Original manuscript of Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, vol. 1
Manuscript
1854 (written)
1854 (written)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is the original manuscript of Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, which he wrote in 1854. Dickens gave 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 one volume, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in two volumes.
Originally written on loose leaves, it was later bound in one volume, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in two volumes.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Original manuscript of Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, vol. 1 (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Manuscript, Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, vol. 1 (ff. 2-101), England, 1854. |
| Physical description | 177 leaves, bound in two volumes Collation: v.1 (2-101), v.2 (102-177). Numbering peculiarities: flyleaf "1" was not included in the first rebinding in 1965/66. v.1 therefore starts with leaf 2. Leaf "1" is visible in the photocopy. Written on handmade, blue, wove writing paper, in blue ink. Mounted and bound in 2 v. Some leaves have cancelled text on versos. Previously bound in 1 volume, then rebound in 1993 in brown morocco half leather with marbled papers over boards, in drop back solander boxes. 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 | Bequeathed by Charles Dickens to his friend John Forster; bequeathed by John Forster to the Museum in 1876. |
| Summary | This is the original manuscript of Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, which he wrote in 1854. Dickens gave 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 one volume, but following extensive conservation work, it is now rehoused in two volumes. |
| Associated object | 38041012058996 (Set) |
| 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/163/1 |
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| Record created | February 21, 2022 |
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