Lot 5319: DICKENS, CHARLES. 1812-1870.

COMPLETE SET OF THE CHRISTMAS BOOKS.
1. A Christmas Carol. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. 4 hand-colored plates. Mild soiling to title-page, chipping to spine ends, abraded mark on lower inside cover. First issue with title-page in red & blue dated 1843, "Stave I" on p.1 and rare green-coated endpapers (coating rubbed). Ownership signatures of S. Crease and Sarah Lindley.
2. The Chimes. London: Chapman & Hall, 1845. Bookplate. Second issue with imprint below image on engraved title.
3. The Battle of Life. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846. Bookplate. Fourth issue with cupid carrying the scroll on engraved title.
4. The Cricket on the Hearth. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1846. Bookplate. Second state of ad leaves.
5. The Hunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1848. Bookplate.
Together, 5 volumes. 8vo. Publisher's red cloth stamped in gilt. Some slight leans and mild sunning to spines, light fraying to spine ends and lower corners just showing, bookplates as noted above.

First editions, first issue of A Christmas Carol. Christmas Carol also bears the rare green endpapers (much preferable for a Christmas book with red cloth covers) which are considered "trial" endpapers rejected by the publishers as the green coating had to be applied by hand whilst the yellow-coating was done by machine.
See illustration.