A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens FIRST EDITION FIRST IMPRESSION, published in 1843 by Chapman & Hall. With the 'Stave I' header (appeared as 'Stave One' in second and later impressions) and text uncorrected as per the bibliographical points noted by Smith defining the first impression of the first edition. [Smith II 4], 8vo.
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Stunning fine green calf binding by Riviere & Son.
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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.
Owning the first edition of this phenomenal piece of literary history allows you to connect with the original text in a way no other version can match. This is of particular note as this book is one of few household names in the literary world and certainly one of Dickens' best known works.
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Condition:
Title printed in blue and red with the famous 4 hand-coloured etched plates (including frontis) by John Leech in addition to the 4 plain woodcut vignettes throughout the text as collated. Bound without half-title else collated as complete. Spine sunned with some light fading to front board. The binding is secure without wear to hinges or joints. Very bright turn-ins which show well. Text block in excellent condition, very clean with extremely mild toning and minor marks to pp.149-162 not obscuring text. Colour plates very clean in VG+/near fine condition. Leaves slightly trimmed for the rebinding as typical without any loss to text but the title page lacks the date to the bottom and a portion of the border. The edition priority is hence bibliographically ascertained as discussed (Stave I, red and blue title page, uncorrected text, etc).
