The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1837.
Octavo, with the half-title; 43 plates in first state; publisher's brown blind-stamped cloth binding, spine lettered in gilt, pale yellow endpapers.
First English edition, first issue
First English edition, first issue, of the great novel, preceded only by the publication in original parts, and the unauthorised Philadelphia printing.
First English edition, first issue, of the great novel, preceded only by the publication in original parts, and the unauthorised Philadelphia printing.
This copy has a charming if rather boisterous bibliophile association, having been given to A. Edward Newton by R. B. Adam, who has written on the front free endpaper 'Dear A E N, I do not remember who Pickwick was; but I think you told me he was a relation of yours so this must be yr book. R. B. May 30 1927'. Beneath this he has added 'Sam [Weller] why don't you answer?' Tipped in on the same leaf is a slip of paper in Adam's hand: 'Dr N, I have read a book or 2 but I be d... d if I do not think this is one of the greatest books in the World. R. B.'
This first issue of the first edition has the Phiz plates in first impressions. The relevant bibliographical points are:-
Page 43, second paragraph below Chapter V line 1 has "ruined wall" in the singular
Signature "E" on p. 25 & "X2" on p. 261
P. 10 last line has no mark between "r" & "u" in rum
P. 17 the last "e" appears broken
Vignette on title has "Veller'
Provenance: W.P. Watson (Edinburgh bookseller, with label); R.B. Adam (leather booklabel, and inscription dated 1927 presenting the copy to:) A. Edward Newton (with his Oak Knoll bookplate); Newton's sale (1940, lot 498): private collection (Australia).
Smith, Dickens, 3.
Condition Report: Spine and joints worn at head and tail; inner stitching a bit weak. Some occasional browning to plates, but generally good.
Price (AUD): $8,250.00
US$5,483.52 Other currencies