I ILLINOIS

Production Note

Digital Rare Book Collections
Rare Book & Manuscript Library
University of Illinois Library at
Urbana-Champaign
2018

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS 0F DICKENS

WILKINS

 

 

 

 

 

 

FI RST AND EARLY AMERI CAN ED ITIONS
OF THE WORKS OF CHARLES DICKENS

 

 

 

 

BLEAK H©MSE¢;

(GEARLIES IDIIQKIENfi

——-—.—.—._

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. K. BROWNE.

———-——-—_

NEW YORK:

HARPER &- BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
329 & 331 PEARL STREET,
(FRANKLIN saunas.)

 

 

 

[See page 29]

 

First and Early American Editions
of the Works of Charles Dickens

BY

WILLIAM CLYDE. WILKINS

PRIVATELY PRINTED
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
NINETEEN HUNDRED TEN

 

    

Two Hundred Copies Printed

THE TORCH PRESS
CEDAR RAPIDS
IOWA

 

FOREWORD

there was printed an article by the writer, having

the same title as this little book. The article was
incomplete, being based only upon editions in his own
collection at the time it was written. He has since
then added largely to his possessions, and has received
further information on the subject from fellow col-
lectors of Dickensiana, Which has enabled him to make
the description of Early American Editions reasonably
complete, and he hopes that it may be of aid to those
admirers of Charles Dickens who may wish to include
these early editions in their collections. He has also
added some information relating to American parodies
and imitations of Dickens’s works, as well as some
American anthologieal publications of Dickens which
have not been published in England, and has also
included a few notes on complete editions which are
interesting from the fact that instead of having the
original illustrations, they are illustrated by American
artists.

IN the number for J uly, 1907, of “The Diekensian”

‘_‘F-

 

 

FIRST AND EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS
OF THE
WORKS OF CHARLES DICKENS

opinion that the writings of the young author,

whose work was just beginning to attract the
attention of the English reading public, might also
become popular with the American readers, was the
01d Philadelphia firm of Carey, Lea & Blanchard. This
firm was the first to publish any of Dickens’s writings
in this country, and the success with which the venture
met was soon taken advantage of by other publishers
in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, with the re-
sult that there was considerable rivalry as to which
firm would print the first American edition of the
several works of the great writer. In what £0110st
the writer has endeavored to describe as fully as
possible the various first and other early American
editions.

THE first American puinShers to conceive the

Pickwick Papers. The first of Dickens’s works
to be published in America was “Pickwick,” which
was reprinted by Carey, Lea & Blanchard in five
volumes 121110., with board sides, brown cloth back and
paper labels. Each volume included four of the orig-
inal parts, without illustrations.

7

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. .0

 

 

   

   

CHARLES DICKENS

Preceding the title page of the first volume is a
page containing extracts from several English maga-
zines and newspapers, headed by the following:

ADVERTISEMENT

In bringing before the American readers, “The
Pickwick Papers,” the publishers cannot introduce
them with a better description of their future, than
the following from the London Examiner and other
periodicals. The author, under the fictitious name of
Boz, is Mr. Charles Dickens, whose series of sketches
of “Watkins Tottle,” “Tuggs at Ramsgate,” “Life of
Mr. Tulrumble,” “Oliver Twist,” etc., has acquired
for himself a. high place in the ranks of comic liter-
ature.

The same firm published a new edition in 1838
which was crown oetavo in size, printed in double
columns, having nineteen full page illustrations, en-
graved on steel by J. Yeager, reproducing some of the
extra illustrations issued in England by “Alfred
Crowquill” and “Sam Weller,” seven by the former
and twelve by the latter artist, in addition to which
the title pages by these two artists were re-engraved
on steel. The engraving is excellently done, in fact
with a technique equal to that of the original plates.

On May 10, 1867, Mr, Henry C. Lea, writing to
Mr. Geo. W. Childs with reference to the above publi-
cation by his old firm, said:

In November, 1836, Carey, Lea & Blanchard ven-
tured to reprint the first four numbers of the immortal
“Pickwick.” The author was then unknown, and the
enterprise a doubtful one; so the edition printed from
type was only 1500 copies, and the numbers were
issued at the price of 45 cents, in one volume, in thin

8

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

duodeeimo shape, bound in boards, with which all
readers of old novels are doubtless familiar. The
venture was successful, and by December, 1837, when
the fifth and concluding volume was published, the
edition had been materially increased, while small
quantities of the earlier volumes had been reprinted,
and two rival and cheaper editions had been started
in New York. The only advantage which the author
derived from this publication, beyond the reputation
which the name “Boz” acquired in this country, was a
remittance of 50 pounds, made to him in 1838 by the
house in acknowledgment of the success of his work.
That success had led in 1837 to the publication of the
collected “ Sketches by Boz,” of Which but 1250 copies
were printed. This does not seem to have been a
fortunate undertaking, for I find no trace of another
edition being called for until many years afterward,
when we included it in a collected edition of the works.

Mr. Lee’s memory, in looking back thirty years,
must have been at fault, for, as will be seen, there were
no less than four editions of the “Sketches” pub-
lished by his firm, the 12mo., the monthly parts, the
cloth bound octave, and the cheap octave edition in
boards.

J ames Turney of New York, in 1838, published
an edition of “Pickwick” in twenty-six parts in green
paper covers, the size of page, type, and design of
cover being identical with the original English edition.
It contained the same number of pages, 609. It was
later issued complete, bound in cloth.

There were, however, several issues of the bound
volume, all bearing the same date, 1838, but there
were several variations in the different issues, which
make them practically diiferent editions. The writer

9

 

 

CHARLES DICKENS

has seen three copies which vary from each other. The
first has on the title page “With 54 illustrations by
Seymour, Phiz and Crowquill.” It contains repro-
ductions of all the original Seymour and Phiz plates
and also the two by Buss, Which shows that the reprint
must have been made from early copies of the original
parts. There are in addition reproductions of nine
of the extra Crowquill plates. The frontispiece and
engraved title pages are reproductions of the ones
done by Phiz for the first English edition. A second
copy has on the title page “With illustrations by
Crowquill,” no reference being made to Seymour and
Phiz, although it contains eighteen of the Phiz, three
of the Seymour, and only seven of the Crowquill
plates. The frontispiece is a reproduction of the title
page of the extra plates by “Sam Weller.” A third
copy With the same title page has only twelve Phiz,
two Seymour, and five Crowquill plates, While the
frontispiece is a beautiful steel engraving 0f the Law-
rence portrait of the author. It also contains the
dedication to Talford and the preface to the first
edition, Which are not contained in the other copies.
It is printed on much thinner paper, and the writer
is inclined to think it is a later issue than the other
two, although, as noted above, all bear the same date.

“Pickwick” was also issued by W. H. Colyer,
New York, in 1839. It was a two volume 12mo., bound
in boards With cloth backs and paper labels, and con-
tains reproductions of a few of the original illus-
trations. It is very similar in form to the Lea &

10

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

Blanchard five volume 121110., but it is printed in much
smaller type.

Sketches. Carey, Lea & Blanchard published in
1837, in two volumes, the first series of Sketches under
the title “Watkins Tottle and other Sketches Illus-
trative of Every Day Life and Every Day People,”
and also in the same year a reprint in one volume of
the second series, under the title “The Tuggs at
Ramsgate and Other Sketches, etc.,” the contents
being the same as the first English edition, except
that they were preceded by “The Tuggs at Rams—
gate” reprinted from “The Select Library of Fic-
tion.” There had evidently been an earlier issue, as
there is an “Advertisement” on the first page, which
says:

The rapid sale of the volume containing “The
Tuggs at Ramsgate” by Boz, and the demand for a
second edition of his second series of “ Sketches,” has
induced the publishers to combine one with the other
in this volume and add thereto “The Pantomime of
Life.”

These books were all 12mo., With board sides and
brown cloth backs with paper labels, were without
illustrations, and were the first American editions.

In 1838 the same firm published a new edition in
ten monthly parts, each number containing two plates
from the English edition redrawn by Yeager from
the Cruikshank plates which were beautifully done.
Like the original edition it was octavo in size but
printed in double columns. the covers being blue paper,
With the original cover design redrawn by N. J ohnson.

11

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:
;

CHARLES DICKENS

In 1839 a new edition was published, being the month-
ly parts with plates, bound in a single volume with
black cloth binding, and containing an “Advertise-
ment” stating:

This American Edition contains “ The Public Life
of Mr. Tulrumble” and “The Pantomime of Life” by
Boz—Sketches published by the author since the
above (English) edition was issued.

They also published a cheap edition in the same
type but With two plates only, which was bound in
brown boards with blue cloth back and paper labels.
This was the first publication in book form containing
“The Pantomime of Life.”

Tales and Sketches. The publication of “Pick-
wick” and “Sketches” was evidently so successful,
that later in the same year, 1837, Carey, Lea & Blanch-
ard published two new volumes uniform in style with
their first edition of Pickwick, on the title page of
Which they placed the name of “B02,” although each
volume contained only one article by Dickens. The
full title of the first volume was “Public Life of Mr.
Tulrumble, once Mayor of Mudfog, by Boz, with
other Tales and Sketches from Bentley’s Miscellaney
and The Library of Fiction.” It contained the Tul-
rumble artich and six other articles from Bentley’s
and three from “The Library of Fiction.” The sec-
ond volume bore the title “Oliver TWist—or the
Parish Boy’s Progress by Boz, with other tales, etc.”
It contained simply the first two chapters of “Oliver
Twis ” and twelve other articles from Bentley’s, one

12

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

of which was a single chapter of S. Lover’s “Handy
Andy.”

Oliver Twist. Probably the first publication of
any part of “Oliver Twist” in this country was in the
second volume of “ Tales and Sketches” previously re-
ferred to, published in 1837 by Lea & Blanchard, but
as stated it contained only the first and second chap-
ters as published in the English “Bentley’s Maga-
zine,” beginning, “Among other public buildings in
the town of Mudfog.” What may be called the first
American edition of the entire work is that which
appeared in the American reprint of Bentley’s, pub-
lished in New York by William Welker and Jemima
Welker. The first volume of the reprint was really
the third volume of the English edition, and the first
number, published in J anuary, 1838, began with Chap-
ter 20 of Book First of “Oliver Twist.” The previous
chapters were, however, issued in June, 1838, as a
supplement to Volume One, and the final chapter
appeared in the number for April, 1839. As the text
was the same as that in the English Bentley’s, which
is absolutely the first English edition, so the American
reprint must be looked upon as the first American
edition, although the complete separate volume edi-
tions, referred to below, were probably published
shortly after the appearance of the three volume edi-
tion, which was published before its completion in the
magazine. The original Cruikshank plates which were
redrawn by Dick were exceedingly well done, and
some Which do not have the Dick signature might
almost pass for the original Cruikshank plates.

13

 

  

 

CHARLES DICKENS

In 1838 Carey, Lea & Blanchard published the
first number of an edition in parts. It consisted of
all the chapters that had been printed in Bentley’s
Miscellany up to and including Chapter Fifth, Book
Second, and contained reproductions of the first
twelve Cruikshank plates, Which were not signed by
the artist who copied them, although the plates on the
remaining numbers have the signature J . Yeager. The
remaining numbers up to Chapter Fifth, Book the
Third, were reprinted monthly from “Bentley’s,” but
the balance of the chapters were reprinted from the
first complete three volume edition which was issued
in London in November, 1838, some four months
previous to its completion in the magazine. This is
shown by the fact that the last paragraph of the
Fifth Chapter of Book the Third begins “With many
adieus and good Wishes, etc,” which paragraph is
not found in the text as printed in the magazine, but
is in the three volume edition. It also contains the
cancelled “Fuende Plate” which is only found in
early issues of the three volume edition. The last
part appeared early in 1839, but before it appeared
the new firm issued the complete work in two 12m0.
volumes without illustrations, similar to their first
edition of Pickwick. This edition was evidently got-
ten out to forestall the Colyer edition published in
New York. It is rather amusing to note that even in
1839 a publisher would “fake” in as unblushing a
manner as will some of the present day publishers, as
the following in V01. One of this edition will show:

PUBLISHERS NOTICE—A large portion of
14

 

  

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

the last part of Oliver Twist having been sent to the
publishers in manuscript, they hasten to place before
the public the work in the present form, at the same
time, they have to regret that the illustrations by
Cruikshank, were not ready to accompany the manu-
script from London. On their receipt, no delay Will
take place in laying the remainder of the illustrated
edition before the public.

That this edition was reprinted from the original
three volume edition is shown by the fact that Chap-
ter I begins “Among other public buildings in a
certain town, etc.” and in volume one of the 12mo.
edition is the announcement of the “New Work by
Boz —~ Barnaby Budge” Which is also in the first
volume of the original three volume edition.

The illustrated octave edition, bound up from the
parts, was issued in 1839 in one volume bound in black
cloth, and in 1842 a new edition was issued containing
“The Author’s Introduction to the Third Edition.”
These illustrated editions contain the plate entitled
“Rose Maylie & Oliver” generally known as the “Fire-
side” plate, Which appeared only in the first issue of
the English three volume edition. The beginning of
the first chapter was, however, changed to read the
same as the three volume edition.

In 1839, Wm. H. Colyer, New York, published an
edition in one 12m0. volume, bound in boards similar
to the 121110. Philadelphia edition, but containing Four
of the Cruikshank illustrations, one being a specially
engraved title page containing the Cruikshank draw-
ing “Oliver Claimed by His Afieetionate Friends.”

15

 

  

 

CHARLES DICKENS

The plates are well done, and although not signed by
the artist they look very much like the “Yeager”
plates in the Lee & Blanchard editions. The text of
this edition was evidently taken from Bentley’s Maga-
zine, as it begins with “Among other public buildings
in the town of Mudfog,” instead of “In a certain
town.” ‘

J as. Turney, J11, of New York, also published an
edition in parts, with green paper covers, the design
of which was copied from Cruikshank’s engraved title
page of the second series of “Sketches by B02,” pub-
lished by John Macrone in 1836. The writer has
never seen the complete issue in parts, but is enabled
to reproduce the cover design through the courtesy
of Dr. Dudley Tenny, of New York, who has in his
collection one of the covers.

There was also an edition published in Boston
by Lewis '& Sampson, 8v0. in size, 314 pp., with an
engraving after the Lawrence portrait, and also with
reproductions of the Cruikshank illustrations. The
writer is unable to state the date of the first edition,
but the fourth edition is dated 1844.

Memoirs of Jos. Gm’maldi. In 1838, Carey, Lea
& Blanchard published the “Grimaldi Memoirs” in
two 12m0. volumes without illustrations in the same
style as their first edition of “Pickwick.” There was
an edition published in New York having the same
date, but the Philadelphia edition is usually listed in
the book—sellers’s catalogue as the first American edi-
tion.

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EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

Nicholas Nickleby. In 1838, Carey, Lea & Blanch-
ard began the issue in parts of Nicholas Nickleby,
which was completed in 1839 by Lea & Blanchard, the
successors of the old firm. It was published in twenty
parts, the last being a double one (19 and 20), the
covers being yellow and having the same cover design
by Phiz as in the original English edition. Each
number contained two Phiz plates redrawn by Yeager,
who was equally as successful in the reproduction of
the Phiz drawings as he was with those of CruikShank.

Jas. Turney, Jr., of New York, in 1838-9, also
issued Nicholas Nickleby in parts. Like the Pickwick
of the same publisher, the covers were green paper
with the same design as the English edition. Each
number contained the original Phiz illustrations en-
graved on steel with the Phiz signature, but not signed
by the artist who made the reproductions. The entire
work was issued in 1839 in one volume, having for a
frontispieee the Lawrence portrait of “Boz” also used
in one of the Turney editions of Pickwick.

Another edition was published in New York by
Wm. H. Colyer, 104 Beekman Street, in 1839. It was
a two volume 12m‘0., bound in boards with cloth back
and paper label, similar to the same publisher’s “Pick-
wick,” “Oliver Twist,” etc. Each volume contained
a, frontispiece after one of the Phiz drawings, and a
specially engraved title page, that of volume one being
illustrated by the Phiz drawing, “The Internal Econ-
omy of Do-the-boys Hall,” and volume two by “A
sudden recognition Unexpected on Both Sides.”

Old Curiosity Shop. Lea & Blanchard published
17

 

  

 

CHARLES DICKENS

the “Old Curiosity Shop,” including all the matter
of “Master Hunphrey’s Clock,” in monthly parts in
1841-2. The last number contained the preface and a
list of illustrationswwhich were all weed out reproduc—
tions of the illustrations in the original edition. It
was royal 8vo in size, printed in double columns, as
in the illustrated “Pickwick” of the same publishers.
There were two title pages, one reading “The Old
Curiosity Shop and Other Tales by Charles Dickens,”
and the other “Master Humphrey’s Clock by Charles
Dickens (Boz),” the date on both being 1841. There
was also a frontispieee engraved by J . Yeager, which
is a reproduction of the one in the first volume of the
English edition. The writer’s copy is bound up from
the original parts, and does not contain any of the
wrappers, but they were probably the same as for
“Barnaby Rudge,” described later. Shortly after the
completion of the issue in parts there was issued an
edition with the same date7 complete in one volume,
bound in black cloth. In addition to the wood cuts
there were nine engravings and a. title page by Yeager
after the designs of some of the extra illustrations
prepared by T. Sibson for the English edition. There
were two title pages the same as in the edition in parts,
except that the names of the illustrators were given
as “Cattermole, Brown & Sibson,” while the former
edition said, “With numerous illustrations by George
Cattermole and Hablot Brown.” These extra illus-
trations were also sold separately with printed cover
for insertion in the first edition. There was also a
cheap edition of the same date Without the extra

18

 

  

EARLY AMERICAN EDITION S

plates, bound in boards, with cloth back and paper
labels.

Another edition bearing the original title of
“Master Humphrey’s Clock,” was published in New
York by Wm. H. Colyer, in 1843. It consisted of all
the matter in the original edition down to the begin-
ning of “Barnaby Rudge.” It was a two volume
121110., bound in boards, with cloth backsand paper
labels, and contained no illustrations. The writer
possesses a curious copy printed from the same plates
as the Colyer edition, bound in one volume, bearing the
imprint “Richard March, 354 Pearl St, New York,”
and illustrated with wood cut reproductions of some
of the plates of Dombey & Son.

Barnaby Budge. Lea & Blanchard, 0f Philadel-
phia, published “Barnaby Rudge” in nineteen (19)
parts, some containing the contents of two and some
of three of the weekly parts of the original English
edition, and With the same design on the white paper
wrappers. The size was royal octave, printed in
double columns, the printed page being the same size
as the other Dickens novels previously published by
the same firm. It contained wood cut reproductions
of the original Cattermole illustrations, which were
fairly well done. rI‘he second page of the wrappers of
Nos. 17 and 18 contains the address “To the Readers
of Barnaby Rudge,” dated “London, September
1841,” which was printed in Nos. 80, 81, 82 and 83
0f the English edition, and N0. 19 has the same ad-
dress and the “Postscript” dated November, 1841,
published in Nos. 87 and 88 0f the original edition.

19

 

  

 

CHARLES DICKENS

The wrappers all have the date 1841, but the title page
issued With the last numbers is dated 1842. On the
completion of the work in parts it was issued in a
single cloth bound volume, With the addition of six-
teen beautifully engraved reproductions of some of
the extra plates issued in England by Francis Sibs'on,
and a specially engraved title page.

In the same year the work was issued by E. Lit-
tell & 00., of Philadelphia, as 21 “Supplement to the
Museum of Foreign Literature and to the Spirit of
Magazines.” It was the same size as the Lea &
Blanchard edition, in double columns, Without illus—
trations and bound in boards with brown cloth back
and paper label. It contained no illustrations.

W. H. Colyer, of New York, also published in
1843 an edition similar in form and make-up to “Mas-
ter Humphrey’s Clock,” described above. It was in
two 12m0, volumes, board sides, cloth back and paper
labels, Without illustrations.

In 1842 all the Lea & Blanchard 8V0. editions,
previously referred to, were issued in twenty weekly
parts, price twenty-five cents each. The covers were
green paper, With the following title:

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

THE
COMPLETE WORKS
OF

CHARLES DICKENS
(BOZ)
CONTAINING
THE PICKWICK PAPERS;
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY;
OLIVER TWIST;
SKETCHES 0F EVERYDAY LIFE;
THE CURIOSITY SHOP
With wood cuts;

AND
BARNABY RUDGE,
With wood cuts.

EMBELLISHED WITH
A PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR
DONE ON STEEL,
AND SEVERAL ILLUSTRATIONS ENGRAVED
BY YEAGER.

PUBLISHED BY

G. L. CURRY & 00., 167 BROADWAY, N. Y.

SAXTON & PIERCE, 133 WASHINGTON San, BOSTON.

N. HICKMAN, 86 BALTIMORE STREET, BALTIMORE.

GODEY & MCMICHAEL, 101 CHESTNUT Sax, PHILA.
1842.

21

‘ mg‘flg ."7, .1 ‘{

 

 

   

 

CHARLES DICKENS

Each number contained one of the Yeager illus-
trations mentioned in the foregoing descriptions of
the Lea & Blanchard oetavo editions, while the “01d
Curiosity Shop” and “Barnaby Budge” contain all
the wood cuts in the text of the original editions.
While the green covers do not have Lea & Blanchard’s
imprint, the title pages of some of the works con-
tain their imprint alone.

Picnic Papers. In 1841, Lea & Blanchard pub-
lished the first two volumes of “The Picnic Papers,”
the third volume not being reprinted, the publishers
in a note following the preface 0f the English edition
saying:

The volume alluded to above contains the “Char—
coal Sketches.” written by our fellow townsman, Neal,
it being a copyright volume, it is of course not re—
printed among these papers. Its notice by the author
of Pickwick Papers Will no doubt extend in this
country, the circulation of Mr. Neal’s Sketches.

The two volumes were 12mo, printed and bound
in the same style as the first edition of this firm’s
‘ ‘ Pickwick. ”

American Notes. The first American edition of
“American Notes” was that published by Wilson &
Company, New York, as an Extra N umber of “Brother
J onathan.” It is a small quarto, 0f forty-six pages,
being six and one-half by nine and one-half inches
in size. It bears the date November 7th, 1842, and
under the title is printed “First American Eedition. ”

In connection with this edition, Mr. R. Shelton
22

  

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

McKenzie says in his “Life of Charles Dickens” that
he sent Mr. Dickens copies of two American news-
papers “Brother J onathan” and “The New World,”
and that

Mr. Dickens’s recollections of “Brother J onathan”
were not pleasant. In 1842 after the first visit to the
United States, the late Mr. Isaac 0. Pray, previously
editor of the “Boston Pearl,” was in London, con-
ducting a cheap evening paper, so very liberal in its
politics that even the chartists thought it went too
far. By application of What is figuratively known as
“oil of palm” he obtained proof sheets of the “Amer-
ican Notes,” from some pressman in Bradbury &
Evans’ printing office, and sent them to Boston, in
advance of the English book, in two volumes, the sell-
ing price of Which was twenty—one shillings. Mr. Dick-
ens had made arrangements for the reproduction of
a. fae-simile edition for America, but before the leg—
itimate advance sheets arrived, the entire book was
circulated throughout the United States in a double
number of “Brother Jonathan” for six cents. Of
course this took the bloom off Mr. Dickens’s peach.

The manner in which the publishers of “Brother
J onathan” obtained the proof sheets in England makes
it certain that their claim of publishing the “First
American Edition” is well founded. The last page
contained an advertisement which is interesting from
the fact that it shows a facsimile of an American $50
note in circulation in 1842.

Mr. J . Winchester, publisher of “The New
World,” of New York, printed an edition bearing the
date, November, 1842, as a supplement to his paper,
of which the author has a copy in his collection. It

23

 

 

CHARLES DICKENS

was also a small quarto, in two parts, the printed
page being six by ten inches, in double columns.

Harper & Brothers, of New York, also published
an edition in November, 1842. It was an octave
pamphlet, 92 pages, printed in double columns, with
brovm paper covers.

Martin Chuzzlewit. In 1844 Harper & Brothers,
of New York, published “Martin Chuzzlewit” in seven
parts. At the top of the first page of the cover was
printed “To be completed in seven parts at 61,41: cents,
each part containing three parts of the English Edi-
tion with two steel etchings.” The size was the same
as the English edition and the covers were blue with
a reproduction of the Phiz cover design, The four--
teen reproductions of the Phiz plates were of equal
merit with those done by Eager for the Philadelphia
editions of other works of Dickens, previously de-
scribed.

Mr. William H. Demarest, an employe of Har-
per’s, says that the sale of the work in numbers was
chiefly by newsboys 0n the street, and that on one
occasion when the store was crowded with the boys
meeting for the delivery of the number, Mr. J ames
Harper, a member of the firm, made a speech to them.

Lea & Blanchard, of Philadelphia, also published
an edition of “Martin Chuzzlewit,” as Mr. H. C.
Lea in the letter previously quoted said:

We authorized our London Agent to pay for Mar-
tin Chuzzlewit double the price that had been paid
for Barnaby Rudge and Old Curiosity Shop, but Mr.
Dickens refused to supply the advance sheets, or to

24

 

 

 

 

DEALINGS

WITH THE FIRM 0F

DOMBEY AN D SON,

wholesale, aetail, unit for exportation.

3!

CHARLES DICKENS.

With. Illustrations, engraved on Wood by J'. W'. Orr.
non DESIGNS BY H. x. 3110mm.

NUMBER XV.

NEW YORK
WILEY AND PUTNAM.

1847.
Price, Twelve and a Half Cents.

 

 

 

W THE ILL USTRA TIONS for this Number will be given with the Next;
[See page 25:]

 

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

permit his publishers to do so. We were therefore
obliged to print that work “David Copperfield” and
“Dombey & Son” without an arrangement with him.

The writer has never seen their edition of “0th-
zlewit” in parts but the presumption is that it was
similar in form to “David Copperfield,” “Nicholas
Niekleby,” and the other works published in parts
by that firm.

Dombey & Son. In 1846, W'iley & Putnam, of
New York, began publishing “Dombey & Son” in
parts, seventeen numbers bearing their imprint, while
the last two bear the imprint J ohn Wiley, 1848. The
size was 12m0, price 121/2 cents per number, the cov-
ers being grey in color. At the bottom of the first
page of each number was printed “The Illustrations
for this number will be given with the next,” the
text probably being set in type as soon as the English
number was received and printed at once without
waiting for the engraving of the plates for that num-
ber, so that the plates were always one number behind
the text. The Phiz plates were redrawn and engraved
on wood by J . W. Orr, and it is remarkable how close-
ly the spirit of the original etchings was reproduced
in wood engravings. On completion of the monthly
parts, the work was issued in two volumes, bound in
red cloth, having for a frontispiece a beautiful wood
engraved copy of the Lawrence portrait.

Lea & Blanchard also published an edition in
parts which the writer has never seen, but on the bot-
tom of the back cover of their edition of “David
Copperfield” is the advertisement:

25

 

   

   

CHARLES DICKENS

NOW PUBLISHING
DOMBEY AND SON
FINE EDITIONS
IN TWENTY NUMBERS, PRICE 6 CENTS EACH,
WITH TWO ILLUSTRATIONS BY
HABLOT K. BROWN IN EACH NUMBER
THIS IS THE ONLY EDITION WHICH PRE-
SENTS THE PLATES ACCOMPANYING
THE TEXT TO WHICH THEY
REFER

This last line was evidently intended to show the
public that it was better then the Wiley 01' Bradbury
editions.

Another edition was published in parts in Boston
by Bradbury and Guild. It is almost a facsimile of
the original English edition, the cover being an exact
copy, both as to the Phiz design, color, and quality
of paper. The letter press is so near that of the orig-
inal, that it might almost be taken for advance sheets
of the original edition‘ as on most of the pages every
line is identical, beginning and ending With the same
words as the original. The Phiz illustrations are so
faithfully copied that it is almost necessary to use a
magnifying glass to detect any variation from the
originals. An advertisement on the second page of
the cover says “The subscribers Will issue the num-
bers With all the LONDON ILLUSTRATIONS AND
PLATES COMPLETE. Each number Will be issued
IN ONE DAY AFTER IT’S ARRIVAL. Price 121/2
cents.”

26

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

Another edition was published in 1847, by Bur-
gess, Stringer & 00., New York. It is in paper covers,
8V0, of 292 pages, printed in double columns, and
contains woodcut reproductions of some of the Phiz
illustrations, which look very much like those by Orr
in the Wiley edition, although the only one Which has
a signature is “The Wooden Midshipman on the look-
out,” which is signed “Fiz Se.”

An edition in parts called “Jones’ Cheap Edi-
tion” was published in 1847-8 in Boston at the “Star
Spangled Banner Ofliee.” It was printed in double
columns 011 very poor paper, each number having
two woodcuts, copies from the Phiz illustrations, print-
ed from the same blocks as the Burgess edition. The
covers were a very poor quality of pink paper, having
a woodcut of the “The Dombey Family.”

Travelling Letters Written on the Road. In 1846

there was published in “The Daily News,” London,
seven letters by Dickens with the following titles:

Jan. 21.

Travelling sketches written on the Road
No. 1, From Paris to Chalons.

“ 24. N0. 2, Lyons, the Rhine and the Goblin
0f Avignon.
“ 31. N0. 3, Avignon t0 Genoa.
Feb. 9. No. 4, A retreat at Albaro.
“ 16. N0. 5, First sketch of Genoa; the
Streets, Shops and Houses.
“ 26. No. 6, In Genoa.
Mar. 2. No. 7, In Genoa and Out of It.
Early in 1846 Wiley & Putnam, of New York,

issued these sketches in two parts, under the title
“Travelling Letters Written on the Road,” part one

27

 

  

   

CHARLES DICKENS

containing the first three letters and part two the
remainder. They were in pamphlet form of the same
size as their edition of Dombey & Son, With brown
paper covers, and formed part of a series called
“Wiley & Putnam’s Library of Choice Reading.”
This was probably the only separate issue either in
England or America of these letters, exactly as they
appeared in “The Daily News.”

Pictures From Italy. The letters described above
with slight alterations and adaptations from some of
Dickens’s letters to Forster was issued in England in
1846 under the title “Pictures from Italy,” and in
the “Library of Choice Reading,” with paper covers,
price 371/2 cents, which was probably the first Ameri—
can edition under this title.

David Copperfield. Lea & Blanchard, of Phila-
delphia, began publishing “David Copperfield” in
parts in 1849, completing it in 1850. The edition
consisted of twenty parts royal Svo, parts 19 and 20
being a double number. It was printed in double
columns, the same as their illustrated edition of “Pick-
wick. ” The covers were yellow paper, and unlike the
“Sketches,” “Nicholas Niekleby,” etc., there was no
attempt to reproduce the original Phiz cover design
of the English edition, the full title of the book
being printed in type on the front page of the cover.
The price was five cents a copy, and in eight of the
parts only there was a single plate rather poorly en-
graved on wood by W. F. Gihon, after the Phiz
etchings.

28

 

Jones’s Cheap Edition. No. 7.

mzaliugs with the firm of
[IDCIDMBEV [MSW §®fl¥lg

Wholesale, Retail and for Exportatin. "J

 

 

 

 

 

 

w @mmgss @mmmgn

B 0 S T 0 N:
PUBLISHED AT THE “STAR SPANGLED BANNER." OFFICE.
32 WASHINGTON STREET.

H. LONG AND BROTHER, 32 ANN ST., NEW-YORK g
m 18 4 7.
- t

‘ mm-xm

 

 

 

 

 

[See page 27]

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITION S

There was also an edition in parts published in
New York in twenty numbers, price 121/2 cents, the
last number being double (19 and 20), the first eleven
numbers bearing the imprint of John Wiley, 1849,
the next seven of G. P. Putnam, 1850, and the last
double number that of J ohn Wiley, 1850. Each num-
ber contained two woodcuts by J. W. Orr after the
Phiz illustrations, which were much better drawn
and engraved than those in the Philadelphia edition.

Harper & Brothers, New York, also published, in
1852, an edition in two volumes 12m0, bound in blue
cloth, having the 40 woodcut illustrations by J . W.
Orr used in the Wiley & Putnam editions described
above.

The Irving Ofiem‘ng. Leavitt & 00., of New York,
published “The Irving Offering for 1851,” a 12m0
of 276 pages, bound in embossed black leather, the
first story in which was entitled.“Lizzie Leigh,” by
Charles Dickens (’2). The book generally commands
a high price by dealers, but Mr. J. C. Thompson in
his “Bibliography of the Writings of Charles Dick-
ens” says, “It is however, quite worthless; the story
was written by Mrs. Gaskill. The book is merely
an ignorant American piracy.” It is interesting to
note, however, that the story was also published in
the first number of Harper’s Magazine for June,
1850, which also credited the authorship t0 Dickens.

Bleak H ouse. Harper & Brothers, of New York,
in 1852-3 published an edition in twenty parts of
“Bleak House,” in form and size similar to “.Dombey

29

 

,4}

   

   

CHARLES DICKENS

& Son” and “David Copperfield,” published by
Wiley, with the Phiz illustrations engraved on wood.
The last number contained a steel engraving from the
Maclise portrait of the author.

It was also published in Harper’s Magazine, be-
ginning in volume IV., April, 1852, and being com-
pleted in volume VIL, October, 1853.

The publishers paid £400 for advance sheets of
the English edition.

Little Dorrit. The first American appearance of
“Little Dorrit” was in Harper’s Magazine for Jan-
uary, 1855, and was continued through 1856 and fin-
ished in July, 1857. The publishers paid £250 for
the advance sheets.

Tale of Two Cities. Harper & Brothers purchased
advance sheets of “A Tale of Two Cities” for £1000
and began its publication in Harper’s Weekly, May
7, 1859, the final chapters being printed in the issue
for December 3, 0f the same year. It was illustrated
by sixty-four woodcuts from drawings made especially
for the serial publication by J . McLenan. This was
the first publication of the work in the United States,
and by arrangement With Harper & Brothers, from
whom they purchased the illustrations, T. B. Peterson
& Brothers, of Philadelphia, published the complete
work in book form contemporaneous With the last
issue in Harper’s Weekly. In the issue of the Weekly
for December 10, 1859, the Philadelphia firm adver-
tised its appearance in twenty-five different editions,
ranging from a paper covered octave Without illustra—

30

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

tions to a two volume octavo with all the illustrations,
bound in half calf with gilt backs, so that it is diffi-
cult to say which is the first issue in book form.
The advertisement referred to says the work is issued
“one month prior to its publication in England in
book form.” This statement, however, is doubtful,
as the last number was issued in England in December,
1859, and the issues in book form of all the novels
in parts followed very soon after the issue of the last
part. ~

The Peterson edition is the only edition with the
MeLenan illustrations.

Hunted Down. The story was first published in
the New York Ledger, August 20 and 27, 1859, Mr.
Robert Bonner the proprietor having paid Dickens
£1000 for this short story. It was illustrated with
seven woodcuts. The only separate reprint is a little
161110. of 99 pages with green wrappers, published by
J ohn Camden Hotten, London.

Great Expectations. Harper’s Weekly had the
honor of being the first to publish “Great Expecta-
tions” in this country, it appearing in the numbers of
that journal in 1861, being completed on Auguust 3,
1861. The publishers had original illustrations drawn
and engraved on wood by John McLenan. They
paid £1250 for advance sheets. It was afterward
issued by them in book form, in two volumes 12mo. in
size and bound in cloth.

There was an edition published by Gardner A.
Fuller, Boston, in 1862, 12mo. green cloth, which

31

L vtr‘ 'wJ—‘fi'afip

 

     
  
  
   
  
    
  
 
 
 
    
   
   
  
 
 
 
   
 
    

1‘}

CHARLES DICKENS

reached thirty thousand copies. It is only remarkable
for the horribly drawn illustrations, Which were en-
graved on steel.

Our Mutual Friend. In June, 1864, the first
installment consisting of the first four chapters of
“Our Mutual Friend” was published in Harper’s
Magazine. It was prefaced by a half length portrait
of the author sitting in a chair resting his right hand
on his knee and his left hand on a table. This por-
trait was engraved on wood after a. photograph taken
in 1850. The story was continued monthly until
its conclusion in December, 1865.

The illustrations were on wood, re-engraved after
those by Luke Fildes in the original edition. The
complete volume was issued bound in cloth in 1865,
with all the illustrations used when published in the
Magazine. Harper & Brothers purchased advance
proofs of the work paying £1000, so that the issue in
the Magazine was probably its first appearance in the
United States.

Dickens’s Readings. Five of Dickens’s Readings
were published in London by Bradbury & Evans in
1858, a “Story of Little Dombey,” “The Chimes,”
“Christmas Carol,” “Cricket on the Hearth,” and
“The Poor Traveller, Boots at the Holly Tree Inn
and Mrs. Gamp.” On the occasion of Dickens’s last
visit to the United States in 1868, Messrs. Tieknor &
Fields, of Boston, issued his various readings in small
121110 pamphlets. They included several readings
which had not been included in the London, 1858,

32

 

g No. 5. WITH A PLATE. PRICE FIVE CENTS. a

 

THE

PERSONAL HISTURY,’ABVENTURES,
EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION

DAVID corrnnrlnw

OF BLU NDERSTONE ROOKERY,

(Which he never meantTtb ba published, on any account.)

BY

CHARLES DICKENS.

WITH ELUSTMTIONS BY KABLO‘I' K. BROWNE.

TO BE COMPLETED IN TWENTY MONTHLY NUMBERS.

THE FOURTH VOLUME OF LEA & BLANCHARD’S UNIFORM EDITION 0F DICKENS’
WORKS WILL BE COMPLETED WITH DAVID'COPPERFIELD.

xhttauelpma: .
LEA AND BLANCHA'RD‘.
1849.
YDSO'L‘D 31: ALL BOOKSELLERS.»

[See page 28]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

edition, and are therefore the first edition in this
form. Each issue includes two readings with two illus-
trations by Sol Eytinge. Some of the readings were
duplicated in the different issues, as Will be seen by
the following list which includes all that the writer
has seen in this form:

1. A Christmas Carol and the Trial from Pick—
Wick.

2. David Copperfield and Mr. Bob Sawyer’s
Party.

3. Nicholas Niekleby and Boots at the Holly
Tree Inn.

4. Little Dombey and The Trial from Pickwick.

5. A Christmas Carol and Boots at the Holly
Tree Inn.

6. David Copperfield and Boots at the Holly
Tree Inn.

7. Dr. Marrigold and Mr. Bob Sawyer’s Party.

8. David Copperfield and The trial from Pick-
Wick.

9. Nicholas Nickleby and Mr. Bob Sawyer’s
Party.

10. Dr. Marrigold and The Trial from Pickwick.

11. Dr. Marrigold and Mrs. Cramp.

On the back of each title page was printed the
following:

Gad’s Hill, Higham by Rochester, Kent.
Tenth October, 1867.

The edition bearing the imprint of Messrs. Tick-
nor & Fields is the only correct and authorized ecli-
tion of my readings.

CHARLES DICKENS

33

AA, 3. ix v- d A_

 

 

“in
‘r
i“
5..

CHARLES DICKENS

The entire series, including the Sol Eytinge illus-
trations, was issued in one green cloth volume, bearing
the date 1868. There were other editions of the com—
plete work issued later without the illustrations.

Geo. Silverman’s Explanation. Dickens wrote
this story for the Atlantic Monthly at the special re-
quest of Mr. Jas. T. Fields, and it was published in
that magazine in J anuary, February, and March,
1868.

H oliday Romance. Ticknor & Fields, of Boston,
the publishers of “Our Young Folks: An illustrated
Magazine for Boys and Girls,” paid Dickens £1000
for the story “A Holiday Romance,” which he wrote
specially for that periodical. It was published in
the numbers for January, March, April, and May,
1868, and also in Dickens’s own periodical “All the
Year Round,” J anuary 25, February 8, March 14, and
April 4, 1868. It contained a portrait of Dickens
and four illustrations by Mr. (Sir) J ohn Gilbert, and
initial letter designs by G. G. White and Sol Eytinge.

0n Mr. Fechter’s Acting. There appeared in the
Atlantic Monthly for August, 1869, an article with
this title, which was the last casual piece of the
author’s writing. It was written just before his
visit to America, and has been considered as sort of
an “advance puff” for his actor friend. It has been
beautifully reprinted in a little pamphlet by the
Bewick Press, New York, the edition consisting of
fifty copies bearing the date MCMIII.

34

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

Edmund Drood. Harper & Brothers published
“Edmund Drood” as a serial in a monthly “Dickens
Supplement” to Harper’s Weekly, the first issue bear-
ing the date April 23, 1870, and the last October 1,
1870. It was prefaced by a brief sketch of Dickens’s
life, with a woodcut portrait of the author, and the
original illustrations re-engraved on wood, Which were
almost facsimiles, so well were they done.

An octave edition in cloth was also published in
1870 by Fields, Osgood & 00., Boston, the story being
prefaced by “Some Memoirs of Charles Dickens”
by J as. T. Fields, and followed by George Silverman’s
“Explanation, Holiday Romance, Sketches of Young
Couples, and New Uncommercial Samples.”

Is She His Wife, or Something Singular. This
comic burletta in one act was written by “Boz” and
there is probably not a single copy of the original
issue in existence. Mr. Jas. R. Osgood 0f the Boston
publishing house of Jas. R. Osgood & 00., in 1876,
purchased What was the only copy known, paying £6
for it. It was 32 pages 8vo., without wrapper. This
copy was destroyed by fire in 1879, but before the
fire occurred Mr. Osgood’s firm had in 1877 published
an edition in 32m0. green cloth, Which is the only
edition in separate form obtainable by collectors.

Mr. Nightingale’s Diary. This play was written
by Mark Lemon for the performance in aid of The
Guild of Literature and Art, in 1851, and the only
known copy is an 8vo. pamphlet 0f 26 pages and title
in the South Kensington Museum. Before the play

35

 

 

J
1:
’f.

may“ ;

"m A.

met“ £41” 2 .,

k

 

CHARLES DICKENS

was performed Dickens made so many alterations
that it is probably as much his work as that of the
original author, and has therefore been deemed by
collectors to be properly a part of Dickens’s works.

The only edition available to the collector is the
little 321110. cloth covered volume published by J . R.
Osgood & Co. in 1877, in the same style as “Is She
His Wife,” described above, on the title page of which
appears Dickens’s name as the author.

Mrs. Gamp W 6th the Strolling Players. The first
edition ever published separately in book form of this
unfinished sketch was printed in New York in 1899
for Mr. Lowell P. Palmer, from the original manu-
script owned by him. Only eighty—five copies were
printed by The Gillis Press on deckle edged paper,
With illustrations consisting of a portrait of Dickens,
a specially designed title page, and one full page
illustration, the last two being specially drawn for
the work by Pailthorpe.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS AND STORIES

The “Christmas Books” and “Christmas Stories”
from Household Words and All the Year Round were
reprinted by many American publishers in many
forms, and the writer is not able to identify any par-
ticular one of the many issues he has seen as the
first edition issued in this country, but the ones de-
scribed below are mentioned only because they pos—
sess some interesting features, such as special illus-
trations, or special conditions under which they were
printed.

36

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

The Chimes. Lea & Blanchard, Philadelphia,
in 1845 published an edition which is almost an exact
copy of the original English edition. It was the same
size, the covers being pink cloth instead of red, but
having the same gilt cover design on sides and back.
The original frontispiece and title page were repro-
duced by lithography. All the illustrations were re-
produced, but many of the full page ones were‘varied
somewhat from those in the original edition. That on
page one has the lower corner, which was occupied
by text in the original, filled with a small illustration
of Toby Veek going up the steps in front of the church
(1001'. The illustration on page 34 0f the original has
the space taken up by the text, filled up by extending
the pavement. The one on page 55 has the lower cor-
ner filled up by the extension of the floor and the
addition of an arm chair Which is not on the original.
The illustration on page 88 0f the original With let-
ter press on the lower corner has the latter replaced
by making the church door a double one, the second
door being exactly like the original. The part occu-
pied by letter press on page 124 of the original is
taken up by extending the wall to the right of the
door and adding a window not in the original. The
upper corner of the illustration on page 174 of the
original is filled up by extending the foliage to take
the place of the text. The work of the illustrations
is very well done but it is doubtful if the changes
have improved them any. The edition is very scarce,
the writer never having seen or heard of any other
copy than his own.

37

l t...

 

A

-¢~‘-?‘

     
   
  
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    

CHARLES DICKENS

Harper & Brothers, New York, also published in
1845 an edition Which was an 8vo. pamphlet of thirty-
one pages, printed in double columns and without
illustrations.

A Christmas Carol. A very pretty edition of the
“Carol” was published in 1844 by Carey & Hart, of
Philadelphia. It is almost an exact reproduction of
the original, except that the covers are black instead
of brown cloth. The title on the back is a facsimile
of the original, and the title page is also printed in
red and blue. The beautiful colored pictures by
Leech in the original have been faithfully reproduced
by lithography, and the entire book compares favor-
ably with the original edition.

Messrs. Fields, Osgood & 00., of Boston, in 1869
published a very pretty edition, illustrated by twenty-
five illustrations from drawings specially made for
it by Sol Eytinge and engraved by Anthony. It is
a square 121110. bound in cloth, with gilt edge.

There was also an edition published in Boston by
J oseph Knight 00. (n. d.) with fifteen full page photo-
engraved illustrations by I. M. Gaugengigl and T. V.
Chominsk. It is a square 8vo. bound in green cloth,
With gilt design on the front cover.

Mrs. Lirr’iper’s Lodgings. A unique edition of
this Christmas story was published during the Civil
War, Which bears the following imprint: “Mobile,
Ala. I printed at the office of the Advertiser and Reg-
ister ] 1864.” It is an octavo pamphlet 0f fifty-nine
pages, printed on a very poor quality of paper. While

38

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

the war was in progress white printing paper was a
very scarce article with Southern publishers, who were
at times compelled to print their newspapers on such
poor substitutes as wall paper. If Dickens could have
seen this little pamphlet, it would seem as though he
would have appreciated the fact, even though it was
an unauthorized edition, that notwithstanding the
strenuous times the South was passing through, his
writings were so popular that there were publishers
who would print and people who would read them.

The Confessions of an Attorney. This is the title
of a book by an anonymous author under the nom de
plume of “Gustavus Sharp, Esq., of the late firm of
Flint & Sharp, to which are added several Papers on
English Law and Lawyers by Charles Dickens.” It
is a 121110. cloth bound volume published by Cornish,
Lamport & 00., New York, in 1852. Almost one-half
the book is composed of papers under the general
title “Abuses of English Law by Charles Dickens,
from Household Words.” The titles of the papers
themselves are as follows:

1. The Martyrs of Chancery.

2. Law at a Low Price.

3. The Law.

4. The Duties of Witnesses and Jurymen.
5 Bank Note Forgeries (2 chapters).

The writer submitted his copy of the book to
Mr. B. W. Matz, of the firm of Chapman & Hall, who
was the editor of the “National” edition of Dickens’s
works, and Mr. Matz has kindly given the names of

the authors of the various articles, as shown by the ‘

39

 

 

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A_ryr'f’v
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-7—rvv "mu 4‘
,t .- *‘w

.u “-7.5 V} .g, : f

CHARLES DICKENS

office book of “Household Words,” Which also enabled
him to identify many hitherto unknown articles by
Dickens, which are new first published in the “Na—
tional” edition. The last chapter of number five was
the only one by Dickens.

The first article was written by A. Cole and pub-
lished Dec. 7, 1850. Number two was the joint author-
ship of W. T. Haley and W. H. Wills, and was pub-
lished May 18, 1850. Number three was published
October 6, 1850, and was written by Charles Knight.
The author of number four was D. M. Hill, and it
was published October 26, 1850. The first chapter
of the last article was by W. H. Wills, and the second
by Chas. Dickens, the date of publication was Sep—
tember 21, 1850.

ANTHOLOGICAL

Dickens’s Little Folks. About 1845 there ap-
peared a series of pretty little 12mo. volumes bound
in cloth, issued by Redfield, New York, entitled “Dick—
ens’s Little Folks,” taken from the original and re-
vised in a manner suitable for children by an anony-
mous author who said, “We have brought down these
famous stories from the library to the nursery, the
parlor table to the child’s hands.” Each volume con-
tained a frontispiece by F. O. C. Darley. The series as
first published consisted of the following:

V01. 1, Little Nell.

Vol. 2, Oliver and the J ew Fagin.

V01. 3, Little Paul.

40

 

 

 

Number! or Plates to Complete Sets may be had 0! the Publisher.

W A r Wm
With two Engravings.

     
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
      

  

THE
PERSONAL HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE

MVIB EflPPERFIELB

BY

CHARLES DICKENS.

WW WM

TEE ILLUSTRATIONS ENGRAVED 0N WOOD BY

J'. W. ORR.

T30! DESIGNS BY 8. ‘2. BROWNBa

 

NEW YORK:
G. P. PUTNAM, 155 BROADWAY

 

THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THIS N0. WILL BE GIVEN WITH THE NEXT.
[See page 29]

 

 

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EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

Vol. 4, Florence Dombey.

V01. 5, Smike.

V01. 6, The Child Wife.

V01. 7, The Two Daughters.

There was later published the following volumes:
“Dolly Varden,” “Tiny Tim,” “Dot,” “Dame Dur—
den,” and “Fairy Cricket.” They were published
later in four volumes, by John B. Alden, New York,
each volume containing three of the stories.

The original editions of these little books are
quite scarce and are rarely met With in the auction
sales or in dealers’s catalogues.

Child Pictures from Dickens. Ticknor & Fields,
of Boston, in 1868, published a selection of stories
from Dickens’s works bearing the title “Child Pie—
tures from Dickens,” containing “Little Nell,” “The
Marchines,” “Paul & Florence,” “The Fat Boy,”
“Tiny Tim,” “Smike,” and “Oliver Twist.” It was
at 121110. volume bound in blue cloth and illustrated
With eight of Sol Eytinge’s pictures from the “Dia—
mond Edition.” The preface is as follows:

These Chapters, as being especially associated
With children, have been selected from my various
books, for separate publication under the title applied
to this volume. Although they necessarily lose inter-
est and purpose When detached from their context and
removed from their niches in the works of fiction to
Which they respectively belong, this compilation is
made for American children With my full and free
consent.

CHARLES DICKENS.

Boston, November, 1867.
41

 

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CHARLES DICKENS

Schools and Schoolmasters from Dickens. This
work was published by A. S. Barnes & 00., New York,
1871. It was edited by T. C. Chapman, M. A., and
contained “Dotheboy’s Hall,” the “School at Dr.
Blimber’s,” the “School at Salem House,” and the
“School at Dr. Strong’s.” It was 121110. in size, cloth
bound, and contained three illustrations reproduced
from the Phiz drawings.

Dialogues from Dickens. Lea & Shepard, 0f Bos-
ton, in 1870, published a series of forty-five dialogues
adapted from Dickens’s works, bearing the title “Dia-
logues from Dickens for School and Home Amuse-
ment.” They were arranged by W. Eliot Fette, A. M.
The book was 121110., bound in green cloth, with illus-
trations by S01 Eytinge. In 1871 there was a second
series published under the title “Dialogues from
Dickens, second Series, Dialogues and Dramas,” also
illustrated by Sol Ey’cinge.

A Child’s Dream of a Star. This beautiful little
story of Dickens was published separately by Fields,
Osgood & 00., Boston, 1871, with eleven illustrations
by Hammitt Billings engraved on wood by W. J.
Linton, square 121110., brown cloth with gilt edges.

The Goblins who Stole the Sexton. In 1867 Me-
Laughlin Bros, New York, issued a series of illus-
trated toy books for children, one of which was Dick-
ens’s Christmas story from Pickwick. It was illus-
trated by Th. Nast with four full page pictures and
twenty-two small ones in the text, all in admirable
42

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

keeping with the spirit of the story. It is quite scarce
and has been quoted in English catalogues as high as
£2.

The Humor and Pathos of Charles Dickens. This
is a little 32m0. pamphlet of fifty-six pages, published
in New York in 1885 for Geo. C. Rockwood, photo-
grapher. It contains brief extracts from most of
Dickens’s works and is illustrated with a portrait of
Dickens and three wood cuts. Roekwood was the
photographer who made the photograph of Dickens
in 1868 from which the 1868 portrait in Forster’s
Life of Dickens was made, and which is one of the
most familiar portraits of the author. In the intro-
duction Mr. Rockwood naively couples himself with
Dickens as follows:

The art which it has been my pride to properly
represent in America for the last thirty years,
Charles Dickens in another way has made illustrious
throughout the English speaking world. While he,
with an artist’s touch, has conveyed to paper the
charms of Nature, and the characteristics of Human-
ity, so that they hang like pictures on the walls of
memory, it has been my aim to produce similar beau-
ties in a form more tangible, yet equally lovely, true
and exact.

The little pamphlet is very rare, and but few
copies are in existence.

The Complete Poems of Charles Dickens. In
1885 there was published by White, Stokes & Allen,
New York, a little 12mo. volume of 142 pages, bound
in limp white buckram, bearing the title “The Com-

43

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CHARLES DICKENS

plete Poems of Charles Dickens.” It contained the
prologues of “The Light House, ” “The Frozen Deep,”
and “The Patrician’s Daughter,” With all the songs
from “The Village Coquettes” as published in the
first volume, and also the various poems from the
second volume of R. H. Shepperd’s “Plays and Poems
of Charles Dickens,” published the same year in Lon-
don. The preface is a literal transcript of ten pages
of the introduction by Mr. Shepperd, and neither on
the title page nor any place else in the book is Mr.
Shepperd’s name mentioned.

Masterpieces of Dickens. This work Which con-
sists of one hundred and fifty single page extracts
from Dickens’s works, each one illustrated by a repro-
duction of an illustration in the original edition, was
published by G. W. Dillingham, New York, in 1892.
It is a 121110., bound in red cloth, having a frontispiece
portrait of the author from a photo taken in 1865.

COLLECTED EDITIONS

The first uniform collected edition of Dick-
ens’s Works to be published in the United States,
was that issued by T. B. Peterson & Brothers,
of Philadelphia, in 1851, Who purchased the plates
from Harper & Brothers, Lea & Blanchard, and
others who had published separate editions of some of
the works. This firm from time to time published
various editions in different styles ranging in price
and size from a cheap paper covered one up to royal
octave, illustrated With the plates described in many
of the foregoing editions.

44

 

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

In 1860 the firm of W. A. Townsend & 00., of
New York, began the publishing of a complete edition
in fifty-five volumes, called the “Household Edition”
in 12m0. size, bound in green polished cloth, having
frontispieces designed principally by F. O. C. Darley.

These illustrations were later used in several edi-
tions published by Hurd & Houghton, of Boston.

The firm of Ticknor & Fields, of Boston, in 1867,
published, by special arrangement with the author, the
Diamond Edition in fourteen volumes illustrated by
Sol Eytinge.

The edition has on the back of the title page, the
following:

Grads Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent.
Second April 1867
By a special arrangement made with me and my
English publishers (Partners with me in the copy-
right of my books), Messrs. Tieknor & Fields of Bos-
ton, have become the only authorized representatives
in America, of the Whole series of my books.
CHARLES DICKENS
This letter in connection with another dated April
16, 1867, aroused the ire of some of the American
publishers who had already paid Dickens for advance
sheets of some of his publications, and there appeared
in the “Publishers Circular,” of Philadelphia, a com-
munication from T, B. Peterson & Bree, the Phila-
delphia. publishers, which was a very severe arraign-
ment of Dickens. The article included letters from
Harper & Bros., and their London agent, Sampson
Low, showing amounts paid to Dickens, and also a
long letter from Mr. Henry C. Lea, from which quota-

45

 

 

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CHARLES DICKENS

tions have already been given. This article ShOWS that
the amounts which Dickens had already received from
various American publishers amounted to a total of
about $25,000.00. The article entitled “The Dickens
Controversy” is printed in full in some of the edi-
tions of “MeKenzie’s Life of Charles Dickens,” pub-
lished in 1870 by T. B. Peterson & Bros.

In the volume “Uncommercial Traveller and Ad<
ditional Christmas Stories” of this edition, there ap-
pears the following note by Dickens:

In this volume are brought together various short
stories of my writing, which have not yet been col-
lected in England. Most of them are reprinted from
“Christmas Numbers” of Household Words and All
the Year Round, and represent the portions of these
numbers written by myself as my contributions to-
wards the execution of my own general designs. They
were originally so constructed that they might express
and explain themselves when published alone.
Boston, November, 1867. CHARLES DICKENS

This note shows that this was the first collected
edition of these additional Christmas stories.

In 1870 Harper & Brothers, of New York, began
publishing a reprint of the English “Household Edi-
tion,” but did not use all the illustrations of the Eng-
lish edition, several of the volumes being illustrated by
American artists, the volumes containing these illus-
trations being as follows:

“Pickwick Papers,” “Pictures from Italy and
American Notes” by Th. Nast; “Uncommercial Trav-
eller,” “Hard Times” and “Nicholas Niekleby,” by
C. S. Rinehart; “Dombey & Son,” by W. L. Shep-

46

 

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

pard; “Christmas Stories,” by E. A. Abbey; “ Sketch—
es,” by A. B. Frost,” and “Old Curiosity Shop,” by
Thomas Worth.

Since 1870 the number of editions of Dickens’s
collected writings published by American publishers
has been so numerous that it is not necessary to men-
tion them here, as they do not come under the category
of either first or early editions.

PLAGIARISTIC, PARODIES, ETC.

There were several parodies of some of Dickens’s
works published in this country and a brief descrip-
tion of some of them is here given, not that they
possess any great literary merit, but simply because
they may be of interest to the collector of Dickensiana.

Pickwick Abroad. In 1838 E. L. Carey and A.
Hart began publishing in monthly parts “Pickwick
Abroad or the Tour in France, a series of papers com-
piled from the Private Correspondence of Samuel
Pickwick, Esq.” Whether the entire work was ever
completed or not the writer does not know as he has
never seen any of the parts except N0. 1 Which is in
his collection. It is 12mo. in size with brown paper
cover. It contains the first three chapters, title page
and two of the Crowquill plates of the original edition.

A complete edition was published by T. B. Peter-
son & Bros, Philadelphia, (no date). It is an 8V0.,
bound in brown cloth, printed in double columns, and
has five of the original illustrations, rather poorly en-
graved on wood, Which the title page mistakenly says
are by George Cruikshank.

47

 

 

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CHARLES DICKENS

Change for the American Notes. This work was
published by Harper & Brothers, New York, 1842, in
an octave pamphlet with brown paper covers, price
“one shilling” (24 cents). It was printed in exactly
the same style as their edition of “American Notes.”

English Notes for Very General Circulation by
Charles Dickens. This was issued as a supplement to
the “Yankee Nation, ” a Boston paper printed at “ The
Daily Mail Office 1842.” It was small quarto in size
having sixteen pages with three columns to a page.
It was very coarsely written, in fact, it was almost
indecent in its rancour and possesses absolutely no
literary merit, being interesting only for its rarity as
a scarce item of Dickensiana.

My Own Home and Fireside, by Syr. The sub-
title is “Illustrative of the Speculations of Martin
Chuzzlewit & Co. among the Wenom 0f the Walley of
Eden,” which will explain the purpose for which it
was written. It was a 12mo. bound in black cloth,
and was published by J ohn W. Moore, Philadelphia,
1846.

An Epistle to Boz by Zedekia Comitatus, M. P.
E. C. It is a thin 12mo. pamphlet of twelve pages,
and the imprint is “Skaggaddahunk; Scantelwood,
Timberlake & Co. Printers t0 the North River Socie-
ty, 1867.” It was a most scurrilous attack on Charles
Dickens in alleged verse, as will be seen by the first
few lines:

48

 

 

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EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

All Hail, Charles Dickens dip your pen <
In scandal and come back again '
To paint our manners, and surprise

The World with fudge and frothy lies:
And, whether you write, or sing, or read,
In toadying “Tendom” you ’11 succeed:
For, these you ’11 find, Who like the abuse
Of scribbles for domestic use;

And a soft cuffing now and then

From foreign fags Who hold a pen,

Like your’s that ne’er was known to stickle
At any falsehood, small or mickle.

The little pamphlet is exceedingly scarce a‘s prob-

ably a very small edition was printed. It is not men—
tioned in Kitton’s “Dickensiana.”

Some Notes of America to be Rewritten. This
little work by an anonymous writer was published in
Philadelphia by Sherman & 00., 1868. It is a 12m0.
pamphlet with brown paper covers twenty pages in
length.

No Thoroughfare by 0-3 D-S, Belamy Brownjolm
and Dunby. An 8V0. pamphlet 15 pages published
by A. K. Loring, Boston, 1868, and is a parody on
“No Thoroughfare” by Dickens and Wilkie Collins.
It is intended to be very humorous as this quotation
from the preface of the second edition will show:

Not less than ten or more than a hundred and
ninety thousand copies of the first edition were cir—

culated in a single day, and the author is not a green-
back the heavier for it.

Dolby and Father by Buz. A thin 121110. bound
49

 

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CHARLES DICKENS

in browu cloth published by P. Wynkook & Son, New
York, 1868. It is principally a bitter attack on Dick-
ens personally, written on the occasion of his second
voyage to America, and partly a parody on “Dombey
& Son.”

The Cloven Foot. An adaptation of the English
novel “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” to American
scenes, characters, customs and nomenclature, by 01'-
pheus G. Kerr, published by Carleton, New York, 1870,
12mo, cloth.

The Haunted Man. In “Condensed Novels and
Other Papers” by F. Bret Harte, published by Carle-
ton, New York, 1870, there is a parody on “The
Haunted Man,” Part 1, “The First Phantom,” Part
II, “The Second Phantom.”

The Mystery of Edwin Drood Complete. There
was an edition published in Brattleboro, Vermont, in
1873, Which contains a “Second Part” purporting to
be “By the spirit-pen of Charles Dickens, through a
medium, embracing also that part of the work which
was published prior to the termination of the au-
thor’s earth-life.” It contains a four-page “Medium’s
Preface,” in which the medium says:

I am happy to announce that the first chapter of
the next work, “The Life and Adventures of Bockley
\Vickleheap,” is finished; and opening with all the
peculiar characteristics of its author, bids fair to equal
anything from his pen on earth.

This new work evidently never got beyond the
first chapter. If it did it has never appeared in print.

50

EARLY AMERICAN EDITIONS

The book is an octave, cloth bound, pages 218 to 488
include the part written by the “Spiritpen.”

An Omitted Pickwick Paper. This is supposed
to be chapter CCXIV “Showing Mr. Weller’s views
relating to Matrimony, With a slight Touch at Widow-
hood, omitted from Pickwick and restored by Poz.”
It first appeared in “The Token” of 1841, and an
edition of twenty—eighm copies was printed at the
Bewick Press, Brooklyn, N. Y. I1: is 121110. in size,
printed by hand on hand made Ruisdael paper in 1903,
and is a beautiful piece of work.

51

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