Nichols Nickleby by Charles Dickens

‘The Charles Dickens Edition’ of Chapman and Hall, nd(1880s?)

8 illustrations by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne), one of the best known of Dickens’s illustrators.

Half leather, embossed with marbled cover, end-papers and edges. 515pp, octavo, 500g

The leather has dried out badly and is flaking (see photos) and there is a 4cm crack in the binding at the bottom of the rear hinge. 

It doesn't seem to affect the soundness of the binding.

Other than that, there’s basically no notes on this volume.It’s completely sound in the binding, unmarked, undamaged, square, clean and tidy. It has some shelf-wear and bumps on the lower edge.

A chunky, satisfying book, bound to last its 140 years.

On the topic of which: I’ve tried to date it. The closest anyone who has this edition seems to be able to get is 1880s. Chapman and Hall were Dickens’ original publishers, but this is clearly a later edition.

Included is a promotional postcard of Dickens which was enclosed. It's from 1970, and ... well, if you buy the item, you'll get to ponder the mystery of why this company issued a postcard with Dickens on it along with me.

It’s heavy, so postage will be at cost. It will be packaged carefully to avoid damage in transit.