Dickens was of the rare breed of author who achieved fame in his own lifetime. One of his most famous writing elements was his penchant for making much of his fiction autobiographical in nature. The Personal History of David Copperfield is one such work believed to be heavily based on the great writer's own life, following an impoverished child who becomes a celebrated writer in adulthood. The 1850 piece of literature became a classic still read today. The first edition was the original volume that bound the 1849 serial into one complete work in 8vo page sizing. It features 38 original etched plates and a beautiful crimson binding. It also features bind from the original parts that includes an advertisement on verso.
We collected a sample of 6 auction results of Dickens, Charles's The Personal History of David Copperfield from 1 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $161 and the highest overall price realized was $1495. The overall average price was $673 and the median price realized for the book was $604. There were 2 auctions (33%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 2 auctions (33%) exceeding the high estimates, and 2 auctions (33%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Swann sale on November 21, 2013 of a 1850 - Bradbury and Evans edition for $813 that first issue bound from original parts; a Swann sale on October 24, 2002 of a 1850 edition for $633 that first edition in book form;Auction House | Auction Date | Author | Title | City | Publisher | Year | Estimate | Sale Price | Auction Page | Copies For Sale | |
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Swann | November 21, 2013 | Dickens, Charles. | The Personal History of David Copperfield | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1850 | $600-$900 | $813 | |||
Swann | October 1, 2009 | Dickens, Charles. | The Personal History of David Copperfield | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1850 | $500-$750 | $360 | |||
Swann | November 11, 2004 | Dickens, Charles. | The Personal History of David Copperfield | London | 1850 | $500-$750 | $1495 | ||||
Swann | May 22, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | The Personal History of David Copperfield | London | 1850 | $400-$600 | $575 | ||||
Swann | October 24, 2002 | Dickens, Charles. | The Personal History of David Copperfield | London | 1850 | $400-$600 | $633 | ||||
Swann | January 17, 2002 | Dickens, Charles. | The Personal History of David Copperfield | London | 1911 | $200-$300 | $161 |