rally dictated extreme vanity and coften by that instant E time feeling which prompt the soul of man to soutet k records of his life her the den and mu scan of oblivion Man is MRS. BROWNING'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY WRITTEN AT FIFTEEN - character Her own life LABEL IN THE HANDWRITING OF ROBERT BROWNING [NUMBER 108] FIRST EDITION. With autograph and note by R. H. Horne on title of the first volume. These volumes are the ones used by Mr. Forman in his revision of the text, and contain profuse notes, both marginal and inserted, in his hand. MOST INTERESTING VOLUMES. 106. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT). The Battle of Marathon. A Poem written in early Youth by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Printed for her Father in 1820 and now reprinted in type-facsimile. With an Introduction by H. Buxton Forman. 8vo, full polished calf, gilt back, uncut. London: For Private Distribution only, 1891 THESE ARE THE PROOF SHEETS OF THE REPRINT OF THE EXCESSIVELY RARE ORIGINAL, OF WHICH BUT FOUR OR FIVE COPIES ARE KNOWN. There are numerous manuscript corrections by Mr. Forman and Mr. Wise, with a note by the latter asking for a speedy revise. Only 50 copies of this reprint were issued. 107. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT). The Battle of Marathon. A Poem. Written in Early Youth by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. With an Introduction by H. Buxton Forman. 8vo, boards, paper label, uncut. London: For Private Distribution only, 1891 ONE OF FOUR COPIES ON VELLUM. Printed for her father in 1820 and now reprinted in type-facsimile. JUVENILE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING 108. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT). Autograph Manuscript of an early Autobiography, written on 80 pages of small 12mo size, stitched with thread. This extremely interesting little manuscript is headed "My Own Life," and is entirely in the handwriting of Elizabeth Barrett, then in her fifteenth year. The precocious autobiograph begins: "To be one's own chronicler is a task generally dictated by extreme vanity and often by that instinctive feeling which prompts the soul of man to snatch the records of his life from the dun and misty ocean of oblivion.' There is a delightfully naive quality throughout the narrative, such as 'At seven I began to think of forming my taste-perhaps I did not express my thoughts in those refined words," etc. Later on we find "During this dangerous period I was from home & the fever of a heated imagina tion was perhaps increased by the intoxicating gaities of a watering place. Ramsgate, where we then were and where I commenced my poem THE BATTLE OF MARATHON, now in print. When we came home one day, after having written a page of poetry which I considered models of beauty, I ran down to the library to seek Pope's Homer in order to compare them that I might enjoy my own superiority. I can never think of this instance of the intoxication of vanity without smiling at my childish folly & rediculous vanity." Surely nothing so interesting relating to this great English writer has been offered for sale heretofore. The manuscript is enclosed in a wrapper endorsed by Robert Browning: "Her own life & character to her 15th year." [SEE ILLUSTRATION.] LETTERS OF ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING TO R. H. HORNE 109. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT). Forty-five Autograph Letters, signed, from Elizabeth Barrett to R. H. Horne, together with 3 envelopes addressed by her, 4 Autograph Letters of S. R. Townshend Mayer in regard to the publication of the Letters, Agreement and statement of Account of their publication (partly in Robert Browning's handwriting), and 2 letters from Messrs. Bentley about them. This important correspondence was written between May, 1840, and September, 1845, and deal largely with her own literary work, including the projected drama "Psyche Apocalypte," which she was writing in collaboration with Horne. In one, dated March, 1841, she writes: Do you know Mr. Browning? I do not—but I respect his powers enough to feel some regret that he sh'd wait as patiently at the stage door as if Apollo & Mr. Macready were one and the same. In another, of May, 1843, we find: "Browning however stands high with me-I want very much to know what you mean by his 'worst fault' which you have not touched upon? Will you tell me in confidence, & I will promise never to divulge if you make a condition of secresy. Mr. Browning knows thoroughly what a poet's true work is he is learned, not only in profane learning, but in the conduct of his genius-he is original in common things his very obscurities have an oracular nobleness about them which pleases me his passion burns the paper.' Most of the letters are long -one of them having 19 pages and all of the contemporary men and women of letters are touched upon in most interesting ways. 110. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT) and HORNE (RICHARD HENGIST). Autograph Manuscript, with heading, "Alfred Tennyson." Written on 39 pages of various sizes, some of which are inlaid. 4to, full brown levant morocco, gilt inside borders, by Tout. This essay appeared as one of the series of biographical sketches in "A New Spirit of the Age." Mrs. Browning wrote four of the 39 pages and curiously enough, these appear in different places, as if they had supplanted certain passages by Horne. A small autograph letter by Miss Barrett is inlaid before the text, in which she writes: "I send you an 'Opinion' on Tennyson. Use it or do not use it. He is a divine poet; but I have found it difficult (in the examination of my own thoughts of him) to analyze his divinity & to determine (even to myself) his particular aspect as a writer. What is the reason for it? It never struck me before. A true and divine poet never the less." MANUSCRIPT ESSAY ON THOMAS CARLYLE, BY ELIZABETH B. BROWNING AND RICHARD HENGIST HORNE 111. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT) and HORNE (RICHARD HENGIST). Autograph Manuscript, with heading, "CARLYLE." 29 pages of various sizes; 11 in the handwriting of Elizabeth Barrett and 18 in that of R. H. Horne. Inlaid to 4to and bound in full brown levant morocco, inside gilt borders, by Tout. It is not generally known that Elizabeth Barrett contributed so much to this essay on Carlyle, which appeared as one of a very interesting PAULIN E; FRAGMENT OF A CONFESSION. Plus ne suis ce que j'ai été, MAROT. LONDON: SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET. 1833. AN IMMACULATE COPY OF THIS EXCESSIVELY RARE BOOK [NUMBER 114] collection of critical essays on distinguished contemporaries under the title of "A New Spirit of the Age. The first five pages of the manuscript are hers, and indeed, the most important part of the article seem to be her work. A note by Mr. Forman is with the manuscript, and he writes: "Called on R. H. Horne, who told me a great deal that was interesting. That Mrs. Browning (then Miss Barrett) helped him considerably in the chapters on Carlyle, Tennyson, Landor, Wordsworth, and Leigh Hunt,-contributed some of the best passages in those chapters.'' ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF "PSYCHE APOCALYPTE" BY 112. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT) and HORNE (R. H.). Original Manuscript, in the handwriting of R. H. Horne, with marginal notes for Mrs. Browning, asking her to fill in places; 18 pages, 4to; Early sketch of the proposed drama, in the handwriting of Elizabeth Barrett, 6 pages, 12 mo; Another draft in the same handwriting, 8 pages, 12 mo; Manuscript Notes by R. H. Horne, 4 pieces; Copy of the printed pamphlet, 1876, with corrections for the printer; Another copy, with presentation inscription from Horne to Buxton Forman. A particularly interesting lot of autograph material, being all that was written of the proposed Lyrical Drama: "Psyche Apocalypté.'' In relation to Elizabeth Barrett's part of it, Horne writes in the preface to the privately printed fragment which was issued in 1876: 66 it is necessary to state at the outset (in order to prevent all disappointments to her far-and-near admirers) that the Drama was never written, nor was any one scene of it put into verse. A few fragmentary lines only were jotted down, here and there." WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTERS OF ELIZABETH AND ROBERT 113. BROWNING (ELIZABETH BARRETT AND ROBERT). Two Poems. 8vo, full olive levant morocco, Jansen style, gilt top, original wrappers bound in, by Tout. London, 1854 That A SUPERB COPY OF THE VERY RARE FIRST EDITION, and of especial interest as there have been inserted letters from both of the authors. of Mrs. Browning is 2pp. 12mo, a fine friendly letter to R. H. Horne, written for herself and her husband just prior to their leaving England for Paris, and signed by her "Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The letter of Robert Browning, 1p. 8vo, is to Mr. Forman and relates to this little brochure. FIRST EDITION OF BROWNING'S "PAULINE" IN ITS PRISTINE STATE 114. BROWNING (ROBERT). Pauline. A Fragment of a 2,560 Confession. 8vo, ORIGINAL BOARDS, PAPER LABEL, UNCUT. London: Saunders & Otley, 1833 FIRST EDITION, IN ITS PRISTINE STATE, OF BROWNING'S FIRST PUBLICATION, AND OF EXCESSIVE RARITY, ONLY ELEVEN COPIES KNOWN TO EXIST, BUT NOT ALL IN THEIR ORIGINAL STATE, AS IS THE PRESENT COPY. [SEE ILLUSTRATION.] |