DICKENS AT THE START OF GENIUS

Dickens, Charles

Pickwick Papers [1837 First Edition] [Early Issue Points] ['Veller' State]

London: Chapman and Hall, 1837. Second issue with mixed issue points.
THE CORNERSTONE OF THE DICKENSIAN CANON IN A SIGNIFICANT EARLY STATE.
This 1837 Chapman and Hall first edition represents the birth of Pickwick-mania. A sophisticated copy for the Dickens specialist, it features numerous sought-after first-issue textual points—including the famous 'Veller' error on the engraved title page and the 'inbe-licate' typo on page 341. Professionally rebacked with the original spine preserved, this volume maintains its Victorian character while offering the structural integrity required for a lifetime of handling.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Issue Priority: Second issue of the first book edition, retaining primary first-issue points: 'Veller' sign on title page; five-line footnote on p. 9; 'r u m' mark on p. 10; broken 'e' on p. 17; 'inbe-licate' and 'inscriptino' on p. 341.
+++ Visuals: 43 etched plates by Robert Seymour and H. K. Browne ('Phiz'), including the work of R.W. Buss.
+++ Binding: Professionally rebacked in half-leather over complementary marbled boards; original spine laid down. Five raised bands with ornate gilt decorations.
+++ Historical Note: The first novel by Charles Dickens, evolving from a series of 'cockney sporting plates' into the most beloved comic masterpiece of the 19th century.
+++ Specs: 8vo; 8.5 inches tall; 609 pages.

CONDITION: Very Good -- Bindings are tight and square with a strong, handsome shelf presence. Text block is clean with light, even toning and occasional foxing. The frontispiece and engraved title page are heavily age-toned; remaining plates show darkening at the perimeters. Noted ownership marks on the verso of the free front endpage. A sturdy, collectible example of a notoriously difficult bibliographic puzzle.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
The Pickwick Papers was the spark that ignited Charles Dickens' global fame. Originally conceived as a mere accompaniment to Robert Seymour’s illustrations, Dickens quickly took command of the narrative, creating a sprawling, hilarious, and deeply human world that changed literature forever.

Because Pickwick was published in monthly parts, the first edition in book form is famously found in a 'mixed' state of issue points. This copy is particularly desirable for retaining the early textual errors that were corrected mid-printing. It represents the frantic, successful energy of a young Dickens at the absolute start of his career.

SUBJECTS: Charles Dickens, 19th Century Literature, Victorian Illustration, Pickwick Club, English Classics, Illustrated Books, Literary High-Spots.

Item #21604

Price: $850.00