A Christmas carol : In prose. Being a ghost story of Christmas
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Type of record: Book
Title: A Christmas carol : In prose. Being a ghost story of Christmas
Classmark: English M-61.1 DIC
Creator(s): Dickens, Charles (1812-1870)
Additional creator(s): Leech, John (1817-1864) (Other); Faucit, Helen (1814-1898) (Former owner); Novello, Joseph Alfred (1810-1896) (Former owner); Cowden Clarke, Mary (1809-1898) (Former owner); Cowden Clarke, Charles (1787-1877) (Former owner)
Publisher: Chapman & Hall
Publication city: London
Date(s): 1843
Language: English
Size and medium: 4 pages l, 166 pages, color plates
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/193668
Printed items catalogue: https://leeds.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?vid=44LEE_INST:VU1&docid=alma991009171689705181
Collection group(s): English Literature
Description
Leeds University Library copy at Special Collections English M-61.1/DIC has the first edition title page, but the pattern of corrections matches those charted on Smith, Charles Dickens, pp. 23-4, indicating a later edition. It has the defective ‘e’ in the preface corrected, has “you,” rather than “you” on line 18 of page 9, has “suppose?”” on line 8 of page 17, rather than “suppose?’”, and the semicolon after “cracked” is missing on line 5 of page 53. According to Smith, these characteristics mark it as the fourth edition (see p. 25).
Leeds University Library copy at Brotherton Collection NCC DIC is a first edition, first issue. It conforms with the characteristics charted by Smith on pp. 23-4 as identifying the first edition. Some copies of the first edition have ‘Stave I’ on page 1, others ‘Stave One’; the NCC DIC copy has ‘Stave One’. In terms of issue, the NCC DIC copy conforms with the characteristics identified by William B. Todd (The Book Collector, 1961, pp. 449-54) as identifying the first issue: on the binding, the closest interval between the blind stamping left margin and the left extremity of the gilt wreath is 14-15mm; on the binding, the ‘D’ of Dickens within the wreath is in perfect condition, not broken; the text is uncorrected.
Indexed in: Sadleir no. 684.
Indexed in: Walter E. Smith, Charles Dickens in the original cloth,
Indexed in: William B. Todd, The Book Collector, 1961,
Features
Bindings
Leeds University Library copy at Special Collections English M-61.1/DIC: full light reddish/brown vertically ribbed cloth, front and back covers stamped in blind with a holly border and with the gilt centrepiece, yellow endpapers, as issued.
Leeds University Library copy at Brotherton Collection NCC DIC: full light reddish/brown vertically ribbed cloth, front and back covers stamped in blind with a holly border and with the gilt centrepiece, yellow endpapers, as issued; spine is wanting and the stitching is loose; boards discoloured.
Provenance
Leeds University Library copy at Special Collections English M-61.1/DIC: MS inscription of Helen Faucit, Lady Martin (1814-1898), actress: Helen Faucit Edinburgh Jany /44 Given to myself, & prized as the dearest little book in the world; purchased [for Lord Brotherton?] at Sotheby’s 04/02/1925. MS. marginal pencil bracketing, presumably by Helen Faucit [?].
Leeds University Library copy at Brotherton Collection NCC DIC: From the Novello Cowden Clarke Collection, gifted in 1953. Pictorial bookplate of Charles Cowden Clarke (1787-1877) on front pastedown. MS inscription on half-title and title page: M. V. C. [i.e. Mary Victoria Cowden Clarke née Novello (1809-1898)] and J. A. N. [i.e. Joseph Alfred Novello (1810-1896)]. MS. inscription in pencil on page 166: I heard admirable Charles Dickens himself read this story in 1862. M.C.C.; Reread this fine story to dear Sibilla & Valeria, March 1895, to our true delight. M.C.C. [i.e. Mary Victoria Cowden Clarke (1809-1898)].
Access and usage
Access
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