Lot 109•
DICKENS (CHARLES) The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH A SET OF VARIANT PLATES, Chapman & Hall, 1837
Ending from 19 November 2025, 12:00 GMT
Online, London, Knightsbridge£800 - £1,200
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DICKENS (CHARLES)
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, BOUND FROM THE ORIGINAL PARTS AND EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES IN 2 STATES, etched frontispiece, vignette title and 41 plates by Robert Seymour, R.W. Buss and H.K. Browne, all present in 2 states or impressions except the Buss plates ("The Cricket Match" present in first state only, "The Arbour Scene" present in both Buss and "Phiz" versions), the majority of the text later issue (but p.25 supplied in 2 states), a little light browning and foxing mainly to to one of the series of plates but generally very clean, bookseller's description tipped-in to fly leaf, Dawson's Bookshop list of plates loosely inserted, without half-title and directions to binder leaves, later morocco with double gilt filet borders on sides, gilt panelled spine, g.e., inner gilt dentelles, spine faded, joints cracked, upper cover becoming loose, housed in cloth slipcase [Hatton & Cleaver pp.3-88; Johanssen, Phiz, Illustrations to the Novels of Charles Dickens, pp.1-16; Miller & Strange pp.1-65; Smith I:3], 8vo (208 x 125mm.), Chapman & Hall, 1837
Footnotes
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND FASCINATING COPY OF PICKWICK, WITH DUPLICATE SET OF VARIANT PLATES IN EARLY STATES.
Bound from the parts and embellished with a duplicate set of the plates, this substantially clean copy represents a perfect opportunity to compare different states of the plates side by side. All but one of the plates are present in two first or early states, though a few are duplicates of the first state, perhaps with some variation in the printing.
Plates
The more complex Seymour plates are present in two of the three variants recorded by Smith, Hatton & Cleaver agreeing with the collector Dexter's conclusion that only 400 copies of the first issue were printed before the plates deteriorated beyond use. Plate 5 ("The Dying Clown") is without the artist's signature, seemingly making it Miller & Strange's "earliest impression" (these "without the signature are exceedingly scarce and remarkably fine clear prints"); this early state is not recorded by other bibliographies consulted. All but one of the "Phiz" plates are present in first and second state, or occasionally in two impressions of the first state, according with the list in Smith except for his no. 37 (both plates here showing railings and the cockade).
Text
The text is predominantly later issue, although p.25/26 has been supplied in both states, with and without the signature mark 'E'.
Notes on the individual plates
Loosely inserted is an old typed description from Dawson's Bookshop, Los Angeles, with notes on the first twelve plates based on "Poole's Bibliography and the description of the Lapham copy" (some variations/refinements added according to other sources):
"Frontispiece- 1st state. 4 stripes on the footstool in front of Mr. Pickwick and the buttons on Mr. Pickwick's vest on the right side of the line; 2nd state- 6 stripes on the footstool and the buttons on the left side of the line.
Vignette title page- 1st state- The name on the sign board over the door spelled "Veller"; 2nd state- the name changed to "Weller".
First plate- "Mr. Pickwick Addresses the Club"- 1st state- one of the 300 slightly etched Seymour plates. The buttons of Mr. Pickwick's vest are on the right side of the line; 2nd state- all of the lines are much more heavily etched and the buttons are on the left side of the line [second state of first Seymour plate and first state of second Seymour plate]
II plate- "The Pugnacious Cabman"- 1st state, the figure of the milkmaid is well defined, while in the succeeding plate (2nd state) the milkmaid is very dim [second state of first Seymour plate and first state of second Seymour plate].
III Plate- "The Sagacious Dog"- 1st state, the game keeper's gun has both lock and trigger; 2nd state, the gun has neither [second state of first Seymour plate and first state of second Seymour plate].
IV Plate- "Dr. Slammer's Defiance of Jingle"- 1st state, the floor has 10 boards; 2nd state, the floor has 11 boards [first state of first Seymour plate and first state of second Seymour plate].
V Plate- "The Dying Clown"- 1st state, the listener's hat touches his foot; while in the 2nd state the hat should be some distance away. Both of these plates are first state [see above].
VI Plate- "Mr. Pickwick in Chase of His Hat"- 1st state, there are two plumes in the lady's hat; Both of these plates are first state.
VII Plate- "Mr. Winkle Soothes the Refractory Steed" 1st state, the buttons of Mr. Winkle's gaiter are on the right side of the line; both of these plates are first state [but apparently Miller & Strange's first and second impressions].
VIII Plate- "The Cricket Match" has the signature "Drawn and etched by R. W. Buss" at the left in large letters, and "Page 69" out of all proportion. The plate has not been put in in duplicate. The earliest state only is here present.
IX Plate- "The Arbour Scene" has the plate by Buss and the one by Phiz, both of their first states.
[Plate- IXA "Under the Influence of the Salmon": not listed by Dawson's but matches Johanssen's "early impression" signed "Phiz, del." lower centre, and "page 76" below and to right].
X Plate- "The Breakdown" is signed "Nemo" in the left hand corner. The signature is very faint, but still legible. Both plates are first state [but both second state according to other bibliographers, with the wheel spokes repaired].
XI Plate- "The First Appearance of Mr. Samuel Weller" - 1st state- Mr. Pickwick's hat droops, his eye-glass is lower and it has the signature "N.E.M.O.." in the right hand corner. Both these plates are first state [both second state according to other bibliographers, with cane intact]".