1850 The Personal History of David Copperfield

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Signed Binding

The first edition of this work in book form. An early issue. Present issue points are the date being to the title pages, dark plate facing page 482, chapter XXVII is on page 282 rather than 283 as listed in the contents, last 'i' in the page number viii is not aligned, misspelling 'coroboration' to page 387 line 6 from the bottom, however 'screwed' is in place of 'screamed' to page 132 line 20, which is a common find. Issue points as stated by John C. Eckel in his 1913 publication 'The First Editions of the Writings of Charles Dickens'. In a full calf signed binding by O. J. Sawyer LTD. Half-title discarded. Illustrated with a frontispiece, vignette title page, and thirty-eight plates. Collated, bound without half-title, otherwise work is complete, with all plates present. 'David Copperfield' follows the eponymous character from childhood to maturity. He was born in Blunderstone and had a happy childhood, being looked after his mother and kindly housekeeper. However he is late sent to live with his housekeeper's family in Yarmouth, and dislikes the new man his mother marries. This novel is considered by many to be Dickens' masterpiece, and Dickens' himself referred to the book as being 'his favourite child'. As it was written in the middle of his career, it has been considered to be the turning point of his novels, and with it you can see the separation between his novels of youth and maturity. Charles Dickens is one of the most popular authors of the Victorian age. His novels show the grimy side of poverty and prosperity in Victorian England, showing poor social conditions alongside repulsive characters. Illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne, also known under his pseudonym 'Phiz'.