The medal's obverse bears a portrait of Charles Dickens, facing half right. Around top, CHARLES DICKENS; to left and right, ISSUED · IN / COMMEMORAT / ION · OF · THE - FIFTIETH / ANNIVERSARY / OF · CHARLES / SESSLER / 1932; signed along edge over left shoulder, SINNOCK
The reverse bears a scene from "A Christmas Carol." Around, · 1882 · PHILADELPHIA · 1932 · / · RARE BOOKS (open book) FINE PRINTS · ; flanking scene, A / Christmas - Carol / 1843; signed in cursive under scene.
Charles Sessler was a rare book dealer whose store was located in a building on Philadelphia's Walnut Street. The building still exists and today houses the W. Graham Arader Gallery. Charles Sessler commissioned J.R. Sinnock to design this medal for his store's 50th anniversary. The medal was given as a gift to select customers and friends. Sessler wrote a dedication fthat was printed on the inside of the medal box's lid. It read:
1882—1932
I have called upon my favorite author,
Charles Dickens, to celebrate with me
the fiftieth anniversary of my career as
a bookseller.
The portrait is from an original photo-
graph of the immortal author.
The reverse ilustrates the frontispiece of
"A Christmas Carol" which is so aptly
called by A. Edward Newton, "the gayest
little picture in all the world." It is a
symbol of the happiness with which I
spend my time with books.
Presented to a few friends and patrons.
CHARLES SESSLER.
The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported. A uniface variant is also known to exist.
References: MACo 1931-062-001