Books

First Rackham trade edition, early impression. Heinemann commissioned the "obvious, popular and consumable story, A Christmas Carol, to be the Rackham book for Christmas 1915. This was the first Dickens story Rackham had attempted" (Hamilton, p. 108). The book was "decidedly successful, for [Rackham] contrived to adapt the tradition of 'Phiz' and Cruikshank to his own characteristic style in the pictures of Victorian London and at the same time found scope for his fantasy in the ghost scenes. We also find him here developing his special talent for silhouette, rare among illustrators... he only once attempted Dickens again - with The Chimes for the Limited Edition Club in 1931" (Hudson, p. 106). The status of this impression is unclear. The bibliographies state that the first impression of the trade edition has the frontispiece mounted on dark green paper and the date 1915 on the title verso. This copy has the frontispiece printed directly on plate paper, supposedly one sign of later issue, yet with the date 1915 on the title verso. However, we have handled a presentation copy inscribed by Rackham and dated 1915 with the frontispiece printed directly on plate paper, as here, which suggests that this is an early issue. Octavo (197 x 143 mm). Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in purple morocco, decorative title block to spine and front board gilt, twin rule to turn-ins, dark green endpapers, gilt edges. Colour frontispiece and 11 colour plates all printed directly on plate paper with captioned tissue guards, black and white illustrations in the text. A fine copy. .

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.