A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas. By Charles Dickens. With Illustrations by John Leech. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843, 8vo, a.e.g.
FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION IN THE ORIGINAL PUBLISHER'S CLOTH BINDING IN ITS EXTREMELY RARE FIRST STATE!
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A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas... it was issued about 10 days before Christmas 1843, and 6000 copies were printed and sold on the first day. Altogether 24 editions were issued in the original format." (Eckel, 110). The first impression of the first edition is enduringly rare with fine copies fetching up to £50,000.
We have checked the edition points throughout the entire text against all the major bibliographies and the text aligns with the first state text in all instances, including pp.6 line 4; pp.29 lines 5&21; pp.33 line 15; pp.36 lines 3&11; pp.49 line 2; pp.52 line 18; pp.56 line 18; pp.56 line 7; pp.103 line 11; pp.106 line 19, etc. Interestingly, there is a contemporary handwritten correction to pp.125 lines 1-2 (Calhoun & Heaney edition point), but the text itself is in the first state here too.
This copy has pale yellow endpapers with the title page printed in red and blue which according to the most modern research into the priority of the first state, this is the true first state (see Smith II, pp.23, and/or Calhoun & Heaney's research article). This copy also has the first state textual points as outlined by Calhoun & Heaney. The binding is the original first state binding with the closest interval between the blind-stamping left margin and the left extremity of the gilt wreath being approx. 15 mm, as opposed to 12-13 mm in the second issue binding. This binding also has the 'D' in 'Dickens' unbroken and the text unrevised, meeting all three requirements for the first state binding as per Smith II, pp.27. We also have the very rare first state advertisement bound in at the rear where Phiz is credited with all 43 illustrations to The Pickwick Papers, omitting Seymour's contributions, as well as the various other issue points present.
This is an incredible example of the true first impression with the text in the correct first state. Many copies have title pages tipped in from the first edition with the later text setting as Smith identifies in his bibliography, but here we have the genuine uncorrected text which is nothing short of remarkable, especially when pairing that with the original first state binding. Though rebacked (very well), it retains almost all of its originality and is very attractive indeed, also retaining the original yellow endpapers, half title (printed in blue ink), etc. We also have the full suite of the first state of the illustrations, though here some are bound in slightly different places as usually found, but according to some bibliographers there does exist variation in this as printed, but all are present. Marley's Ghost is bound facing pp.23, Scrooge's 3rd Visitor is bound facing pp.80, and The Last of the Spirits is bound facing pp.154. It's also worth noting that this copy also has the broken 'C' in the signature for pp.17 which is a notably rare edition point.
Essentially the dream copy of any Dickens collector textually and for the binding, save for the rebacking, but this is fortunately done with great care to preserve originality and is well stabilised such that the book is very readable.
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Size: 111 x 168 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), h.t., frontis, t.p., 1ff (contents), 1ff (preface), pp.1-166, 2pp (advertisements), (1)]
Original publisher's full cloth binding decorated in gilt in its first state with 15mm of separation and the unbroken 'D' in 'Dickens' with the text in its first state. The binding has been rebacked but has been done very well indeed, retaining the significant majority of the original backstrip and both boards, cloth generally remaining very clean and presentable, attractive. The binding is not cocked and stands without shelf lean. Both boards are securely attached with joints and hinges secure & uncracked, the binding secure. The corners are sharp & without deformation, very minor restoration to top corners. Original yellow endpapers retained, hinges reinforced, also very slightly backing on to the half title by a few mm in the gutter. Early ownership inscription to the yellow ffep verso, approximately contemporary to printing. The book collates as complete including the original blanks. pp.1-2 could be a tipped in facsimile but does present as original, we're undecided on if this leaf is indeed a facsimile, but for full transparency we will suggest that it is, but we have no doubt about any other leaves. The text is in its first state in other locations throughout all points as per the various bibliographies discussed above, pp.1 does read 'Stave I' too. The text is largely very clean with some commensurate toning and the odd mark, but is significantly better than typically encountered. The full suite of John Leech's illustrations are present and all in very good condition, showing very attractively indeed, including the famous frontispiece.
An impressive example of one of the most desirable books in Dickens collecting in its beautiful original binding, rebacked, with the first state uncorrected text.
[Smith II, 4; Eckel, 1932; Gimbel, 1958; Hatton & Cleaver, 1973; Podeschi, 1980; Todd Note 170, 1961; Calhoun & Heaney].
