A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. [in Two Volumes.]

1854. Boston: Jenks, Hickling & Swan, 1854. Original blind-stamped dark brown cloth with gilt-decorated spines.

Early American edition, just possibly the first complete one. Since Harper published the two volumes of its edition separately in March 1853 and in March 1854 (so dated on the title pages), it is considered to be the first American edition. The date in 1854 when these two Boston volumes were published is unknown, so it is possible that this two-volume Boston edition came out earlier in 1854 than Harper's second volume. Jenks Hickling & Swan was a very "fluid" enterprise at the time, such that their 1856 and 1857 two-volumes-in-one printings would be by Hickling Swan & Brown, and their 1861 two-in-one printing would be by Swan Brewer & Tileston. This set is in very good-plus condition (a few small holes in the cloth, mainly at extremities or at joints); the gilt on the spines is unusually bright. Smith pp 116-119; Carr (UTexas) B500 (in blue cloth); not cited by Podeschi. Provenance: both front free endpapers bear not only a contemporary signature, but also the penciled signature of Dickens bibliographer Walter Smith; in fact, this very copy is the one pictured on pages 117 and 118 of his book.