Dickens (Charles) The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, first edition in the original monthly parts, 20 parts in 19, early issues, engraved portrait of Dickens by Finden after Maclise and 39 etched plates by H.K. Browne ("Phiz"), "latter" for "letter" on p.160 of part 5 (first state), those plates in first two parts without imprints, plate 29 with the uncommon short title, loosely inserted in part 4 is an original coloured pencil drawing by Browne, heightened in crayon, of the illustration "Newman Noggs Leaves the Ladies in the Empty House", lacking the inserted advertisements in part 1, the Mechi catalogue and most of the "Advertiser" in part 2, the scarce Amesbury advertisement in part 3, the Medical Casket in part 16, and the Valentine Vox advertisements in part 19/20, 4 of 5 specimen seals removed from rare "Hill's Wafers" advertisement in part 19/20, all other advertisements present, some browning to plates as usual, a few leaves loose, original blue-green printed wrappers, one spine neatly rebacked, some others slightly worn, preserved in two modern custom chemises and handsome crimson morocco slip-cases with pull-off tops, ends slightly bumped, 8vo, Chapman and Hall, 1838-9.*** Dickens' third novel as it originally appeared in serial form. ""Dickens was under pressure all through 1838 with the [...] double monthly tasks [...] of Oliver [Twist] and Nickleby." His biographer John Forster said later that he never knew him work so much after dinner or such late hours. There was extra urgency because he had promised to complete Oliver for publication in book form [...] months before the series publication was to end" (Tomalin). Provenance: Anderson Galleries, Sale of the Library of Mr Edwin W. Coggeshall of New York, 25th April 1916, lot 99.