DICKENS, Charles (author). Elizabeth S. TUCKER (illustrator). A Child’s Dream of a Star. New York Frederick A. Stokes Company. [1894]

16mo. (90 x 142mm); original wide-margined mint green cloth lettered and decorated in gilt with a design of fleurs-de-lys and a scattering of stars over decorative gilded paper sides with a floral design in lilac and white, top edges gilt; pp. [84] +[ii] +[24], publisher’s illustrated advertisements, printed on coated paper on rectos; with monochrome illustrations throughout by Tucker; a very fresh and pretty copy with minimal external dusting, one small dark spot to base of spine, and a neat contemporary gift inscription to front blank, “To her last little baby girl Sibyll, from Lizzie, May 15th, [18]’99”.

First edition illustrated thus, issued in the “Masterpieces” series. This short poetic prose piece by Dickens first appeared in 1850 in the periodical “Household Words”.  It first appeared independently, with illustrations by Hammatt Billings, in 1871.

It has been described as a fable or fantasy, exploring themes of childhood innocence, sibling love, grief and loss.