These three sets of Carroll, Darwin and Thackeray were not issued by a publisher as sets of collected works, but were instead commissioned privately by collecting first editions of their works, related ephemera, biographies, etc. and rebinding them alike in fine bindings.

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Charles L DODGSON / Lewis CARROLL

Eight volumes: a set of seven first editions and one collection of pamphlets, all rebound by Riviere & Son in full navy calf with ornate labeled spines, gilt bordered covers, gilt text blocks, marbled endpapers, dentelle borders, with the publisher’s original bindings (front cover & spine) bound into the back of each volume. Conditions are similar: slightly faded spines, minor scratches or rubbing to covers, bumped and worn corners, wear around the edges. Carroll’s most famous titles (Alice, Looking-Glass, Snark) are absent, making this incomplete as a collected works. Retail estimates for the novels are in the $75-$200 range, if sold separately.

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In order of publication:

1. Phantasmagoria and Other Poems, 1869

2. Original pamphlets (bound together) include: "Christmas Greetings (from a fairy to a child)" n.d., "An Easter Greeting (to every child who loves “Alice”)" n.d., "Catching a Cold" n.d., "Doublets (a word puzzle)" n.d., and "Suggestions as to the Best Method of Taking Votes (where more than two issues are to be voted on)" 1874

3. Euclid and his Modern Rivals, 1879 (as Charles L. Dodgson, MA)

4. Rhyme? And Reason?, 1883

5. A Tangled Tale, 1885

6. Sylvie and Bruno, 1889

7. Sylvie and Bruno Concluded, 1893

8. Symbolic Logic, Part 1: Elementary, 1896

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Charles DICKENS

Forty-two volumes, mostly first editions, representing a large portion of Dickens’ work, with some of the more famous titles (eg. Oliver, Two Cities, Carol, Expectations) absent, making this an incomplete collected works. All titles were bound alike by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in London according to the dimensions of the original work: full tan calfskin, gilt borders on covers, gilt tops, trimmed text blocks, five raised bands on the spines with the title, author and a decorative motif gilt stamped in the spine compartments, and the date of publication at the bottom. All titles by Dickens, unless otherwise noted. Please note: most of these volumes were subject to water damage in the lower corner of the leaves. Some were spared intrusion, with only water stains on the outside of the text block, others have water stains running up many of the leaves or, at least, the tissues protecting the illustrations. Most of the covers seem undamaged. Retail estimates will vary based on the level of damage. First editions of Dickens can sell for as low as $10-$25 in poor condition. In these nice bindings, any of the remaining novels, without serious damage, might sell for $80-$400.

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In order of publication:

1. Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi Vol. I, 1838

2. Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi Vol. II, 1838

3. Sketches of Young Gentlemen, 1838

4. Sketches by Boz, 1839

5. Nicholas Nickelby, 1839

6. Sketches of Young Couples, 1840

7. Master Humphrey’s Clock Vol. I, 1840

8. Master Humphrey’s Clock Vol. II, 1841 (Old Curiosity Shop)

9. Master Humphrey’s Clock Vol. III, 1841 (Barnaby Rudge)

10. The Pic Nic Papers Vol. I, 1841

11. The Pic Nic Papers Vol. II, 1841

12. The Pic Nic Papers Vol. III, 1841

13. American Notes Vol. I, 1842

14. American Notes Vol. II, 1842

15. Martin Chuzzlewit, 1844

16. The Chimes, 1845

17. The Battle of Life, 1846

18. Pictures from Italy, 1846

19. The Cricket on the Hearth, 1846

20. Dombey & Son, 1848

21. The Haunted Man, 1848

22. David Copperfield, 1850

23. “Household Words” Conducted by Dickens, December 21, 1850

24. Hard Times, 1854

25. Little Dorrit, 1857

26. The Poor Traveller, Boots at the Holly-Tree Inn and Mrs. Gamp, 1858

27. The Nine Christmas Numbers of All the Year Round, 1859-1867. Conducted by Dickens

28. The Uncommercial Traveller, 1861

29. Our Mutual Friend Vol. I, 1865

30. Our Mutual Friend Vol. II, 1865

31. Legends and Lyrics by Adelaide Anne Procter, 1866. Introduction by Dickens

32. The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1870

33. Hunted Down, 1870

34. The Life of Charles Dickens Vol. I: 1812-1842 by John Forster, 1872

35. The Life of Charles Dickens Vol. II: 1842-1852  by John Forster, 1873

36. The Life of Charles Dickens Vol. III: 1852-1870 by John Forster, 1874

37. Mudfog Papers, 1880 reprint

38. Letters Vol. I: 1833-1856, 1880 reprint

39. Letters Vol. II: 1857-1870, 1880 reprint

40. Letters Vol. III: 1836-1870, 1882 reprint

41. Dickensiana Fred G. Kitton (ed.), 1886

42. Speeches: Literary and Social, n.d.

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William Makepeace THACKERAY / Arthur PENDENNIS / Mr. M. A. TITMARSH

Also, the related works of George CRUIKSHANK

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Ninety-three volumes of Thackeray-related works, in three groups: 73 in red morocco with decorative spines, 13 slim red morocco volumes with simple spines, and 7 assorted other bindings.

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Seventy-three volumes, bound alike, each according to the dimensions of the original work being rebound: full red morocco with gilt borders on the covers, gilt tops, mostly uncut fore edges, five raised bands on the spines with the title, author and a decorative motif gilt stamped in the spine compartments, and the date of publication at the bottom. Bound by Birdsall: Northampton and London. All titles by Thackeray unless otherwise indicated, with pen names noted. Any glaring damage also noted. This set is mostly first editions or original ephemera, with the most famous titles (Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon) absent, making this an incomplete collected works. However, what remains would go a long way to satisfying a Thackeray completist. If these volumes were to be sold separately: $20-$400 ea.

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In order of publication:

1. Damascus and Palmyra: A Journey to the East by Charles G. Addison Vol. I, 1838. Illustrations

2. Damascus and Palmyra: A Journey to the East by Charles G. Addison Vol. II, 1838. Illustrations

3. Men of Character by Douglas Jerrold Vol. I, 1838. Illustrations

4. Men of Character by Douglas Jerrold Vol. II, 1838. Illustrations

5. Men of Character by Douglas Jerrold Vol. III, 1838. Illustrations

6. The Paris Sketch Book Vol. I by Mr. Titmarsh, 1940

7. The Paris Sketch Book Vol. II by Mr. Titmarsh, 1940

8. The Students’ Quarter, 1840

9. Heads of the People, or Portraits of the British, 1840. Essay: “Captain Rook and Mr. Pigeon”

10. Heads of the People, or Portraits of the British, 1841. Essays: “Fashionable Authoress” by Thackeray and “The Artist” by Titmarsh

11. Lovel the Widower, 1841

12. Comic Tales and Sketches by Mr. Michael Angelo Titmarsh Vol. I, 1841

13. Comic Tales and Sketches by Mr. Michael Angelo Titmarsh Vol. II, 1841

14. George Cruikshank’s Omnibus L. Blanchard (ed.), 1842

15. The Irish Sketch-Book by Mr. M.A. Titmarsh Vol. I, 1843

16. The Irish Sketch-Book by Mr. M.A. Titmarsh Vol. II, 1843 - water damage

17. George Cruikshank’s Table Book, edited by G.A. a Beckett, 1845. Essay: “A Legend of the Rhine” by Michael Angelo Titmarsh - some water stains

18. Notes of a Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo by M.A. Titmarsh, 1846

19. Mrs. Perkins’s Ball by M.A. Titmarsh, 1847

20. Our Street by Mr. M.A. Titmarsh, 1848

21. Sand and Canvas by Samuel Bevan, 1849. Illustration? “The Three Sailors”

22. The History of Samuel Titmarsh and The Great Hoggarty Diamond, 1849

23. The History of Pendennis Vol. I, 1850 - cover detached

24. The History of Pendennis Vol. II, 1850

25. Rebecca and Rowena by M.A. Titmarsh, 1850

26. The Kickleburys on the Rhine by Mr. M.A. Titmarsh, 1850

27. The Kickleburys on the Rhine by Mr. M.A. Titmarsh, 2nd ed., 1851

28. The Keepsake, edited by Miss Power, 1851. Essay: “Voltigeur”

29. “The Month” containing WMT’s lectures, 1851

30. Henry Esmond, Vol. II, 1852

31. Henry Esmond, Vol. III, 1852

32. The Keepsake, edited by Miss Power, 1853. Poem: “The Pen and the Album”

33. English Humourists of the 18th C: a series of lectures, 1853

34. The Keepsake, edited by Miss Power, 1854. Poem: “Lucy’s Birthday”

35. The Newcomes edited by Arthur Pendennis Vol. I, 1855 - cover detached

36. The Newcomes edited by Arthur Pendennis, Vol. II, 1855

37. The Rose and the Ring by Mr. M.A. Titmarsh, 1855

38. Ballads, 1855

39. The Fatal Boots and Cox’s Diary, 1855

40. The Memoirs of R. Charles J. Yellowplush and The Diary of C. James de la Pluche, esq., 1856

41. Burlesques. A Legend of the Rhine: Rebecca and Rowena, 1856

42. The Fitz-boodle Papers and Men’s Wives, 1857

43. A Shabby Genteel Story, 1857

44. The Virginians Vol. I, 1858

45. The Virginians Vol. II, 1859

46. Rival Rhymes, in honour of Burns Ben Trovato (ed.), 1859 “Letter to the Directors of the Crystal Palace”

47. The Four Georges, 1861

48. The Victoria Regia edited by Adelaide Procter, 1861. Essay: “A Leaf Out of a Sketch Book”

49. The Adventures of Philip Vol. I, 1862

50. The Adventures of Philip Vol. II, 1862

51. The Adventures of Philip Vol. III, 1862

52. Roundabout Papers, 1863

53. Thackeray (a biography) by Theodore Taylor, 1864

54. Studies on Thackeray by James Hannay, 1864

55. Early and Late Papers Hitherto Uncollected, 1867

56. Denis Duval, 1867

57. Coila’s Whispers by The Knight of Morar, 1869

58. “The Piccadilly Journal” 1870. Sketches

59. “The Editor’s Box” 1880. Illustration

60. Vol. XXV of 1885 Collected Works: Miscellaneous Essays, Sketches and Reviews 

61. Vol. XXVI of 1886 Collected Works: Contributions to “Punch” (not previously reprinted)

62. A Collection of Letters of W.M. Thackeray: 1847-1855, 1887

63. The Early Writings of William Makepeace Thackeray by Charles Plumptre Johnson, 1888

64. “St. Nicholas” December 1889. Article: “The Boyhood of Thackeray” by Anne Thackeray Ritchie

65. Hic et Ubique by Sir William Fraser, 1893. Passage on WMT

66. With Thackeray in America by Eyre Crowe, 1893

67. Loose Sketches, etc, 1894

68. Thackeray’s Haunts and Homes by Eyre Crowe, 1897 - lots of foxing

69. The Thackerays in India by Sir William Wilson Hunter, 1897

70. The Hitherto Unidentified Contributions of Thackeray to “Punch” by M.H. Spielmann, 1899

71. Mr. Thackeray’s Writings in “The National Standard” and “Constitutional” edited by WT Spencer 1899

72. Thackeray’s Letters to an American Family, with illustrations by WMT, 1904 - water damage

73. Thackeray’s Letters to an American Family, with illustrations by WMT, 1904

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Thirteen slim volumes, bound the same as above, but with sideways titles between two raised bands, date under the bottom band:

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1. Alfred BUNN: A Word with Punch, 1847

2. Doctor Birch and his young friends (Titmarsh), 1849 - bent cover

3. “Mr. Cudworth’s Sermon before the House of Commons at Westminster” March 31st, 1647, reprinted and dedicated to Thackeray, 1852

4. The Tremendous Adventures of Major Gahagan, 1855

5. Novels by Eminent Hands and Character Sketches, 1856

6. A Little Dinner at Timins’s and The Bedford Row Conspiracy, 1856

7. History of Samuel Titmarsh and The Great Hoggarty Diamond, 1857

8. An introduction to kerography, a new method for engraving drawings, with examples taken from the drawings of Thackeray, 1861

9. A Brief Memoir of the Late Mr. Thackeray by James Hannay, 1864

10. Cambridge Sketches, 11 hand-colored engravings from the original plates, 1878

11. “W.M. Thackeray, as an Artist and Art Critic” an essay by W.E. Church, 1884

12. Reading a Poem, 1891

13. The Thackeray Exhibition at the Old Charterhouse, 1911

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Seven other volumes bound assortedly, as described:

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1. W.M. THACKERAY: Essay on George Cruikshank in The Westminster Review No. LXVI, June, 1840. First edition, with the insertion of 57 additional plates. Original binding bound in the back. ¾ bound in tan sheepskin over red marbled paper. A little soiled. Some isolated instances of foxing. A similarly bound example sold for $90. VG $90

2. Laman BLANCHARD (ed.): George Cruikshank’s Omnibus, 1842. First edition, illustrated by Cruikshank. Bound in straight grained full red morocco with original binding bound in back. Heavy wear to bottom edges, corners and joints near head of spine. Binding strong, leaves are very clean. Sells for $50-$175. Offered at $150-$700. VG $200

3. Gilbert BECKETT (ed.): George Cruikshank’s Table Book, 1845. First edition, illustrated by Cruikshank. Bound in straight grained full red morocco with original binding bound in back. Gilt text block all around. Corners bumped, wear to head of spine and one raised band. Leaves very clean, some creased corners. Sells for $75-$200. Offers at $200-$700. VG $200

4. M.A. TITMARSH: The Kickleburys on the Rhine, 1866. Illustrated, bound in full blue calf. Full gilt text block. Original binding bound into the back. Spine sunned, with some fading to the leather around the joints. Leaves are very clean: one tiny stain, one tiny fox mark in whole of book. Binding is tight, illustrations are bright. VG $40

5. M.A. TITMARSH: The Kickleburys on the Rhine, 1866. Illustrated, bound in full red calf. Gilt top of text block, leaves uncut. Original binding bound into the back. Leaves are clean, one small bunching in the middle of a few leaves, creased and torn, not affecting the contents. Binding is tight, illustrations are bright. VG- $30

6. W.M. THACKERAY: Thackerayana, 1875. First edition, illustrated. ¾ bound in red morocco over red linen. Rare hand tooled and colored illustration on spine. Binding tight and square, cover rubbed and soiled, text block soiled, foxing throughout. Selling $75-$150 in other fine bindings. VG- $75

7. W.M. THACKERAY: Ballads, 1879. First edition, ¾ bound in teal morocco over tan marbled paper. Gilt text block all around. Spine sunned, water stain down the front, a little shelf wear, water stain around the title page and a faint one near the bottom of some leaves in the middle of the book. Two sold for $50 10 years ago. Offers at $150 & $330. VG $100