Autograph Manuscript Poem, unsigned. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem Water Ballad, - 'Come hither gently rowing' - transcribed by Charles Lamb, and with Coleridge's 'signature' also supplied by Lamb. A second unidentified hand has added a note to the leaf, 'This is in Charles Lamb's Writing, even the signature of Coleridge! It has been published'.

LAMB, Charles.

Published by n.p. [c.1831], 1831

About this Item

24-line poem, in three stanzas, with the 'signature' of S.T. Coleridge beneath, all written in black ink in the unmistakable hand of Charles Lamb on the first side only of a single folio leaf, watermarked 1828, laid on to piece; small closed tear in right margin not affecting text. Coleridge's poem, a translation of François Antoine Eugène de Planard's Barcarolle de Marie, was probably written around 1799, but was not seen in print until October 1831 when it was published in The Athenæum. It is not known who this transcription was made for, but Lamb frequently copied favoured verses, and as he and Coleridge shared a close friendship and mutual admiration, it is not surprising that he should have chosen to write out one of his poems. Another transcription by Lamb of the same poem appears in his own Album, now in the collection of the University of Texas. The copy here offered has several corrections and crossings through, raising the possibility it is Lamb's own draft or practice copy, penned separately before being committed to an album. It was offered for sale at Henkel's Auction House, Philadelphia, in 1921, described as 'intensely interesting in a literary sense'. PLEASE NOTE: For customers within the UK this item is subject to VAT at 20%.

Seller Inventory # 103509

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Autograph Manuscript Poem, unsigned. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem Water Ballad, - 'Come hither gently rowing' - transcribed by Charles Lamb, and with Coleridge's 'signature' also supplied by Lamb. A second unidentified hand has added a note to the leaf, 'This is in Charles Lamb's Writing, even the signature of Coleridge! It has been published'.
• Publisher: n.p. [c.1831]
• Publication Date: 1831
• Seller catalogs:
  • LAMB