• Home
  • About us
  • Services
    • Selling your Books
    • Building a Library or Collection
    • Buying at Auction
    • Valuations
  • Book Fairs
  • Contact us
 
login

Search our Stock

Advanced Search

Our Catalogues

Current Catalogues

Forthcoming Catalogues

Subscribe to our Catalogues

Books for Presents logo

Bizarre Books

Jarndyce Greeting Cards

How to Abandon Ship

back to search results

ALS to Thomas Mitton, from Devonshire Terrace, ALS to Thomas Mitton, from Devonshire Terrace,

DICKENS, Charles. ALS to Thomas Mitton, from Devonshire Terrace, Sunday 18th October. 'It is mortal long and complicated ...' [1840]
27 lines on first & second side of folded 8vo sheet. With addressed envelope.

¶Not in Pilgrim Letters or either addenda. Primarily about the sales and remaining stock of Master Humphrey's Clock. 'I am very sorry I had made an engagement last Monday evening, and could not very well break it ... I have the clock account, and you shall see it. It is mortal long and complicated ...' Dickens records the total receipts of c.£10,600 and the total expenditure 'including the cost of the stock' ... of c.£10,300 leaving 'Balance in money now in hand in favor of the partners, £340.6.0.!!!!!!!!!' '... all the profit is spent in stock, and this half year I'm half master of God knows how many thousand reams of printed paper ...' WITH: An envelope addressed to Mitton at Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane postmarked 'JA 9 1841'(?). Thomas Mitton, 1812-1878, was a close early friend of Dickens; they worked together for a short time as clerks in Lincoln's Inn. Dickens provided surety for Mitton to buy into a practice in 1838 and he remained Dickens's solicitor for the next twenty years. Dickens had expected Master Humphrey (April 1840-December 1841) to make between £10,000 and £11,000 and entered into a partnership with Chapman and Hall. The high cost of the numerous woodcuts meant much smaller profits - some £1,068 for Dickens - on top of his stipend of £50 per part. PLEASE NOTE: For customers within the UK this item is subject to VAT.
Stock #69552
£3800


association logos
46, Great Russell Street - (opp. British Museum) - Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3PA
Home | Links | Contact Us | Terms | Privacy Policy