Letters of Charles Dickens to Wilkie Collins 1851-1870, Charles Dickens — 1st UK Ed

£50.00

Letters of Charles Dickens to Wilkie Collins 1851-1870, Charles Dickens — 1st UK Ed

Name: Letters of Charles Dickens to Wilkie Collins 1851-1870, Charles Dickens — 1st UK Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5605
Price: 50.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1892

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 191.

Condition Report: Very Good. The volume presents handsomely in its original publisher's dark blue cloth, remaining pleasingly tight and square. The boards show only minor shelf-wear, with some light rubbing to the extremities and slight bumping to the head and tail of the spine, though the cloth remains entirely free of significant fraying or splitting. The gilt tooling to the spine and the facsimile signatures on the upper board remain bright and largely unoxidised. Internally, the hinges are perfectly sound and the text block is securely bound. There is some expected moderate toning and faint spotting to the endpapers and paste-downs, but the interior leaves are remarkably clean, crisp, and largely free of blemish, retaining their original rough-cut edges. An attractive, well-preserved survivor of a Victorian cloth binding.

Catalogue Note: First UK edition of this significant collection of correspondence between two titans of Victorian literature. While Harper & Brothers released the American edition the same year, this London issue by James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co. stands as the true domestic first for British readers.

The binding features an elegant and unusual design detail: the gilt facsimile signatures of both Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins stamped on the front board, complete with their characteristic flourishes, visually representing their literary partnership.

Finding a copy in its original dark blue cloth without severe fading, library stamps, or major restoration is becoming increasingly uncommon. It remains a highly desirable addition for collectors of nineteenth-century literary history.

A fascinating window into one of the most important literary friendships of the nineteenth century, this volume collects nearly two decades of correspondence from Charles Dickens to his close friend and frequent collaborator, Wilkie Collins. Spanning from their initial meeting in 1851 until Dickens’s death in 1870, these letters, carefully selected by Dickens’s sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth and edited by Laurence Hutton, offer intimate insights into their shared creative pursuits, theatrical ventures, and personal lives. Beyond mere biographical interest, the letters trace the mutual influence of two master storytellers who together helped shape the modern English novel.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Charles Dickens

Book Publisher: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 191

Book Publication Year: 1892

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.

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