8vo. (206 x 130 mm).  Half-title, engraved frontispiece, title and 38 plates after Hablot K. Browne ['Phiz']. (Occasional spotting, some browning to plates, one plate trimmed close just affecting title.) 20th-century dark red crushed levant gilt, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettered in 2, the rest gilt-decorated, turn-ins gilt, red watered silk doublures, top edge gilt, stamp-signed by Root; red cloth slipcase. 

 

FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM published on 14 November 1850, is considered Dickens’s most autobiographical novel. In his preface to the 1869 edition, Dickens writes: “Of all my books, I like this the best. It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent to every child of my fancy, and that no one can ever love that family as dearly as I love them. But, like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.” Gimbel A122; Eckel, p.77; Sadleir 686; Smith I:9.