Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

Bleak House [TWENTY ISSUES BOUND IN NINETEEN - COMPLETE]

Dickens, Charles; H. K. Browne (Ill.)

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1853 (March 1852 - September 1853. First edition. Softcover. Large Octavos (8 3/4 x 5 1/2"). Original illustrated blue wraps with black lettering on cover, housed in custom made clamshell box, half morocco over marbled boards with gilt ruling and lettering on spine.

Original twenty monthly installments in nineteen volumes as issued between March 1852 and September 1853. "Bleak House" is Charles Dickens' ninth novel. It is held to be one of Dickens's finest novels, containing one of the most vast, complex and engaging array of minor characters and subplots in his entire canon. The story is told partly by the novel's heroine, Esther Summerson, and partly by an omniscient narrator. Memorable characters include the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn, the friendly but depressive John Jarndyce and the childish Harold Skimpole, as well as the likable but imprudent Richard Carstone.

The set has 68 of the 82 back ads called for; "Advertiser" complete in all parts except parts IX and eleven with one leaf each torn out. Back wrappers substituted on parts I> VI> XI> and XVIII; misprint of back cover in part X, partially blank. "Newcomes" slip torn out of XIX/XX; a few "Household Words" slips and ad slips torn out or substituted.

Minor to light rubbing to clamshell box. Wrappers with light soiling, fraying around edges. Some paper repair. Limited light marginal pencil notes. g to vg. Item #54782

Price: $1,750.00