Charles Dickens

English writer, 1812-1870

Dickens created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity. Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London.

Source: Wikipedia

Dickens, Charles

English novelist (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed Charles Dickens". Devonshire Terrace. 8vo. 2 pp. Laid-down, staining from an old mount at the edge.
$ 10,275 / 9.500 € (60581)

To the composer and performer John L. Hatton, regretting that he has "not the least knowledge of any musical person in America"; adding that he is happy offering testimony to his "merits as an accomplished musician and composer, and as one whom he would much desire to see employed at home here in the lucrative exercise of his knowledge and abilities, as to have no leisure for 'fresh fields and pastures new'". – Dickens writes a testimonial on behalf of the composer and performer John Liptrot Hatton, who was about to undertake a tour of the United States: 'In August 1848 [Hatton] first visited America, remaining there until the spring of 1850, when he returned in order to accompany Sims Reeves on a tour; he went again to America in the following September.

His playing and singing were alike admired, and he introduced some of Mendelssohn's music to the Boston public. At no time was he troubled by artistic scruples, and it was often uncertain whether the place allotted to him in the programme would be occupied by one of Bach's fugues or by a comic song of his own composition. It is said that his hearers were delighted with a song called "The Sleigh Ride," in the course of which he produced "realistic" effects by means of bells tied to his leg' (J. A. F. Maitland, DNB). See the Pilgrim edition of The Letters of Charles Dickens, volume 5, 1981, p. 382..

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Dickens, Charles

English novelist (1812-1870). Autographed letter signed ("Charles Dickens"). Devonshire Terrace. 8vo. 1 page.
$ 4,867 / 4.500 € (61543)

In French to Francois Régnier informing that he has not invited Augustin Eugène Scribe for dinner because of his wife's ill health, but hoping that Regnier will visit.

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Dickens, Charles

English novelist (1812-1870). Autographed letter signed ("Charles Dickens"). Tavistock House. 8vo. 1 page.
$ 4,867 / 4.500 € (61544)

To Charles Coote. Dickens gratefully acknowledging Household Songs „...I am happy to see my name in that association, and intend to sit down this evening and hear them all, one after another, from beginning to end“.

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Dickens, Charles

novelist (1812-1870). Cheque signed and filled out in the hand of Charles Dickens. London. 183 : 82 mm. 1 p.
$ 3,245 / 3.000 € (76615)

Part-printed document completed by Dickens, a cheque for Twelfe pounds and 2 shillings to be drawn on the Coutts & Company Bank in London.

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Dickens, Charles

Schriftsteller (1812-1870). Sammlung von 9 eigenh. Briefen mit Unterschrift. London, Higham by Rochester, „Devonshire Terrace“, Lausanne „Villa Rosemont“. 8vo. 12 pp.
$ 48,672 / 45.000 € (81644)

Sieben Briefe an seinen Freund Thomas James Thompson, ein Brief an Thomas Edmund Weller und ein Brief an Christiana Weller, die Dickens sehr verehrte: 27.2.1843: „I am obliged to you for your good-humoured letter; and I beg you to present my regards to your accomplished daughter. Together with this autograph which must be understood to include all manner of good wishes for her, and you, and the Wellers generally. […]“ 15.3.1843: „Secondsight no doubt caught (I see it all), from Donald what’s his name, who came bock agen (deliberate misspelling with Scottish accent of ‘back again’) from that unspellable Glen, and published the news of his arrival so extensively.

Next time you and your bankers, if you will let them have a cheque for the money, payable to Coutts & Cie on account of the Macready Testimonial; you will realise the hearty thanks of the committee, and all other privileges and gratifications to which the subscription entitles you […]“ 14.6.1844. An Frau Christiana Weller: „Let me congratulate you with my whole heart on your brilliant achievements last night. You rose with the occasion nobly. Nothing could have been more successful graceful charming-triumphant in any particular. I felt a pride in you which I cannnot express. i do not write to you therefore with the view of expressing it or giving language to my great delight; but merely to say I cannot do either.“ „Anna was great. I adored her. I refused all comfort afterwards, because I hadn’t sent sent her a bouquet. But writing all day put it out of my heard. It was there several times. Tell her it was Mr. chuzalewit’s omission, not mine’. This appears to be a deliberate misspelling of ‘Chuzzlewit’ as per his character/novel ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’. Perhaps there is a character in the book who pronounces his name as ‘chuzalewit’ and he is speaking in that character’s voice here?“.

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Dickens, Charles

engl. Dichter (1812-1870). Eigenhändige Unterschrift auf Albumblatt. ohne Ort und Datum. 65 : 20 mm.
$ 1,352 / 1.250 € (81858)

Namenszug auf Albumblatt, vermutlich einem Brief entnommen. Beiliegend: Porträtdruck mit Faksimilesignatur.

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Dickens, Charles

engl. Dichter (1812-1870). Eigenhändiger Brief mit Unterschrift. Gads Hill Place. Higham by Rochester Kent. 8vo. 1 p. Mit gedruckter Adresse.
$ 3,245 / 3.000 € (83311)

An seinen Freund, den irischen Verleger Francis Dalzell Finlay. Mit einer Einladung in sein Haus „Any day will suit me; any night […]. My station is Higham, on the North Kent Railway, from London Bridge. […]“

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Dickens, Charles

engl. Dichter (1812-1870). Eigenhändiger Brief mit Unterschrift. Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. 8vo. 1 1/2 pp. Gedr. Briefkopf. Das zweite Blatt unterhalb des Textes beschnitten.
$ 3,786 / 3.500 € (83317)

An seinen Freund, den irischen Verleger Francis Dalzell Finlay. Dickens befand sich auf Lesereise, wo er u.a. seine Weihnachtsgeschichte „A Christmas Carol“ gelesen hatte. Er teilt dem Verleger mit, gerne nach Belfast zu reisen und bitte ihn, ihm beim Kartenverkauf behilflich zu sein.

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Dickens, Charles

engl. Dichter (1812-1870). Eigenhändiger Brief mit Unterschrift. London. 8vo. 1 1/2 pp. Gedr. Briefkopf.
$ 4,110 / 3.800 € (83479)

An den deutschen Musiker Moritz Nabich: „Incessant occupations and the hopeless impossibility of keeping pace with the vast number of correspondents who everyday address me, have rendered it quite out of my power to return an earlier reply to your letter. Even now, I can only beg you not to suppose me insensible of your anxieties or your confidence, when I reply to it that I must excuse myself from acceding to your request. I am not a professional judge of music or musician. I could be of no service to you – and I have as many demands on my time and attention as I can in any reason satisfy. Therefore, I have not broken the seals of your packet. […]“

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Dickens, Charles

engl. Dichter (1812-1870). Carte-de-visite. ohne Ort und Datum. 63 : 105 mm.
$ 541 / 500 € (89717)

Seltene Carte-de-visite aus dem Haus „Mason & Co“, das den Dichter im Sitzen bei der Lektüre im Profil zeigt. Rückseitig von fremder Hand beschriftet.

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Dickens, Charles

English writer (1812-1870). Photograph Signed ("Charles Dickens / First May, 1868"), albumen print cabinet card portrait. no place. 4 x 5 inches laid down to 4 1/4 by 6 1/2 inch printed board.
$ 16,224 / 15.000 € (91232)

Rare 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photo of Charles Dickens in a regal full-length pose, published by J. Gurney & Son in 1867, boldly signed on the reverse in blue ink, "Charles Dickens, First May 1868." Reverse is imprinted: "Carte Impériale by J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, N.Y." In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing and soiling to the signed side, and mottling to the image itself. After an initial 1842 visit to the USA, Dickens returned in December 1867 for a second tour. Shuttling between Boston and New York, he conducted over 70 readings of his works and netted approximately £19,000 in royalties.

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Dickens, Charles

English writer (1812-1870). Signed carte-de-visite. no place. 62 : 102 mm.
$ 16,765 / 15.500 € (93493)

Nice Carte de visite of Dickens, his head turned to his left. Photograph by John & Charles Watkins, London. Signed and dated by Dickens „Charles Dickens | To Dr. Muspratt / January 1865“. Signed photographs of Dickens are of the utmost rarity. - Together with a signed carte de visite of the recipient, Dr Muspratt. A remarkable pair of signed photographs. Very rare. Dr James Sheridan Muspratt (1821-1871), Irish born research chemist, lived in Liverpool where his father had an industrial chemical company. He organised a visit to Liverpool by Dickens's amateur theatre company in 1847.

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Dickens, Charles

English writer (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed. Devonshire Terrace. 8vo. 2 pp. Mourning border.
$ 8,653 / 8.000 € (94210)

To Thomasina Ross, translator of "El Buscapié," a pastiche of Cervantes by Adolfo de Castro y Rossi, published in Spanish in 1844 and which deceived many scholars. Dickens looks forward to reading it by the fireside and mentions a portrait of Cervantes that cannot be confused with that of Castro. „I thank you very cordially for your kind recollection of me. I look forward to putting my feet on the fender tonight, and thoroughly enjoying a prodigious cold in the head, and El Buscapie, together.

It is comfortable to see this portrait of Cervantes. It strikes me that the former one must be a true likeness of the rash and miserable man who produced a second part of Don Quixote, and that his unworthy visage has come to be confounded in the mind of some collector with that of our immortal friend. I am very sorry to hear of your father’s indisposition. But it is very pleasant to me to be remember of him, and I hope you will tell him so with my warm regards. […]“.

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Dickens, Charles

English novelist (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed (in the text). Gads Hill Place. 24.01.1863. 8vo. ½ p. On headed paper.
$ 2,704 / 2.500 € (60932/BN44889)

"Mr. Charles Dickens presents his compliments to Miss K. Hitchcock and regrets to inform her that his Vita for the Royal Hospital for Incurables has been long engaged". - Dickens had been one of the first high-profile figures to show his support for the Royal Hospital for Incurables (now the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability) by helping to raise funds for its creation in 1854. In 1863 the hospital relocated to its permanent home, Melrose Hall on West Hill, in Putney.

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Dickens, Charles

English novelist (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed ("Charles Dickens"). Tavistock House (London). 10.06.1853. 8vo. 2½ pp. on bifolium.
$ 7,030 / 6.500 € (60938/BN44920)

To Mr. Breach, the proprietor of the Folkestone Inn, where Dickens stayed for three days while travelling to Boulogne-sur-Mer on Sunday, June 12th. Dickens mis-dated this letter as, according to another letter in the VanderPoel Dickens collection (A85) written from Folkestone dated Saturday the 11th, this letter, written on Thursday, would have been the 9th of June. In his letter Dickens asks the proprietor to have a "quiet and cheerful" room prepared for him and his family who plan on coming for the summer.

Dickens was particularly fond of Boulogne as, the previous summer, he had completed two chapters of "Bleak House" while vacationing there. - Minor overall toning; brown spot to upper middle crease. - Provenance: from a Chicago-area private collection..

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Dickens, Charles

English novelist (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed ("Charles Dickens"). Windsor. 07.11.1841. 8vo. 2¾ pp. on bifolium.
$ 7,030 / 6.500 € (60939/BN44921)

To Dr. Frederick Salmon complaining of some aches and pains. Dickens and his wife went to stay at the White Hart Hotel in Windsor on November 6th, the day after Dickens completed his novel "Barnaby Rudge". The trip was meant to provide some rest and relaxation for Dickens who had completed "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge" back to back, and had recently undergone major surgery. Dr. Frederick Salmon had performed surgery on Dickens in October of 1841 for a fistula of the rectum, a procedure for which Salmon was renowned.

In this letter, Dickens' describes his pain and references the operation with his typical wit, noting "all manner of queer pains were floating about my illustrious person [...] now (but not often) shooting through that region which you have made as tender as my heart [...]". Dickens tells his doctor that he is feeling "immeasurably better" and asks whether Salmon would like to make his follow up visit tomorrow rather than Tuesday. - Light soiling to creases; evidence of removal of wax seal. Property from a Private Chicago-area Collection. Provenance: The Comte Alain de Suzannet Dickens Collection Sold: Sotheby's, London, November 22-23, 1971..

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Dickens, Charles

English writer (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed. [London]. 18.12.1849. 8vo. 1½ pp. on bifolium.
$ 7,030 / 6.500 € (83059/BN54493)

To the English journalist and writer Mark Lemon (1809-70) with congratulations on his play, praising particularly the performance of the English actor James William Wallack (ca. 1794-1864), who dines at his place the following Sunday, a dinner he invites Lemon to join: "Many thanks for the Box, and best congratulations on the Play. It went admirably - rose as it went on - mounted immensely in the third act - and closed in triumph. Howe was not good, but the rest were. Wallack beyond all praise.

I have never seen such a fine, picturesque, splendid piece of melodrama. He really bore the whole play on his shoulders, and did gallant service. I believe he dines here next Sunday at ½ past 5. If so, will you come? No party. I begin to think you live in Australia [...]". - Mounted on backing paper..

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Dickens, Charles

Autograph letter signed ("Ch. D.").
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Dickens, Charles

Autograph letter signed.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar


Dickens, Charles

Autograph letter signed.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar

To the actor, dramatist, and lessee of the Adelphi Theatre, Benjamin Nottingham Webster (1797-1882), confirming their upcoming engagement, and mentioning the death of David Roberts (1796-1864).


Dickens, Charles

Signed carte-de-visite.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar