DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND BY RIVIERE WITH INLAID MOROCCO VIGNETTE, ILLUSTRATED BY C.E. BROCK

DICKENS, Charles. A Christmas Carol in Prose being A Ghost Story for Christmas. With illustrations by C. E. Brock. London; New York: J. M. Dent & Sons; E. P. Dutton & Co., circa 1920. 12mo, contemporary full dark green levant morocco gilt, pictorial multi-color morocco inlays on front cover depicting Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $2200.

Lovely illustrated edition of Dickens' timeless Christmas classic, beautifully bound by Riviere & Son in the Kelliegram style with a multi-color inlaid morocco design on the front cover depicting Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig, with 18 illustrations by Charles E. Brock, eight printed in color.

A Christmas Carol "may readily be called the Bible of Christmas… the number of reprintings have been so many that all attempts at the figures have been futile" (Eckel, 110). "It was a work written at the height of Dickens' great powers, which would add to his considerable fame, bring a new work to the English language, increase the festivities at Christmastime, and contain his most eloquent protest at the condition of the poor" (John Mortimer). Illustrator Charles E. Brock was "a specialist in delicate Regency-style period illustration, in the tradition of Hugh Thomson. For over 30 years he was regularly asked to illustrate the favorite literary adult classics of the 19th century" (Dalby, 58). The delightful inlaid morocco vignette of Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig dancing actually reproduces the John Leech frontispiece in the 1843 first edition.

A superbly bound and illustrated volume in fine condition.