1912 The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens / Pears Centenary Edition of Dickens' Christmas Books / Illustrated / Good Condition

This beautiful edition is a "Pears" Centenary Edition of Charles Dickens Christmas books, published in 1912 to commemorate the centenary of Dickens' birth in 1812. With a very attractive binding and 30 monochrome illustrations by Charles Green (see photos). This version also has super decorative vintage Pears soap adverts on the boards and endpapers.

The Battle of Life: A Love Story is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in 1846. It is the fourth in his series of "Christmas books": five short books with strong social and moral messages that he published during the 1840s. In addition to A Christmas Carol and The Cricket on the Hearth, the Christmas Books also include The Chimes (1844) and The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (1848).

In good condition for an antique book of this age. The main condition point to note is tanning and spotting to the endpapers and page edges. After the endpapers the contents are exceptionally clean, bright and tightly bound with just the occasional small dark mark. Had a name pencilled on the half-title page, this has been partially erased but is still visible (see final close-up photo), otherwise no other writing or markings of previous ownership.

The orange/brown cloth covered boards are wonderfully evocative. With "Pears" portrait paste down in the centre (slightly rubbed), black decorative border and gilt titles. All in top order, with just a little rubbing to the corners and spine ends.

A delightful edition, your antique copy of The Battle of Life will be wrapped with care in tissue and ribbon* and sent well packaged. I am always happy to add a gift message to the parcel if desired.

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H 21.5 cm X W 16.5 cm, 144 pages, plus adverts, 0.44 kg. I dispatch worldwide daily from the UK. (With the exception of a small number of countries).

* If you would prefer your book not to be decoratively wrapped but sent simply in the full protective packaging please add a note to the order.

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