The Christmas Books. A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; The Haunted Man by DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870), [LEECH, John; Maclise, D.; DOYLE, R., TENNIEL, John, et al., illustrators]

London: Chapman and Hall, 1843-1848. [Festive Ghost Stories] ALL FIRST EDITIONS, each with an associated letter tipped-in. Five volumes, octavo (19 x 13 x 10cm). Publisher's red cloth covers (brown cloth for 'Carol') with gilt blocking and gilt edges. [1] A Christmas Carol: FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, FIRST STATE, with uncorrected text, scarce yellow endpapers, and title page dated 1843. 'D' of Dickens on stamp to upper board is perfect, conforming to the description of the first impression, first issue binding in Smith (p.27). Also with an associated manuscript letter by Dickens, addressed to a Mr Becker, dated 1856 (published in 'The Pilgrim Edition' of the letters of Charles Dickens, the recipient likely Bernard Henry Becker, writer and journalist for Daily News and a special correspondent in Sheffield, Manchester and Ireland. [2] The Chimes: FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with autograph signed letter from the book's illustrator Richard Doyle. [3] Cricket on the Hearth: FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE advertisements at rear. With an autograph signed letter by Lord Francis Jeffrey, a Scottish judge and literary critic and the dedicatee of this volume. [4]The Battle of Life: FIRST EDITION, SECOND STATE title page. With autograph signed letter from the book's illustrator John Leech. [5] The Haunted Man: FIRST EDITION. With autograph signed letter from the book's illustrator John Tenniel. A clean, near fine set (occasional marks to joints where tipped-in, old description to pastedown of 'Carol'), letters with associated folds and creases, cloth generally bright. Each volume in a vintage plain red paper-backed cloth jacket and all housed in an exquisite binocular style pull-off case with full gilt backs. A very clean set, attractively presented with much additional material. Smith, Walter E., Charles Dickens in the Original Cloth, Volume II: The Christmas Books, 2 vols (Los Angeles, CA: Heritage Book Shop, 1982), pp.19-29.