BIB_ID
118313
Accession number
MA 1046
Creator
Sterne, Laurence, 1713-1768.
Display Date
[1767-1768].
Credit line
Purchased by J.P. Morgan Jr., 1926.
Description
2 v. (174 p. and 184 p.), bound ; 22.2 cm
Notes
Possible date of writing is based on the relationship of this fair copy to Sterne's autograph original at the British Library (MA Egerton 1610).--Cf. Stout, p. 308-315.
See Gardiner D. Stout, Jr. (p. 308-315) for a detailed description of the manuscript and for a discussion of its relationship to Sterne's original autograph fair copy, the first volume of which is held by the British Library (MA Egerton 1610) and the second volume of which is lost.
The entirety of vol. 1 and most of vol. 2 (p. 1-85, 87-156) appear to be in a single hand. The remaining portion of vol. 2 is clearly in a different hand and contains catchwords. The original catalog entry asserts that the manuscript is "probably in the autograph of Sterne's daughter Lydia" and George K. Boyce suggests that the hands are those of Lydia and Sterne's wife ("Modern Literary Manuscripts in the Morgan Library," PMLA, LXVII (1952), p. 21). Additionally, Wilbur L. Cross (Life and Times of Laurence Sterne, 3d ed. (New Haven, 1929), p. 631), Boyce (op. cit.), and T.J. Brown ("English Literary autographs XXVII: Laurence Sterne, 1713-1768," Book Collector, VII (1958), p. 285) assert that the manuscript is partially in Sterne's autograph. Gardner D. Stout, Jr. (Sentimental Journey, p. 308-309 n.) disagrees with the argument that the manuscript is partially autograph, citing the difference between Sterne's ampersands and those found in the manuscript. He further argues that "none of the handwriting of the Morgan MS. seems to me to resemble Lydia's and Mrs. Sterne's hands" (p. 308, n. 4).
See Gardiner D. Stout, Jr. (p. 308-315) for a detailed description of the manuscript and for a discussion of its relationship to Sterne's original autograph fair copy, the first volume of which is held by the British Library (MA Egerton 1610) and the second volume of which is lost.
The entirety of vol. 1 and most of vol. 2 (p. 1-85, 87-156) appear to be in a single hand. The remaining portion of vol. 2 is clearly in a different hand and contains catchwords. The original catalog entry asserts that the manuscript is "probably in the autograph of Sterne's daughter Lydia" and George K. Boyce suggests that the hands are those of Lydia and Sterne's wife ("Modern Literary Manuscripts in the Morgan Library," PMLA, LXVII (1952), p. 21). Additionally, Wilbur L. Cross (Life and Times of Laurence Sterne, 3d ed. (New Haven, 1929), p. 631), Boyce (op. cit.), and T.J. Brown ("English Literary autographs XXVII: Laurence Sterne, 1713-1768," Book Collector, VII (1958), p. 285) assert that the manuscript is partially in Sterne's autograph. Gardner D. Stout, Jr. (Sentimental Journey, p. 308-309 n.) disagrees with the argument that the manuscript is partially autograph, citing the difference between Sterne's ampersands and those found in the manuscript. He further argues that "none of the handwriting of the Morgan MS. seems to me to resemble Lydia's and Mrs. Sterne's hands" (p. 308, n. 4).
Provenance
This manuscript is traditionally said to have been given by Sterne to Lady Agnew of Stranear Castle, Scotland; the bookplate of the Hon. Martha Agnew of Lochnaw is on the front pastedowns of both volumes and her signature appears on the first page of both volumes; by descent to Andrew Agnew; purchased by J.P. Morgan Jr. from J.F. Drake, 1926.
Summary
A contemporary fair copy of Laurence Sterne's A Sentimental Journey.
Housed in
Blue cloth drop-spine boxes (23.6 cm)
Catalog link
Department