Expanded to 2 volumes. [v]-xiv, [2], [1]-306; [i-ii]; 307-609, [1] blank pp. With 168 total plates, including the 43 original plates after Robert Seymour (7), & Hablot K. Browne ("Nemo" and "Phiz") (36). Extra illustrated with: the alternate state of the frontis and vignette title page; the 2 suppressed plates of Robert William Buss (approx. ½" smaller in height and width than the other plates); 2 additional illustrations by Buss as well as one facsimile Buss illustration; Frederick W. Pailthorpe's "24 Illustrations to The Pickwick Club" (1882), with the front wrapper bound in; Thomas Onwhyn's "Samuel Weller's Illustrations to The Pickwick Club" consisting of 26 plates and the vignette title page; Alfred Crowquill's "Pictures Picked from the Pickwick Papers" consisting of 40 hand-colored plates, front wrapper bound in; 21 colored plates by “Kyd” [pseud. for Joseph Clayton Clark]; & 6 additional illustrations by Phiz for a total of 125 additional illustrations. (8vo) 8¾x5½, finely bound by Tout in full polished tan calf, gilt paneling on covers, red and black morocco titling labels, raised bands, spine compartments embellished in gilt, gilt dentelles, floral patterned endpapers, top edges gilt. First Edition, early issue. Possibly bound from the original parts.
With an Autograph Note, signed, from Dickens, tipped to front flyleaf of Vol. 1, offering his compliments and best wishes; 1 page autograph letter, signed, from Halbot K. Browne (Phiz), declining an invitation, bound in a front of Vol. 2. Front wrapper from Part XV bound in Vol. 1. 12 page pamphlet "Speech of Charles Dickens, Esq., Delivered at the Meeting of the Administrative Reform Association. (London: Effingham Wilson, 1855) bound in at rear of Volume 2. An early issue of Dickens' first novel, with the following first issue points as noted by Hatton & Cleaver: p.342, line 5, "S. Veller" uncorrected; p.432, headline, "F" in "OF" imperfect. However, with the following later issue points: signature mark "E" present on p.25; p.260, line 29, "holding" instead of "hodling" but with type loose; p.267, figure "7" corrected; two points on p.341 with incorrect spellings; ; p.400, line 21 with "his friends" instead of "this friends". Armorial bookplate of Newton Hall, Cambridge, at front of each volume.