Description:


(1833 - 1870) Australian poet, equestrian, and politician. According to his contemporary, writer Marcus Clarke, Gordon's work represented 'the beginnings of a national school of Australian poetry'. Gordon is considered by many to be Australia's national poet, and among his most notable works are 'Early Adieux' and 'The Sick Stockrider.' Excessively rare pair and important pair of autograph poems (one signed), discovered folded within what appears to be a very rough first edition of Gordon's biography: 'Adam Lindsay Gordon and His Friends in England and Australia' by Edith Humphries and Douglas Sladen (London: Constable & Co.), 1912. 464pp. 8vo. in green cloth with gilt embossed title and rider atop jumping horse on cover. The book bears the bookplate of Harry Worcester Smith, who penned an explanatory card pasted to the front flyleaf. In that note, Smith, a prestigious collector of hunting and equestrian material, mentions 'enclosed verses'. He also mentions an 'envelope', described hereunder. The most important piece is, of course, the early draft of 'Early Adieux', an A.Ms.S. 'L. Gordon', 2pp. 8vo., presented by him to 'Emma [Fitzmaurice]' to whom he bids farewell in the last line. He commences his manuscript: 'I send you a verso or two from those lines I was speaking of, I am afraid you will not like them, read them slow…' There follows an early version of what many consider to be his finest work, 'Early Adieux', with many differences from the final published work. This poem was penned at some point after Gordon's return to Cheltenham from Woolwich, and prior to his sailing for Australia in August, 1853. A second poem, headed 'Sotto Voce', 1p. 8vo., is also present. It commences: 'Though this action of mine is allowed by the laws / Such presumption I nere could command. / If my pen had not taken the bit in his jaws / And bolted away with my hand…' There are many similarities in the hands of both letters, and 'Early Adieux' compares quite favorably with other (much later) proven examples of Gordon's hand. In researching Mr. Smith's comments (illustrated), we see he is quite correct. The verso of the envelope does indeed bear a wax seal identical to that of Gordon's family, which appears in the book. referenced above. The postal markings on the verso of the envelope show that the letter was mailed from 'Woolwich' on February 13, 1850. Of course, Gordon was attending Woolwich Royal Military Academy at that time. We believe that the untitled poem headed 'Sotto Voce' was enclosed in that envelope. The content makes multiple equestrian references and concludes 'Thy faithful Valentine'. The poem headed was 'Sotto Voce' was mailed to Miss Emma Fitzmaurice, No. 1 Berkley St. Cheltenham; she lived only two or three blocks from Gordon's family home at 28 Priory Street. The two poems with envelope were purchased (presumably by Smith) from London booksellers Francis Edwards, ca. 1912. Interestingly, that book store remains in operation. Shown also is a page from the book store catalog describing showing the Gordon pieces. This page was found with the Gordon poems, and probably bears buyer Smith's notes. It too describes the poems as being in Gordon's hand. It appears certain that 'Miss Emma Fitzmaurice' was another young lady with whom Gordon had become smitten. They were neighbors, and the poet likely knew her for most of his life, before and after attending Woolwich. The poems bear mailing folds, with the 'Early Adieux' slightly soiled - generally both pieces are in very good condition. Only a small handful of Gordon's works exist anywhere, with virtually none in private hands. An early draft of 'Early Adieux' and an unknown work by Gordon are priceless items.

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October 29, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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