Dickens, Charles | David Copperfield, in the original monthly parts

Property from the Workman Collection

Dickens, Charles

The Personal History of David Copperfield. London: Bradbury and Evans, May 1849-November 1850

20 parts in 19, 8vo. (220 x 142 mm). Etched frontispiece, title and 38 plates after Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"); some browning and spotting primarily to plates as usual, otherwise internally clean. Original blue-green pictorial wrappers, with the uncommon "Lett's Diaries" folded sheet in part 8; some relatively minor soiling, closed marginal tears some of which repaired, chips primarily to spines, most severe to part 2 and part 19/20, with spine of 19/20 splitting, some restoration to lower wrapper of part 13. Housed in custom navy morocco clamshell case.

First edition in original monthly parts.

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."

Perhaps the most enduring of all bildungsroman, David Copperfield, Dickens's eighth novel, his own "favourite child", was inspired by the London of his youth and contains an unforgettable portrait of his own father in the form of Mr. Micawber.  

Scarce in this condition in parts.

REFERENCE:

Eckel 77-78; Hatton and Cleaver 253-272; Gimbel A121