Dickens (Charles).- Mr Harley Will in the Character of Mr. Pickwick Make his First Visit to the St. James's Theatre, And relate, to a Scotch Air, his Experiences of "A White Bait Dinner at Blackwall" edited expressly for him by his biographer "Boz!"... This Evening, Monday, March 13th, 1837... After which, an original Comic Burletta, in One Act, Written by Boz, called Is She His Wife? Or, Something Singular!... The whole to conclude with, (by Particular Desire) for the 58th & Last Night this Season, The Strange Gentleman', playbill, printed on both sides with central fold, split along fold, fraying and creasing to margins, 335 x 210mm., 13th March, 1837.

⁂ A rare piece of Pickwickiana, the first appearance of Pickwick as a theatrical character.

Following the success of The Strange Gentleman, John Harley requested that Dickens write a new piece for theatre. Dickens, in the midst of writing The Pickwick Papers and in the planning stages for what would become Oliver Twist, declined but instead offered up a piece he had written some years before named Cross Purposes which was re-titled Is She His Wife? Or, Something Singular! and debuted at St James's Theatre on 3rd March 1837. Ten days later a benefit night was held for John Harley at the theatre which included a specially written monologue (now sadly lost) by Dickens for Harley in character as Pickwick, as well as performances of Is She Called His Wife? and The Strange Gentleman.