Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. London: Chapman and Hall, 1839



In 8s (8 1/2 x 5 3/4 in.; 217 x 148 mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait of Dickens after D. Maclise by Finden, 39 etched plates by Phiz.

William A. Foyle (morocco label, sale, Christie's London, July 12, 2000, lot 582 [part])

Eckel, p. 64; Yale/Gimbel A41; Smith 1:5

Corners very lightly rubbed. Lacking half-title and advertisment leaves; a few plates lightly browned.
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First edition in book form, in an elaborate Cosway-style binding by Bayntun Rivière. Crushed blue morocco, the front cover with gilt-fillet border and inset with a fine central miniature portrait on ivory of the mature Charles Dickens surrounded by a gilt-tooled floral-arabesque frame with red morocco floral onlays; the rear cover with gilt-fillet border and central gilt-tooled floral-arabesque cartouche with red morocco onlays; the spine similarly gilt with morocco onlays; board edges with double gilt fillet; turn-ins gilt-panelled with French fillet and floral-tooled cornerpieces, signed by the binder at the foot of the front turn-in, marbled endpapers, gilt edges.