Some of the outstanding illustrators and artists of the day were recruited to provide images for the novels, often producing illustrations at short notice for forthcoming chapters. Dickens's first writing commission was to provide text for prints by Robert Seymour (1800-1836), who created the first set of images for what became The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (1837).
'The Sagacious Dog', etched illustration by Robert Seymour for The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens, 1836-37. Museum no. E824-1972
'Mr. Pickwick addresses the Club', etched illustration by Robert Seymour for The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens, 1836-37. Museum no. E.822-1972
'The Pugnacious Cabman', etched illustration by Robert Seymour for The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dicken, 1836-37. Museum no. E.823-1972
'Dr. Slammer's Defiance of Jingle', etched illustration by Robert Seymour for The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club by Charles Dickens, 1836-37. Museum no. E.825-1972