Charles Dickens, 1843-1848

DICKENS, Charles. [CHRISTMAS BOOKS]. London, 1843-1848.

First issue of A Christmas Carol in a complete set of Christmas Books, all first editions (mixed states). Comprising: A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. London: Bradbury and Evans for Chapman and Hall, 1843. Half-title printed in blue, title printed in red and blue, green coated endpapers. Hand-colored etched frontispiece and 3 plates by and after John Leech, woodcut illustrations by W. J. Linton after Leech. With "Stave I" chapter heading, third state endpapers and title. Cloth is the first issue, with 14 mm distance between the blind-stamped left margin and the left extremity of the gilt wreath, the "D" in Dickens unbroken. *The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. London: Bradbury and Evans for Chapman and Hall, 1845 [but 1844]. *The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home. London: Bradbury and Evans for the Author, 1846 [but 1845]. * The Battle of Life. A Love Story. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1846. *The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain. A Fancy for Christmas-Time. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848. Eckel pp.110-125; Smith II:4-6, 8-9.

Together five volumes. Octavo (165 x 108mm). Original red cloth stamped in gilt and blind (A Christmas Carol in reddish brown cloth), all edges gilt (some overall light soiling and shelf-wear, spine ends rubbed, Carol with front joint starting at head, slight lean, modest sunning, ownership inscription dated 1844, slight soiling to title). Housed together in red morocco case (case broken). Provenance: David and Lulu Borowitz (bookplate to case).

See online catalogue for individual physical descriptions and states of all titles.