1837-1838 The Penny Pickwick Edited by Bos

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Very Scarce

The first fifty-three issues of the very scarce 'The Penny Pickwick', a weekly periodical lampooning Charles Dickens' immensely popular 'Pickwick Papers'. Published weekly between 1837 and 1839, the 'Penny Pickwick' ran 112 issues in total.

The work of British hack writer, journalist, and musician Thomas Peckett Prest, a prolific producer of penny dreadfuls and was known as a skilled author in the horror genre, best known as the co-creator of the character Sweeney Todd. Prest published this work under the pseudonym 'Bos', based on Dickens' own pen name, 'Boz'.

With a vignette illustration to the first page of each issue, and further illustrations throughout. Bound without the publisher's original paper wraps.

These issues were also published in two volumes and re-titled 'The Post-Humourous notes of the Pickwickian Club'.

Contemporary inscription of 'I. Bird' to front pastedown.

A very scarce humorous parody of Dickens' first novel.