What the Dickens?

A belated tribute to Charles Dickens on the 200th anniversary of his birth (7th February 1812). This is the frontispiece and decorative title page from a hardback copy of Martin Chuzzlewit. It was my grandfather's copy. He was a huge Dickens fan, as is my son, and as is my mother. I have come to him late in life, but am currently enjoying his wit, and reading this very title in digital form on my DS.

The illustration here is by one A H Buckland and comes from a Collins imprint of the book, which was my grandfather's birthday present in 1923. It's signed from my three-year-old mother, her pen clearly having been guided by my grandmother's hand.