The Personal History of David Copperfield. by DICKENS, Charles - 1849-50: With Illustrations by H. K. Browne.

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1849-50. In the original parts First edition in the original monthly parts of Dickens's classic Bildungsroman, his most lightly disguised autobiographical fiction. In the preface to a later edition (1867), Dickens would call the novel his "favourite child", a sentiment shared by many readers: "With many lovers of the author's works David Copperfield ranks as the finest of his writings" (Eckel, p. 77).
The novel has been adapted into films multiple times, including most recently in 2019, starring Dev Patel.
This copy with the "Copperfield Advertiser" present in all parts, and with advertisements on all wrappers (later reprints were printed blank). As almost always, there is some variation in the inserted advertisements from the ideal collation called for by Hatton & Cleaver. This copy is without the called-for advertisements (all issued at the rear): "Punch's pocket-book" in part 7, Lett's diary (as often) in part 8, "Leila" in part 9, "Waterlow & Sons" in part 10, "Familiar in their Mouths" in part 11, "New Weekly Illustrated Periodical for Ladies" in part 13, "Household Worlds" in part 14, "Illustrated Weekly Journal for Ladies" and "Most Remarkable Publication of the Day" in part 15. The copy has additional advertisements not noted by Hatton & Cleaver (all found at the rear): "Theory of Musical Composition" in part 4, "now ready,... Leila" in part 5, "Almanacks for 1850" in part 10, "Cheap edition of the works of Mr. Charles Dickens" in part 11, "Illustrated Weekly Journal for Ladies" in part 14, "Working Man's Friend" and "Almanacks for 1850" in part 16, "New Work... Lewis Arundel" in part 18. Pp. 3-6 of the front advertisement in part 7 is also variant. 20 numbers in 19 monthly parts, as issued. Original pale blue pictorial wrappers. Housed in custom green cloth chemise within morocco pull-off box. With 40 engraved plates by H. K. Browne. Expert restoration to spines and wrapper extremities, minor peripheral nicking, light soiling, some parts with contents a little creased, part 7 with slight chipping to terminal advertisements, part 15 with repaired closed tear affecting text without loss to pp. 455-6, ownership signature to front wrapper of part 18, part 19/20 with spine a little worn. A very good copy. Hatton & Cleaver, pp. 253-72.