Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-05-24
CHARLES DICKENS SALE.
SOME OF THE GREAT NOvELlSTS
EFFECTS UNDER THE HAMMER.
Painting. and Drawings from Subjects
Found in HI. writings-A stuffed Raven
That Sold for ssoo-Puneh Ladies 40
= Pickwfrkfau Ixdte.

Found in HI. wri,ings-A stuffed Raven
PickwiektAn Iadie.
A singular attraction, apparently, to judge
from the company assembled The Great
Room at Cbristie's was crowded with buyers
and onlookers OF quite exceptional quality.
And there was but n comparatively unin-
portant colle,tscr of articles for sale, for the
most part sufficiently commonplace, and only
lis lots IN all A few pictures and other
works OF art in bronzs. porcelain, marble
and plaster, with some domestic and personal
knickknacks, composed the entire catalogue.
But, then. these goods and chattels had be-
longei TO Charles Dickens
The worship of hsroes-literary, artistic
and o,hers-was in high vogue at the date Of
this sale, nearly twenty years back Dickens
had enjoyed for long time a popularity alb
solately unique and unrivaled the sudden
ness and almost dramatic circumstances Of
his death had raised public interest in him
and his belongings to fever heat; and bis ex-
ecutors, who would seem to have possessed .
large portion OF his own commercial keenness
had struck, promptly and effectively, while
the iron was yet white hot. Dickens died on
June o, 1870. and his effects were sold on July
0, one calendar mouth after The collection
was duly on view for three days before the
SALE drawing crowds of sightseers; and even
the smaller articles had their interest and
value enhanced by bearing each one label
with hat appeared at first sight TO be the
well known autograph signature Of its de-
ceased owner, but which closer inspection
showed TO be really "a fac-simile, the counter
felt presentnent Of that signature, skillfuly
produced by photography
THE PICTURES.
The pictures, forty in number included oil
paintings and water color drawings, the sub
jects OF many of which were taken from
Dickens own writings, or bore some other re-
lation TO himself personally. There were no
fewer than six works by his friend Garrison
Stanfield, among them being the published
drawing of the Britannia, the vessel which
carried Dickens to the United States to make
his American Notes" which was bought
by Lord Derby for l05 guineas. The fine
"Eddystone Lighthouse" in oil, realized 800
guineas Two companion drawings by G.
Cattermole, Of Little Nell's Home" and
Little Nell's Grave sold for l6O guineas
and $50 guineas respectively; Topham's draw
ing of the same sweet heroine with her
grandfather, at work tying up punches Of
flowers for the race course, went up to 275
guneas WebSter's "Dotheboys' Hail."
small oil painting l2 by inches represent
ing the dosing with birthstone and treacle,
reached 80 guineas; and still smaller pict-
ure, by G. K. Leslie, only inches by Q,
"Pickwick and Mrs, Bardell," in grisaille,
l3l guineas. Maclise's portrait of Dickens,
painted in 1880, just fifty years ago, in the
days of Nicholas Nickleby, was happily So
cured by Mr.. Boxall for GO guineas while
Mr. Frith's ideal Of piquant, charming Dolly
Warden did fitting honor to author and art
st by fetching the highest price OF the sale,
l,0o0 guineas
There was but narrow scope for bargain
hunting, still. mterspersed amid the ordinary
household ware and brio a-brac, some few un-
considered triaes were to be picked up at
fairly moderate prices. Pairs OF small china
candlesticks, for example, were sold for 5
guineas, and even guineas, and a pair
of feather hand screens for q guineas
But the more strictly personal mementos,
which. though of little intrinsic worth, the
poorer brethren of the pen might well have
lovingly coveted and cherished, went beyond
their modest reach. For instance, walnut
writing suite, Of a common enough style, sold
as follows; the envelope case, 0 guineas; ink
stank, ~ guineas, paper weights, guineas;
while even the little walnut matchbox ran
up to guineas.
GRIP FOR 5000
A stuffed bird in homely glass case gave
rise to one of the most sensational episodes OF
this notable sale. Being described as Mr..
Dickens tavorite raven the Grip of Bar
naby Rudge1," it was no doubt regarded by
many hazy minded persons present the
veritable, profane reprobate Grip" him
self, though the accomplished, self assertive
raven of the novel was as fictitious charac-
ter as was Barnaby-no single, real bird but
q creation evolved from and combining in
eptome the most noteworthy immoral quail
ties and practices of various members of his
species 1t was confidently expected that
this glossy Grip would fetch his price, say
cautiously &c, or more sanguinely fl0; but
but when the biddings rose to 25 guineaa,
mounted to ~ guineas, scared to 100 guineas,
people did indeed marvel; it seemed raven
madness, but not, as it presently appeared,
wholly without method. The excitement
continued to increase as the auctoneer Mr..
Wood, announced each successive advance,
and eliminated in roar of applause when at
length his hammer fell, to a bid of 100
guineas, and a sturdy looking citizen of Lon
don, afterward its lord mayor gave his name
as the purchaser-George Swan Nottage
The upposititious Grip" was, in fact, bought
in order that it might be photographed for
sale wherever "Barnaby Ridge" had been
read
The famed Pckwick ladies, presented to
the youthful Boz" by the publishers of the
"Pickwick Papers," on their completion,
must have brief mention. These six char
acteristic silver punch ladies were judicious-
II reserved for the last lots the immortal
Pickwck leading off and the sluggish Fat
Boy appropriately bringing up the rear, The
great room was at this time quite full, very
hot and exceedingly animated. The little
ladle having for handle the silver gilt dapper
figure of Mr.. Pickwick, in the familiar atti-
tude, was put up amid hum Of expectant
attention, and after spirited competition
was knocked down to a gentleman who stood
on one Of the raised benches in the right hand
corner near the door. The buyer was Mr.
Andrew Halliday, the price fG9 1t may in
terest some readers to know the price of the
remaining five ladies, which follow in the
order Of their respective pecuniary value,
which perhaps roughly corresponds with
their relative personal popularity; "Sam
Weller" E6I; odd Weller" f5l. The Fat
Boy " e2j las, Jingle" $50. Wrinkle"
923. With the Fat Boy adle the sale ended,
and soon these us Dickens relics were dis
persed over the world, never to be brought
together again. London Globe