The Personal History of David Copperfield. [Cosway].

“I had considered how the things that never happen, are often as much realities to us, in their effects, as those that are accomplished": First Edition of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield; Bound In Cosway-Style Binding

The Personal History of David Copperfield. [Cosway].

DICKENS, Charles [Cosway].

Item Number: 23001

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1850.

First edition of “the most perfect of all the Dickens novels” (Virginia Woolf). Octavo, finely bound in Cosway style blue morocco, with an oval portrait of Charles Dickens on “ivorene” inset into the front panel, spine gilt in compartments, all edged gilt, light blue watered silk liners. In very good condition. Illustrated with 38 etchings by Hablot Knight Browne.

“With many lovers of the author’s works David Copperfield ranks as the finest of his writings. With a book which gave to the world such characters as Betsy Trotwood, Micawber, the Pegottys and Mr. Dick…. it would be strange if it had been otherwise” (Eckel, 77). “Dickens and Browne are the most celebrated author-artist team in the history of English book illustration,” and Copperfield was their “most popular success” (Hodnett, 111-12). "Charles Dickens and Hablot Knight Browne are the most celebrated author-artist team in the history of English book illustration," and Copperfield was their "most popular success" (Hodnett, 111-12). Cosway bindings (named for renowned 19th-century English miniaturist Richard Cosway) were popularized, if not invented, in the early 1900s by the renowned London bookselling firm of Henry Sotheran. The earliest Cosway bindings were created by Miss C.B. Currie who faithfully imitated Cosway's detailed watercolor style of portraiture from designs by J.H. Stonehouse, Sotheran’s manager. These delicate miniature paintings, often on ivory, were set into the covers or doublures of richly-tooled bindings and protected by a thin pane of glass.

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