As I write, another edition of "David Copperfield" is announced for early publication by Mr. George Allen, the special feature of which will be the thirty-six designs by a new Dickens illustrator, Mr. Phil May, whose admirable draughtsmanship is familiar to us; there will also be issued a limited number of sets of the illustrations,--full-size _facsimiles_ of the drawings, signed by the artist and accompanied by descriptive text. Messrs. J. M. Dent & Co. are preparing an edition of Dickens's Works for their Temple Library, an interesting feature of which will be a series of coloured frontispieces, from original drawings by Miss L. M. Fisher, Mr. F. C. Tilney, and W. C. Cooke.
Independent Publications--Unauthorised Designs--List of Additional Illustrations--Dickens's Calendars, Relief Scraps, &c.--"ALFRED CROWQUILL"--His Etchings in _Bentley's Miscellany_--An Admirable Vocalist--His Illustrations for "Pickwick Abroad"--KENNY MEADOWS--"The Nestor of _Punch's_ Staff"--His Drawings in the _Illustrated London News_--His Work Criticised--A Civil-List Pension--A Delightful _Raconteur_--T. ONWHYN--His Signatures of "Sam Weller, Junr.," and "Peter Palette"--Illustrates Cockton's Novels--Plates for "Pickwick" Recently Discovered--"JACOB PARALLEL"--A Punning Advertisement--His Designs for "Charley Chalk"--F. W. PAILTHORPE--The only Survivor of the "Old School"--A Friend of George Cruikshank--Coloured Plates--C. D. GIBSON--His Drawing of the Pickwick Club--His Individuality of Style.
Since the publication of "The Pickwick Papers" there have appeared, from time to time, a number of designs illustrating the novels of Charles Dickens which were issued independently of the particular stories that inspired them, and generally without letterpress. Artists and publishers alike thus availed themselves of the enormous popularity achieved by Dickens's writings, confident in the belief that financial success would attend their efforts. Among those responsible for the designing of what are usually termed "Extra Illustrations" were many well-known draughtsmen of the day, including Hablôt K. Browne ("Phiz"), Sir John Gilbert, R.A., Onwhyn, Kenny Meadows, Alfred Forrester ("Crowquill"), and, more recently, Fred. Barnard and F. W. Pailthorpe. It must, however, be admitted that, with regard to certain productions by artists less skilled in the use of the pencil or etching-needle, such attempts to interpret Dickens's conceptions conspicuously fail.