Dickens, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, 1837, first edition in book form, publisher's deluxe binding

DICKENS, CHARLES

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. London: Chapman and Hall, 1837

8vo (208 x 128mm.), FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, mixed issue, 4 of 7 of Smith's priority first issue text points, half-title, printed title dated 1837, 2pp. Address by the Author, 4pp. Preface, 4pp. Contents, 2pp. Directions to the Binder/Errata, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title-page in first state, and 41 other plates by R.Seymour and H.K. Browne ["Phiz"], full maroon morroco, covers stamped in blind with linear border with floral cornerpieces, spine with title and date in gilt, inside edges tooled with repeated foliate motif, pale yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, collector's chemise morocco-backed cloth folding case, lettered and dated (incorrectly) on spine, plates browned and offset, some occasional browning to text throughout, first signature loose, small dent in upper cover, joints rubbed or slightly split, neat repair to spine

RARE IN PUBLISHER'S DELUXE BINDING. Chapman and Hall offered The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club in three bindings: full leather, half leather and cloth. They also prepared a few "Super-Bound" copies for Dickens to present as gifts, however these were in special bindings by Hayday and others. It is probable this copy is one of the rare original publisher's full leather copies.

Text

Smith first issue p.341 'indelicate' and inscription, p.342 'Veller', p.400 'this', p.432 broken headline

Plates

Seymour plates 1, 2, and 4: first state of the second plate; plate 3: second state of the first plate; plates 5-7: first state; remaining plates by H.K. Browne ["Phiz"]: plates 12,13, 17-21 in first state; plates, 10,11, 14 and 15 in second state; plates 23, 24 and 28, 29 second plates; the remainder first plates.

REFERENCE:

Smith I:3; Eckel pp. 17-78; Hatton and Cleaver pp. 1-88

PROVENANCE:

John Clowes, bookplate.