# Is "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (Bradbury & Evans, 1849-1850) is identified by: True first is the 20 (in 19) monthly parts in printed wrappers with Hablot K. The UK parts are the true first, preceding the bound volume.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first is the 20 (in 19) monthly parts in printed wrappers with Hablot K. Browne ('Phiz') plates, May 1849 to November 1850
- Part-issue points center on the plate states and the advertisement inserts bound into the individual parts
- The 1850 first one-volume book edition has the Phiz plates and the dedication; pure parts in wrappers are far scarcer than the bound volume
- Publisher imprint reads Bradbury & Evans
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Charles Dickens |
| Publisher | Bradbury & Evans |
| Year | 1849-1850 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first is the 20 (in 19) monthly parts in printed wrappers with Hablot K. Browne ('Phiz') plates, May 1849 to November 1850 |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
True first is the 20 (in 19) monthly parts in printed wrappers with Hablot K. Browne ('Phiz') plates, May 1849 to November 1850. Part-issue points center on the plate states and the advertisement inserts bound into the individual parts. The 1850 first one-volume book edition has the Phiz plates and the dedication; pure parts in wrappers are far scarcer than the bound volume.

## Is this the true first?
The UK parts are the true first, preceding the bound volume. Original parts in wrappers are valued well above bound copies.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Single bound volumes and later reprints are not the part issue.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *David Copperfield* by Charles Dickens a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/david-copperfield
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.