A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Sold by Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Association Member:
AbeBooks Seller since 25 October 2006
Used - Hardcover
Ships within U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSold by Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Association Member:
AbeBooks Seller since 25 October 2006
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketThis is the first edition, first printing, first state, finely bound. The binding is contemporary half dark red Morocco goatskin, featuring a generous spine and corners with crimson cloth sides and double gilt rule transitions. The spine features gilt-decorated raised bands. The 2nd and 4th panels, respectively printed with the title and author, are bracketed by gilt rules. The 1st, 3rd, 5th & 6th panels are framed by double gilt rules with a central gilt device. Within gilt rule brackets, "1859" is printed in gilt at the heel. The spine ends are gilt-hatched. The contents are bound with gilt top edges, red, green, and gold silk head and tail bands, and marbled endpapers. Condition of the binding is very good, square and clean with sharp corners and only a hint of color shift to the spine. The rear joint is still relatively secure, but a bit tender, showing some splitting beginning at the ends and superficial flaking of the leather. The book is housed within a dark red buckram cloth slipcase.The upper left corner of the front free endpaper verso bears the binder s stamp "BOUND BY ROOT & SON". "The London bindery of W. Root & Son consistently turned-out excellent work, both on fine bindings, as here, and on trade bindings and sets. Packer lists the firm in business in Red Lion Square in 1899-1901, and the December 1942 issue of The Rotarian notes with regret that W. Root had been bombed out of their premises on Paternoster Row during the 1941 Blitz". (Credit to David Brass Rare Books)The contents are well-suited to the fine binding, notably clean and bright with no appreciable toning or soiling and no spotting. First state of the first printing is confirmed by all issue points identified by Smith (Part I, 13.), at pp. vii, 98, 134, 166, 213, and 238, including p.213 mispagination. We cannot verify issue points on the p.ix plate list because this volume was bound without it. There is no indication that it was excised; the omission seems either an original binding flaw or a casualty of the rebinding. The sole previous artifacts of previous ownership are both affixed to the upper center of the front pastedown an original "Centenary Testimonial" stamp from the 1912 centenary of Dickens s birth above a clipped and presumably facsimile Dickens signature. Two further incidences at the front pastedown require note. One is a small scar to the marbled paper at the lower left corner. Second, along the vertical length of the front pastedown gutter there is what appears to be a thin strip of Japanese tissue paper, which might notionally be a reinforcement, but in this case seems entirely unnecessary, as the front joint is manifestly secure both internally and externally.H. K. Browne ("Phiz") prepared 16 illustrations for A Tale of Two Cities, including the frontispiece and the vignette title page. Of note, it was the final work which Phiz illustrated for Dickens a collaboration which spanned 23 years and 10 major novels. All 16 illustrations are present in this copy.As was custom with many Dickens novels, A Tale of Two Cities was serialized (in eight monthly parts, spanning 30 April to 26 November 1859) before publication here, in book form, on 21 November 1859. English writer and social critic Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) is widely regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. A Tale of Two Cities was his second historical novel after Barnaby Rudge. "In this novel, the second half of which takes place during the French Revolution, Dickens set himself the task… 'of making a picturesque story, rising in every chapter with characters true to nature, but whom the story itself should express, more than they should express themselves, by dialogue', glossed by Forster as meaning that Dickens would be relying 'less upon character than upon incident' (Forster, 730, 731). In its tightly organized and highly romantic melodrama and the near-absence of typical Dickensian humour and humorous characters, A Tale of Two Cities.
Seller Inventory # 008799
We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web
sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as
Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund
within 10 days of the delivery date. If you've changed your mind about
a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to
contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.
Please be advised that California residents receiving their shipment...
If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION
Statutory Right to cancel
You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days for any reason.
The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, 4629 Jutland Drive, 92117, San Diego, California, U.S.A., of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.
Effects of cancellation
If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, California, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of cancellation
The right of cancellation does not apply to:
Model withdrawal form
(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)
To: (Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, 4629 Jutland Drive, 92117, San Diego, California, U.S.A.)
I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),
Ordered on (*)/received on (*)
Name of consumer(s)
Address of consumer(s)
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)
Date
* Delete as appropriate.
Shipping costs are based on books weighing less than 2 pounds. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.
| Order quantity | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 13.40 | £ 13.40 |
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.