A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost story of Christmas

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 only on rear cover, by J. C. Russell, Binder. First American edition of Dickens' most popular work. replicating the first English edition, the American edition was printed by "C. Sherman, printer", as noted on the verso of the title-page. Carey & Hart's American publication was a piracy, published in blatant disregard to Dickens' impassioned plea for international copyright protection during his tour of America in 1843. The present copy is in the rare gift binding, stamped on the front cover with the binder's name, unlike in the ordinary bindings. Edgar & Vail, p. 21; Gimbel a80; McGuire Collection, 31; Wilkins, p. 38; Suzzanet Collection, p. 190, item 78 (the ordinary binding only). a short 1/8 inch closed tear at the top of the spine, slight foxing to endpapers, otherwise a remarkably fine copy of this edition, far scarcer than the English edition. Enclosed in a red half-morocco folding box.