Charles Dickens | The Personal History of David Copperfield, 1849-1850, first edition in 19/20 parts

Charles Dickens

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

FIRST EDITION IN 19/20 PARTS, 8vo (227 x 142mm.), etched frontispiece, pictorial title-page and 38 plates by Hablot K. Browne "Phiz", preliminary leaves at end part 19/20, with the majority of the advertisements and many slips as called for, with additional variants, original green pictorial wrappers, parts 10 and 12 bound with variant lower wrappers both with correct wrapper present loose, within chemise and collector's dark green morocco gilt slipcase, some light discolouration to plates, some slips and advertisements included loose, one misbound in reverse, another with pieces cut out, wrappers slightly discoloured and chipped at edges, some with ink inscriptions, one with a large ink stain, corner to part 19/20 restored, backstrips restored and laid down, some with loss

The first edition in parts of Dickens' eighth novel, his own "favourite child", inspired by the London of his youth and containing an unforgettable portrait of his own father in Mr Micawber.

This copy lacks 3 slips, including the rare 'Lett's Diaries'; also lacks 2pp in part 2, 4pp in part 8, 2pp in part 17; with variant or duplicate additional advertisements in parts 1, 7, 11, 13, 18, 19/20.

LITERATURE:

Smith I: 9; Eckel pp. 77-78; Hatton and Cleaver pp. 253-272