8vo (174 x 110 mm). Half-title; 2 pp. publisher's advertisements at front, wood-engraved vignette on title-page, 3 wood-engravings in text, 2pp. advertisements at end. (Some spotting and toning, a few leaves roughly opened.) Original blue blind-stamped cloth, spine gilt-lettered (minor wear to spine ends, spine slightly darkened, corners slightly bumped, a few very light stains, covers detaching). Provenance: D.L. Maur? (signature). FIRST EDITION. Dickens's account was first published in The Daily News entitled "Traveling Sketches - Written on the Road"; he reproduced the work in book form as Pictures from Italy, retaining only two of the original twelve chapter titles, and incorporating several textual changes. Eckel, p. 126; Smith II:7.

[With:] DICKENS. Three Christmas books, comprising: The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home. 1846 [1845]. First state of 2 pp. advertisements at rear. Smith II:6. -- The Battle of Life. A Love Story. 1846. Vignette title-page in fifth state, Todd’s Variant E1 with no imprint and unbroken petals. Smith II:8. -- The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. 1848. Smith II:9. -- Together, 3 works in 3 volumes, all published in London by Bradbury & Evans, all 8vo, all complete with text, advertisements, and engravings, all in original red cloth gilt and blind-stamped with edges gilt, most rebacked preserving original spine, ALL FIRST EDITION, condition generally good.