Grangerised extra-illustrated signed presentation 1st ed. 1918 The Dickens Circle by J.W. T. Ley. Grangerized by Dickensian William Miller

Grangerised (extra-illustrated) with over 300 extra plates, a first edition The Dickens Circle by J.W. T. Ley, presentation copy to William Miller, the author's fellow Dickens Fellowship co-founder. Presumably, William Miller grangerised the work, having each of Ley's leaves mounted, and then adding over 300 plates.

The most notable extra additions seem to be an 1864 clipping of Dicken's Thackeray Memoriam in Cornhill, a 1916 Francesco Berger (friend of Dickens) letter and a series of high-quality prints of Dickens family photos.

I recognize other plates from publications like Heath's Book of Beauty.

About the Author -

Ley was a long-time member of the Dickens Fellowship, and the Oxford Reference states, "author of the first detailed study of the novelist's friendships, The Dickens Circle, and a prolific contributor to the Dickensian".

On the blank front endpaper of this copy, Ley wrote, "In Memory of Old Days in London: to William Miller, an old Dickensian friend + fellow (?), too, I present this book. J W T Ley, Oct. 16, 1918."

About William Miller -

William Miller was a founding member of the Dickensian. From Miller's 1958 Dickensian obituary:

"His services to (the Dickensian) were many and varied. He acted as secretary to the first Dickens Exhibition 1903. He was elected to the committee to launch The Dickensian in 1904..."

The World on Dickens states, "Mr. William Miller needs no introduction... as the most indefatigable collector of Dickensiana of every description, as Honorary Librarian to the Fellowship, as the expert..."

In the preface to this (The Dickens Circle) book, Ley states, "Mr. William Miller, another old Dickensian friend, has answered many inquiries out of his marvellous store of knowledge, and loaned me books."

In 1946 William Miller published The Dickens Student and Collector; A List of Writings Relating to Charles Dickens and his Works, a long-needed bibliography of Dickens centered works, the previous being completed in 1886 by Fred G. Kitton.

Bibliographic Details -

First edition of Ley's The Dickens Circle; a presentation copy, signed by Ley and given to a fellow Dickensian.

Physical Attributes -

Clamshell box measures approx. 32 x 26 x 13 cm. Each leaf measures approximately 23 x 28 cm. I didn't want to write on the plates, and without numbering them I counted 306 extra plates. I did note that in about 4 examples the portrait in the book was replaced by a grander portrait of the same subject.

Condition -

See pictures. Box has a few small bumps at edges but mostly very nice. Every leaf mounted in a frame. Occasional annotation ("vol 1, 2, underline, strike-through/correction/etc.). Extra-illustrated leaves have a graphite name written on each one. Some few pages have rust spots (see title page). Some lesser portraits from the print version replaced by more impressive (or original) portraits.