FIRST EDITION OF DICKENS’ PICKWICK PAPERS, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND: “NEVER WAS A BOOK RECEIVED WITH MORE RAPTUROUS ENTHUSIASM THAN THAT WHICH GREETED THE PICKWICK PAPERS”
DICKENS, Charles. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. London: Chapman & Hall, 1837. Thick octavo, early 20th-century full red morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom cloth slipcase.
First edition, mixed issue, of one of Dickens’ greatest works, with 43 illustrations by Seymour, Buss and Phiz, beautifully bound by Bayntun (Riviere).
"From a literary standpoint the supremacy of this book has been… firmly established… It was written by Dickens when he was twenty-four and its publication placed the author on a solid foundation from which he never was removed…. It is quite probable that only Shakespeare's Works, the Bible and perhaps the English Prayer Book, exceed "Pickwick Papers" in circulation" (Eckel, 17). "Never was a book received with more rapturous enthusiasm than that which greeted the Pickwick Papers!" (Allibone I:500). Pickwick would be the first volume in which Dickens was acknowledged as the author, rather than using his pen name, "Boz." Mixed issue, with 43 illustrations by R. Seymour, Buss and Phiz, including frontispiece and vignette title page. Without the two scarce suppressed plates by Buss (at pages 67 and 74); substitutions by Phiz at pages 73 and 76. Includes marginal note on page 9 that was suppressed in later issues (Eckel, 23). With two of seven first-issue points: page 342, line 5, "S. Veller"; page 432, headline, "F" in "OF" imperfect. Most plates in the first state. Originally issued in 20 parts from April 1836 to November 1837. With "Directions to Binder" and errata leaf. Smith I:3. Gimbel A15.
Interior generally fine, mild toning to spine. A beautiful copy.