THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH.
(London: Bradbury and Evans, 1846).
FIRST EDITION. THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH was third in Dickens Christmas Book Series. The title grew out of Dickens idea to begin a weekly periodical named The Cricket with an added motto, A cheerful creature that chirrups on the hearth. Dickens relinquished that idea to instead concentrate on the venture that resulted in the founding of the The Daily News. The original periodical idea manifested itself in his Household Words. 'THE CRICKET' was extremely popular when issued. Within one year there had been twenty two editions printed. Item #30344
First Edition, complete with the half-title and the Oliver Twist advertisement at the end. Complete with 14 engraved illustrations including a fine frontispiece and title-page, by John Leech, R. Doyle and others. 12mo, handsomely bound in full dark green crushed levant morocco by the French binder S. David showing the refinement and delicacy associated with the best traditional bindings of the ages. The spine with raised bands, one compartment lettered in gilt, fine French marbled endleaves, binding edges gilt tooled, the turnovers with gilt roll tooling at the borders surrounding triple gilt fillet rules surrounding another roll tooled inner border gilt, all edges gilt, the original cloth covers bound in at the front and rear. [viii], 174, [2] ads. pp. A very fine copy, tight, clean and beautifully preserved, the spine panel mellowed to honey-green as is normal.