Fi r s t s 2021
DICKENS’S GOTHIC MASTERPIECE 11. DICKENS, Charles GREAT EXPECTATIONS Chapman & Hall, 1861. First edition, first impression. Three volumes, bound in con - temporary polished calf with flat spines ruled in gilt and mo - rocco title and volume labels. An exceptionally well preserved set, seldom encountered in a contemporary binding. The first printing of Dickens’ gothic masterpiece, now consid - ered his best constructed and most popular novel and one of the great works of nineteenth century literature. Only 1000 copies of Great Expectations were bound for the first impression on 6 July 1861. The scarcity of this work is fur - ther exacerbated by the fact that majority of the first printing were sold to libraries so whilst copies do survive in the origi- nal cloth, they are usually well used and with the stamps and stickers commensurate with library circulation, or have been rebound in modern bindings. Copies in good order in contem - porary bindings are rare. £45,000
EXCEPTIONAL COPIES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOKS 12. DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan THE SIGN OF FOUR Spencer Blackett, 1890. First edition, first state, in the first issue binding. The finest copy we have encountered. Copies of the first issue are scarce in any condition and genuinely rare in fine condition. £45,000 13. DOYLE, Arthur Conan THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES Newnes, 1905. First edition. A fine copy, the cloth strikingly vibrant and free from wear. Its fine cloth and squat construction have made it particularly susceptible to wear, making copies in such fresh condition notably uncommon. £6,000
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