DICKENS, CHARLES
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1844. An early American edition (after the New York issue of the same year and an 1843 parts issue). Publisher's cloth with gilt decoration to spine, housed in a fine half morocco case. 9 7/8 x 6 inches (25.5 x 15 cm); 320 pp., 12 plates. Short splits to joints and few chips to spine tips but the binding sound overall, internal foxing, contemporary ownership signature.
A rare edition of Martin Chuzzlewit of American interest, as the book gave Dickens a chance to satirically present American characters he had envisioned after his 1842 tour of the United States. Gimbel A76.