Dickens Collection

Bookplate: Samuel Baldwin Bradford.

Nathan Schwartz, donor, pictured with items from the Samuel Baldwin Bradford Dickens collection, 1978. DePaul University Archives. University Photographs, Box 5.

It all started with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Samuel Baldwin Bradford, an executive of the Central Life Insurance Company in Chicago, began collecting the books, serials, pamphlets, illustrations, ephemera and other memorabilia associated with Charles Dickens in the 1920s. His intent was to obtain every illustrator’s idea of the characters and scenes from one of Dickens’ most famous stories. The collection was acquired by DePaul College of Law alumnus and trustee, Nathan H. Schwartz, and his legal associate, Jack Davidson, who in turn, donated the complete Bradford Dickens Collection to DePaul University Libraries in 1972.

"Mr. Feazziwig's ball", Frontispiece illustration:
Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol: In Prose: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas / with illustrations by John Leech. 7th ed. London: Chapman & Hall, 1844. SPCD. 823 D548C1844E

Cover illustration:
Dickens, Charles. Sketches of Young Gentlemen: Dedicated to the Young Ladies / with six illustrations by "Phiz." London : Chapman and Hall, 1838. SpCD. 823 D548skg1838

"Oliver disarmed by his affectionate friends".
Dickens, Charles. The Adventures of Oliver Twist: or, the Parish Boy’s Progress. Illustrated with twenty-six water-colour drawings by George Cruikshank. London : Chapman and Hall, 1895. London: Chapman and Hall, 1895. SPCD. 823 D548OTC

Cover of parts edition: Dickens, Charles. The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, His Relatives, Friends, and Enemies ... Edited by Boz [pseud.] With illustrations by "Phiz" [pseud.] London, Chapman & Hall, 1843-44. SPCD. 823 D548M