I wonder if anyone can advise me? I have Volumes 2 - 12 of this edition of the Arabian Nights. It was printed by H.S.Nichols in 1897 and has illustrations by Albert Letchford. Firstly does anyone have a Volume 1 they would be prepared to sell me to complete the set?

Secondly, does anyone know anything about this edition and whether it has any value as a set. I have read that the original Benares edition is sought after but I assume this one does not have tremendous worth as it is a reprint. I would be grateful for any insights!

Regards
Arnie

Here's my opinion. I have pretty much that same set and I paid about $900US for it perhaps 8 years ago. There are plenty around and you can get an idea of todays "retail" value by going to www.abebooks.com. The problem with it is that it is an "expurgated" edition and it is in quite plentiful supply.

You would need to match the binding that you have and you don't mention this but my experience is that it would take a lot of diligence to find a matching volume for your Number I. BUT, somewhere out there it may be offered for sale!

as a kid i remember h.s.nichols ..he worked for my father leo weitz as a cataloger..described beautiful books beautifully....was a member of that wonderful fellowship of victorian bibliophilic scoundrels who made it a practice to find "pre-publication" editions and "unknown works" also curiosa
he also surreptitiously produced an edition of 1601 by mark twain printed 500
copies which ended up with my father and which he gave to those customers who bought the most expensive twain items...in 1939 owning a 1601 was a felony
'old man' nichols really knew about books and owned a lovely collection of magnifying glasses...and was always very nice to me ..as i understood it he left the uk under somewhat of a cloud as a result of both literary endeavors and lifestyle...i'm still in the book trade and also do a little book binding
herb weitz

Very interested to hear of your connection with Nichols, Mr Weitz. I am researching Victorian decadent periodicals at Durham University in the UK and am aware of Nichols as a partner of Leonard Smithers, the London publisher of decadent and clandestine/erotic literature. Do you have any knowledge of the periodical trade from the late Victorian/Edwardian period in England? What area of the book trade are you in yourself?

Matthew.