Best Vintage Dickens Xmas Gifts

Historical Photography & Victorian Illustrations from Photo Archive

Nov 11, 2009

Photos and illustrations of Dickens characters and of historic places from his famous novels are unique Xmas presents and book lovers gifts.

An unassuming house in West London is the most important historic photo archive in the world holding resources associated with Dickens, the famous Victorian novelist whose Oliver Twist, Christmas Carol, David Copperfield and many other novels are household names. The photographic archive of the Charles Dickens House Museum holds over 5,000 photos and illustrations which can be reproduced for a fee and can make best vintage Dickens Christmas gifts.

Historical Photography from the Photo Archive

Portraits of Dickens and photos of Victorian London buildings and locations associated to the famous novelist and his works are unique book lovers gifts for the Dickens enthusiast. There are 500 portraits of Charles Dickens to choose from the 1830s to 1869, some by famous photographers such as John Watkins and R.H. Mason. Framed appropriately these portraits can make best vintage gifts for Christmas.

The photo archive of the Dickens museum holds a large stock of historical photography from 46 London districts, associated with Dickens' famous novels, such as Oliver Twist, Little Dorritt, David Copperfield, Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickelby and others. These are mostly B&W photographs and 35mm slides that depict London hotels and pubs, London churches and other historic buildings. A selection of historic buildings framed photos can give a vintage Dickens feel to any interior.

Victorian Illustrations from the UK Archive

Illustrations that can be reproduced from the photographic archive include pencil drawings and cartoons of Dickens, Dickens busts, sculptures, bronzes and coins. Victorian illustrations from Dickens' novels feature as well, especially some colour illustrations from his famous Christmas Carol. Other titles of the photographic archive include Bleak House, Great Expectations, Hard Times and David Copperfield. There are also illustrations of Dickens surrounded by the characters of his novels.

Dickens vintage gifts that can be sourced from this UK archive include film stills, caricatures and cartoons, playbills, advertisments and even photos of Dickens' pets.

Other Dickens Xmas Gift Ideas

Other Xmas Dickens-related gift ideas are: a membership of the American Friends of the Charles Dickens Museum starting from $30 (annually); and Adopt a Book (starting from £25) to support the Museum's conservation work (both gift ideas available to buy from the Charles Dickens House Museum). An ideal book lovers gift is a London walk to explore the places Dickens knew as child and those he revisited in his novels. Many London walks are available to book online.

How to Order from the Photographic Archive

Prices start at £15 for B&W photography. High-quality professional images can be provided in print or in digital format (up to 1200dpi, jpg, tiff, pdf). The Museum staff is very friendly and knowledgable and can help with long-distance research. Visit the Museum website for contact numbers and details.

Dickens Related Articles

HOL101

The copyright of the article Best Vintage Dickens Xmas Gifts in Historical Resources is owned by Lito Apostolakou. Permission to republish Best Vintage Dickens Xmas Gifts in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.