Item #48713 A TALE Of TWO CITIES.; Petersons' Uniform Edition of Charles Dickens' Works. Complete in One Volume. Price Fifty Cents. Charles Dickens, 1812 - 1870.
A TALE Of TWO CITIES.; Petersons' Uniform Edition of Charles Dickens' Works. Complete in One Volume. Price Fifty Cents.
A TALE Of TWO CITIES.; Petersons' Uniform Edition of Charles Dickens' Works. Complete in One Volume. Price Fifty Cents.
A TALE Of TWO CITIES.; Petersons' Uniform Edition of Charles Dickens' Works. Complete in One Volume. Price Fifty Cents.

A TALE Of TWO CITIES.; Petersons' Uniform Edition of Charles Dickens' Works. Complete in One Volume. Price Fifty Cents.

Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson and Brothers, 806 Chestnut Street, (1859). 1st US book edition, first issue, second state, with the advert for the 25 different editions at front. Cf Smith AMERICAN 12, especially note 5). [2], [19] - 211, [13] pp. Text double column. 2 pages of adverts begin volume [noting the publication of the title in 25 different "editions"], which concludes with 13 pages of publisher adverts.

NB. ToC paginated as (21). Unillustrated. Royal 8vo. 9-3/4" x 6". Original publisher's printed buff paper covers with wood engraving to center of front cover. Rear cover advertises the "Twenty-five Different Editions", splendidly illustrated by McLenan. Now housed in a custom chemise / slipcase. General wear & soiling to wrappers, tideline in upper left of front wrapper, professionally refurbished. Foxing throughout. An About Very Good copy of a rare survivor, housed in a handsome As New chemise / slipcase. Item #48713

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", that is, until now.

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."

Quite rare, first time we've seen, much less handled, a copy.

Price: $7,500.00

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