OLIVER TWIST OR, THE PARISH BOY'S PROGRESS de DICKENS, CHARLES - 1838

London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, 1838. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Near Fine/No Jacket, As Issued. George Cruikshank. pp: [iv][1]2-331 [3]; [iv][1]2-307; [iv][1]2-315. THE FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Three mismatched bindings. Volumes I and II are bound in dark green leather over marbled boards with raised bands, gilt lettering and decoration to the spine. Volume III is bound in full blue leather with elaborate gilt decoration to the top board, gilt trim, red and gold title piece. 'Twist' first appeared in serial form in Bentley's Miscellany beginning February, 1837. The final issue was in March, 1839. There was no installment in June, 1837 due to the death of Mary Hogarth. The three volume set was published in September, 1838, six months before the final monthly part. There were reportedly only 528 copies printed. George Cruikshank illustrated the monthly parts and these illustrations were used for the triple decker. The final 'fireside' plate in Volume III was considered to be of poor standard and was suppressed at the request of Dickens. It was replaced with the 'Rose, Maylie and Oliver' plate. This issue has the second plate. Each of the three volumes have 'Boz' listed as the author on the title page. In spite of the variant binding, this is a near fine set with no sign of foxing. Volumes I and II have small ownership stickers on the front paste downs and previous owner's name on the reverse of the front endpapers. Volume III, with no half-title page, has a Dickens bookplate laid in.

The story of an innocent boy who became entangled in the London underground but found redemption.