"Third Visitor or the Ghost of Christmas Present,” detail, original watercolor illustration by John Leech for Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, first edition, 1843, The Pierpont Morgan Library, purchased by Pierpont Morgan; MA 97.
:Universally recognized, the fictional characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Future and Present seemingly became immortal figures overnight with Charles Dickens's 1843 release of
A Christmas Carol
. Together, this crew of characters appears to annually come to life, embedded in the minds of all who have read, listened to, watched or merely heard their heartening stories. Aside from its religious aspects, the amazing tale, related more than 160 years ago, has played a major role in establishing modern day perceptions of Christmas and goodwill.
Quite a "Godly" accomplishment by any standard, even more so when it is taken into account that Dickens penned this classic in just six short weeks.
Dickens began what he initially termed his "Little Christmas Book" or "Little Carol" in October 1843, and in a literary flurry, finished it in proper time to be published and marketed prior to Christmas. Disagreements with publishers initially halted the release; however, a determined Dickens charged forth, financing the printing of the book himself.
"Marley's Ghost,” original watercolor illustration by John Leech for Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, first edition, 1843, The Pierpont Morgan Library, purchased by Pierpont Morgan; MA 97.
Published as a novel in an extravagant manner with gilt-edged pages, a host of hand colored illustrations and the addition of a sumptuous binding, the book instantly became all the rage among a culture that was, during that period, rapidly distancing itself from the traditions of Christmas. Five days after the book's release on December 17, the entire edition of 6,000 copies was sold out. In a move befitting his lead character's ultimate realization, Dickens had priced the book at a mere five shillings, making his message affordable to all, to the rich and the poor, and to the young and old.
This idealistic combination of extravagance and affordability resulted financially in a profit of mere crumbs for the author, despite the brisk sales. The first and best of the Christmas books that Dickens would pen,
A Christmas Carol
has become not only his best-known book, but it is regarded by historians as the basis for many of the surviving traditions of the Christmas holidays.
When the manuscript was returned to Dickens after printing, the author arranged for it to be finely bound in red morocco leather and it was unselfishly presented to a friend. Some 50 years later, the original manuscript was purchased in the 1890s by American mogul and collector extraordinaire Pierpont Morgan, the benefactor of the Morgan Library and Museum.
