Dickens, Three Christmas Books, 1845-1846, presentation copies inscribed to J.P. Harley

DICKENS, CHARLES

Three Christmas Books, inscribed by Dickens, comprising:

The Chimes. London: Chapman and Hall, 1845. 12mo (165 x 102mm.), fourth edition, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY DICKENS TO J.P. HARLEY on title page (“J.P. Harley | from his friend | Charles Dickens”), half-title, engraved frontispiece and title-page vignette after Maclise, illustrations throughout text, original red cloth stamped in blind and gilt, yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, spotting to frontispiece and title-page, spine soiled; 

The Cricket on the Hearth. London: Printed and published for the author by Bradbury and Evans, 1846. 12mo (165 x 101mm.), ninth edition, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY DICKENS TO J.P. HARLEY on title page (“J.P. Harley | from his friend | Charles Dickens”), half-title, engraved frontispiece and title-page vignette after Maclise, illustrations throughout text, 2pp. of advertisements at end, original red cloth stamped in blind and gilt, yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, spotting to frontispiece and title-page, spine soiled;

The Battle of Life. A Love Story. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1846. 12mo (165 x 102mm.), FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY DICKENS TO J.P. HARLEY on title page (“J.P. Harley | from his friend | Charles Dickens”), half-title, engraved frontispiece and title-age vignette after Maclise (Todd’s E1, Eckel’s fourth state), illustrations throughout, 2pp. of advertisements at end, original red cloth stamped in blind and gilt, yellow endpapers, all edges gilt, light browning, spine soiled

all housed in collector’s folding red box, spine gilt (3)

A SUPERB SET OF PRESENTATION CHRISTMAS BOOKS, INSCRIBED TO DICKENS' FRIEND J.P. HARLEY, THE DEDICATEE OF "THE VILLAGE COQUETTES".

“My Dear Harley. I am more sorry than I can tell you, that I did not receive your invitation within a more convenient distance than Brighton– especially as I am truly anxious to see more of you, and not to perpetuate our present angel interviews. Can you take a family dinner with me, next Sunday at four? Forster dines with us, and a man named Thackeray whom perhaps you know; no one else. It will afford me very great pleasure to hear from you that we may hope to see you. In haste Believe me | Ever Faithfully Yours” (Dickens, ?8 November 1837, Letters)

Dickens' friend John Pritt Harley (1786 – 1858) was a comedic actor and singer. When the St. James’s Theatre was opened in 1835 by John Braham, a year later Harley joined the company as his leading comedian and stage-manager. Harley played numerous comedic roles in Dickens’s plays, including the titular role in The Strange Gentlemen and the specially created non-singing role of Martin Stokes in the Village Coquettes, which Dickens dedicated to him.

REFERENCE:

Smith II:5,6,8

PROVENANCE:

J.P. Harley, inscription; Miss Rigden, her bookplate in each volume