Description
First edition of The Personal History of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, published by Bradbury and Evans in 1850.
Octavo, xiv, [2], 624pp. Three-quarter green morocco, thin gilt trim to borders. Title in gilt on spine, with gilt embellished compartments. Marbled edges, matching marbled endpapers. Solid text block, foxing throughout, primarily to illustrated plates. Wear to corners, professional restoration to endpapers, lacking half-title. Includes many first issue points as named in Smith, notably p. 16, line 1 “recal” spelling; p. 19 “cha pter” spacing; p. 30, line 13 period after “and”; and a lack of quotes on lines 7 and 8 of page 285. An early issue, with “screwed” on page 132, line 20. (Smith 1, 9) Complete with 40 full-page plates by Hablot K. Browne (Phiz), including frontispiece and first issue vignette title page with “1850” date.
David Copperfield was originally printed as a serial in 1849 and 1850. Upon the release of the final installment, Bradbury and Evans published the first bound book edition on November 14, 1850.
