Books

London: Chapman and Hall, 1839. First Edition, Mixed Issue. Quarter Leather. Very good. First Edition of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, with two mounted envelopes with signatures of the author to close associates.. Octavo, xvi, 624pp, [1]. Marbled boards, three quarter green leather, title in gilt on spine, five raised bands with gilt-ruled compartments. Marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. A complete example, with 39 full-page illustrations by "Phiz" [Hablot Knight Browne]. Illustrations generally clean, some foxing to frontispiece, light toning and transference at various points. Mixed issue, with the "Chapman & Hall" imprint on frontispiece and 3 of the first 4 plates. (Gimbel A41). Two signed mailing envelopes affixed to front flyleaves, both signed by Charles Dickens. The first envelope is addressed to his brother-in-law, Henry Austin at the General Board of Health on Parliament Street. The second is addressed to H. Cholmondeley-Pennell, a…

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is a novel by Charles Dickens. Originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839, it was Dickens's third novel. The lengthy work follows the life of Nicholas Nickleby, a young man who must support his mother and sister after his father dies.

For first edition copies of Nicholas Nickleby, collectors should look for the publisher's name 'Chapman & Hall' along with the date on the inside title page, the placement of certain illustrations, and the presence of any errors that were corrected in later editions.