![BYRON, George Gordon Noel, Lord. Proof leaf for The Bride of Abydos: A Turkish Tale WITH SIX LINES OF VERSE INSERTED IN HIS HAND, n.p., n.d. [1813]. 2 pages, 8vo, 8¼ x 5½ in. (210 x 139mm.) comprising pp.45-46, enclosed in protective cloth folder.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2001/NYR/2001_NYR_09652_0193_000(025622).jpg?w=1)
The Byron Collection of Francis Lewis Randolph (1951-1974)
(Lots 193-218)
Francis Lewis Randolph was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 1951 to parents who quickly identified and encouraged his collecting tastes. Frank, as he was known to those close to him, began to fulfill his tendencies at nine when he decided to collect ancient Egyptian artifacts. His interest in ancient civilizations deepened throughout his teenage years and at fourteen, no longer satisfied scouring through dealers' shops, he joined an expedition in Italy to spend a summer sifting through Etruscan shards. Randolph was at the same time devouring literature at an amazing rate. At a friend's house, he was allowed to sit at Lord Byron's own writing-desk, an event which elevated that great poet above all others in Randolph's world-view. Randolph quickly realized that Byron was a difficult author to collect, his books being available in numerous editions, issues, states and variants. Randolph rose to the challenge, however, and amassed the distinguished Byron collection that is here offered. Randolph established the Byron Society of America, published its Journal and organized the important exhibition of Byroniana at the University of Pennsylvania to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the poet's death. While he attended Swarthmore and Princeton, he pursued his desire to compile a new and comprehensive Byron bibliography, updating that of Thomas J. Wise from 1932-33. The work unfortunately was left incomplete when Randolph died suddenly at the age of 22.
BYRON, George Gordon Noel, Lord. Proof leaf for The Bride of Abydos: A Turkish Tale WITH SIX LINES OF VERSE INSERTED IN HIS HAND, n.p., n.d. [1813]. 2 pages, 8vo, 8¼ x 5½ in. (210 x 139mm.) comprising pp.45-46, enclosed in protective cloth folder.
Details
BYRON, George Gordon Noel, Lord. Proof leaf for The Bride of Abydos: A Turkish Tale WITH SIX LINES OF VERSE INSERTED IN HIS HAND, n.p., n.d. [1813]. 2 pages, 8vo, 8¼ x 5½ in. (210 x 139mm.) comprising pp.45-46, enclosed in protective cloth folder.
BYRON AT WORK: A PROOF SHEET WITH ADDED VERSES
A highly characteristic example of Byron's tendency to add lines to his work in proof stages. The addition here constitutes six lines, which Byron has neatly written vertically on the right-hand side of the sheet; to the left, he has drawn a line indicating where they are to be inserted and added the instruction "Insert here the lines opposite." The lines are added to the speech of Selim to Zuleika, as he recounts their family history and avows his love for her, assuring her that they are not--as she had long believed--brother and sister.
Byron's insertion reads:
"Blest--as the Muezzin's strain from Mecca's wall
To pilgrims pure and prostrate at his call;
Soft--as the Melody of youthful days
That steals the trembling tear of speechless praise;
Sweet--as his native song to Exile's ears
Shall sound each tone thy long-loved voice endears."
The lines do not appear in the first edition of The Bride of Abydos, nor in the second, but are present in the fourth, also dated 1813, as lines 402-407.
BYRON AT WORK: A PROOF SHEET WITH ADDED VERSES
A highly characteristic example of Byron's tendency to add lines to his work in proof stages. The addition here constitutes six lines, which Byron has neatly written vertically on the right-hand side of the sheet; to the left, he has drawn a line indicating where they are to be inserted and added the instruction "Insert here the lines opposite." The lines are added to the speech of Selim to Zuleika, as he recounts their family history and avows his love for her, assuring her that they are not--as she had long believed--brother and sister.
Byron's insertion reads:
"Blest--as the Muezzin's strain from Mecca's wall
To pilgrims pure and prostrate at his call;
Soft--as the Melody of youthful days
That steals the trembling tear of speechless praise;
Sweet--as his native song to Exile's ears
Shall sound each tone thy long-loved voice endears."
The lines do not appear in the first edition of The Bride of Abydos, nor in the second, but are present in the fourth, also dated 1813, as lines 402-407.