Lot 340
Dickens, Charles
Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts
Auction: Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts
Description
Great expectations. London: Chapman and Hall, 1861. Fifth edition [i.e. fifth issue], 3 volumes, 8vo, original violet wavy-grain cloth, stamped in blind on covers, lettered in gilt on spines, volume 1 title page and front free endpapers with small strip excised at head, free endpapers with ownership inscription dated 1923, occasional marks or small stain, head and tail of bindings worn
Footnote
Note: Smith, 14; Eckel p.91. The first issue in 3 volume form appeared on 6 July 1861, the fifth so-called edition (actually issue) on October 30th. The first five issues were probably printed at a single impression and published with altered title pages to imply and encourage a rapid sale. Some copies of all the first five issues did not contain catalogues. The rarity of the first issue has been attributed to the probable small binding-up of copies with the first titlepage, coupled with the fact that the first edition was almost entirely taken up by the libraries.