THE PLAYS AND POEMS OF CHARLES DICKENS With a Few Miscellanies in Prose Now First Collected. Edited Prefaced and Annotated by Richard Herne Shepherd

2 volumes. LIMITED EDITION, one of only 150 large paper numbered copies, and the first issue other than the immediately suppressed issue of 1882. Each page of text printed within a lovely frame with elaborate corners. Large Paper 8vo [26.6 x 18.5 cm], handsomely bound in navy blue morocco over cloth covered boards, the spine with double-gilt ruled bands trimmed in blind and gilt lettering, back strip gilt ruled. 406; 420 pp. A fine copy, internally very fresh and clean, with only the lightest hint of mellowing at the far edges, the bindings pristine and beautifully preserved.

Edizione: a large paper copy of the scarcest issue of dickens' collected plays and poems, one of only 150 numbered copies. the only earlier edition was the issue of 1882, which was immediately withdrawn from the trade and suppressed. the suppression was due to 'no thoroughfare', which was co-authored by wilkie collins, being included without proper copyright permission. in spite of the suppression, that issue is still more commonly found in antiquarian markets than this, the preferred large-paper limited issue.