Books

London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First edition, first issue, first state, with green endpapers, wreath on upper cover 15mm at its closest point from left blind-stamped border, the ‘D’ in Dickens perfect. Hand-colored etched frontispiece and 3 hand-colored steel-engraved plates after Leech, wood-engravings within the text by W. J. Linton after Leech; title page printed in blue and red, 2 pp. publisher’s advertisements at end. 8vo. Original brownish-red cloth, a.e.g., spine slightly cocked, slight bubbling to right margin of front cover and stains on rear, some rubbing to head and foot of spine, fore edges gilt; unrestored. First edition, first issue, first state, with green endpapers, wreath on upper cover 15mm at its closest point from left blind-stamped border, the ‘D’ in Dickens perfect. Hand-colored etched frontispiece and 3 hand-colored steel-engraved plates after Leech, wood-engravings within the text by W. J. Linton after Leech; title page printed in blue and red, 2 pp.…

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.'