Books

First edition in book form, very scarce in the original cloth in such sharp condition. "Copperfield received considerable critical acclaim and before long was widely held to be his greatest work. Undoubtedly it became for very many readers, then as now, his best-loved novel, an opinion in which Dickens himself coincided, calling it in a preface to the book of 1867 his 'favourite child'" (ODNB). It has been adapted into films multiple times, including most recently in 2019, starring Dev Patel as the hero. The publisher's binding on this copy can be dated to c.1853-61 - first edition sheets were bound up over time as demand required, the "lineal-globe" design of this cloth matching that of Bleak House (1853) and Little Dorrit (1857). All copies are very scarce in cloth, largely due to the bulkiness of the novel and the fragility of the cloth bindings, alongside the great popularity of the novel. Octavo. Original green diaper cloth, smooth spine lettered in gilt and blocked in blind, sides ruled in blind with central arabesque ("lineal-globe", see note), light yellow endpapers. Housed in custom green morocco-backed solander box. With 39 full-page steel engravings by H. K. Browne; first state of the vignette title page with date, second state of p. 132 line 20 with "screwed" replacing "screamed". Light sunning to spine but much brighter than often, cloth fresh and clean, neat repair to hinges, square and tight, foxing to frontispiece and engraved title, plates otherwise unusually clean and sharp with only minor foxing. An excellent copy. Eckel, pp. 77-78; Kremers, "A Comparative Bibliography of the Sheets and Publishers' Cloth Cases of the Demy Octavo Works of Charles Dickens, 1837-1872", 2013, pp. 202-213; Smith I, 9 (placing this cloth as primary).

Considered one of Charles Dickens' most popular works, 'David Copperfield' is a rich tapestry of Victorian life, blending humor, tragedy, and romance in a vibrant narrative.