Incredibly lavish exhibition catalogue and prospectus for the sale of the fine restored oil painting of the young Charles Dickens lost for more than a hundred years and recovered in mouldy condition in in a box of junk at a clearance sale in South Africa.  Painted by Margaret Gillies in 1843 the original was known only from a drawn and engraved black & white copy made shortly after the original portrait was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844.  This publication is richly illustrated throughout with colour photographs of Dickensiana and documents relating to the artist to whom a chapter is devoted alongside a further chapter on Dickens' milieu as he was about to become world famous through the publication of 'A Christmas Carol' .  The possible provenance trail from its loss to its rediscovery in South Africa is reconstructed and the likely associated individuals identified.  Large paperback on heavy art paper in crimson gilt stamped wrapper.  50 pages.  In pristine new condition.  This copy includes, as a loose insert, the large illustrated card issued by The Charles Dickens Museum in a bid to raise the £180,000 required to acquire the portrait for the Museum (with a successful result).  Cat No 4529