Books

Hardback, 8.5 x 5.5 inches. Half bound dark green calf leather to spine and corners and marbled paper covered boards. Spine with twin leather spine labels lettered in gilt and full gilt decoration. Marbled endpapers and page edges. In very good condition. In lovely leather fine binding. Some slight minor rubbing to corners and spine ends. Else lovely smart cover. Some moderate dark foxing spots to blank prelims. No penned inscriptions. Some mild to moderate darkening to plates, many remain quite bright and clean, with some minor tanning around edges Frontis and decorative title more heavily darkened and foxed. A couple of minor spots and some minor offsetting to pages. Else pages very clean and tight. Binding tight and sound. Else a lovely 1st edition. 609pp. Illustrated with Forty-Three B&W Engraved plates (41 + Title & Frontis) by Phiz, R. Seymour (and JW Buss). This copy contains the following first issue points given by Hatton & Cleaver: signature 'E' (p.25), 'hodling' (p.260), '7' misaligned (p.267), 'indelicate' and 'inscription' (p.341), 'S. Veller' (p.342), headline 'F' imperfect (p.432).

"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.