Gone Astray, Charles Dickens — 1st Edition

£23.00

Gone Astray, Charles Dickens — 1st Edition

Name: Gone Astray, Charles Dickens — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5642
Price: 23.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Chapman & Hall Limited, 1912

Formatting: 8vo, pp. viii, 55.

Condition Report: Very Good. The publisher's original green cloth binding remains structurally tight and sound, exhibiting only minor bumping to the corners and slight rubbing to the extremities. The front board, which retains crisp black lettering and the author's facsimile signature, is remarkably well-preserved, though the spine shows the typical, expected moderate tanning and slight fading often encountered with this title. The rear board remains largely clean with only very minor, superficial scuffing. Internally, the book is highly commendable; the pages remain notably bright, clean, and entirely free of any significant foxing or tears. A neat, understated previous owner's ink inscription to the front endpaper, dated August 1937, stands as the only marking within an otherwise fresh and unmarred text block.

Catalogue Note: This is the first separate edition in book form of Dickens's semi-autobiographical sketch, "Gone Astray," which was originally published in his periodical Household Words on August 13, 1853. Introduced by B. W. Matz, the leading Dickensian scholar of the era, the volume offers a nostalgic glimpse into the author's early boyhood adventures wandering the streets of London.

The work is nicely complemented by monochrome illustrations by Ruth Cobb, alongside reproductions from old prints, and contemporary photographs by T. W. Tyrrell. While not exceedingly rare, copies in this condition that retain a firm binding and clean internal pages have become increasingly uncommon on the open market, particularly given the tendency for the green cloth spines of this edition to heavily sun and degrade over time.

In Gone Astray, Charles Dickens masterfully captures the essence of a child's imagination let loose in the sprawling metropolis of London. Originally penned for Household Words in 1853, this charming, semi-autobiographical essay recounts the adventures of a young boy who becomes separated from his guardian and spends a day wandering the city streets. Rather than succumbing to fear, the boy views the city through a lens of wonder and literary fantasy, transforming ordinary sights into grand, mythic encounters. First published as a standalone volume in 1912, this edition is enriched with an insightful introduction by B. W. Matz and evocative illustrations, making it a delightful and essential piece for any collector of Dickensian lore.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Charles Dickens

Book Publisher: Chapman & Hall Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 63

Book Publication Year: 1912

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Ruth Cobb

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.