Little Dorrit

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1857. First Edition, first issue in book form. Very good- in elaborate full leather (calf) covered boards with gilt borders on the front and rear boards, five raised bands on the spine with red morocco, title labels with gilt text in two of the compartments with gilt tool work in the others. The end sheets are marbled with gilt inner dentelles which have offset to the edges of the first and last free end pages. The top edge of the text block is gilt. The binding is by Ramage of London as can be seen by that firm's gilt embossed line on the front paste down just above the dentelle. The front hinge and joint have failed leaving the front board attached only with thin Japanese tissue. The leather on the spine is somewhat tanned. The rear hinge and joint are tight. There is a prior owner's book plate on the front paste down and the same owner's stamped name and address on the first free end page. Both boards are a slightly bowed. Illustrated with 40 engraved plates by H. K. Browne ("Phiz"). An octavo measuring 8 3/16" tall by 5 1/4" deep containing 625 pages of text. This is the first Issue of the publication identified by "Rigaud" rather than "Blandois" on pages 469, 470, 472, and 473 and with the signature mark "B2" on page 371. (Gimbel/Podeschi, A141; Smith, 91-93; Eckel, p83) (Inventory #: TB22113)