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Small collections of correspondence and manuscripts of the author and essayist Thomas De Quincey, acquired at different times.

 File
Identifier: MS.21239

Scope and Contents

Thomas De Quincey's own letters are written to his family and friends about his work and other activities, finance, and family matters. Letters addressed to him include one from an unnamed American admirer, 1853, (folio 18) which was published in ‘Thomas De Quincey’, pages 103-105, the catalogue of an exhibition held at Dove Cottage and the National Library of Scotland.

Most of the manuscripts are fragmentary drafts of unidentified essays, but they include parts of "The English mail-coach' (folio 62: ‘Collected writings of Thomas De Quincey’, edited by D Masson, xiii, pages 317-318) and 'On war' (folio 76: ‘Collected writings’ viii, pages 372-373).

Dates

  • Creation: 1800-1855, undated.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

88 Leaves ; Quarto and under.

Language of Materials

Undetermined

Arrangement

88 folios.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Folios 11-13, bought, Sotheby's, 21 July 1983, lot 243; folios 62-63, bought, Sotheby's, 4 December 1979, lot 97; the rest bought, 1983-1984.

Bibliography

De Quincey, Thomas. ‘Collected writings of Thomas De Quincey’ edited by D Masson (Edinburgh, 1890); ‘Thomas De Quincey’ (Grasmere, 1985).
Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
Description rules
International Standard for Archival Description - General
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700