A Souvenir of Charles Dickens' Last Visit to America

A series of letters written to Charles Kent on the occasion of a dinner held in honor of Charles Dickens before his departure to the United States in November 1867. The letters were written in response to Kent's request the letter writers would be stewards for the dinner on November 2, 1867. The majority of the letters are short notes accepting or declining the invitation; many of the letters with envelopes. The letters were written by many of the most famous men of Victorian Britain, including prime ministers, politicians, authors, actors, artists, and businessmen, including, among others, Wilkie Collins, Frederick Locker-Lampson, and William Henry Wills. The collection also includes a small number of letters by Charles Dickens, printed copies of all the letters and other ephemera, a large printed poster announcing the dinner, and the original separated bindings.