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COLLINS, Wilkie. The Dead Secret.
London: Bradbury and Evans, 1857. In two volumes. First edition. 8vo., full black (or very dark blue) morocco, raised bands, gilt decoration in spine compartments, A.E.G. by the Rose Bindery-Boston, viii, (1)-303, (iv), (l)-331pp. With the half title in volume one as called for. A fine, attractive copy of a scarce Collins title. Parrish p.30, Sadleir 590, Woolf 1349.
This novel first appeared in instalments in Household Words. The story begins with a dramatic scene at the bedside of a dying woman. Also present is a strange lady's maid, presented as a woman of mystery. The secret later revealed to be the maid's, is that she passed off her child as her mistress's. Collins gift was his ability to make each instalment individually arresting and full of suspense. He accomplished this so well that "The Dead Secret" was a brilliant success in Household Words. However, according to Sadleir, the publishers of the book issue, Bradbury and Evans, severely misjudged the appeal of this title. The sale outran their expectations and copies of this novel are now among the scarcer of Collins first editions.
$2,000.00