NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, First Edition, by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Hablot K. Brown (Phiz), published by Chapman and Hall, London, 1839. Hardcover octavo, 624 top edge gilt pages with frontispiece, title page, and thirty-nine plates, rebound by Riviere and Son, London in red morocco leather with gilt stamped covers and spine, five raised hubs, gilt dentelle with dark green paper pastedowns and endpapers, ex libris plate to interior of front cover. Includes a tipped-in one page bifolium ALS written by Dickens to front matter pages, written on Gads Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent stationary to Mrs. Macready, possibly Cecile Louise Frederica Spencer, the wife of English actor William Charles Macready (1793-1873), dated Tuesday, March 26, 1857, reading "My Dear Mrs. Macready Many thanks for your postscript to Macready's letter. I send him a few cheerful words enclosed, and ardently hope–and do believe–that I shall find greatly better yet by the time of my coming to Cheltenham. I know what…he has, and what love can do. Believe me always, Charles Dickens." with later pencil inscription reading "Nicholas Nickleby," lower left. No. 6 serial cover included in front matter pages, original black cloth blindstamped covers and spine laid down to back matter pages. 9 1/8" H x 6" W x 1 7/8" D. Note: Includes early issue point: "latter" instead of "letter" on the 6th to last line of p. 160.

PROVENANCE: The Estate of Edith (Edie) M. Bass, Nashville, Tennessee. Most of the items from her estate in this auction were by descent from her parents, Walter Paul McBride and Claire Childs of Lake Forest, Illinois.

CONDITION: Covers in overall very good condition with wear to hinges, corners slightly bumped. Pages in overall good, legible condition with toning/toning impressions, acid burn, scattered foxing spots, scuffs, creases, some minute tears to edges, few pencil marks, light handling wear. Dickens ALS is overall good, legible condition. Frontispiece is separated from binding. Plates are collated. Some pages unevenly cut.