A Christmas Carol

London and Philadelphia: William Heinemann and J.B. Lippincott, 1915. Signed limited edition of Arthur Rackham’s illustrated version of Charles Dickens’s Christmas classic, number 272 of 525 copies signed by the artist. Written in a mere six weeks at a low point in Dickens’s career, and published at his own expense, A Christmas Carol revived his fortunes, establishing a robust market for Christmas gift books that survives to this day. The characters of Scrooge and Marley, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, are immediately recognizable even to those who’ve never read a word of Dickens: “‘God bless us every one!’ said Tiny Tim, the last of all.” Rackham’s (truncated) compositions capture the smoky atmosphere of Victorian London, while his command of spectral effects brings Jacob Marley’s ghost to life on the page. Latimore & Haskell, 44-45. A very good signed copy of the quintessential Christmas gift book. Quarto, measuring 11 x 9 inches: xv, [1], 147, [1]. Original full vellum, upper board and spine lettered and decorated in gilt, later yellow silk ties, top edge gilt, all other edges uncut, pictorial endpapers. Title page printed in red and black; twelve color plates tipped to brown paper, lettered tissue guards printed in red; twenty line cuts in text. Bookplate of English collector C. W. Blackburn and later ownership signature to front endpapers. Boards slightly bowed and spotted, with rubbing to gilt; short split to head of upper joint; lower hinge cracked. Scattered foxing to text; no tissue guard at page 16. (Inventory #: 1003892)