2017-02-07 Tue

The creator of some of the world’s most famous fictional characters, Charles Dickens, was born on 7th February 1812!

Charles Dickens is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works gained unprecedented popularity even during his lifetime and are still enjoyed by all! Over the course of his writing career, he wrote many beloved and famous classic novels such as: Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations.

Dickens's literary success began in 1836 with the publication of The Pickwick Papers in a projected series of "cockney sporting plates", illustrated by Robert Seymour, by the London publishers, Messrs. Chapman and Hall. Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age.

Many countries have honoured this legendary English Novelist of the Victorian era on their stamps. Dickens’ novels and stories are so famous that stamps featuring his fictional characters are also issued!
The Gibraltar set of stamps were issued on 14 September 2012 commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist is possibly Dickens’ most famous novel and we find Oliver on the 42 pence stamp. The 10 pence stamp is devoted to David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities an historical novel of adventure is depicted on Gibraltar’s 44 pence stamp and A Christmas Carol on a high value 2 pounds stamp.

There are a host of stamps issued by the Royal Mail too. To commemorate the bicentenary of Dickens’ birth Royal Mail celebrated his life and work of with ten new stamps. The stamps feature iconic characters from some of Dickens’ most famous novels. Royal Mail also issued a miniature sheet of four stamps of illustrations by Hablot Knight Brown (known as Phiz), who illustrated ten books by Dickens.

“Please Sir, I want some more” –Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist)

Every time we read the works of this literary genius we end up thinking this! Today let’s celebrate Dickens’ birth anniversary by indulging in his rich literary works!