Dickens, Christmas Books, 1852, first authorised collected edition, presentation copy inscribed to Lawrence

DICKENS, CHARLES

Christmas Books. London: Chapman and Hall, 1852

8vo (181 x 119mm.), FIRST AUTHORISED COLLECTED EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY DICKENS on blank leaf facing frontispiece ("Agnes Sarah Lawrence | from her affectionate friend | Charles Dickens | Twenty Second November 1852"), wood-engraved frontispiece after John Leech, section-title to each story, text in double columns, frontispiece extended, contemporary russet calf, covers panelled in gilt and blind, spine gilt in compartments with green morocco label, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, collector's red cloth chemise and morocco-backed slipcase, upper board starting to split, hinges worn, minor soiling

Copies for presentation were evidently specially prepared with a heavy text leaf replacing the standard tissue-guard. The Gimbel Collection, now at Yale, includes three presentation copies of this edition, each similarly inscribed on an inserted front blank in November 1852

REFERENCE:

Gimbel D5

PROVENANCE:

Agnes Sarah Lawrence, presentation inscription from the author); Estelle Doheny, morocco label; her sale Christie's New York, 17 October 1988, lot 1236; Jock Elliot, his sale at Sotheby's 12 December, 2006, Lot 87