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1905 Dickens Fellowship Portsmouth Concert Programme – Birthplace Branch Ephemera
Offered is an original 1905 concert programme issued by the Birthplace Branch of the The Dickens Fellowship, commemorating the life and literary legacy of Charles Dickens. The event took place on Monday, January 9th, 1905, at the Albert Hall in Portsmouth, the birthplace of Dickens, making this one of the most historically desirable branch issues of the Fellowship.
The programme documents a New Year Concert performed by The Portsmouth Pierrots, with full musical content listed across two parts, including solos, trios, choruses, and a musical monologue. It closes with “God Save the King,” firmly placing the piece in the Edwardian period. Throughout the programme are printed quotations drawn directly from Dickens’ works, including Little Dorrit, Bleak House, The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, and David Copperfield, underscoring its official commemorative purpose.
The reverse side contains important institutional text detailing the mission, membership structure, library operations, and charitable work of the Dickens Fellowship, including organized relief for children and the blind. Period handwritten financial and membership notations remain present, adding further authenticity and archival character.
This is not a generic music handbill but a true piece of early Dickens Fellowship institutional ephemera, issued only three years after the organization was founded and from its most important location.
Size: approximately 10 x 8 inches.
Format: single-sheet, printed on both sides.
Condition:
Original 1905 paper sheet with age toning throughout, visible fold lines from original use, light edge and corner wear, and minor handling marks consistent with age. No major paper loss or large tears observed. Overall condition is Good to Very Good for early Edwardian ephemera. Please review all images carefully as they form the primary condition description.
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