first edition
1899 · New York
by Dickens, Charles
New York: Privately Printed [by the Gilliss Press], 1899. First edition. Near Fine. One of only eighty-five copies of this unfinished, previously unpublished Dickens story “printed for Mr. Lowell M. Palmer from the original manuscript now in his possession.” Finely bound in full crushed green morocco by Riviere & Son with gilt rule and dentelles. [2], x, 21 pp. Complete. With frontisportrait of Dickens, plus illustrated extra title ("A New Piljians Projiss Written by Mrs. Gamp") and plate, both by F.W. Pailthorpe (who also illustrated editions of Great Expectations and Oliver Twist). With the original wrappers, printed in gold, bound in at rear. The Starling-Self copy, with both bookplates to front pastedown. Some rubbing to hinges and a bit of darkening to endpapers. Minor offsetting to title-page. Still a bright, Near Fine copy. Of the eighty-five copies, OCLC records thirty-two in institutions.
In 1847, in the midst of the publication of Dombey & Sons, Dickens organized a theatrical benefit for Leigh Hunt, who was in need of money at the time. Many members of Dickens’ social circle were associated with the benefit (including John Forster, Frank Stone, Augustus Egg, John Leech, George Cruikshank, Douglas Jerrold, and others), which had originally been planned to include several performances in London. However, the schedule was eventually cut down to just two, and Dickens fell far short of his five-hundred-guinea fundraising goal. To make up the difference, Dickens planned to write a humorous account of his and Forster’s trip to Manchester and Liverpool from the perspective of Mrs. Gamp, the character from Martin Chuzzlewit. However, Dickens was only able to write part of the first chapter of what was clearly meant to be a much longer work, and the unfinished story went unpublished for decades until its printing here. American book collector Lowell M. Palmer had purchased the manuscript and had the text privately printed by the Gilliss Press, which was known for publishing art books and small fine editions, including American editions of Ashendene Press publications. Near Fine. (Inventory #: 6751)
In 1847, in the midst of the publication of Dombey & Sons, Dickens organized a theatrical benefit for Leigh Hunt, who was in need of money at the time. Many members of Dickens’ social circle were associated with the benefit (including John Forster, Frank Stone, Augustus Egg, John Leech, George Cruikshank, Douglas Jerrold, and others), which had originally been planned to include several performances in London. However, the schedule was eventually cut down to just two, and Dickens fell far short of his five-hundred-guinea fundraising goal. To make up the difference, Dickens planned to write a humorous account of his and Forster’s trip to Manchester and Liverpool from the perspective of Mrs. Gamp, the character from Martin Chuzzlewit. However, Dickens was only able to write part of the first chapter of what was clearly meant to be a much longer work, and the unfinished story went unpublished for decades until its printing here. American book collector Lowell M. Palmer had purchased the manuscript and had the text privately printed by the Gilliss Press, which was known for publishing art books and small fine editions, including American editions of Ashendene Press publications. Near Fine. (Inventory #: 6751)
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