MASTER HUMPHREY'S CLOCK (THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP)

2 volumes. Very scarce, only the second American edition, published shortly after the Lea and Blanchard imprint and while 'Barnaby Rudge' was still being issued in serial. 8vo, in the printer's original brown boards backed in black textured cloth, the spines with paper labels printed in black. 224; 216 pp. A very scarce issue, the American paper of the period with some varying degree of foxing throughout, often quite minor, as would be expected, the text-block otherwise clean, firm and solid. The original printer's binding intact and complete, with some spotting or evidence of age, some wear or starting at the hinges but the boards still holding firm.

Edizione: very scarce. only the second american imprint, an early american editions of master humphrey?s clock, containing the novel 'the old curiosity shop' but published before 'barnaby rudge' was completed in serial. the two earliest american printings, this and the lea and blanchard printing in philadelphia, were rushed to the presses due to the huge popularly of "curiosity shop" while master humphrey's clock was being issued in serial. dickens fans were reported to have stormed the piers in new york city, shouting to arriving sailors (who might have already read the final chapters in england), "is little nell alive?" the ads in this issue are dated march 15th, whereas 'barnaby rudge' was not completed in serial form until november; so it is of course not included in this edition.