The Posthumous Papers of The Pickwick Club

5b Charles Dickens, with forty-three illustrations, by R. Seymour and “Phiz,” London, 1857. 

Notes

The Pickwick Papers (or The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club) by Charles Dickens, first published in 1836, is a comedic novel that follows the adventures of Samuel Pickwick, an eccentric and good-natured gentleman, and his group of companions, the Pickwick Club, as they travel across England. The story is told through a series of episodes, many of which are loosely connected, and features an array of colorful characters, including the loyal and bumbling Mr. Winkle, the mischievous Mr. Tupman, and the humorous Mr. Snodgrass.

The novel’s charm lies in its satire of Victorian society, its vibrant humor, and its detailed exploration of human nature. Though initially conceived as a serial, The Pickwick Papers became immensely popular, helping to cement Dickens's reputation as one of the era’s leading writers. The book is also notable for introducing many of the tropes and themes that would come to define Dickens’s later works, such as social criticism, memorable characters, and a focus on personal integrity and resilience in the face of adversity.

Description

Pebbled red leather with decorative gilt embossed borders on upper and lower boards. Five raised bands with gilt embossed designs in each compartment and gilt lettering in the second compartment. Gilt embossed turn ins. Book plate on interior of upper board. All edges gilt. Scuffing to the lower board. Fading to the leather on the upper hinge and the upper portion of the spine. Bumped corners with minimal fraying. Illustrations throughout.