1886 The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens / Christmas Book / Chapman & Hall / First Re-Issue of 1845 First Edition / A Little Shaken

From 1886, here is a first re-issue of the 1845 first edition of The Cricket on the Hearth. Published by Chapman and Hall, London in the exact same format as the very first edition. With the original illustrations and in the same red decorative binding. This copy is 138 years old and so has some signs of age, but remains a lovely antique edition with a Dickensian, Victorian feel to it. Almost identical to owning a first edition copy.

The Cricket on the Hearth is one of Dickens' five Christmas books, a genre Dickens became famous for after the massive success of A Christmas Carol. Like A Christmas Carol, The Cricket on the Hearth is a heart-warming story with strong themes of family, love, and redemption. However, it is less directly focused on social issues and more on domestic happiness and misunderstandings that threaten it. 

Inside the book opens onto charming antique advertisement endpapers. The main CONDITION POINT to note with this copy is that the binding feels shaken so the pages are a little wobbly in places and separated from the middle in a couple of areas at the top or bottom. Gapes open at the gutter in a few places, but all pages are still firmly attached. With some toning along the closed top edge. This copy has not been written in and there are no other markings of previous ownership.

Bright red cloth covered boards have detailed gilt decoration to the front and spine. The front board has some darkening around the edges and mild rolling/rubbing to the corners. The red has faded a little across the top, but only slightly. The gilt decoration is still shiny and bright. The rear board has faded near to the spine and has a few faint dark spots.

The spine has tanned a good deal in comparison to the front and the gilt dulled. With a little fraying of the cloth on the bottom edge and some loss to some red cloth at the head of the spine.

Your first re-issue antique copy of The Cricket on the Hearth 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.

FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

H 18 cm X W 12 cm, 174 pages 0.2 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.

I post new stock, updates and news to Instagram @bumperboxofdelights