 3/4 x 7 inches; 274 x 180 mm). [i-viii], [1]2-306; [i-v]vi, [1]2-306; [i-v]vi, [1]2-426. With all preliminary matter, 3 frontispieces, title-pages, prefaces for 3 volumes in parts 26, 52 and 88. Part 26 also with dedication page. With two frontispieces, 130 woodcuts, and twenty-five initials by Browne; one frontispiece and thirty-eight woodcuts by Cattermole; one woodcut each by S. Williams and Maclise.
Original white wrappers designed by Cattermole. Some parts with stab-holes. Wrappers generally fresh, some with a small amount of foxing or toning. Part 27 with a bit more toning to front wrapper. Part 40 with some toning and small ink spots to front wrapper. Some parts with covers tender at creases. Contemporary ownership signature to front wrapper of parts 1,18, 24 and 42. Part 25 with contemporary ownership signature on first page of text (pg. 289). A small unobtrusive contemporary bookseller sticker to the bottom of the front wrapper of parts 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62 and 63. Most parts are quite crisp and bright. An excellent copy overall housed in a full green cloth clamshell, spine lettered in gilt.
With previous owner, Dickens collector Harvey C. Knowles bookplate inside clamshell.
The first Dickens' work to be issued in weekly parts (it was also issued in monthly parts and as a three- and a one-volume work; the rarest issue being the weekly parts).
Eckel, pp. 67-8. Gimbel A49. Hatton and Cleaver, pg 163.
HBS 68828.
$3,500.
Price: $3,500.00
Item #68828