Artefact of the Month - February 2012
Letter from Charles Dickens, 1880
February 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great Victorian novelist, and what better way to celebrate this than to show a letter to the Zoological Society from Charles Dickens?
But wait a minute! This letter is dated 1880 and Dickens died in 1870. In fact, it is not from the famous Charles Dickens, but from his son, Charles Culliford Boz Dickens (1837-1896).
The letter, thanking ZSL for a ticket to London Zoo, is on the headed paper of the magazine “All the Year Round”; Charles Junior succeeded his father as editor of the journal. The letter has a black border indicating mourning.
ZSL Archive also contains a number of letters from Charles Dickens Junior’s wife Bessie, asking for tickets to the Zoo.
Visting the Library If you are a member of ZSL, please bring your ZSL membership card when visiting the Library. If you are not a member you will need to show proof of address and photographic ID. Although much of the Library is open access, an appointment is needed to view historic books and archives. Please email library@zsl.org to make an appointment or telephone 02074496293 |
