Help Save The Charles Dickens Coventry Letter
Donation protected
We have ONLY FIVE DAYS to save the famous letter written by Charles Dickens about his Christmas visit to Coventry.
We will donate it to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum for the people of Coventry to enjoy forever.
It will be sold at Christies on 15 December 2021:
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6352246
The letter is a unique part of Coventry’s history, heritage, and culture by one of the greatest writers of all time. Let’s all come together to stop the letter from going abroad or into a private collection - and give the people of Coventry the best Christmas present EVER!
We need your help! Please donate and help spread the word!
This letter belongs in Coventry for the people of Coventry and together we can make that happen!
HISTORY OF THE CHARLES DICKENS COVENTRY LETTER
Charles Dickens came to Coventry just before Christmas on 15 December 1857 to give a public reading of A Christmas Carol. He had been invited by the Coventry MP Sir Joseph Paxton. He performed at the Corn Exchange in Hereford Street (a building opposite the old Post Office). He did this to raise money for the Coventry Institute which was founded to help working-class people study literature and science. He raised £50!
The following Christmas time, on 4 December 1858, Charles Dickens returned to Coventry to attend a dinner that had been organised to thank him for raising money for the working-class people of Coventry the previous year. That dinner took place at the Castle Hotel on Broadgate (which stood at the top of the ramp where Primark is today).
After the dinner, Charles Dickens then wrote this famous Coventry letter to Joseph Paxton MP which detailed his hilarious trip to Coventry and all of the politicking and shenanigans that happened at that Christmastime dinner held in his honour!
The letter has been published in The Pilgrim Edition of the Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 8: 1856-1858 (1995), pp.714-6.
CONTENTS OF THE CHARLES DICKENS COVENTRY LETTER
The context and content of the letter are set out in summary by Christie’s in the sale description on their website:
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6352246
That link also contains photographs of the letter and other useful information about its history and significance.
THE LETTER IS BEING SOLD AT CHRISTIE’S - SOON!
Here is the sale listing:
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6352246
The estimate is £4,000 - £6,000. It could go for more, especially because the world’s media has been writing about the letter (see links below). Even if the hammer fell at those prices we would still need to add an additional 25% to pay the Christie’s Buyers Premium and then VAT at 20%. That’s why we initially estimate £15,000 would give us a good chance of getting the letter for the people of Coventry. The more we can raise, the better the chance we have of winning!
HOW YOU CAN HELP!
- Please donate as much as you can spare
- Post a link to this GoFundMe page on all of your social media accounts
- Let everyone you know on social media about the fundraising and ask for help
- Join our Twitter @dickenscoventry
- Tag, message, post, or @ any person or business who is connected with Coventry with a link to ask for their help
- Ask anyone with a large following or who works in the Media if they will help us spread the word and save the letter for our City!
- Use the hashtag #saveourdickensletter and let’s get it trending!
THE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT THE CHARLES DICKENS COVENTRY LETTER
The BBC, Reuters, and other media outlets from all over the world have already written articles about the Charles Dickens Coventry letter coming up for sale (see links at the bottom of the page). That probably means we might have a lot of competition to get it. But with your help, we think we can do it! Please be as generous as possible!
IF WE WIN/LOSE
If win the letter, we will collect it from Christie’s and deliver it to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry where it can be shared with the people of Coventry and its visitors forever, and any surplus amount raised will also be donated to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
If we lose, all amounts raised will also be donated to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
In other words, all donations will go to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum either as part of the purchase price of the letter or as a donation.
LINKS TO MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE LETTER
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-59497322
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-life-2021-12-01/
MSN
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-to-life/ar-AARm8Zs
USA
https://list23.com/417812-dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-to-life/
France
https://www.nouvelles-du-monde.com/une-lettre-de-dickens-donne-vie-au-drame-dun-diner-victorien/
Hungary
https://kultura.hu/dickens-levelre-lehet-licitalni-egy-londoni-arveresen/
https://konyvesmagazin.hu/konyves_advent/charles_dickens_vacsora_level_arveres.html
India
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/heres-your-chance-to-read-the-four-page-handwritten-letter-by-charles-dickens/articleshow/88056401.cms?from=mdr
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/charles-dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-to-life-7654298/
https://indianewsrepublic.com/this-is-your-chance-to-read-a-four-page-handwritten-letter-by-charles-dickens/566344/
Indonesia (contains video)
https://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya-hidup/20211202145126-281-729037/video-surat-peninggalan-charles-dickens-bakal-dilelang-di-london
Italy
https://www.stiri247.ro/o-scrisoare-amicala-semnata-de-charles-dickens-urmeaza-sa-fie-scoasa-la-licitatie-pe-15-decembrie-de-casa-christies-la-londra
https://www.historia.ro/sectiune/actualitate/articol/o-scrisoare-semnata-de-charles-dickens-scoasa-la-licitatie-la-londra
https://www.isolanews.net/la-lettera-di-charles-dickens-da-vita-al-dramma-della-cena-vittoriana/
Middle East
https://thelevantnews.com/en/2021/12/letter-written-by-charles-dickens-while-touring-britain-set-to-go-up-for-auction/
Opera News (Global)
https://www.dailyadvent.com/news/f03a292173137fd235a26fdaa17a8aa3-Dickens-letter-brings-Victorian-dinner-drama-to-life
Romania
https://www.stiripesurse.ro/o-scrisoare-amicala-semnata-de-charles-dickens-urmeaza-sa-fie-scoasa-la-licitatie-pe-15-decembrie-de-casa-christies-la-londra_2123515.html
https://www.astazi.ro/stiri/stire-o-scrisoare-splendida-scrisa-intr-un-limbaj-colorat-vedeta-de-licitatie-la-londra-258928654.html
https://www.historia.ro/sectiune/actualitate/articol/o-scrisoare-semnata-de-charles-dickens-scoasa-la-licitatie-la-londra
Slovakia
https://parameter.sk/nemsokara-kiderul-mennyit-er-vilaghiru-iro-charles-dickens-maganlevele
South Africa
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/lifestyle/2021-12-02-great-expectations-as-dickens-letter-goes-on-auction/
Spain (contains video)
https://www.niusdiario.es/cultura/libros/subasta-carta-escrita-charles-dickens-dirigida-arquitecto-crystal-palace-joseph-paxton_18_3244245168.html
Euro
https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/02/uk-auction-dickens-letter
We will donate it to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum for the people of Coventry to enjoy forever.
It will be sold at Christies on 15 December 2021:
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6352246
The letter is a unique part of Coventry’s history, heritage, and culture by one of the greatest writers of all time. Let’s all come together to stop the letter from going abroad or into a private collection - and give the people of Coventry the best Christmas present EVER!
We need your help! Please donate and help spread the word!
This letter belongs in Coventry for the people of Coventry and together we can make that happen!
HISTORY OF THE CHARLES DICKENS COVENTRY LETTER
Charles Dickens came to Coventry just before Christmas on 15 December 1857 to give a public reading of A Christmas Carol. He had been invited by the Coventry MP Sir Joseph Paxton. He performed at the Corn Exchange in Hereford Street (a building opposite the old Post Office). He did this to raise money for the Coventry Institute which was founded to help working-class people study literature and science. He raised £50!
The following Christmas time, on 4 December 1858, Charles Dickens returned to Coventry to attend a dinner that had been organised to thank him for raising money for the working-class people of Coventry the previous year. That dinner took place at the Castle Hotel on Broadgate (which stood at the top of the ramp where Primark is today).
After the dinner, Charles Dickens then wrote this famous Coventry letter to Joseph Paxton MP which detailed his hilarious trip to Coventry and all of the politicking and shenanigans that happened at that Christmastime dinner held in his honour!
The letter has been published in The Pilgrim Edition of the Letters of Charles Dickens, Vol. 8: 1856-1858 (1995), pp.714-6.
CONTENTS OF THE CHARLES DICKENS COVENTRY LETTER
The context and content of the letter are set out in summary by Christie’s in the sale description on their website:
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6352246
That link also contains photographs of the letter and other useful information about its history and significance.
THE LETTER IS BEING SOLD AT CHRISTIE’S - SOON!
Here is the sale listing:
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-6352246
The estimate is £4,000 - £6,000. It could go for more, especially because the world’s media has been writing about the letter (see links below). Even if the hammer fell at those prices we would still need to add an additional 25% to pay the Christie’s Buyers Premium and then VAT at 20%. That’s why we initially estimate £15,000 would give us a good chance of getting the letter for the people of Coventry. The more we can raise, the better the chance we have of winning!
HOW YOU CAN HELP!
- Please donate as much as you can spare
- Post a link to this GoFundMe page on all of your social media accounts
- Let everyone you know on social media about the fundraising and ask for help
- Join our Twitter @dickenscoventry
- Tag, message, post, or @ any person or business who is connected with Coventry with a link to ask for their help
- Ask anyone with a large following or who works in the Media if they will help us spread the word and save the letter for our City!
- Use the hashtag #saveourdickensletter and let’s get it trending!
THE WORLD IS TALKING ABOUT THE CHARLES DICKENS COVENTRY LETTER
The BBC, Reuters, and other media outlets from all over the world have already written articles about the Charles Dickens Coventry letter coming up for sale (see links at the bottom of the page). That probably means we might have a lot of competition to get it. But with your help, we think we can do it! Please be as generous as possible!
IF WE WIN/LOSE
If win the letter, we will collect it from Christie’s and deliver it to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry where it can be shared with the people of Coventry and its visitors forever, and any surplus amount raised will also be donated to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
If we lose, all amounts raised will also be donated to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
In other words, all donations will go to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum either as part of the purchase price of the letter or as a donation.
LINKS TO MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE LETTER
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-59497322
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-life-2021-12-01/
MSN
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-to-life/ar-AARm8Zs
USA
https://list23.com/417812-dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-to-life/
France
https://www.nouvelles-du-monde.com/une-lettre-de-dickens-donne-vie-au-drame-dun-diner-victorien/
Hungary
https://kultura.hu/dickens-levelre-lehet-licitalni-egy-londoni-arveresen/
https://konyvesmagazin.hu/konyves_advent/charles_dickens_vacsora_level_arveres.html
India
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/heres-your-chance-to-read-the-four-page-handwritten-letter-by-charles-dickens/articleshow/88056401.cms?from=mdr
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/charles-dickens-letter-brings-victorian-dinner-drama-to-life-7654298/
https://indianewsrepublic.com/this-is-your-chance-to-read-a-four-page-handwritten-letter-by-charles-dickens/566344/
Indonesia (contains video)
https://www.cnnindonesia.com/gaya-hidup/20211202145126-281-729037/video-surat-peninggalan-charles-dickens-bakal-dilelang-di-london
Italy
https://www.stiri247.ro/o-scrisoare-amicala-semnata-de-charles-dickens-urmeaza-sa-fie-scoasa-la-licitatie-pe-15-decembrie-de-casa-christies-la-londra
https://www.historia.ro/sectiune/actualitate/articol/o-scrisoare-semnata-de-charles-dickens-scoasa-la-licitatie-la-londra
https://www.isolanews.net/la-lettera-di-charles-dickens-da-vita-al-dramma-della-cena-vittoriana/
Middle East
https://thelevantnews.com/en/2021/12/letter-written-by-charles-dickens-while-touring-britain-set-to-go-up-for-auction/
Opera News (Global)
https://www.dailyadvent.com/news/f03a292173137fd235a26fdaa17a8aa3-Dickens-letter-brings-Victorian-dinner-drama-to-life
Romania
https://www.stiripesurse.ro/o-scrisoare-amicala-semnata-de-charles-dickens-urmeaza-sa-fie-scoasa-la-licitatie-pe-15-decembrie-de-casa-christies-la-londra_2123515.html
https://www.astazi.ro/stiri/stire-o-scrisoare-splendida-scrisa-intr-un-limbaj-colorat-vedeta-de-licitatie-la-londra-258928654.html
https://www.historia.ro/sectiune/actualitate/articol/o-scrisoare-semnata-de-charles-dickens-scoasa-la-licitatie-la-londra
Slovakia
https://parameter.sk/nemsokara-kiderul-mennyit-er-vilaghiru-iro-charles-dickens-maganlevele
South Africa
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/lifestyle/2021-12-02-great-expectations-as-dickens-letter-goes-on-auction/
Spain (contains video)
https://www.niusdiario.es/cultura/libros/subasta-carta-escrita-charles-dickens-dirigida-arquitecto-crystal-palace-joseph-paxton_18_3244245168.html
Euro
https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/02/uk-auction-dickens-letter
Organizer
Michael Bates
Organizer
England
