Dickens, Charles

A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843



12mo (6 1/2 x 4 in.; 165 x 102 mm). Half-title printed in blue, title printed in blue and red, steel-engraved frontispiece and 3 plates all hand-colored, four text woodcuts, all by John Leech, 2 pages of advertisements at end; edges lightly soiled. Publisher's cinnamon vertically-waved cloth blind-stamped border, gilt-stamped title within a wreath on upper cover, gilt-stamped title on spine, green endpapers, edges gilt; corners torn, hinges mended, a few small stains on upper cover and spine.

W.E.Smith, Charles Dickens in the Original Cloth II, no. 4.; Eckel, p. 110 ff.

edges lightly soiled. Publisher's cinnamon vertically-waved cloth blind-stamped border, gilt-stamped title within a wreath on upper cover, gilt-stamped title on spine, green endpapers, edges gilt; corners torn, hinges mended.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First edition, first impression, first issue of this classic tale, with 14-15 mm between the closest points of blindstamping and gold wreath on upper cover and the "D" of "Dickens" unbroken, with uncorrected text, "Stave I" on page one, green endpapers, and other points mentioned by Smith.