A Christmas Carol: in prose being A Ghost Story of Christmas

San Francisco: Arion Press, 1993. Hardcover. Fine. Hardcover. Number 105 of 200 numbered copies, signed by the artist Ida Applebroog. This is a delightful edition of this famous work by Charles Dickens, and was published by the Arion Press upon the hundred fiftieth anniversary of its first publication. This book joins the scores of editions and versions with dozens of illustrators that have appeared in the interval since the book's first publication. The prospectus states that this present edition pays homage to editions past and anticipates editions yet to come. Dickens scholar Paul Davis writes an informative and enlightening history of the book's origins, its impact, and the many versions, both in print and film, that have appeared over the years. Ida Applebroog, the illustrator (1929-2023), Ida Applebroog was an American multi-media artist who was best-known for her paintings and sculptures that explore the themes of gender, sexual identity, violence, and politics. Applebroog was the recipient of multiple honors including the MacArthur Fellowship "Genius Grant." For this book she has created 50 drawings of various sizes, ranging from initial letters and small vignettes, to full page illustrations. She first turned to primary sources for her pictures, appropriating images from earlier illustrators of the Carol, including John Leech's illustrations for the first edition. The resulting images are both somewhat cartoonish yet evocative. Bound in full green cloth with an illustration of the dance of Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig in a red border inset on the front cover and gold stamped title on a red spine label.

Printed on Rives mouldmade paper by letterpress in five colors. The types are 12-point and 18-point Gloucester Old Style. The illustrations were printed from photopolymer plates. The book is housed in a slipcase with a green cloth spine, red paper sides, and a red spin label stamped in gold. Accompanied by the prospectus. Both the book and the slipcase are in fine condition save for very light wear at the bottom of one corner of the slipcase. Oblong measuring 10 x 13 inches. 115 pages plus colophon. PRI/110124. (Inventory #: 37581)