Description

“LARGER AND BRIGHTER THAN THE REALITY”: NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY CHARLES DICKENS

DICKENS, Charles. The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. London: Chapman and Hall, 1839. Octavo, late 19th-century full green morocco, raised bands, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom chemise and full morocco slipcase.

First edition of one of Dickens’ most popular novels, illustrated with 39 etchings by Hablot Knight Browne (“Phiz”) and the steel-engraved frontispiece portrait after the painting by Daniel Maclise, boldly inscribed on the title page by the author: “Charles Dickens. New Year’s Day 1842.”

Dickens’ third novel “most closely follows,” of them all, “the ‘life and adventures’ pattern of Fielding, Smollett and other 18th-century novelists whose works he had loved from childhood… Nickleby attracted more notice than Dickens had received previously” (Schlike, 415-16). The plot, the characters, the dialogue, everything about the book “has the feel of theatre; it is as if Dickens saw human life conducted among lights of the stage, making it somehow larger and brighter than the reality” (Ackroyd, 283). The date of Dickens’ inscription in this copy, January 1, 1842, was only one day before Dickens and his wife departed London for Liverpool to board a ship for America; the book that resulted from this trip, American Notes (published in October), was highly critical of many aspects of American life—particularly slavery—and upset many of his adoring American fans. This copy with second state of the engraved frontispiece portrait of Dickens, and first state of plates 1-4, without the Chapman & Hall imprint at bottom. Originally issued in 20 parts from April 1838 to October 1839. Bound without half title. Eckel, 64-66. Smith I:5. Gimbel A41. With the bookplate of Philadelphia bibliophile George Clifford Thomas, whose library of almost 3000 volumes was notable for its collection of Dickens’ works. With an early dealer description tipped to the front free endpaper describing this as “Dickens’ own copy.” Laid into this copy is Charles Dickens’ visiting card engraved with his name and his Devonshire Place address, where he lived from 1839 (The year Nicholas Nickleby was published) until 1851.

Interior fine, only most minor wear to top of front joint. Very rare inscribed by Dickens.