Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

Unknown to many people is the interesting fact that Victorian author Charles Dickens wrote more Christmas stories after his cherished A Christmas Carol. A draw to collectors are the "other" four holiday tales; one such includes the novella The Chimes published in 1844 by Chapman and Hall (London) and came out after A Christmas Carol. The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells That Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In (its complete title) relates another moral message about a poor man, Toby "Trotty" Veck, who has lost his faith in the goodness of humanity. As with Scrooge, it takes some supernatural intervention and dream visions to help transform his cynicism. Chapman and Hall present a very attractive first edition with illustrations by Leech, Clarkson and Maclise in the $75-$150 range. Copies from the first printing (rare) and with its dust-jacket are sold in the $1,000-$3,000 range at auction. In 1931, Chapman and Hall (both London and New York) produced copies with illustrations by Arthur Rackham which included 1500 signed by Rackham copies. In fine condition, these can be found at auction in the $200-$500 range.

We collected a sample of 8 auction results of Dickens, Charles's The Chimes from 2 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $83 and the highest overall price realized was $469. The overall average price was $343 and the median price realized for the book was $353. There were 4 auctions (57%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 3 auctions (43%) exceeding the high estimates, and 0 auctions (0%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Swann sale on June 14, 2016 of a 1931 edition for $469 that one of 1500 signed by Rackham; a Swann sale on January 17, 2002 of a 1931 edition for $460 that one of 1500 signed by Rackham;