A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles
The full title of Charles Dickens' most famous work is technically A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas. This novella was published on December 19, 1843, and the first edition run of 6000 copies were sold out by Christmas Eve of that year. The publication of the first edition was fraught with complications, and even though the book was received to positive reviews, profits of the book fell far below Dickens' expectations, and the financial strain caused rifts between Dickens and the original publisher, Chapman & Hall.
First Edition Identification
The initial publication of A Christmas Carol was challenged by several issues, and those issues are evident in some of the first edition identification notes. The final product of the first edition was printed with a red cloth binding with gilded pages and yellow endpapers. The very first copies were printed with green endpapers, and those copies are exceptionally rare.The first edition contains four colored illustrations and four black and white illustrations. In the first edition, Stave I is printed with the roman numeral, while later editions spell out the number to be printed as Stave One.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
For the initial run of A Christmas Carol, Dickens proposed an unheard-of offer--that he would pay for the cost of publishing the first edition, but that he would keep all of the profits. Even though the first run of 6000 copies sold out within two weeks, profits were disappointing.The most famous, or infamous, edition of A Christmas Carol was published in 1844 by Parley's Illuminated Library. The unauthorized version was a condensed version of the novella, and it was sold for twopence. Dickens was infuriated and successfully sued for copyright infringement.
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A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Fifth
- Published
- 1844
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Chelmsford, Essex, GBR
- Item Price
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A$5,335.00
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Fifth edition (Chapman & Hall, 1844). Issued the year after the first edition, which was published in December 1843.
Hand-coloured etched frontispiece and a further three plates by John Leech with four wood-engravings by W.J. Linton. Two pp advertisements at rear. Gilt edges with publisher's original cinnamon vertically ribbed cloth stamped in blind and gilt. Previous owner name to half-title… Read more about this item Item Price
A$5,335.00
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A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1843
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
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A$93,030.00
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London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First edition. First edition, first printing. "Stave I" on page [1] and every single textual point uncorrected as per Calhoun and Heaney. Todd's first impression, first issue with 15mm between wreath and left blindstamping, unbroken "D." Title page printed in preferred red and blue, dated 1843 in Roman numerals; half title and verso of… Read more about this item Item Price
A$93,030.00
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (LIKE NEW: REPLICA OF THE 1843 FIRST ED.)
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- As New with no dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition Thus
- Published
- 1843
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
- Item Price
-
A$139.17
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Chapman & Hall, Ltd. London. As New with no dust jacket. 1843. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Modern, recent, replica, still in publisher's shrinkwrap. Red cloth boards. As New condition, of the 1843 first edition by Chapman & Hall, London. FACSIMILE COPY of "the first edition duplicates the type and color pages precisely as appeared in the original… Read more about this item Item Price
A$139.17
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780981318325
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$28.17
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Paperback / softback. New. Item Price
A$28.17
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
by DICKENS, CHARLES
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Jacket, As Issued
- Edition
- Third Edition
- Published
- 1843
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Uxbridge, Ontario, CAN
- Item Price
-
A$10,772.05
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London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. Third Edition . Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket, As Issued. pp: [viii][1]2-166 [2]. THE THIRD EDITION bound in deep red full calf, ruled in gilt, raised bands to spine with two title pieces, one in blue and one in green, both with gilt lettering. All edge gilt with top edge rough… Read more about this item Item Price
A$10,772.05
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A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- Used - Very Good-
- Published
- 1853
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hudson, New Hampshire, USA
- Item Price
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A$891.54
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Nice condition, early American edition of "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" by Charles Dickens appearing in "Christmas Stories and Pictures From Italy." 1853; Getz, Buck & Co.; Philadelphia. There is a gilt illustration of Scrooge on the spine.
The book contains 6 stories in all (each with its own title page), as follows:
* A Christmas Carol
* The Chimes
* The Cricket on the Hearth
*… Read more about this item Item Price
A$891.54
A Christmas Carol: A Facsimile of the Original 1843 Edition in Full Color
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781645940388
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$51.35
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Hardback. New. Item Price
A$51.35
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1902
- Binding
- Leather Bound
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Item Price
-
A$232.58
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Description:
The Roycroft Shop, 1902. Leather Bound. Acceptable. Soft green suede (mostly faded to brown) cover. Edges have come loose from binding and been reaffixed with archival quality tape. Green cloth interior in beautiful condition. Frontespiece with tissue intact. Pages have age discoloration, but no marks. Book has slight musty odor. Covered in archival quality protector to prevent any… Read more about this item Item Price
A$232.58
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A Christmas Carol in Prose: being a ghost story of Christmas
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1869
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Naas, Kildare, IRL
- Item Price
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A$1,828.42
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Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1869. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. First American Edition THUS, First Printing. (published at Christmas 1868) Pp 111 pp. With 21 plates & 4 headpieces, engraved on wood by A.V.S. Anthony from drawings by S. Eytinge, Jr.; tissue guards This the "twenty-fifth anniversary" edition of A Christmas Carol commemorated the exclusive rights to… Read more about this item Item Price
A$1,828.42
A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost story of Christmas
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First American edition
- Published
- 1844
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
CHESTER, Connecticut, USA
- Item Price
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A$23,257.50
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Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1844. First American edition. Small 8vo, illustrated with 8 plates after the originals by John Leech, a hand-colored frontispiece of Mr. Fezziwig's ball, three colored plates that are lithographed by P. S. Duval and four black-and-white, original brown cloth, decorated and lettered in blind and gilt on the front cover and spine, and in blind… Read more about this item Item Price
A$23,257.50
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A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1914
- Binding
- HC w DJ
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Item Price
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A$310.10
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Description:
New York: David McKay, 1914. Reprint. HC w DJ. PC VG/VG. Blue cloth, gilt titling & gilt front decoration, wear to tips, spotting, FO plate to half-title verso, leaves toned, light foxing, unmarked, binding sound. Unclipped DJ edgeworn, extremities rubbed, wrinkling w moisture stains, bleeding to inside of DJ, chips/nicks, now in Brodart. Color frontis & illustrations by Arthur… Read more about this item Item Price
A$310.10
A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE
by Dickens, Charles (Bernhardt Ed. )
- Condition
- Used - Good with no dust jacket
- Edition
- First Edition Thus
- Published
- 1922
- Binding
- Booklet
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
- Item Price
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A$59.46
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Loyola UNIVERSITY PRESS: CHICAGO ILL. Good with no dust jacket. 1922. First Edition Thus. Booklet. Small booklet, 128p. Edited for school use by Carol L. Bernhardt, S. J. Good minus, faint writing near top of front cover, several pages have turned corners and overall rub.. (THIS BOOK IS IN OUR POSSESSION. WE SHIP MOST BOOKS SIX DAYS… Read more about this item Item Price
A$59.46
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A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Binding
- Full-Leather
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
-
A$271.34
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Description:
Barse & Hopkins, NY. Full-Leather. Fair. Elizabeth Ivan Jones. Early 1900's, Gift inscription 1934, Full soft leather with bright gilt to cover. Top edge gilt. Some light spotting to covers and chipped at corners and spine. Front endpaper is mostly missing and front free endpaper is chipped at edges. Back endpaper is mostly loose, not adhering to leather.… Read more about this item Item Price
A$271.34
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A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- Used - Very Good ++
- Edition
- First Edition Thus
- Published
- 1902
- Binding
- Three-Quarter Leather
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Northampton, Northamptonshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$1,455.00
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UK: Putman, 1902. First Edition Thus . Three-Quarter Leather. Very Good ++. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Frederick Simpson Coburn. 1st Edition Thus 1902. A new edition with twelve photogravure plates and tissue printed coverings. A further nineteen small engravings and many page edge detailing by Frederick Simpson Coburn. A lovely three quarter leather bound… Read more about this item Item Price
A$1,455.00
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CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Dickens, Charles, illustrated by Arthur Rackham
- Condition
- Used - G/G
- Edition
- .......
- Published
- ca 1918
- Binding
- Cloth w/DJ
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Owego, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$775.25
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Description:
Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Co.. G/G. ca 1918. ........ Cloth w/DJ. 8vo., 147 pp., DJ rubbed, frayed, split at fold, loose plates, inside hinges broken, page toning, shelfwear, writing on flyleaf . Item Price
A$775.25
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A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1843
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
A$31,010.00
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Description:
London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First Edition. Near Fine. First edition, first printing. First issue with title page printed in red and blue, dated 1843 in Roman numerals; half title and verso of title page printed in blue; "Stave I" on page [1]. Bound in fine contemporary full marbled calf, gilt lettered black morocco spine label, covers ruled… Read more about this item Item Price
A$31,010.00
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780763631208
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Southport, Merseyside, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$37.19
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Hardback. New. Item Price
A$37.19
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A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles - illustrated by Solomon Eytinge Jr.
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition Thus
- Published
- 1869
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$1,317.92
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Description:
London: Ticknor & Fields, 1869. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Very Good, bound in full leather with gilt decorations, gilt page edges, a sewn binding and a five-hubbed spine. Considerable wear to leather at edges. Interior remains remarkably well preserved, with some minor toning but no markings or inscriptions. 8vo, 8 1/2"h x 6"w. First issue of the Ticknor and… Read more about this item Item Price
A$1,317.92
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A Christmas Carol
by Dickens, Charles
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1939
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Manlius, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
A$108.52
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Description:
Large format (13" x 9") Hardcover Book. With full page color illustrations by William Mark Young. Book in overall Good Condition with a square and tight binding. Minor writing at top margin on page 35, otherwise contents clean, bright and unmarked. Covers show rubbing, scuffing and scratching and wear along edges. A nice copy of this scarce and collectible book. Item Price
A$108.52
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A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
- Condition
- Used - Very Good. Heavily faded at the spine. Gently bruised at the head, tail and corners of the binding. A little age-toning to the e
- Published
- 1915
- Binding
- Hardback (No Dust Wrapper.)
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Peasedown St. John, Somerset, GBR
- Item Price
-
A$1,368.67
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Description:
London: William Heinemann, 1915. Hardback (No Dust Wrapper.). Very Good. Heavily faded at the spine. Gently bruised at the head, tail and corners of the binding. A little age-toning to the edges of the text block. Text complete, clean and tight but with a little age-tanning to the lining papers. . Arthur Rackham. Hardback. Physically 8¼ x 6… Read more about this item Item Price
A$1,368.67