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Stereoscopic Co. 
"Grip" the raven from "Barnaby Rudge" (Front) 
n.d. 
  
Carte de visite 
Stereographica - Antique Photographica 
Courtesy of Bryan and Page Ginns (#16/148) 
  
 
LL/13266 
  
Full quotation from Charles Dickens Barnaby Rudge (Chapter 6) on the obverse.
 
This was a pet raven of the Dickens family and was stuffed and placed in a glass case by the author. The raven is now part of the Poe Collection in The Rare Book collection of The Free Library of Philadelphia.
 
Letter from Charles Dickens to Daniel Maclise on March 12th 1841
 
"You will be greatly shocked and grieved to hear that the raven is no more.. He expired to-day at a few minutes after twelve o'clock, at noon. He had been ailing for a few days, but we anticipated no serious result, conjecturing that a portion of the white paint he swallowed last summer might be lingering about his vitals. Yesterday afternoon he was taken so much worse that I sent an express for the medical gentleman, who promptly attended and administered a powerful dose of castrol oil. Under the influence of this medicine he recovered so far as to be able, at eight o'clock, p.m., to bite Topping (the coachman). His night was peaceful. This morning, at daybreak, he appeared better, and partook plentifully of some warm gruel, the flavor of which he appeared to relish. Toward eleven o'clock he was so much worse that it was found necessary to muffle the stable knocker. At half-past, or thereabouts, he was heard talking to himself about the horse and Topping's family, and to add some incoherent expressions which are supposed to have been either a foreboding of his approaching dissolution or some wishes relative to the disposal of his little property, consisting chiefly of half-pence which he has buried in different parts of the garden. On the clock striking twelve he appeared slightly agitated, but he soon recovered, walked twice or thrice along the coach house, stopped to bark, staggered, and exclaimed "Halloa, old girl!" (his favorite expression) and died.
 
He behaved throughout with decent fortitude, equanimity and self-possession. I deeply regret that, being ignorance of his last instructions. Something remarkable about his eyes occasioned Topping to run for the doctor at twelve. When they returned together, our friend was gone. It was the medical gentleman who informed me of his decease. He did it with caution and delicacy, preparing me by the remark that 'a jolly queer start had taken place.' I am not wholly free from suspicions of poison. A malicious butcher had been heard to say that he would 'do' for him. His plea was that he would not be molested in taking orders down the mews by any bird that wore a tail. Were they ravens who took manna to somebody in the wilderness? At times I hope they were, and at others I fear they were not, or they would certainly have stolen it by the way. Kate is well as can be expected. The children seem rather glad of it. He bit their ankles, but that was in play.

 
Sources:
 
Mamie Dickens My Father as I recall Him (E.P.Dutton & Co. New York 1897), Chapter IV
 
John Forster Life of Charles Dickens (Uitgeverij Diderot, 2005) 
 

 
  
 
  
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