Lewis Arundel or the Railroad of Life

Item Details

London, Virtue, Hall and Virtue, [1851-]1852, Original wrappers

1st in the original parts, excellent

Frank E. SMEDLEY (1818-1864). Lewis Arundel or the Railroad of Life. London: [R. Clay printer for] Virtue, Hall and Virtue, [1851-]1852. 1 volume in 21 (in 20) original parts (as issued). 42 engraved plates (including the additional title, frontispiece and 40 other plates), all by ‘Phiz’ [aka Hablot K. Browne], various advertisement leaves (as issued). (Occasional light offsetting to plates). Original blue paper wrappers [as issued], (minimal wear to backstrips, the second part with a split to the inner margin of the upper cover of the wrapper), all contained within a later dark blue leather-backed slipcase modelled as a book, ‘spine’ lettered in gilt (light old scuffing and rubbing to the slipcase).

First edition in book form in the original parts: rare in this form and extremely rare in this condition. The work had previously been serialized in 'Sharpe's London Magazine’. Written by Francis Edward Smedley, an English novelist and noted periodical contributor.

One other set is listed by RBH as having sold at auction: in 2011 Bonhams sold a set for $1250 (where they mention that ABPC recorded the sale of two copies in the 1970s?). There is currently one other (rebacked) set for sale for $4477.

In his preface the author reports on an interesting skirmish in the pre-Berne convention war over copyright. He points out that the US publisher of his works paid him nothing and wryly thanks his unlooked-for US collaborator or “Transatlantic doppel-ganger” for ‘finishing’ the novel for him when he got sick (while bestowing an unexpected fortune on his main character), and urges American readers to seek out his own, authorized version.

‘Ere I conclude, I wish to mention a circumstance, which, having afforded me some amusement, may possibly do the same to others. Being out of health in the summer of 1851, I was on one occasion prevented from furnishing my usual monthly quota of manuscript. Now, Brother Jonathan, who pays me the compliment (and nothing else) of republishing my works in the New World, not approving of this delay, saw fit to engage the pen of some go-ahead writer straightway to indite a concluding chapter to Lewis Arundel; which, being accomplished, was inserted after the 64th chapter of this edition, and the work thus terminated, was brought out as a "genuine" whole. I have since read, with feelings which "can more easily be imagined than described," this conclusion, and beg hereby to thank my Transatlantic doppel-ganger for his liberal conduct towards my hero, on whom he generously bestows an Earldom and £40,000 a-year. To any of my friends in America, however, who wish to read the tale ended by the same hand which began it, I strongly recommend the perusal of the present edition only.’