In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas With illustrations by John Leech.
London, Chapman and Hall, 1843
'A modern fairy story' (Ackroyd, 413). 'It may readily be called the Bible of Christmas… A Christmas Carol was issued about ten days before Christmas, 1843, and 6000 copies were sold on the first day… (Eckel, 110). 'Written at the height of Dickens' great powers, A Christmas Carol would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor' (John Mortimer).
First edition, first impression, first issue, with 14-15mm between closest points of blind-stamping and gold wreath on upper cover and the 'D' of 'Dickens' unbroken, the text uncorrected with 'Stave I' on page 1 and green endpapers; small 8vo (170 x 115 mm), half-title printed in blue, title-page in red and blue, hand-coloured etched frontispiece, with tissue-guard, three further hand-coloured plates and various etched vingettes within the text, the first five leaves of text from the the Preface onwards with creases to upper, outer corners (not affecting text), occasional light spotting but not consistent, else very good; publisher's cinnamon cloth, all edges gilt, historic professional repair to part of the rear joint, slight cocking of spine, general rubbing and toning commensurate with age, contemporary ownership name to front free endpaper, in all, a very good copy and rare thus.
Smith II, 4.
First edition, first impression, first issue, with 14-15mm between closest points of blind-stamping and gold wreath on upper cover and the 'D' of 'Dickens' unbroken, the text uncorrected with 'Stave I' on page 1 and green endpapers; small 8vo (170 x 115 mm), half-title printed in blue, title-page in red and blue, hand-coloured etched frontispiece, with tissue-guard, three further hand-coloured plates and various etched vingettes within the text, the first five leaves of text from the the Preface onwards with creases to upper, outer corners (not affecting text), occasional light spotting but not consistent, else very good; publisher's cinnamon cloth, all edges gilt, historic professional repair to part of the rear joint, slight cocking of spine, general rubbing and toning commensurate with age, contemporary ownership name to front free endpaper, in all, a very good copy and rare thus.
Smith II, 4.
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