Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

Dombey and Son is an underexposed Dickens novel with vivid realism and the underpinnings of a female protagonist in Florence Dombey, the neglected daughter of a shipping merchant. The first edition published by Bradbury and Evans (London) under its full title Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son: Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation, like many of Dickens' works was first presented in installments from October 1846-April 1847. The original 19 blue-green parts are housed in a gilt-lettered green calf box for collections garnering $1000-$2300 on the high end. Bradbury and Evans also published the first book form in 1848 with 40 engraved plates by Hablot K. Browne and gilt spine, lettering, and page edges. Minor errors to note in this version include "Capitan" instead of "Captain" on page 324 and "if" missing on page 426, line 9. Depending on condition, this version will sell for as much as $500.

We collected a sample of 33 auction results of Dickens, Charles's Dombey and Son from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $87 and the highest overall price realized was $2990. The overall average price was $784 and the median price realized for the book was $510. There were 12 auctions (52%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 7 auctions (30%) exceeding the high estimates, and 4 auctions (17%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Swann sale on November 10, 2016 of a 1847 - Bradbury and Evans edition for $2340 that in original monthly parts; a Swann sale on May 18, 2016 of a 1847 - Bradbury and Evans edition for $2340 that in original monthly parts; a Swann sale on April 10, 2003 of a 1848 edition for $2990 that in a custom-made black straight-grain morocco folding case, with a proof of the plate and publisher's letter of authenticity laid in;