Beschreibung:

DICKENS, CHARLES. TWENTY-ONE AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED (virtually all "Charles Dickens," a few "CD") to his close friend Henry William Kolle (c. 1808-1881), who acted as a go-between for Dickens and his first love Maria Beadnell, written from various addresses in London (North End, Fitzroy Street, Bentinck Street, Furnivals Inn), [April-May 1832 to January 1835?]. Together 53 pages, nearly all 8vo, with several integral address panels, one letter separated at center fold, two others with splits at center fold, another letter with a long tear repaired, some scattered soiling and spotting, each letter neatly inlaid or mounted in a folio burgundy morocco album, gilt-lettered, t.e.g., some scuffing. [With :] Two autograph letters signed by Kolle's second wife giving information regarding the provenance of the Dickens letters, an autograph manuscript of a priced catalogue description ( 2 pp., folio ) of the letters by a J. Pearson in the 1890s, and two engravings pertaining to Dickens. THE MOST EXTENSIVE SERIES OF EARLY LETTERS FROM DICKENS TO ANY CORRESPONDENT This highly important collection comprises all but three of Dickens's early letters to Kolle -- the series begins with the fourth to have survived -- and some of the earliest letters he ever wrote. The correspondence contains some of Dickens's first references to his early literary efforts and provides valuable information about his first romantic attachment -- to Maria Beadnell -- and the development of his career as a parliamentary reporter. A mutual friend introduced Dickens to the bank clerk Kolle and a close friendship arose between the two young men (Dickens turned 20 on 12 February 1832) as they courted a pair of sisters: Maria and Anne Beadnell. Kolle's romance with Anne flourished and he acted as a go-between for Dickens with his first love Maria (a love, alas!, not reciprocated). The girl's parents, seeing little in Dickens's future, discouraged the relationship and rusticated their daughter. When Maria returned to London, she cooly rebuffed the romantic Dickens. Years later (in the 1850s) Maria resurfaced and in a letter the now world-famous author hinted that the romance might be rekindled. When they met Dickens was horrified at Maria's new girth and excessively talkative nature. "Tuesday Morning" [Summer 1832], asking Kolle to deliver a note to Maria Beadnell -- the letter containing the earliest reference in Dickens's surviving correspondence to his written communication with his first love, Maria, and to Kolle's part as go-between: "As I was requested in a note I received this morning to forward my answer by the same means as my first note I am enboldened to ask you if you will be so kind as to deliver the inclosed for me when you practice your customary duet [with Anne Beadnell] this afternoon..." "Saturday Morning" [Summer 1832], the letter containing the first mention of Maria Beadnell by name in Dickens's surviving correspondence: "I should recall feel some delicacy in asking you again to deliver the inclosed...were it not for two reasons. In the first place you know so well my existing situation that you must be almost perfectly aware of the general nature of the note, and in the second, I should not have written it (for I should have communicated its contents verbally) were it not that I lost the opportunity by keeping the old gentleman [Maria's father, George Beadnell] out of the way as long as possible last night [for Kolle's benefit?]...perhaps you will accompany the delivery [of the note] by asking Miss [Maria] Beadnell only to read it when she is quite alone (of course in this sense I consider you as nobody )..." "Monday Morning" [15 April 1833?], comparing his own unhappy relations with Maria to Kolle's success in becoming engaged to her sister Anne: "...and although unfortunately and unhappily for myself I have no fellow feeling with you -- no cause to sympathise with your past causes of annoyance, or your present prospects of happiness -- I a