"WHETHER I SHALL TURN OUT TO BE THE HERO OF MY OWN LIFE….": FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL PARTS OF DAVID COPPERFIELD
DICKENS, Charles. The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observations of David Copperfield. London: Bradbury & Evans, May 1849 to November 1850. Twenty parts in nineteen. Octavo, original pale bluish-green printed paper wrappers. Housed in a custom clamshell box.
Scarce first edition in the original parts of Dickens' "largely autobiographic" masterpiece, with additional vignette title-page, frontispiece and 38 etched plates by Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz").
"The first of Dickens' big books to be written in the first person, and it is looked upon as being largely autobiographic. Though the original sales were comparatively small—not exceeding 25,000—the later popularity more than recompensed for its failure as an early money-maker. With many lovers of the great author's works, David Copperfield ranks as the best of his novels. With a book which gave to the world such characters as Betsy Trotwood, Micawber, the Pegottys and Mr. Dick, it would seem strange if it were otherwise" (Eckel, 75). "It soon became clear that this was his 'masterpiece' although, even so, Dickens himself retained a peculiarly private relationship with the novel" (Ackroyd, 606). "With a comparatively small printing, and because the issues in parts were much read and roughly handled, it is a matter of some difficulty to procure fine, clean and unrepaired sets" (Eckel, 76). First issue of part VIII (page 3 of the "Advertiser" with "LIFE" spelled "LILE"). With all "Copperfield Advertisers," rear advertisements and slips, including the scarce "Lett's Diaries" slip in Part VIII ("more often than not a missing quantity" according to Hatton & Cleaver), with eight specimen diary leaves; duplicate of Jerrold slip in part XIX. With all 40 plates by iconic Dickens illustrator H.K. Browne, best known as "Phiz." Hatton & Cleaver, 253. Gimbel A121. Eckel, 77.
Light foxing, including to plates and wrappers, as often, occasional soiling to wrappers including ring stain to Part I, light wear to extremities of wrappers. A most desirable unrestored set, uncommon in such nice condition.