In 1847 "Phiz" prepared six new designs for "The Pickwick Papers," which were delicately engraved on wood; the series was issued independently, and simultaneously with the first cheap edition of the book. These drawings are undoubtedly superior to the etchings, being the more matured work of the artist. The following were the subjects chosen: "Mr. Winkle's First Shot," "The Effects of Cold Punch," "Mr. Pickwick at Dodson and Fogg's," "The Kiss under the Mistletoe," "Old Weller at the Temperance Meeting," "The Leg of Mutton 'Swarry.'" "Phiz" also contributed to each of the two volumes of the Library Edition (1858-59)[22] a vignette illustration for the title-page, the subjects being Mr. Pickwick and the Wellers, and Sam Weller with the Pretty Housemaid; they were engraved on steel from the original drawings in water-colours. In 1867 the artist was seized with a form of paralysis, the use of the right hand being so greatly impaired that he was unable to make the forefinger and thumb meet; this compelled him to hold the pencil or brush in a clumsy fashion, and to draw with a sort of sweeping movement of the whole arm. It was under such distressing conditions that in 1873-74 he executed a commission to illustrate Chapman & Hall's Household Edition of "The Pickwick Papers." These fifty-seven designs are necessarily extremely poor in treatment, and painfully indicate the effect of the injury his hand had sustained; indeed, the wonder is that he could draw at all. It must be admitted, however, that much of the feebleness of the woodcuts is due to the engraver, as the original outline sketches (which were transferred to the boxwood blocks and there developed) exhibit in a wonderful degree both freedom and precision of touch. A small collection of these drawings was sold at Sotheby's in December 1887, each drawing realising the average price of seven pounds. Sets of the "Pickwick" designs in the Household Edition, coloured by F. W. Pailthorpe, have been issued as "extra" illustrations.
The Strange Gentleman, 1837.In 1836, as soon as Dickens terminated his connection with the Reporters' Gallery in the House of Commons, he was induced to take a considerable interest in the then newly-erected St. James's Theatre, and even essayed to write for his friend J. P. Harley ("as a practical joke," he afterwards explained) a comic burletta called "The Strange Gentleman," which was adapted from "The Great Winglebury Duel" in "Sketches by Boz." The little farce was published by Chapman & Hall during the following year with a frontispiece by "Phiz," the subject of the plate being suggested by the concluding scene, where the Strange Gentleman proposes marriage to Julia Dobbs; the two seated figures are vigorously drawn, and on a larger scale than those in the "Pickwick" designs. "The Strange Gentleman" is perhaps the rarest of Dickens's writings, and the extraordinary sum of £45 was realised at Sotheby's in August 1892 for an exceptionally fine copy. It has since been beautifully reprinted in facsimile, with a new frontispiece etched by F. W. Pailthorpe.
Sketches of Young Gentlemen, 1838. In the same year Chapman & Hall published a booklet (anonymously written by E. Caswell) entitled "Sketches of Young Ladies," by "Quiz," with six etchings by "Phiz," the author of which was erroneously believed to be Charles Dickens, whose literary style it somewhat resembled. The "Young Ladies" being referred to here in a rather ungallant fashion, Dickens essayed (as a kind of protest) a similar work, in which he pokes fun at the idiosyncrasies of youths of the sterner sex. Like its predecessor, the "Sketches of Young Gentlemen" were written anonymously, and similarly contained six etched illustrations by "Phiz."
Sketches of Young Couples, 1840.In 1840 there appeared a third booklet, entitled "Sketches of Young Couples;" of this Dickens was also the unavowed author, while "Phiz" contributed the usual six etchings. In the third of these designs (only two of which are signed) we are reminded of his presentment of the Kenwigses in "Nicholas Nickleby," the illustrations for which story were then occupying the artist's attention. These little productions were issued in green paper covers, decorated with designs by "Phiz."
The sets of six original drawings for "Sketches of Young Ladies" and "Sketches of Young Gentlemen" realised £40 and £39 respectively at Sotheby's in 1897.
Nicholas Nickleby, 1838-39.In the advertisement announcing the publication of "Nicholas Nickleby," it was stated that each monthly part would be "embellished with two illustrations by 'Phiz'." This is not strictly accurate, for to the twenty parts the artist contributed but thirty-nine plates, the full complement, however, being made up with a portrait of the author (as the frontispiece), engraved by Finden from the painting by D. Maclise, A.R.A.