DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870). American Notes for General Circulation. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1842.

The very fine Self copy of the first American edition of Dickens's critique of American society. This is his highly critical account of his 1842 trip through various American states, in which he writes that “This is not the republic I came to see; this is not the republic of my imagination.” The text is largely a compilation of letters that Dickens sent to John Forster, wherein he condemns the press, sanitary conditions, slavery, and American manners. Dickens also made sporadic speeches on international copyright throughout his trip which resulted in alienating many of his readers in the United States. Notes first appeared in a pirated version of the periodical Brother Jonathan and caused such an uproar that countless copies were publicly burned in front of a New York City theater. Subsequent publication moved extraordinarily quickly, and can be cited as “one of the most sensational events in the history of the nineteenth-century American book trade” See Peter S. Bracher PBSA, vol. 69, no. 3, 1975. Davis, 6; Podeschi/Gimbel A67;

Octavo (238 x 150mm). Printed in double columns, 4 pp. publisher’s advertisement at end (some very pale spotting). Original publisher’s brown printed wrappers stamped with black, publisher’s advertisements on the inner front and back wrapper, uncut (touch of wear to backstrip). Custom chemise and slipcase. Provenance: William E. Self (bookplate; his sale, Christie’s New York 2 April 2008, lot 86).