Original: The earliest version of Sketches by Boz was published by John Macrone in two series : the first as a two-volume set in February 1836 , just a month before the publication of the first number of The Pickwick Papers ( 1836-37 ) , and a '' Second Series '' in August 1836 .
Simplified: The first series was a two-volume set which was published in February 1836 . This was just a month before the publication of the first ( parts of The Pickwick Papers ( 1836-37 ) .