" It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. "
— Henry Ward Beecher
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
![The Cricket on the Hearth. [Being the facsimile of the Manuscript]. Charles DICKENS.](/pictures/thumb/35125.jpg?v=1493310842)
The Cricket on the Hearth. [Being the facsimile of the Manuscript].
Guildford: Genesis Publications Ltd., 1981. 4to. Limited Edition, No.32 of 250. Signed by Monica Dickens, Charles Dickens's great granddaughter. Publisher's red full leatherette with gilt titles to spine, blind tooled decorative panelling to upper with gilt stamped decoration to centre; marbled end papers; all edges gilt. In its publisher's original... More
Dombey and Son
London: Chapman and Hall no date (circa 1870). English literature. Illustrated edition. Thick medium octavo, pp.xviii; 624. With illustrations by H.K. Browne. Original tan claf over plum coloured sides with marbled edges and endpapers. Bookseller ticket to pastedown. Some expected age-toning and spotting else internally fine, binding with a few... More
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit With Illustrations by Phiz
London: Ward Lock and Company no date [circa 1900]. Sixpenny novel format. 8vo. Publisher's pictorial soft card wraps, printed in colour. Minor toning to cheap paper stock, some minor wear to the covers; generally a bright copy of a fragile early paperback. A nice survival. More
Little Dorrit
London: Chapman and Hall No date [circa 1900]. Thick medium octavo, pps.(xiv); 625; [1], blank. Illustrated with thirty-nine engraved plates by H.K.Browne. Publisher's blind-stamped dark green cloth with central wreath device, backstrip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second and fourth panels, pale yellow-coloured coated endpapers, edges... More
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
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. With 43 Illustrations by R. Seymour and 'Phiz'.
London: Chapman and Hall no date (circa 1900). Thick medium octavo, pps. (xvi) + 609. Illustrated. The engraved title page displays the 'Weller' sign (altered from 'Veller' in first issue). Publisher's blind-stamped dark green cloth with central wreath device, backstrip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second... More
Sketches By Boz. Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People
London: Chapman and Hall 1859. New Edition, Complete. Medium octavo, pps.(viii); 526; [2], blank. Illustrated with forty engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Publisher's blind-stamped olive green cloth with backstrip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second and fourth panels, coated peach-coloured endpapers, edges untrimmed. Internally clean, binder's... More
Sketches By Boz. Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People
London: Chapman and Hall 1894. New Edition, Complete. Medium octavo, pps.(vi); 526. Illustrated with forty engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Handsomely bound in half green pebble-grain morocco, extra gilt, with marbled sides and endpapers, all edges gilt. Internally very clean, neat owner name to blank, spine a trifle sunned, crown... More
Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy's Progress.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa1880]. [English literature] Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.viii; 311; [1], blank. With twenty-four engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Dark brown half calf to style with gilt to spine, marbled sides, top edge gilt. Internally very clean, exterior unmarked. Title page also refers to 'A... More
Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy's Progress.
London: Chapman and Hall, no date [circa1880]. [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, exterior... More
The Works of Charles Dickens.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1890-95. [Literature] FINELY BOUND. 24 titles bound in 17 volumes, Octavo (21 x 15 x 62 cm). Contemporary red half calf red with twin green labels, full gilt backs, marbled boards, edges and endpapers. With illustrations from the original plates by Cruikshank, Stone, Phiz, et al.... More
The Christmas Books. Being; A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man.
London: J.M. Dent and Co., 1905 and 1907. [English literature]. FIRST BROCK-ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 5 volumes, octavo (18 x 12 x 15cm). With illustrations in colour by Charles Brock. Finely bound in full deep red morocco with raised bands, gilt decoration and gilt titles to spines, marbled endpapers; top edges gilt... More
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.
London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1932. [Illustrated] BROCK ILLUSTRATIONS, first edition thus. Octavo (25 x 18cm), pp.752. With Sixteen chromolithographic plates, including a frontispiece, by Charles Brock. In publisher's light red cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edge orange, illustrated dust-jacket. Textblock shaken with the endpapers split along... More
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1873. [Classic Literature]. FINELY BOUND AND ILLUSTRATED. In two volumes. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[4] xviii; 471 [5]; pp.[4] x; 491 [5]. With 43 wood engraved plates by Phiz, including frontispieces and a title page vignette. Contemporary dark brown full morocco with raised bands and gilt... More
A Tale of Two Cities. With Illustrations by H. K. Browne.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1859. [Classic Literature] FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, (signature 'b' noted on list of plates; page 213 numbered 113; 'affectionately' misspelled on page 134; the name of 'Stryver' misspelt on plate at page 94). Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.254, engravings by H.K. Browne. Full green morocco, spine... More
![Master Humphrey's Clock [The Old Curiosity Shop; Barnaby Rudge]. With Illustrations by George Cattermole and Hablot Browne. Charles DICKENS, BROWNE CATTERMOLE, illustrators.](/pictures/thumb/51629.jpg?v=1532352210)
Master Humphrey's Clock [The Old Curiosity Shop; Barnaby Rudge]. With Illustrations by George Cattermole and Hablot Browne.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1840. FIRST EDITION of Barnaby Rudge, The Old Curiosity Shop, and Master Humphrey's Clock. EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED with a further sixty-two plates by Thomas Sibson and four rare plated by Jacob Parrallel. Title page notes 'Illustrations by George Cattermole and Hablot Browne' with no mention of Sibson. Three... More
The Old Curiosity Shop.
London: Chapman and Hall, n.d. [c.1965]. English literature. Illustrated edition. Crown octavo, pp.715. With seventy-five illustrations by Cattermole and 'Phiz'. Original half blue calf, gilt, with five raised bands to spine, buckram sides, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Internally fine, minor dustiness and wear, spine pleasingly sunned to grey. An..... More
Barnaby Rudge. With illustrations by H. K. Browne and George Cattermole.
London: Chapman and Hall, n.d. [c.1850's]. FINELY BOUND, early edition. Octavo, pp.[2] x, 613 [3]. With frequent wood engravings. In contemporary burgundy half calf with raised bands and gilt titles to spine. Marbled boards and endpapers; top edge gilt. Spine sunned. Some rubbing to joints and fore-edges, otherwise very good... More
All The Year Round. A Weekly Journal. Conducted by Charles Dickens. With which is incorporated Household Words. Includes the very first appearance of Dickens's 'A Tale of Two Cities' and Wilkie Collins's 'The Woman in White'.
London: 1859-1866. [English literature] 16 volumes, continuous from number 1 to 400. Large octavo, contemporary binding of plum full morocco, extra gilt, with marbled edges and endpapers. Internally clean, very light wear to covers, one or two spine a touch sunned. A superb, very decorative set of this important periodical... More
Dombey and Son.
New York, NY: Sheldon and Company, 1862. FINELY BOUND. In four volumes. Crown octavo, pp.[4] 322 [4]; pp.[4] 312 [4]; pp.[4] 306 [4]; pp.[4] 336 [4]. With a steel engraved frontispiece to each volume. In later burnt orange half morocco with raised bands, gilt titles and gilt decoration to spines... More
Little Dorrit.
New York, NY: Sheldon and Company, 1863. FINELY BOUND. In four volumes. Crown octavo, pp.[4] 314 [4]; pp.[4] 325 [5]; pp.[4] 298 [4]; pp.[4] 294 [4]. With a steel engraved frontispiece to each volume. In later burnt orange half morocco with raised bands, gilt titles and gilt decoration to spines... 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 Uncommercial Traveller.
New York, NY: Sheldon and Company, 1865. FINELY BOUND. Crown octavo, pp.[4] 253 [5]. With a steel engraved frontispiece. In later burnt orange half morocco with raised bands, gilt titles and gilt decoration to spine. Top edge gilt; brown cloth boards. Very lightly browned, otherwise very good indeed, in a.... More
The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1870. First Edition in book form. Octavo. Bound in publisher's green cloth, with decorative black and gilt titles to front board and spine, panelling in black to rear board; yellow endpapers. Binding is rubbed, worn at corners and spine ends, boards slightly rubbed. Somewhat foxed. Unfinished... 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