[Literature] Dickens, Charles. The Christmas Books

1. A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas
London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First edition, second issue (with "Stave One", red and blue title-page dated 1843, and text uncorrected, except with faint period after "gloom" in line 22 on p. 21). 12mo. Illustrated with a hand-colored engraved frontispiece, three hand-colored engraved plates, and four in-text engravings, by John Leech. Full red calf, red and green morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt; all edges gilt; gilt dentelles; marbled endpapers; by Riviere & Son; original brown cloth bound in at rear; in red cloth slip case. Smith II, 4

2. The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells That Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In
London: Chapman and Hall, 1845 (but 1844). First edition. 12mo. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, engraved vignette title-page (Smith's first issue), and many in-text engravings, by Daniel Maclise, Richard Doyle, John Leech, and Clarkson Stanfield. Bound as above; original cloth bound in at rear; housed in above. Smith II, 5

3. The Cricket on the Hearth. A Fairy Tale of Home
London: Printed and Published for the Author, by Bradbury and Evans, 1846 (but 1845). First edition. 12mo. First state ads at rear. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, engraved vignette title-page, and in-text engravings, by John Leech, Richard Doyle, Clarkson Stanfield, Daniel Maclise, and Edwin Landseer. Bound as above; original cloth bound in at rear; housed in above. Smith II, 6

4. The Battle of Life. A Love Story
London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846. First edition. 12mo. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, engraved vignette title-page (Smith's fourth state), and in-text engravings, by Daniel Maclise, Richard Doyle, Clarkson Stanfield, and John Leech. Bound as above; original cloth bound in at rear; housed in above. Smith II, 8

5. The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain. A Fancy for Christmas-Time
London: Bradbury & Evans, 1848. First edition. 12mo. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, engraved vignette title-page, and in-text engravings, by John Leech, Clarkson Stanfield, John Tenniel, and Frank Stone. Bound as above; original cloth bound in at rear; housed in above. Smith II, 9

A fine, uniformly bound, and complete set of Charles Dickens's beloved Christmas books.

From the private library of Dr. David L. Harrar II, Sunnyvale, California

To request further details about this lot, please email

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

[email protected]267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Literature] Dickens, Charles. The Christmas Books

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Literature] Dickens, Charles. The Christmas Books

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