Christina Rossetti letter, 1881 December 17
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Summary
- Creator:
- Rossetti, Christina Georgina, 1830-1894 and Baskin, Lisa Unger
- Abstract:
- Collection consists of a single letter from the Pre-Raphealite poet Christina Rossetti to an unnamed recipient in the publishing industry. She grants him permission to use poems from three of her published collections in an upcoming "Fine Art Book for Christmas 1882." Rossetti states that there should be no variation of the text from the source material, and that she chose those three collections because she personally holds their copyright.
- Extent:
- 0.1 Linear Feet (1 item)
- Language:
- Materials in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.11413
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection consists of an autograph manuscript letter signed Christina G. Rossetti, granting the unnamed recipient, presumably a publisher, permission to reprint some of her poems. The letter is written on a single folded sheet of paper with text on two pages. She lists her address as: 30 Torrington Square - London - W.C. Rossetti refers to the correspondent's "assurance that no variation whatsoever" will appear in "your Fine Art book for Xmas 1882." Rossetti names three of her books he may use as source material: "Poems," "Pageant," and "Sing Song." She writes, "I name these, because not every piece to be found elsewhere is in every instance of my own copyright."
- Biographical / historical:
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Christina Rossetti was an English Victorian poet associated with the Pre-Raphealite movement that was founded by her brother, Dante Gabriel. All three of Rossetti's siblings were also writers. Her style is in the Romantic tradition of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Rossetti's collections of poetry referenced in this letter, "Sing Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book" and "Pageant and Other Poems" were published in 1872 and 1881, respectively. Rossetti's poem "In the Bleak Midwinter" became widely known after it was set to music and sung as a Christmas carol. Recent scholarship has examined feminist themes in Rossetti's work.
- Acquisition information:
- The Christina Rossetti letter was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2015.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Megan E. Lewis, March, 2017
Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0050-LUBMSS420
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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- Subjects:
- Literature publishing -- England -- History -- 19th century
Women poets, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence - Names:
- Lisa Unger Baskin Collection (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Rossetti, Christina Georgina, 1830-1894 -- Poems
Rossetti, Christina Georgina, 1830-1894 -- Pageant and other poems
Rossetti, Christina Georgina, 1830-1894 -- Sing Song
Contents
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- Restrictions:
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Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
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- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Christina Rossetti letter, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
- Permalink:
- https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1q65r