20 parts in 19. Illustrated with 40 plates by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"), including 10 "dark plates" (some of the plates are reproduced by lithographic transfers from the steels, as well as from the etchings - See Hatton & Cleaver, p.276). 8¾x5¾, original blue wrappers with woodcut design by Browne, housed in a custom chemise and morocco-backed solander case. First Edition.
Superb set of the first edition in the original parts. With the following variations from Hatton & Cleaver: Part 1 with inside rear wrapper ad titled "Legal Expectations" (as called for in Part 9) versus the called for "Anti Bleak House", lacking the W. Mott and Norton's Camomile ads and with the Waterlow & Sons ad consisting of 6 pages versus 4 or 8; Part 2 with the ad to follow the advertiser bound at rear instead; Part 3 lacking the "Crochet Cotton" slip; Part 4 lacking the Marsland, Son & Co. slip; Part 6 With the "Household Words" slip to follow plates bound at rear instead, lacking the W. Mott ad and the "Crochet Cotton slip; Part 7 lacking the "Dodd Family" slip, Allsopp's ad, London Weekly Paper ad and the Marsland, Son & Co. slip; Part 8 lacing all called for ads at rear but with the 4 ads called for in Part 15 bound at rear instead ("Village Pastor", Partridge and Cozens, W. Mott. and Mayall's Daguerreotype); Part 10 lacking the slip to follow plates, rear ads for W. Mott, Waterlow & Sons, "New Sporting Newspaper" and "Crochet Cotton" slip, George Cox catalog present but with only 10 pp instead of the called for 12 pp.; Part 11 lacking the Kaye's Worsdell's Pills slip; part 13 lacking the Waterlow 7 Sons ad; Part 14 lacking the "New Geographical and Educational Works" ad and the Marsland, Son and Co. slip; Part 15 lacking the "Village Pastor" slip (present however in Part 8 though not called for); Part 16 lacking the slip for Grace Aguilar's Works; Part 17 with the inside rear wrapper ad titled "Anti-Bleak House" versus the called for "Table Moving", lacking the slip to follow plate and the 3 called for ads at rear but with ad for Alsopp's Pale or Bitter Ale; Part 18 with the inside rear wrapper ad titled "A Bold Stroke" versus the called for "A Sporting Party", lacking the slip to follow plate and the 3 called for ads at rear but with ad for Norton's Camomile Pills; Part 19/20 with ad for Ransome's Patent Stone Filters being 14 pages instead of the called for 16, lacking W. Mott ad. Hatton & Cleaver 275.