Books

First edition, bound from the original parts in the publisher's primary cloth binding, and scarce thus. Pickwick Papers was Dickens's first great success, the novel that transformed him from an obscure journalist into England's most famous writer in a matter of months. The novel is notoriously difficult to secure in the original cloth in desirable condition: "Pickwick (ignoring points) is rarer 'fine in original cloth' than fine in parts" (Sadleir). Upon the completion of the part issue, serialized from March 1836 to November 1837, Chapman and Hall offered Pickwick Papers in book form in three formats: in the present cloth for 21s., full morocco with gilt edges for 26s. 6d, and half-morocco with marbled edges for 24s. 6d. The also offered owners of the original parts their binding services, binding their parts in the same format at a much lower price than purchasing a new book form copy - cloth, 1s. 6d, full morocco 6s. 6d, half morocco, 4s. 6d. A slip inserted in the 19th number of the part issue (dated 30 October 1837) advertised these services and prices (see Kremers, pp. 285/6). This copy is an example bound from the original parts in cloth, with the characteristic stab-holes in the gutter where unstitched from the wrappers. The publisher continued to offer binding services long after publication, and variants in the cloth exist that reflect later binding – this cloth here is established as primary by both Smith and by Kremers, and matches a copy we have handled with an ownership signature dated on publication day. It is common to cite various issue points for copies in the cloth, but copies bound from the 19 original parts as here necessarily comprise a mix of issues. The key indicators of issue - wrapper and advertisement variations - were discarded when copies were bound. This copy has the following textual and plate states: the plates do not have Chapman and Hall's imprint (added later), and the title is dated 1837 (later issued with subsequent years). The title reads "Weller", available simultaneously with those reading "Veller". The signature "E" is present on p. 25, the first state without it. As in all but a tiny proportion of copies, the Seymour plates are re-engraved by Phiz, following the former's suicide soon into publication of the parts. The Buss plates, which Dickens disliked and rejected, are also replaced by those of Phiz as usual. READ MORE Demy octavo. Original purple fine-diaper cloth, covers stamped in blind, blind-stamped spine lettered in gilt, pale yellow coated endpapers. Engraved frontispiece, vignette title page, and 41 plates by Robert Seymour and Hablot Knight Browne ("Nemo" and "Phiz"). Spine sunned, cloth faded, spine with a couple of nicks and one small chip at foot, few short splits to rear joint, tips worn, generally clean and fresh internally, the plates in good condition without foxing or oxidisation, early inscription carefully cleaned from head of half-title, plate facing p. 89 with tear from foot up to page number neatly closed, plate facing p. 94 with tiny tear in fore edge similarly closed, very good overall.

"The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club," commonly known as "The Pickwick Papers," is Charles Dickens' debut novel, initially published in monthly installments from 1836 to 1837. The novel revolves around the escapades of the Pickwick Club, led by the kindly and naive Samuel Pickwick. The story begins with Mr. Pickwick, a wealthy and good-natured gentleman, forming a club dedicated to exploring and researching the quaint and curious phenomena of the English countryside. Accompanied by his faithful servant, Sam Weller, and his fellow club members - the sportsman Nathaniel Winkle, the poet Augustus Snodgrass, and the well-to-do Tracy Tupman - Pickwick embarks on a series of misadventures. Throughout their travels, the members encounter a myriad of colorful characters and find themselves in humorous and often absurd situations. Dickens uses the episodic structure of the novel to present a tapestry of vignettes, each showcasing different facets of English society, from the eccentric to the mundane. Among the memorable episodes is the mishap-filled romantic pursuit of Mr. Tupman, the amateur theatricals featuring Mr. Winkle's dubious acting skills, and Mr. Pickwick's inadvertent entanglements in legal disputes, including a memorable trial in which he is wrongfully accused of breach of promise. One of the standout characters is Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick's witty and resourceful valet, whose distinctive Cockney speech and clever observations provide comic relief and endear him to readers. "The Pickwick Papers" is more than just a collection of humorous escapades; it also serves as a social commentary on various aspects of early 19th-century England. Dickens addresses issues such as the legal system, the injustices of debtors' prisons, the hypocrisies of the upper class, and the hardships faced by the working class. The novel's popularity lies in Dickens' sharp wit, vivid characterizations, and satirical observations of society, establishing his reputation as a master storyteller and cementing his place in the pantheon of English literature. "The Pickwick Papers" remains a beloved classic, appreciated for its humor, warmth, and insight into the human condition and the society of its time.