Books

Without initial ad. leaf. Text in two columns; a little spotted, title page sl. torn in inner margin where wrappers removed, without loss. Disbound. 31pp. Smith USA II, 3; the first impression. Smith notes, following detailed analysis of advertisements and notices in contemporary newspapers, that the Harper Brothers edition of A Christmas Carol was first offered for sale on January 24th 1844. This preceded by several months the Carey & Hart finely produced illustrated edition, which evidence suggests first appeared in April 1844. Thus, Smith concludes, (and in concordance with similar research conducted by Sumner & Stillman), 'until evidence to the contrary is uncovered, Harper's edition should be considered the first American edition.

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.