Dickens, Charles

40 volumes, 8vo (8 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.; 226 x 150 mm). Title-pages printed in red and back with woodcut vignette incorporating the author's initials, additional pictorial title-pages, frontispieces, engraved and woodcut plates from the original editions, and other illustrations and facsimiles on india paper mounted with lettered tissue-guards; very occasional scattered marginal foxing, a number of original parts wrappers used as illustrations in various volumes browned and offset to facing pages. Crushed blue morocco Kelliegram bindings by Kelly & Sons, the front covers each with a central polychrome morocco onlay of a Dickensian character (including Mr. Pickwick, Sam Weller, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, Little Nell, Quilp, Martin Chuzzlewit, Sairey Gamp, Mr. Fezziwig, David Copperfield, Aunt Betsey Trotwood, and Pip) within a double gilt-fillet border, spines gilt in six compartments, wide turn-ins gilt with a French fillet, green silk linings, all edges gilt; slightest rubbing to a few extremities.

40 volumes, 8vo (8 7/8 x 5 7/8 in.; 226 x 150 mm). Title-pages printed in red and back with woodcut vignette incorporating the author's initials, additional pictorial title-pages, frontispieces, engraved and woodcut plates from the original editions, and other illustrations and facsimiles on india paper mounted with lettered tissue-guards; very occasional scattered marginal foxing, a number of original parts wrappers used as illustrations in various volumes browned and offset to facing pages. Crushed blue morocco Kelliegram bindings by Kelly & Sons, the front covers each with a central polychrome morocco only of a Dickensian character (including Mr. Pickwick, Sam Weller, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, Little Nell, Quilp, Martin Chuzzlewit, Sairey Gamp, Mr. Fezziwig, David Copperfield, Aunt Betsey Trotwood, and Pip)within a double gilt-fillet border, spines gilt in six compartments, wide turn-ins gilt with a French fillet, green silk linings, all edges gilt; slightest rubbing to a few extremities.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

National Edition, one of 750 sets, signed on the limitation statement in the first volume by three of Dickens's children ("A. Tennyson Dickens"; "Henry F. Dickens"; "Kate Perugini").

A Splendid Set. Extensively extra-illustrated with the insertion of original letters and documents by Dickens and his illustrators and other contemporaries. Vol. I: Autograph letter signed by Dickens ("Charles Dickens"), 1 page on a bifolium of blue paper, Villa des Moulineaux, Boulogne Sur Mer, 9 June 1856, to Lord Townshend, requesting that he support a petition to the House of Lords seeking advantages for Dulwich College. Apparently unpublished and unrecorded, although the Letters, ed. Storey & Tillotson, allude to a similar letter of the same date to Lord Lyttelton (8:134) — An engraved check accomplished and signed by Dickens, 11 November 1863, drawn on Coutts & Co. for £57 — A clipped signature of Dickens.

Vol. II: An engraved check accomplished and signed by Dickens, 15 August 1868, drawn on Coutts & Co. in favor of Alfred Tennyson Dickens at Melbourne for £50 — Autograph letter signed by George Cruikshank, 2 pages, Trafalger House, 8 March 1865, to John Camden Hotten. Vol. III: An engraved check accomplished and signed by Dickens, 2 February 1866, drawn on Coutts & Co. in favor of Fortnum & Mason for £27.2.2 — Autograph letter signed by Thomas Talfourd, the dedicatee of The Pickwick Papers, 1 1/2 pages, Temple, 21 February 1838, to Thomas Brown at the Garrick Club — Autograph letter signed by Charles Dickens Jr., 1 page on mourning letterhead of All the Year Round, London, 19 November 1870, regretting that he can not supply his father's autograph. Vol. IV: Autograph letter signed by John Leech, 1 page, Notting Hill, 6 March 1852. Vol. V: An engraved portrait of George Cruikshank signed by him.

Vol. VI: Autograph letter signed by Daniel Maclise, 1 page, Chelsea, 26 October 1863, to David Roberts. Vol. VIII: Autograph letter signed by George Cattermole, 1 page, 19 December 1862, to William Vokins. Vol. XII: Autograph sentiment by Charles Dickens, "Faithfully yours Charles Dickens, Twenty Eighth January 1842. Tremont House, Boston." Vol. XVI: Autograph letter signed by Sir Edward Landseer, 4 pages, no place or date, to Mrs. Talfourd — Autograph letter signed by Sir John Tenniel, 3 pages, London, 11 May 1892, to John F. Boyer. Vol. XVII: Autograph manuscript signed by Thomas Carlyle, the dedicatee of Hard Times, being a list of persons whose autographs he is to obtain for a friend, including Charles Dickens, John Forster, and William Mcready. Vol. XVIII: Autograph letter signed by Hablot K. Browne, 2 pages, London, 7 June 1857, regarding the exhibition of a picture of his.

Vol. XXI: Autograph letter signed by Charles Dickens Jr., 1 page on letterhead of All the Year Round, London, 6 June 188, regarding reprints of his father's works. XXIV: Autograph letter signed by Clarkson Stanfield, the dedicatee of Little Dorrit, 1 page, no place, 25 June, no year, scheduling a dinner. Vol. XXV: Autograph letter signed by William Powell Frith, London, 20 May 1885, regarding the "abominable conduct of a Royal Academy student. Vol. XXIX: Autograph letter signed by Marcus Stone. 1 page, London, 9 December 1841, explaining that he is "a very slow producer , & have a habit of having only one work on hand. … I never show my work when in progress." Vol. XXXIII: Autograph letter signed by Samuel Rogers, the dedicatee of Master Humphrey's Clock, 1 page, not place or date, requesting a copy of Jefferson's Memoirs. Vol. XXXVI: Autograph letter signed by Wilkie Collins, mourning the death of his dog, "my old friend" "after sixteen years of companionship."

Vol. XXXVII: Autograph letter signed by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1 page, Copped Hall, Totteridge, 27 June 1863, extending an invitation to "come down with Dickens & a few others friends July 20th by 5.5. train." — Autograph letter signed by Kate Dickens Perugini, 2 pages, London, 28 November 1911, to Mr. Hinkley, asking him to forward a letter to her brother. Vol. XXXVIII: Autograph sentiment signed by Edmund Yates, London, 22 November 1886 — Autograph transcription by Alfred Tennyson of his sonnet "Lines on Macready's Farewell" read by John Forster at the Macready banquet — Autograph letter signed by William Macready, 3 pages, London, 16 September 1861, to a Mrs. Stewart, discussing the dramatic arts. Vol. XXXIX: Autograph letter signed by John Forster, 1 page on mourning paper, with original envelope, London, 2 July 1869, to John B. Karslake. Vol. XL: A printed ticket on yellow paper for a reserved seat at Dickens's reading at Tremont Temple, Boston, 2 April 1868.