Item Info

Physical Description: black and white photograph
Media Type: Illustrations
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

This is a photograph of a writing table that was used by Charles Dickens from 1837 up to his death in 1870, now housed in the Elkins Room of the Rare Book Department.

Provenance: Elkins bequest, 1947. Mr. J. J. Watson: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge catalog, 29 March 1912. Purchased by Dr. Rosenbach. From the catalog: "This table was lot 336 in the sale at Gad's Hill Place, Nov. 6-8, 1878, when it was purchased by Mr. Francis Roberts, wine merchant, of High Street, Rochester, a close friend of Charles Dickens, who, on retirement from business, took it with him to Parkstone, Dorset, where he died on March 15, 1905. He left all his effects to his adopted daughter, Miss S. Nicholas, for whom it was sold, with other furniture, by Messrs. Joliffe, Flint & Cross, auctioneers, of Parkstone, on November 22, 1911, and on that occasion was purchased by the present owner. A letter from Miss Nicholas and a copy of the catalogue of the Gad's Hill sale accompany the lot."

Creation Year: ca. 1947
Call Number: RBD Archives