[Signed] Twelve original character studies from Oliver Twist Dickens, Charles; Kyd (pseudonym of Joseph Clayton Clark, illustrator) [Near Fine]

Twelve fine original pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings illustrating Oliver Twist, signed by the artist. Quarto (11 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches; 286 x 225 mm). Done on fine laid paper. Original blue wrappers with ""12 Original Character Studies from 'Oliver Twist' Drawn in colors by 'Kyd'"" in ink manuscript on front wrapper. Wrappers expertly repaired. Housed in a green cloth portfolio. The Toby Crackit plate a little browned on margins. Near Fine. Kyd has faithfully recreated some of the immortal and lovable characters from one of Charles Dickens' most famous novels. The characters of the novel here represented are Oliver Twist, Fagin, Nancy, Bill Sikes, Mr. Bumble, the Artful Dodger, Charley Bates, Noah Claypole, Toby Crackit, Mr. Sowerberry, Mr. Grimwig, and Mr. Brownlow. Joseph Clayton Clark, a.k.a. ""Kyd"" (1856 - 1937), worked as a freelance artist with a particular affection for Dickens, his Dickens illustrations first appearing in 1887 in Fleet Street Magazine, with two collections soon to follow: The Characters of Charles Dickens (1889) and Some Well Known Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens (1892). Beginning in the 1920s, he earned his living from watercolor sketches, mainly of Dickens characters, which he sold to and through the London book trade. Frederic G. Kitton gives him early notice in his classic text, Dickens and His Illustrators (1890); Kyd s watercolors were at that date already being avidly bought by major Dickens collectors (Kitton, p. 233). ""As a character Kyd emulated those of Dickens and his own illustrations slightly larger than life. In his style and dress he was mildly flamboyant for the period He seldom varied his attire from a grey suit, spats, homburg hat, gloves and was never without a carnation or substitute flower in his button hole"" (Sawyer, Kyd, p. 7). Near Fine.