425

CHARLES DICKENS A.L.S.

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CHARLES DICKENS A.L.S.
<b>425. CHARLES DICKENS</b> (1812 - 1870)<b> </b>English novelist and the author of such classics as <i>Oliver Twist</i>, <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>, and <i>David Copperfield</i>. Very rare, superb A.L.S. "<i>Charles Dickens</i>" 2pp. 8vo., "<i>Tavistock House, London</i>", Nov. 7, 1857, to fellow author<b> </b>HENRY GARDINER ADAMS (1812-1881), making arrangements for a reading of his most durable and beloved tale "A Christmas Carol". In part: "<i>...Although the Deputation you did me the honor to present to me at Gad's Hill, did not appear to have a very lively faith in their President, their President thought it right to hold out no hopes that might be fallacious, and to reserve to himself his secret justification of a better faith. Accordingly, I have since tried...so to disentangle myself from other promises...as to be able to read my Carol for my Rochester and Chatham Institution. I am now able to tell you that I will do so for you, please God, on any evening in the week before this next Christmas Day...that may suit you best. As soon as you can determine, please do so...</i>". Dickens evokes his typically self-effacing manner in this fine letter, referring to himself as the "President" of the Rochester and Chatham Mechanics Institute, for whom Adams was Honorable Secretary. Dickens indeed read his famous tale at the Institute on Dec. 22, 1857. Published in <i>The Letters of Charles Dickens</i>, ed. Storey, et al, Vol. VIII, pp. 176-77. Boldly penned, with negligible toning to margins, in near fine condition. One of the best Dickens letters we've had the privilege of handling!<b>$5,000-7,000</b>