The Posthumous Papers Of The Pickwick Club. With Forty-Three Illustrations By R. Seymour And Phiz. Dickens, Charles.

First edition, a superb extra illustrated copy with the scarce suites of plates by Thomas Sibson and Frederick William Pailthorpe - neither of which are in the celebrated Suzannet and Vander Poel collections - in a particularly fine binding by Rivière, whose work was renowned for "the quality of the materials, the forwarding, and in the delicacy of the tooling" (ODNB). This edition includes the complete suite of Sketches of Expeditions from the Pickwick Club, a series of ten unofficial illustrations first published in 1838 to accompany some of the "most striking scenes" of the novel. Also included is Pailthorpe's 1882 series, 24 Illustrations to the Pickwick Club, all hand-coloured, described by Grego as "thoroughly in harmony with the first series of plates" by Phiz and Seymour (p. 450). All of the original plates are also present in their early states as called for, with no titles or imprints, The Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens's first novel, transformed the obscure journalist into England's most famous writer within months. The first monthly instalment was issued in an edition of 1,000 copies in April 1836. The work became a publishing sensation after the introduction of Sam Weller in chapter 10, the fourth instalment, issued in July 1836, after which the publishers reprinted the earlier instalments so that readers could catch up. The serial was originally intended to be primarily a vehicle for the cartoons of Robert Seymour, until he died by suicide after the first number was published. Robert William Buss then took over, but he was inexperienced in steel engraving and had to be replaced. The final choice, Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz"), was to be Dickens's chosen collaborator for the next two decades. Podeschi, H1137; Smith I.3. Joseph Grego, Pictorial Pickwickiana: Charles Dickens and His Illustrators, 1899. Octavo (270 x 129 mm). Late 19th-century red morocco by Rivière & Son, spine lettered in gilt in floral compartments, raised bands, triple gilt filleting to sides, floral gilt dentelles, dark blue coated endpapers, gilt edges. With original wrappers of part III bound in to rear. 112 engraved plates, including etched vignette title page ("Weller", no priority), frontispiece, 41 plates by Robert Seymour and Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz), with 2 additional plates by R. W. Buss. With bookplates of the barrister Herbert H. Smith to front pastedown and of Jeremy and Penny Martin to front free endpaper, and faded ownership inscription of one Alex F. Little to engraved title page. Very minor rubbing to extremities, light foxing to contents and offsetting from plates, a bright and attractive copy with sharp hand-coloured plates.