A Tale of Two Cities. by DICKENS, Charles - 1859

London: Chapman and Hall,, 1859. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times Octavo (205 x 132 mm). Contemporary black pebble-grain half morocco, possibly continental, brown marbled paper sides, spine lettered in two fonts in gilt, raised bands tooled in gilt, brown marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Frontispiece mounted on cloth stub, engraved title page, and 14 other plates by H. K. Browne ("Phiz"). Pencil ownership inscription and partially erased contemporary ownership inscription to recto of frontispiece, another to head of title page. Marginal pencil annotations to plate list, p. 10 and p. 208, manuscript note dated 1923 loosely inserted at pp. 212-3 making note of the issue point. Skilful repair to short closed tear to fore edge of plate facing p. 136, faint water stain to plates facing p. 198 and p. 224. Slight wear to spine ends, tips and fore edge of front board, slight rubbing to sides, rear inner hinge a little split but holding, light foxing to contents; a very good copy. First edition, bound from parts, first issue, with page 213 incorrectly numbered 113 and signature "b" on list of plates. The novel was originally serialised in the weekly journal All the Year Round, from 30 April to 26 November 1859, and was also published in eight monthly parts between June and December 1859. It was first published in book form on 21 November 1859. Eckel, pp. 86-90; Gimbel A142; Hatton & Cleaver p. 331; Sadleir 701; Smith 13.