[Charles Dickens, as editor.] The first six numbers (comprising vol.1) of 'Bentley's Miscellany', in original wraps and solander box, with contributions by him (including start of first publication of 'Oliver Twist') and 'Extraordinary Gazette'.

The six numbers are each unbound and in their original wraps. They are placed together in a worn purpose-built green cloth Solander box, with 'Bentley's Miscellany Jan-June 1837' in gilt on spine and front. In fair overall condition, worn and aged, with nos.4-6 not as well preserved as the first three numbers, having some loss to the wraps, particularly at the spines. No.2 has '2' in light ink at the head of the front wrap; No.4 has one signature (pp.331-334) loose; and No.6 has slight staining at the foot of the front wrap. The editor is not named inside, but the title on all six covers reads 'Bentley's Miscellany, edited by Boz. Illustrated by George Cruikshank.' Bound in at the rear of No.3 (preceding No.3, Advertisement 3, in the list below) is a rare piece of Dickens ephemera (almost never found as here in context), containing the earliest-known caricature of the novelist: 'Extraordinary Gazette. | Speech of His Mightiness on opening the second number of Bentley's Miscellany, edited by "Boz." 4pp. Engraving at head of first page by John Thompson from Hablot K. Brown, showing a melee of characters, with Dickens in the foreground, standing in front of a porter labouring under a huge box of copies of the magazine, with 'Bentley's Miscellany written on the front. The author of this item is Dickens himself, and it was later reissued in smaller format over 8pp. Following the index at the end of No.6 are the prelims to Vol.1 (paginated i-[viii]), comprising the title-leaf, the 'Editor's Address on the Completion of the First Volume' (by '"Boz."', dated 'London, | June, 1837.', 2pp.), 'Contents of the First Volume' (3pp.) and 'Illustrations'. Nos 2-5 carry the first eight chapters of 'Oliver Twist'; other contributions by 'Boz' are: 'Public Life of Mr. Tulrumble, once Mayor of Mudfog' (No.1), 'Stray Chapters: the pantomime of life' (No.3); 'Stray Chapters: some particulars concerning a lion' (No.5). In addition to the twenty sets of advertisements bound up in the various issues (and listed below), of interest are the occasional notes clearly written by Dickens himself in his capacity as editor. Several of these are recorded in the Wellesley Index, but it does not note that Dickens writes a note 'To Correspondents' on the reverse of the title of No.1, and similar 'Notices to Correspondents' on the reverses of the titles of Nos.2 to 6. Above the 'Notices' in No.6 is the following: 'SINCE the appearance of the last Number of this Work, the Editor has had to mourn the sudden death of a very dear young relative [Mary Hogarth] to whom he was most affectionately attached, and whose society had been, for a long time, the chief solace of his labours. He has been compelled to seek a short interval of rest and quiet. | The next Number - the first of our Second Volume - will be conducted by him, as usual; and the Adventures of Oliver Twist will then be continued.' The twenty sets of advertisements inserted in the different issues are as follows. In No.1: ONE: 'New Works preparing for publication by Richard Bentley, Publisher in Ordinary to His Majesty.' January 1837, 20pp. TWO: 'Bentley's Advertiser.' January 1837 (dated from '3, St. James's Square, Dec. 24'). In No.2: ONE: 'The New Comic Periodical Work, edited by "Boz," and illustrated by George Cruikshank. Bentley's Miscellany, price half-a-crown, With Contributions by the following (among many other) eminent writers.' 4pp (including three pages of reviews). TWO: 'New Works [...]'. February 1837. 8pp. THREE: 'Bentley's Advertiser.' February 1837. [10]pp (paginated 19-28). In No.3: ONE: 'Bentley's Advertiser.' March 1837. [16]pp (paginated 29-44). TWO: 'New Works'. [2]pp. [The other advertisements at rear.] THREE: 'Mr. Murray's List of Books, nearly ready for publication.' Dated from 'Albemarle Street, March, 1837.' FOUR: 'List of Books, Published in 1836-7, By Mr. Murray, Albemarle Street, London.' 4pp. FIVE: 'Mr. Murray's First Complete Edition of the Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.' [From Albemarle Street, with publication advertised on 1 March.] 4pp. In No.4: ONE: 'Bentley's Advertiser.' April 1837. 12pp (paginated 47-58). TWO: 'New Works'. Undated. 2pp. No.5: ONE: 'Bentley's Advertiser.' May 1837. [8]pp (paginated 68-68). TWO: 'The following New Works will shortly be published by Mr. Bentley.' Dated 'New Burlington Street, May 1, 1837.' [14]pp (paginated 69-[82]). [The other advertisements at rear.] THREE: [Robert Cadell, Edinburgh; Whittaker & Co. London.] 'Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. By J. G. Lockhart, Esq., his literary executor.' Dated 'Edinburgh, May 1837.' 16pp. FOUR: 'A List of Books, offered at the low prices affixed, for ready money, by John Green, 48, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.' May 1837. 4pp. FIVE: 'Mr. Murray's Announcements of New Books.' Dated 'Albemarle Street, April, 1837.' 8pp. In No.6. ONE: 'Bentley's Advertiser.' June 1837. 10pp (paginated 83-92). TWO: 'Mr. Bentley has just published the following new works.' Dated 'New Burlington Street, June 1, 1837.' [4]pp (paginated 93-[96])'. THREE (at rear): As No.5, Advertisement Three, but dated 'Edinburgh, June 1837.' 16pp. According to the publisher's entry in the Oxford DNB, 'On 4 November 1836 Bentley signed an agreement to hire Charles Dickens to edit the periodical at £20 monthly and for a further 20 guineas 'to furnish an original article of his own writing, every monthly Number, to consist of about a sheet of 16 pages' (Letters of Charles Dickens, 1.649-50). At the same time Bentley paid George Cruikshank £50 for the use of his name as illustrator, contracted to pay 12 guineas for a monthly etching, and subjected the artist to a £100 penalty should he draw anything for Colburn. [...] But by autumn Dickens and Bentley were fighting over editorial prerogatives. Dickens threatened to resign on several occasions [...] But Cruikshank and Barham as intermediaries managed to reconcile the co-editors, and Bentley acceded to a total of nine agreements restating, in Dickens's favour, the terms upon which Bentley would purchase Boz's editorial services and Dickens's next two novels. The final break with the 'Burlington Street Brigand' (Letters of Charles Dickens, 1.619) came in February 1839, and at that point Ainsworth took over as the magazine's editor.'