Description:

Dickens Charles 1812 - 1870 While finishing "A Tale of Two Cities" Charles Dickens pens a letter to his famous photographer Herbert Watkins, and sends him "Oliver Twist", "A Christmas Carrol" and "David Copperfield" all in his " Library Edition"



Bi-fold ALS, boldly scripted, signed and dated entirely in the hand of Charles Dickens, on his personal stationary with his Tavistock House, Tavistock Square London, W.C. letterhead, 4.25" x 7". Expected folds, scripted on the recto of two pages with versos blank. Small adhesive marks on last blank page. Boldly signed by him with a large flourish as "Charles Dickens", and dated "Tuesday Fifteenth February 1859". Beautifully preserved with strong contrast. Near fine.

A very revealing and scarce ALS from Charles Dickens written to his photographers, Herbert Watkins. Very few letters from Dickens are located outside of museums, and the few that have been made available rarely mention any of his works. This spectacular letter is written on his personal letterhead from Tavistock House, his London home from 1851 to 1860, where he wrote numerous infamous highlights of his career including A Tale Of Two Cities. From his home, he writes to Herbert Watkins, who was one of the most significant photographers in the nineteenth century. Watkins took several portraits of Dickens between 1858 and 1861 and they have helped define the enduring image of Dickens as a melancholy, care-worn personality.

Charle's letter to Watkins is highly passionate with excitement about the upcoming re-issues/publication of the body of his works. A project taken upon by the publisher Chapman & Hall, London, who chose to create an attractive high quality set complete in about 26 volumes (published in 1858/1859, and then later reissued 1861-1874 with illustrations in luxurious covers). The Library Edition came about largely because of the suggestion of Forster that while Dickens's works were available in volumes in the Cheap Edition and in reprints of the serial parts, there was no high-quality edition that would appeal to the wealthy. Dickens eventually came round to the idea that an elegant edition could raise the stature of his writings.

His effervescent and jocular letter is shown in full below:

"Tuesday Fifteenth February 1859

Dear Mr. Watkins,

I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kind and handsome letter. Pray accept my cordial thanks.

The last edition of my books (which is called The Library Edition) is now in course of publication. The Publisher will immediately send you all the volumes that are out, and an additional volume every month. Please consider these as a set in their working clothes for common use. When the edition is completed, I shall hope to send you another set in bright holiday costume.

I have one, though the highly interesting ones I return with this and venture to (illegible) a list of a (illegible) that I should like to have. I hope I am not encroaching too much on your (illegible) and good nature...

Very faithfully yours always

Charles

Herbert Watkins Esqu"

An outstanding example, in clean, crisp condition, perfect for the Dicken's collector

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