Books

Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens. First edition, second issue but with several first issue points present. With the following issue points: 1. Weller rather Veller on the sign but with first issue point with Phiz peut on the second frontispiece. 2. Suppressed Buss Plates on pages 69 & 74 not present. 3. 43 plates including the 2 frontispieces. 4. Page 260 Line 29 corrected to holding rather hodling. 5. Page 267 Page number with 7 lever with other rather than slightly above the others. 6. .Page 341 spelled words rather than correct spelling of: inde-licate and inscription. 7. Page 342 has first issue point with Line 5 Uncorrected S.Veller. 8. Page 400 Line 21 with his friends should be This friends as a first issue point. 9. Page 432. F in headline corrected should be F in headline is imperfect. 10. First issue point present: Errata page facing first page of Chapter 1. Bound in decorated � leather with raised bands. Publisher: Chapman and Hall, London, 1837. Binding in fine condition. Contents clean but paper darkened with age. 609 pages. Protected by Mylar. Inventory #C-126. Price: $1000. Language: eng Language: eng.

"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.