Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens with illustrations by Marcus Stone, published by Chapman and Hall in 1865.
FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION.
Two volumes bound into one half calf binding, handsomely rebacked. With 'pricipal' for 'principal' pp.115 volume two misspelling as required for the first impression.
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Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens, first published in 1865, tells the story of John Harmon, who is set to inherit his father's wealth, but mysteriously disappears before he can claim it. The novel follows a cast of characters including the Boffins, a wealthy couple who inherit Harmon's fortune, and the Lammles, a pair of con artists trying to climb the social ladder. Alongside the central mystery of Harmon's disappearance, the novel explores themes of social class, greed, and the corrupting influence of money. Our Mutual Friend is widely regarded as one of Dickens' most complex and mature works, featuring his signature vivid characterisations and sharply observed social commentary.
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Size: 148 x 217 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[xi, 320pp, viii, 309pp, i (advertisement)]
Rebacked half calf over marbled boards laying down an earlier backstrip with renewed gilt. Two volumes bound into one as often. Binding rubbed with the tooled label slightly short on the left side. A little wear to corners. Some discolouration to page edges with the most affected being the top as usual. Joints and hinges fine with both boards securely attached, the binding secure and with a slight shelf lean but not to the point of vertical instability. Collated as complete including the scarce advertisement leaf bound in at the rear. A few plates with repairs at edges throughout including the frontispiece as pictured. Stab marks to inner gutters as commensurate with being bound from the parts. Blindstamped bookseller stamp to frontis and title page. Text block mildly toned throughout, more so at extremities as typical, with the occasional small stain etc also as typical. Plates generally cleaner than typically found but do have some oxidation and occasionally very minor foxing. Some dampstaining to the frontis. Endpapers replaced with the rebacking.
