Charles Dickens (1812-1870) - photo 1

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Estimate value
£ 30 000 – 40 000
Auction dateClassic
10.07.2024 00:00UTC +01:00
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
ID 1249735
Lot 66 | Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
Extensive autograph quotation signed ('Charles Dickens') from David Copperfield, n.p., 28 April 1858
23 lines on one page, 226 x 179 mm.

An extended quotation from Dickens's favourite of his novels, David Copperfield. The quotation is taken from latter part of chapter 37 ('A Little Cold Water'), in which with characteristic ambiguity, Dickens both illustrates the depth of David's love for Dora Spenlow and Dora's childish unsuitability for dealing with the responsibilities of the adult world.

'We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when Miss Mills chancing to make some allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, being obliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o'clock. Whether Dora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unable to say; but it made a great impression on her, and she neither played nor sang any more. / It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and she said to me in her pretty coaxing way – as if I were a doll, I used to think: "Now don't get up at five o'clock, you naughty boy. It's so nonsensical!" / "My love", said I, "I have work to do" / "But don't do it!" returned Dora, "Why should you?" ...'.

The personal context of the quotation is interesting: in 1857, Dickens had fallen in love with the young actress Ellen Ternan, and this had exacerbated his alienation from his wife, Catherine Dickens, whom he increasingly accused of incompetence as a mother and a housekeeper. Dora in the present quotation may therefore both represent the irresistible youthful appeal of Ellen and the shades of the future incapacity of Catherine when confronted with the practicalities of the world. Matters came to a head only a few weeks after the date of the present quotation, when Catherine accidentally received a bracelet intended for Ellen: Dickens then separated from Catherine, refusing to see her again. The quotation was written the early weeks of Dickens's first reading tour, in which, to immense success, he gave 129 dramatic public readings in 49 towns throughout the British Isles between April 1858 and February 1859.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
10.07.2024 – 10.07.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

First American and first English Pic Nic Papers
First American and first English Pic Nic Papers
$100
American Notes for General Circulation
American Notes for General Circulation
$100
David Copperfield
David Copperfield
$4 000
The Village Coquettes
The Village Coquettes
$100
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
$100
A Tale of Two Cities, the Blair copy
A Tale of Two Cities, the Blair copy
$18 000
[Charles Dickens (1812-1870)] – Hablot Knight Browne ['Phiz'] (1815-1882)
[Charles Dickens (1812-1870)] – Hablot Knight Browne ['Phiz'] (1815-1882)
£40 000
Sketches by
Sketches by "Boz"
$12 000

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.