The History of a Nutcracker. With Two Hundred and Twenty Illustrations by Bertall. London: Chapman & Hall, 1847. First Edition Thus. Two Parts bound as one. Coloured frontispiece plates to each part, with numerous small woodcut illustrations throughout the text. Rebound in late 19th century hald red morocco, cloth boards, title in gilt to spine. A nice bright copy.

From the series ‘Picture Story Books by Great Authors and Great Painters.’

Alexandre Dumas’s delightful Christmas tale is an adaptation of ETA Hoffmann’s dark fairy-tale ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’ which inspired Tchaikovsky’s world-famous ballet ‘The Nutcracker’s Suite.’ 

It takes readers on a journey into a world of enchantment and transformation. The story revolves around a nutcracker doll given to little Marie by her mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer as a Christmas gift. On Christmas Eve, at the stroke of midnight, Marie witnesses the Nutcracker and her entire cabinet of playthings come to life.