As with some other images, I was surprised that good quality reproductions of images by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne) were not more readily available for free. Being public domain and all, and having existed for almost 200 years, one would think they would be easier to find. He illustrated a number of Charles Dickens’ works, and although I found some samples on the internet there are few if any complete collections. This is a start, at least.

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, AKA The Pickwick Papers, was published serially in 1836-1837, and the first complete edition soon followed. I must confess that I have never read the complete book. The chapters are related, but reflecting their origin the are able to be read and enjoyed individually to a degree.

There is a good biography of Phiz at The Victorian Web.

These images are from a late 19th century reprint, although there were seemingly hundreds of editions produced from the mid 19th century and on (I’m sure someone has tallied them all). The entire book (an early 20th century edition) is digitized at Google Books HERE.

Title: The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club
Author: Charles Dickens
Artist: Phiz
Publisher: Chapman and Hall
Date Published: 1836

Below is a sampling of the images I have made available for free in the GALLERY. There are 43 image in total, all available for download at no cost in various high resolution sizes.

Frontispiece

Vignette Title Detail

Winkle Soothes the Refractory Mare

The Fat Boy Awake

Wardle and His Friends Under the Influence of The Salmon

The Unexpected Breaking-Up the Seminary of the Seminary for Young Ladies

Pickwick in the Pound

The Goblin and the Sexton

The Red-Nosed Man Discourseth

The Ghostly Passengers in the Ghost of a Mail

The Rival Editors

Weller and his Friends Drinking to Mr. Pell