DICKENS, CHARLES
Set of The Christmas Books. Five volumes uniformly bound in tan calf, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, the original cloth from the front and rear covers and spines laid down and bound at the end of each of the volumes. Comprising A Christmas Carol, in Prose, being a Ghost Story of Christmas ... with illustrations by John Leech. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First published edition, third issue, with all textual errors uncorrected, title in red and blue, and the "Stave One" reading. [8], 166, [2] pp. with frontispiece and three hand-colored plates plus four wood engravings, all by Leech. The Chimes. A Goblin Story or some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in. London: Chapman & Hall, 1845. Eighth edition, stated. [8], 175, [1] pp.; The Cricket on the Hearth. A fairy tale of home. London: printed and published for the author by Bradbury and Evans, 1846. First edition, first (and only) issue. [8], 174, [2] pp., complete with half-title and ads; The Battle of Life. A love story. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846. First edition, Eckel's third issue. [8], [1-2, sectional title], 3-175 [colophon on verso of last page], ad leaf. The illustrations (by Doyle, Leech, Maclise et al) are intertextual; And The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. A Fancy for Christmas-time. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1848. First edition, first (and only) issue. Each 6 3/8 x 4 1/8 inches (16.5 x 10 cm). Spines lightly rubbed, small crease to the engraved title of the last work, overall an appealing set.