Our Mutual Friend, in the Original Monthly Parts: FIRST ISSUE of the Wrappers and FIRST ISSUE of the Text

London [May 1864-November 1865]: Chapman & Hall. First Edition. Original Wraps. In the original monthly parts, 20 parts in 19. Original green printed wrappers; ALL wrappers are correct. ALL the ads, slips and Advertisers called for by Hatton & Cleaver are present, except for the rare ad "The Economic Life Assurance Society" following the plates in parts 14 and 19/20 and "The Churchman's Family Magazine" in part 1. FIRST ISSUE of the wrappers, without the imprint at the foot of front wrapper of part 1, and with the first issue text, with the misspelling "pricipal" in part 14, page 115, line 38. Part 10 with the text UNOPENED. The plates are very good to fine; tissue guards are in place. Light soiling to some wrappers. Some spines are expertly renewed. Small corner repair to front wrapper of parts 3, 4 and 6; small corner repair to rear wrap of part 19/20 and loss at edges. Neat owner name on front wrapper of part 18. Our Mutual Friend has more of the Advertiser ads than any of Dickens' other works, having 320 pages and 89 insets and slips in the rear of the parts. Altogether a very good set, lacking just two (scarce) ads and having the first issue points in the wrappers and text. Handsomely presented, and it has a pedigree - it is from the famed (Thomas) Hatton & Cleaver (bibliographers) collection. Housed in a (green faded to brown) full leather, turn-of-the-century pull-off-top slipcase, with chemise. Provenance: The Hatton & Cleaver Collection, The Heritage Bookshop, Charles Parkhurst Rare Books.