Comprises: (1) 170 autograph letters from Charles Dickens to various correspondents, held in two volumes covering the years 1834-1852 and 1853-1870 respectively and bound in chronological order, together with a letter from S.L. Blanchard; (2) A further autograph letter from Dickens to George Dolby, dated 12 December 1866, bound separately; (3) 5 volumes compiled by E.G. Millar containing a variety of manuscript material related to the collection, including 2 volumes of manuscript transcripts of the letters, indexes to the letters, a descriptive catalogue of the letters, correspondence relating to the inclusion of the letters in the edition planned by Humphry House, and receipts for binding; and (4) An archive box holding Sotheby's 'Comte de Suzannet Sale Catalogue of Charles Dickens', receipts, and correspondence relating to Millar's purchase of the letters.
Correspondence of Charles Dickens, with related material
Archive Collection
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- ReferenceGB 206 Brotherton Collection MS 19c Dickens
- Dates of Creationca. 1834-1955
- Name of Creator
- Language of MaterialEnglish
- Physical Description2 bound volumes, 1 further bound volume, 5 loose-leaf binders and 1 box; manuscript, typescript, and printed material. The 2 volumes containing the letters are finely bound in scarlet morocco with gilt lettering on the fronts and spines, and are both held in custom-made light brown cases with gilt lettering on the spines. Item (2) is also finely bound in dark red morocco with gold-tooled lines on the covers and gilt lettering on both the front cover and spine.
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Charles Dickens (1812-1870), the Victorian novelist. For fuller details of his life and achievements see the Dictionary of National Biography.
Access Information
Access is unrestricted.
Acquisition Information
The collection was purchased from the library of Dr Eric G. Millar on 2 February 1957.
Note
In English.
Other Finding Aids
The letters are listed in the Letters database http://www.leeds.ac.uk/library/spcoll/letters/letlink.htm#dickens
Custodial History
Almost all the original letters came from the collection of the Comte de Suzannet. They were sold at Sotheby's in 1938 and purchased by Millar in 1943 from London booksellers Maggs Bros Ltd and Myers Ltd. A further letter was given to Millar by his godmother, Miss M.F. Frith.