THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

First edition. Early 20th century full blue crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf, unsigned but with their oval 'exhibition' stamp in blind to the rear pastedown. Upper and lower boards ruled and with decorative corner pieces in gilt. Five raised bands, gilt decorated compartments and titles in gilt to the spine. Gilt decorated inner dentelles. Silk covered pastedowns and endpapers. Top edge gilt. Publisher's original green cloth bound in at the rear. Portrait frontispiece engraved by J. H. Baker. With 13 illustrations including the vignette title page by Samuel Fildes. Without adverts. An excellent example, the binding square and firm with minor rubbing at the the extremities. The contents, with an ink inscription to the front blank, some toning and foxing spots primarily to the margins and fore-edge, are otherwise clean throughout.

A beautifully presented first edition in book form, of Charles Dickens' posthumously published final novel. Originally issued in six monthly parts between April and September 1870. A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone.