Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Four Uniformly Bound First Editions

(4) novels from Charles Dickens, all first editions in book form, with illustrations by H. K. Browne ("Phiz"), bound in half calf over marbled paper-covered boards, spines blind and gilt stamped with leather labels, all edges speckled. To include:

DOMBEY AND SON. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848. 8vo; xvi, [2 errata], 624pp. With earlier two-line errata leaf bound after p. xvi. Lacking half-title; with many of the internal flaws noted by Smith present and "the first published example of a so-called dark plate" on p. 547. (Smith I, 8)

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1850. 8vo; xiv, [2 errata], 624pp. Early issue with date on vignette title page as noted by Smith. Lacking half-title; with many of the internal flaws as mentioned by Smith present, and with the one dark plate on p. 482. (Smith I, 9)

BLEAK HOUSE. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1853. 8vo; xvi, 624pp. Lacking half-title; with nearly all the internal flaws as mentioned by Smith present, and with the (10) dark plates. (Smith I, 10)

LITTLE DORRIT. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1857. 8vo; xiv, 625, [1]pp. Early issue with signature 2B2 misprinted as B2; with nearly all the internal flaws as mentioned by Smith present, and with the (8) dark plates. (Smith I, 12)

Each 8 5/8 x 6 in.

From a Private North Carolina Collection

Boards with light scuffing, corners rubbed, light wear to spines, and occasional wear to edges; ownership signature and stamp of Robert Challis Bousfield; hinge cracking; text block with binding holes, occasional grime, stains, offsetting, light handling wear, and damp staining (concentrated on plates), and some toning and spotting throughout (typically heavy at endpapers, frontispiece, vignette title, and many plates); David Copperfield with a couple of small repairs; Little Dorrit with heavier handling wear, heaviest to leaves at signatures D and E, mostly consisting of tears and small losses at margins, and lacking one plate; Bleak House with slight warping to boards.