Description

Two volume set bound in blindstamped dark blue cloth. Old circulating library sticker inside front cover of each volume and stamp on titlepage. Hinges tight and interior clean but for very light sporadic foxing, with only endpapers showing heavy toning. Two page catalog of books at rear of vol. I and 29 page catalog at rear of vol. II, as called for. A very nice set of the authors’ extensive travels in England and his often scathing commentary on what he found there in 1840. From the Corn Laws to the Irish question Lester rebukes the supposedly civilized society which had given birth to so much that he obviously admires. Among the individuals whom he praises was a young author who had captured the popular imagination with The Pickwick Papers and Nickolas Nickelby. Introduced to Boz by Thomas Campbell, Lester includes a very detailed and sympathetic chapter of his visit to Dickens at his home. Cloth shows light soiling, albeit probably the nicest copy of this title we have yet to see, especially in the first American edition, which is often found in poor condition. Very good+.