- 36
Dickens, Charles
Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 GBP
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Description
- Dickens, Charles
- Autograph letter signed, to John Pritt Harley
- ink on paper
inviting him to visit ("...I have a small box with a spare bed in it down here, and shall be glad to see you dine (and sleep) next Sabbath...") in the company of John Forster, with an enticing post-script ("N.B. Neat wines"), 2 pages, 8vo, Twickenham Park, Thursday night [June or July 1838], light soiling, fold tears repaired with archival tape
Provenance
Sotheby's, 14 March 1979, lot 341 -- Bronson Pinchot of California -- Sotheby's, New York, 7 December 1994, lot 68
Literature
The Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 1, eds. House and Storey (1965), p.409
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
A CHARMING EARLY LETTER TO A FRIEND. This letter was written during the frenzy of Dickens's early popularity, when the 26 year-old author was writing Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby concurrently and also editing Bentley's Miscellany. John Pritt Harley (1786-1858) was a leading comic actor who at this time was working with W.C. Macready at Covent Garden. He had been part of Dickens's inner circle since the men met in 1836. Dickens spent the early summer of 1838 at a rented villa outside London at 4 Ailsa Park Villas, Twickenham, following his wife's postpartum depression.