DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870). Autograph letter signed (“Charles Dickens”), to G. Linnaeus Banks, 9 March 1867.

One page, 8vo, on Office of All the Year Round stationery, upper half of sheet mounted on an album leaf.

Dickens the editor suggesting changes to G. Linnaeus Banks for his contribution to All the Year Round, constructively asking: “Are the words ‘Mr. Heraud was the pioneer of cheap literature at a time when it was an experiment and not a success’, quite exact and well-considered? And would not the clause in the last paragraph but one…ending ‘recognition of his services’ be better out, as travelling beyond the case, which is seldom desirable?…”. He concludes by sending his regards to Mrs. [Isabella Varley] Banks, and sending her his thanks for the gift of a book with “its to me highly gratifying inscription…”.

George Linnaeus Banks (1821-1881), husband of author Isabella Banks, was a British journalist, editor, poet, playwright, amateur actor, orator, and Methodist. He contributed to various newspapers, and was subsequently a playwright, being the author of two plays, a couple of burlesques and several lyrics. Between 1848 and 1864 he edited in succession a variety of newspapers, including the Birmingham Mercury and the Dublin Daily Express, and published several volumes of miscellaneous prose and verse. This letter apparently relates to a piece by Banks concerning the journalist and poet John Abraham Heraud (1799-1887).

[With:]

Original accompanying transmittal envelope addressed in holograph and signed (“Charles Dickens”), postmarked 11 March 1867; together with a contemporary carte-de-visite photograph of an illustration showing Dickens seated at his desk in his library.

From the Private Collection of Dennis Babcock, Minneapolis, Minnesota