A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Value Guide

This 1875 edition of A Tale of Two Cities represents a significant period in American publishing when Harper & Brothers helped cement Charles Dickens's legacy in the United States. As a historical novel set during the French Revolution, this specific late-19th-century printing is a tangible piece of literary history for Victorian-era collectors.

What affects the value of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens?

• The physical condition of the cloth binding, specifically looking for spine fading or frayed corners.
• The presence of foxing or tanning on the 19th-century paper pages.
• Completeness of the volume, including all original pages and any publisher-inserted advertisements.
• Provenance or previous ownership marks, such as period bookplates or signatures from the late 1800s.

How to Identify A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens?

• Verify the 'Harper & Brothers' imprint and the 1875 date on the title page.
• Check for the original cloth binding characteristic of mid-to-late Victorian American trade editions.
• Look for the specific typography and layout styles used by the New York-based publisher during this era.
• Confirm the presence of any period-appropriate illustrations or frontispieces included in this printing.

History of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

First published in 1859, 'A Tale of Two Cities' is one of Charles Dickens's most famous historical novels, set during the French Revolution. This edition, published by Harper & Brothers, an influential American publishing house, likely contributed to the widespread popularity of Dickens's works in the United States during the late 19th century.