Edwardian Novelty Silver Figural Bookmark Charles Dickens 'Tony Weller'

J F Fradley, New York c1901 - 1910
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A rare early 20th century American novelty silver figural Bookmark, depicting the character Tony Weller, from the Charles Dickens novel The Pickwick Papers.

By J F Fradley, New York, c1901 - 1910

Note: No cut-out slot for use as a Bookmark, but would mark a page.

Sold - £150.00

Condition
In good condition with no damage or repair
Dimensions
H
74 mm (2.91 inches)
W
28 mm (1.10 inches)
Weight
6.50 Grams (0.21 troy ounces)
Country
England
Stock Code
TRS060418I
Medium
Silver
Literature
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (also known as The Pickwick Papers) was Charles Dickens's first novel. He was asked to contribute to the project as an up-and-coming writer following the success of Sketches by Boz, published in 1836 (most of Dickens' novels were issued in shilling installments before being published as complete volumes). Dickens (still writing under the pseudonym of Boz) increasingly took over the unsuccessful monthly publication after the original illustrator Robert Seymour had committed suicide.
Tony Weller is a retired coachman, and father of Samuel Weller. His wife, Susan, is proprietor of the Marquis of Granby Inn in Dorking. Susan falls in with the hypocritical Reverend Stiggins, of the Brick Lane Temperance Association, who the frequently imbibing Tony later exposes in The Pickwick Papers.