"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me."
— C. S. Lewis
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
Pickwick Papers. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. With Fifty-Seven Illustrations by Phiz.
London, Chapman and Hall Ltd. n.d. (ca.1880). Quarto. text printed in double columns. Elegantly hand-bound in original half black morocco, ruled in gilt to spine, over blue cloth sides with brown coated endpapers. Some trivial wear, endpapers show some blooming; a fine copy. morocco. More
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
London: George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd., 1931. First Edition Thus. Large 8vo. Publisher's red cloth, black title label to spine, gilt to top edge, owners name and date in ink to upper front fly-leaf. In beige pictorial dust-jacket. Contains 16 full page illustrations in colour, including frontispiece, all by... More
![The Adventures of Oliver Twist [together with] A Tale of Two Cities With Illustrations by George Cruikshank and H.K. Browne. Charles DICKENS.](/pictures/thumb/40896.jpg?v=1493310885)
The Adventures of Oliver Twist [together with] A Tale of Two Cities With Illustrations by George Cruikshank and H.K. Browne
London: Chapman and Hall no date (c.1870). Thick medium octavo, pps.(viii); 312; (x); 254. Two titles bound in one. Publisher's blind-stamped olive green cloth with backstrip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second, third and fourth panels, coated yellow endpapers, edges untrimmed. Internally clean but for some... More
![The Cricket on the Hearth [A Christmas Book]. Charles DICKENS.](/pictures/thumb/40886.jpg?v=1493310885)
The Cricket on the Hearth [A Christmas Book]
London, A. and F. Pears Ltd., [1912]. The Pears Centenary Edition - a finely conceived edition from the Pears (soap) company, issued to celebrate 100 years since the author's birth. First Edition thus. Demy octavo, pp.140; [2], advertisements. Illustrated by Charles Green. Publisher's gilt-titled green cloth with inset colour plate... 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
![Dombey and Son. [Dealings With The Firm of Dombey and Son, Wholesale, Retail and For Exportation.]. Charles DICKENS.](/pictures/thumb/39350.jpg?v=1493310871)
Dombey and Son. [Dealings With The Firm of Dombey and Son, Wholesale, Retail and For Exportation.]
London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848. First Edition, mixed early issue. 8vo; pp. xvi + (1) + 624. Illustrated with 38 engraved plates, a frontispiece and engraved title page. Bound in nineteenth century green half morocco, gilt. Bound, as usual, without half-title. Internally clean but for some miniscule bleed from the... 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
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. With Illustrations by 'Phiz'
London: Chapman and Hall no date (c.1870). Thick medium octavo, pps.(xvi); 624. Illustrated with 39 engraved plates and engraved title. Publisher's blind-stamped olive green cloth with backstrip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second and fourth panels, coated yellow endpapers, edges untrimmed. Internally clean, bookplate of Skirrow/Telford... 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
Oliver Twist. Or, The Parish Boy's Progress. By "Boz". In Three Volumes.
London: Richard Bentley 1838. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with the suppressed 'Fireside' plate to vol. 3, With half titles, and with the rare instructions to binder plates list to volume 1; volume 3 includes the Bentley's Standard Library advert in place of the half title, which is correct for early... 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
London: Ward Lock and Co. No date (circa 1908). English literature. Illustrated edition. Crown octavo, pp.[vi]; 514. With full-page black and white plates. Original half dark red pebble-grain morocco over buckram sides, titled and decorated in gilt to spine, with marbled endpapers and top edge gilt. A little age-toning to... More
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. With 43 Illustrations by R. Seymour and 'Phiz'.
London: Chapman and Hall no date (circa 1870). 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 olive green cloth with backstrip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second and fourth panels... 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
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. With 43 Illustrations by R. Seymour and 'Phiz'.
London: Chapman and Hall no date (circa 1870). Thick medium octavo, pps. (xvi) + 609. Illustrated. Elegantly bound by Bayntun Riviere in full scarlet calf, extra gilt, with marbled endpapers and all edges gilt. Rebacked with the original spine laid back on. Internally very clean, some minor rubbing to binding... 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 No date [circa 1900]. New Edition, Complete. Medium octavo, pps.(xiv); 577; [1], blank. Illustrated with forty engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Publisher's blind-stamped dark green cloth with central wreath device, back-strip ruled in five compartments, lettered in gilt to the second and fourth panels, pale yellow-coloured... 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
Dombey and Son.
London: Chapman and Hall, n.d. The "Charles Dickens" Edition. Octavo. Bound in blue calf over marbled paper boards, with raised bands, extra gilt and blue title labels to spine; all edges marbled, marbled endpapers. With eight illustrations by Phiz. Bookplate. Attractively bound, with some rubbing to corners, minor scuff to... More
A Christmas Carol.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1885. RARE ORIGINAL PAMPHLET. Small octavo, pp.64. With engravings by John Leech and Fred Barnard. In original orange paper covers with a John Leech illustration on the front. Some light chipping to cover edges; spine reinforced with archival tape. Fragile, but very good indeed considering age... More
A Christmas Carol. A Facsimile Edition of the Autograph Manuscript in the Pierpoint Morgan Library.
New York, NY: The Pierpoint Morgan Library, 1993. FACSIMILE EDITION. Small quarto, pp.xxiv, followed by the complete facsimile text with a printed transcription on facing pages, including an appendix of canceled passages. With 12 facsimile illustrations, including a frontispiece. In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and gilt... More
The Works of Charles Dickens.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1890-95. 24 titles in 17 volumes; Octavo. Original half red 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. Lightly used with some minor rubbing. A charming set. More
A Tale of Two Cities.
London: Chapman and Hall, 1901. FINELY BOUND. Octavo, pp.[2] xiv, 297 [5]. With a chromolithographic frontispiece, vignette title page and a series of engraved plates by Phiz, each with a tissue guard. In recent brown half morocco with raised bands, gilt titles to spine and brown cloth boards. Top edge... More
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.
London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1932. BROCK ILLUSTRATIONS, first thus. Octavo, pp.752. With 16 chromolithographic plates, including a frontispiece, by Charles Brock. In publisher's apricot cloth with gilt titles to spine. Top edge orange. With original illustrated pink dust jacket. Some light spotting to edges; spine sunned. Jacket mostly... More