Charles Dickens's
Traveling Kit

Charles Dickens's traveling cutlery kit
Ivory and metal
Rare Book & Special Collections Division
Gift of John Batchelder, 1936 (181D.5)

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) made two trips to America. His 1842 trip resulted in his travel book American Notes (1842) and the novel Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-1844). Both publications with their unfavorable characterizations of the United States outraged Americans. His second visit, from December 1867 to April 1868, was a highly successful reading tour of his works. His traveling cutlery kit from that time is marked with his initials.