Mystery of Edwin Drood | Charles Dickens| First Edition in Book Form, Chapman & Hall, 1870 — Rebound in Half Leather by J. Woodland Bindery | First Printing Illustrations by S. L. Fildes

A scarce early edition of Dickens’ final, unfinished novel. This copy contains the first edition sheets (Chapman & Hall, 1870) and is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait, vignette title page, and twelve plates by S.L. Fildes. It has been handsomely rebound in half leather with marbled boards by J. Wooland Bindery, Brighton, with gilt floral tooling and contrasting red and blue spine labels. Marbled edges and endpapers further enhance the presentation.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood was left incomplete at Dickens’ death in 1870, with only six of a planned twelve parts written, leaving the fate of its characters forever unresolved. This copy offers collectors a genuine first edition text block, though rebound from its original green cloth publisher’s binding.

Light rubbing to corners and edges; very light scattered foxing on prelims, text clean and binding sound.

Includes a 19th-century newspaper clipping from the Boston Journal, pasted to a preliminary leaf, offering period commentary on the novel’s unresolved mystery.

Size: 5 3/4” x 8 3/4”

Condition: Very Good +

An elegant rebound first edition, offering collectors a meaningful piece of Dickens’ literary legacy.