C Dickens etching

Yes, Dickens did, indeed do etchings, but whether or not your piece is genuine should really be authenticated by a reputable dealer.

From the original pairing of Dickens with George Cruikshank on Sketches by Boz to his final collaboration with Luke Fildes on The Mystery of Edwin Drood, illustration was an important part of the Dickens experience. In fact only two of Dickens' major works, Hard Times and Great Expectations, were issued originally without illustration. Dickens' works were all issued serially, in monthly or weekly parts. Monthly parts were issued with two illustrations, these were usually sketches etched onto steel plates, printed on special paper and bound into the book after an advertisement section and just before the text. In some cases, as in The Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge, published in Dickens' weekly magazine Master Humphreys Clock, the illustrations were cut into wood blocks and dropped into the text so that the illustration appeared in the part of the story being illustrated.  
Dickens worked in close collaboration with his illustrators, supplying them with an overall summary of the work at the outset for the cover illustration which was printed on heavy colored stock, usually green, which served as a wrapper for each of the monthly parts. Dickens briefed the illustrator on plans for each month's installment so that work on the two illustrations could begin before he wrote them. This close working relationship with his illustrators is important to readers of Dickens today. The illustrations give us a glimpse of the characters as Dickens described them to the illustrator and approved when the drawing was finished. Film makers still use the illustrations as a basis for characterization, costume, and set design in the dramatization of Dickens' works.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

diane

It seems he was doing etchings. I have one myself - a little print, pencil-signed, of the Minster, Wimborne. Cemetary and a church. I was too trying to find more info, and came across an auction catalogue, in which lot 470 is etching of St Peters by Charles Dickens. See www.samlesburyhall.co.uk/documents/auctionlots.doc

I also have an etching or lithograph which is said to be an original by C. Dickens of the south side of Warwick Castle, looking toward the weir or mill from the river bank.  I don't know much about it.  Found it at a resthome garage sale in Christchurch New Zealand.  When did he do these etchings? And if they are authenticated by a reputable dealer, how much are they worth?  Cheers Raewyn

email: raewynk66@hotmail.com

I have one too! A postcard sized etching (sepia toned now) set in an A4ish sized frame behind old, cracked glass. It is sealed in at the back with old, gummed paper over a wooden backing. Upon this is the legend 'The Clock House Farm, Alderley Edge, Cheshire.  Original Etching by C. Dickens. It was given to my parents back in the 1970s by two very old spinster sisters who were convinced it was by Boz. I'd love to know the truth but I've grown attached to it anyway.

A friend of mine has one titled Simonsbath River Barle signed C. Dickens.  It is postcard size etching framed by RX Moore 332 Main Street Winnipeg. I have researched the address and found there was a book binding business there at one time. Also I believe the Simonsbath River Barle is near Dickens birthplace.

Has anyone found out the approx. value of these type items?  Or where one would take such an item to find out?

Good luck in your search and thank-you for your posted info thus far. I will keep you posted If I hear anything.

hi fr

i have an original etching of ann hathaway's cottage stratford-on-avon and would also like to find out if it is definitely charles dickens