The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club

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The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club

DICKENS, Charles (1812–1870). The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club . London: Chapman & Hall, April 1836–November 1837. [ With: ] Autograph letter signed (“Charles Dickens”) to Thomas Hill, [19 November 1837]. [ With: ] Collection of important printed Pickwickiana. · First edition in original monthly parts of Dickens’ first novel. · The near-prime McCutcheon–Suzannet copy, with most first issue points as noted in Hatton and Cleaver (see below). · Includes the extremely rare leaflet being the earliest announcement of the publication of the first part of The Pickwick Papers . · With autograph letter signed from Dickens to book collector Thomas Hill from the morning after the dinner celebrating The Pickwick Papers ’ completion in print. This set is the celebrated McCutcheon–Young–Starling–de Suzannet–Self copy listed among the fifteen copies in Eckel’s Prime Pickwicks in Parts (1928). In his extremely thorough and detailed card catalogue, Starling identifies it as the McCutcheon copy, and a comparison of some of the distinguishing characteristics of his copy confirms this: Part 1 includes the extremely rare Pickwick announcement leaflet and Part 3 features the publisher's compliments inscription inside the blank front wrapper. Present with this copy is an autograph letter signed from Dickens to his friend Thomas Hill (1760-1840). Dickens had invited Hill—a book-collector, known for what was probably “the best existing collection of English poetry” (ONDB)—to a “semi-business semi-pleasure little dinner […] to celebrate (that is too great a word, but I can think of no better) the conclusion of my Pickwick labours” on 18 November 1837 ( Letters , ed. House and Storey, p. 331). Dickens writes here, “ I am sorry you were not with us last night. It went off exceedingly well .” This is the only known reference to the dinner made by Dickens afterwards. Eckel, Prime Pickwicks in Parts , p. 13 (this copy with some additional material); Grolier English 78; Hatton & Cleaver, pp. 3–88. Text: All text is in first state throughout, save for a few points in parts 1 and 2. Wrappers: All wrappers are dated 1836. Inner wrappers on parts 1–3 are blank. Front wrappers on parts 1 and 2 read: “With four illustrations by Seymour”; and on part 3: “With illustrations by R.W. Buss”. Front covers of parts 1–3 do not have brackets after "No." as noted in some copies by Hatton & Cleaver. Parts 16–19⁄20 with “Bradbury and Evans, Printers, Whitefriars” at the bottom of front wrappers. Advertisements: All advertisements, Pickwick Advertisers, slips and addresses as noted by Hatton & Cleaver are present, save for the “Phrenology Made Easy” slip in part 7 and the very rare “George Mann” leaflet in part 9. Part 13 includes the exceptionally rare “Pigot’s Coloured Views” advertisement. Addresses: All first issue, save for in part 10. Plates: All first state save for for part 1 “Dr. Slammer’s Defiance” (first Seymour plate, second state) and part 2 “The Dying Clown” (first Seymour plate, second state with signature). The two plates in part 6 are in the first state, with page numbers interchanged (“The rarest items in the whole realm of ‘Pickwick’”, Hatton & Cleaver). 20 parts in 19, quarto (221 × 140mm). 43 engraved plates (including engraved title) by R. Seymour, R.W. Buss, and Hablot K. Browne (“Phiz”) (some spotting and discoloration, a few with short marginal tears). (Occasional minor marginal spotting or soiling, ). Original green pictorial printed wrappers (several spines slightly defective, some with small repairs, occasional soiling and wear); custom gold-tooled red morocco boxes with cloth chemises. Provenance : Contemporary ownership inscriptions on front wrapper of parts 1–3, 5 and 7 (“G.H. Bosanquet”) – “E.F. Cooch, Stationer & Account Book Manufacturer, 55 King William Street, (London Bridge.)” (early label on part 13 front wrapper) – Comte Alain de Suzannet (armorial bookplates; his sale, Sotheby’s, London, 22 November 1971, lot 19) – Kenyon Starling (bookplate) – William E. Self (bookplate; his sale, Christies, New York, lot 17). [ With: ] Autograph letter signed (“Charles Dickens”) to Thomas Hill, [19 November 1837]. One page (180 × 113mm) on folded bifolium (few light stains and light soiling). Provenance: sale, Bonham’s, New York, 20 June 2018, lot 27. [ With: ] Collection of nine important Pickwickiana imprints, comprising: Pickwick Papers advertisement in The Athanaeum , no. 439. 26 March 1839. – On the Origin of Sam Weller . London: J.W. Jarvis & Son, 1883. – DAVIS, George W. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, Some New Bibliographical Discoveries . London: Marks & Co., 1928. – ECKEL, John C. Prime Pickwicks in Parts . New York: Edgar H. Wells & Co.; London: Charles J. Sawyer, Ltd., 1928. – The Dickensian , Pickwick Centenary Number, vol. 32, no. 237–40. December 1935–December 1936. – Catalogue of […] The Propert of the Comte de Suzannet . London: Sotheby & Co., 1938. – The Edward Hubert Litchfieldf Collection of First Editions . New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, 1951. – Catalogue of […] First Editions of Charles Dickens from the Collection of the Late Comte Alain de Suzannet . London: Sotheby & Co., 1971. – The William E. Self Family Collection. Part I: The Kenyon Starling Library of Charles Dickens . New York: Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd., 2008.

Estimate:$50,000

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