"Books are a hardbound drug with no danger of overdose. I am the happy victim of books."
— Karl Lagerfeld
Charles Dickens | First Editions
1812 - 1870
Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic, who created created some of the world's best-known fictional characters. Dickens is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity
Most of his novels were published in monthly or weekly instalments, and thus pioneered the serial publication of narrative fiction which became the dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. The instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development based on such feedback. His plots were carefully constructed, and he often wove elements from topical events into his narratives. Masses of the illiterate poor chipped in ha'pennies to have each new monthly episode read to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
See below our stock of Charles Dickens First Editions, original parts, and fine bindings.
Charles Dickens Museum
The Dickens Fellowship
Our Mutual Friend.
London: Chapman and Hall [1896]. CROWN EDITION, in scarce original printed DUST-WRAPPER. Octavo, pp.x; 683; [1], blank. Publisher's russet-coloured buckram blocked in gilt and black, complete with rare paper jacket. With forty illustrations by Martin Stone. One of the author's most famous tales, issued as part of the 'Dickens Crown..... More
Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy's Progress.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1880]. [English literature] FINELY BOUND. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.viii; 311; [1], blank. With twenty-four engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Mid green half calf to style with gilt to spine, marbled sides, top edge gilt. Internally clean, plates with a few minor spots..... More
Martin Chuzzlewit.
London: Chapman and Hall, n.d. [circa 1870]. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Octavo, pp.xvi; 624. With 40 illustrated plates by Phiz, including a frontispiece and vignette title page. Contemporary green half morocco over green pebble grained cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt titles and gilt motifs to spine. All..... More
The Chimes. A Goblin Story of some Bells that Rang an Old Yearout and a New Year In.
London: J.M. Dent and Co., 1905. [Short story] FIRST BROCK EDITION IN COLOUR. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.[viii]; 167; [3]. Contemporary quarter vellum over blue cloth boards, lettered, decorated in gilt to spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Colour frontispiece and numerous in-text illustrations. Textblock a little shaken with a...... More
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1839. [Classic Fiction] FIRST EDITION, bound from mixed issue parts. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.xvi; 624. With 39 engraved plates by Phiz, and a frontispiece portrait of the author by Maclise. This copy does not have "visiter" for "sister" on p.123 line 17, but it does..... More
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1895]. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Octavo (22 x 17cm), pp.[2] xvi; 624 [2]. With 39 engraved plates by Browne, and a frontispiece portrait of the author by Maclise. Contemporary green half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spine..... More
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1837. [Classic Literature] FIRST EDITION, EARLY ISSUE: "Veller" title and two "Buss" plates; bound without the half-title. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.iii-xvi; 609; [1]. With 41 engraved plates, as well as an engraved frontispiece and decorated title page. Later green half straight grained morocco, with raised..... More
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1895]. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Octavo (22 x 17cm), pp.[2] xvi; 609 [3]. With 43 engraved plates by Browne and Seymour, including a frontispiece and vignette title page. Contemporary green half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spine..... More
The Old Curiosity Shop.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1895]. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Octavo (22 x 17cm), pp.[2] vi; 533 [3]. With frequent in-text illustrations, and occasional engraved plates, by various artists, including a frontispiece. Contemporary green half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spine, and..... More
![Works of Charles Dickens, including:] Pickwick Papers, The Old Curiosity Shop, Great...](/pictures/thumb/58220.jpg?v=1603993263)
[Works of Charles Dickens, including:] Pickwick Papers, The Old Curiosity Shop, Great Expectations, Bleak House, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, etc. The "Charles Dickens" Edition.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1880]. [Literature] FINELY BOUND SET. Nineteen volumes bound as thirteen. Octavo (18 x 13 x 42cm). Each title with eight illustrated plates. Contemporary tan half calf with gilt titles to contrasting red and green labels, further gilt decoration to spines, and marbled paper..... More
Our Mutual Friend.
New York, NY: Hurd and Houghton, 1866. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND by M. Jackel and Co, NY. In four volumes. Crown octavo (18 x 12 x 11cm), pp.[4] 311 [3]; pp.[4] 306 [4]; pp.[4] 305 [3]; pp.[4] 284 [4]. With a steel engraved frontispiece to each volume. In an elegant..... More
The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1870. [Crime / Mystery] FIRST EDITION in book form. Large octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.viii; 190 [34]. With 12 wood engraved illustrations after Fildes, as well as a steel engraved frontispiece and vignette title page. Publisher's green cloth, recently re-backed with the original cloth spine laid..... More
The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1870. [Crime / Mystery] FIRST EDITION, bound from the original parts. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.viii; 190 [36]. With 12 wood engraved illustrations after Fildes, as well as a steel engraved frontispiece and vignette title page. One original light blue wrapper bound in at rear. Publisher's..... More
The Christmas Books. [A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man in] The Works of Charles Dickens.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1843-1848. [Festive Ghost Stories] ALL FIRST EDITIONS, each with an associated letter tipped-in. Five volumes, octavo (19 x 13 x 10cm). Publisher's red cloth covers (brown cloth for 'Carol') with gilt blocking and gilt edges. [1] A Christmas Carol: FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, FIRST STATE, with..... More
Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son, Wholesale, Retail and Exportation.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1895]. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Octavo (22 x 17cm), pp.xvi; 624 [2]. With 40 engraved plates by Browne, including a frontispiece and vignette title page. Contemporary green half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spine, and textured green..... More
Dombey and Son. Or, Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son, Wholesale, Retail and Exportation.
London: Chapman and Hall Limited, W.R. Howell and Co., no date [circa 1880s]. [Classic literature] Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[xvi]; 624. Illustrated by H.K. Browne, with tissue guards to engravings. Elegantly bound in dark green half morocco over cloth sides, decorated in gilt, with raised bands, all edges gilt, marbled..... More
Little Dorrit.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa 1895]. [Classic Literature] FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. Octavo (22 x 17cm), pp.[2] xiv; 625 [3]. With 40 engraved plates by Browne, including a frontispiece and vignette title page. Contemporary green half morocco, with raised bands, gilt titles and decoration to spine, and textured..... More
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Illustrated in Colour by Frank Reynolds.
London: The Westminster Press / Hodder and Stoughton, n.d. Quarto, with 20 tipped-in colour plates, captioned tissues. Publisher's red cloth, gilt titles and gilt medallion decoration to upper board, pictorial end-papers, original printed dustwrapper. Light foxing to some tissues and mount of some plates. Very good. Exceptionally clean within, jacket..... More
Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty.
London: Chapman and Hall, [1841]. FIRST SEPARATE EDITION, bound with unaltered stereotype sheets from the original triple-decker; an unrecorded variant. Octavo (26 x 17cm). With textual engravings by George Cattermole and Hablot K. Brown ('Phiz'). Smith's later issue with Piccadilly address shown on an undated title page. In our copy..... More
Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son, Wholesale, Retail, and for Exportation.
Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1847. [Classic literature] FIRST CONTINENTAL EDITION. 3 volumes. Small octavo (16 x 12 x 6cm), pp.[vi]; 352; pp.[vi]; 316; pp.[x]; 366; [2] blank. Contemporary tan quarter calf binding, titled in gilt to red label on spine, raised bands to spine, marbled paper covered boards, marbled endpapers, speckled..... More
Master Humphrey's Clock. To which are added Papers by Mr. Yellowplush.
Paris: Baudry's European Library, 1841. [Literature] CONTINENTAL EDITION. Two volumes, octavo (22 x 13cm), pp.[vi]; 323; [iii], blank; pp.[viii]; 131; [ii], blank. Contemporary red quarter calf binding, title labels and decorative gilt to spine, raised bands, all edges marbled, marbled endpapers and boards. The continental edition, published a year after..... More
Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings, The Extra Christmas Number of All The Year Round, for Christmas, 1863.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1863. Octavo., 240 x 165mm., pps. 48. Publisher's blue paper covers. Some expected toning and wear to cheap magazine paperstock. Owner name to margin. Fragile covers mostly complete, chipped and split at spine, disbound. A rare survival. More
The Old Curiosity Shop.
London: Chapman and Hall, [1841]. FIRST SEPARATE EDITION, bound with unaltered stereotype sheets from the original triple-decker; an unrecorded variant. Octavo (26 x 17cm), 228 leaves, Page 2 is numbered 2-38, p.47 numbered 47-79, p.96 numbered 96-102, p.224 blank, as per Smith, p.307 reverts to number 1 (not in Smith)..... More
The Posthhumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Containing a faithful record of the perambulations, perils, travels, adventures and sporting transactions of the corresponding members.
Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1842. [Literary clasic] FIRST TAUCHNITZ EDITION. 2 volumes. Duodecimo (16 x 11cm), pp.[viii]; 430; [4]; pp.[4]; 427; [1]. Tan quarter calf binding with marbled paper, lettered in gilt to spine, raised bands on spine, marbled endpapers. Pictorial frontispiece with tissue guard in volume one. Occasional spotting otherwise..... More
Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy's Progress. By "Boz". In Three Volumes.
London: Richard Bentley, 1838. [Classic Literature] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with the suppressed 'Fireside' plate and with with 'Boz' on the title pages. Three volumes, Small octavo, illustrated with 24 plates by Cruikshank. Complete copy with both half-titles (not required for vol.III), advertisement leaf following text of vol I, initial..... More