Magnificent large 5.5 x 7.5 albumen portrait of Dickens taken by Herbert Watkins of London in 1858, affixed to its original 9.5 x 11.25 mount, signed on the mount in ink, "Charles Dickens." Also bears an ink collector's notation to the lower left, "This Portrait belonged to Albert Smith and was bought at the sale of his widow's effects, June 1870." Nicely mounted and framed. In very good to fine condition, with restoration to the edges of the mount, and general light overall irregular toning. Albert Richard Smith was an author and lecturer who adapted two of Dickens's works for the stage, The Cricket on the Hearth (1845) and The Battle of Life (1846). A simply remarkable example of a Dickens signed photo, rarely found in such a large size.