This issue conforms with the Gimbel copy (Podeschi 124) with the following exceptions. Podeschi describes the Gimbel copy as being bound in "greyish purple cloth" and our copy is bound in what I would describe as "dark brown" cloth. The Gimbel copy has "pale green e/papers with adverts printed in black in vol.1" and "pale yellow endpapers (without adverts) in vol.II". Our copy has pale green e/papers with printed adverts in volume I as called for but volume II has pale green front e/paper & pastedown and a pale yellow rear e/paper and pastedown with printed adverts on both. The printed adverts in both our volumes are dated "Nov. 1st, 1850" and are identical. Our copy also contains an inserted engraved titlepage dated "1851." The University of Texas at Austin, has a copy with an inserted engraved title dated "1850" thereby making our copy a variant state or perhaps more properly, that leaf being inserted, a variant issue. There is of course a variant issue done by Putnam at the same time which is offered in the Sumner & Stillman Catalogue No.36--MacGuire. Sumner & Stillman state (as does Gimbel) that the original part issue had the Wiley imprint on the first eleven parts then switched to Putnam, then reverted to Wiley in the final number. S & S state that they cannot say which imprint preceded although it seems more likely that the Wiley should precede. However, our inserted engraved title clouds that issue. To further complicate this book's history, Lea & Blanchard also issued an edition in Philadelphia in 1851. Whatever the status, we call this copy a variant issue, status unknown.
This set has been professionally rebacked with the original spines laid down. There are approximately 1/4" additions skillfully matched at the head and the foot of the spines replacing cloth which had obviously been chipped away. There is foxing throughout as is common with American books of this period. In all, this is a near fine, unworn copy. Price $2500.00 Canadian.
