Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens - Undated

You get one antique Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens hardcover book published by the Mechanics' Institute in the United Kingdom. It does not come with a dust jacket. This item is in English. This book has "Mechanics Institutes" stamping on the leather spine and also an ink stamp within. This is a great association because of the nature of Dickens' mission. Mechanics' institutes, also known as mechanics' institutions, sometimes simply known as institutes, and also called schools of arts (especially in the Australian colonies), were educational establishments originally formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men in Victorian-era Britain and its colonies. They were often funded by local industrialists on the grounds that they would ultimately benefit from having more knowledgeable and skilled employees. The mechanics' institutes often included libraries for the adult working class, and were said to provide them with an alternative pastime to gambling and drinking in pubs. This antique book is in poor condition with wear to its covers and edges. The covers are half leather with a leather spine and leather corner tips. The spine is cracked, but there are no loose pages. There is some pencil writing on the inside of each cover. The frontispiece and title page are missing. The pages have some foxing throughout and there is an old collectible Seattle bookseller's bookplate on page 235, This item is 7.25 inches tall by 5 inches wide. These measurements are approximations to give you an idea of the size of the book. Please see all pictures.