Not to be overshadowed by other well-known works by Charles Dickens, the novel Little Dorrit is a surprising rags to riches story providing twists for both the main character, Amy Dorrit, and for readers. It holds its own against literary giants such as Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. This book was published in an installment format in 1857 by Bradbury and Evans (London) and provides collectors with options for adding the well-loved Dickens to personal inventory. The original first edition 19 blue-green parts contain illustrations by H. K. Browne. Top condition sets with all advertisements intact can expect to sell for as much as $1500-$2000, but sets are available in the $300-$500 range. The first edition book-bound 1857 publishing by Bradbury and Evans (London) is not as popular as the installments but is accessible for under $100 for a somewhat soiled and worn condition copy. This version contains an engraved frontispiece and illustrations by H.K. Browne.
We collected a sample of 44 auction results of Dickens, Charles's Little Dorrit from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $48 and the highest overall price realized was $2750. The overall average price was $560 and the median price realized for the book was $308. There were 12 auctions (46%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 4 auctions (15%) exceeding the high estimates, and 10 auctions (38%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Bonhams sale on December 10, 2014 of a 1857 - Bradbury and Evans edition for $2250 that a near fine set in original monthly parts; a Swann sale on November 18, 2014 of a 1857 - Bradbury and Evans edition for $2750 that in original monthly parts; a Swann sale on November 11, 2004 of a 1857 edition for $1955 that in original monthly parts;Auction House | Auction Date | Author | Title | City | Publisher | Year | Estimate | Sale Price | Auction Page | Copies For Sale | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PBA | May 18, 2017 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $400-$600 | $270 | |||
PBA | November 19, 2015 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $300-$500 | $480 | |||
Bonhams | September 22, 2015 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $1375 | |||
Bonhams | April 13, 2015 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $1250 | |||
Bonhams | December 10, 2014 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $2250 | |||
Bonhams | November 25, 2014 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $367 | |||
Swann | November 18, 2014 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $1000-$1500 | $2750 | |||
Swann | June 19, 2014 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $800-$1200 | $1875 | |||
PBA | December 5, 2013 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $200-$300 | $132 | |||
PBA | October 10, 2013 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $200-$300 | $132 | |||
Bonhams | June 25, 2013 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $66 | |||
Bonhams | October 24, 2012 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $334 | |||
Swann | June 21, 2012 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $400-$600 | $450 | |||
Swann | November 8, 2011 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $250-$350 | $330 | |||
Bonhams | September 27, 2011 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $183 | |||
PBA | June 30, 2011 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $300-$500 | $180 | |||
Bonhams | February 13, 2011 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $854 | |||
PBA | December 11, 2008 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $250-$350 | $156 | |||
PBA | September 25, 2008 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $400-$600 | $240 | |||
PBA | August 21, 2008 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $250-$350 | $180 | |||
Bonhams | November 27, 2007 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $48 | |||
Bonhams | October 22, 2007 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $510 | |||
PBA | July 12, 2007 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $400-$600 | $240 | |||
Bonhams | March 25, 2007 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $328 | |||
Bonhams | February 18, 2007 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $1434 | |||
Bonhams | February 18, 2007 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $239 | |||
Bonhams | October 10, 2006 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $141 | |||
PBA | February 23, 2006 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $500-$800 | $510 | |||
Bonhams | February 19, 2006 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $956 | |||
Bonhams | January 16, 2006 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $117 | |||
Swann | April 14, 2005 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | 1857 | $500-$750 | $360 | ||||
PBA | March 24, 2005 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $200-$300 | $420 | |||
Swann | November 11, 2004 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | 1857 | $400-$600 | $1955 | ||||
Swann | November 11, 2004 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | 1857 | $200-$300 | $288 | ||||
Bonhams | November 4, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $235 | |||
Swann | May 22, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | 1857 | $400-$600 | $460 | ||||
Swann | April 10, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | 1857 | $800-$1200 | $805 | ||||
PBA | April 8, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $200-$300 | $270 | |||
Bonhams | March 5, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | - | $251 | |||
PBA | January 9, 2003 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $200-$300 | $120 | |||
PBA | August 15, 2002 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $300-$500 | $192 | |||
PBA | May 23, 2002 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $250-$350 | $270 | |||
PBA | March 28, 2002 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $400-$600 | $450 | |||
PBA | November 29, 2001 | Dickens, Charles. | Little Dorrit | London | Bradbury and Evans | 1857 | $200-$300 | $192 |