The novel was first published in monthly instalments, from February 1837 to April 1839, in the magazine Bentley's Miscellany. It was originally intended to form part of Dickens's serial, The Mudfog Papers.[6][7][8] George Cruikshank provided one steel etching per month to illustrate each instalment.[9] The novel first appeared in book form six months before the initial serialisation was completed, in three volumes published by Richard Bentley, the owner of Bentley's Miscellany, under the author's pseudonym, "Boz". It included 24 steel-engraved plates by Cruikshank.
The first edition was titled: Oliver Twist, or, The Parish Boy's Progress.
Cover, first edition of serial, entitled "The Adventures of Oliver Twist" January 1846Serial publication dates:[10]
- I – February 1837 (chapters 1–2)
- II – March 1837 (chapters 3–4)
- III – April 1837 (chapters 5–6)
- IV – May 1837 (chapters 7–8)
- V – July 1837 (chapters 9–11)
- VI – August 1837 (chapters 12–13)
- VII – September 1837 (chapters 14–15)
- VIII – November 1837 (chapters 16–17)
- IX – December 1837 (chapters 18–19)
- X – January 1838 (chapters 20–22)
- XI – February 1838 (chapters 23–25)
- XII – March 1838 (chapters 26–27)
- XIII – April 1838 (chapters 28–30)
- XIV – May 1838 (chapters 31–32)
- XV – June 1838 (chapters 33–34)
- XVI – July 1838 (chapters 35–37)
- XVII – August 1838 (chapters 38–part of 39)
- XVIII – October 1838 (conclusion of chapter 39–41)
- XIX – November 1838 (chapters 42–43)
- XX – December 1838 (chapters 44–46)
- XXI – January 1839 (chapters 47–49)
- XXII – February 1839 (chapter 50)
- XXIII – March 1839 (chapter 51)
- XXIV – April 1839 (chapters 52–53)
