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 (217 x 136 mm). Contemporary green half morocco, expertly rebacked preserving original spine, spine lettered in gilt with gilt foliate motifs to compartments, green cloth sides, marbled endpapers and edges. Engraved frontispiece, vignette title and 14 plates by H. K. Browne (Phiz). Refurbished with gilt and colour enhanced and extremities repaired. Light foxing to a few plates. A very good copy. First edition, bound from the original monthly parts, first issue, with page 213 incorrectly numbered 113 and signature "b" on list of plates. The novel was originally serialized 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. Provenance: Nancy Astor (1879-1964), the first British female Member of Parliament, with her and her husband's joint bookplate, shelf mark to front free endpaper, and monogram to top spine compartment; subsequently the copy of the actor Peter O'Toole (1932-2013), best known for starring as Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, with his bookplate to the front free endpaper. Eckel, pp. 86-90; Gimbel A142; Hatton & Cleaver p. 331; Sadleir 701; Smith 13.