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1837 1st Edition "Pickwick Papers" Charles Dickens NR!
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1837 1st Edition "Pickwick Papers" Charles Dickens NR!
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This is an exceptional first edition, first/early impression copy of "The Pickwick Papers" by Charles Dickens, published 1837. I am not a true Dickens expert, but from my own research this copy hits all of the first impression points that I know of - if you have a specific question about an issue point or condition issue that I have not covered, by all means ask, and I will do my best to answer promptly and/or send additional photographs. Currently, on Abe Books (), there are several examples of the 1837 publication date listed for sale, ranging in price from just under $1,000 to $12,674. Why such a wide variation in price? The main factors are the condition of the book and the binding, as well as crucial features which identify a first/early impression of the first edition, as there were several impressions. My copy of "Pickwick Papers" is significantly more valuable than most, as I will now explain. I leave it up to the magic hand of the marketplace to determine whether it falls closer to the 10,000 mark or to the 1,000 mark. I am starting bidding low, without a reserve. It is a first edition 1837 published by Chapman and Hall. It has a fantastic binding by Bayntun-Riviere (on inside of front cover, in small gilt print stamped "BOUND BY BAYNTUN (RIVIERE), BATH, ENGLAND") in full crimson morocco, with gilt lettering, a front portrait of Dickens, and a gilt copy of his signature on reverse, and a handsome matching, felt lined sleeve to store the precious book in. The condition is very good/fine, rather unusual for a text that was printed 174 years ago. The only imperfection worth mentioning is a small tear on the first frontispiece which is in a photo I posted, it is located 1.5 inches from the top of the page, and is 0.75 inches long. Fortunately it does not touch the first plate. It has virtually none of the staining and discoloration that nearly always present in Dickens' early works and indeed in nearly all books of such age. Look at the pictures, the pages are crisp, bright, and practically unblemished. It is rather extraordinary to find this volume in such condition, and would do any collector proud. Repairing the single small tear is a minor undertaking.
Now, on to the really interesting stuff, the various issue points that show this copy to be a truly early and rare impression: 1. "Veller" instead of "Weller" on 2nd frontispiece 2. "Phiz peut" at foot of 2nd frontispiece 3. "Picwkick" mispelled at top of page 375 4. Both rare Buss engraving plates present (page 69 and page 74) 5. "this friends" error on page 400 line 21 6. F in "of" imperfect in headline of p.432 7. the signature "E" is absent on page 25, and appears on page 27 instead 8. The third engraving, which appears page 9, has the faint barely visible "Seymour" signature 9. All 43 plates are present and perfect and indicative of early impressions - there are the 2 frontispieces, 5 plates that are marked only in the format "Page X" - ergo "page 2, " Page 7," etc, 4 plates that are signed by Seymour, 2 plates that are signed by Buss, 14 plates that are signed by Phiz and include the page numbers - format = "Phiz page 223", 15 plates that are signed by Phiz without any page number written, and one plate opposite page 440 that has no page number or signature 10. It contains Dickens' instructions to the binder, as well as the "Errata" notations/corrections opposite the first page The method of shipment will depend on final sale price. If the winning bid exceeds $5,000 USD, I will send within the USA by registered mail, as priority mail has a $5,000 insurance limit. For international buyers, I may use a private carrier like UPS or Fedex if I am unable to get the full value of your purchase insured via USPS priority. The point is, your book will be shipped securely and fully insured, with tracking, and I will handle any additional costs beyond the supplement I have listed for international shipping. I ship for free in the USA, and charge a modest supplement for international shipping. I have 100% positive feedba... 
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