Ashley MS 906, 907, 4855

'The Story Of Rimini': a poem by J. H. Leigh Hunt; [1811-1816?]. 906 is an autograph fair copy, with pencil comments by Lord Byron, and occasional corrections by Hunt, of portions of Cantos II and III, written on one side only of thirty octavo leaves of white wove paper, and on both sides of another (f. 1). Watermark (ff. 1-21) 'J Green / 1814'. In a note on f. 4 of this MS. Hunt states that Canto II and a small part of Canto III were composed while he was in prison [3 Feb. 1813-3 Feb. 1815]. 907 is an early autograph draft, heavily corrected, of the end of Canto III, and of Canto IV (in the case of Canto IV it may be the first draft ― e.g. see prose portion on f. 17b), written on one side only of seventeen octavo leaves of white wove paper, and on both sides of a further eight. Watermark (ff. 1-4) 'JH / 1805'. 4855 is an autograph draft of 131 lines of verse intended for the beginning of the poem, but never used, written on one side only of a quarto leaf of white laid paper, and on both sides of a further three. Watermark 'E & S' / 1810' and fleur de lys. Between ff. 4 and 5 is a blank leaf. On f. 5 is the autograph pencil title 'Story of Rimini'. Add. MS. 37210, ff. 50-115 is the text of 'Rimini' from the Poetical Works of 1832, with alterations, deletions and MS. additions which convert it into the text of Poetical Works, 1844. Ashley Library Catalogue, ii, pp. 194-195.

Three volumes. Octavo and (4855) quarto.