[Literature] Dickens, Charles
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club
London: Chapman and Hall, (April, 1836-November, 1837). 20 parts in 19 volumes. First edition in monthly parts, mixed issue. 8vo. With two additional leaves laid in to no. I with four mounted postal envelopes (no letters present): one signed by Dickens and addressed to Mr. (Thomas) Justice Talfourd, one signed by George Cruikshank and addressed to (William) Wreford Major, Esq., one signed by Talfourd to Miss Rutt (with trimmed manuscript on verso), and one addressed to Talfourd from an unknown hand; also included are Dickens' book-plate mounted under envelopes, as well as the book-plate of William K. Bixby. Illustrated with frontispiece, vignette title-page and 42 plates by Robert Seymour, Robert William Buss, and Hablot Knight Browne. Bound in limp green wrappers; in red morocco pull-off slip-case and chemise, worn and blistered. Varying degrees of wear, scattered closed tears to wrappers, text, and ads, some foxing and soiling to same. Hatton & Cleaver p. 3-88.Thomas Talfourd (1795-1854), was an English judge, Radical politician, and friend of Dickens, who helped pass a copyright bill in 1837; Dickens subsequently dedicated the Pickwick Papers to him. He married Rachael Rutt in 1822; the addressed envelope present in no. I, dated 1839, is presumably to her or someone within her family. Talfourd's eldest daughter Mary later married William Wreford Major to whom the Cruikshank letter is addressed.
Comprising:
No.I: Later state wrapper, front wrapper separated, rear wrapper starting, chipped and creased, edges darkened, scattered soiling; without 8pp. ad slip at front; later state text. Plates: (no. 1) First state, second Seymour Plate, (no. 2) First state, second Seymour Plate, (no. 3) First state, second Seymour Plate, (no. 4) First state, second Seymour Plate. First three plates separated.
No. II: Later state wrappers; ownership signature at head of front wrapper, edges chipped, small closed tears, spine chipped, rear wrapper torn along top of spine. Without address leaves after plates. Later state text. Plates: All earlier state.
No. III: Later state wrappers, front wrapper repaired, spine chipped, scattered wear; without ads at front and rear; without address; later state text. Plates: Later plates, without the "suppressed plates".
No IV: Later state wrappers, without ads at front, spine chipped; later state text, corners chipped. Plates: (no. 10) second state of original plates, (No. 11) second state of original plate; lightly foxed.
No. V: Later state wrappers, spine ends chipped; without front and rear ads; later issue text. Plates: (no. 12 and 13) both first state, lightly foxed.
No. VI: Later state wrappers, spine chipped; without ads at front; later state text, edges slightly darkened. Plates: (no. 14 and 15) both later state.
No. VII: Later state wrappers, lightly worn, minor soiling; lacking ads at front and rear; later state text. Plates: (no. 16 and 17) both later state.
No. VIII: Later state wrappers, lightly worn; without front and rear ads. Plates: (no. 18 and 19) both later state.
No. IX: Presumed later state wrappers; without front and rear ads. Mixed text points: first state (pp. 260, 267), later state, as usual (p. 261). Plates: (no. 20 and 21) both early state.
No. X: Later state wrappers, front wrapper repaired and re-hinged, spine chipped, some soiling; with 8 pp. Pickwick Advertiser at front, without ads at rear; without address leaf after plates. Plates: (no. 22 and 23) both later state, toned.
No. XI: Later state wrappers, lightly worn, some soiling; without Pickwick Advertiser at front. Plates: (no. 24) second plate, (no. 25) first plate, both foxed.
No. XII: Later state wrappers, spine chipped; with Pickwick Advertiser at front, without ads at rear; earlier state text. Plates: (no. 26 and 27) both first state.
No. XIII: Earlier state wrappers, head of front wrapper trimmed, small hole at top, spotting to both front and rear; with Pickwick Advertiser at front, lacking 4 pp. ad "Pigot's Coloured Views" at front, lacking ads at rear; later state text. Plates: (no. 28 and 29) both first plate.
No. XIV: Later state wrappers, spine chipped, front bottom corner repaired, some spotting; all ads at front and rear present; earlier state text. Plates: (no. 30 and 31) both first plate, edges of each darkened.
No. XV: Early issue. Earlier state wrappers, presumably supplied from another issue, top edge of front wrapper in gilt, spine rubbed and chipped, spotted; with Pickwick Advertiser at front, lacking ads (2), (3), (4: pp. 5-8), and (5) at rear; with 4 pp. Address. Plates: (no. 32 and 33) both first plate, foxed.
No. XVI: Early issue. Earlier state wrappers, spine chipped, covers spotted, front wrapper torn along bottom of spine; With Pickwick Advertiser at front. Plates: (no. 34 and 35) both first plate, scattered minor wear and foxing.
No. XVII: Early issue. Earlier state wrappers, front and rear wrappers repaired, minor wear; All ads present, rear ad (2) bound out of order; with 2 pp. Address. Plates: (no. 36 and 37) both first plate.
No. XVIII: Earlier state wrappers, lightly worn; with Pickwick Advertiser, lacking rear ad (1), others present; p. 529/530 bound in this issue. Plates: (no. 38) second plate, (no. 39) first plate. Scattered foxing to text.
No. XIX/XX: Earlier state front wrapper, presumed supplied rear wrapper from a later state, spine ends chipped, rear wrapper chipped; all ads present; complete with address, title-page, prelims, preface, dedication, contents, directions to binder and errata. Plates: (no. 40) first plate, (no. 41) first plate, (no. 42) second plate, (no. 43) second plate.