Beschreibung:

STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, life among the lowly . Boston: John P. Jewett & Company..., 1852. First edition, B.A.L.'s "B" binding, with all first issue points throughout excepting the two on volume one, p. 42, which correspond to the later issue, possibly indicating a correction made "on the fly" during the first printing. Original purplish brown cloth, front covers with gilt-blocked vignette, repeated in blind on back covers, with the "P.J. Jewett & Co." at the foot of the spines. 7 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches (19 x 12 cm); [iii]-x, [13]-312 pp.; [i]-iv, [5]-322 pp., with terminal blank present, and three plates in each volume. Some fading to the bindings as usual, but generally an externally clean set, the second volume probably tightened in the casing, but joints and hinges sound, and minimal wear to heads and tails of spines. Within, occasional spotting and soiling, but a far better than average example, housed in an old blue levant custom box with cloth chemises. A seminal work of literature, whose influence justifies Lincoln's purported greeting to her as "the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war." 120,000 copies had sold by October of 1852, making this the greatest American bestseller to that date; the first two printings were each of 5,000 copies only, and the vast majority of copies were read to shreds. Presentable copies are uncommon. B.A.L. 19343; Grolier American 61; PMM 332. C