II
CONCERNING "EXTRA ILLUSTRATIONS"
Independent Publications—Unauthorised Designs—List of Additional Illustrations—Dickens's Calendars, Relief Scraps, &c.—"Alfred Crowquill"—His Etchings in Bentley's Miscellany—An Admirable Vocalist—His Illustrations for "Pickwick Abroad"—Kenny Meadows—"The Nestor of Punch's Staff"—His Drawings in the Illustrated London News—His Work Criticised—A Civil-List Pension—A Delightful Raconteur—T. Onwhyn—His Signatures of "Sam Weller, Junr.," and "Peter Palette"—Illustrates Cockton's Novels—Plates for "Pickwick" Recently Discovered—"Jacob Parallel"—A Punning Advertisement—His Designs for "Charley Chalk"—F. W. Pailthorpe—The only Survivor of the "Old School"—A Friend of George Cruikshank—Coloured Plates—C. D. Gibson—His Drawing of the Pickwick Club—His Individuality of Style.
Since the publication of "The Pickwick Papers" there have appeared, from time to time, a number of designs illustrating the novels of Charles Dickens which were issued independently of the particular stories that inspired them, and generally without letterpress. Artists and publishers alike thus availed themselves of the enormous popularity achieved by Dickens's writings, confident in the belief that financial success would attend their efforts. Among those responsible for the designing of what are usually termed "Extra Illustrations" were many well-known draughtsmen of the day, including Hablôt K. Browne ("Phiz"), Sir John Gilbert, R.A., Onwhyn, Kenny Meadows, Alfred Forrester ("Crowquill"), and, more recently, Fred. Barnard and F. W. Pailthorpe. It must, however, be admitted that, with regard to certain productions by artists less skilled in the use of the pencil or etching-needle, such attempts to interpret Dickens's conceptions conspicuously fail.
In particular instances the publication of supplementary plates was approved by Dickens, but, for the most part, these independent illustrations were really unauthorised, the booksellers merely trading on the popularity of the novels (especially the earlier ones), which afforded unlimited scope for pictorial treatment. That there must have been a fairly constant demand for them is proved by their number and variety, nearly every form of reproductive art being made available for these designs, including steel-engraving, etching, wood-engraving, lithography, chromo-lithography, photogravure, &c. Some of the scarcer sets realise high prices, and are naturally much in request. In the following list, which, I believe, is practically complete, I have included a few Dickens illustrations that were published in periodicals, in some cases with letterpress; although these cannot strictly be regarded as "Extra Illustrations," they are not without interest to the collector of such ephemeral productions. The names of the artists are alphabetically arranged.
J. Absolon and F. Corbeaux.
Barnaby Rudge.—Four engravings on steel by Finden, from drawings by Absolon and Corbeaux. Crown 8vo, green wrapper, price one shilling. To accompany the first Cheap Edition, 1849. London: Chapman & Hall, 186 Strand, n.d.
These designs were portraits of the principal characters, viz., Dolly Varden and Barnaby Rudge, by J. Absolon; Emma Haredale and Miss Miggs, by F. Corbeaux—the latter plate forming the frontispiece.
F. Barnard.
Character Sketches from Dickens.—Six lithographs, portraits of Mrs. Gamp, Alfred Jingle, Bill Sikes and his Dog, Little Dorrit, Sidney Carton, Pickwick. Elephant folio. London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, N.D. [1879]. Afterwards issued as photogravures (20 in. by 14-1/2 in.), price one guinea. Reproductions on a reduced scale, etched by C. W. Walker, were published by Estes & Lauriat, New York, n.d.
Character Sketches from Dickens.—Second Series. Six photogravures. Portraits of the two Wellers, Caleb Plummer and his Blind Daughter, Rogue Riderhood, Mr. Peggotty, Little Nell and her Grandfather, Mr. Pecksniff. Same publishers, 1884.
Character Sketches from Dickens.—Third Series. Six photogravures. Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim, Uriah Heep, Dick Swiveller and the Marchioness, Betsy Trotwood, Captain Cuttle, Mr. Micawber. Same publishers, 1885.
The entire series of eighteen plates were republished in Mr. Thomas Archer's "Charles Dickens: Gossip about his Life, Works, and Characters," issued by the same firm. Sixteen of these Character Sketches were subsequently reproduced in a cheap form, and presented to the readers of Cassell's Family Magazine upon the occasion of its enlargement in December 1896.
Plate LXVIII
ALFRED CROWQUILL (A. H. FORRESTER)
From a Photograph by
J. F. KNIGHTS