DICKENS | The Christmas Books, 1843-1848, first editions, presentation set inscribed by Charles Dickens

DICKENS, CHARLES

The Five Christmas Books, comprising:

A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. London: Chapman and Hall, 1843. 12mo (160 x 96mm.), FIRST EDITION, second issue, with PRESENTATION LEAF INSCRIBED BY DICKENS TO MARK LEMON BOUND IN ("To my dear friend | Mark Lemon | this set of my books. From his affectionate | Charles Dickens | Devonshire Terrace | Eleventh March 1857"), engraved frontispiece and 3 plates hand-coloured, and 4 woodcuts in the text by John Leech, half-title in blue, red and blue title-page, p.[1] with 'Stave One', uncorrected text throughout, 2pp. advertisements at end, full red morocco gilt by Bayntun-Riviere, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, original cinnamon vertically-ribbed cloth, covers with blind-stamped borders that on upper cover enclosing a gilt wreath (first issue with unbroken 'D' and 14-15mm. between border and wreath), short tear at fore-edge frontispiece repaired:

The Chimes: A Goblin Story. London: Chapman and Hall, 1845 [1844]. 12mo (161 x 98mm.), FIRST EDITION, second state, etched frontispiece and vignette title-page (second state) and 11 illustrations by Daniel Maclise, Richard Doyle, John Leech and Clarkson Stanfield, advertisement leaf for tenth edition A Christmas Carol,  full red morocco gilt by Bayntun-Riviere, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, original deep red vertically-ribbed cloth, covers with blind-stamped borders that on upper cover enclosing a gilt wreath and lettering:

The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home. London: Printed and published for the Author by Bradbury and Evans, 1846 [1845]. 12mo (161 x 94mm.), FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE, engraved frontispiece, vignette title-page and 12 illustrations by Daniel Maclise, 2pp. advertisements (first state), full red morocco gilt by Bayntun-Riviere, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, original deep red horizontally-ribbed cloth, covers with blind-stamped borders that on upper cover enclosing a gilt pictorial design and lettering: 

The Battle of Life. A Love Story. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1846, 8vo (162 x 98mm.), FIRST EDITION, fourth state, engraved frontispiece, vignette title-page (fourth state) and 11 illustrations by Daniel Maclise, Richard Doyle, Clarkson Stanfield and John Leech, 2pp. advertisements at end, full red morocco gilt by Bayntun-Riviere, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, original deep red horizontally-ribbed cloth, covers with blind-stamped borders that on upper cover enclosing a gilt pictorial design and lettering:   

The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848, 8vo (160 x 96mm.), FIRST EDITION, engraved frontispiece, vignette title-page and 15 illustrations by John Leech, Clarkson Stanfield, Frank Stone and John Tenniel, 2pp. advertisements at beginning, full red morocco gilt by Bayntun-Riviere, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, original deep red horizontally-ribbed cloth, covers with blind-stamped borders that on upper cover enclosing a gilt pictorial design and lettering: housed in collector's cloth slipcase (5)     

This SUPERB SET OF CHARLES DICKENS' FIVE CHRISTMAS BOOKS WAS PRESENTED TO HIS FRIEND MARK LEMON, playwright, actor, editor and co-founder of Punch magazine. Dickens and Lemon were contemporaries and great friends, comforting each other over the loss of their respective daughters in 1851. In 1857 Lemon moved away from London to Crawley in West Sussex where he remained until his death.

A Christmas Carol is usually regarded as Dickens' most widely-read novel, selling more than 6000 copies in the few days leading to Christmas, 1843. A personal commission of Dickens, he chose to take the profits and pay for publication himself - however he wanted the best binding, special coated endpapers, coloured printing of text and hand colouring of plates, all of which were hugely costly and absorbed all his funds. He wanted the book to make a beautiful gift and be a celebration of the Christmas spirit.  

LITERATURE:

Smith II: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

PROVENANCE:

Mark Lemon, presentation inscription by Charles Dickens