Description
CHARLES DICKENS CREATED SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST KNOWN FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND IS REGARDED BY MANY AS THE GREATEST NOVELIST OF THE VICTORIAN ERA. HE WAS THE MOST FAMOUS CELEBRITY OF HIS TIME, AND HE UNDERTOOK, IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC DEMAND, A SERIES OF READING TOURS IN THE LATER PART OF HIS CAREER. AT THE DATE OF THIS TWICE-SIGNED ENVELOPE HE WAS GIVING THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF FOUR READINGS IN THE SCOTTISH CITY OF GLASGOW, HELD AT THE CITY HALL. AT 8PM, HE READS FROM NICHOLAS NICKLEBY FOLLOWED BY BOB SAWYER’S PARTY FROM THE PICKWICK PAPERS. THIS WAS PART OF A SERIES OF “FAREWELL READINGS” IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS HE WOULD MANAGE 87 READINGS BEFORE SUFFERING A STROKE, THE TOUR WAS CANCELLED, AND HE WOULD BEGIN WORK ON HIS UNCOMPLETED FINAL NOVEL, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD.
CHARLES DICKENS (1812-70) TWICE-SIGNED AND COMPLETED ENVELOPE, “Charles Dickens” and “Charles Dickens Equip Inst.”, Glasgow. December 17, 1868, by the English novelist and one of the best-loved writers in the language; author of A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities. The twice-signed envelope is handwritten and sent to “Charles Dickens Equip. Inst., 26 Wellington Street, Strand, London, W. C.”, which was the address of his publication All the Year Round and his private apartments from 1859 until his death. He has then added his signature in the lower left corner. The verso shows Dickens’ engraved “C.D.” initials within a belt. The envelope has a Glasgow postmark over two Penny-Red stamps. This rare twice-signed envelope is directly associated with his famous “Farewell Readings” and with his London offices and residence, and is in fine condition, with folded and minor age toning.
$2750 #12849ZIILW
