Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

The prolific and admired British writer Charles Dickens puts mystery and intrigue in the forefront with his novel Our Mutual Friend. It tells the story of murder, inheritance, and social class. His innate ability to discharge humanity's weaknesses of greed and moral ambiguity satirize London's society. The first edition was published by Chapman and Hall (1865 London) in 19 installments of blue-green wrappers with 40 wood-engraved plates by Marcus Stone. In top condition this collection sells for as much as $2250 at auction. It is very rare to find this collection with all advertisements intact. A 2-volume version presents in 1865 by Chapman and Hall with illustration plates by Marcus Stone with an additional illustrated title page in Volume 1. This version may command a range of $100-$300. A third version of a first edition by Chapman and Hall (1865 London) is 2-volumes bound as 1 with 40 wood-engraved plates after Marcus Stone. It ranges on the lower spectrum of prices for 1st editions and is accessible for $100.

We collected a sample of 32 auction results of Dickens, Charles's Our Mutual Friend from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $94 and the highest overall price realized was $2250. The overall average price was $513 and the median price realized for the book was $329. There were 13 auctions (65%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 2 auctions (10%) exceeding the high estimates, and 5 auctions (25%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Bonhams sale on April 13, 2015 of a 1865 - Chapman and Hall edition for $1625 that with a custom chemise and half-morocco pull-off case in originl monthly parts; a Bonhams sale on October 18, 2011 of a 1865 - Chapman and Hall edition for $2250 that first edition in original monthly parts remarkable for its completeness in respect to the advertisements; a Swann sale on October 16, 2003 of a 1865 edition for $1840 that first edition bound from the parts, extra-illustrated with 24 watercolor character sketches by Joseph Clayton Clarke and four steel engravings after Darley ;