Christmas Carol by Dickens (Over 15,000 results)

167 x 102 mm. (6 5/8 x 4 1/8"). Five separately published works in five volumes. SUPERB OLIVE GREEN CRUSHED MOROCCO COSWAY BINDINGS BY RIVIERE & SON FROM DESIGNS BY J. H. STONEHOUSE (stamp-signed on front turn-ins), upper covers all with two inlaid red morocco banners, that at head with title in gilt, that at foot lettered "Lord keep my Memory Green," and each binding FEATURING AT CENTER AN OVAL MINIATURE PORTRAIT BY MISS C. B. CURRIE (signed in gilt on rear turn-ins), the five showing Dickens at different ages, painted on ivory under glass and surrounded by a gilt wreath of holly and mistletoe; raised bands, spines gilt in compartments with holly sprig, gilt lettering, gilt-ruled turn-ins with mistletoe sprig at corners, moss green watered silk endleaves, all edges gilt. Original cloth covers bound in at rear of each volume. An aggregate total of 53 woodcut illustrations in the texts, four engraved vignette title pages (the one in "Haunted" tinted), and eight engraved plates (the four in "Carol" nicely hand-colored), the illustrations by John Tenniel, John Leech, Daniel Maclise, Richard Doyle, and others. Carol with bound-in ALS FROM DICKENS dated 3 August 1842, and with two original green endpapers, one inscribed with a passage from Foster's "Life of Dickens," bound in at rear; "Chimes" with ALS from artist Richard Doyle dated 21 September [no year] bound in at front; "Cricket" with ALS from artist John Leech dated 17 July 1846; "Battle" with undated ALS from artist Daniel Maclise bound in; "Haunted Man" with ALS from artist John Tenniel to Dickens collector and bibliographer F. G. Kitton, dated 15 July 1896, bound in. Eckel 110-25; Smith II, 4-6, 8-9. â Spines slightly faded to a uniform medium brown (and front cover of "Haunted Man" just subtly sunned to olive brown), "Chimes" with faint foxing to engraved title opening, "Haunted Man" with light offsetting to printed title (as usual), other trivial imperfections, but A SPLENDID SET--clean and fresh internally ("Carol" being virtually pristine), and THE REMARKABLY CHARMING BINDINGS WITH NO SIGNS OF USE. This is the ultimate bibliophile's set of Dickens' five Christmas books: first editions in especially fine condition, in authentic Cosway bindings by the creators of that style, and with an autograph letter, signed by Dickens or one of the artists who illustrated these works, bound into each volume. "A Christmas Carol," the immortal story of how ghostly visitations finally inject the miserly Scrooge with the Christmas spirit, is called by Eckels "the greatest Christmas book from the pen of any man . . . . Artistically it was a pronounced success, and from a literary aspect, it has delighted millions of readers." The work is not only finely written, but its sentiments had great appeal for Victorian taste. Our copy has all of the text first issue points listed in Smith and Eckel, but those bibliographers disagree as to whether yellow (Smith) or green (Eckel) endpapers have priority. William Todd distrusted all internal issue points beyond uncorrected text, including color of the endpapers. He believed the most reliable way to determine priority of issue was by studying the location of the gilt wreath on the cover, which was stamped by a single machine. He says, "This desideratum is a single point, one encompassing all the others, and, if it is to be a sign of issue, the one last appearing in the course of manufacture." The brass stamp with the cover design shifted to the left and developed imperfections as time went on, so Todd assigned priority to volumes with the most distance (14-15 mm.) between the right edge of the blind-stamped border on the left side of the cover, and the left-most extremity of the gilt wreath and with a perfect "D" in the author's name within that wreath. By these criteria, our copy is a first issue. As an added bonus, our volume contains a letter written (and flamboyantly signed) by Dickens to Messrs. Curry and Co. concerning newspaper piracy of his works by "wholesale robbers." The warm reception of "A Christmas Carol" prompted Dickens to launch a series of four further Christmas books. "The Chimes" was described by the author to his friend (and biographer) John Foster as striking "a blow for the poor," while "The Cricket on the Hearth" presented domestic life in the ideal Victorian home. "The Battle of Life" is a love story with a happy ending (a Victorian rom-com for the holidays), and "The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain" finds another grumpy old man learning about the spirit of Christmas from a ghost. The illustrations for these works were done by some of the most popular artists of the day, including those whose letters are bound into volumes here: Richard Doyle (1824-83), who created the first cover and the masthead for "Punch"; John Leech (1817-54), well known for his political cartoons and humorous illustrations for "Punch"; Daniel Maclise (1806-70), whose professional life was devoted primarily to painting, especially portraits and historical scenes; and Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914), illustrator of "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass." This set was splendidly bound by the masters of the Cosway binding: Riviere, Stonehouse, and Currie. The "Cosway" style of binding, with painted miniatures inlaid in handsome morocco, apparently originated with the London bookselling firm of Henry Sotheran about 1909, the year G. C. Williamson's book entitled "Richard Cosway" was remaindered by Sotheran and presumably given this special decorative treatment. The name "Cosway" then was used to describe any book so treated, whatever its subject. Admirable miniatures on Cosway bindings were executed by Caroline Billin Currie (1849-1940) from 1910 until her death, creating such paintings for Sotheran's, usually (as here) from designs by J. H. Stonehouse for bindings executed by Riviere. The portraits created by Miss Currie for this work show a maturing Dickens, from youthful idealism to successful middl.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Rare true first printing of "A Christmas Carol. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas" by Charles Dickens. London: Chapman & Hall 1843. (Blue and Red title page, blue half title, "Stave I"). Bound in a fine signed Riviere binding with inner gilt. Four color plates + four woodcuts all by John Leech. The entirety in incredibly fine clean condition. Own the Finest.

No Binding. Condition: Fine. DICKENS, CHARLES. (1812-1870). English novelist of the Victorian era; his numerous beloved works include: A Christmas Carol , A Tale of Two Cities Barnaby Rudge , Bleak House , David Copperfield , Dombey and Son , Great Expectations , Martin Chuzzlewit , Nicholas Nickleby , Oliver Twist , The Old Curiosity Shop , and The Pickwick Papers . Simply superb Autograph Quotation Signed, "Charles Dickens", being the most famous quotation from his timeless Christmas classic: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, penned on his imprinted Gad s Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent stationery, with a bold paraph under his name. One page, small square octavo. [approx. 4 1/5 x 5 inches]. Tiny paper loss in 2 corners, else excellent condition. Saturday, 13th February 1869 . Dickens writes: ''and so as Tiny Tim observed God bless us every one! Charles Dickens'' This most remarkable quotation is accompanied by a letter from Wilkie Collins wherein he notes sending the quotation, to a Mrs. Richard . COLLINS, (WILLIAM) WILKIE. (1824-89). Noted English novelist and playwright known especially for The Woman in White (1859), a mystery novel and early "sensation novel", and for The Moonstone (1868), which has been proposed as the first modern English detective novel. Excellent Autograph Letter Signed, Wilkie Collins , full page, octavo. 90, Gloucester Place, Portman Square, W. [London], February 13, 1869. Laid down to a heavier paper stock, else fine condition. Collins writes: Dear Mrs. Richard, Here is a line from The Christmas Carol , copied, dated, and signed by Dickens. I shall be sorting some old letters before long and if I find any autographs of celebrities , you shall have them. Very truly yours, Wilkie Collins . We can add nothing more to this, except to say: Exceeding rare, Exceedingly choice, and simply One of our Best of the Best .

First edition. First edition, first printing. "Stave I" on page [1] and every single textual point uncorrected as per Calhoun and Heaney. Todd's first impression, first issue with 15mm between wreath and left blindstamping, unbroken "D." Title page printed in preferred red and blue, dated 1843 in Roman numerals; half title and verso of title page printed in blue. Smith II.4. [viii], 166, [2] pp. with hand-colored steel engraved frontispiece and three steel engraved plates within text. Bound in publisher's brown ribbed cloth with elaborate gilt and blind stamping, all edges gilt, variant green endpapers. Near Fine with crisp stamping, hint of toning to spine, hairline crack in front gutter but binding sturdy, a few light spots of foxing to text at front, typical offsetting to endpapers. Bright internally. Tissue guards present. Housed in a custom chemise. An excellent copy of the classic Christmas story, rare in the original cloth.Written by Dickens during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols, and newer customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees. He was influenced by the experiences of his own youth and by the Christmas stories of other authors including Washington Irving. The novella captured the zeitgeist of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. Dickens acknowledged the influence of the modern Western observance of Christmas, and in turn, his novella would go on to later influence several aspects of Christmas traditions, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.

Condition: New. Libro nuevo, sellado, fisico, original. Enviamos a todos el mundo por USPS, Fedex y DHL. 100% garantia en su compra. Sealed, new. Unopened. 100%guarentee. We ship worldwide.

Condition: New. Libro nuevo, sellado, fisico, original. Enviamos a todos el mundo por USPS, Fedex y DHL. 100% garantia en su compra. Sealed, new. Unopened. 100%guarentee. We ship worldwide.

Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. 1843, 1845, 1846, 1846, 1848. First editions of all five of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books, all in their most desirable states. A Christmas Carol is the first issue with title page printed in red and blue, dated 1843 in Roman numerals; half title and verso of title page printed in blue; "Stave I" on page [1]. The Chimes, first edition, first issue with the publisher's name part of the vignette title page. The Cricket on the Hearth, first edition, second issue with [2pp.] ads. The Battle of Life, first edition, second of four states of the engraved title page with "A Love Story" in a scroll sans cupid; terminal ads announce the publication in parts of Dombey and Son and the bound volume of Oliver Twist. The Haunted Man, first edition, first and only issue.All five volumes uniformly bound in full teal morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spines, covers triple ruled in gilt, gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, original cloth covers and spines bound in the rear of each volume, housed in a blue cloth open ended slipcase which is rubbed. Near Fine, expert hinge repairs to "A Christmas Carol" and "The Battle Of Life". Contents tanned with the light, sporadic age-related spot. A lovely set.

Condition: New. Libro nuevo, sellado, fisico, original. Enviamos a todos el mundo por USPS, Fedex y DHL. 100% garantia en su compra. Sealed, new. Unopened. 100%guarentee. We ship worldwide.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. John Leech (illustrator). First Edition. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. Bears the bookplate of James A. Stillman (1873-1944) chief executive of National City Bank of New York and a prominent book collector An exceptionally Fine copy with almost no wear; opposite the bookplate, on the ffep, there seems to be a faint impression of an earlier erased gift inscription, which is very faint. Original blind stamped and gilt decorated dark blue cloth covers, a rare example due to its exceptionally fine condition, minimal internal ageing, all plates pristine.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing. This is the TRUE FIRST EDITION with following First Issue points present "Four hand colored steel-engraved plates by John Leech" "Four black and white wood-engraved illustrations by W.J. Linton" "The title page in printed in blue and red" "dated 1843 on title page" "The front board has a perfect 'D' within 'Dickens' and a 14mm closest gap from left margin to left of wreath" with two pages of advertisement present on last page." A wonderful copy with minor repair to the spine. The book is great shape. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp with minor wear. The pages are exceptionally clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. A sharp copy housed in a custom clamshell slipcase. We buy Dickens First Editions.

Rare complete first edition set of of all five of Charles Dickensâ Christmas Books including the rare first edition of A Christmas Carol. Octavo, five volumes bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spines in six compartments within raised gilt bands, The Christmas Carol with central gilt vignette of the Fezziwig's Ball frontispiece, the rest with central gilt portrait of Dickens or mistletoe to the front and rear panels, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. With the original publisher's gilt-decorated cloth bound in at the rear of each volume. The set contains: a first edition, first issue of A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843 with the half-title, hand-colored frontispiece, title-page printed in blue and red, 3 hand-colored etched plates by John Leech, "Stave I" on p.[1], 2pp. advertisements at rear, with advertisement for A Christmas Carol (see The Chimes description), original publisher's green endpapers bound in at rear. A first edition of the Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. London: Chapman and Hall, 1845 [1844] with the half-title, 13 illustrations including frontispiece and vignette title by Maclise, Doyle, Leech and Stanfield, second state of the vignette title, advertisement for A Christmas Carol bound into previous volume. A first edition of The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home. London: Bradbury and Evans for the author, 1846 [1844] with the half-title, 14 illustrations, including frontispiece and vignette title, by Leech, Doyle, Stanfield, Maclise and Landseer, 2pp. advertisement at rear. A first edition, fourth state of The Battle of Life. A Love Story. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1846 with the half-title, 13 illustrations including frontispiece and vignette title by Maclise, Doyle, Leech and Stanfield, fourth state of the vignette title, 2pp. advertisements at rear. A first edition of The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848. Half-title, 7 illustrations, including frontispiece and vignette title by Leech, Stanfield, Tenniel and Stone, 2pp. advertisement at rear. In fine condition. A very attractive rare complete first edition set. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas. It was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day. The number of reprintings have been so many that all attempts at the figures have been futile. Altogether 24 editions were issued in the original format" (Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickensâ great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). "Suddenly conceived and written within a few weeks, [A Christmas Carol] was the first of Dickensâ Christmas books (a new literary genre thus created incidentally) it was an extraordinary achievementâ "the one great Christmas myth of modern literature.".

Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. First edition, first printing. First issue with title page printed in red and blue, dated 1843 in Roman numerals; half title and verso of title page printed in blue; "Stave I" on page [1]. Bound in fine contemporary full marbled calf, gilt lettered black morocco spine label, covers ruled in gilt, gilt dentelles, red pastedowns and endpapers, all edges gilt, by J. Leighton, Brewer Street. Illustrated with 4 hand colored engraved plates by John Leech and 4 black and white illustrations by W.J. Linton. Near Fine with small vintage bookseller ticket to front pastedown and hinge at half-title page exposed though binding remains solid, pages lightly tanned. A fantastic copy in a beautiful contemporary binding. Written by Dickens during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols, and newer customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas trees. He was influenced by the experiences of his own youth and by the Christmas stories of other authors, including Washington Irving. The novella captured the zeitgeist of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday. Dickens acknowledged the influence of the modern Western observance of Christmas, and in turn, his novella would go on to later influence several aspects of Christmas traditions, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.

Complete set of Charles Dickensâ Christmas Books containing first editions of each volume in the series with the exception of A Christmas Carol. Octavo, five volumes elaborately bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, illustrated. The set includes a second edition of A Christmas Carol and first editions of The Chimes, The Battle of Life, Cricket on the Hearth, The Haunted Man and The Ghostâ s Bargain. Vignette titles in each volume with the exception of A Christmas Carol. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom marbled slipcase. An attractive example of Dickens' famed work. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas It was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day"(Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickensâ great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). "Suddenly conceived and written within a few weeks, [A Christmas Carol] was the first of Dickensâ Christmas books (a new literary genre thus created incidentally) it was an extraordinary achievementâ "the one great Christmas myth of modern literature.".

FIRST EDITION, 2nd issue. Half title, col. front. & 3 other plates by John Leech, text illus., final ad. leaf; one gathering sl. proud. Leading f.e.p. neatly replaced & with v. sl. worming in inner margin. Orig. salmon-pink vertical-ribbed cloth, blocked in blind & gilt, lettered in gilt; v. sl. rubbing to extremities of hinges, one small spot on following board. a.e.g. Overall a very clean & attractive copy, as originally published. Smith II, 4. The second issue with 'Stave One' as first chapter heading.

First American edition. Small 8vo, illustrated with 8 plates after the originals by John Leech, a hand-colored frontispiece of Mr. Fezziwig's ball, three colored plates that are lithographed by P. S. Duval and four black-and-white, original brown cloth, decorated and lettered in blind and gilt on the front cover and spine, and in blind only on rear cover, by J. C. Russell, Binder. First American edition of Dickens' most popular work. replicating the first English edition, the American edition was printed by "C. Sherman, printer", as noted on the verso of the title-page. Carey & Hart's American publication was a piracy, published in blatant disregard to Dickens' impassioned plea for international copyright protection during his tour of America in 1843. The present copy is in the rare gift binding, stamped on the front cover with the binder's name, unlike in the ordinary bindings. Edgar & Vail, p. 21; Gimbel a80; McGuire Collection, 31; Wilkins, p. 38; Suzzanet Collection, p. 190, item 78 (the ordinary binding only). a short 1/8 inch closed tear at the top of the spine, slight foxing to endpapers, otherwise a remarkably fine copy of this edition, far scarcer than the English edition. Enclosed in a red half-morocco folding box.

Condition: Near Fine. Daniel Maclise, F. P. Becker, John Leech, John Tenniel, Richard Doyle, Edwin Lanseer, Marcus Stone, Clarkson Stanfield, Martin and Corbould (illustrator). First Printing of A Christmas Carol. An excellent, complete set of Dickens's Christmas books, including a first edition, first issue of "A Christmas Carol" with parts of original cloth bound-in. All volumes 16mo. uniformly bound by Tout in three-quarter green morocco over green marbled boards, spines elaborately stamped and lettered in gilt. AEG. Matching marbled endpapers. Each volume with the bookplate of The Library of B. George Ulizio Charles Dickens Collection. Spines uniformly darkened. Some occasional offsetting from the bound-in cloth. Overall, a handsome set housed in matching full red morocco pull-top slipcases, felt-lined.A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas.: First edition, first issue. Pp. [viii], [1], 2-166, followed by two pages of publisher ads. Four inserted hand-colored plates, including frontis. Original trimmed cloth from front board and spine bound-in at rear.The Chimes. A Goblin Story: First edition, first issue. Pp. [vi], [1], 2-175 followed by colophon, and publisher's notice for the tenth ed. of Christmas Carol. First state of the added engraved title and frontis. by Becker after Maclise. Original trimmed cloth from front board and spine bound-in at rear.The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home.: First edition. Pp. [viii], [1], 2-174, followed by two pages of publisher ads, including the second state of the final leaf for the new edition of Oliver Twist. Engraved title and frontis. by G. Dalziel after Maclise. Original trimmed cloth from front board and spine bound-in at rear. Small marginal repairs to pp. 59-61.The Battle of Life. A Love Story.: First edition, fourth issue. Pp. [viii], [1-3], 4-175, colophon, followed by two pages of publisher ads including Dombey and Son. Original trimmed cloth from front board and spine bound-in at rear. Faint owner signature at head of frontis.The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain: First edition. Pp. [vi], [1], 2-188, followed by two pages of publisher ads including Works by Mr. Dickens. Additional pictorial frontis. and title by Martin & Corbould after Tenniel. Original trimmed cloth from front board and spine bound-in at rear. ECKEL, pp. 110-125. SMITH, Dickens II: 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9. Leather bindings housed in red full-morocco pull-top cases with some original cloth bound-in.

London: Chapman and Hall, 1843. 8vo, [i-viii], [1]-166, [2, ads] pp. with four hand-colored steel engraved plates including frontispiece. Brown ribbed cloth, stamped in blind and gilt, pale yellow endpapers. Binding cocked,and shelfworn with some small stains to cloth and chips to backstrip, top corner of title page clipped, contents with scattered foxing and offsetting from the colored plates. A good copy. § First edition with the uncorrected text, "Stave 1" as first chapter heading, red and blue title page dated 1843, and with pale yellow endpapers (Smith II, 4). Per Todd (as reprinted in Smith), the cloth is the first impression, second issue, second state, with broken serif on "D" of Dickens.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. John Leech (illustrator). 1st Edition. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, in prose, being A Ghost Story of Christmas with illustrations by John Leech . A rare first edition of this Charles Dickens novel with even rarer special publisher's binding in an original state, published by Chapman & Hall 1843. The only one of it's type we have come across. Brown illustrated covers with mild wear to the extremities, believed to be an original publisher's special binding, perhaps a presentation copy. Spine with gilt lettering with top quarter missing. We have decided not to repair this book as it is highly valuable and sought after in it's first state, so we have left it for the buyer to choose how they wish to proceed with repair work. All the fist issue points as noted in Smith 2, 4; with 'Stave 1'. Coloured frontispiece and three further plates by John Leech, all hand colored as issued - the first and only time Dickens used coloured illustrations, in his desire to make the book highly valued. It proved to be very expensive so was never repeated. Plus woodcut black and white text illustrations. No advertisments at the end of the book. Gilt coloured page ends. Coloured marble end papers with gilt edging in very good state. Wreath surrounding the title with red and blue type. Loose page ribbon. Generally in very good condition other than the spine's missing section. Stave 1 on page one. Small slim 8vo.

Original pen, ink and wash on card. Signed by the artist in the lower right hand corner and below the painting in Rackham's hand is the caption, "Mrs Cratchit brings in the Christmas Pudding, Dickens' A Christmas Carol" and a further full signature. 22.8cm x 17.8cm. The image in very good condition indeed, with a little browning to some sections of the background. Arthur Rackham and Charles Dickens are perfect companions to provide a Christmas cheer. LITERATURE: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Heinemann, 1915) p.88. Also used as the dustwrapper artwork for an American edition of the same title.

London v.d. Illus, 6.5x4.5", gilt dec red cloth, a.e.g. Includes: A CHRISTMAS CAROL. 1843. Covers quite worn, cocked, inner hinges cracked, scattered foxing and staining, "Scrooge's third visitor" plate (edge frayed) inserted facing p130 (instead of p78) else good. FIRST EDITION, 2nd Issue (with "Stave One", red and blue title page, yellow end papers); b) THE CHIMES. 1845. Covers worn and soiled, very scattered staining else good. FIRST EDITION, 2nd state of vignette title page ("Chapman & Hall" outside illus); c) THE CRICKET ON THE EARTH. 1846. Covers worn and soiled, back cover badly ink stained, contents browned with one tiny hole on pp149-150. FIRST EDITION, with 2nd state ad in back (3 lines in italics): d) THE BATTLE OF LIFE. 1846. Covers worn and stained, rear inner hinge cracked, rear end paper with chipped corner and erasures, contents foxed. FIRST EDITION with vignette title page Todd E1, Eckel 4th issue; e) THE HAUNTED MAN. 1848. Covers worn, extremities bumped and frayed, tear in spine cover, front cover loose, overall wear else good with bright covers. FIRST EDITION. A rare treat, all five Christmas books together! And such early issues as well. A scarce find. A similar set recently (Nov. 2004) sold at auction for $14,000!.

Condition: Near Fine. First American Edition. First American edition, first printing. Publisher's brown cloth with covers stamped in blind and spine in gilt; with four hand-colored lithograph plates and four black and white lithographed illustrations. Near Fine with slight lean to binding, wear at corners and spine ends and sunning and light spotting to cloth. Old ink ownership inscription to half-title page, light color pencil mark to first blank terminal sheet, small abrasion to top corner of rear paste down, moderate foxing throughout. A lovely copy.

Condition: Near Fine. First American Edition. First American edition, first printing. Bound in publisher's original rib-grain purple cloth, covers decorated in blind and spine stamped in gilt; handcolored lithographed frontispiece and 3 handcolored lithographedplates afterJohn Leech by P. S. Duval,4 wood-engraved platesafter Leech. Near Fine with lean to binding, fading to cloth heaviest at spine, shallow wear to spine ends and light wear to corners. Contemporary owner name to front blanks and title page, pages tanned. A lovely copy.

Small 8vo, In the original brown gilt stamped vertically ribbed cloth. Front cover and spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. Original yellow colored endpapers. In generally good condition. Un-restored condition. Some rubbing to edge. Corners bumped, cloth slightly coming away. A little chipped at ends of spine with minor loss. Inside hinges a little tender, with a few faint marks on endpapers. A few faint marks on frontis, title page and lower edge page 8. Slight lean. Else generally clean. Four hand colored steel engraved plates by Leech and four wood engraved text illustrations by W.J. Linton. [8], 166pp, advertisements [2]. FIRST EDITION THIRD ISSUE, Issue points title-page printed in blue and red; half-title and title-page verso printed in blue; yellow endpapers; text uncorrected except for "Stave One" on p. [1] (all corresponding to Eckel's third issue) Dicken's classic tale, which met with instant success and critical acclaim, forever sealing the characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Jacob Marley into the memories of every generation since it's first publication in 1843.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, SIGNED by Arthur Rackham. This Limited Edition of 525 copies printed is bound in the ORIGINAL publisher's vellum cloth with the 12 tipped in color plates present. A beautiful copy. The binding is tight with NO cocking or leaning and the boards are crisp with minor wear to the spine and edges. The pages are clean with NO writing, marks or bookplates in the book. Overall, a wonderful copy SIGNED by Rackham. We buy SIGNED Rackham First Editions.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. A set of the five Christmas books by Dickens: 1). A Christmas Carol, in Prose, being a Ghost Story of Christmas. With illustrations by John Leech. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. With the Stave I reading, the red and blue title, but with the typographical corrections that delineate the second edition of the same month. [8], 166, [2] pp. Frontispiece and three hand-colored plates plus four wood engravings, all by Leech. 2) The Chimes. A Goblin Story or some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in. London: Chapman & Hall, 1845. First edition, first issue (with the imprint integral to the engraved title). [8], 175, [1] pp.; the first page is the ad for the Christmas Carol; 3) The Cricket on the Hearth. A fairy tale of home. London: printed and published for the author by Bradbury and Evans, 1846. First edition, first (and only) issue. [8], 174, [2] pp., complete with half-title and ads; The battle of life. 4. A love story. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846. First edition, Eckel's fourth issue. [8], [1-2, sectional title], 3-175 [colophon on verso of last page], ad leaf. The illustrations (by Doyle, Leech, Maclise et al) are intertextual; 5) The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. A Fancy for Christmas-time. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1848. First edition, first (and only) issue. Five volumes uniformly bound by Tout in full maroon morocco, slipcased, all edges gilt. Joints repaired on the first volume, with a small loss to the corner of the title-page. Overall, a very nice set of Dickens' Christmas novels.

Complete set of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books. Octavo, 5 volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panels, all edges gilt. A Christmas Carol, in Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas is a second edition in brown cloth with red and blue title-page dated 1843, 'Stave One' and corrected text, Smith's second state, plates hand-colored (2 repaired), spine repaired, new endpapers, 1843; first edition of The Chimes; A Goblin Story with advertisement leaf for the tenth edition of A Christmas Carol, first state of vignette title-page, recased, 1845, Chapman & Hall; fourteenth edition of The Cricket on the Hearth, new endpapers, 1846; first edition of The Battle of Life with the vignette title-page in fourth state without imprint (Todd's E1), recased, 1846; first edition of The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain, 1848, Bradbury & Evans; all but The Christmas Carol with additional vignette titles, illustrations. In very good condition. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas. It was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day"(Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickensâ great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). "Suddenly conceived and written within a few weeks, [A Christmas Carol] was the first of Dickensâ Christmas books (a new literary genre thus created incidentally) it was an extraordinary achievementâ "the one great Christmas myth of modern literature.".

Complete set of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books. Octavo, 5 volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panels, all edges gilt. A Christmas Carol, in Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas is a tenth edition with the half-title printed in blue, title-page printed in red and blue, verso printed in blue, hand-colored etched frontispiece and three hand-colored etched plates by John Leech, four wood-engravings in-text by W.J. Linton after Leech, 2pp. publisher's advertisements at rear. Second edition of The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year with the half-title, engraved frontispiece and pictorial vignette title page. First edition of The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home with half-title, frontispiece and vignette title page, second state ad leaf. First edition of the Battle of Life: A Love Story with half-title, advertisements, frontispiece and fourth state vignette title page. First edition of The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain: A Fancy for Christmas-Time with advertisements, frontispiece and vignette title page. Each volume is in near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A very nice set. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas. It was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day"(Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickens great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). "Suddenly conceived and written within a few weeks, [A Christmas Carol] was the first of Dickens Christmas books (a new literary genre thus created incidentally) it was an extraordinary achievement the one great Christmas myth of modern literature.".

First edition, early printings of all five of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books, finely bound. Octavo, 5 volumes, bound in full calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, black and green morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruled panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Illustrated with sixty-three engravings altogether, four in color, by Leech, Maclise, Stanfield, Doyle and Landseer. In fine condition. An exceptional set. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas It was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day the number of reprintings have been so many that all attempts at the figures have been futile. Altogether 24 editions were issued in the original format" (Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickensâ great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). "Suddenly conceived and written within a few weeks, [A Christmas Carol] was the first of Dickensâ Christmas books (a new literary genre thus created incidentally) it was an extraordinary achievementâ "the one great Christmas myth of modern literature.".

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. LIMITED SIGNED EDITION. 1 vol., 11-9/16" x 9-3/8", limited to 525 copies illustrated and signed by Arthur Rackham this being copy #226, bound in the original gilt stamped vellum, pictorial pastedowns and endpapers, top edge gilt others uncut and unopened as issued, the vellum is clean and bright as well as the pastedowns and endpapers, yellow silk ties have been replaced, slight bowing to covers, no previous ownership markings, inscriptions, or bookplate, overall a VERY GOOD+ copy often when found in shabby condition. Regarded as Dicken's most widely read novel and considered to be "the greatest Christmas book ever written in any language" (Eckel p. 116) selling more than 6000 copies in the few days leading up to Christmas. The work was extravagantly costly as Dickens for the first time (and incidentally his last) used color in the title-page and etchings as he wanted to make the book a beautiful gift and to be a celebration of the Christmas spirit. After the initial success, Dickens continued the series throughout the 1840's, maintaining "the Carol" philosophy to "strike a sledgehammer blow" for the poor, uneducated, and repressed. Signed by Illustrator(s).

Complete set of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books. Octavo, 5 volumes, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panels, all edges gilt. A Christmas Carol is an eleventh edition, plates hand-colored, recased by Morrell [1845]; The Chimes: A Goblin Story is a sixth edition, recased [1845]; first edition of The Cricket on the Hearth, Âsecond state of advertisement leaf, spine repaired and new endpapers [1846]; first edition of The Battle of Life with vignette title-page in fourth state without imprint (Todd's E1) [1846]; first edition of The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain [Bradbury & Evans, 1848]. All but A Christmas Carol with additional vignette titles. In very good condition. A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas. It was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day"(Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickensâ great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). "Suddenly conceived and written within a few weeks, [A Christmas Carol] was the first of Dickensâ Christmas books (a new literary genre thus created incidentally) it was an extraordinary achievementâ "the one great Christmas myth of modern literature.".