Victorian Novelty Silver Figural Bookmark Charles Dickens 'Sam Weller'

WILLIAM RICHARD CORKE, London 1894
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A rare Victorian novelty silver figural Bookmark depicting the character of Sam Weller from Charles Dickens's novel 'The Pickwick Papers', of flat cut-out form with engraved decoration depicting the character of Sam Weller brushing a boot and wearing his distinctive red striped waistcoat and red handkerchief around his neck. Engraved to the reverse with his famous quote ""Will e ave em now, or when e gets em"".

By William Richard Corke, London, 1894.

Also stamped with the retailers mark of A Barratt & Sons of Piccadily, London.

£650.00

Condition
In good condition with no damage or repair
Dimensions
H
111 mm (4.37 inches)
W
41 mm (1.61 inches)
Weight
19.00 Grams (0.61 troy ounces)
Country
England
Stock Code
LR011017
Medium
Silver
Literature
Sam Weller is a fictional character in The Pickwick Papers, the first novel by Charles Dickens, and is the character that made Dickens famous. Weller first appeared in the tenth serialised episode. Previously the monthly parts of the book had been doing badly—the humour of the character transformed the book into a publishing phenomenon. Weller's way of quoting people has led to the wellerism, often a type of proverb.

In chapter 10 of the novel, the eponymous hero Mr. Pickwick meets Sam Weller working at the White Hart Inn in The Borough and soon takes him on as a personal servant and companion on his travels. The relationship between the idealistic and unworldly Pickwick and the astute cockney Weller has been likened to that between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.