"A Christmas Carol and The Cricket on the Hearth" (1905)

"A Christmas Carol and The Cricket on the Hearth" (1905)

Baker & Taylor Company (New York)

Artist: George Alfred Williams

Here's an early American edition that pairs "A Christmas Carol" with "The Cricket on the Hearth," with illustrations by George Alfred Williams (1875-1932).

There are only a few for "A Christmas Carol" and they're all from fairly early in the story. Don't know why. It looks like they started to illustrate the whole story, but ran out of money, although that's probably not the case!

The one color plate serves as the fronstpiece and it's quite nice:

"He had been Tim's blood horse all the way from church."

And here are the black and white illustrations:

"A Merry Christmas, Uncle! God save you!" cried a cheerful voice.

To sit staring at those fixed glazed eyes in silence, for a moment, would play, Scrooge felt, the very deuce with him.

"You recollect the way?" inquired the spirit. "Remember it!" cried Scrooge, with fervour; "I could walk it blindfold."

"Why, it's Ali Baba!" Scrooge exclaimed in ecstasy. "It's dear old honest Ali Baba!"

Don't those seem like odd choices if you only have four?

But I like them! Wish there were more!