Dickens, Charles A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE CHIMES, THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN, THE BATTLE OF LIFE, THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH

1843. Mixed Editions, . Binding: Cloth. Book Condition: VG+-Near Fine. Size: 16mo - over 5.75" - 6.75" tall. A lovely complete set of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books housed in a green custom cloth box. A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Chapman and Hall, London, 1843. Ninth Edition (so stated). With four hand-colored illustrations by John Leech and four black & white woodcut illustrations. With red and blue title page, Stave I. Original red cloth but the spine has been replaced with the original spine laid down. The spine gilt is bright and shiny. The cover has some blemishes and the edges of gold-gilt are intact but blemished; the corners and edges are rubbed. The endpapers are cream and more recent but the book is very solid. This book is quite clean and bright with only occasional spots of foxing and the lightest touches of soil. Two of the hand-colored illustrations each have a small tear at the edge, one slightly into the edge of the illustration. Overall a very special copy. THE CHIMES: Chapman & Hall, London, 1845, Third Edition (so stated). With 13 illustrations by Daniel Maclise (2) Richard Doyle (4), John Leech (5) and Clarkson Stanfield (2). With light yellow endpapers and gold-gilt page edges. The spine has been replaced with the original spine laid down; some of the title is rubbed away but the spine is very solid and the book itself is quite tight. Slight rubbing on the covers and the corners and edges are bumped. The page edge gold gilt is tarnished but still very evident. There are a few spots of foxing on the preliminary pages, but the interior is quite clean. THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH: Bradbury & Evans, London, 1846. A lovely First Edition, Second state. In original red cloth with gold-gilt cover designs and page edges. With the second state of the Oliver Twist advertisement in the back (Smith, p. 39). With 14 illustrations by John Leech (7), Richard Doyle (3), Clarkson Stanfield (1) and Danial Maclise (2). The interior is very clean with very light touches of soil primarily on the preliminary pages. The book is very slightly cocked and the light yellow endpapers may be more recent. The spine ends are bumped with small loss. With a small tasteful old bookseller label on the front free endpaper "Bookseller to the Queen Dowager, King Stationer & Bookbinder (address) Brighton." Otherwise the book is beautiful, tight and bright. THE HAUNTED MAN: Bradbury & Evans, London, 1848. First Edition and only state. [i-viii] [1] 2-188 pp. Bound in the original red cloth. With gold-gilt page edges and cover designs, and light yellow endpapers. A beautiful solid copy, only slightly cocked and very clean internally. The spine has been replaced and the original spine laid down very smoothly. With 17 illustrations by John Leech (5), Clarkson Stanfield (3), John Tenniel (6) and Frank Stone (3). The page edge gold gilt is slightly tarnished but still very evident. Corners are bumped. Small blemishes on covers and light marks on the endpapers. With a charming old script name on the fore-leaf, "Mary Thiffinne (?), Westgate." An unusually nice copy. THE BATTLE OF LIFE: Bradbury & Evans, London, 1846. First Edition, Fourth State, in original red cloth. [i-viii] [1-3] 4-175 [176] [1-2 advert.] pp. With 13 illustrations by Daniel Maclise (4), Richard Doyle (3), Clarkson Stanfield (3) and John Leech (3). The page edge gold gilt is tarnished but still very evident. Little if any foxing; the interior is quite clean; in fact the vignette pages (often the first to get foxing) are the nicest we have seen. The spine has been replaced and repaired and the original laid down but with some loss. Slightly cocked but very solid and tight. The light cream endpapers show small spots and marks, and a previous owner's note in old script on the front free endpaper "Book Club/to be kept 5 days." Also an old bookseller label, "Ye Olde Bookshoppe, Southhampton/H.M. Gilbert." Overall a very nice copy. A wonderful complete set. Scarce.