Publishing papers: legal documents and agreements

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 58 Add MS 88903/1
  • Alternative Id.
      (ark) ark:/81055/vdc_100000000015.0x000023
  • Dates of Creation
      1837-1879
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      17 folders

Scope and Content

Papers relating to Charles Dickens's dealings and negotiations with his publishers. Also includes papers relating to the posthumous publication of The Letters of Charles Dickens. In addition to the drafts of legal agreements, items include letters, financial documents, notices and memoranda associated with the agreements. Items also include legal documents relating to court proceedings brought against Dickens by his publishers, often presided over by the judges James Bacon or Arthur Hobhouse. His publishers included John Macrone; Edward Chapman and William Hall of Chapman and Hall; Richard Bentley; Frederick Mullett Evans and William Bradbury and sons of Bradbury and Evans; and Henry Colburn. From 1836 Dickens was producing works for John Macrone, Richard Bentley and Chapman and Hall. From 1840 Chapman and Hall became his sole publishers. In 1844 Dickens moved from Chapman and Hall, following a disagreement, to the printers Bradbury and Evans. In 1858 Dickens fell out with Bradbury and Evans after they did not print a personal notice relating to the disintegration of Dickens's marriage in Punch. Dickens returned to Chapman and Hall and remained with them until his death in 1870.

Arrangement

Arranged under specific publications and then chronologically.

Access Information

Unrestricted

Not Public Record(s)