Details
[Scott, Sir Walter (1771-1832) -- FORGERY]. A forgery by Alexander Howland ('Antique') Smith, purporting to be a letter from Scott to John Ballantyne, Abbotsford, January 1814, sending over the manuscript of Waverly -- 'I send you an MS which is rather a longish one and if you could get it copied for me I would feel obliged', half page, 4to, integral address leaf 'to be delivered with parcel'.
The Waverley letter is one of the best known of 'Antique' Smith's skillful forgeries of Scott letters, and shows the characteristics of his style, including the unusually thick paper, the use of delivery by hand to circumvent postmarks, and the dotting of the i far to the right, where Scott rarely dots the letter. The letter has occasionally been cited as authentic.
The Waverley letter is one of the best known of 'Antique' Smith's skillful forgeries of Scott letters, and shows the characteristics of his style, including the unusually thick paper, the use of delivery by hand to circumvent postmarks, and the dotting of the i far to the right, where Scott rarely dots the letter. The letter has occasionally been cited as authentic.
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