Our Mutual Friend

by Charles Dickens

Illustrated by Marcus Stone

 

First edition, in the original parts

[20 issues bound in 19 parts, as issued]

London: Chapman and Hall, 1854-1855. Twenty issues bound into 19 parts, as issued. In publisher's green wraps printed in black. First edition. First state of No. 1, with no printer's imprint at bottom of front wrapper. All slips and ad pages present as per Hatton & Cleaver with the following exceptions: last 2pp. of Chapman and Hall ads missing from No. 1; a slip missing in No.2; slip "Tale of Chivalrous Life" not in No. 5; final two ads in No. 6 missing; no "Kaye's" slip in No. 7; no "Mappin, Webb. & Co." ad at rear in No. 15. "London Society" slip supposed to be No. 9 bound in rear of No. 8 instead; "Mr. S.O. Beeton's" bound before "Astra Castra" contrary to bibliography. As is typical, "Foreign Bank Notes" slip in 19 & 20 ("Mappin" ad gone as well) and No. 14's "Economic Life Assurance" slip absent.

Very Good, with spines and several covers neatly restored, and general wear and light soiling; inked name or notation on front cover of Nos. 8, 14. Small scrape to ad at rear of No. 16. Housed in a custom dark green morocco and cloth case. The original serialized appearance of the last novel Dickens completed, with a phenomenal amount of advertisements and slips that deepen the reader's immersion in mid-19th century London.