The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, with illustrations by Phiz [Hablot Knight Browne]. Published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1839.
FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION
A particularly excellent example in a beautiful half morocco binding, probably the original publisher's binding due to the presence of stab holes to the inner gutter, thus bound from the parts as opposed to the later book form clean sheets. With all requisite first issue points (listed below). This is likely one of the publisher's half morocco variants listed by Smith as with extra gilt to the spine, thus probably being one of the later bound copies of the c.1850s. Chapman & Hall offered binding services all the way into the late 1850s for this title so that buyers could have their original purchased copies uniformly bound with other of Dickens novels or to commission bindings simultaneously.
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Dickens' biographer, Peter Ackroyd says in his work that Nicholas Nickleby "has some title to being the funniest novel Dickens ever wrote; it is perhaps the funniest novel in the English language" (pp.262)
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Edition points: (all present)
pp.18 plate with "London, Chapman & Hall, 186, Strand." imprint at the foot.
"latter" for "letter" error pp.160 line 43
"flys" for "flies" error pp.245 line 10
"visiters" for "visitors" error pp.272 line 2
"incontestible" for "incontestable" error pp.297 line 22
"suprise" for "surprise" error pp.586 line 24
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Size: 145 x 218 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[xvi, 624pp]
Bound without a half title essentially as published when bound from the parts else collates as complete with the full set of plates. Half morocco binding intricately tooled in gilt in compartments between raised bands to the spine. Binding a little rubbed but generally very good and structurally sound with both boards securely attached. Hinges very good to near fine without subsequent reinforcement. A little wear to corners with very minor loss to top front corner. All edges gilt, slightly dulled to the top else very good. Without any bookplates or ownership inscriptions. A little foxing to endpapers else very clean throughout the text block with the plates in remarkably clean condition compared to typical examples, likely washed by the publisher prior to binding and so free from the usual oxidation.
An excellent example of this first edition, very rare in any of the publisher's binding variants.
