Nicholas Nickleby, Dickens, c.1907, London Ed, Talwin Morris, 2 Vols
 
A complete two-volume edition of Charles Dickens's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, published by the Caxton Publishing Company, Limited, London, as part of The London Edition of his collected works. The matching decorative green cloth bindings feature Art Nouveau designs attributed to Talwin Morris (1865–1911), with gilt spine lettering. Illustrated after Hablot Knight Browne ('Phiz'), the set includes coloured plates, monochrome illustrations and editorial notes. Both volumes have been checked page by page and are complete, with all pages, plates and illustrations present.
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
Full title: The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Author: Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
Edition: The London Edition, a later collected edition, not a first edition
Date: Undated, circa. 1907
Publisher: The Caxton Publishing Company, Limited, Clun House, Surrey Street, London
Printer: Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ltd., London and Aylesbury
Illustrator: Hablot Knight Browne ('Phiz')
Binding design: Attributed to Talwin Morris
Series: The Works of Charles Dickens, Volumes III and IV
Format: Two matching green cloth hardbacks, complete as a novel; no dust jackets
 
Historical & Bibliographical Context
First published in monthly parts between March 1838 and September 1839, Nicholas Nickleby helped establish Dickens's reputation for memorable characters, humour and social criticism. The novel follows Nicholas as he supports his family and encounters the brutal Yorkshire schoolmaster Wackford Squeers, the vulnerable Smike and the benevolent Cheeryble brothers. Dickens's depiction of Dotheboys Hall exposed abuses associated with certain nineteenth-century boarding schools.
Caxton's London Edition reflects the early twentieth-century enthusiasm for substantial, attractively bound collections of Dickens's works. Although numbered III and IV within the larger series, these two volumes contain the complete novel.
 
Dating of This Edition
Neither volume has a printed publication date. The provisional date c.1907 is based on comparisons with early twentieth-century Caxton London Edition sets, some catalogued around 1906–1907 and others around 1910. The exact printing year has not been established, and a later impression is possible.
 
Art Nouveau Binding Design: Talwin Morris
The decorative bindings are attributed to Talwin Morris (1865–1911), an influential designer associated with the Glasgow Style and Art Nouveau. As art director for Blackie & Son, Morris became known for stylised natural forms, geometric ornament and integrated lettering. The present green cloth bindings feature linear decoration, gilt-lettered spines and ornamental details. The attribution is recognised for this edition, although contemporary documentary confirmation has not been established. The designs add interest for collectors of decorative publisher's bindings and early twentieth-century book art.
 
About the Author & Illustrator
Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was a leading Victorian novelist whose works include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Bleak House and Great Expectations. His fiction combined humour and vivid characterisation with observations on poverty, education and injustice.
Hablot Knight Browne (1815–1882), known as 'Phiz', illustrated numerous Dickens novels. His expressive drawings helped establish the visual identity of many of Dickens's best-known characters.
 
Illustrations & Completeness
The coloured plates include The Yorkshire Schoolmaster at the Saracen's Head (facing p.24, Volume I) and Nicholas Congratulates Arthur Gride on His Wedding Morn (facing p.550, Volume II). A full-page monochrome illustration depicts Mr. Ralph Nickleby's "Honest" Composure. The editorial notes include illustrations of New Inn, Greta Bridge and Dotheboys Hall.
All pages, coloured plates, monochrome illustrations and editorial material in both volumes have been checked individually and are present and complete. Both printed lists of illustrations are retained.
 
Binding & Exterior Condition
Uniform publisher's decorative green cloth with Art Nouveau-style designs to the front boards and spines, and gilt spine lettering. Light rubbing to boards, edges and spine extremities; occasional superficial marks and slight soft bumping to corners and spine ends. Some patchy fading is present, particularly on Volume II. The matching bindings retain attractive shelf appeal.
 
Interior Condition
Generally good, readable interiors with age-related paper toning, occasional foxing, light marks and creases. Page edges show tanning and foxing, with discolouration to pastedowns and free endpapers. Both volumes contain handwritten presentation inscriptions.
Volume I: Minimal partial gutter crack around pp.224–225, without compromising binding integrity; no page tears recorded.
Volume II: Lower-edge tears to pages following p.632, not affecting text or illustrations. Binding remains secure.
 
Physical Details & Pagination
Volume I: xvi preliminary pages; main text pp.1–325; 20.5 × 14 × 2.8 cm.
Volume II: vi preliminary pages; main text pp.325–634; 20.5 × 14 × 3.4 cm.
Combined weight: 882 g.
Pagination note: Volume I ends on p.325 and Volume II begins with a different page also numbered 325. The text is not repeated. This overlap has been checked against the books and does not indicate missing material.
 
Provenance
Both volumes have handwritten presentation inscriptions addressed to 'Charlie' from 'Ted'. Volume I includes a quotation attributed to Francis Bacon about books and reading; Volume II includes one attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. The matching inscriptions suggest the volumes were presented together. Neither individual's identity has been established.