Charles Dickens' writing desk and chair sell for £433,250 at Christie's with proceeds benefiting Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
Charles Dickens’ writing desk and chair, at which the great author penned a number of his later novels and short stories including the epic Great Expectations, was sold on 4 June 2008 for £433,250 / $847,004 / €548,495 at the auction of Valuable Books and Manuscripts at Christie’s in London (pre-sale estimate: £50,000-£80,000).
The desk and chair had passed by family descent to Christopher Charles Dickens (1937-1999) and his wife Jeanne–Marie Dickens, Countess Wenckheim, and were recently gifted to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital by Jeanne-Marie Dickens in order that they could be sold to raise funds. It was bought by a private Irish collector in the saleroom.
