Note 51 to Chapter 5 of the author's Pegasus in Harness: Victorian Publishing and W. M. Thackeray, which University Press of Virginia published in 1992. It has been included in the Victorian Web with the kind permission of the author, who of course retains copyright.
For how long Pendennis and other serialized novels were available from the publishers in parts is not clear. It might seem that once the novel was available in book form, no more parts would be issued. However, the publishers' records seem to indicate otherwise. Reprints by Bradbury and Evans are recorded by part number, and those by Smith, Elder are recorded in one place as of "various numbers" and in another by specific number. In addition, Smith, Elder recorded the sale "as parts" of twenty-six numbers, a peculiar number equaling one copy of the whole book plus two numbers. The discovery of a copy issued in parts composed entirely of sheets printed from plates or with the Smith, Elder imprint would confirm the availability of the novel in parts after the appearance of the issue in book form.
Last modified: 4 April 2001