1904 First Arthur A. Dixon Illustrated Edition - Christmas at Bracebridge Hall
Author: Washington Irving. Illustrated by Arthur A. Dixon.
Title: Christmas at Bracebridge Hall.
Publisher: London: Ernest Nister; New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., [1904]. First Arthur A. Dixon Illustrated Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7 x 4.5 inches.
Pages: 120 pages.
Binding: A Fine handsome early 20th-century three-quarter red morocco binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, London, with raised bands, fine gilt tooling to compartments (including gilt festive motifs), red cloth sides, and gilt ruling. Marbled endpapers in red, cream, and brown tones. (Hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt.
Content: Fine content. Very clean, bright, and beautifully preserved text. No ownership marks. A crisp, tight, and remarkably fresh interior for a Nister holiday printing.
Illustrations: Illustrated by Arthur A. Dixon with eight full-page colour plates (including frontispiece) and several black-and-white illustrations throughout. All plates are present as listed. Colors remain vivid and warm, capturing festive winter scenes and traditional Christmas gatherings in the nostalgic spirit of Irving’s storytelling.
Estimate: (USD 350 — 500).
The book: A beautifully illustrated and finely bound early 20th-century edition of Washington Irving’s classic Christmas tales from Bracebridge Hall. Ernest Nister’s holiday productions are celebrated for their warm, atmospheric imagery, and Arthur A. Dixon’s color plates capture the Victorian revival of old English Christmas traditions—stagecoaches, evergreen decorations, wassail bowls, winter merriment, and family gatherings. This edition is elevated further by a luxurious custom binding from the renowned firm Sangorski & Sutcliffe, whose craftsmanship is synonymous with elegance and durability. A cheerful, nostalgic, and highly collectible Christmas volume.
The author: Washington Irving (1783–1859), one of America’s earliest literary masters, is best known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle, and his evocative depictions of English country life in Bracebridge Hall. His Christmas essays helped revive and popularize old English Yuletide customs in the 19th century, influencing modern holiday traditions and literature. Irving’s warm humor, picturesque settings, and gentle moral reflections continue to make these stories timeless seasonal favorites.
The illustrator: Arthur A. Dixon (1872–1959) was a prolific British illustrator whose work spans children’s books, classic literature, and richly decorated gift editions. His style blends soft realism with sentiment and charm—perfectly suited to Irving’s nostalgic Christmas world. In this edition, Dixon’s color plates bring the festive scenes to life with movement, warmth, and vivid seasonal atmosphere, making the book a visual delight as well as a literary one.