Master Humphrey's Clock by Charles Dickens. With illustrations by George Cattermole and Hablot Browne. London by Chapman and Hall, 1840-41.
-------------------
Master Humphrey's Clock is a collection of short stories and sketches written by Charles Dickens, published in 1840-41. The book is presented as a framing narrative, with the eponymous character Master Humphrey inviting friends to gather around his clock and share stories with each other. The collection includes a range of stories, from humorous sketches to poignant tales of human suffering and redemption. Some of the most famous stories from the collection include The Old Curiosity Shop, which tells the story of a young girl and her grandfather who fall on hard times and are pursued by a villainous loan shark, and Barnaby Rudge, a historical novel set against the backdrop of the Gordon Riots of 1780. The stories in Master Humphrey's Clock showcase Dickens' mastery of character and his ability to weave together multiple plotlines to create a rich and engaging narrative.
-------------------
First Edition Points, According to Smith I. :
Volume One:
- pp.25 line 1, no comma after "Humphrey". (Present)
- pp.39 line 2, "d" in "had" is slightly raised. (Present)
- pp.42, 18 lines up, words closely spaced. (Present)
- pp.82 lines 3 & 7, words closely spaced. (Present)
- pp.83 lines 11, 35, 36 & 38, words closely spaced. (Present)
- pp.84 line 14, words closely spaced. (Present)
- pp.114 last line, words closely spaced. (Present)
- pp.119 line 10, words closely spaced. (Present)
- pp.128 4 lines up, "deessed" for "dressed." (Present)
- pp.145 8 lines up, "accomodation". (Present)
- pp.152 line 15, no hyphen in "To-day". (Present)
- pp.165, "poney" a few times on the page. (Present)
- pp.193, no period after part number (17). (Present)
- pp.195 11 lines up, "in noce ntly". (Here "innoce ntly")
- pp.220 16 lines up, punctuation potentially missing after "however."
- pp.232 6 lines up, no hyphen in "good-bye." (Present)
- pp.239 line 11, "arangements". (Present)
- pp.257 line 3, "bad e". (Present)
Volume Two:
- pp.3 line 1, no dot over "i" in "evinced." (Present)
- pp.28 line 13, raised period after "fro".
- pp.80 3 lines up, no period after "violently", in some copies only. (Present)
- pp.82 line 15, period low after "him". (Present)
- pp.107 last line, single quote after "myself". (Present)
- pp.113 5 lines up, apostrophe potentially missing in "That's".
- pp.119 19 lines up, no end quotes after "beer". (Present)
- pp.128 line 8, "intructions". (Present)
- pp.129 2 lines up, no quates before "Ah." (Present)
- pp.193, no period after part number (43). (Present)
- pp.205, no period after part number (44). (Present)
- pp.215 18 lines up, no spacing between "surelywander". (Present)
- pp.217 line 17, period high after "Mr." (Present)
- pp.240 line 3, spacing in "u nlike". (Present)
- pp.243 14 lines up, "ro ute." (Present)
- pp.259 12 lines up, "makin g". (Present)
- pp.278 line 7, "s" slightly high in "others". (Present)
- pp.293 line 7, "wa s." (Present)
Volume Three:
- pp.27 15 lines up, period potentially missing after "exultingly". (Present)
- pp.28 line 1, dot may be missing over "i" in "in." (Present)
- pp.42 3 lines up, semicolon after "up-stairs" and comma after "another". (Present)
- pp.133, chapter heading "Thirty-Fiftth". (Present)
- pp.215 line 15, comma after "England." (Present)
- pp.322 line 20, "atime". (Present)
Size: 176 x 257 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(2), frontis, t.p., iii-iv, 2pp., 306pp., (2)]; [(2), frontis t.p., v-vi, 306pp., (2)]; [(2), frontis, t.p., v-vi, 426pp., (2)].
Three volumes, each in an individual slipcase which are all housed in a large box imitating three spines. Half black morocco over marbled paper backed boards with gilt titles in compartments to the spines between raised bands lined with gilt. Bindings rubbed and scuffed. All boards attached with minor wear to joints and hinges. Shelf and edge wear. Page edges toned. Most leaves are loose in the bindings. Text blocks very clean with light toning and occasional foxing and marks. Top part of the front blank in all volumes has been cut out, probably to excise a former ownership inscription. Small edge tear to pp.11/12 in volume one. Marbled paper to the rear board of volume two attached with creases and slightly too far inwards on the outer side. Marbled paper partially detached from blanks. Small marks to individual slipcases. Main slipcase box rubbed and scuffed. Top corner of pp.9/10 in volume two torn. Individual slipcases numbered in ink on the inside, and the slots in the large slipcase box are numbered on the inside. A very attractive set.
[Smith I., 6].
