Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$2250.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Folding blue cloth portfolio with gilt stamped cover displaying the image for the serial edition for Dickens' "The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club". Inside are 43 proof images of steel engravings mounted on thicker card stock. The images are mostly signed in the plate with the majority being by Phiz but also a few signed Seymour, 2 unsigned and another also by Browne signed N.E.M.O. The portfolio is worn especially at corners and spine with moderate cloth bubbling as well. The images are fine/untouched however some areas of the card stock mounts show prior staining in the corner/edge. I will attempt to show the least and most affected in the photos supplied. The engraved title page was produced by Browne near the end of the serial run to likely be used in the first book form edition. The loose plates have a slight wave to them, images clear and clean, the title page is either on different paper or has a slight ivory tone. Title and other attribution taken from the contents, no text at all present. At this listing, no auction records found and only other copy found at The University of Adelaide. Rare, early Dickensiana regarding the authors first novel.
Seller: Charles Thomas Bookseller, Stratham, NH, U.S.A.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, First Issue Set of The Library of Fiction, With Two Sketches by "Boz" and Plates by Seymour and Buss [DICKENS, Charles, contributor]. The Library of Fiction, or Family Story-Teller; Consisting of Original Tales, Essays, and Sketches of Character. With Fourteen Illustrations. Vol. I. [II.] London: Chapman and Hall, 1836-1837. First edition in book form, first issue, with title-page to Vol. I dated 1836. Two octavo volumes (8 1/8 x 5 1/8 inches; 206 x 130 mm.). [iii-v]vi[vii]viii, [1]2-384; [vi], 350. Twenty-eight engraved plates by various artists including Robert Seymour and Robert William Buss. Publisher's dark green bead-grain cloth over boards, covers with arabesque design stamped in blind, spines lettered in gilt, all edges uncut, coated yellow end-papers. Covers of volume I with some damp-staining, expertly rebacked with original spine laid down; covers of volume II with joints expertly repaired and end-papers renewed with matching paper. With the bookplate of Eric S. Quayle on front paste-down of volume I. Tipped in at the end is a mid-twentieth century typed booksellers description (G.F. Sims of Hurst, Reading, England) of the book. The plates and text quite clean and relatively free from the usual foxing. An excellent set of the scarce first issue, from the library of the celebrated collector and bibliographer, Eric Quayle. Housed in an early twentieth century olive green morocco over green cloth board slipcase with central divider. Two spines with five raised bands, elaborately tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments. "Dickens' first article in the first number of The Library of Fiction, "The Tuggses at Ramsgate" (Vol. I, pp. 1-18) was published on the selfsame day as the first number of the Pickwick Papers: 31 March 1836. Like Pickwick, the story is set partly in and partly outside London, and involves common London types: the fatuous nouveau riche Tuggses, the mercenary Waterses, and various impertinent and whimsical carriage drivers and land." (Philip V. Allingham, Victorian Web). "Dickens' other article in the Library of Fiction, "A Little Talk About Spring and Sweeps," (Vol. I, pp. 113-119) was first published in May 1836. It sets out to depict the traditional spring celebrations in the streets that Boz remembers so well from his childhood. These festivities, in the shape of spontaneous street performances and merry dances of young sweeps, have by now deteriorated into a fake and shabby charade that has nothing authentic about it. Boz laments the fact that nowadays the dancers are no longer real child sweeps, but actors who produce a contrived and ungainly performance. Boz's description of the celebrations now and in the past is interrupted by a lengthy digression into the biographies and careers of certain young chimney sweeps, the account of whose mysterious original introduces an aura of imaginative speculation into the sketch." (Dickens and the Imagined Child). Rare in the original cloth, neither Sadleir nor Wolff had examples in the cloth. Contains two early pieces by Dickens in Volume I, both attributed to "Boz" and printed in the first and second series, respectively, of Sketches by Boz: "The Tuggs's at Ramsgate," pages 1-18, with two plates engraved by Landells after Robert Seymour, the first illustrator of Pickwick; and "A Little Talk About Spring and Sweeps," pages 113-119, with one plate by J. Jackson after R.W. Buss, Pickwick's second illustrator. "The peculiar purpose of the âLibrary of Fiction,' is to put is readers in possession, at a moderate price, of a series of Original Tales and Sketches, all carefully selected from among a host of candidates; and many of them written by Authors of the very loftiest pretensions in the field of imaginative composition" (publisher's "Address," Volume I). Originally issued in fourteen monthly parts from April 1836-May 1837, with two additional parts issued in June and July, 1837. Eckel, pp. 137-9. Gimbel E122.
Seller: David Brass Rare Books, Inc., Calabasas, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$2540.87 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION. Half title with engr. front. on verso, vignette title, two plates by Phiz. Contemp. half dark blue morocco, spine up-lettered in gilt. t.e.g. A very nice copy in custom-made red morocco box, titled on spine 'Sunday in London'. This scarce squib was written by Dickens while he was otherwise occupied on Pickwick Papers. Dedicated, somewhat sarcastically, to the Bishop of London, it represents Dickens's opposition to the Sabbatarians, a small but vocal group of politicians and clergymen who wanted to pass into law legislation that prevented recreational activity on Sundays. Dickens, as was his wont, took the part of the working man, advocating harmless Sunday amusements and questioning whether the Bishop 'would ever have contemplated Sunday recreations with so much horror, [had he] been at all acquainted with the wants and necessities of the people who indulged them'. The Sabbath Observances Bill was defeated in the House of Commons while Sunday Under Three Heads was at the printers, diminishing the political necessity of the work. Though well received, it was never reprinted in Dickens's lifetime and the first edition is now particularly scarce; two facsimile editions appeared in 1884. This copy retains an earlier bookseller's invoice (1947), and 2pp notes on the work's publishing history.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3208.16 + shipping
Description: First US editions, first states. Parts 1 to 4 (appearing between 5 November 1836 and 20 September 1837) precede the first book edition in London, which was published by Chapman and Hall on 17 November 1837. The fifth part of the American edition appeared on 29 December. Part I is particularly scarce in first state, being issued in only 1,500 copies as the author was entirely unknown, and reissued as sales increased of the later parts. The edition was a piracy, part of a number of publications by American firms of British authors, taking advantage of the lack of international copyright agreements. Henry Charles Carey did offer the author £25 for the parts of Pickwick which they had already printed in June 1837, but Dickens declined on principle, instead only requesting a copy of the edition. Smith First American Editions 2; Gimbel A19. 5 volumes, duodecimo. Uncut in the original pink quarter cloth and boards, printed paper labels. Housed in custom red folding chemises within red cloth solander box. Incomplete: part III lacking pp. 105-108, part IV lacking pp. 201-204. Early pencil and ink ownership inscription to front endpapers, bookseller's label to part I. Hinges weak or cracked, boards slightly discoloured, spines faded and slightly chipped at head and foot, labels slightly rubbed and chipped with some loss of text, contents foxed, part II with flaw at fore-edge p. 101 and pp. 139-146 loose. A somewhat defective, but entirely unsophisticated copy, in the rare original boards which are overall in a very good state of preservation.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
DICKENS, Charles. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Chapman and Hall, London, 1836.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Octavo, 609pp., illustrated. A very handsome copy, bound from the original parts by Bayntun-Riviere in early 20th century full crushed blue morocco, with top edge gilt, gilt portrait of Dickens on the front board, vignette of Dickens' autograph to the rear board, gilt spine compartments, gilt borders, and dentelles, and marbled endpapers. Original wrappers for all 19 parts bound in at rear, with a great number of other advertisements, mostly for the later parts. Mild offsetting to the front board, and the spine gently faded to a paler blue, though the gilt remains bright. One corner nicked. Contents remarkably bright and fresh, with one repaired tear to the engraved title page. No evident foxing. Overall in very near fine condition. Mixed issue, as just about always. 43 inserted illustrations (including the frontispiece), chiefly by Phiz. "Pickwick" is one of the most difficult Dickens books to collate, and we have not endeavored to cross-reference all of the hundreds of possible issue points in Eckel and elsewhere, but note that most of the wrappers are in later states, per Eckel. A few examples: the first two Parts do not have "With four illustrations by Seymour," and the illustrations themselves bear the hallmarks of Phiz's minor, but evident revisions to Seymour's originals (though they are not signed by Phiz). Part III does have the two Buss plates. We welcome any questions on various issue points or anything else. Laid in is a small printed note from the bindery describing the materials used in the binding of this book, and instructions on proper care and maintenance. Altogether a very stately, handsome, and clean signed binding of Dickens' first hit novel, priced chiefly for the grandeur of the binding and the fresh condition of the text and plates. See Gimbel A15, Eckel pp. 25-50 for full details on various issue points.
Seller: Cleveland Book Company, ABAA, Rocky River, OH, U.S.A.
Price: US$6000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing. This is the TRUE FIRST EDITION in the monthly parts. These ORIGINAL 20 parts in 19 are bound with the publisher's green wrappers with forty-three illustrations by Seymour and Phiz and Buss. The wrappers have some professional restoration with light wear to the panels. The pages are clean with some wear to the edges. Overall, a lovely set preserved in a custom clamshell slipcase.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
[DICKENS, Charles]. Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. , 1836.
Price: US$7150.00 + shipping
Description: [DICKENS, Charles]. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Original pictorial wrappers, housed in two gilt-ruled full morocco slip cases with inner cloth chemises. London: Chapman and Hall, 1836-1837. 20 Parts in 19. First edition in monthly parts. Collated against Hatton and Cleaver (pp. 3-88) the first ten parts are in later wrappers, blank on the inside. Part One lacks all advertisements; all plates are in the first state of the second Seymour; all the points for the text are for latter issue. Part Two: all three plates first state; p. 27, last line "was drawn out", p. 30 "wanderings" for "murmurings," p.33 "by God" not "everyman", p. 34 has phrase in brackets, p.36 no comma after "feet", lacks other first issue points. Part Three lacks all advertisements, has both plates "Drawn & Etched by R.W. Buss; lacks Address; lacks all first issue points. Part Four lacks all advertisements; both Plates 10 and 11 are second state or original plate; lacks all first issue text points. Part Five lacks all advertisements; both Plates 12 and 13 are first state; lacks all text points. Part Six lacks all advertisements; both Plates 14 and fifteen are second state, as usual; lacks all text points. Part Seven lacks all advertisements; Plates 16 and 17 are later states; lacks text point. Part Eight lacks all advertisements; Plates 18 and 19 are first state; p. 225, line 34 "e" in "reg'larly" almost obliterated. Part Nine lacks all advertisements; Plates 20 and 21 are both first issue; lacks all text points. Part Ten lacks all advertisements; Plate 22 and 23 are both first issue; Address later state; lacks all text points. Part Eleven lacks all advertisements; Plates 24 and 25 are second plate. Part Twelve: Pickwick Advertiser made up of first and last leaf of Advertiser for Part Eleven; no rear advertisements; Plates 26 and 27 are second plates, first state; p.341, lines 1 and 2 "inde-licate" correct, p.341, line 5 "inscription" correct, p.342, line 5 "S.Veller." Part Thirteen lacks "Pigot's Coloured Views" advertisement; Plates 28 and 29 are first state; p.389, line 7: "wi shI was", p.397: "Ithink", p.400, line 21: "this friends". Part Fourteen Plate 30 and 31 are first state; p.432, headline "F" in "OF" imperfect. Part Fifteen lacks Pickwick Advertiser; Plate 32 is second plate; Plate 33 is first plate. Part Sixteen: Pickwick Advertiser has onl.
Seller: G.S. MacManus Co., ABAA, Bryn Mawr, PA, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Chapman and Hall, London, 1836.
Price: US$8000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition in the ORIGINAL publisher's green pictorial wrappers. All the parts have the original wrappers with some wear to the spine and edges. The pages are clean with light wear. This FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL MONTHLY PARTS is a mixed MIXED ISSUE that includes the suppressed plates by Buss in part III. The Pickwick Advertiser is present and compete in parts XII, XIII, XIV, XVI, and XIX/XX, partially complete in Part XV (12 pp). Five of the seven "addresses" present. 2 ads at back of part XIII, 4 (of 8) ads at back of part XV, one (of 3) ads part XVII, four ads part XVIII, four ads part XIX/XX. Vignette title with "Veller" for "Weller." Overall, a lovely set housed in a half-morocco slipcase.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Price: US$9624.49 + shipping
Description: First edition, in the original monthly parts, of Dickens's first novel, which established his fame, transforming him from an almost unknown young journalist to a household name. The novel was issued in monthly parts from March 1836 to November 1837, and afterwards in book form. The novel increased in popularity as publication progressed, and individual parts were frequently reissued to meet public demand. All these issues were printed from the first edition plates and stereos. Alterations to wrappers, advertisements, text, and plates indicate first or subsequent issues. This set has the points of first issue for parts 14-19/20, and of later issue for parts 1-13. Of the most prominent points, it has the Buss plates replaced by those of Phiz, has all the address slips save for those in parts 2 and 3 (as often), and first state wrappers for parts 9-10 and 14-19/20. A full list of this set's points is available on request. John C. Eckel, The First Editions of Charles Dickens, 1932, pp. 17-59, and Prime Pickwicks in Parts, 1928; Thomas Hatton & Arthur C. Cleaver, Bibliography of the Periodical Works of Charles Dickens, 1933, pp. 1-88; W. Miller & E. H. Strange, Centenary Bibliography of the Pickwick Papers, 1936. 20 numbers in 19 monthly parts, as issued. Original light blue wrappers printed in black. Housed in custom green cloth solander box. Etched vignette title page, frontispiece, and 41 plates by Robert Seymour and Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz). Parts 9 and 16 with neat early signature to front wrapper of one W. B. Pershouse, parts 18 and 19 with early signature of one Major Preston (?), part 18 with early stamp of Pocock's Warehouse; recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box. Neat repairs to spines, occasional nicking at wrapper extremities (repaired in a few instances), a few parts with light toning and spotting to contents, generally clean. A very good set.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Edition in the ORIGINAL monthly parts, twenty numbers bound in nineteen. A beautiful set with the publisher's green printed wrappers with some repairs. The set is complete with all the text present, some missing advertisements, and lacking the earliest plates but having some important points present. The pages are clean with minor wear. A wonderful set housed in a custom clamshell slipcase for preservation. We buy Dickens First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.
Dickens, Charles. Pickwick Papers (Original Parts 20 in 19). Chapman & Hall, London, 1836.
Price: US$25000.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: First Editions, First Printings in the ORIGINAL MONTHLY PARTS SIGNED by Charles Dickens on a laid in check. A superb set in the publisher's green pictorial wrappers with minor wear to the spines and edges. These ORIGINAL wrappers include 27 additional plates with the rare suppressed plates by R. W. Buss in part 3. A total of 70 plates present, with the 27 additions showing different versions of the original 43, some plates being variants not mentioned in Hatton and Cleaver. "These three artists (Seymour, Buss, "Phiz") etched, in all, 92 plates for the completed work; of which 43 are the "Originals" as they appeared in the first issue of the monthly parts, 4 are "Replacements," 2 are "Substitutes," and 24 are "Duplicates" of the originals: total 73. The remaining 19 are not dealt with in this bibliography" (Hatton and Cleaver pp 17). Fourteen of the front wrappers and twelve of the back wrappers are first issue (the wrappers, like the plates, can be found in a number of variants). The text has issue points in twelve of the nineteen books, in this set two of the parts show first issue text and ten show later issue text. The Pickwick advertiser is present and complete in eleven of the sixteen parts which call for it. The set also retains five of the seven "addresses" that were issued in the course of publication. Back ads present are Parts IX, one ad;, part X, one ad; Part XIII, two ads; Part XIV, one ad; Part XV, seven ads; Part XVII, three ads; Part XVIII, four ads; and Part XIX-XX, four ads. This shows twenty-three of the thirty-four ads called for in Hatton and Cleaver. Not complete as for the advertisements, but still with many more ads here than most copies in recent years. An overall excellent set documenting the progression and development of the illustrated plates and their variations housed in a custom clamshell slipcase for preservation SIGNED by the author.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.