Charles Dickens — The Cricket on the Hearth

London, Bradbury and Evans, 1846. First edition. Cloth. The first edition, second issue, of this popular Christmas story by Charles Dickens, a charming festive tale. The first edition, second issue, with the 'New Edition of Oliver Twist' advert to the rear.Half-title is present. Two pages of adverts to the rear.Illustrated with a frontispiece, engraved title page, and in-text engravings. Collated, complete.'The Cricket on the Hearth' is the third of Dickens' 'Christmas Books', following 'The Chimes' and preceding 'The Battle of Life&apos. Dickens described this Christmas book as quiet, domestic, and innocent, in which a cricket chirps on their hearth and acts as the family's guardian angel.Charles Dickens is one of the most popular authors of the Victorian age. His novels show the grimy side of poverty and prosperity in Victorian England, showing poor social conditions alongside repulsive characters. In the original publisher's cloth binding. Externally, backstrip is worn with loss, primarily to the rear joint, and to the head and tail of the spine. Minor bumping to the extremities. Very light rubbing and a few light marks to the cloth. Bookseller's label to the front paste down. Front hinge is tender. Internally, strained in places. Pages are bright and clean, with a few scattered spots. Good Only . Ill.: John Leech; R. Doyle; Various. Good Only .