20 parts in 19. Illustrated with 40 plates, 39 of them designed & etched on steel by Hablot K. Browne (Phiz), the 40th being a portrait of Dickens engraved by Finden from the painting by Maclise. 8¾x5½, original green wrappers with woodcut design by Browne. First Edition.
A nice complete set of an early Dickens' novel in parts. This set has the first issue points in Parts IV and V, i.e. Part IV, p.123, line 17, "visiter" for "sister"; and Part V, p.160, line 6 up, "latter" for "letter." Parts I-II, V-VI and XVII with correct first issue points as well. The following are the wrapper and advertisement variants for each issue which does not collate in accordance with Hatton and Cleaver. Part I: With correct front wrapper having the proper Part I numeral present only (not an erasure), inside has ad for Gentlemen's watches…A.B. Savory & Sons and has the first 16 pp. of the Nickleby Advertiser. Part II: Lacks the Mechi’s Catalogue 18 pp. ad at rear. Part III: Only lacks fold-out 8-page ad form Joseph Amesbury's Patent Supports at back. Part IV: Lacks 8-page Nickleby Advertiser at front, and Gravesend / Star Steam Packets ad at rear, but does have ad for Poor Man's Pill at rear. Part V: Has all the correct first issue points including the proper covers with British College of Health to front inside wrapper, Steam Navigation up the Rhine to inside back cover, and Valuable Books (James Bohn) to outside rear cover. Part VII: Lacks ad for Robert Tyas at rear. Part VIII: Lacks ad for Robert Tyas at rear, but with a 2 page ad uncalled for “List of Books on Sale” from D. Thomas, at front. Part IX: signature for pp. 273-288 precedes Chapter Header XXVII at p. 257. Part X: Only 4 of the 16 ads at front. Part XI: Does not have the small yellow slip at front, but it is not required for the first issue. Part XII: Lacks the 16 ads in front and lacks the Norton Camomile Pills and the R. Tyas ads at rear. Part XIII: Lacks ads for Grattan and Gilbert and the ad for Queen Victoria, at rear. Part XIV: Lacks ad for Kirby, Beard & Kirby’s at rear, but does contain the Notice leaf (printed on both sides) for “Sketches by ‘Boz’” after 16 pages of ads in front. Part XV: Nickleby Advertiser lacks 2 of the 16 ads with pp. 13-14 not present; with the first issue of plate No. 29 with all correct points. Part XVI: With variant rear inside and outside cover. Part XVIII: Lacks entire Nickleby Advertiser at front. Part XIX/XX lacking 2-pp and a sample illustration from Tyas's ad at rear, also insert for Hill's Seal Wafers. Hatton & Cleaver p.131. With custom-made quarter morocco slipcase and cloth chemise.
Condition:
Spines expertly repaired or rebacked, minor soiling and edge wear, chipping and with one 2" paper repair to rear cover of No. XIX/XX; top quarter of ad leaf of No. XIV torn off, 1 ad leaf detached to No. XVII, some ads with ink notations to margins, offsetting to many of the plates, only a little aging to the contents; overall a very good, sound set.