Description
First edition of The Personal History of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.
Octavo, xiv, [2], 624pp. Full red morocco, portrait and signature stamped in gilt to covers. Five gilt-embellished raised bands, title in gilt on spine. Ornate gilt trim, turn-ins, and gilt edges. Marbled endpapers. Bound by Bayntun Riviere in Bath, England. Housed in a blue cloth slipcase. Solid text block, slight bow to covers. Includes first issue points as named in Smith, notably p. 16, line 1 “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. Complete with 40 full-page plates, including frontispiece and vignette title page. (Smith 1, 9)
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.
