Original manuscript of The Old Curiosity Shop, vol. 1
Manuscript
1840-1841 (written)
1840-1841 (written)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is the original manuscript of The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens, which he wrote in 1840.
Dickens bequeathed the manuscript to his close friend and biographer, John Forster (1812–76) who was a noted critic, essayist and historian. During his life, Forster collected a vast library which included most manuscripts of Dickens’s novels. He bequeathed this collection to his wife until her death; whereupon it would pass to what was then the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899), so that it could be used by the nation. The manuscripts Forster bequeathed continue to be an invaluable resource to scholars and researchers, providing information about Dickens’s creative process.
Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in four volumes, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in eight volumes.
Dickens bequeathed the manuscript to his close friend and biographer, John Forster (1812–76) who was a noted critic, essayist and historian. During his life, Forster collected a vast library which included most manuscripts of Dickens’s novels. He bequeathed this collection to his wife until her death; whereupon it would pass to what was then the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899), so that it could be used by the nation. The manuscripts Forster bequeathed continue to be an invaluable resource to scholars and researchers, providing information about Dickens’s creative process.
Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in four volumes, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in eight volumes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Original manuscript of The Old Curiosity Shop, vol. 1 (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Manuscript, The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens, vol. 1, England, 1840-41. |
| Physical description | 714 leaves, bound in eight volumes. Collation: v.1 (4, 1-91), v.2 (92-188), v.3 (189-267), v.4 (268-363), v.5 (2, 364-446), v.6 (447-536), v.7 (537-626), v.8 (627-714). Previously bound in 4 volumes, then rebound in 1994 in brown morocco half leather with marbled papers over boards, in drop back solander boxes. The first 4 leaves of vol.1 comprise a letter to John Forster from Dickens, dated 17 Jan. 1841, and three leaves of memorandums for the story. Written on handmade wove writing paper, in iron gall and blue ink. Some leaves have cancelled text on versos. The writing paper is made up of 'Large Post' folio sheets that have been folded into bifolios, producing a 'Large Post' quarto, which were then torn in half by Dickens, mostly before writing. All manuscript leaves therefore have one torn side. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Object history | Given by Charles Dickens to John Forster; bequeathed by John Forster 1876. |
| Summary | This is the original manuscript of The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens, which he wrote in 1840. Dickens bequeathed the manuscript to his close friend and biographer, John Forster (1812–76) who was a noted critic, essayist and historian. During his life, Forster collected a vast library which included most manuscripts of Dickens’s novels. He bequeathed this collection to his wife until her death; whereupon it would pass to what was then the South Kensington Museum (renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899), so that it could be used by the nation. The manuscripts Forster bequeathed continue to be an invaluable resource to scholars and researchers, providing information about Dickens’s creative process. Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in four volumes, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in eight volumes. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Low, A., 'The conservation of Charles Dickens's manuscripts', Paper conservator, vol. 18, 1994, pp. 5-9. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Library number | MSL/1876/Forster/153/1 |
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| Record created | February 10, 2022 |
| Record URL |
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