Binding: Cloth
Book Condition: Very Good+
Edition: First Edition
Size: Small 8vo; [viii], [1]-188; complete pages
Publisher: Bradbury & Evans, 1848, London
Illustrator: Illustrated by John Leech, Clarkson Stanfield, John Tenniel, and Frank Stone

[Book #45783]

A bright First Edition in Very Good+ condition, minor spotting to a few pages. Deep red vertically-ribbed cloth with gold Christmas wreath centered on the front cover; gold ornament to spine; all edges gilt. 17 illustrations, including frontispiece and vignette title. Tenniel made all the chapter decorations which number three; Leech made five pictures, Stanfield three and F. Stone three. Tenniel initialed the drawing for chapter I, but signed none of the others. Leech signed four J. Leech and one with his initials; all of Stanfield's are signed, only one of Stone's. Smith ii.9; Eckel pp. 124-125;

The final or fifth Christmas Book was begun in Broadstairs late in the autumn of 1846. Dickens was still deeply engrossed with Dombey and Son at the time. The public responded eagerly when the book appeared, the sale running to 20,000.

"It is important to remember past sorrows and wrongs so that you can then forgive those responsible and, in doing so, unburden your soul and mature as a human being. "; B & W Illustrations