
How much is a first edition A Christmas Carol worth?
The first edition of A Christmas Carol (or The Carol, as it is known to collectors of Dickens's works) has benefited from all these factors, and hence has consistently risen in value. A true first edition (from the first printing) is generally worth from $18,000 to $45,000. Click to see full answer.
Who visited Scrooge first in A Christmas Carol?
Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four spirits altogether. The first spirit in general is the ghost of Jacob Marley, his former business partner. It is Marley who tells Ebenezer that he will be visited by three Christmas ghosts over the course of the night.
Why did Dickens call 'A Christmas Carol' A Christmas Carol?
Dickens called his work A Christmas Carol because he saw it as conveying the same optimism and hope that a Christmas carol does. He hoped the story would transform people's hearts and inspire them ...
What company published A Christmas Carol?
In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech.

How many first editions of A Christmas Carol were printed?
The volume, published by Chapman and Hall on 19 December 1843, was an immediate success and the initial print run of 6,000 copies sold out within a matter of days.
How do you identify a first edition of A Christmas Carol?
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.
When was the first edition of A Christmas Carol?
19 December 1843A Christmas CarolFirst edition cover (1843)AuthorCharles DickensCountryEnglandPublished19 December 1843PublisherChapman & Hall3 more rows
Which edition of A Christmas Carol is the best?
The Top Five:Scrooge (1951)/A Christmas Carol (1984) (tie)The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)Scrooged (1988)/Blackadder (1988)A Christmas Carol (1971)
Are there any first editions of A Christmas Carol?
This is only known copy of A Christmas Carol with the title-page printed in green and red inks and dated 1843. All other known copies of the green/red title-pages (acknowledged to be a pre-publication state) are dated 1844. In this copy the binding is also in the earliest form and with yellow-coated endpapers.
Are first editions worth the money?
Speaking generally, first editions will hold the most value if they are first editions, first printings. Depending on who has published the book and what formats it has been published in, you'll be looking for hardcover books mostly. But don't assume all hardcovers are first printings!
What is the oldest traditional Christmas carol?
St. Hilary of Poitiers composed the Latin carol “Jesus refulsit omnium” (“Jesus illuminates all”) in the fourth century, presumably after the first recorded Christmas celebration (336 A.D.).
How many versions were made of A Christmas Carol?
So, how many versions are there total? 135! The most famous ones that you'll see on TV this season are Mickey's Christmas Carol from 1983, the George C. Scott version (1984), Scrooge (1951), and Disney's A Christmas Carol -- which stars Jim Carrey as not only Scrooge, but the three ghosts as well.
How old is the original Christmas carol?
Did you know… A Christmas Carol was first published on December 19, 1843, with the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve. By 1844, the novella had gone through 13 printings and continues to be a robust seller more than 175 years later. Did you know…
How much is a Charles Dickens Christmas Carol book worth?
We collected a sample of 76 auction results of Dickens, Charles's A Christmas Carol from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $54 and the highest overall price realized was $22705. The overall average price was $2094 and the median price realized for the book was $900.
What is the number 1 Christmas carol?
Jingle bells is undoubtedly the most popular Christmas carol. It is also the easiest one to get the little ones all cheered up. It's traditionally sung at Christmas in most parts of the world.
What is the most famous Christmas carol ever?
Jingle Bells“Jingle Bells” It's one of the most popular songs ever, and it was even the first song broadcast from space.
How can you tell if a Charles Dickens book is a first edition?
This is why many of our descriptions of Dickens's novels say “first edition, bound from parts”. A good way to tell if a copy is bound from the original parts is by checking for stab holes, tiny holes in the gutter (the margin adjacent to the spine) left by the needle when the parts were originally bound in wrappers.
How do you know if its 1st edition?
The publisher may actually state the words 'first edition' or 'first printing' on the copyright page. Another common method of identification is the number line – that's a line of numbers on the copyright page. Usually, if a one is present in the line then it's a first edition.
How do you read a first edition number?
The Numbers A number line is usually present, such as 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. If a 1 is present - in any sequence - it's usually a sign that the book is a first edition.
What do the numbers mean under first edition?
Number Lines: Generally speaking, if the “1” is present, the book is a first edition (first edition, first printing). For the second printing, the “1” is removed, so the “2” is the lowest number present. For example, a number line that reads 5 6 7 8 9 indicates a fifth printing.
What was the first edition of Christmas Carol?
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.
What year was the Christmas Carol first ed?
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (REPLICA OF THE 1843 FIRST ED.)
What year was the first edition of Chapman and Hall published?
Chapman & Hall, Ltd. London. As New with no dust jacket. 1843. First Edition. Hardcover. Modern, recent, replica, 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 1843 first ed. Gilt edges along with design… Read more
What is the first chapter heading in the Dickens book?
by Dickens, Charles. Chapman & Hall, London, 1843 First Edition. A superlative copy of the First Edition, second issue with "Stave One" as the first chapter heading, and balance of text uncorrected.
What year was Chapman and Hall first published?
Chapman & Hall, London, 1843 First Edition, First Printing with "Stave 1" printed on page 1 later changed to "Stave one" on later editions. The book is bound in the ORIGINAL brown cloth with NO restoration and has the First Issue points "title page printed in blue and red dated 1843 in Roman numerals, "yellow endpapers" "perfect "D" in "Dickens"… Read more
Who published the first Dickens story?
Published by William Heinemann, 1915. 1st USA edition.. Hardback. Very Good/Good. Illustrated by Rackham, Arthur. Very good condition in a good dustwrapper. The first Dickens story Rackham attempted. Despite its ghostliness and opportunities for the supernatural, Rackham did not exploit these to the full. He seems to have voluntarily passed up the opportunity to terrify his readers, choosing… Read more
Who illustrated the first Arthur Rackham book?
London: William Heinemann. 1915. First Arthur Rackham illustrated edition. First Arthur Rackham illustrated edition. Publisher's original purple cloth with gilt titles and illustration to the upper board and spine. Top edge purple. Illustrated endpapers, 12 full page colour plates with captioned tissue guards, and black and white illustrations throughout by Arthur Rackham. A very good copy, the binding… Read more
How Much Is a First Edition?
High prices behind some of the first edition copies can be explained by the fact that the first print run was small (a few thousand copies ), the book was a bestseller, the author is/was popular, and also by the demand—the willingness of many people to pay the price. Also, with more time passing, these copies get harder to get, causing an increase in their value and price on second-hand markets.
What is limited edition book?
A limited edition is a book with restricted publication, meaning a smaller number of copies are ordered. The author generally signs these and the publication is purposefully limited. First trade editions are another type of printing distributed for general commercial sale.
How much is our own Christmas Carol?
Our own Christmas Carol is priced at $28,000.
When did Poe print the gift?
After its appearance in “The Gift,” the tale went mostly unnoticed. Poe printed it again in a journal he edited in 1845, but the tale didn’t appear in any of Poe’s short story collections during his lifetime. It wasn’t until 1850 that the story took its proper place next to “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Murders of the Rue Morgue,” in a posthumous volume.
What is Auster's modern Christmas story?
It’s a tale within a tale, a meta-tale: Auster stressed over how to write a modern Christmas story, “warring with the ghosts of Dickens, [and] O. Henry.”.
What is it like to be a rare book dealer during the holiday season?
What’s it like to be a rare book dealer during the holiday season? It’s the busiest time of the year for us, just as it is for regular booksellers. The seasonal crush creates a festive phenomenon, a category of rare books that collectors seek like mad for one part of the year, then ignore for the next eleven months: Christmas books. Here are the stories behind some of the most sought volumes.
Where was the book Gifts and Sacrifice written?
Henry’s poignant tale of gifts and sacrifice was written in a tavern in New York City . It was first published in The New York Sunday World, but if you want to find the version that commands the highest price on the collectible market, you need to look for the first edition in book form.
Who made the tailor of Gloucester?
Scientist-cum-artist Beatrix Potter’ s delightful tales of the critters in English farms and gardens began as many children’s books do: as stories recounted to the young children Potter knew. In 1901 Potter made The Tailor of Gloucester as a Christmas gift for the daughter of her former governess.
Did Dickens print Christmas Carol?
Dickens famously financed the printing of A Christmas Carol himself after his publishers refused, believing that the extravagant gift book wouldn't make any money. Few realize, however, that his publishers were right: Dickens spent so much on the hand-colored illustrations and other fancy touches that his expenses ate up 85 percent of the revenue.
