Phineas Redux

First Edition Thus. Extremely scarce first1-volume edition in the original green, sand-grain cloth. This novel was originally issued in monthly instalments and then published in 2 volumes by Chapman & Hall in December 1873 (dated 1874).

Sadleir's information about the subsequent fate of this book is inaccurate, as there was definitely a 2 in 1 edition issued by Chapman & Hall (of which he was unaware), prior to the transfer of first edition sheets to Routledge. The present copy is, however, another edition unknown to Sadleir and, as far as I have been able to ascertain, never previously described. It is in the same binding as used by Chapman & Hall on their 2 in 1 binding up of first edition sheets, apart from the appearance of Routledge in place of Chapman & Hall at the foot of the spine.

However, the book was clearly reprinted for this edition as the pagination is continuous from 1-669 and at the end of the text, which was, incidentally printed by W.H. Smith and Sons, there is a code date of 10-9-74 (i.e.September 1874), 9 months after the 2-volume first edition sheets were printed. This is, therefore, the first one-volume edition and comes complete with the 24 plates by Frank Holl.

Routledge title page dated 1874. Original binding with decorative stamping in black and gilt fancy lettering. Very neat rebacking and restoration to head and tail of spine using matching cloth.

Sepia endpapers internally strengthened at gutters. Now a perfectly sound and attractive copy of this rarity. Frank Holl (illustrator).