Darvill's Rare Prints, fine antique prints and rare maps since 1918! Darvill's Rare Prints, fine antique prints and rare maps since 1918!
Antique prints from Darvill's since 1918 Rare Maps and Charts Limited edition prints from Alaska's most famous artist Rie Munoz Darvill's Rare Prints homepage About Darvill's Rare Prints
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George Cruikshank
(self portrait)

 

Background:

Dickens worked in close collaboration with his illustrators, supplying them with an overall summary of the work at the outset for the cover illustration which was printed on heavy colored stock, usually green, which served as a wrapper for each of the monthly parts. Dickens briefed the illustrator on plans for each month's installment so that work on the two illustrations could begin before he wrote them.

This close working relationship with his illustrators is important to readers of Dickens today. The illustrations give us a glimpse of the characters as Dickens described them to the illustrator and approved when the drawing was finished. Film makers still use the illustrations as a basis for characterization, costume, and set design in the dramatization of Dickens' works.

George Cruikshank
(1792-1878)

Popular illustrator who became an early friend of Dickens, illustrating Sketches by Boz and Oliver Twist. Cruikshank also acted in Dickens' amateur theatrical company. Their friendship cooled when Cruikshank, formerly a heavy drinker, became a fanatical teetotaler in opposition to Dickens' views of moderation. Cruikshank later claimed that the idea for Oliver Twist had been his.

An excellent source of information about Dickens illustrators (including the above) can be found here.

Darvill's Rare Prints is pleased to offer a selection of original
George Cruikshank prints from Charles Dickens' Sketches with Boz: Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People.
(published 1836-1839)

A collection of Dickens' early stories that had been published in Monthly Magazine, The Morning Chronicle, and other periodicals. The sketches provide delightful glimpses into life in early Victorian London. Illustrated by established artist George Cruikshank.

Dickens later wrote of Sketches:
"They comprise my first attempts at authorship. I am conscious of their often being extremely crude and ill-considered, and bearing obvious marks of haste and inexperience."

Dickens' pseudonym Boz came from his younger brother Augustus's through-the-nose pronunciation of his own nickname, Moses.
 

[source: fidnet.com]

These are original prints over 170 years old, not reproductions.
Page size is approximately 5 3/8 x 8 1/4 inches, on creamy, slightly age-toned paper (not as white as appears on computer monitors).
There may be some damp staining or foxing on the prints due to their age,
so please have a look at the provided enlargements
by clicking on the thumbnails below.

We have many more prints by the Cruikshank family...
please see the Satire/Humor page by clicking here.


Our Next-door Neighbours

Our Next-door Neighbours

$25

 


Vauxhall Gardens by Day

Vauxhall Gardens by Day

$35

 


Early Coaches

Early Coaches

$25

 


The First of May

The First of May

$40

 


Thoughts about People

Thoughts about People

$25

 


The Boarding House

The Boarding House

$25

 


The Boarding House, chap 2nd

The Boarding House
Chap. 2nd

$25

 


The Tuggs at Ramsgate

The Tuggs at Ramsgate

$25

 


The Winglebury Duel

The Winglebury Duel

$25

 


Mr. Joseph Porter

Mr. Joseph Porter

$25

 


Watkins Tottle

Watkins Tottle

$25

 


The Lock-up House

The Lock-up House

$20

 


Mr. Watkins Tottle and Miss Lillerton

Mr. Watkins Tottle and Miss Lillerton

$25

 
Many more Cruikshank prints on the Humor and Satire page