DICKENS | Kitton, Frederick George. Charles Dickens by Pen and Pencil, 1890-92, first edition in book form

[DICKENS, CHARLES] - KITTON, FREDERICK GEORGE

Charles Dickens by Pen and Pencil including Anecdotes and Reminiscences Collected from his Friends and Contemporaries. London: Frank T Sabin, John F. Dexter, 1890-1892

folio (379 x 277mm.), 3 volumes, FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, half-ttiles, general title-page, additional title-pages to volume I, 31 engraved portraits, 30 engraved remarque plates, 78 illustrations in the text and 67 'Additional Illustrations', original cream-backed blue cloth, covers stamped in gilt, spines with abstract design stamped in blue and lettered in gilt, top edge gilt, endpapers slightly browned, spines slightly darkened

Frederick Kitton was one of the founders of the Dickens Fellowship organising an important exhibition of his works in 1903. His library was purchased for the nation by subscription as the basis of a National Dickens Library and was transfered to Dickens House in 1926. This sumptuous volume of the various illustrators of Dickens was initially isued in original parts between 1889-1890. COPIES IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH WITH THE ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS ARE EXTREMELY RARE.