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 attractively in half calf with marbled boards and page edges. With 'pricipal' for 'principal' p.115 volume two misspelling as required for the first impression [Smith 1.1].
Bound from the original parts with characteristic stab holes to inner margins.
BOUND WITH THE VERY RARE SLIP EXPLAINING THE TITLE!
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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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Condition:
Collated as complete, including the very scarce slip explaining the title, the half-titles, etc, with the exception of the publisher's advertisements which are not found in the two volumes as typical. Some wear to hinges but generally the bindings are very secure and firm. Some wear to extremities and rubbing to boards. Spines with minor wear but generally very good, both retaining the original tooled labels with bright gilt. Foxing to first and last collection of leaves, affecting half titles and title pages. Text block very clean, largely near fine with very minor sporadic foxing affecting a few pages. Plates largely without oxidisation but with foxing as typical, but nicer than usually found. Plates to volume two are generally cleaner than the first volume. Page edges VG.
A very good copy with the very scarce slip tipped in to pp.1 of the first volume.
