The Most Expensive Charles Dickens Books Sold in the Last Decade

Charles Dickens, one of the most celebrated authors of the nineteenth century, has left an indelible mark on literature. His works offer unparalleled insights to the Victorian era and they continue to engage readers through timeless themes that Dickens explores. Due to the importance of Dickens in the literary canon, his novels are often a sought after addition to book collections. Indeed, first editions and inscribed copies of his novels can fetch remarkable sums at auction. Below, we explore the most expensive Charles Dickens books sold at Sotheby's in the past decade, reflecting both their historical significance and their enduring appeal to collectors.

A Christmas Carol Presentation Copy of the Author's Best-Loved Book | Sold for $228,000 on June 26, 2024

The most recent sale on our list is also the highest selling Charles Dickens work of the past ten years. It is a stunning presentation copy of A Christmas Carol published by Chapman & Hall in 1843. The copy is an exceedingly rare pre-publication presentation copy and was warmly inscribed by Dickens to his friend and son’s godfather, Walter Savage Landor, who was a writer and political activist. It is a first edition, first issue, first state and only one of ten copies. This makes it only one of a few copies inscribed on December 17th, which was two days before its official publication.

Great Expectations First Edition, First Edition State | Sold for £175,000 on September 24, 2019

Great Expectations is another one of Dickens’ best known works and is next on the list. In fact, this title takes the next three spots on the list of most expensive Dickens. This was an exceptional three-volume edition published by Chapman & Hall in 1861. The publication of Great Expectations as a three volume set was unique within Dickens’ works. The rarity of the first issue has been credited to both the probable binding up of the volumes and that most of the first editions were purchased by libraries.

Great Expectations First Edition, First Impression State Autographed copy | Sold for $165,100 on December 8, 2023

Great Expectations is one of Dickens’ rarest novels. Only 1,000 copies of the first state of the first edition were produced. Additionally, this title bears the fewest of Dickens’ autographs. This copy bears the presentation inscription and was dated two days prior to the official publication date. To find a copy of the first edition, first state with a presentation inscription by Dickens is truly special and is reflected in the selling price for Lot 1018. In fact, Rare Book Hub cites the sale of just three other presentation copies of Great Expectations during the past century!

Great Expectations First Edition, First Impression State | Sold for $137,500 on June 19, 2015

Next comes another first edition, first impression state of Great Expectations. This particular copy consists of three volumes and is particularly remarkable in that of the nearly 120 issue points outlined in the Clarendon edition of Great Expectations, almost all are the earliest state.

The Personal History of David Copperfield Inscribed Presentation Copy | Sold for £137,500 on September 2, 2019

The fifth highest selling Dickens’ to hit Sotheby’s in the last decade is an inscribed first edition presentation copy of The Personal History of David Copperfield published by Bradbury and Evans in 1850. There were only two other inscribed presentation copies of this title to be sold at auction since 1975. This one was inscribed to ‘Brookes of Sheffield’; the name referenced in the book which was based off of the real-life John Brookes. Dickens wrote in his 1869 preface to David Copperfield that “of all my books, I like this the best.”

A Tale of Two Cities Presentation Copy with Inscription | Sold for £106,250 on September 24, 2019

Sixth on the list is a first edition presentation copy of A Tale of Two Cities published by Chapman and Hall in 1859. It was inscribed by Dickens to actress Mrs. Cowden Clarke and is accompanied by a letter to her. The copy is in its beautiful red leather presentation binding.

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club Inscribed Presentation Copy | Sold for £100,000 on September 24, 2019

Next is the first appearance in book form of Dickens’ first novel, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club published by Chapman and Hall in 1837. This edition features 43 illustrations by Seymour, Buss, and Hablot K. Browne. The copy was inscribed by Dickens to his friend and doctor, Doctor John Elliotson. It still retains the original publisher’s binding of black morocco by James Hayday.

A Christmas Carol Inscribed First Edition | Sold for £93,750 on September 24, 2019

We close with the same title that topped our list, A Christmas Carol, Dickens’ most widely read novel. It was published on December 19, 1843 and sold 6,000 copies in the few days before Christmas and went on to sell over 2 million copies in America over the course of a century. Nevertheless, the book was a financial disaster for Dickens as it was issued in a costly fine cloth binding, special paper, with gilt lettering and hand-colored illustrations. This copy, a first edition presentation copy, was inscribed to Mrs. George Hogg on Christmas, 1843.

Read The Enduring Legacy of Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol to learn more

Conclusion

The last decade has seen extraordinary prices for Charles Dickens's works, highlighting not only their literary value but also their appeal to collectors and their rarity. Each of these books tell a story, connecting the present to a rich literary past. As Dickens's legacy continues to thrive, the market for his works remains robust, ensuring that his influence on literature will be appreciated for generations to come.

For more insights on Charles Dickens and to explore similar literary treasures, view Sotheby's auction catalogues and upcoming sales.

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