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[Dickens, Charles.] SKETCHES OF YOUNG COUPLES; with an Urgent Remonstrance to the Gentlemen of England (being Bachelors or Widowers), on the Present Alarming Crisis. By the Author of "Sketches of Young Gentlemen." With Six Illustrations by "Phiz." London: Chapman and Hall, 1840. 4 pp undated ads. Bound in three-quarter polished calf with marbled boards, gilt-decorated spine with black leather label, and matching marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.
First Edition. SKETCHES OF YOUNG COUPLES was issued as a companion to Dickens's SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN, published in 1838 (and also to SKETCHES OF YOUNG LADIES by "Quiz," not by Dickens). The "present alarming crisis" referred to in the subtitle is Dickens's prediction that in 1840 the young ladies of England would rise up and demand matrimony of all eligible young men -- encouraged by the fact that it was leap year (when it was permissible for women to do the asking), and in particular by the fact that Queen Victoria had just announced her engagement with the rather forceful expression, "It is my intention to ally myself with Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha." Per Dickens's preface, "...unless the excited female populace be speedily checked and restrained in their lawless proceedings, most deplorable results must ensue therefrom; among which may be anticipated a most alarming increase in the population of the country...".
These little volumes were originally issued in fragile pictorial grey-green wrappers, now very scarce. This copy was long ago bound (with the ads retained) in three-quarter polished calf with gilt-decorated spine and leather label. Condition is very good (some rubbing at the extremities; the Phiz plates are clean and sharp). Gimbel B87; Carr B474; Smith II pp 3-7.
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