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Lot #710
William Wordsworth

A letter to his daughter, reflecting on an 1838 trip up the northeast coastline

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Description

A letter to his daughter, reflecting on an 1838 trip up the northeast coastline

ALS signed “Wm. Wordsworth,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 4 x 5, no date but circa 1838. Letter to his daughter Dora, in part: “It is well you are not here. The incessant, absolutely incessant loud talking and angry contradictions of George are enough to destroy any ones nerves. What a happy thing for his poor wife that she is deaf. I had a pleasant day at Durham, for George was rambling about the town among his old…acquaintances & others...Hartlepool is also an interesting place, we have nothing on our coastline to compare with it, or with Tyne North—I took two long quiet walks upon the rocks above the sea, with Mrs. Fernandez who seemed pleased with my attentions…Mrs. Sutton is as amicable as could wished, and the rest of the family…are interesting & agreeable in their several ways. I hope we shall not stay longer at York than needful to see the Minister, It would not suit us to accept Mrs. Dixon’s kind invitation. We should also like to stop an hour or two if convenient at Leeds for the purpose of seeing the New Church and it would be right to halt a few hours at Birmingham. But all this must depend on the conveyance—we should indeed have been ill off, without goof & dear Jane—who is really a treasure and eminently serviceable to Aunt Joanna....I must conclude with love to Mr. Quillinan & the girls.” Wordsworth adds a brief postscript asking her to send his love to his sister. Intersecting folds, scattered creasing, small dings and tears to edges, and slight show-through from writing to opposing sides, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope affixed to an off-white 7.25 x 6.75 sheet bearing collector’s ink notations, with a letter from English novelist Charlotte Mary Yonge affixed to the reverse. In the first week of July 1838, Wordsworth traveled northeast to visit members of his wife’s family and then on to the University of Durham to accept an honorary doctorate in civil law. With references to the Hutchinson clan and one Edward Quillinan, Dora’s future husband, this is an exceptionally intimate letter from one of Britain’s most influential poets. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
  • Dates: #464 - Ended November 11, 2015





This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
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