A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Description

Rare first edition, first state of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, in prose, being A Ghost Story of Christmas with illustrations by John Leech

A rare first edition of this Charles Dickens novel believed to be with an original publisher’s special binding, perhaps a presentation copy.

Brown illustrated covers with mild wear to the extremities. Spine with gilt lettering with top quarter missing. We have decided not to repair this book as it is highly valuable and sought after in it’s first state, so we have left it for the buyer to choose how they wish to proceed with repair work.

All the fist issue points as noted in Smith 2, 4; with ‘Stave 1’. Coloured frontispiece and three further plates by John Leech, all hand coloured as issued – the first and only time Dickens used coloured illustrations, in his desire to make the book highly valued. It proved to be very expensive so was never repeated. Plus woodcut black and white text illustrations. No advertisements at the end of the book. Gilt coloured page ends. Coloured marble end papers with gilt edging. Wreath surrounding the title with red and blue type. Loose page ribbon. Generally in very good condition other than the spine’s missing section. Stave 1 on page one. 166 pages. Small slim 8vo

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