The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens. With Twelve Illustrations by S.L. Fildes, and a Portrait. London: Chapman and Hall, 1870.
FIRST EDITION OF DICKENS' FINAL NOVEL, BOUND FROM THE SIX ORIGINAL MONTHLY PARTS.
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Dickens would die before writing the seventh part and so only six parts were ever released and the mystery was never resolved, though much speculation exists to this day about the true conclusion intended by Dickens.
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Size: 145 x 218 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(i), vii, i, pp.[1]-190]
Rebacked half red calf over earlier red morocco. Spine shows very well and bright on the shelf with gilt compartments and a tooled title label. Joint very slightly rubbed with hinges internally reinforced thus both boards are securely attached and the binding is secure. Slight shelf lean but vertically stable. Earlier red morocco discoloured with minor loss. Minor shelf wear, corners without deformity. Top edge gilt, others very good. The binding is a little bowed. Original title page for the parts mounted to a front blank. With a pamphlet for a showing of The Mystery of Edwin Drood at The Theatre, Colchester in 1907 theorising a conclusion based on one of the plates. Some minor foxing throughout, occasionally heavier, with tissue guards for each plate. Collated as complete, additionally so with the title page for the original parts. Binder stamp of 'WP' dated 15th June 1906 at foot of rear blank.
