Twelve original character studies from David Copperfield

Dickens, Charles; Kyd (pseudonym of Joseph Clayton Clark, illustrator)

Published by [n.p., London], 1893

About this Item

Twelve fine original pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings illustrating David Copperfield, signed by the artist. Quarto (11 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches; 286 x 225 mm). Done on fine laid paper. Original blue wrappers with "12 Original Character Studies from 'David Copperfield' Drawn in colors by 'Kyd'" in ink manuscript on front wrapper. Wrappers expertly repaired. Housed in a green cloth portfolio. Near Fine. Kyd has faithfully recreated some of the immortal and lovable characters from one of Charles Dickens most famous novels. The characters of the novel here represented are David Copperfield; Mr. Creakle; Uriah Heep; Betsey Trotwood; Mr. Micawber; Mrs. Micawber; Tommy Traddles; Mr. Murdstone; Daniel Peggotty; Ham; Mrs. Gummidge and Mr. Dick. Joseph Clayton Clark aka "Kyd" (1856 - 1937) worked as a freelance artist with a particular affection for Dickens, his Dickens illustrations first appearing in 1887 in Fleet Street Magazine, with two collections soon to follow: The Characters of Charles Dickens (1889) and Some Well Known Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens (1892). In the first decade of the twentieth century, five sets of postcards based on his Dickens drawings were published, and seven sets of non-Dickensian comic cards by him were issued. Beginning in the 1920s, he earned his living from watercolor sketches, mainly of Dickens' characters, which he sold to and through the London book trade. Frederic G. Kitton gives him early notice in his classic text, Dickens and His Illustrators (1890); Kyd's watercolors were at that date already being avidly bought by major Dickens collectors (Kitton, p. 233), the Cosens sale in 1890 successfully selling a collection of 241 of Kyd's Dickens watercolors, and Mr. Tom Wilson, at the time the foremost collector of Dickens, possessing 331 of Kyd's drawings. "As a character 'Kyd' emulated those of Dickens and his own illustrations slightly larger than life. In his style and dress he was mildly flamboyant for the period…He seldom varied his attire from a grey suit, spats, homburg hat, gloves and was never without a carnation or substitute flower in his button hole" (Sawyer, "Kyd" (Joseph Clayton Clark): A Preliminary Study of his Life and Work, p. 7). Near Fine.

Seller Inventory # 7431

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Twelve original character studies from David Copperfield
• Publisher: [n.p., London]
• Publication Date: 1893
• Edition: Original artwork.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature
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  • Illustrated Books