London: Chapman & Hall, January 1843 through July 1844. Original light blue-green pictorial wrappers. 20-in-19 parts. First Edition, as originally issued in 20-in-19 monthly serial parts, beginning in January 1843 and ending in July 1844. With MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT, Dickens reverted to the conventional method of serializing his novels, with monthly parts each illustrated with two engraved plates; after NICHOLAS NICKLEBY he had experimented with the idea of a weekly serial (under the title "Master Humphrey's Clock") illustrated with woodcuts within the text -- in which format THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP and BARNABY RUDGE were first issued.
CHUZZLEWIT is one of the more difficult "Dickens in parts" to find complete, due to the plethora of inserted advertisements. This set has many but not all: three parts lack some or all of the preliminary "Chuzzlewit Advertiser" ads, while eight parts lack at least one terminal ad (though a few parts contain ads not called for). The original wrappers are all proper except that Parts XIV and XV have variant rear wrappers. The plates are all present, though (as is often the case) most are somewhat darkened in their margins. The numbers are generally in very good condition, with a few having minor wrapper edgewear, volume one has paper restoration. In all, certainly a collectible set of a tough Dickens edition, housed in an 3/4 green leather case. Bookcase top shelf.
1,000/2,000 Sold $805.00
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