Beschreibung:

Charles Dickens (1812-1870), and his circle, a collection of autograph letters signed, Cartes des Visites, Cabinet Cards, autograph fragments, clipped signatures, original sketches etc, relating to Charles Dickens the foremost novelist of the 19th Century, and his extensive circle of friends and associates, which encompassed many eminent and influential figures of the Victorian age, including fellow writers, artists, illustrators, poets, social reformers etc, 50+ individual items, comprising Charles John Huffam Dickens 'Boz' (1812-1870), clipped signature, corner mounted onto card, printed biography to card mount, plus CdV by the London Stereographic & Photographic Company, circa 1860s, with facsimile signature at foot; John Leech (1817-1864), humourous artist, illustrator of 'Pickwick' after Seymour's death, personal friend of Dickens who contributed illustrations to all the 'Christmas Books', and sole illustrator of 'A Christmas Carol', Autograph Letter Signed, to Mrs Taylor, 1 page 8vo, Brunswick Square, London, 6 March 1858, thanking her for a gift of music of a quality ''which improves upon acquaintance. I value it highly'', corner mounted to card backing, typed description to mount, plus an original pencil drawing by Leech, tipped onto card mount, together with original envelope and autograph note signed dated 1833, making Leech 16 years of age at the time, possibly to his college friend?; Wilkie Collins (1824-1889), English novelist and playwright, contributed to 'Household Words' from 1855, collaborated with Dickens in 'The Lazy tour of Two Idle Apprentices' and 'A Message from the Sea', wrote, with Dickens, 'No Thoroughfare', 1867, by which time he had become a close friend of, and a strong influence upon, Dickens, his later novels include 'Armadale' and 'The Moonstone', autograph envelope signed, addressed to Mr C. Thomas at Messrs Robson & sons, printers, postally cancelled 18th July 1879, tiped onto card mount, plus CdV of Wilkie Collins, by Charles Watkins photographers circa 1860s; William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), novelist, his most famous books being 'Vanity Fair', 'The Newcomes', 'The Virginians' etc, his reputation enhanced by the later 'Pendennis'. Dickens and he met in 'Pickwick' days, when Dickens was in search of an illustrator, and Thackeray always remembered offering him some drawings, ''which, strange to say, he did not find suitable''. In 1858 the pair quarelled over a critical comment on Thackeray by Edmund Yates, published in 'Town Talk'. Thackeray tried to get Yates removed from the Garrick CLub; Dickens defended Yates, and the two literary giants remained estranged until a wekk before Thackeray's death. Dickens was deeply shocked by the death, and paid warm tribute to Thackeray's genius, learning and humour. Autograph Note Signed by Thackeray, tipped onto card mount, printed biography beneath, plus CdV of Thackeray by Herbert Watkins of Regent Street London; George Cruikshank (1792-1878), artist and caricaturist, commissioned to illustrate 'Sketches by Boz', and later 'Oliver Twist', as well as 'Joseph Grimaldi' and 'The Mudfog Papers'. In 1847 Cruikshank published 'The Bottle', in 1848 'The Drunkard's Children', and his magnum opus 'The Worship of Bacchus' in 1862. Despite his fanaticism as a teetotaller, and his strange claims to have written 'Oliver Twist' and originated 'Pickwick', Dickens admired him and remained friendly with him. George Cruikshank Autograph Letter Signed, dated 24th September 1869, to Mr Hill, 263 Hampstead Road headed paper, 8vo leaf, folded, tipped onto card mount, typed biography to card mount. Plus a Cruikshank Autograph note Signed, tipped onto card, undated, approx size 18 x 11cm, plus autograph memo signed by R.J. Chillingworth addressed to ''Geo. Cruikshank Esq Hampstead Road N.W.'', 8th September 1874, 2 sides of m/s; Hablot Knight Browne 'Phiz' (1815-1882), painter and illustrator, first illustration for Dickens for 'Sunday under Three Heads', 1836, follow