Dickens, Charles

thanking him for his "curious and interesting" book, asking if his wife might be able to join Dickens's wife and sister-in-law on a forthcoming visit to Birmingham to see Dickens's Amateur Company perform there, referring to Mark Lemon, and commenting on Cunningham's part ("...I hope you intend to give that new reading of your part, which I took the liberty to suggest? The more I think of it, the more I see the power of that view of the character..."), 2 pages, 8vo, text on rectos only, Tavistock House, 26 April 1852

Sotheby's, New York, 15 June 2006, lot 144 (part lot)

The Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 6, eds Storey, Tillotson, and Burgis (1988), pp.652-53

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."

Peter Cunningham (1816-1869) was the author of the influential Handbook of London (1849) and a number of other works including Nell Gwynne and the Sayings of Charles the Second (1852), the book acknowledged by Dickens in the current letter. Cunningham was also a member of Dickens's Amateur Company, which was shortly to perform Not so Bad as we Seem in Birmingham. Cunningham played the small part of Lord Le Trimmer.