The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit by DICKENS, Charles - 1844

New York: J. Winchester, New World Press, 1844. Hardcover. Fair - ex library. Early American edition following the first, also by Winchester, which was issued in parts. This one-volume edition has a Preface dated London, 25th June, 1844. iv, 150 p. Bound with two other volumes of the weekly periodical called The New World. First of these volumes contains Charles Lever's "The Loiterings of Arthur O'Leary" (59 p.) as an Extra Series, 1844, while the second contains Frederika Bremer's "The President's Daughters: Part II. Nina (64 p.) also an Extra Series, September, 1843. These latter two titles begin with the masthead vignettes of the publisher on the first page. Text in all three sections in two columns, with very small print. 28 cm. Quarter leather with marbled boards. Spine ends chipped and corners worn. Ex-lib, discarded by a Canadian college library, with ink stamps on front endpapers and title page. Modern colourful bookplate on a front endpaper. Binding sound. Foxing throughout.

Title continues: "His Relatives, Friends, and Enemies. Comprising All His Wills and His Ways: With a Historical Record of What He Did, and What He Didn't: Showing Moreover, Who Inherited the Family Plate, Who Came in For the Silver Spoons, and Who for the Wooden Ladles. The Whole Forming a Complete Key to the House of Chuzzlewit." As the first authorized American edition of Martin Chuzzlewit is said to be that of Harper & Brothers, 1844, this copy may be considered a pirated edition. Harper's paid royalties to Dickens but the author remained much annoyed by the piracy of his work by other American publishers. Podeschi A77.