The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club - 20 Parts in 19 - with an Abundance of First and Second Issue Wrappers and Plates; ANNOTATED By Dickens Bibliographer Thomas Hatton

London [April 1836 - November 1837]: Chapman & Hall. First Edition. First edition in the original monthly parts, 20 parts in 19, with 43 illustrations by Seymour, Phiz and Buss. A near prime copy, lacking just 3 of the 11 points required in Eckel's bibliography, "The First Editions of the Writings of Charles Dickens." The three points lacking are #2, 3 and 8; all 11 of Eckel's points are enumerated below. Part numbers, which are complete and in accord with Hatton & Cleaver are XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII and XIX/XX - Part XI lacks only 2 leaves of the Advertiser and part XII lacks only the Mechi catalogue. Additionally, let us name the parts and the ads they are lacking: Part I lacks only the Chapman & Hall ad; part II lacks only the author's Address; part III lacks the Chapman & Hall ad, The Toilet ad and the Address; part IV lacks only the Advertiser; part VII lacks the Advertiser and Phrenology ad; part VIII lacks the Advertiser and Geo. Henekey ad; part IX lacks the Advertiser and The Parterre ad and Geo. Henekey ad; part X lacks one leaf of the Advertiser and both rear ads; part XI lacks two leaves of the Advertiser; part XII lacks only the Mechi ad; part XIII lacks the Pigot's Colored Views ad, Ward's Miscellany ad and the Argyll Rooms ad; the remaining parts XIV through XIX/XX are COMPLETE and in accord with Hatton & Cleaver. THE WRAPPERS; all front wrappers are dated MDCCCXXXVI (1836). Wrappers of part I, early (meaning not 1st or 2nd issue); part II, early; part III, early, part IV, early, with inside of wraps blank; part V, front wrap is 1st issue, rear wrap is 2nd issue with inside blank (see Hatton & Cleaver pp. 25-28; part VI, front wrap is 2nd issue, rear wrap is early (1838); part VII, front wrap is 2nd issue, rear wrap is 2nd issue (Oct. 1836, same month as 1st issue); part VIII, Front wrap is 1st issue, rear wrap is 2nd issue; part IX, early; part X, correct; part XI, correct; part XII, early; part XIII, correct; XIV, correct; part XV, correct; part XVI, correct; part XVII, correct; part XVIII, correct; part XIX/XX, correct. THE PLATES; all plates are before letters, i.e., without captions. As called for in Hatton and Cleaver, plates in parts I through XI have page numbers; plates in parts XII through XIX/XX have no page numbers. Relative to the plates in part XII, Hatton & Cleaver agree with Miller & Strange [see Miller & Strange "A Centenary Bibliography of the Pickwick Papers, page 45], "Both plates [in part XII] appear unpaged as well as paged, the former prior to the latter." Therefore, the plates in part XII are first plate, second state. Notably, this exceptional set has the first issue of the vignette title with "Tony Veller" on sign as well as the suppressed Buss plates in part III. The plates in part I are as follows: (1) first state of the second Seymour plate; (2) second state of the second Seymour plate; (3) first state of the second Seymour plate; (4) first state of the second Seymour plate. The plates in part II: (5) first plate, first state; (6) first plate, first state; (7) first plate, first state. The plates in part IV: (10) second state of first plate; (11) second state of first plate. The plates in part V are first state, part VI are second state, part VII are first state, part VIII are first state, part IX are first state, part X are first plate, part XI are first plate, part XII are first plate, second state, part XIII are first plate, part XIV are first plate, part XV, plate 32 is first plate, and plate 33 is second plate; part XVI is first plates; part XVII, plate 36 is first plate, plate 37 is second plate; part XVIII has first plates and in part XIX/XX, all are first plates. In part X, the obverse of plate 23 is ANNOTATED by Thomas Hatton thus: "only state of this plate: another plate exists." Plates are very good to fine, with the exception of those in part IX, which are browned at edges, not affecting illustrations. THE TEXT is first issue in parts VII, XIII, and XIV; the text is mixed in parts VI and VIII; parts XV through XIX/XX have no textual points of priority. Previous owner names appear on front wraps of parts VI, XII, XVIII and XIX/XX. Now we will list the 11 points required by Eckel for a prime Pickwick: #1. All front covers must bear the date 1836. #2. Parts I and II front wrappers must carry the words "With four illustrations by Seymour. #3. Part III front wrapper must carry the words "With Illustrations by R. W. Buss." #4. Part I must have four plates by Seymour, signed and not re-etched by Phiz. #5. Part II must have 3 plates by Seymour signed. #6. Part III must have the two plates signed "Drawn and etched by R. W. Buss" and the page numbers. #7. Part IV has the two plates indistinctly signed "Nemo" and not "Phiz." #8. Parts II, III and XV must have the Addresses by the Author. #9. Parts XVII, XVIII and XIX/XX must have the Addresses by the publishers. #10. Parts I to XII must have no captions, only page numbers where they are inserted; parts XIII to XIX/XX must have neither captions nor page numbers. #11. On the vignette title page the name "Weller" on the signboard above the door must appear with a "V" and the signature "Phiz fecit" must surround the tablet at the bottom of the frontispiece. The present Pickwick is lacking only numbers 2, 3 and 8 above. Light soiling on some wrappers; small corner repair to rear wrap of part X. Internally clean and bright. Housed in a custom green quarter leather slipcase, with chemise. Armorial bookplate is affixed to the chemise. This exceptional set comes with a pedigree - it is from the legendary Hatton & Cleaver collection. Provenance: The Hatton & Cleaver collection, The Heritage Bookshop, Charles Parkhurst Rare Books, Inc. Hatton & Cleaver, pp. 1-88.