Author: Dickens, Charles [1812 - 1870]
Title: A TALE Of TWO CITIES.; Petersons' Uniform Edition of Charles Dickens' Works. Complete in One Volume. Price Fifty Cents
Description: Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson and Brothers, 806 Chestnut Street, 1859. 1st US book edition, 1st, issue, presumed first state, lacking the 2 page advert prior to the t.p. Original publisher's printed buff paper covers with wood engraving to center of front cover. Rear cover advertises divers Walter Scott editions. Now housed in a custom chemise, quarter leather slipcase with marbled paper boards. [2], [19] - 20, [23] - 211, 13, [1] pp. NB. ToC paginated as (19). Text double column. Unillustrated. Royal 8vo. 9-3/4" x 6". Volume quite worn, lacking spine paper, rear wrapper and loss to front wrapper right side. Title leaf creased & folded on right side. Age-toning, staining & light foxling. A Good only copy of this rare edition of Dickens' classic work, ATTC. The first US appearance of ATTC was serially in Harper's Weekly; Peterson published the 1st US book edition, of which Smith notes that "the presumed first issue in paper covers has not been found". According to Smith, who posits a release date for this edition of 29 November 1859, "Peterson placed this cheap issue, which concluded on page 211, on the market before its serialized completion in Harper's Weekly to forestall competitors. On Monday, December 5, Peterson then published the novel in 25 different styles with illustrations to make it uniform with the various collected editions of Dickens's works published previously by the firm." We have seen a copy of this unillustrated wrappered edition with a front & rear cover advert advertising all 25 different styles.. given this copy lacks the front advert & with differing initial pagination, we posit it as the earlier state, released 29 November. Quite rare.

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