The Battle of Life

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1846. First edition. Very Good +. Vignette title in the fourth state (Smith II.8). Some edgewear to binding and covers marked, lacking advertisement leaf but with half-title present, early blue ink gift inscription 'JMH from HH' to the front free endpaper, a little spotting, small portion of loss to foot of title inner margin. Bound in a publisher's red full morocco gilt, with the original gilt designs to both covers within a foliate border, all edges gilt, yellow endpapers, gilt-lettered and decorated spine. A Very Good + copy.

An exceedingly rare survival, by all appearances an unrecorded publisher's presentation morocco binding. We have been unable to trace another example at auction or in commerce. While there are extant copies of most of Dickens' published works in presentation or deluxe bindings, we cannot trace another example of a Christmas book in this form. The original cover illustrations of the trade edition have been produced here in the same form.

The Battle of Life was the fourth of the Christmas books and one of the lesser known works from the series. It centers on two sisters, Grace and Marion, who must contend with shared romantic attachments. After Marion disappears with a presumed libertine, Michael Warden, the family struggles to make sense of her sudden departure. But in standard Dickensian fashion, the plot twists get resolved and happiness prevails for everyone.

The Christmas books are outliers in terms of their publication history when compared to other Dickens works, as they were first published in this form rather than in serial parts. It was first published on December 19, 1846 and priced at 5 shillings, however it is certain the present copy would have cost more due to the deluxe binding. The work is illustrated throughout, with four contributions by Daniel Maclise, three by Richard Doyle, three by Clarkson Stanfield and three by John Leech. Very Good +.