Ashley MS 3835

'Mirrors of Life and Death': a poem by Christina Rossetti; [1881?]. Autograph fair copy, with one revision, (entitled as above), written on one side only of seven quarto leaves of ruled pale blue wove paper. No watermark. The leaves were numbered 1 to 7 by Christina, then 28 to 34 in pencil by another hand, and finally 32 to 38 (in blue crayon) by yet another hand, this last suggesting that the MS. was used as printer's copy. In the top left-hand corner of f. 3 a hand not Christina's has written in pencil 'M. Finlay'. The poem was first printed in the Athenæum for 17 March 1877, and reprinted in A Pageant and other Poems, 1881, pp. 25-31. The text found in this MS. is identical with that printed in A Pageant, and includes the first five lines which are not found in the Athenæum. This suggests a date for the MS. of 1881. For a letter, dated [6?] March 1877, in which Christina discusses the poem with D. G. Rossetti see Ashley MS 1386, ff. 1-2b. Accompanying the MS. is a reproduction of a drawing of Christina by D. G. Rossetti, inscribed to T. J. Wise by W. M. Rossetti, 17 Oct. 1895 (f. ii). Ashley Library Catalogue, iv, p. 102.

Quarto; ff. ii+7.

Christina Georgina Rossetti, poet: Poetry ENGLISH: Poem, 'Mirrors of Life and Death', by Christina Georgina Rossetti: [1881?]: Autogr. fair copy.

includes:

• f. ii Christina Georgina Rossetti, poet: Art. Illuminations and Drawings: Dante Gabriel Rossetti, poet and painter: Reproduction of drawing by Dante Gabriel Rossetti of Christina Georgina Rossetti: n.d.