Backbone

1870 · ref. ABE-1558953051969 — Chapman & Hall London 1870 First edition of Dickens' final novel. Octavo contemporary quarter bound calf with hand marbled boards. Five raised bands gilt titles and tooling to the spine with a slight loss to the base. Interesting hinged extra calf flap to the top of the text block to allow the book to be shelved end on. This is titled in gilt too and the author's name mis-spelled 'DICKINS'. Spine title is correctly spelled! It is double gilt ruled raised gilt bands. Brilliant engraved frontispiece portrait of Dickens with tissue guard a superb clean first printing. 12 engraved plates by Luke Fildes also clean first prints. In collectable condition with light rubbing and some toning to the pages. Charles Dickens' novels regularly revolved around masks dual identities and other secrets. The Mystery of Edwin Drood however "enlarged and strengthened such matters in the pursuit of a larger vision a vision which depicts the 'lanes of light' between the dark pillars of a crypt and which reflects upon 'that mysterious fire which lurks in everything" Ackroyd 1056. Unfortunately at the time of his death on June 9 1870 Dickens had written only six parts of the book three of which had been published. The remaining three were published posthumously. Dickens had so closely guarded the plot's outlines even from his closest friends that to this day the identity of Drood's killer remains a topic for speculation discussion and debate. "There are few of Dickens' stories which are superior in the matter of composition. one of the best unfinished mystery stories in literature" - This is a fascinating copy with the hinged extra flap to the text block as a possibly unique detail. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Chapman & Hall London hardcover