Our Mutual Friend.

DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870), [STONE, Marcus, illustrator].

London: Chapman and Hall, 1865. [English Literature] FIRST EDITION. First issue text with 'pricipal' for 'principal', page 115 of volume II, line 38. Two volumes bound as one. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[2] xii; 320 [2]; pp.[2] viii; 309 [3]. With 40 engraved plates by Stone, including a frontispiece to each volume. Both title pages present, bound (as often) without half-titles. Contemporary red calf, with raised bands, gilt titles to green labels and further gilt decoration to spines, marbled paper over boards, marbled edges and endpapers. Bookseller or binder ticket to pastedown 'James Fawn & Son, Bristol'. Prelims spotted/toned, light and occasional browning/foxing otherwise, plates particularly clean. Binding is gently worn with some rubbing to edges of boards and joints; gilt to spine slightly dulled. A very good copy in an attractive leather binding. Preceding Dickens' final crime-based work 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood', 'Our Mutual Friend' (1864–65), is his last completed novel. It concerns money, and what money can make of life. John Harmon, a wealthy young heir, is supposed drowned and, in a case of mistaken identity, his estate is passed to Boffin, a former servant of his father. John must infiltrate the Boffin household and gain their trust and friendship in order to regain his fortune. Item #69062

Price: £395.00