New York City, Dec 16 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A toothpick, which once belonged to the legendary author Charles Dickens, has sold for a whopping $9,150. It was an ivory and a gold toothpick that once belonged to Charles Dickens. It is also engraved with the author’s initials.

It was put up by auction by the heirs to the Barnes & Noble family. An authentication letter says the British author of `A Christmas Carol” and “Oliver Twist” used the toothpick on his last visit to America, in the late 1800s. It was auctioned in New York City and Ebenezer Scrooge bought it.

Charles Dickens is well known for his novels like ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Oliver Twist.’

Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 and he died on 9 June 1870. His pen name was “Boz”, and he was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and one of the most popular of all time. He created some of literature’s most iconic characters, with the theme of social reform running throughout his work. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they are published even today, in modern times.

Much of his work first appeared in periodicals and magazines the form of a recurring serial, which was a popular way of publishing fiction at the time. Other writers would complete entire novels before serial publication commenced, but Dickens often wrote his in parts, in the order they were meant to appear. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by one “cliffhanger” after another, to keep the public eager for the next installment.