The Personal History of David Copperfield.

COSWAY-STYLE BINDING - DICKENS, Charles.

Edité par London: Bradbury & Evans, 1850

A propos de cet article

First edition, finely bound in an exquisite Cosway-style binding by Bayntun. Named after the famous Regency miniaturist Richard Cosway, such elaborate bindings feature a delicate miniature portrait set under glass on the front cover. They have long been sought after by collectors as outstanding examples of the binder's craft. Cosway bindings were originally executed by Rivière & Son for Henry Sotheran, employing Carolin Billin Currie as the miniaturist, in the first decade of the 20th century. The Bayntun bindery, which acquired Rivière in 1939, continued to bind books in the Cosway style until the late 20th century. "Copperfield received considerable critical acclaim and before long was widely held to be his greatest work. Undoubtedly it became for very many readers, then as now, his best-loved novel, an opinion in which Dickens himself coincided, calling it in a preface to the book of 1867 his 'favourite child'" (ODNB). The novel was serialized from May 1849 to November 1850 prior to publication in book form. This copy has the first state engraved title page dated 1850, and the second state reading "screwed" rather than "screamed" (p. 132). Eckel, pp. 77-8; Smith I 9. Octavo (231 x 122 mm). Engraved frontispiece and vignette title, 38 engraved plates, all after H. K. Browne (Phiz). Mid-20th-century blue morocco by Bayntun, hand-coloured miniature of Dickens under glass within floral diamond frame on front cover, spine lettered in gilt, compartments and cover borders decorated in gilt, turn-ins with gilt fillets, dog-tooth roll, and cornerpiece, pale yellow moiré silk doublures and free endpapers, edges gilt. Housed in custom blue cloth slipcase. Spine mildly darkened, gilt bright, occasional tide marks to plates, else generally clean. Overall, a fine copy.

N° de réf. du vendeur 187792

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: The Personal History of David Copperfield.
• Éditeur: London: Bradbury & Evans, 1850
• Édition: Edition originale