"A Christmas Carol" All-Star Team - Day 12

We finish up the Christmas Present characters as we hit the half-way point of our countdown of our "A Christmas Carol" All-Star Team!

The most memorable guest at Fred's Christmas party is his friend Topper!

It's indeterminate as to what Topper's actual name is. "Topper" is probably not his first name, although it might be his last name. Or it could just be a nickname. He's only called "Topper" and not "Mr. Topper" or anything else. So, who knows?

I think he really gets his much-deserved due in the wacky 1944 promotional "Animated Coloring Book" courtesy of the Sears Roebuck company.

He gets one of the action pictures:

This is a fun item and you can't beat making Topper sing!

Next: we head to the future...

"A Christmas Carol" (1911 Edition) - Part 2

Now let's take a look at the black and white interior illustrations from the 1911 edition of "A Christmas Carol" illustrated by A.C. Michael.

Here they are in plot-chronological order:

I think these are nice little vignettes and add a lot, so this would have been a nice edition for a 1911 family to enjoy.

A few of these illustrations were also used on the endpapers of the book, but there's an extra one that is not used within the text and I don't know what it represents.

Take a look...

My first thought was that it's Scrooge going in to Fred's house on Christmas morning, but the man looks too young to be Scrooge and that doesn't appear to the maid letting him in.

So, does that actually represent a scene from the book? I don't think it does. Did they just throw in an additional illustration by A.C. Michael for no apparent reason?

Another mystery!

"A Christmas Carol" (1911 Edition) - Part 1

"A Christmas Carol" (1911 Edition)
Illustrator: A.C. Michael

Here's an edition of "A Christmas Carol" published by New York's Hodder and Stoughton in 1911 with illustrations by A.C. Michael.

There are some color plates as well as black and white.

Here are the color ones in chronological plot order:

I like how Scrooge is keeping a good eye on Cratchit!

This is the only one that shows a ghost.

IS it me or does Fezziwig look like Jackie Gleason? Shades of Rich Little!

Now, that's a Tiny Tim!

I like how Tiny Tim stays "on model" here!

I always like a good Topper!

I think these are really evocative!

Next, the black and white...