1912 The Chimes by Charles Dickens / Pears Centenary Edition of Dickens' Christmas Books / Richly Illustrated / In Very 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 thirty monochrome illustrations by Charles Green (see photos). This version also has super decorative vintage Pears soap adverts on the boards and endpapers.

The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In, was written and published in 1844, one year after A Christmas Carol and one year before The Cricket on the Hearth. It is the second 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 include The Battle of Life (1846) 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. Has a name pencilled on the half-title page (see final close-up photo), otherwise no other writing or markings of previous ownership.

The blue 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, and a couple of bumps to the rear board.

A delightful edition, your antique copy of The Chimes 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, 147 pages, plus adverts, 0.46 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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