One of the most pleasurable aspects of viewing the original manuscript of this remarkable classic is being able to see where Dickens edited his own writing; look for crossed-out sections and revisions that reveal this master's thought process.
A few years ago the museum began to advance the displayed passage by one page each year, starting with page one. This year, the manuscript will be open to page three, which includes the first instance of 'Bah! Humbug' in the novella.
"For many New Yorkers, viewing the original manuscript of A Christmas Carol at the Morgan is a time-honored holiday tradition," said Philip Palmer, the Morgan's Robert H. Taylor Curator and Department Head of Literary and Historical Manuscripts. "Beholding such an important artifact of literary history in J. Pierpont Morgan's Library is indeed a magical experience for our visitors. This book is not only the iconic Christmas tale but also one of the collection's greatest treasures, on par with the Gutenberg Bible and Lindau Gospels (both also currently on display)."