Dickens, Charles | A Tale of Two Cities, first book edition, in the original cloth

Dickens, Charles

A Tale of Two Cities. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859

8vo (223 x 141mm). 16 etched illustrations by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz") including frontispiece and additional title, early textual state with p. 213 mispaginated as 113; intermittent spotting, especially to plates and preliminary leaves, as usual. Publisher's red fine-diaper cloth, covers with three line border enclosing rectangular frame with chain-like design, spine gilt-lettered, pale yellow endpapers; gutters cracked, text block a little shaken, very faint sunning to spine, scattered soiling and staining.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..."

First book edition of one of Dickens's most popular novels (particularly in North America), his elaborate adventure story set during the second half of the eighteenth century and inspired by Thomas Carlyle's study of the French Revolution.

REFERENCES:

Smith I:13; Eckel pp. 86-90

PROVENANCE:

Isabella Fre--oth(?) (early ownership inscription to illustrated title) — A. M. Wolley Dod (presentation inscription to front free endpaper)