“A CONCORD OF AFFECTION AND BROTHERHOOD”

DICKENS, Charles. Master Humphrey's Clock. London: Chapman and Hall, 1840-41. Three volumes. Large octavo, contemporary full green cloth, burgundy morocco spine labels, uncut. $2500.

First edition in book form, with frontispieces and almost 200 in-text illustrations by George Cattermole and Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"). Includes The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge.

When Dickens conceived of this work, he "had already written his preface to [Nickleby], in which for the first time he adopts that fond and agreeable tone towards his audience which he wished to continue" in Master Humphrey's Clock, "his aim being, he said, that of '…one who wished their happiness, and contributed to their amusement.' Here is Dickens as the man of feeling, uniting all his readership in a concord of affection and brotherhood" (Ackroyd, 291). First issued in both weekly and monthly parts. Bound without dedication leaf in Volume I. Hatton & Cleaver, 163-64. Eckel 67-70. Smith 6.

Interiors clean and fine, just a touch of rubbing to extremities, mild toning to spines, near-fine.