Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, Illustrated by Phiz, Sims Custom Binding

Binding Details:  Fine custom binding by the Sims Bindery of three-quarter burgundy morocco leather with hand-marbled paper boards and raised bands to the spine that also features gilt titles, ruling, and central gilt motifs. Single gilt lines to the boards and corners. There are marbled endpapers, hand-sewn silk endbands, and the top page edges are stained red. Laid into the book is a signed card from Andrew Sims stating that the book was bound by the Sims Bindery.

Book Details: Originally published serially by Chapman & Hall in nineteen monthly installments from April, 1839 – October, 1839, this is the 1950 Oxford University Press illustrated edition that features 30 illustrations by “Phiz” and an introduction by Dame Sybil Thorndike. David Perdue in his article on Nicholas Nickleby wrote, “Dickens traveling under an assumed name visited the notorious boarding schools in Yorkshire to do background research for the novel, which deals with the mistreatment of children sent to these schools. Although the central theme takes on this serious subject, Dickens mixes in some of his best comic writing. Dickens biographers George Gissing and G.K. Chesterton praised the comic characterization of the novel and Peter Ackroyd, in his biography Dickens, says that Nicholas Nickleby is ‘perhaps the funniest novel in the English language’."

Measures approximately 7.5” x 5.25” with 831 pages as well as an introduction, preface, list of illustrations, table of contents, and list characters.

 Condition Report:  The binding is FINE condition.  Internally, the book is very clean with two superficial foxing spots to the side closed foredge. There are no bookplates or signs of previous ownership. Overall, this is a beautiful binding that houses one of Dicken’s most critically acclaimed novels that is illustrated by “Phiz”.

Photographs of the binding, endpapers, title page, and binders card appear in the photo section of the listing.