Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens (published in 1837) is more popularly known as The Pickwick Papers. The novel takes a humorous and critical look at the injustices of the justice system. The appeal for collectors includes its mark as the first novel published by this prolific author. There are several first edition early state formats. A 2-volume version (Chapman and Hall) has some points to note: page 43, second paragraph below Chapter V, line 1 reads "ruined wall" in the singular; with the rare signature misprint on p. 261, reading X2; with signature "E" present on p. 25; and "holding" on p.260. Copies can command $800-$4000 at auction. A single volume in green-calf presents a beautiful landscape of a stone bridge on a river in a city on the fore-edge of the pages. It includes 43 illustrations by R. Seymour and Phiz (pen name for Hablot Knight Browne). As a side note: Seymour committed suicide in 1836. Collectors with a lower budget are able to obtain first editions for as low as $200-$400 but can expect defects and generally poor condition. Pirated editions published in 1838 published by Henry Dowling issued in 25 parts are sometimes mixed with first edition installments. A hybrid collection is attractive to collectors and can be obtained for about $700.

We collected a sample of 28 auction results of Dickens, Charles's The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club from 2 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $61 and the highest overall price realized was $6354. The overall average price was $1316 and the median price realized for the book was $788. There were 4 auctions (27%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 4 auctions (27%) exceeding the high estimates, and 7 auctions (47%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Bonhams sale on November 15, 2017 of a 1837 - Chapman and Hall edition for $6354 that Wilkie Collins' copy; a Swann sale on October 16, 2003 of a 1910 edition for $3680 that extra-illustrated copy with over 1000 engraved plates, original watercolors, and other illustrations; a Swann sale on May 22, 2003 of a 1837 edition for $4830 that extra-illustrated copy with numerous watercolor drawings signed by Kyd and Pailthorpe;