Books

London: Chapman & Hall / Bradbury & Evans, 1843. First Edition. Near Fine. 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,…

A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens. It was first published by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a grumpy, greedy, and cold-hearted old miser who is transformed into a kind, generous man after visits by the ghost of his former business partner and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.

One indication of the first edition of 'A Christmas Carol' is the presence of red and blue title page, a red cloth binding, and yellow endpapers. Additionally, on the verso of the title page, it should be dated 1843 and state 'London: Published for the Author by Chapman & Hall, 186 Strand.'