Dickens (Charles) Sketches by "Boz," Illustrative of Every-day Life, and Every-day People, [First Series -] Second Series, together 3 vol., first editions, first series first issue, second series issue with list of plates listed after contents and “vol. III” erased from all plates., first series with two frontispieces and 14 etched plates, very faint mark of manuscript word to head of p.43, short tears to gutter of p.143 in vol.2, one expertly repaired, second series with frontispiece, vignette title and 8 etched plates by George Cruikshank and 20pp. publisher's catalogue dated December 1836 at end, first series in original embossed green leaf-patterned cloth, spines lettered in gilt, both vol. recased, vol.2 spine ends repaired, light marking on covers, extremities lightly rubbed, second series with blue and white filigree-patterned endpapers, original embossed salmon-pink cloth, re-backed preserving original spine strip, spine lettered in gilt with black pigment backing, lightly faded and rubbed at corners, [Eckel, pp. 12-13; Sadleir 700; Smith I:2], 8vo, John Macrone, 1836-7.

⁂ Dickens' first work to appear in book form.

The first series set with the date on the preface reading 'February, 1836' and with almost every internal flaw called for by Smith in both volumes except five in vol.1 ('o' not missing on p.107; regular spacing of 'old' on p.113; period not missing from last line of p.174; 'r' not missing from p. 288; imprint not missing on plate facing 329) and one from vol.2 ('deal' spacing usual and 'f' present on p.305).

The second series following all of Smith's issue points, except three: there is a tissue-guard present for the frontispiece; the type is not loose in 'degree' in last line of p.22 and the numbering of p.60 is present. The first two both have notes by Smith that these points were only seen in one copy. This set, therefore, with some of the rarer issue points recorded.