"Initial Letter Vignette A" by George Cattermole for the fifth number of "Master Humphrey's Clock" (16 May 1840)

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Initial Letter Vignette A

George Cattermole

1 x 1 in. (2.8 cm x 2.8 cm)

Wood-engraving

Master Humphrey's Clock, Number 5. 16 May 1840, "The Clock," p. 73.

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Scanned image, caption, and additional commentary by Philip V. Allingham.

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Context of the Illustration: Master Humphrey and Mr. Pickwick climb the steps

As we were going up-stairs, Mr. Pickwick put on his spectacles, which he had held in his hand hitherto; arranged his neckerchief, smoothed down his waistcoat, and made many other little preparations of that kind which men are accustomed to be mindful of, when they are going among strangers for the first time, and are anxious to impress them pleasantly. Seeing that I smiled, he smiled too, and said that if it had occurred to him before he left home, he would certainly have presented himself in pumps and silk stockings.

"I would, indeed, my dear sir," he said very seriously; "I would have shown my respect for the society, by laying aside my gaiters." ["The Clock," 73]

Commentary: Reiterating the Introduction of Mr. Pickwick

In the accompanying illustration by Phiz, the headpiece for the chapter, The Proceedings of the Club, Mr. Pickwick and Master Humphrey are the figures on the left. However, the initial letter vignette seems to allude to Dickens's earlier introduction of Mr. Pickwick when he calls at Master Humphrey's house with the request that he be admitted to the editor's story-telling circle. Thus, the vignette repeats or reiterates the scene which Phiz illustrated for Chapter III, Mr. Pickwick introduces himself to Master Humphrey (p. 49), even as it realizes the opening lines of this chapter, with the friends' climbing the steps of Master Humphrey's home together.

Other Illustrated Editions of Master Humphrey's Clock

Bibliography

Cohen, Jane Rabb. "George Cattermole." Charles Dickens and His Original Illustrators. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio U. P., 1980. Pp. 125-134.

Davis, Paul. "Master Humphrey's Clock." Charles Dickens A to Z: The Essential Reference to his Life and Work. New York: Facts On File, 1998. P. 238.

Dickens, Charles. Master Humphrey's Clock. Illustrated by George Cattermole and Hablot Knight Browne ('Phiz'). London: Chapman and Hall, 4 April 1840 — 4 December 1841.

_______. Master Humphrey's Clock. The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Reprinted Pieces, and Other Stories. With thirty illustrations by L. Fildes, E. G. Dalziel, and F. Barnard. The Household Edition. London: Chapman and Hall, 1872. Vol. XX. Pp. 253-306.

_______. Master Humphrey's Clock and Pictures from Italy. With eight illustrations by W. H. C. Groome. Collins Pocket Editions. London and Glasgow: Collins Clear-type Press, 1907. Vol. XLIX. Pp. 1-168.

_______. Barnaby Rudge and Master Humphrey's Clock. Illustrated by Harry Furniss. Charles Dickens Library Edition. Volume VI. London: Educational Book, 1910.

Hammerton, J. A. The Dickens Picture Book: A Record of the Dickens Illustrators. Ch. XIV. "Master Humphrey's Clock." The Charles Dickens Library. London: Educational Book Co., 1910. Pp. 259-265.

Patten, Robert L. "Cattermole, George." In Schlicke, Paul, ed. The Oxford Reader's Companion to Dickens. Oxford: Oxford U. P., 1999. Pp. 68-69.

Vann, J. Don. "The Old Curiosity Shop in Master Humphrey's Clock, 25 April 1840 — 6 February 1841." Victorian Novels in Serial. New York: Modern Language Association, 1985. Pp. 64-65.

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Created 30 August 2022