B A U M A N R A R E B O O K S A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 13 "PLEASE, SIR, I WANT SOME MORE": FIRST ISSUE OF OLIVER TWIST, 1838 13. DICKENS, Charles. Oliver Twist; Or, the Parish Boy's Progress. By "Boz." London: Richard Bentley, 1838. Three volumes. Octavo, 20th-century full red morocco gilt with gilt portraits of Dickens on front boards, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $14,500 First edition, first issue, of Dickens' classic, with "Boz" title pages and 24 illustrations by George Cruikshank, including the canceled "Fireside" plate, handsomely bound by Bayntun-Riviere in full morocco-gilt with a gilt portrait of Dickens on the front board. "When Bentley decided to publish Oliver in book form before its completion in his periodical, Cruikshank had to complete the last few plates in haste. Dickens did not review them until the eve of publication and objected to the Fireside plate which depicted Oliver at Rose Maylie's knee [Volume III, page 313]… Dickens had Cruikshank design a new plate [with Rose and Oliver in a church interior]… This Church plate was not completed in time for incorporation into the early copies of the book, but it replaced the Fireside plate in later copies… Dickens not only objected to the Fireside plate, but also disliked having 'Boz' on the title page. He voiced these objections prior to publication and the plate and title page were changed between November 9 and 16" (Smith, 35). First issue, with both the Fireside plate and "Boz" on the title pages. Bound with half titles and publisher's advertisements. Smith 4 (especially note 3). Eckel, 59-62. Podeschi (Gimbel) A27. Cohn 239. Fine condition.
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