AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED:
Gad's Hill Place, Hingham, Kent: 1868. Three pages on a bifolium 5 3/8 x 7 inches, the stationary imprinted "Gad's Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent" the home of Charles Dickens. Early folds. In fine condition. Item #54286
In this letter to Mr. [J. B.] Lippincott. dated November 18/68, George Child writes. " Here we are as snug as may be at Mr. Dicken's (sic), and he and his family are as kind and charming as we could desire. He is one of the most genial and warm hearted men in the world..." Childs writes of other invitations to stay at the country homes of The Duke of Buckingham, John Murray (III), and others. He continues, "I have met the leading authors, editors and publishers and you have been praised many times. I have spoken to Mr. Murray and his cousin and managing man about Livingston and I find he is expected home in Dec. or Jan. I have their promise to telegraph me and I will try to arrange for you and get some additions by an American so as to secure a copyright. It will be a big thing."
George W. Childs (1829 -1894) was co-owner of the book publishing firm, Childs & Peterson; co-owner of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, and leading Philadelphia businessman and philanthropist. He was good friends with President Grant, Edison, Carnegie, Walt Whitman - and Charles Dickens. Childs would later own the original manuscript of Our Mutual Friend, the only complete Dickens book manuscript in America.
In 1890, J. B. Lippincott published George Childs' RECOLLECTIONS.
Price: $500.00