Dombey and Son, in the Original Monthly Parts

London: October1846 - April 1848: Bradbury and Evans. First Edition. 20 parts in 19, original printed wrappers. The present set has ALL the correct wrappers and ALL the ads called for by Hatton & Cleaver, except for the scarce Letts, Son & Steer ad in parts X and XI, and the Gilbert's Dictionary ad in part IX. Part VIII is partly unopened. First issue of text, with the word "Delight" instead of "Joy" mentioned twice on page 284, with "Capatin" in the last line of page 324, part XI and the word "if" is absent in part XIV, page 426, line 9 (page number is present on page 431). Part XIX/XX with first issue title page, showing Captain Cuttle's hook on his left arm and with the 8 line errata. Letts, Son & Steer ad in part XV, with 6 diary specimens. Plates are very good to fine, with light edge toning to a few. Booksellers' ticket on front wrap of part X. Spines are expertly renewed on some parts. Light soiling to wraps of some parts; faint owner name on front wrap of part XII. There are a couple of "firsts" in Dombey and Son: the plate "On the Dark Road" in part XVIII is the first of what became known as the "dark plates" - also this is the first appearance of the "horizontal plates" on which the subject is rotated 90 degrees. Altogether a superior set, appealing to the eye and lacking just three ads. Housed in a handsome purple quarter-leather slipcase, with chemise. Armorial bookplate on chemise and inside the slipcase. Hatton & Cleaver, pp. 227-250.