Part 23

HEADS FROM "NICHOLAS NICKLEBY."--Portraits of twenty-four of the principal characters, "from drawings by Miss La Creevy." Six parts, demy 8vo, price 6d. each. London: Robert Tyas, Cheapside, N.D. [1839]. The separate parts were enclosed in a buff illustrated wrapper, having at each corner a portrait of a member of the Nickleby family, and in the centre a representation of Miss La Creevy, seated before a portrait of "Boz" (after S. Laurence). Included among the advertisements in the first number is an announcement of this production, with an engraving depicting Miss La Creevy at work. The illustrations are here said to be "etched by A. Drypoint," but they are really woodcuts. The following explanatory statement, which forms part of the announcement, is not without interest: "These 'Heads' will comprise Portraits of the most interesting individuals that appear in 'The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,' selected at the period when their very actions define their true character, and exhibit the inward mind by its outward manifestations. Each Portrait will be a literal transcript from the accurate and vividly minute descriptions of this able and graphic author, and will present to the eye an equally faithful version of the maiden simplicity of Kate Nickleby--the depravity of Sir Mulberry Hawk--the imbecility of his dupe--the heartless villainy of the calculating Ralph--the generosity of the noble-minded Nicholas--the broken spirit of poor Smike--and the brutality of Squeers. These and many others furnish subjects for the display of the Artist's genius, and will form an interesting and most desirable addition to the work." The "Heads" were also issued in a collected form, in a green wrapper and in cloth, and were republished in "The Scrap Book of Literary Varieties," the names of the characters being changed into brief descriptive titles, such as "Miniature Painter" instead of "Miss La Creevy." Cloth, 8vo. London: Edward Lacy, 74 St. Paul's Churchyard, N.D.

"BARBARA."--Engraved by Finden, and published with two plates by W. Maddox and H. Warren to illustrate the first Cheap Edition of "The Old Curiosity Shop," 1848. Price 7d. London: Chapman & Hall.

THOMAS ONWHYN ("Sam Weller," "Peter Palette").

ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE PICKWICK CLUB.--Thirty-two plates by "Samuel Weller." "The local scenery sketched on the spot" The majority are signed "Samuel Weller, delt.;" a few bear the artist's initials, "T.O.," while others have no signature appended. Issued in eight monthly parts, green wrappers, demy 8vo, one shilling each, and published complete in one volume, boards, price 9s. London: E. Grattan, 51 Paternoster Row, 1837. According to the announcement on the cover of Part I., there were to have been ten parts, and india-proof impressions, 4to, price 2s. Some of the unsigned plates are much inferior to those bearing Onwhyn's signature. A set of these "Pickwick" plates, in the original parts, have been catalogued at fifteen guineas. Lithographic _replicas_ were issued in small 8vo by J. Newman, 48 Watling Street, 1848, for insertion in the first Cheap Edition of "Pickwick." Twelve of these plates (etched by J. Yeager) were included in a "new edition" of "Pickwick" published by Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, Philadelphia, 1838, and reprinted in 1850. (_See also_ "Alfred Crowquill.")

ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE PICKWICK CLUB.--Twelve etchings on steel, 1847. Published in green wrapper by A. Jackson, 224 Great Portland Street, in 1894. Prices, per set, india-proofs 30s.; coloured by Pailthorpe, 25s.; plain, 18s.

ILLUSTRATIONS TO "NICHOLAS NICKLEBY."--"Edited by 'Boz.' By Peter Palette, Esq." Forty etchings, comprising ten portraits and thirty scenes. Issued in nine parts, demy 8vo, price one shilling each, green and buff wrappers, having a design representing an easel with a palette affixed. Published at intervals from June 30, 1838, to October 31, 1839, and subsequently as a volume. London: E. Grattan, Paternoster Row, 1839. The publisher, when launching these designs, seemed unable to determine the exact number of parts in which they should appear. On the wrappers of Parts 1 to 5 it is stated that they would be completed in eight parts; on the wrappers of Parts 6 and 7, in ten parts; and on that of Part 8, in nine parts. Parts 1 to 5 contain four plates each, 6 to 8 contain five plates each, and 9 contains five plates, thus making the full complement of forty designs. The work was afterwards republished by Grattan & Gilbert, 51 Paternoster Row, and again reprinted (_circa_ 1847)--thirty-two plates only, which were styled "proofs"--in small 4to, on buff paper. About the same time a similar number of these designs were issued as lithographs, in eight parts, small 4to. Newman, N.D.

In 1897, Mr. George Allen, of 156 Charing Cross Road, issued india-proof impressions from the thirty-two original steel plates for "Pickwick," and from thirty-eight for "Nickleby," the edition being strictly limited to 250 sets for each work. Price £5, 5s. per set. Cloth portfolio, 12 by 9 inches, with title-page and list of subjects. The plates have been well preserved.

H. M. PAGET.

PICKWICK PICTURES.--Six character sketches, printed in colours, with letterpress. Crown 8vo. Illustrated wrapper. London: Ernest Nister, 24 St. Bride Street, E.C. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 31 West Twenty-Third Street, N.D.

F. W. PAILTHORPE.

PICKWICK.--Twenty-four etchings, from original drawings, of scenes not previously illustrated. Impl. 8vo. Illustrated wrapper. London: Robson & Kerslake, 1882. Price two guineas the set, proofs on india-paper (before letters), three guineas.

PICKWICK.--Three vignette titles, etched in 1892 for an extended version of the Victoria Edition. An original tinted drawing (unpublished) of "Gabriel Grub and the Goblin" is included in Mr. Thomas Wilson's Collection.

OLIVER TWIST.--Twenty-one etchings. London: Robson & Kerslake, 23 Coventry Street, Haymarket, 1886. Only fifty sets printed, a few of which were coloured by the artist, also proofs on india-paper, in portfolio.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS.--Twenty-one etchings. London: Robson & Kerslake, 23 Coventry Street, Haymarket, 1885. Only fifty sets printed, a few of which were coloured by the artist; also proofs on india-paper, in portfolio.

Mr. Pailthorpe has designed and etched frontispieces (some coloured) for reprints of the following: "The Strange Gentleman" and "The Village Coquettes," 1880 (C. Hindley); "Is She His Wife?" "Mr. Nightingale's Diary," and "The Lamplighter," 1887 (Robson & Kerslake). The first set of impressions of the frontispiece for "The Village Coquettes" was coloured, after which the plate disappeared, so that no plain impressions could be issued. The only uncoloured print, taken before the completion of the etching, is included in Mr. Thomas Wilson's Collection. This plate was the artist's second attempt at designing.

Mr. Pailthorpe has etched a portrait of Samuel Weller writing his love-letter, for "The Origin of Sam Weller" (Jarvis & Son), 1883; the frontispiece and vignette-title for "A New Piljian's Projiss, written by Mrs. Gamp, edited by Charles Dickens," 1890 (unpublished); etched borders containing characters and scenes from Dickens, for Mr. William Wright, of Paris. The artist also designed six new plates for the "Memoirs of Grimaldi," which, however, were only edited by Dickens.

"JACOB PARALLEL."

"JACOB PARALLEL'S HANDS TO HUMPHREY'S CLOCK; or, Sketches from the Clock Case."--Twelve etchings on steel, illustrating "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge." Two parts, Impl. 8vo, green illustrated wrappers, price two shillings each. London: G. Berger, Holywell Street, Strand, N.D [1840-41]. A series of illustrations of the principal scenes and portraits of the characters, ten for the first story and two for the second. The design on the wrapper represents Master Humphrey standing on a chair winding up the clock, against which rests a framed portrait of "Boz."

E. RICHARDSON.

BARNABY RUDGE'S PORTRAIT GALLERY.--During the serial issue of "Barnaby Rudge," Mr. W. Britain, 11 Paternoster Row, advertised on one of the weekly wrappers (August 28, 1841) a series of twenty "splendid engravings" by this artist, price twopence, but I have never seen them.

THOMAS SIBSON.

"SIBSON'S RACY SKETCHES OF EXPEDITIONS, FROM THE PICKWICK CLUB."--Ten etchings, with letterpress, demy 8vo, green illustrated wrappers, price 2s. 6d. London: Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper, 1838. The design on the wrapper depicts Dickens standing on Mr. Pickwick's head, holding aloft an enormous quill pen, the pseudonym "Boz" appearing on his coat-sleeves." The above title is printed on the wrapper, but on the title-page it runs thus: "Sketches of Expeditions, from the Pickwick Club." The Preface reads as follows: "Originally the Pickwick Club appeared with four Illustrations: but since Death chilled the life-depicting hand of poor Seymour, two Embellishments have disappeared, while eight pages of letterpress have been added. These papers, thus arranged, bursting as they do with incident, and intoxicated as they are with wit, must have come before the public without Illustrations for many of their most striking scenes. Reader, were it not so, these Sketches had never seen the light of your eyes. The artist's hope is (may you find it not a vain one) that these humble efforts may afford some of the pleasure he enjoyed when imagining them.--11 Buckingham St., Portland Place, London. January 1st, 1838." A copy of this scarce work realised £18 at Sotheby's in 1895.

"ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASTER HUMPHREY'S CLOCK."--Seventy-two etchings, issued during the publication of this work, 1840-41. Eighteen parts, each containing four plates, some with _remarques_. Impl. 8vo, green wrappers, price one shilling each part. Afterwards issued in two volumes. London: Robert Tyas, Paternoster Row, 1842. Only seventy plates are mentioned on the title-page and in the index. On some of the wrappers is a vignette of a clock, and on others we find a representation of Master Humphrey sitting on a chair. These plates are exceedingly scarce in the original parts as issued, sets having been catalogued at twenty-five guineas. Copies of some of the Sibson designs were etched by J. Yeager for contemporary publication in a Philadelphia edition of "Barnaby Rudge," together with similar _replicas_ of a few of "Phiz's" woodcuts which appeared in the authorised English edition.

F. STONE, A.R.A.

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY.--"Three Portraits of Kate Nickleby, 'Tilda Price, and Madeline Bray, from original paintings by Frank Stone, engraved [on steel] by Edward Finden, and published with the approbation of Mr. Charles Dickens." For the first Cheap Edition of "Nicholas Nickleby." Crown 8vo, green wrappers, price one shilling. Proofs on india-paper, 4to, one shilling each portrait. London: Chapman & Hall, 186 Strand, 1848. The engraved titles are as follow: "Kate Nickleby sitting for her Portrait," "'Tilda Price dressing for the Tea Party," and "Madeline Bray pausing in her Work." (_See pp. 178-9_).

"STYLUS."

"THE DICKENS AQUARELLES. FIRST SERIES."--"Twelve Original Character Illustrations of the Pickwick Papers." Portfolio, illustrated boards. New York. J. W. Bouton, 1152 and 706 Broadway, 1888.

"THE DICKENS AQUARELLES. SECOND SERIES."--"Twelve Original Character Illustrations of 'The Old Curiosity Shop.'" Portfolio, illustrated boards. Same publisher and date. These inferior drawings are crudely coloured by hand, the name of each Character being written in the margin.

WELD TAYLOR.

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY.--"The Baron von Grogzwig." Lithograph, Impl. 8vo. "Sketches by Weld Taylor, No. 1." London: J. Mitchell, 33 Old Bond Street, N.D. In 1838 Weld Taylor reproduced by lithography the beautiful portrait of "Boz" by S. Laurence.

C. H. WALL.

MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT.--Four woodcuts, 8vo, green illustrated wrapper, price sixpence. London: Hexall & Wall, 113 Strand.

NELSON P. WHITLOCK.

DICKENS ILLUSTRATIONS.--"Twenty-four Original Sketches from the Writings of Charles Dickens." 4to. No publisher's imprint, N.D.

T. C. W.

"ILLUSTRATIONS TO MASTER HUMPHREY'S CLOCK."--Four lithographs, illustrating the first portion of the story. Impl. 8vo. No publisher's imprint, N.D. Issued without a wrapper. Only two of these plates are signed (T. C. W.), and under each appears a descriptive quotation.

W. C. W.

PICKWICK.--Twelve woodcut portraits of "Pickwick" characters, first published in "Sam Weller's Jest Book," issued in penny numbers, and afterwards in Nos. 48, 51, 52 of a weekly paper called _The Casket_ (Dec. 2, 23, 30, 1837) in twopenny numbers. London: Berger & Co., Holywell Street, and Piggott & Co., Fleet Street, 1837.

ANONYMOUS.

"ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE PICKWICK PAPERS."--Four parts, each containing four designs. Price 2d. each part. Small 8vo. Green illustrated wrapper, depicting portraits of fourteen Pickwickian characters. London: W. Strange, Paternoster Row, N.D. [1847]. These woodcuts were intended for binding in the first Cheap Edition. On the wrapper of Part I. it is announced that the work would be completed in eight parts, and that four engravings would be issued monthly; but it is believed that the fourth part was the final one.

In 1838, a number of woodcut portraits of Dickens Characters were published in _The Penny Satirist_ and in _Cleave's Penny Gazette of Variety_ (_Late the London Satirist_), afterwards called _Cleave's Gazette of Varieties_. These woodcuts consist of a series of twelve "Portraits of Oliver Twist" and twelve "Characters from 'Nicholas Nickleby,'" with descriptive quotations, &c., and were enlarged copies of the figures in the original etchings by Cruikshank and "Phiz." They were afterwards re-issued on a broad sheet, with the title, "Cleave's Twelfth-Night Characters," and sold by J. Cleave, 1 Shoe Lane, Fleet Street.

In 1841, Cleave issued a work called "Parley's Penny Library," in which were introduced selections (in the form of dialogues) from "The Old Curiosity Shop" and "Barnaby Rudge," then in course of publication. They were illustrated by means of wood-engravings, the majority of those in "Barnaby Rudge" being enlarged copies from "Phiz's" original designs. These woodcuts (twelve in number) were also reprinted, with the title, "Cleave's Gallery of Comicalities--Recollections of Barnaby Rudge."

On the wrapper of the fourth weekly number of "Master Humphrey's Clock" (April 25, 1840) appears the following announcement: "Cheap illustrations of Boz. Now publishing, on a broad-sheet, nearly as large as _The Times_, price 2d. 'The Twist and Nickleby Scrap Sheet,' with twenty-four engraved portraits. Also, price 2d., 'Sam Weller's Scrap Sheet,' containing forty portraits of all the Pickwick characters. The above sheets are enriched with poetic effusions by A. Snodgrass, Esq., M.P.C., and will be found worthy the attention of all who desire 'to laugh and grow fat;' they are alike fit for the scrap-book of the mansion or the walls of the cottage." These scarce sheets were issued by Cleave, having doubtless first been published in his _Gazette_.

Certain dramatised versions of Dickens's stories, by E. Stirling and others (published by John Duncombe & Co., 10 Middle Row, Holborn), contain frontispieces etched by Findlay, which are worthy of the Collector's attention. Besides these, innumerable Dickens illustrations have appeared from time to time, embracing every form of reproductive art. Calendars, relief scraps, booklets, &c, &c, both in colour and in black-and-white, are brought out by enterprising firms year by year, and merely to catalogue them would now be practically impossible.

NOTES ON SOME OF THE ARTISTS.

"ALFRED CROWQUILL."--The actual name of the artist who favoured this pseudonym was Alfred Henry Forrester. Born in 1804, he began his career as a draughtsman when eighteen years of age, distinguishing himself rather by his correctness than by serious forms of illustration. At the death of Seymour in 1836, he competed with "Phiz," Thackeray, Leech, and others for the vacant post as illustrator of "Pickwick," but without success. For a time he belonged to the staff of _Bentley's Miscellany_, and many of his etchings appeared in that journal during 1840-43. He was able to use his pen and pencil with equal facility and ability; in addition to this he was an admirable vocalist, and we are told that most of the Christmas pantomimes of his day were indebted to him for clever designs, devices, and effects. Forrester was also a member of the _Punch_ staff, where, owing to his happy and genial disposition, he was highly popular. Besides his "Pickwick Pictures," there are other designs by him possessing a Dickensian interest, viz., the illustrations which he supplied to a curious production entitled "Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France," which was launched by G. W. M. Reynolds in 1839. "Alfred Crowquill" died in 1872, aged sixty-eight.

KENNY MEADOWS.--This clever draughtsman (who abandoned the use of his first Christian name, Joseph), was the son of a retired naval officer, and was born at Cardigan in 1790. He has been described as "the Nestor of _Punch's_ staff," and not only did he contribute many humorous designs to the pages of the Fleet Street journal during the 'forties, but he frequently prepared elaborate drawings for the _Illustrated London News_, in the early volumes of which may be found his most successful delineations. His representations of fairy subjects, although marked by mannerisms, were in great request. His work is hardly remembered in this generation, but to speak of Kenny Meadows "is to recall the typical art of the illustrator and (such as it was) of the comic draughtsman of the first half of the century."

During his last years Kenny Meadows's services as an illustrator of books were rewarded by a pension from the Civil List of £80 per annum. He was a boon companion, a delightful _raconteur_ when at the club, and a jovial, roystering Bohemian when he left it. This generous and kind-hearted man died in 1874, when he had almost completed his eighty-fifth year.

It is worth recording that a highly-finished drawing, in pen and ink and sepia, of Ralph Nickleby, designed by Kenny Meadows as an illustration for his series of "Heads from 'Nicholas Nickleby,'" realised £7, 10s. at Sotheby's in 1893, the drawing being about twice the size of the engraving.

T. ONWHYN.--This artist, best known perhaps by his Extra Illustrations to "Pickwick" and "Nicholas Nickleby," was the son of a bookseller in Catherine Street, Strand. He signed his Dickens etchings with a pseudonym, adopting in the one instance that of "Sam Weller, Junr.," and in the other that of "Peter Palette." Onwhyn also prepared several plates for "Valentine Vox" and other novels by Cockton. He occasionally contributed to _Punch_, but was more accustomed to the etching-needle than the pencil, his drawing on wood being hard and unsympathetic. This popular book-illustrator died in 1886, having then relinquished drawing for a period of sixteen years.

The twelve plates etched by Onwhyn in 1847 to illustrate the first Cheap Edition of "Pickwick" were intended for independent publication, to compete with the series of extra engravings by Gilbert; but before there was time to complete the necessary arrangements the set of etchings produced by him in 1837 were re-issued. This took the artist by surprise, and he therefore abandoned the idea of circulating the new designs. The plates were put aside, and their existence forgotten until 1893, when they were unearthed by the Onwhyn family, and subsequently purchased by Mr. Albert Jackson, of Great Portland Street, who published them in 1894.

"JACOB PARALLEL."--The etched illustrations by this artist for "Master Humphrey's Clock" are decidedly crude, contemporary criticisms notwithstanding. Their publication was announced in a somewhat original manner on the wrappers of Dickens's work, when the latter was launched in weekly numbers. One of these advertisements begins thus: "A clock is of no use without hands! Then, buy 'Hands to Master Humphrey's Clock.'" Concerning these curious illustrations a contemporary critic punningly observed: "These 'Hands' are, upon the _face_ of them, a very _striking_ matter, and no clock ought to be _wound up_ without them.... They give the finish that was wanted to the 'Clock,' and the public will, we have no doubt, keep them going."

In 1840, a book was published in parts (by G. Berger, Holywell Street), entitled "Charley Chalk; or, The Career of an Artist," with illustrations by "Parallel." These designs were declared to be "superior to many in 'Nickleby,'" while the volume itself was described by reviewers as "another 'Pickwick,'" and as "the only work fit to stand by the side of 'Boz.'"

F. W. PAILTHORPE.--This essentially humorous artist and etcher, who is still living, may be correctly designated the only survivor of the "old school" of book-illustrators, as represented by Cruikshank and "Phiz." Mr. Pailthorpe was a personal friend of the former, to whom he sometimes alludes as "dear old George Cruikshank," and doubtless this association with the famous designer considerably influenced the style and manner of Mr. Pailthorpe's work. Indeed, this seems obvious to any one who compares the many Dickens plates drawn and etched by him with similar designs by the illustrator of "Sketches by Boz" and "Oliver Twist." A noteworthy feature of Mr. Pailthorpe's illustrations for Dickens's works is that a limited number of impressions have been coloured by his own hand, and the designs so treated are, in that respect, reminiscent of John Leech's plates for "A Christmas Carol."

Mr. Pailthorpe, by reason of his unique position as the sole representative of the "old school" of book-illustrators, has received commissions from publishers to copy the etched designs by other artists, in cases where the original plates have been lost or are otherwise inaccessible. He has thus reproduced "Crowquill's" "Pickwick" illustrations, the two cancelled designs by Buss for the same work, two of Onwhyn's illustrations for "Nickleby," and, quite recently, the two etchings by Cruikshank for the Mudfog Papers; these _replicas_ have just appeared in the Gadshill Edition now being issued by Chapman & Hall.