The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens First Edition, First Printing in Original Parts $1,750.00

London: Chapman & Hall, 1870. 6 parts [all published], 8vo. Engraved portrait of Dickens by J. H. Baker and vignette title-page and 12 engraved plates by Samuel Luke Fildes. Original blue-green pictorial wrappers, uncut. Cloth folding case.

FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL MONTHLY PARTS, later issue of front wrapper of Part 6 with price "Eighteenpence" correctly printed on the front wrapper. With the "Edwin Drood Advertiser" in each part, and all ads and slips noted in Hatton & Cleaver, except the "Cork Hat" slip in Part 2, and the Chapman & Hall's Recent Publications catalogue at end of Part V dated "31st May, 1870...Part III" (instead of "31st July, 1870...Part V").

The Mystery of Edwin Drood was Dickens' last novel, and at the time of his death in June 1870, he had barely completed the end of Part 6 of the 12 projected monthly parts, leaving the mystery of Edwin Drood unsolved. Numerous arguments and theories exist concerning the novel's conclusion, and endless sequels and solutions have been published in an attempt to finish what Dickens had started.

Condition: Each part skillfully rebacked to match; some minor chipping or wear to wrapper edges; a few small repairs; minor soiling. References: Eckel pp. 99-101; Hatton & Cleaver p. 373; Sadleir 694.