[Dickens, Charles]--Pears, Charles.

ink, pencil and chalk drawings, average 300 by 200mm., each signed "Chas. Pears" and laid-down to board with tissue guard, some soiling and browning to boards



The following works are represented in this lot: Barnaby Rudge (4), A Child's History of England (4), A Christmas Carol and other tales (4), Christmas Stories (3), Dombey and Sons (8), Great Expectations (4), Hard Times (5), Little Dorrit (8), Martin Chuzzlewit (8), Nicholas Nickleby (8), The Old Curiosity Shop (4), Oliver Twist (4), Our Mutual Friend (8), Pictures from Italy (2), Reprinted Pieces (4), Sketches by Boz (6), A Tale of Two Cities (3), The Uncommercial Traveller (4)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Waverley Book Company first published their collected edition of Dickens around 1912. The company had been founded in 1909 by Sir Arthur Spurgeon to produce expensively illustrated volumes for sale to subscribers. The works of Dickens would eventually comprise 30 volumes which were reprinted and reissued many times. Introductions were included by Galsworthy, Shaw, Chesterton and others while coloured frontispieces were mostly provided by Fred Barnard. Illustrations within the volumes, however, were by Charles Pears (1873-1958). These comprise illustrations of Dickens' characters. Pears was elected to the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1913 and would become Official War Artist to the Admiralty, 1915-18. This collection of original drawings represents one of the largest groups of Dickens illustrations in private hands.