London, December 15, 1869. Autograph envelope, signed and addressed by Charles Dickens to author and journalist Edmund Yates ("Edmund Yates Esquire / Central Post Office / St Martins Le Grand / Charles Dickens"); Dickens engraved initials on rear flap. Tipped onto front paste-down of first edition of Speech of Charles Dickens, Esq., Delivered at the Meeting of the Administrative Reform Association, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Wednesday, June 27, 1855 (London: Effingham Wilson, 1855). Three-quarter tan calf over dark blue cloth-covered boards; book-plate of Walter Flinn on front paste-down.

An autograph envelope, addressed by Dickens to his friend and fellow author and journalist Edmund Yates (1831-94). The son of actors Frederick and Elizabeth Yates, Edmund and Dickens first met in 1854, and quickly became close friends and frequent correspondents. Yates was the author of 15 novels, and also made contributions to the Court Journal, the lllustrated London News, Bentley's Miscellany, Chambers', Welcome Guest; wrote the gossip column for Illustrated Times and for the Morning Star; was the drama critic of the Daily News; correspondent for the New York Herald. He also served as editor of the Train, from 1856-1858, and was the co-founder of the World, 1874.