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
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A Christmas Carol

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
Fifth
Published
1844
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Chelmsford, Essex, GBR
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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
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A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used
Edition
First edition
Published
1843
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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NZ$101,352.00

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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
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A Christmas Carol: A Facsimile Reproduction of the Author's Original MS.
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A Christmas Carol: A Facsimile Reproduction of the Author's Original MS.

by Dickens, Charles; Introduction by F.G. Kitton.

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
Limited and Numbered Edition
Published
1890
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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NZ$4,223.00

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New York: Brentano's, 1890. # 247 of 250 copies of the American Edition, (there were also 500 copies printed for Great Britain) , SIGNED by publisher ("Brentano's) under numbered entry and with an introduction by F.G. Kitton. Original paper covered boards with gilt lettering front cover and spine, top edge gilt. viii pages, [2], 66 unnumbered leaves :chiefly facsimile. Very… Read more about this item
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NZ$4,223.00
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (LIKE NEW: REPLICA OF THE 1843 FIRST ED.)

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
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1
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Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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NZ$156.37

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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
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A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Condition
New
Binding
Paperback / softback
ISBN 10
0981318320
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1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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NZ$30.93

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Paperback / softback. New.
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A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used - very good
Edition
first
Published
1844
Binding
Wrappers
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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NZ$5,912.20

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Harper & Brothers, 1844. first. wrappers. very good. First US edition. Rare in original wrappers. Closed tear at left edge of front cover to spine, from bottom to middle. Pieces missing at rear cover and last two pages, some wear. Item very good.
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NZ$5,912.20
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

by DICKENS, CHARLES

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
No Jacket, As Issued
Edition
Third Edition
Published
1843
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Uxbridge, Ontario, CAN
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NZ$15,523.75

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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
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A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Condition
Used - Very Good-
Published
1853
Binding
Hardcover
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Hudson, New Hampshire, USA
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NZ$971.29

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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
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A Christmas Carol: A Facsimile of the Original 1843 Edition in Full Color

A Christmas Carol: A Facsimile of the Original 1843 Edition in Full Color

by Charles Dickens

Condition
New
Binding
Hardback
ISBN 10
1645940381
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1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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NZ$56.39

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Hardback. New.
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NZ$56.39
A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used - Very good.
Edition
First edition, first issue
Published
1843
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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NZ$32,939.40

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London: Chapman and Hall, 1843. First edition, first issue. hardcover. Very good.. A very good first edition, first state, in original cloth, with Stave 1 on page one instead of Stave One. Green pages at front and rear are loose. Housed in a custom-made collector's slipcase.
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NZ$32,939.40
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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Published
1902
Binding
Leather Bound
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Auburn, Alabama, USA
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NZ$253.38

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

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

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used
Edition
First American edition
Published
1844
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CHESTER, Connecticut, USA
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NZ$25,338.00

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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
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A Christmas Carol in Prose: being a ghost story of Christmas
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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
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Naas, Kildare, IRL
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NZ$2,009.70

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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
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A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Condition
Used - Fair
Binding
Full-Leather
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Waynesboro, Virginia, USA
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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
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A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used
Edition
Reprint
Published
1914
Binding
HC w DJ
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Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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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
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NZ$337.84
A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE

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
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Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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NZ$66.81

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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
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The Christmas Carol
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The Christmas Carol

by Dickens, Charles

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1890
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Beverly Hills, California, USA
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NZ$3,378.40

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Elliot Stock, London, 1890. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. The Christmas Carol 1890 Facsimile reproduction of the author's original manuscript. One of only 250 copies in the U.S. and 500 in the U.K. Very rare with uncut pages. Original paper boards with gilt detailing. Rubbing along the edges, corners and spine ends, piece of spine missing at… Read more about this item
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NZ$3,378.40
A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Condition
Used - Very Good ++
Edition
First Edition Thus
Published
1902
Binding
Three-Quarter Leather
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Northampton, Northamptonshire, GBR
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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
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CHRISTMAS CAROL
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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
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Owego, New York, USA
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NZ$844.60

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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 .
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NZ$844.60
A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Condition
New
Binding
Hardback
ISBN 10
0763631205
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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NZ$40.37

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Hardback. New.
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NZ$40.37