Bleak House, in a contemporary 19th century fine binding Charles Dickens Other Fiction,Other Fine Bindings

This is the first edition, first printing, first state, in a contemporary, 19th century fine binding. The contents are collated complete. H. K. Browne ("Phiz") prepared 40 illustrations for this novel, including the frontispiece and vignette title page. First state is confirmed; all ten "dark plates" are all present, as are all of the dozens of small misprints ("Internal flaws" per Smith I, 10., pp.82-83). The binding is half tan polished calf featuring marbled paper-covered sides and double gilt rule transitions. The spine features raised spine bands bracketed by, and decorated with, gilt rules, the second compartment with a dark red calf gilt printed title panel. The contents are bound with blue and white silk head and tail bands and gray-green endpapers. The two previous ownership marks are ostensibly those of the first and second owners. The small, undecorated, printed plate of "T & H. S. Brightwen" is affixed to the front pastedown. Printmaker and painter Hannah Sarah Brightwen (1808-1882) married banker Thomas Brightwen (1812-1870) in 1839. This plausibly dates the binding to between publication in 1853 and the death of Thomas in 1870. The facing front free endpaper recto features the armorial bookplate of economist and banker Sir Robert Harry Inglis Palgrave (1827-1919), whose "principal claim to fame is perhaps for having edited the comprehensive three-volumeDictionary of Political Economy, (1894-1901)."The binding remains sound, but is certainly showing its age, with significant overall scuffing, bruised and frayed corners, and a tender front joint, the binding cords still firm but the front endpapers with a full cosmetic split at the gutter. The contents are substantially clean, mildly age-toned, with light spotting appearing primarily confined to the prelims, terminal blanks, and some plates, as well as a faint tide mark at the foot of the frontispiece and facing vignette title page. The red speckled page edges are toned, the top edges a little dusty, but are otherwise substantially clean.As was custom with many Dickens novels, Bleak House was serialized (20 numbers bound in 19 monthly parts, spanning March 1852 to September 1853), before publication here, in book form, on 12 September 1853. English writer and social critic Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) is widely regarded the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. The 1850s perhaps saw the peak of his animation and activism in social causes. "In his only direct intervention in politics (he always steadily refused the invitations he received to stand forparliament)Dickensjoined the newly foundedAdministrative Reform Associationand made a scorchingly scornful anti-government speech at its third meeting, on 27 June 1855. But it is above all in the three great novels of this decade Bleak House(published in monthly parts, 1852 3),Hard Times(serialized inHousehold Words, 1854), andLittle Dorrit(monthly parts, 1855 7) that his outrage and deep concern about the condition of England most powerfully manifest themselves.""The satire ofBleak Housefocuses on the obfuscations and delays of thecourt of chancerywhich result in widespread human misery and suffering, but the novel's complicated plot and centripetal organization bring into the picture a great cross-section of contemporary English society, from the aristocratic Dedlocks down to Poor Jo, a London crossings-sweeper, and reveal social injustice, stupidity, muddle, misguided and self-regarding benevolence, charlatanism, and gross irresponsibility pervading all areas of the national life. Thecourt of chancery, 'most pestilent of hoary sinners', serves as the great emblem of this grim state of affairs. Writing at the height of his powers,Dickensadopts a virtuoso form of double narration, and the novel has since the middle of the twentieth century been widely acclaimed as his greatest work."References: Smith I, 10; ODNB; NPG; The History of Economic Thought First edition, first printing, first state.