(Bibliographies and Indexes in World Literature) William Baker - Wilkie Collins's Library - A Reconstruction (2002, Greenwood)

ilkie Collins's
Library
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ilkie Collins's
Library
A Reconstruction
William Baker
Bibliographies and Indexes in World Literature, Number 55
Greenwood Press
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Baker, William, 1944-

Wilkie Collins's library : a reconstruction / William Baker.
p. cm.—(Bibliographies and indexes in world literature, ISSN 0742-6801 ; no. 55)
Includes bibliographical refrences and index.
ISBN 0-313-31394-6 (alk. paper)
1. Collins Wilkie, 1824-1889—Library—Catalogs. 2. Collins, Wilkie,
1824-1889—Books and reading. 3. Private libraries—England—Catalogs. I. Title. II.
Series.
Z997.C705 B35 2002
[PR4498.B6]
016.823'8—dc21 2001058619
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2002 by William Baker
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001058619
ISBN: 0-313-31394-6
ISSN: 0742-6801
First published in 2002
Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.greenwood.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the

Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright Acknowledgment
The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge permission to quote extracts from published and
unpublished letters of Wilkie Collins and to cite from the marked-up copy of the Puttick and
Simpson auction catalogue of the sale of Wilkie Collins's library, dated January 20, 1890. With per-
mission of Faith Clarke, great-granddaughter of Wilkie Collins.
For Faith and William M. Clarke
with affection and thanks
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
PREFACE IX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi
ABBREVIATIONS xiii
INTRODUCTION
Wilkie Collins and His Books 1
The 1890 Dispersion of Wilkie Collins's Library 5
The Composition of Wilkie Collins's Library
Presentation/Association Copies 15
Imprint Analysis 32
Place of Publication Analysis 36
Language Analysis 42
Subject Analysis 43
Conclusion 65
RECONSTRUCTION OF WILKIE COLLINS'S LIBRARY
The Present Catalogue: Rationale and Form 70
Reconstruction 73
Vlll
Contents
Addenda 164
APPENDIX 165
Paintings and Art Work in Collins's Possession

at the Time of His Death
INDEX 177
Preface
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) is a major British Victorian novelist, dramatist,

short story writer and journalist. T. S. Eliot writing in the Times Literary
Supplement 4 August 1927 described Collins's The Moonstone as "the first and
greatest of English detective novels." Collins has been the subject of two recent
biographies, William M. Clarke's The Secret Life of Wilkie Collins (1991;
revised edition 1996) and Catherine Peters' s, The King of Inventors: A Life of
Wilkie Collins (1993). A revival of interest in his work is now underway.
Collins's earliest novel, thought lost for nearly a hundred years, Ioldni was
published in 1999. In the same year The Letters of Wilkie Collins appeared, and
provided new insight into his creative processes, friendships, attitudes and
unconventional private life. Subsequently new critical editions of The
Moonstone, and The Woman in White, and other Collins novels have been
published in widely available well-edited paperbacks.
The present work is the first reconstruction of his library. It is an attempt — to

paraphrase the words from the "Preface" to Frederick G. Ribble and Anne G.
Ribble's Fielding's Library: An Annotated Catalogue (1996) — to understand
Collins as a reader through an analysis of the books he owned and his response
to them. Such a reconstruction would not have been possible without Faith
Clarke, Wilkie Collins's sole surviving descendant, granting access to hitherto
restricted archives and publication permission to use unpublished materials. Her
husband, William M. Clarke, the author of an acclaimed biography of Collins,
and a former financial editor of The Times of London, co-edited with me The
Letters of Wilkie Collins (1999). The Clarkes have given me access to their
marked copy of the auction catalogue of the January 20, 1890, sale of Wilkie
Collins's Library by the auctioneers Puttick and Simpson of London. Their
copy contains annotations giving details of prices realized and the names of
X Preface
those who purchased lots. Additionally, the catalogue indicates whether or not
copies of books owned by Wilkie Collins are association copies.
The marked copy of the Puttick and Simpson sale catalogue, and the existence
of a catalogue containing books purchased at this auction by the London
booksellers M. L. Bennett, produced barely a month after the Puttick and
Simpson sale, make it possible to reconstruct Wilkie Collins's library. This
reconstruction combines information found in the Puttick and Simpson and M.
L. Bennett 1890 catalogues. Such a reconstruction creates the opportunity for a
fuller understanding of Collins's source materials. It is useful not only to those
interested in Wilkie Collins. Of value to all students of the nineteenth century,
the reconstruction provides detailed annotations to the abbreviated and
sometimes cryptic entries in the 1890 catalogues, of Collins's unusually rich
collection of literature, language, history, biographies, law, and other subjects of
general interest. Drawing upon published and unpublished Collins letters, there
are detailed listings of Collins's references to authors and editors. His
association copies led to fresh biographical revelations concerning his
friendships, professional and personal associations. The copious subject-based
index provides a key to the purchasers of this work, the late nineteenth-century
book trade, the subjects that interested Collins, the previous owners of his
books, and a myriad of other details. An appendix, again drawing upon hitherto
unavailable materials, provides a listing of artwork in Wilkie Collins's
possession at the time of his death. This book is then one for students of
nineteenth-century literature, history, art, the booktrade, and culture.
The "Introduction" discusses in some detail Wilkie Collins and his relationships
to books, including the use of books in his writing. There is an extensive
discussion of "the 1890 dispersion of his library" and of the two catalogues:
Puttick and Simpson's and M. L. Bennett's. This is followed by extensive
analysis, places of book publication, languages and subjects. Next is a
description of the organization, alphabetical arrangement, entry numbering and
information provided in each entry in the reconstruction of Wilkie Collins's
library. Such information includes, if a book or an author is mentioned, citation
from the pertinent published or unpublished Wilkie Collins letter. Such data in
the reconstruction of Wilkie Collins's library enriches its overall object: to gain
a fuller understanding of Wilkie Collins as a reader and of the sources he
transformed in his magnificent creative fictional worlds.
William Baker
Northern Illinois University
Acknowledgments
This work could not have been undertaken without help and assistance from
various sources and individuals. William Clarke, Andrew Gasson, Professor
Donald Hawes, Professor Kenneth Womack, and Henry Terwedow went
through the manuscript of this book with critical acumen and a fine eye for
detail, looking for inconsistencies and errors. The faults that remain are mine
alone. Paul Lewis, of the Wilkie Collins Society, kindly shared his extensive
knowledge of Victorian art, and Wilkie Collins, with me. Others who have
helped and to whom thanks are due include: John Collins of Maggs Bros. Ltd.,
London; Sara Dodgson, Librarian of The Athenaeum, London; Mark Irvine;
Alan Jutzi, Rare Book Curator, Huntington Library, San Marino, California;
Professor Graham Law of Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; Dr. K. A. Manley
of the Institute of Historical Research, University of London; David Quentin of
Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., London; Petra Soderlund, Department of Literature,
University of Uppsala, Sweden; Sue Usher, Librarian, English Faculty Library,
Oxford University; the late Alexander Wainwright, of the Parrish Collection,
Princeton University Library; Ian Willson of the Centre for English Studies,
University London; Adriaan van der Weel, Chairman, Leiden Centre for the
Book, University of Leiden, Netherlands.
Thanks are due to the dedicatees of the book Faith and William Clarke (author
of The Secret Life of Wilkie Collins [1988, 1996] and co-editor of The Letters of
Wilkie Collins [1999]) for help in all kinds of ways, and for sending me their
marked-up copy of the Puttick and Simpson auction catalogue of the sale of
Wilkie Collins's library dated January 20, 1890. Thanks are also due to Faith
Clarke for permission to quote extracts from the published and unpublished
Xll Acknowledgments
letters of her great-grandfather, Wilkie Collins, and to cite from her copy of the
Puttick and Simpson auction catalogue. Similarly thanks must go to Andrew
Gasson of the Wilkie Collins Society, author of the richly informative Wilkie
Collins: An Illustrated Guide (1998), for his generosity and many kindnesses.
Catherine Peters, author of The King of Inventors: A Life of Wilkie Collins
(1991, 1993), generously sent me a copy of M. L. Bennett's "Caxton Head
Catalogue 198: Books from the Library of the late Wilkie Collins, London
February 1890" and answered many questions.
Special thanks must go to Gina Unger, Daniel McMahon, and Henry Terwedow
for their assistance in preparing and typesetting portions of the book during its
various stages of production. Thanks also go to George Butler, Senior Editor of
Academic and Trade Publishing, the volume's production editor, and the
editorial staff of Greenwood Press, for their guidance and encouragement.
At Northern Illinois University, thanks are due to Ron Burshinger and his
colleagues in the Information Delivery Services Department of the University
Libraries, Arthur P. Young, Dean of the University Libraries, Mary Munroe,
Associate Dean, University Libraries, Heather Hardy, Chair, English
Department. Other colleagues in the University Libraries and English
Department are to be thanked for their encouragement and for granting the
author release time from teaching and other duties.
Abbreviations
{ } - indicates a number in Puttick and Simpson's catalogue
[ ] - indicates a number in Bennett's catalogue
4 to. - quarto
8 vo. - octavo
12 mo. -duodecimo
bd./bds. - board/boards
Bennett - entry in Bennett's catalogue
Boase - Frederic Boase, Modern English Biography: Containing Many
Thousand Concise Memoirs of Persons Who Have Died between the
Years 1851-1900. 6 vols. Truro: Netherton, 1892-1921
British Library Catalogue - The British Library General Catalogue of Printed
Books to 1975 (BLC). Managing Ed. Jim Emmett. London: Clive
Bingley and K. G. Saur, 1979-1987
cf. - calf
cl. - cloth
Clarke - William M. Clarke, The Secret Life of Wilkie Collins. Far Thrupp,
Stroud, Gloucestershire: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1996
cr. - crown
Dickens, Letters - The Letters of Charles Dickens. [The Pilgrim Edition]. Ed.
Madeline House, Graham Storey, Kathleen Tillotson, and others.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965-
DNB - The Dictionary of National Biography (DNB). Ed. Leslie Stephen and
Sidney Lee. 1885-1900, rpt. 21 vols., London: Oxford UP, 1967-1968
Dolbow - Sandra W. Dolbow, Dictionary of Modern French Literature from the
Age of Reason through Realism. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press,
1986
ex. - extra
fl.-floruit
fol. - folio
XIV Abbreviations
France - The New Oxford Companion to French Literature. Ed. Peter France.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995
front/fronts - frontispiece
Gasson - Andrew Gasson, Wilkie Collins - An Illustrated Guide. Oxford:
Oxford UP, 1997
g. e. - gilt edges
gt. - gilt
Hart - James D. Hart, with revisions by Phillip W. Leininger, The Oxford
Companion to American Literature. 6th ed. New York: Oxford UP,
1995
Harvey - The Oxford Companion to English Literature. 3 rd ed. Ed. Paul Harvey.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1958
Harvey and Heseltine - The Oxford Companion to French Literature. Ed. Paul
Harvey and J. E. Heseltine. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959
hf.-half
illus. - illustration
imp. - imprint
impft. - imperfect
impl. - imperial
item - entry in present catalogue (unless "Bennett's item" or "Puttick and
Simpson's item")
Letters - The Letters of Wilkie Collins. Ed. William Baker and William M.
Clarke. 2 vols. London: Macmillan, 1999
lot - entry in Puttick and Simpson's catalogue
mor. - morocco
Nadel - Ioldni; or Tahiti as It Was. A Romance. Ed. Ira B. Nadel. Princeton:
Princeton UP, 1999
n. d. - no date
Peters - Catherine Peters, The King of Inventors: A Life of Wilkie Collins.
Princeton: Princeton UP, 1993
port./ports. - portrait/portraits
post - large
Raimes - Ann Raimes, Keys for Writers. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1999
Robinson - Kenneth Robinson, Wilkie Collins: A Biography. New York:
Macmillan, 1952
roy. - royal
sm. - small
Smith and Terry - N. Smith, R. C. Terry, eds., Wilkie Collins to the Forefront:
Some Reassessments. New York: AMS Press, 1995
Stephens - John Russell Stephens, The Profession of the Playwright: British
Theatre 1800-1900. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1992
Sutherland - John Sutherland, The Stanford Companion to Victorian Fiction.
Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1989
swd. - sewed
t. e. g. - top edge gilt
Abbreviations xv
Todd and Bowden - Tauchnitz International Editions in English, 1841-1955. A
Bibliographical History. New York: Bibliographical Society of
America, 1988
vig. - vignette(s)
v. y. - various years
WC - Wilkie Collins
Wing - precedes entry number of the item as it is listed in Donald Wing, Short-
Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, Wales, and
British America And of English Books Printed in Other Countries
1641-1700, 2nd ed., rev. and enl. 4 vols. New York: MLA, 1982-98.
Wolff - Robert Lee Wolff, Nineteenth-Century Fiction: A Bibliographical
Catalogue Based on the Collection Formed by Robert Lee Wolff 5
vols. in 2. New York: Garland Publishing, 1981
Introduction
WILKIE COLLINS AND HIS BOOKS
References to books and libraries are scattered throughout WC's copious

writings. For instance, in his longest novel, Armadale, which ran in The
Cornhill, from November 1864 to June 1866, the hero Allan Armadale inherits
Thorpe Ambrose, an estate in Norfolk. The house has a library with bookshelves.
"The books, few in number, did not detain him long" when he first steps into the
Library. The narrator tells his reader, "a glance at their backs was enough,
without taking them down. The Waverley Novels, Tales by Miss Edgeworth, and
by Miss Edgeworth's many followers, the Poems of Miss Hemans, with a few
odd volumes of the illustrated gift-books of the period, composed the bulk of the
little library."1
Books and Libraries play a crucial role in WC's early novel Basil; A Story of
Modern Life. First published in 1852, the novel expresses its author's sense of
class and family conflict played out amongst the tapestry of a contemporary mid-
Victorian setting. Autobiographical, the novel draws upon its author's
differences with his father's attitudes to politics, religion, and his son's choice of
the career of a professional writer. The main plot of Basil focuses upon a
younger son who makes a secret marriage, which isn't consummated for a year.
The delay is in order that the son can reveal to his father his marriage to the
daughter of a wealthy but vulgar linen draper. In the third section of the third
part of the novel, Basil travels to his family home to tell his father, from whom
he is estranged, of the marriage. The lack of communication between son and
father is depicted through setting. Basil, the narrator of the story, describes how,
to avoid human contact, his father retreated into his library and his books. At the
point of revealing his marriage to his father, Basil describes how his father "was
2 Wilkie Collins's Library
sitting at his table, cutting the leaves of some new books that lay on it." The
father's library is a place of retreat, of escape from family commitments. Basil
reflects: "As children, how often" he and his brother Ralph "had peeped
curiously through that very door, to see what my father was about in his study, to
wonder why he has so many books to write, and so many books to read. How
frightened we both were, when he discovered us one day, and reproved us
severely!" The father's sanctuary contains a "high, old-fashioned, mahogany
press before the window, with [a] large illustrated folio about Jewish antiquities
lying on it."2 After Basil has made his confession, his father, physically
transformed with emotional shock, uses his bookshelves as a physical prop. He
prefers to lean upon the inanimate bookcases rather than upon his animate son.
WC reveals the deep associations and meanings books as objects, and books as
contents, have for humans. The fictional father reacts to his son's revelation by
choosing "a biographical history of his family, from the time of his earliest
ancestors down to the date of the births of his own children. The thick quarto
pages were beautifully illuminated in the manner of the ancient manuscripts."
Basil describes how "Slowly and in silence, my father turned over the leaves of
the book which, next to the Bible, I believe he most reverenced in the world,
until he came to the last-written page but one - the page which I knew . . . to be
occupied by my name." His father tears the page from the sacred family object
and disinherits the son (201).
The crucial psychological reverberations of books, specific books, libraries and

their connections to families are by no means confined to WC's earlier fiction.
Some other instances from WC's work are worthy of isolation in order to
demonstrate the importance of books and libraries to him personally, and to his
writing. The immediate background for Man and Wife, serialized in Cassell's
Magazine, November 1869 to July 1870, is the Parliamentary debates over what
became the first Married Woman's Property Act in August 1870. In the novel
WC uses large houses with libraries as the symbols of male-dominated property
and the possession of wives and servants. Man and Wife has a complicated plot
consisting of legal intricacies, Scottish inheritance laws, deception, blackmail,
and other elements of the sensational novel. The Library in the successful
lawyer's home is a place where newspapers are found, law reports consulted, and
important business meetings held. It is also a place of escape where Sir Patrick
Lundie, a retired lawyer "deep in an old Venetian edition of the Decameron
found himself suddenly recalled from medieval Italy to modern England" by
another person wanting his attention.3 Multi-functional, it is a place of retreat, of
peace and quiet: "The Library was a perfect solitude" (100). It is a place where
letters can be written after lunch: "The company had collected in the library
waiting for the luncheon-bell" (95). It is the setting where a wronged heroine, an
abandoned wife, Anne Silvester, collapses and experiences a miscarriage.
Introduction 3
The Library is then in WC's fictional world a place for retreat and collapse, a
place where human action, reaction, or lack of action, are part of a chain of
revelations and consequences. In The Law and the Lady, serialized in the
Graphic, September 1874 through March 1875, the plot revolves around the
slow emergence of a series of secrets, each of which leads to additional problems
and questions. Valeria, the heroine of the novel, discovers the crucial secret,
which has haunted her, and influenced her life, and that of others, through
searching through the Library of her husband Eustace's close friend, Major Fitz-
David. Her Library search is not an easy one: "I saw Voltaire in red morocco;
Shakespeare in blue; Walter Scott in green; the History of England in brown; the
Annual Register in yellow calf. There I paused, wearied and discouraged already
by the long rows of volumes. How (I thought to myself) am I to examine all
these books? And what am I to look for, even if I do examine them all?" On the
top shelves are smaller volumes "not so careftilly arranged as on the lower
shelves. Some were bound in cloth; some were only protected by paper covers."4
Her attention is drawn by "a gorgeously-bound book" standing "in solitary
grandeur" on an upper shelf. In this book Valeria finds a dated inscription in
French and a "lock of red hair." Falling out of the book is "a small photograph"
(87-88).
The position of books on shelves, and their bindings, lead to the volumes inside,
which provide clues to provenance, to past human associations, and possibly
significant revelations. However, Valeria doesn't herself find what she is
searching for. WC presents Valeria as middle-class: the voyeuristic element
implied by her library search doesn't accord with her class. The revelation comes
through her counterpart, the working-class Miss Hoighty acting as a detective.
The major's mistress interrupts Valeria's library searching with "coarse
questions" and "uncultivated manners." Miss Hoighty is for Valeria a "welcome
intruder on my solitude: she offered me a refuge from myself " (91). Valeria
"waited without moving a muscle, without uttering a word . . . helpless as a
baby" as Miss Hoighty finds and opens volumes of trials. Valeria has already
gone "twice over" the volumes (93). Valeria's reaction to the contents is "the
black blank of a swoon" (94). Miss Hoighty keeps her composure and shoulders
"the blame for procuring this forbidden knowledge. "Not one of the fainting
sort", she connects her powers of detection with her situation as the Major's
kept-woman: "Didn't you tell me that you were looking for a book?" she asks
Valeria: "And didn't I present it to you promiscuously with the best intentions?"
(97).
Libraries, books, evoke past deeds and memories. They are used by WC for plot
revelations, to depict class differences, human difference, and as sexual props.
WC drew upon his own experiences in his fiction. In The Law and the Lady, the
major's mistress Miss Hoighty goes to volumes of Trials which she likes
reading. WC, a trained lawyer, too was fascinated by old trials. Jenny Bourne
Taylor writes in her "Introduction" to the World's Classics edition of The Law of
the Lady that WC "exploits widely in his work both this fascination and his own
knowledge of the law; here he may well have drawn in part on a case in J. H.
Burton's Narratives from Criminal Trials in Scotland (1852) (he owned a copy
of this, and other accounts of trials)" (xix). In The Woman in White WC draws
upon Maurice Mejan's compilation of eighteenth-century trials, Recueil des
Causes Celebres (1807-1814). Copies of Burton and Mejan are both found in
WC's Library (see items 60 and 349). Volumes by Voltaire, Shakespeare, Walter
Scott and the Annual Register, in Major Fitz-David's Library, are found in
WC's, too (see for instance items 505, 441, 432-435, 165).
Books are not the only objects in Libraries. In Major Fitz-David's Library there
are, on top of bookcases, "vases, candelabra and statuettes" and "fragments" of
broken vases (81). Reaching for the volume of trials, Miss Hoighty destroys yet
another vase. WC's anti-Jesuit novel, The Black Robe, was serialized in The
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent Supplement, October 1880 through March
1881 and published in 1881 in three volumes. In this novel, the Library of Lord
Loring's spacious residence is a place where attempted religious conversions
occur. It is a place where Father Benwell, the Jesuit spiritual advisor to the
Loring family, can be employed. Status, position, and ownership are closely
linked in WC's fiction and life. Adjoining the fictional aristocratic Loring
Library is a picture gallery. Noticeable among the paintings is a Linnell. John
Linnell (1792-1882), a landscape and portrait painter, was a close friend of
WC's father. Clearly his work has sentimental associations for the novelist,
whose own library was adorned with paintings, especially those by his father.
In a letter to his mother, Harriet Collins, dated 11 May 1867, WC tells his
mother how he and his brother Charles "tossed for" his father's pictures. A
listing of paintings left by his father to the family is included as an appendix in
the present volume. WC's letters contain frequent references to his reading, to
his search for books, and in his later years, reminiscences of his favorite authors.
Books are clearly important for WC when writing his fictions. For instance, his
notes for The Moonstone, now at the Parrish Collection at Princeton University,
contain lists of books to consult on India, on Indian customs, and on gems and
their mystical properties. Characters in his novels have similar tastes to those of
their creator. The hero Amelius Goldenheart of The Fallen Leaves, serialized in
The World, January to July 1879, and published in three volumes in the same
year, has the works of Sir Walter Scott in his library: "the writings of the one
supreme genius who soars above all other novelists as Shakespeare soars above
all other dramatists - the writings of Walter Scott - had their place of honour in
his library"5 as in WC's own library. His letters attest to his great admiration for
Sir Walter Scott as a person and as a writer (see items 432-35).
Introduction 5
A facet of WC's life which has been relatively neglected is his intellectualism.
Biographies have tended to focus upon his mysterious relationships with women.
He never married and had two common law wives. By one he had children. He
brought up the other's daughter as his own. In 1885, when he was over sixty,
WC began a correspondence with an eleven-year-old girl, Nannie Wynne. Using
Nannie's mother as an intermediary, he wrote in most intimate detail enacting a
fantasy marriage with the young girl. As fascinating as this element of WC's life
may be, an emphasis on his complicated relationships with women of all ages
tends to downplay his life as a professional writer, as an intellectual, and as a
person who needed books to exist. WC wrote for a living: he also depended
upon books as a basic resource for his creativity.
THE 1890 DISPERSION OF WILKIE COLLINS'S LIBRARY
The existence of two catalogues of books in WC's Library makes it possible to

reconstruct its contents. WC died on 23 September 1889. His executors
instructed that his Library be sold at auction.6 The first catalogue consists of an
auction catalogue of books sold at the Puttick and Simpson, 47 Leicester Square,
London W.C., auction rooms on Monday January 20, 1890. Puttick and Simpson
were an old London auction house established in 1794, who dealt in "Literary
Property and Works of Art." The catalogue consists of books grouped together
and itemized numerically as lots one to two hundred forty-six. The lots are
grouped together by size. "Octavo et Infra" volumes are listed first. These
consist of the bulk of the catalogue, running from the first lot through lot two
hundred thirty-one. Seven "Quarto" lots are then listed, followed by eight lots
described as folio volumes.
The Puttick and Simpson "Conditions of Sale" printed at the beginning of the
auction catalogue contain nothing that was not standard London auction house
practice. Seven conditions are specified. Firstly, "The highest Bidder to be the
Buyer." If there is a dispute "the Lot so disputed to be immediately put up again
and resold." Secondly, in monetary terms, no bidder is "to advance less than"
one shilling. If bidding goes above pounds no bidder is to advance less than two
shillings and sixpence "and so on in proportion." Thirdly "The Purchasers to
give in their Names and Places of Abode, and to pay down 10 s in the Pound, if
required, in Part Payment of the Purchase-money; in Default of which the Lot or
Lots so purchased shall be immediately put up again and resold."
In actual fact few lots attracted prices above three pounds, and a large number
went for below a pound. Of the volumes commanding higher prices, George
Henry Borrow's [Craik's] six-volume Celebrated Trials (item 43) realized £8 -7
s- 6 d (eight pounds seven shillings and sixpence). The London booksellers
Francis Edwards paid nineteen pounds for lot twenty-seven. This consists of
three items by John Forster, the friend of WC, Dickens and other Victorian
writers. The lot includes a presentation copy to WC of his Debates on the Grand
Remonstrance (item 204). There is Forster's biography of Sir John Eliot (item
207), and a copy of his two-volume biography of Walter Savage Landor (item
208). No single lot fetched the sum of twenty pounds. Indeed nineteen pounds
appears to be the highest price recorded at the auction. Maggs Brothers, the
London booksellers, paid that amount for lot 90. This consists of two unspecified
presentation copies, and two presentation copies. Of these specified presentation
copies, Joseph Ritson's Robin Hood: A Collection of All the Ancient Poems,
Songs, and Ballads, Now Extant, Relative to That Celebrated English Outlaw,
published in 1820, is described in the auction catalogue as having a "woodcut on
title painted, with signature 'William Collins aged 8 years 1832'" (item 420). It
is one of the earliest books of WC to have survived. The other lot item was an
inscribed copy from the translator, Sir John Kingston James (1815-1893), to WC
dated 1865, of his translation of Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered (item 475).
The existence of a second catalogue of books from WC's Library produced by

M. L. Bennett, Booksellers of 232 High Holborn in London, not more than a
month after the Puttick and Simpson auction sale, is instructive. Bennett
purchased at least forty-seven lots, recorded by the auctioneers Puttick and
Simpson as being purchased in Bennett's name, at the January 20, 1890 auction.
Within a month, Bennett was able to offer for sale a one hundred thirty-three lot
catalogue of WC's volumes from his Library, all of which had been purchased at
the Puttick and Simpson auction. Other buyers at the auction were mainly
booksellers from the London trade such as Maggs, whom the marked
auctioneers' catalogue identifies as purchasing thirteen lots. Francis Edwards, a
well established London firm, came away with nine lots including John Forster's
presentation copies of his books to WC (items 204, 208), William Ellis's
Polynesian Researches, 4 vols., (1831) and Basil Hall's Fragments of Voyages
and Travels (1831,1833). Both these volumes {lot 39}(items 187, 244) were
used by WC during the writing of his first novel Ioldni; or, Tahiti as It Was.
Edwards also purchased WC's copy of Captain Frederick Marryat's Works {lot
44} (item 341). The other lots purchased by Edwards include presentation copies
to WC from the novelist George MacDonald {lot 143}(items 329-333), and two
of his scrapbooks including newspaper cuttings with his notes {lot 188}(item
367).
Puttick and Simpson's auction catalogue of 20 January 1890, annotated with

prices realized and buyers' names, is now owned by Faith Clarke, the great-
granddaughter of WC. The catalogue lists fifty-eight purchasers of the two
hundred forty-six lots from WC's library. Of the other decipherable named
buyers from the London trade, Bertram Dobell came away with seven lots.
These were mainly literary items, the area in which Dobell specialized {lots 33,
107, 109, 184, 213, 215, 236}. Bernard Quaritch, the "Napoleon of Booksellers"
Introduction 7
amongst the London dealers7, buying under his own name, is surprisingly the
purchaser of only two lots: Forster's Life of Dickens, with WC's marginalia {lot
63}(item 206), and a twenty-three-volume new edition of WC's Works with two
letters inserted {lot 219}(item 123).The Dickens item, lot 63, was bought by
Quaritch on commission for William Barclay Squire of 14 Albert Place, Victoria
Road, Kensington. Lot 219 was bought by Quaritch for a great WC admirer and
associate, Harry Quilter (1851-1907).8
Other lots from the Puttick and Simpson sale were well distributed amongst the
buyers in the auction room. "Nugent" and "Withers" purchased fourteen lots
each: "Nugent" acquired lots three through six at the opening of the auction and
then picking up various items as the auction proceeded {lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 73, 115,
132, 164, 165, 171, 199, 200, 211, 233}. "Withers," on the other hand, seems to
have been looking for books with prints in them. This would associate the name
with the provincial firm of Withers of Leicester who specialized in prints {lots 7,
13, 19, 28, 31, 42, 43, 53, 90, 91, 93, 108, 150, 232}. The names of "Hartley"
and "Suckling" appear by twelve lots. The pattern of "Hartley's" acquisition
seems to be that of miscellaneous literary items {lots 16, 21, 76, 85, 99, 114,
117, 124, 139, 141, 147, 172}. The other buyer is probably identified with
"George Suckling, then of Garrick Street, W C 2 and subsequently of Cecil
Court . . . a firm known to many latter-day visitors for their enormous stock of
engraved portraits, but the George Sucklings, father and son, ranged about pretty
freely in books."9 They also acted for Quaritch, purchasing lot 161. This consists
of eleven volumes including two by Jean Baptiste Louvet de Couvray (1760-
1797), a revolutionary and member of the Convention nationale (see item 320).
Another identifiable item in the lot is the memoirs of Jean-Henri Masers de
Latude (1725-1805), imprisoned in the Bastille for thirty-five years for
apparently plotting against Mme de Pompadour (item 299). These volumes were
also bought on commission for William Barclay Squire.10
Others active at the auction, who acquired more than five lots, range from the
names of "Oliver," "Parsons," and "Roche" to that of "Smith." "Oliver"
demonstrates a clear interest in illustrated materials including newspapers, serial
runs and popular novels in bulk. Amongst the items knocked down to "Oliver"
are a run of Dickens's Household Words, with one missing number, bound in ten
volumes {lot 62}, an eighteen-volume run of "popular novels" {lot 157}, thirty-
eight volumes of miscellaneous French plays and comedies {lot 174}, twenty-
seven volumes of French novels {lot 179}, and a parcel of magazines including
an unbound Notes & Queries for 1872 {lot 186}. The final acquisition knocked
down to "Oliver" {lot 189}, includes various numbers of the illustrated LArt
and the American Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. This New York
periodical serialized Collins's The Fallen Leaves (1879), The Black Robe (1880-
1881) and Heart and Science (1882-1883).n
Another purchaser is "Parsons." Lots knocked down to this name include the
writings of Bryan Waller Procter (Barry Cornwall) {lot 26}, a broken run of the
Theatrical Observer {lot 105}, a copy of the theatrical manager and dramatist
Alfred Bunn's three-volume work on The Stage {lot 116}, a parcel of illustrated
works in Italian {lot 181}, William Collins's Memoir of the painter George
Morland {lot 218}, and a parcel of WC's scrap books containing press reviews
of his books {lot 231}. "Parsons" also acquired some Folio volumes, a copy of
Edward Young's Night Thoughts with William Blake's designs {lot 239}, and
the lavishly illustrated John Frederick Lewis's Alhambra Sketches and Drawings
{lot 242}. The presence of so much illustrative material suggests that "Parsons"
refers to Edwin Parsons & Sons, booksellers, of 45 Brompton Road, London, S.
W. 3. They were "specialises] in illustration . . . whose 'beautifully produced'
catalogue of engravings was enthusiastically reviewed in the The Bookman's
Journal for 24 December 1920."12
Less readily identifiable is "Roche" to whom eight lots were knocked down.
These items include a six-volume Aldine Poets {lot 29}, a presentation copy of
William Ketchum's History of Buffalo {lot 38}, William Hazlitt's four-volume
Life of Napoleon {lot 74}, a thirty-one-volume set of one of WC's favorite
novelists, James Fenimore Cooper {lot 83}, a twenty-eight-volume copy of
another favorite of WC, Sir Walter Scott's Prose Works with Turner's
frontispiece and vignettes {lot 87}, a twenty-six-volume record of French crimes
compiled by Maurice Mejan {lot 192}, a forty-five-volume Balzac {lot 194},
and WC's signed copy of Jacques Peuchet's Parisian police memoirs {lot 209}.
The last two lots were bought by Roche acting for Quaritch who in turn were
acting for the book collector William Barclay Squire.13
On the other hand, more recognizable are the names of two well-known London
dealers, Walter T. Spencer and Sotheran. It is surprising that they didn't
purchase more. Spencer's name may be found by three lots: Dickens's Plays and
Poems and the three-volume Dickens Letters {lots 59, 60} and a presentation
copy from the prolific dramatist Edward Ball, later Fitzball, to Charles Dickens
of a copy of his own book of poems {lot 121}. Such purchases reflect the
interest of the firm of Walter T. Spencer, "a deliberately literary dealer, with a
strong line in nineteenth-century English fiction, poetry, book-illustration, and
separate plates" (Freeman, 93). Somewhat surprising in the listing of successful
bidders is that the name of the bookselling firm of Henry Sotheran appears only
once. Sotheran specialized in areas similar to those dealt in by Spencer. Their
name may be found by a presentation copy of Harry Quilter's criticism,
Sentential Artis, to WC {lot 45}.
With notable exceptions it is difficult to trace the late subsequent movement of

WC's volumes following the 1890 auction and Bennett's listing. Lot 111, the
second-edition two-volume copy of Michael Kelly's Reminiscences of. . . the
Introduction 9
King's Theatre and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, published in 1826, was acquired
by Bain, a London bookseller at Puttick and Simpson's auction. According to the
minutes of the Library Committee of the Athenaeum, WC's old London club, of
which he had been a member since 1861, the volumes were a suggestion for
purchase made to the committee in January 1890. The two volumes of Kelly
were ordered after the meeting of 24 January 1890, just four days after they were
purchased by Bain at auction. They are now at the Athenaeum.
Three lots {191, 197, 206} were purchased by St. Martin's Public Library.
These lots consist of a twenty-two-volume set of Diderot's Oeuvres avec
Memoires (Paris, 1821), a six-volume set of Casanova's Memoires (Bruxelles,
1860), and a seventy-volume set of Voltaire's Oeuvres Completes ([Kehl],
1784). St. Martin's Public Library was the local rate-supported public library in
St. Martin's Lane, a stone's throw away from Puttick and Simpson's auction
rooms in Leicester Square. In the late twentieth century, St. Martin's Public
Library became part of the Westminster City Libraries, which in the last decade
of the nineteenth century had, according to Keith Manley, the historian of the
Library, "ambitions to be really serious and comprehensive libraries, and
probably those items were not too expensive, considering. That sort of thing
obviously looks good in annual reports."14 Unfortunately these purchased
volumes are no longer traceable at St. Martin's Public Library or in other
Westminster City Libraries in London.
Easier to identify today is lot 173, described in the Puttick and Simpson auction
catalogue as a "beautifully clean copy," with a presentation on the fly leaf from
the editor and translator Robert du Pontavice de Heussey (1850-1893), of his
L'Inimitable Boz: Sur la Vie et VOeuvre de C Dickens (Paris, 1889). Given to
WC by de Heussey on 17 January 1889, the copy is today at the Parrish
Collection, Princeton University. Two other items from WC's library are, in the
last year of the twentieth century, not in institutional collections, such as
Princeton University Libraries, but in the possession of his descendants. Faith
Clarke, WC's great-granddaughter, and her husband William M. Clarke, WC's
biographer, own WC's copy of Edward Holmes's The Life of Mozart (1845). On
the fly-leaf of the volume, which is in its original brown cloth, is the note in
pencil, "Purchased at the Sale of Wilkie Collins Library at Puttick & Simpson"
and the auction date "Jany. 20th 1890" with the note "Lot 7." Purchased by
Withers (probably of Leicester), this lot consists of books relating to music.
After the catalogue describes three titles - '''Beethoven's Life," "Bass' Street
Music in the Metropolis, " and uCallcott's Musical Grammar" - it has an "etc."
This probably refers to Holmes's biography of Mozart. In 1999, also in the
possession of Faith and William Clarke, is WC's four-volume copy of a
translation from the French, The Works of Francis Rabelais (1844). The first two
volumes contain WC's signature and the date "June 1844." The first volume has
the note in pencil on the fly-leaf "Lot 93. Purchased at the Sale of the Library...
of the late Wilkie Collins Esq at Puttick and Simpson's. Jany. 20th 1890." The
buyer was also Withers.
The descriptions in the auctioneers Puttick and Simpson's catalogue and details
in Bennett's catalogue reveal the provenance of books in WC's library. Many are
presentation copies either from authors or from publishers. Some have very close
personal associations. For instance, lot 90, purchased by Withers at the Puttick
and Simpson auction, is a two-volume copy of Robert Southey's Essays, Moral
and Political (1832). The volume is a presentation copy to "Master Collins 1st
Prize Maida Hill Academy Xmas 1835." WC was just eleven years old. Another
book, the six-volume Jacques Peuchet's Memoires Tirees des Archives de la
Police de Paris (Paris, 1838), is fortunate to remain amongst its owner's books.
It was borrowed by a friend and then returned to WC. The lender wrote to
Frederick Lehmann that his friend and fellow author Charles "Reade has been
here, and has carried off my book about the French Police (Memoires tirees des
Archives, &c &c)" (25 October 1869: Letters, II, 326). Evidently, Charles Reade
returned the volumes to WC.
The relatively low prices paid overall and the dominance of one purchaser,
Bennett, or his representatives bidding in other names on his behalf, suggests the
operation at the auction of the classic "ring." In other words, an agreement
amongst established dealers and booksellers to allow the prices to be kept down,
and most of the lots to realize a small amount. Of the two hundred forty-six lots
only thirty-three reached a hammer price above one pound sterling. Only one lot
fetched over ten pounds. This was a twenty-two-volume library edition of
Dickens's Works, a presentation copy from the author with "interesting
autograph letter inserted." Lot 55 was bought by someone using the name of
"Stirling". The only other price to come close to that was also for a Dickens
item. A three-volume first edition of Great Expectations in the original blue
cloth was knocked down to "Robson" {lot 57} for nine pounds and five
shillings.
The "Conditions of Sale" laid down by William Simpson and printed at the front
of Puttick and Simpson's catalogue appear to be standard for book auctions at
the time. The first three are straightforward. The fourth condition stipulates:
The Lots to be taken away at the Buyers' Expense and Risk within one
week from the conclusion of the Sale, and the remainder of the
Purchase-money to be absolutely paid, or otherwise settled for to the
satisfaction of the Venders, on or before delivery: in default of which
Messrs. PUTTICK AND SIMPSON will not hold themselves
responsible, if the Lots be lost, stolen, or damaged, or destroyed, but
they will be left at the sole risk of the Purchaser.
Introduction 11
This may explain why certain books known to be part of WC's Library do not
appear in the Puttick and Simpson Catalogue, or reappear in Bennett's
subsequent Catalogue of the Library. Of course their absence, as in the case of
Holmes's Life of Mozart, may fall under what in Puttick and Simpson's
catalogue is referred to as the "etc" category. Barry Cornwall's English Songs
and Other Small Poems does not appear in their 20 January 1890 listing or in
Bennett. It is not found, either, under Bryan Waller Procter, the real name of
"Barry Cornwall." WC's copy, inscribed on the front fly-leaf "Wilkie Collins
Esq with the Authors' [sic] Kind regards," and marginal lining throughout, was
in the year 2000 owned by the eminent WC collector and bibliographer, Andrew
Gasson.
There are items purchased by Bennett at the Puttick and Simpson auction which
do not reappear in the Bennett Catalogue. Puttick and Simpson lot 12 consists of
at least three items constituting six volumes in all. The first two, copies of Henry
Joseph Ruggles's The Method ofShakspeare as an Artist (New York: 1870), and
the second edition, published in 1840, of Sir George Stephen's Adventures of an
Attorney in Search of Practice, are marked down to Bennett as the purchaser.
Both of these volumes appear in Bennett's Catalogue [Bennett 119, 122]. The
third item in Puttick and Simpson's lot 12, a copy of James Miller's single
volume, Alcohol; Its Place and Power (Glasgow: 1860), also purchased by
Bennett at auction, disappears from view. It is not in his Catalogue. There are
three other volumes in the Puttick and Simpson Catalogue lot 12, purchased by
Bennett. These other volumes are in the "etc" category in the auction Catalogue.
They too have vanished.
The fifth sale condition states that "The Books are presumed to be perfect, unless
otherwise expressed in the Catalogue, or at the time of the Sale; but if upon
collating within one week of the Sale they should prove defective, the Purchaser
will be at liberty to take or reject them." Puttick and Simpson's catalogue
descriptions appear to be fairly thorough in order to cover themselves. Lot 124
consists of the plays of the Restoration dramatists Vanbrugh, Farquhar and
Otway. Of these, the second volume of the 1712 copy of Sir Thomas Otway's
Works lacks its cover. Lot 127, a twenty-one-volume Jonathan Swift Works with
Life and Notes by Hawkesworth, has a "small hole in title of vol.17," and the
final two leaves of the last volume are damaged.
The penultimate sale condition essentially amplifies at some length the fifth
condition, and covers the auctioneers for legal claims against them. "The sale of
any Book or Books is not to be set aside on account of any Stained or Short
leaves of text or Plates, want of List of Plates, or on account of the Publication of
any subsequent Volume, Supplement, Appendix, or Plates. All the Manuscripts,
all Magazines, and Reviews, all Books in Lots, and all Tracts in Lots, or
Volumes will be sold with all Faults, Imperfections, and Errors of Description."
Furthermore: "The sale of any Lot of Prints or Drawings, or Illustrated Books, or

other otherwise, is not to be set aside on account of any error in the
enumeration."
The final sale condition relates to payment, settlement and the wish of the
auctioneers Puttick and Simpson, to clear their rooms of materials from a
specific sale - in this instance, the auction of WC's books - and to move onto
their next auction. The seventh and final sale condition reads: "Upon failure of
complying with the above Conditions, the money deposited in part payment shall
be forfeited; and all Lots left uncleared in conformity with these Conditions may
be resold by public or private Sale without further notice; and the Deficiency (if
any) arising from such re-sale shall be made good by the defaulters at this sale,
together with all charges attending the same." They add that "This Condition is
without prejudice to the right of the Auctioneers to enforce the contract made at
this sale, without such re-sale, if they think fit."
The main purchaser at the Puttick and Simpson auction of WC was M. L.

Bennett of the "Caxton Head" bookshop. Information on M. L. Bennett is sparse.
A copy of his February 1890 Catalogue, No. 198, is found at the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. The book seller's catalogue "Offers the following Books &c
from the Library of the Late WILKIE COLLINS, some with his Autograph
Signature and many are Presentation Copies from the respective Authors." There
are one hundred thirty-three items in the catalogue. Some items consists of
various volumes loosely grouped together under subject headings such as
"America" or "Amatory." Under the latter, Bennett's items four and five are the
writings of M. Bernard (Paris: 1794), and Prevost's Manon Lescaut (Paris:
1844). Three separate titles, two by the same author, Alexander Begg, are placed
under the category of "America." The third title is Nell Gwynne's Acorn Leaves
[Bennett 7, 8 and 6].
The first two items in Bennett's Catalogue are not books at all but two household
decorative items. These, it may be assumed, came from an auction of WC's
effects. The first consists of a "Candelabra" described by Bennett as "A Pair of
metal, for four lights each - namely, one in the centre and three around - \VA
inches high; a circular base, with three branches, supporting an amphora-shaped
shaft (on which are three medallions), above which are the before named triple
branches, price £2 10s. the pair." The second item in the Bennett catalogue
consists of "Indian Bronze Vases standing 11 inches high, 20 inches
circumference in the widest part, with covers having a grotesque animal on the
top, the whole of very fine antique workmanship, deeply engraved, and with
elephants' heads in high relief at the four corners, price £5 10s."
The books themselves begin with the third item in the "Caxton Head" catalogue
of M. L. Bennett. This is a copy of George Thomas Keppel, the Earl of
Introduction 13
Albemarle's two-volume autobiographical reminiscences, Fifty Years of My Life

(1876). The final item, one hundred thirty-three in the catalogue, is a copy of Sir
Nathaniel William Wraxall's two-volume Historical Memoirs of My Own Time
(1815) containing "notes in pencil on fly-leaf by" WC.
Each item in Bennett's Catalogue is individually priced. Bennett's prices often

reflect a hundred-percent mark-up, or even more, from the hammer price paid by
him at the Puttick and Simpson auction. Bennett paid five shillings for Lot 67 at
Puttick and Simpson's. Bennett's Catalogue asked just over twice that amount,
ten shillings and sixpence for the lot - the two-volume copy of Albemarle's Fifty
Years of My Life.
Sir N. W. Wraxall's Historical Memoirs were part of an auction lot consisting of

nine volumes. Bennett paid three shillings for the nine volumes {lot 133}.
Bennett then broke up this lot into separate lots. These were then offered
individually in their sale Catalogue. The Wraxall volumes were priced at six
shillings. The other volumes in lot 133 included Thomas Digby Brooke's
translation from the French, published in Bristol 1806, and Henry Hallam's two-
volume Europe during the Middle Ages (1891). The Puttick and Simpson
auction lot consisted of nine volumes, so there were another four volumes
acquired by Bennett, which are unidentified. Thomas Digby Brooke's translation
of Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon's The Exemplary Life of the Pious
Lady Guion is item twenty-five in Bennett's Catalogue. Bound in half old calf, it
is offered for sale at two shillings. Although not described as a signed or
association copy in the Puttick and Simpson auction catalogue, Henry Hallam's
work, bound in "half grey calf," has, according to Bennett's Catalogue
description, WC's signature in the first volume. This two-volume copy of
Hallam becomes Bennett item eighty-one. It is offered for sale at six shillings.
So, for one lot, 133, purchased at Puttick and Simpson's for three shillings,
Bennett offers five of the nine volumes (Wraxall, Hallam and Guyon) for
fourteen shillings, clearly more than a 400% mark-up.
There seems to be a realism at times about Bennett's pricing, reflecting what he

felt he could sell, couldn't sell, and certainly didn't wish to be left with. Two
items by the travel writer and frontier historian, Alexander Begg (1839-1897)
find their way into his Catalogue. Only one of the titles is clearly identified as
such in the Puttick and Simpson auction. Part of lot 30 is Begg's work On the
Creation of Manitoba. There are four other titles in the lot, purchased by Bennett
for five shillings. Three of the titles are specified, the other not. Perhaps the
unnamed title is Alexander Begg's "Dot it Down": A Story of Life in the North
West. This too appears in Bennett's Catalogue. The Begg items were published
in Toronto by WC's publishers Hunter, Rose: perhaps they both were gifts from
a publisher who knew of WC's interest in exploration and travel. Bennett
separately catalogues the volumes. He offers the Creation of Manitoba [Bennett
6] for two shillings and six pence. His item seven, "Dot it Down," has the same
price. However, there is a note in Bennett's catalogue to the effect that with
Begg's Creation of Manitoba it may be purchased for four shillings. In other
words, by acquiring both Begg titles the purchaser obtains them at half their total
price, four shillings rather than eight shillings.
A five-volume Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, seventh edition of 1811, has in

pencil the signature of "W. Collins" on its fly-leaf. Bennett purchased the
volumes as part of Puttick and Simpson lot 168.This lot includes Macaulay's
three-volume Critical and Historical Essays (1854), and a Life of Napoleon, also
in three volumes, by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, published in 1831.
Bennett paid eleven shillings for the eleven volumes. He offers the Boswell for
seven shillings and sixpence, the Macaulay for six shillings, and the biography of
Napoleon for seven shillings and six pence. The relatively low mark-up of just
under one hundred percent doesn't necessarily appear to reflect their physical
condition. The Boswell item is described by Bennett as "half old calf," whereas
the Macaulay is "whole calf gilt, marbled edges, substantial copy," and the
translation of Napoleon's Life is "half morocco" with "gilt edges."
Two other illustrations will be sufficient to illustrate the nature of the mark-up
Bennett thought that he could command. He purchased at auction three folio-
sized items. These were the final two lots in the Puttick and Simpson auction of
WC's Library. Lot 245 consists of a copy of J. J. Johns's (not "J. W. Johns" as
printed in the Puttick and Simpson Catalogue) Anglican Cathedral Church of
Saint James, Mount Zion, Jerusalem, and Claude Warren's Celebrated Hands:
The Life-Size Outlines of the Hands of Twenty-Two Celebrated Hands.
Published in 1882, Warren's volume contains an illustration, amongst those of
other celebrities, of WC's hands. Bennett paid six shillings at auction for the
copies of Johns and Warren. He subsequently prices the former at seven shillings
and sixpence. Warren's Celebrated Hands is offered at ten shillings and
sixpence.
The final lot {246} in the Puttick and Simpson auction of WC's Library held on
Monday 20 January 1890, knocked down to Bennett, also appears in their
February 1890 Catalogue. The lot is described in their Catalogue as an "Atlas -
Black's General. 61 Maps by Hall Hughes &c, and Index of 57, 500 names,
folio, half morocco." Bennett item 18 a, published in Edinburgh in 1847, was
purchased at the auction for one shilling. It is offered in their catalogue for four
shillings.
Introduction 15
THE COMPOSITION OF WILKIE COLLINS'S LIBRARY
Presentation/Association Copies
Volumes in the Puttick and Simpson auction, and in the M. L. Bennett

Catalogue, represent an impressive working collection covering a wide range of
subjects and time periods. There are many inscribed and presentation copies.
These reveal WC's capacity for friendship, his sociability, and the influence his
writings had upon so many of his contemporaries, many of whom were probably
unknown to him. Of the five hundred thirty-seven items in WC's Library, fifty-
seven can be definitely identified as association copies, copies presented to WC.
Both the Puttick and Simpson and Bennett Catalogues indicate the presence of
presentation copies. Evidence found in WC's letters also helps to identify
association copies and their provenance. For instance, there is no indication in
either Puttick and Simpson's auction Catalogue, or in Bennett's Catalogue, that
William Winter's Thistle-down: A Book of Lyrics (1878) is a presentation copy.
A letter from WC to William Winter dated 5 August 1878 thanks him for his
"last volume of poems." So it is probable that the copy sold at the Puttick and
Simpson auction is the same copy. Bennett's Catalogue identifies Forbes
Winslow's Lettsomian Lectures on Insanity (1854)[Bennett 103] as a
"presentation copy to the 'Editor of The Leader,'" WC's friend Edward Pigott.
Pigott, who edited The Leader, probably passed the copy on to WC, who
reviewed for The Leader. In a letter of 14 March 1876 WC thanked Jesup, Paton
& Co., for a copy of Henry Joseph Ruggles's study The Method of Shakespeare
published in New York six years earlier. No indication is given either in the
Puttick and Simpson or Bennett descriptions of the volume that it is a
presentation copy.
There follows an alphabetically arranged tabular listing of presentation copies to

WC, or to others, of volumes in his library. These are listed in the first column in
numerical order. The second column contains the item number in my Catalogue
reconstruction of WC's library. The third column contains the author of the
volume, then in the fourth column its short-title. The fifth column contains the
date of publication, followed in the next column by the name of the inscriber.
The final column contains, if available, brief details of the inscriber, or other
pertinent details.
Table I. Presentation/Association Copies
ITEM AUTHOR SHORT- DATE INSCRIBER DETAIL

TITLE
1 5 Aeschylus Tragedies 1849 Bohn or translated
translator T.W.A. Buckley
(1825-1856),
worked for
publishers and
Household
Words
2 8 Unknown Aide burgh 1861 Author source for No
Name
3 10 H.C. To Be, or [1857] Author (1805-1875)
Anderson Not to Be? stayed with
Dickens, 11
June-15 July
1857. WC at
Gad's Hill same
time
4 24 M.T. Bass Street Music 1864 Author (1799-1884),
M.P.
5 52 T. Mutual 1871 Author (1809-1881)
Brigstocke Scourges portrait-painter,
friend of WC's
father
6 54 O.M. Brown Dwale Bluth 1876 Author's F.M. Brown
Father (1821-1893),
painter whose
son died in 1874
7 69 Hall Caine The 1887 Author (1853-1931)
Deemster novelist, friend
ofWC
8 74 J.F.I. Caplin Electro- 1868 Author French physician
Chemical
Bath
9 82 R. Chambers Traditi 1868 Author (1802-1871)
ons of publisher, father
Edinb ofNina
urgh Lehmann
10 83 A. Faust, tr. 1881 Translator Henry Phillips
Von (1838-1895),
Chamisso WC met during
American tour
Introduction 17
11 132 J.B. Cooke Wanderings 1874 Poet provincial poet
12 137 B. Cornwall English 1856 Poet B.W.Procter

[pseud] Songs (1787-1874),
dedicatee of The
Women in White
13 139 V. Cousin Philosophy, 1849 Translator Daniel Bixby,
tr. New York
publisher, WC
met during
American Tour
14 144 A. Crucis Song of the 1882 Poet R.D. Adams
[pseud] Stars (1829-1912),
Australian
15 160 G. Hogarth, Letters of 1882 Editors G. Hogarth
M. Dickens Charles (1827-1917),
eds. Dickens Dickens's sister-
in-law: Mary
Dickens(1836-
1896),
Dickens's eldest
daughter
16 162 C. Dickens Works 1858- Author (1812-1870)
1859
17 173 S.A. History 1833 Author (1795/6-1858)
Dunham historian
18 192 E. Fawcett Fantasy 1878 Author (1847-1904)
American writer
19 196 K. Field Fechter 1882 Author (1838-1896)
American
actress
20 198 E. Fitzball Poems 1857 Author [presentation
see detail copy to C.
Dickens], (1792-
1873) author
21 201 G. Flaubert Salammbo 1886 Translator M.F. Sheldon
(1847-1936)
American
translator
22 204 J. Forster Debates 1860 Author (1812-1876)
biographer
23 205 J. Forster Land and n.d. Author Ibid.
Labour
24 210 B. Franklin Auto- 1868 Editor J. Bigelow

biography (1817-1911)
American editor,
diplomat
25 226 W.S. Gibson Lectures 1858 Author (1814-1871)
antiquarian
26 228 W.F. Gill Martyred 1874 Author 1844-1917)
Church American
journalist
27 250 P.H. Hayne Poems 1882 Author (1830-1886)
South Carolina
poet
28 253 Rdu Boz 1889 Author (1850-1893)
Pontavice WC's French
de Heussey translator
29 258 J. Holden Poetic 1866 Author [inscribed 1874]
Zephyrs poet
30 259 H. Holl King's Mail 1863 Author (1811-1884)
novelist
31 260 G.W. Holley Niagra 1872 Author (1810-1897)
American
natural historian
32 263 O.W. Songs 1875 Author (1809-1894)
Holmes American poet
33 284 C. Kent Catholica 1880 Author (1832-1902)
Journalist
34 287 W. Ketchum History of 1864 Author (1798-1876)
Buffalo American
historian
35 301 A.H. Layard Nineveh 1848/ Author [inscribed 1852]
1849 (1817-1894)
archaeologist,
diplomat
36 305 E. De Leon Askaros 1870 Author (1828-1891)
American
diplomat,
journalist
37 329 G. [Novels] [1876] [Author or G. MacDonald
to MacDonald Publisher] (1824-1905),
333 novelist
Kegan, Paul, &
Trench,
Publisher
Introduction 19
[5 volumes.,
presented 1883-
1887]
38 344 S.C. Massett Drifting 1863 Author (1820-1898)
American
lyricist
39 353 E. Meryon Huguenot 1876 Author (1809-1880)
medical author
40 356 N.C. Moak Billings 1879 Author (1833-1892)
[trial] American
attorney
41 365 E. Nesbit Legends 1887 Publisher Longmans
42 398 Sir Gilbert Well Walk 1878 Author (1811-1878)

Scott Hampstead architect
43 401 H. Quilter Sententiae 1886 Author (1851-1907)
Art is editor
44 411 G. Redford Ancient 1886 Author (1816-1895)
Sculpture surgeon, art
critic
45 414 K. F.von Magnetism 1850 Unknown [presentation
Reichenbach copy from either
author, editor
and translator
W. Gregory
(1803-1858), or
publisher
Taylor, Walton,
& Maberly] von
Reichenbach
(1788-1869),
WC probably
used for Leader
1852 letters
46 424 A.M. Ross Abolitionist 1875 Author (1832-1897)
American
abolitionist
47 454 R. Southey Essays 1832 [Head- school prize to
master?] WC,Xmas 1835
48 476 T. Tasso Jerusalem 1865 Translator J.K. James
(1815-1893)
translated from
Italian
49 482 J. Taylor Holy Living 1824 Unknown To Mrs. Harriet

Collins, 1825
50 493 W. British 1861 Author (1828-1876)
Thornbury Artists journalist
51 496 C.H. Three Gates 1859 Author (1798-1868)
Townshend clergyman,
author, friend of
Dickens, WC
52 497 J.T. Coupon 1873 Author (1827-1916)
Trowbridge Bonds Boston writer
53 507 G. Walch Tin Plate 1881 Author (1843-1913)
Australian poet
54 519 F. Winslow Lectures 1854 Author (1810-1874)
presentation
copy to the
"Editor of The
Leader" Edward
Pigott
55 520 F. Winslow Diseases of 1861 Author Physician
the
Brain
Of these fifty-six presentation copies a number are not to WC personally. For

instance a copy of Edward Fitzball's The House to Let, with Other Poems (1857)
is a "presentation copy to Charles Dickens from the Author" (item 198). An
uninscribed copy of Fitzball's revealing reminiscences Thirty-Five Years of a
Dramatic Author's Life is in WC's library (item 199). Fitzball (1792-1873), the
author of more than one hundred fifty plays, four novels, six volumes of verse,
stage adaptations, songs and lyrics, was acquainted with many literary and
dramatic personalities of his time (Stephens, 237). The copy of his poems in
WC's library, with its 1857 publication date, links Dickens and WC, and their
active theatrical activities when they acted together and co-operated in joint
dramatic writing ventures.
Given the closeness of WC to his mother Harriet it is hardly surprising that

books belonging to her should be in his Library. She was probably less pious
than her husband, WC's father for whom Jeremy Taylor's sermonizing Holy
Living and Holy Dying would have had a special significance. Certainly the
work appealed to WC's brother Charles who insisted that WC take a copy with
him to Italy in 1853. WC found it slow reading, writing to his Mother "I have
read a little of Jeremy Taylor - in accordance with my promise: a little because
my present course of life is not favourable to theological studies, and Jeremy is
rather involved and hard to understand after a day's rolling over rough high
roads in a travelling carriage" {Letters, I, 100:16 October 1853). A two-volume
Introduction 21
copy dated 1824 is in his Library: the copy was presented to his mother a year
later (item 482).
The presence of WC's father, William Collins (1788-1847), the distinguished

landscape and figure painter and member of the Royal Academy, is evident in at
least one inscribed copy in his son's library. There is a copy of WC's
grandfather's three-volume Memoirs of a Picture (1805) (item 97). This is a
memoir of George Morland (1763-1804) the painter of rustic, sporting, and
decorative subjects. William Collins's "very strange three-volume work so
intrigued Wilkie Collins," his biographer Catherine Peters writes, "that he
interrupted the narrative of his life of his father to devote nine pages to
unravelling the complicated plot of a book which he compared, not absurdly, to
Smollett, Sterne and even Fielding" (Peters, 11). There is no record that the
library copy of Memoirs of a Picture contains an inscription.
An interesting illustration of WC's father's legacy is reflected in the presentation

copy of a drama by Thomas Brigstocke (1809-1881). The dramatist is better
known as a portrait painter than for his dramatic efforts. According to the
Dictionary of National Biography, "he spent eight years in Paris and Italy, and
made some copies from pictures by the old masters, among them one of
Raphael's 'Transfiguration' in the Vatican, which on the recommendation of W.
Collins, R.A., was purchased for Christ Church, Albany Street, Regent's Park."
As a dramatist his efforts are not listed in the third edition of the Cambridge
Bibliography of English Literature, Volume 4, 1800-1900 (1999). His drama
The Mutual Scourges; or France and Her Neighbours. An Historical Drama in
Four Acts (1871) (item 52) has a presentation inscription dated 1871, and
pencilled manuscript corrections by WC. No letters have emerged between
Brigstocke and WC. The presence of Mutual Scourges amongst WC's books
reflects his father's legacy, and a perception of WC's apparent influence in the
London theatrical world of the late 1860s and early 1870s. It is natural for a
friend of a father to wish to send to a son, who has something of a dramatic
reputation, a dramatic effort.
Books with inscriptions to other people rather than to WC are revealing. To take
one instance, Forbes Winslow (1810-1874) was a physician and member of the
Royal College of Surgeons. The Dictionary of National Biography notes that in
1847 he "opened two private lunatic asylums in Hammersmith, where he
employed the humane method of treating lunatics. . . . The frequent
establishment of the plea of insanity in criminal cases was largely due to his
influence." Winslow presented a copy of his 1854 Lettsomian Lectures on
Insanity (item 519) to the Editor of The Leader, WC's close friend Edward
Pigott. The 1861 second edition of Winslow's On Obscure Diseases of the Brain
(item 520) has a presentation inscription to WC. Certainly both works relate to
WC's own fictional exploration of the world of insanity and lunatic asylums in
The Woman in White, serialized in All the Year Round from 23 November 1859
until 22 August 1860.
There are some surprising omissions from the inscribed copies in the Library.
There are copies which probably are presentation copies but lack inscriptions.
For instance in a letter dated 17 June 1869 WC writes to Joseph Ellis, "Pray
accept my best thanks for the copy of your poems which you have kindly sent
me." He comments upon the poems, demonstrating that he has actually read
some of them: "I may instance 'The dirge of man' as being, to my mind, one of
the most successful among your more ambitious efforts - and 'Try Again' as
offering a lively and pleasant essay in poetry of the more homely and practical
sort" (Ms: Bodleian). There is no indication that the copy of Joseph Ellis's
Meletic: Poems (1869) sold at Puttick and Simpson's auction, bought by
Bennett, and recorded in his catalogue, is an inscribed or presentation copy {lot
92}[Bennett 62]. Its presence is another illustration of WC's influence and the
high esteem in which he was held by many of his now largely forgotten
contemporaries.
According to Frederic Boase in his Modern English Biography: Containing

Many Thousand Concise Memoirs of Persons Who Have Died between the
Years 1851-1900, Joseph Ellis (1815-1891) was the son of the landlord and
builder of a famous south London landmark, the Star and Garter Hotel in
Richmond. The son lived in Balcombe nestling near Cuckfield in the Sussex
south Downs, and not too close from Brighton. He was "a leading spirit of
Brighton literary" society. There is no evidence that has come to light that WC
addressed Brighton literary society: as a seaside haunt, he preferred the Kent
coast. There is no evidence either that WC ever met Ellis.
Curious omissions from the record of WC's Library include works dedicated to
him. There are no works by James Payn (1830-1898), a prolific writer close to
WC who worked with him on Household Words. Payn dedicated his
Gwendoline's Harvest (1870) to WC. Blanche Roosevelt's (1853-1898) The
Copper Queen: A Romance of To-day and Yesterday (1886) was in WC's
collection at the time of his death (item 421). No copy of her Verdi, Milan and
Othello, published a year later, is present. Her account of the Italian opera is
dedicated to WC, and in her preface dated "Paris, June 1887", she writes, "My
dear Friend, | When I left England for Italy, you said 'Do write me all about
Verdi, Milan, and the new opera Othello'. . . . I hope also that it [the book] may
recall to your mind not alone a composer, a country, and a people whom you
have long so professedly admired." Her dedication reads "To Wilkie Collins. My
dear friend . . . knowing that the work never would have been written without
you, I dedicate it to you."
Introduction 23
On the other hand, J. G. Holmes's Ghost Gloom, published in 1889, is in the

collection (item 262). Holmes writes, "To Wilkie Collins, Esq., This novel is
gratefully dedicated by an admirer of his genius and a recipient of his kindness"
(quoted Gasson 48). Examples of poets whom WC probably never met are
revealed in other inscribed copies. Joseph B. Cooke of Loughborough,
Leicestershire sent WC a copy of his Wanderings with the Muse (1874)(item
132). Another provincial poet, James Holden, inscribed a copy of his Poetic
Zephyrs, published in Bury, Lancashire, in 1866 to WC (item 258). The
Australian lawyer and poet Robert Dudley Adams (1829-1912), writing under
the pseudonym "Alpha Crucis," inscribed a copy of his Song of the Stars and
Other Poems, published in Sydney in 1882 (item 144), to WC. These
presentation copies may be viewed as evidence of the esteem in which WC was
held in the English provinces and in Australia — in the later half of the
nineteenth century, a far-away colonial possession.
WC's agent and confidant during his last years, Alexander Pollock Watt (1834-
1914), was in the habit of sending him books. Fine examples may be found in
two of the copies of Rider Haggard in WC's Library (items 242, 243). The
books elicited lengthy verbal and epistolary responses from the recipient. Of
She, WC wrote to Watt: "I must talk to you about 'She' the next time you give
me a look-in . . . 'She' is better written than 'Mines' - but it has not got the
movement of the story and the variety of situations . . . And I doubt the effect on
the stupid reader (a most important person, unhappily, to please) of the lady who
is 2000 years old" {Letters, II, 531:25 January 1887). A few weeks earlier he had
written a lengthy letter to Watt concerning the strengths and weaknesses of King
Solomon's Mines {Letters, II, 529-530: 4 January 1887). Published in 1885,
Haggard's novel was frequently re-printed. The copy in WC's Library is the red
cloth "28th Thousand" impression published in 1889. This suggests that an
earlier copy of the novel WC may have had disappeared. There is no evidence,
either in Puttick and Simpson's Auction Catalogue, or in Bennett's Catalogue,
that any of the copies of Rider Haggard's novels in WC's Library are
presentation copies from Watt.
Another copy, which more than likely is inscribed, but no association is recorded
in the Puttick and Simpson or Bennett sources, is that of the French dramatic
translation by Robert du Pontavice de Heussey of WC's The New Magdalen.
This was the stage version of his novel first published in 1873. The play was
successful in London and the provinces, and also was performed in Paris, Rome,
Berlin and Vienna. Produced by Augustin Daly on Broadway in November
1873, it was revived in London as late as 1906 (Gasson 113). De Heussey (1850-
1893), Breton author, translated WC's work into French and represented his
interests in France. He was the recipient of long intimate letters from WC (see
for instance Letters, II, 449-50; 482-83; 484-85; 559-60). Three of de Heussey's
books are found in WC's Library. A copy of de Heussey's biography of Dickens
contains an affectionate and effusive inscription to WC (item 253). Curiously the

other two copies of works by de Heussey appear not to be inscribed. One is the
translation of WC's play (item 254). The other is a copy of de Heussey's CEuvre
Completes (item 255). WC wrote to de Heussey on 4 February 1887: "You are
the only French Man of Letters - mind, I say this seriously - who understands
England and the English. And, because I mean this, you will find on the next
morsel of paper, some corrections of trifling slips" {Letters, II, 532).
Four copies of works by Victor Hugo are noted in WC's Library (items 267-
270). None give an indication of their provenance. One of these is a three-
volume Hugo's [Le Theatre] published in Paris in 1850. In an undated letter
written to the publisher Richard Bentley, WC thanks him for a copy of a Hugo
play and adds that he doesn't mind waiting for "Charpentier's edition of Victor
Hugo's Plays" (MS: University of Illinois, Urbana). According to Kenneth
Robinson's Wilkie Collins, A Biography (New York: Macmillan, 1952) Edward
Lear was "a lifelong friend" of WC. Robinson adds, "It is however a friendship
of which hardly a trace remains" (93).15 WC's Library contains one Lear item, a
copy of his Journal of a Landscape Painter in Corsica (1870) (item 302), but no
inscription is recorded. During the writing of Man and Wife (1868-1869), WC
sought the advice of the journalist, civil servant and social reformer, Joseph
Charles Parkinson (1833-1908). A copy of Parkinson's Places and People
(1869) is in WC's Library (item 382). It again is an example of a volume which
might well have contained an inscription but apparently does not.
On the other hand, there are presentation copies in his Library with no inscriber
recorded. There is a "presentation copy" of a pamphlet agitating against the
Proposed Destruction of the Well Walk Hampstead. This is a pamphlet by Sir
Gilbert Scott. There is no evidence that Scott presented it personally to WC
(item 398). A copy of The Public Ledger Building, Philadelphia: With an
Account of the Proceedings Connected with Its Opening June 20, 1867,
published a year later, is however more revealing as to its provenance. It was
published by George W. Childs (1829-1894), whom WC had met and formed a
friendship with during his 1873-1874 American visit. The copy contains a
"Dedication of Printer's Cemetery, Woodlands." The uninscribed copy (item
399) is probably a gift from its publisher, Childs.
There are, as we have seen, inscriptions which reveal the extent of the esteem in
which WC was held as a man of letters. There are inscriptions which reveal
friendships and hitherto ignored biographical, literary and social connections.
Theodore William Alois Buckley's (1825-1856) presentation copy of his
translation of Aeschylus's Tragedies (item 5), was published by Bohn in their
classics series in 1849. The presence of the presentation inscription reveals a
previously neglected connection between WC and the classical scholar who
contributed to Household Words and died in tragic circumstances, a victim of
Introduction 25
"opium, and subsequently alcohol" {DNB). Another inscription revealing an

acquaintance, if not friendship, is revealed in the presence of a "presentation
copy from" Hans Christian Andersen to WC (item 10). The two met at Gad's
Hill the home of Charles Dickens, where the Danish writer stayed between 11
June-15 July 1857.
The presence of a presentation copy of Michael Thomas Bass's (1799-1884)

Street Music in the Metropolis (1864) (item 24) indicates an unknown
connection with the Liberal M.P., philanthropist, and grandson of the founder of
the brewers Burton. The subject of the volume reveals a preoccupation of WC.
In a letter to A. P. Watt written from Ramsgate on the Kent Coast, more than
twenty years after receiving the book, WC rails against noise. His departure from
the resort "is hastened by the infernal noises which make this delightful place a
hell on earth. Organs - brass bands - howling costermongers selling fish, make
day hideous - and night too, up to 10 o'clock. Nobody complains but me"
{Letters, II, 480: 24 June 1885). Clearly Bass's "Bill for the Suppression of
Street Music," which received the Royal Assent in July 1864, was not
implemented by the Local Authorities in Ramsgate Kent (Dickens, Letters, X,
388).
Some annotated copies are a guide to WC's sources used whilst writing his
novels. In some cases they illuminate the presence of other non-inscribed
volumes in WC's collection. There is for instance a presentation copy from the
author of the 1861 edition of [A Guide to] Aldeburgh and Adjacent Places (item
8). The Suffolk coastal town is used in No Name, which WC was writing in
1861-1862. He visited the resort with Caroline Graves in 1861 and the novel
contains powerfully evocative descriptions of the coastland. WC "admired
Crabbe's poetry, and he reminded his readers that Aldeburgh was the poet's
birthplace. His description of the town, gradually being reclaimed by the sea, and
the surrounding country are deliberately modelled on Crabbe's evocative
backgrounds to his tales of rural violence and poverty" (Peters 238). There is the
eight-volume 1834 edition of Crabbe's Poetical Works . . . With His Letters and
Journals, and His Life amongst WC books (item 141).
There is also a copy of Edward Forbes's Quiggin's Illustrated Guide and

Visitor's Companion through the Isle of Man (item 202), first published in 1839,
and frequently reprinted. The copy doesn't provide evidence of its being an
association copy, having neither WC's signature nor other evidence that it was
presented to him. In August 1863 he visited the Isle of Man with Caroline to gain
materials for Armadale. It is highly unlikely that he wouldn't have consulted
Edward Forbes's guide during this visit.
It is surprising that there are not more presentation copies or works by WC's
friend Charles Kent (1832-1902) (Dickens, Letters, II, 609). Kent, author and
journalist, had extensive knowledge of English Catholicism and of Catholic

families. His mother Ellen was the sister of a Roman Catholic bishop. Both his
parents were Catholics. Kent was educated at a Catholic School, Prior Park, Bath
and then at St. Mary's College, Oscott. He was the author of, amongst other
works, Catholicity in the Dark Ages by an Oscotian (1847). His "literary
curiosity called Corona Catholica. De Leonis XIII Assumptione, Epigramma in
50 Linguis . . . (1880), supplied translations of an English epigram into fifty
languages" {DNB). A presentation copy from Kent to WC (item 284) is one of
two Kent items in WC's Library. There is little doubt that Kent provided
background material for The Black Robe, published the following year, 1881,
with its Catholic Jesuit setting. Kent, a leading Catholic journalist, edited The
Sun from 1853-1871 and the Weekly Register from 1874-1881. He also worked
on Household Words. The other Kent work is his edition of Charles Lamb's
Works, published in 1889 (item 293).
Other volumes extant in WC's Library were probably drawn upon whilst writing
novels such as The Black Robe, which develops themes used in his "Yellow
Mask." This earlier tale, published in Household Words 7-28 July 1855, contains
a plot in which "a high-ranking Catholic priest schemes to recover property he
considers to belong rightfully to the Church" (Gasson 19). Volumes in WC's
library providing him with background information for such a plot include
Leopold von Ranke's History of the Popes. WC possessed the three-volume
translation by E. Foster published in 1847 (item 407). Also in the library is a
copy of Andrew Steinmetz's three-volume History of the Jesuits, published a
year later. The volumes contain "numerous pencil marks by Wilkie Collins"
(item 458). There is in addition a copy of Cardinal Wiseman's Recollections of
the Last Four Popes and of Rome in Their Times, published in 1858 (item 530).
The copy of the second edition, published in Paris in twenty-six volumes in

1808, of Maurice Mejan's Recueil des Causes Celebres, et des Arrets qui les Ont
Decidees (item 349) is probably the copy WC bought in a Paris bookstall in
1856. The actor Wybert Reeve (1831-1906), in his "Recollections of Wilkie
Collins", quotes WC as recalling, "I was in Paris wandering about the streets
with Charles Dickens." They were "amusing ourselves by looking into the shops.
We came to an old bookstall - half shop and half store and I found some
dilapidated volumes of records of French crimes, a sort of French Newgate
Calendar. I said to Dickens 'Here is a prize.' So it turned out to be. In them I
found some of my best plots. 'The Woman in White was one.'" The copy in
WC's Library has his signature in the first volume: it is not a presentation copy.
Clearly the volumes are an important source for his novel which, as Clyde K.
Hyder and others have demonstrated, has as its genesis a celebrated French
lawsuit of fifty years previously.16
Introduction 27
Mejan is not the only volume of criminal trials found in the library providing its
owner with materials for his fiction. There is present the six-volume 1825
[Craik's] Celebrated Trials and Remarkable Cases of Criminal Jurisprudence
edited by the young George Borrow (item 43). Unfortunately there is no record
of how or when WC obtained the volumes. There is no record either of how a
copy of David Jardine's Celebrated Criminal Trials, published in two volumes
by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge in 1825 (item 277), came
into its owner's possession. Neither is there a record of how Francois Richer's
eighteen-volume record of French criminal trials, Causes Celebres, published in
Amsterdam between 1772 and 1881 (item 418), came into WC's hands.
WC drew upon French police records and criminal trials for many of his finest
plots. In addition to Mejan he would have used Louis Canler's Memoirs . . .
Ancien Chef du Service de Surete, published in Brussels in 1862. An edition in
French is in WC's Library (item 73). Ward and Lock, the London publishers,
published in the same year an English translation. The 1881 two-volume
Memoires de Mr. Claude, Chef de la Police de Surete sous le Second Empire
amongst WC's books (item 89) reveals WC's continuing interest in French
detective work and criminal investigations. The other eight volumes of this ten-
volume work published between 1881 and 1883 are not present. A source he
would have drawn upon for his short stories, and novels such as The Woman in
White and The Moonstone, is Jacques Peuchet's Memoires Tirees des Archives
de la Police de Paris pour Servir a I 'Histoire de la Morale et de la Police Louis
XIV jusqu' a nos Jours. Six volumes published in Paris in 1838 are in his
Library with his signature (item 384).
In his "Introduction" to his edition of WC's first novel Ioldni: or, Tahiti As It
Was, Ira B. Nadel draws attention to WC's use of "the source text for Ioldni"
(xxii). This is the second edition in four volumes of William Ellis's Polynesian
Researches: During a Residence of Nearly Eight Years in the Society and
Sandwich Islands. Published in 1831, a copy is in WC's Library (item 187). No
annotations or marginalia are recorded in the work from which WC "borrowed
the names of the four principal characters Iolani, Aimati, Idia and Mahine, citing
Tahitian pronunciation, marriage customs, scenic descriptions and the practice of
infanticide which provides a key issue for the novel" (Gasson 85).
The Fallen Leaves (1879) is a relatively late novel by WC. Dedicated to

Caroline Graves, the title refers to those "people who have drawn blanks in the
lottery of life . . . the friendless and the lonely, the wounded and the lost"
(Gasson 59). The novel centers around four women, all of whom are linked by
their association with Amelius Goldenheart, the hero. Important concerns of the
novel are illegitimacy, prostitution, and the contrast between capitalism and an
ideal Christian Socialist society. Amelius is an exile from such a community.
WC "took the details of the community from a description of the Oneida
communities in a book he owned, The Communistic Societies of the United

States by Charles Nordhoff (Peters 386). A copy of this work is amongst the
books in his Library (item 371). No indications of annotations or marginalia are
recorded in either Puttick and Simpson's auction catalogue, or in Bennett's
subsequent bookseller's catalogue.
The presence of presentation copies provides the key to unexplored epistolary

friendships. Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830-1886) was, in the words of the editor of
his selected letters, Daniel Morley McKeithan, "the most conspicuous Southern
professional man of letters in the first twenty-one years following the Civil War."
He and WC had much in common: both wrote for a living; both during the
period of their correspondence — the 1880s — had experienced better times;
both were close to their mothers. Also Hayne, like WC, "was ill much of the
time." McKeithan writes, "no poet is in the mood for composition every day
even when well, and he [Hayne] could find no market for much that he wrote."17
A common bond of sympathy is revealed in WC's lengthy letters to Hayne (see
Letters, II, 608), which seem to have started on a receipt of Hayne's 1882
Boston published Poems. This is a presentation copy from Hayne to WC (item
250).
WC's detailed response in a letter to Hayne dated 16 July 1884 goes far beyond
WC's usual conviviality and politeness. There is no evidence that Hayne and
WC met. In one of the many lengthy personal letters to Hayne, whom WC
clearly recognized as a kindred spirit, WC opens with an acknowledgment of
personal problems, yet "I was utterly unworthy of your poems, until my mind
had rested a little." WC has "only at the beginning of this week .. . begun to read
[Hayne] confining myself at first to the shorter poems." He then picks out his
favourites so far in his reading. Three poems are named which "represent many
others in which I find true poetical feeling, expressed delightfully in truly
poetical language" which "is a very rare quality in the present time." Amongst
his contemporaries WC finds "affectation of language, and obscurity of
meaning." he formulates what he desires in poetry: "what I insist on is, a
favourable impression at starting. Excepting Tennyson (in his shorter poems),181
read hardly any modern poetry with pleasure." Hayne's work is an exception:
"What I like in your poetry (so far as I yet know it) is - that it makes me feel,
and that it has not stopped me" (Letters, II, 469-470). The presence of an
inscribed copy from a relatively obscure South Carolina poet reveals the extent
of WC's influence. The recipient's extensive response to the poems tells us much
about WC's poetic values, and the impact the book of poetry had upon him.
Another response to what may have been an unsolicited presentation copy shows
WC going beyond mere civility and politeness. In what must have been a
difficult letter to write, WC, in a letter date 15 January 1876, responds to a copy
he has received of the two-volume William Michael Rossetti and Philip Bourke
Introduction 29
Marston edition of Oliver Madox Brown's The Dwale Bluth, Hebditch 's Legacy,
and Other Remains (1876) (item 54). The volume contains "the literary remains
o f the son of Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893), the painter, whose connections
with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood must have reminded WC of his own
brother Charles Allston Collins, and his sad and disappointing connections with
the Brotherhood. Charles died in 1873, three years before his brother received
the volumes from Ford Madox Brown. The young Oliver Madox Brown died at
the age of 19 on 5 November 1874. His death produced a sonnet of
remembrance from Dante Gabriel Rossetti, published in The Athenaeum, 14
November 1874. In his letter to Ford Madox Brown, the recipient of the volumes
is not uncritical of them. In the story "The Black Swan," WC sees "the inevitable
defects of youth and inexperience." Yet he agrees that "the untimely death o f
Ford Madox Brown's "son is a loss to literature which all friends of Art have
true reason to regret" (Ms: John Rylands, Manchester).
WC toured North America and Canada between 25 September 1873 and 7

March 1874. He arrived in New York on 25 September 1873 for his reading tour
and managed to also visit, in New York State, Albany, Rochester, Troy, and
Syracuse. On 17 October 1873 he was in Philadelphia. He returned to New York
on 22 October, then to Boston, to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Returning to New
York for readings and the performance of his drama The New Magdalen, he then
traveled to Baltimore and Washington and back to Boston. Christmas and
Boxing Day saw him in Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls and then to Buffalo,
Cleveland, Sandusky, and thence to Chicago. His discomforting experience in
the lengthy train ride from Sandusky was used as the reason why he canceled a
planned trip to the West Coast and to San Francisco to visit a cousin. He
returned eastward via Detroit and Rochester to be lionized yet again. This time it
was Boston, where he met Mark Twain, H. W. Longfellow, Oliver Wendell
Holmes and others. He returned to New York where he sat for the photographer
Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896). WC returned to England from Boston on 7
March.
WC formed many lasting friendships during the visit. For instance he first met
Sebastian Benzon Schlesinger, the employer of his godson Frank Ward, in
Boston during his reading tour. Schlesinger and his wife were the dedicatees of
WC's novella The Haunted Hotel (1879). A record of their relationship and
other friendships made in America survives in WC's correspondence {Letters, II,
613). There are no books with Schlesinger's inscription, however the legacy of
his American tour is found in the many inscribed presentation copies from
Americans from all walks of life in his library. There is, for instance, a
translation of Adelbert von Chamisso's (1781-1838) Faust: A Dramatic Sketch.
The translation, published in Philadelphia in 1881 in a limited edition of one
hundred copies only for private circulation, is by Henry Phillips Jr. (1838-1895)
(item 83). A translator and numismatist, Phillips devoted his time to learned
societies. A scion of a prominent wealthy Sephardic Jewish Philadelphia family,

he was very prominent in the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of
Philadelphia and the American Philosophical Society. In 1892 he was appointed
U.S. vice consul of Belgium.19
WC met many publishers during his tour. A testimony to these meetings is seen
in a presentation copy of the French philosopher Victor Cousin's The Philosophy
of the Beautiful from its New York publisher Daniel Bixby (item 139). A
translator, who also presented her efforts to WC, was Mary French Sheldon
(1847-1936). A presentation copy of her translation of Gustav Flaubert's
Salammbo, published in 1886 (item 201), elicited an interesting response from
WC in a letter dated 11 April 1886 {Letters, II, 520-521).
WC assisted the American actress, journalist, lecturer and feminist, Kate Field
(1838-1896) with her Charles Albert Fechter, published in Boston in 1882. It is
hardly surprising that Field, who had corresponded with WC and met him,
should present him with a copy of the memoir of a mutual friend (item 196). It
was Fechter (1824-1879) who greeted WC when he disembarked in America.
WC stayed with him in Pennsylvania and saw him again in New York, for what
was to be the last time, before leaving for England. WC's "Recollections of
Charles Fechter" are candid and found in Kate Field's 1882 volume.
Other inscribed copies testify to WC's meetings with or the impact he had upon
Americans, such as Henry Phillips, now largely forgotten. These range from
presentation copies from the author Edgar Fawcett (1847-1904) (item 192), the
journalist William Fearing Gill (1844-1917) (item 228), the American natural
historian George W. Holley (1810-1897) (item 260), the historian of Buffalo,
New York, William Ketchum (1798-1876) (item 287), the diplomat and
journalist Edward De Leon (1828-1891) (item 305), the lyricist Stephen C.
Massert (1820-1898) (item 344), the Attorney Nathaniel Cleveland Moak (1833-
1892) (item 356), the abolitionist Alexander Milton Ross (1832-1897) (item
424) and the Boston-based novelist and short story writer John Townsend
Trowbridge (1827-1916) (item 497).
Copies from more well known figures include John Bigelow (1817-1911), Oliver
Wendell Holmes (1809-1894), and William Winter (1836-1917). John Bigelow
was the associate editor and owner from 1848 to 1861 of the leading New York
Republican evening newspaper, the New York Evening Post. "As consul general
at Paris (1861-65) and minister to France (1865-66), he helped swing sympathy
away from the Confederacy." An inscribed copy of his edition "based on the
manuscript he discovered in France" (Hart 67) of the Autobiography of
Benjamin Franklin, published in Philadelphia in 1868, is amongst WC's books
(item 210). A testimony also to the friendship formed between Bigelow, his wife
and WC is seen in the intimate letter WC wrote to Mrs. Bigelow on the final day
Introduction 31
of the year he had returned from America. WC observes to Mrs. Bigelow: "In
your country, I felt five and twenty years old. In my country I (not infrequently)
feel five and ninety" {Letters, II, 388: 31 December 1874).
Another of the friendships formed by WC on his American tour was with Oliver
Wendell Holmes. A man of diverse talents, Holmes was a leading contributor to
the influential Atlantic Monthly, which he helped found in 1857. A lecturer and
medical doctor, he was Parkman Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at
Harvard, and Dean of the Harvard Medical School. An accomplished poet, he
composed a "verse tribute" entitled "A Toast to Wilkie Collins," read at a 22
October 1873 breakfast party to honor WC. Upon his return to England, WC
wrote Holmes "I shall prize as long as I live the charming little poem which
speaks to me of your genius and your kindness whenever I look at it. Farewell,
dear Doctor Holmes, for the present. I have few dearer hopes than the hope of
my return to America" (Ms: Library of Congress: 7 March 1874).
Oliver Wendell Holmes sent his friend WC a presentation copy of his Songs of
Many Seasons: 1862-1874, published in Boston in 1875 (item 263). In a lengthy
reply to Holmes, WC comments in detail upon the poems: "Your last Poems
have been - in bed and out of bed - my always welcome companions," He
instances several poems including "the Organ Blower," "At the Pantomime," the
"War Songs," "Never or Now," "Class Meeting" and naturally Holmes's "A
Toast to Wilkie Collins" for commendation. He concludes his 17 May 1875
letter, "I am still looking forward to my return to the States, and to a renewal of
our brief intercourse at Boston - and still unable to fix a date for my departure"
{Letters, II, 394).
William Winter became a regular correspondent of WC. Nine of his works are
found in WC's library (items 521-529). One of them, a copy of Winter's English
Rambles and Other Fugitive Pieces, in Prose and Verse, published in Boston in
1884 (item 522), is a presentation copy. For more than forty years, from 1865
until 1909, Winter was the influential dramatic critic of the New York Tribune.
"Although during the first twenty five years he was respected as the Great Cham
of the New York theater, he was later considered a relic of the Victorian era
because of his romanticism, sentimentalism, insistence upon morality, and hatred
of the rising realism." Also, he wrote "a great many occasional poems . . .
funeral verse on the deaths of actors, which, because of his longevity, were so
frequent, that he came to be known as 'Weeping Willie'" (Hart 730).
WC's library contains Winter's travel books, his recollections of theatrical

personalities, and his poetry. In his Old Friends Being Literary Recollections of
Other Days (1909), Winter quotes extensively from his correspondence with
WC. He writes movingly of his old friend. "He was a great writer: as a story-
teller, specifically, he stands alone, ~ transcendent and incomparable: but his
personality was even more interesting than his authorship. To be in his company
was to be charmed, delighted stimulated and refreshed." Winters adds that WC's
"intellectual energy communicated itself to all around him, but his manner was
so exquisitely refined and gentle that, while he prompted extreme mental
activity, he also diffused a lovely influence of repose. The hours that I passed in
the company of Collins are remembered as among the happiest of my life" (203-
04). WC reciprocated such sentiments. His letters to Winter are affectionate,
personal, detailed, and look back with affection upon his visit to New York.
They are especially revealing concerning WC's views on literature and his
fellow authors, living and dead. Particularly noteworthy is his letter of 14
January 1883 with its views on "glorious Walter Scott (King, Emperor,
President, and God Almighty of. . . novelists)" {Letters, II, 453).
WC met Longfellow and Mark Twain in America. A copy of Twain's The Prince
and the Pauper, published in Toronto in 1882, is amongst WC's books (item
499). Surprisingly, no correspondence between Twain (1835-1910) and WC has
emerged. Absent from WC's Library are works by Longfellow (1807-1882),
with whom WC corresponded. In fact, whilst he was waiting at Boston to sail to
Liverpool, WC wrote to the great poet regretting that he was unable "to get to
Cambridge and to take your hand at parting." He hopes to return to America and
then visit Longfellow and his family at Harvard {Letters, II, 382: 6 March 1874).
Amongst the most poignant of the inscribed copies in the Library is that recalling
WC's old friendship with Charles Dickens. This is an inscribed copy of The
Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by his sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth (1827-
1917) and Dickens's eldest daughter Mary Dickens (1836-1896). The copy,
published in two volumes in 1882, is inscribed on the fly-leaf, "with love from
the editors" (item 160). Both Georgina and Mary knew WC from the years when
WC and Dickens were close professionally and personally. In the aftermath of
Charles Collins's marriage to Dickens's daughter Kate, Georgina's friendship
with WC cooled. They "continued to be friends, if not intimates, and she and
Mamie [Mary Dickens] were very grateful for his help and professional advice
when they were preparing their edition of Dickens's letters" (Peters 347). WC's
letters to Georginia concerning the preparation of the edition are detailed and
practical. They also reflects past emotions. WC writes to her concerning a
forgery: "It is an outrage offered to Dickens's reputation to associate his great
name with rubbish which is utterly unworthy of if {Letters, II, 421: 18 March
1879).
Imprint Analysis
Both the Puttick and Simpson auction and the Bennett catalogues indicate
publication dates in addition to author's names, the title and the number of
volumes, in some instances places of publication, and the edition of a work. It is
Introduction 33
therefore possible, in most instances, to analyze the composition of the books in

WC's library by date and place of publication. Publication dates are divided into
centuries, and then into smaller yearly divisions. As there are two books with
pre-1700 publication date imprints, tabulation starts with the seventeenth
century, then moves to the years 1700-1799. The nineteenth century is divided
into ten- and nine-year divisions.
Table II. Imprint Analysis
PUBLICATION TOTAL ITEMS %

DATE
1600-1699 2(61,453) 0.37
1700-1799 33 (26, 32, 36,44, 78, 86, 87, 130, 143, 6.15
151, 152, 165*, 191, 197, 232,280*, 286,
308, 339, 381, 395, 397, 403,417, 418,
443,448, 464, 474, 489, 500, 505, 537)
1800-1810 13 (79, 97, 147, 233, 238,272, 275, 281, 2.42
303,349,361,404,492)
1811-1820 19 (14, 18, 42, 45, 46, 71, 90, 94, 190, 3.54
225, 257, 307, 387, 400, 415, 420,433,
476, 535)
1821-1830 29(4, 11,41,43,85,96,131, 163,229, 5.40
236, 251, 252, 265, 283, 318, 320, 347,
357, 379, 386, 406, 412, 416,465,482,
488*, 509, 532, 534)
1831-1840 34 (2, 30, 49, 56, 62, 66, 68, 80, 141, 156, 6.33
167, 168, 173, 186, 221, 231, 244, 245,
269, 273, 277, 292, 299, 314, 340, 384,
419, 432,437 *, 449 *, [451], [452], 454,
459)
1841-1850 51 (5, [6]*, 25, 39, 50, 55, [65], 93, 99, 9.50
139, 145, 161*, 193,246,261,266,270,
279, 298,300, 301, 313, 317, 351, 358,
372, 390, 396, 402, 407,414, 422,426,
[427], [428], 431, [449], [450], 458,460,
461,462, 463,466, 472,478, 490*, 491*,
498,512,514)
1851-1860 53 (1*, [10], 13, 19*, 20*, 21, 34, 40,47, 9.87
51, 53, [57], 60, 67, 76, 95, [98], 104, 120,
136, 137, 161*, 162*, 194, 198, 199,203,
204, 220, 226, 249, 256, 267,274, 295,
[322], 326, 369, 370, 405,435,
441, 442, 445, 446,447, 471, 479,484,
496, [516], 517, 530)
1861-1870 71 (3, 8, 17, 24, 33, 72, 73, [74], 82, 84, 13.22
100, 114, 117, 119, 135, 148, 153*, 155,
157, [164], 169*, 185, 195, 207, 204, 208,
210, [216], [217], [218], [219], 223, 230,
258, 259, 285, 287, 289,294, 302, 304,
305, 316, 335, 344, 346, 355, 378, 382,
389, 393, 399, 408, 409,425, 440, 456,
467*, 468*, 469*, 470*, 475, 481, 486,
493, [501], [503], [504], 508, 520, 536)
1871-1880 95 (7, 12*, 28, 29, 31, 48, 52, 54, 58, 63, 17.69
[64], 81, 88, 103, 105, 107, 108, 109, 111,
115, 116, 118, 121, 122, 125*, 126*, 127*,
128*, 129, 132, 133, 134, 138, 140, 146,
149, 150*, 159*, 166, 171, 177, 178, 182,
183, 192, 206, 211, 224, 227, 228, 234,
235, 239, 260, 263, 264, 268, 282*, 284,
288, 291, 310, 312, 321, 323, 325, 327,
[331], [332], [333], 336, [341], 353, 354*,
356, 366, 371, 373, 385, [392], 398,423,
424, 430, 444, 480, 485, 486, 487,497,
[502],506,518,527,528)
1881-1889 84 (27, 35, 37, 69, 70, 83, 89, 91, 92, 101, 15.64
106, 110, 112, 113, 124, 134, 142, 144,
154, 158, 160, 179, 180, 181, 184, 189,
196, 201, 222, 240, 241, [242], 243, 248,
250, 253, 254, 255, 262, 271, 276, 278,
293, [319], 328, [329], 330, 342, 343, 352,
359, 362, 365, 374, 375*, 376*, 377*, 380,
383, 388, 401, 410, 411, 421, 434,473,
477, 483, [494], 499, 507, 510, 511, 513,
515, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 529,
531,533)
Unestablished 53 (9**, 15, 16, 22, 23, 38, 59, 75, 77, 9.87
Dates 102**, 123, 170, 172, 174, 175, 176, 178,
187, 188, 205, 209**, 212, 213, 214, 215,
237, 247**, 290, 296, 297**, 309**, 311,
315, 324, 338**, 345, 348, 350, 360, 363,
364, 367 **, 368**, 391, 394, 413, 429,
436, 438**, 439, 455, 457, 495)
TOTAL 537 100.00
Introduction 35
[ ] items with approximate dating; * items published in more than one year; **
items not in book format: item 102 consists of Criticisms of the Press "in three
scrap books"; item 367 consists of two "scrap-books and [a] small parcel" of
"Newspaper Cuttings"; item 368 consists of a parcel of "Newspapers."
The collection contains no manuscripts or incunabula, and fails in terms of

imprint date to demonstrate that WC was a collector of antiquarian or rare
books. Fifty-seven items in the Library are presentation copies. WC died in
1889. The years 1871-1880 reveal the highest percentage of publication dates in
the library: 17.69%, or ninety-five items. The last nine years of WC's life
produce 15.64%, or eighty-four items. There are 13.22%, or seventy-one items,
with publication dates ranging from 1861-1870. There are fewer books with
publication dates from previous decades. Perhaps surprising is the number of
books in the Library with eighteenth-century imprints: 6.15 % or thirty-three
items.
Not all the books then are from the later period of WC's life. Some, for instance
his school prize from 1835 (item 454), and his mother's copy of Jeremy Taylor's
Holy Living with her 1825 dating (item 482), survived the two major moves of
his late years. WC moved to 90 Gloucester Place in September 1867. Owing to
high rent demands he was then forced to move to 82 Wimpole Street in February
1888. As his letters reveal, the move was traumatic. He seems to have lost a
number of books in the process. He writes to Harry Quilter, the art critic, on 11
April 1888, imitating the pleas of his movers who are attempting to set up his
new home: "I am sorry to trouble you, but I miss three books out of the library
catalogue - Forster's Life of Goldsmith, and Lamb's Essays and Leigh Hunt's
Essays. Do you think they have been stolen?" . . . "I say, Wilkie! when you told
Marian and Harriet that they might help to put the books in their places, did you
know that Faublas and Casanova's Memoirs were left out on the drawing-room
table?" {Letters, II, 555). Neither John Forster's biography of Goldsmith,
published in 1848, nor any Leigh Hunt, are found in Puttick and Simpson's
auction, or Bennett's Catalogue. The copy of Lamb is one edited by Charles
Kent in 1889 (item 293). There is a six-volume Memoires de Jacques Casanova
published in Bruxelles in 1860 (item 76).
3.6 Wilkie Collins's Library
Place of Publication Analysis
Table III. Place of Publication Analysis
LOCATION TITLES %
1. Britain & Ireland 363 68.12
London, (329): (London & Dublin 1; London &
Edinburgh 1)
Elsewhere (32): Aldeburgh (1); Bath (1);
Bristol (1); Bury (1); Cambridge (1);
Douglas, Isle of Man (1); Dublin (2);
Edinburgh (11); Edinburgh & London (6);
Glasgow (1); Leicester (1); Louth (1);
Northampton (1); Oxford (2); Wakefield (1)
2. France: 95 17.93
Paris (95)
3. United States: 51 9.62
Albany, N.Y. (1); Boston (19); Boston & New
York (1); Brooklyn, N.Y. (1); Buffalo, N.Y.
(1); Cambridge, Mass. (1); Hartford, Conn. (1);
New York, (20); Philadelphia (6)
4. Canada: 8 1.51
Brockville, Ontario (1); Quebec (1);
Toronto (6)
5. Australia: 3 0.57
Melbourne (2); Sydney (1)
6. Belgium: 2 0.38
Brussels (2)
7. Germany: 5 0.94
Berlin (2); Leipzig (2); [Kehl] (1)
8. Italy: 6 1.13
Milan (2); Venezia (1); Rome (3)
9. Netherlands: 2 0.38
Amsterdam (1); Gravenhage (1)
10. Russia: 1 0.19
St. Petersbourg(l)
11. Sweden: 1 0.19
Goteborg(l)
TOTAL 537 100%*
*In fact due to "rounding up" the percentage comes to 100.39%.

Introduction 37
Approximately 62% of the books in WC's Library were published in London.

Many of these were publishers with whom WC had connections, such as George
and Richard Bentley, and Andrew Chatto. Many copies inevitably came into
WC's hands in his role as a publisher's reader. Others were sent to him by his
literary agent Alexander Pollack Watt20 who had extensive contacts with the
London and international publishing trade. Given WC's close business and
personal relationship with Hunter Rose, his Toronto-based Canadian publishers,
it is perhaps something of a surprise that only six Toronto imprints, and two
from elsewhere in Canada, are found in his Library after his death (Gasson 82).
A further approximate 6% of the imprints in the Library were published

elsewhere in the British Isles or in Ireland. Of the seventeen published in
Edinburgh, six have Edinburgh and London imprints. Four of these are multi-
volume editions (items 432, 433, 434, 435) of the writer he considered "to be the
greatest of all novelists", Walter Scott {Letters, II, 552). The fifth (item 518) is a
copy of The Dramatic Works of John Wilson, published by William Patterson in
Edinburgh and Henry Sotheran in London in 1874. John Wilson (1626-1696)
was a Restoration dramatist who wrote comedies on the Jonsonian model: his
tragedy Andronicus Comnenius (1664) is "based on the adventurous career of
the Roman emperor Andronicus Comnenius (1183-5)" (Harvey 853). Its
presence reveals WC's collection of Restoration Drama, also demonstrated by
other titles in his Library (see for instance items 130, 150, 191). The other
volume (item 146), published in Edinburgh and London, by William Paterson
and Henry Sotheran, too is related to Restoration Drama. This is a copy of the
first volume of The Dramatic Works of John Crowne (1873). The first volume
contains three plays by Crowne (1640?-1703?): Juliana; The History of Charles
the Eighth of France; and Calisto. Paterson of Edinburgh also published The
Dramatic Works of Sir William DAvenant (1872-1874). Four of the five
volumes only are recorded in the Library (item 150).
The Edinburgh publishers Adam and Charles Black produced a sixteen-volume

set of Thomas De Quincey who, in his Recollections of the Lakes and Lake
Poets, referred to WC's father as "that admirable man" (Peters 15). Part of Lot
142 in Puttick and Simpson's auction of WC's books consists of "De Quincey's
Confessions of an English Opium-eater, Coleridge and Opium-Eating and
Suspiria de Profundis 3 vols." followed by the dates "1862-1871". These dates
accord with the publication of Black's The Works of Thomas De Quincey (1862-
1871). Of this set, the first, the eleventh, and final volumes conform to what was
sold at auction (item 153). In The Moonstone, WC's Ezra Jennings refers to "the
far famed Confessions of an English Opium Eater." He also cites John
Elliotson's Principles of Human Physiology, the 1840 edition. It is surprising
that there is so little De Quincey in the Library and no Dr. Elliotson.21
Another writer, Henry Fielding, whose comic satire might have appealed to WC,
receives rather short shrift in his letters. In a letter to his friend Edward Pigott
written in 1855, WC quipped, "one of the most tedious books (to me) that I ever
read in my life was Tom Jones. This is wrong, I know, but all men have their
'cracked' points - and these are some of mine" {Letters, I, 146). One of the few
non-nineteenth-century works published in Edinburgh found amongst WC's
books is the twelve-volume fourth edition of The Works of Henry Fielding
printed by Martin and Wotherspoon in 1767 (item 197).
There are surprisingly few imprints from Oxford or Cambridge. From Oxford
there are two imprints: a four-volume Miscellaneous Works of Joseph Addison,
published in 1830 (item 4), and Pusey's edition of the Meditations and Prayers
of Saint Anselm, published by Parker's in 1865 (item 13). From the Cambridge
publisher, Deighton Bell, there is the Verses and Translations of Charles Stuart
Calverley (1831-1884) (item 72). WC may have been acquainted with the minor
poet and parodist, who also became a barrister of the Inner Temple but settled at
Christ's College, Cambridge. These imprints are not editions of the ancient
classical authors. Indeed there is a dearth of such editions and classical work in
WC's library. Of the editions printed elsewhere in the United Kingdom and
Ireland, there are presentation copies from provincial writers (see for instance
items 132, 258), and guide books which WC used on his travels whilst gathering
fictional materials (items 8, 202).
Even though editions published on the European Continent make up just under
20% of all the imprints found in the Library, nearly 18% of these, or ninety-five
items, have a Parisian imprint. Paris was WC's favorite city, which he first
visited with his parents in September 1836. He returned to the city frequently
and "developed a lifelong taste for French art, theatre and food" (Gasson 120).
Book hunting and buying were amongst his activities in Paris. There is, perhaps
not unexpectedly, a copy in WC's Library, of Horace Raison's classic Le
Manuel du Gastronomie, published in Paris in 1830. WC's copy has its "cover
loose" (item 406). Collins purchased in Paris his twenty-six volumes of Maurice
Mejan's Recueil des Causes Celebres, published in 1808 (item 349). His
enthusiasm for French Literature, and especially French drama and fiction, is
reflected in the volumes in his library, which teems with the works of often-
obscure eighteenth- and nineteenth-century French dramatists, novelists and
poets.
Neither the auctioneers Puttick and Simpson nor the booksellers, M. L. Bennett,
in their descriptions of WC's collection, did much service to his books published
in Paris. These tend to be lumped togther in multi-volume lots. Puttick and
Simpson lot 180 consists of "French Plays, original editions . . . a parcel" (item
214): these are assumed to have been published in Paris. The description of
auction lot 165 is more helpful: "Repertoire du Theatre Fran9ais 67 vols. cf 12
Introduction 39
mo. Paris 1813." This lot seems to be the sixty-seven-volume set of seventeenth-
and eighteenth-century French drama published in Paris in 1813 (item 415). In
spite of identification difficulties, the Parisian imprints present in the Library
reveal at least four pre-nineteenth-century books. There is a copy of the complete
works of the pornographer Pierre- Joseph Bernard (1710-1775), published in
Paris in 1794 (item 36). The compiler of Bennett's Catalogue places these under
the "Amatory" and somewhat euphemistically refers to them as "several
extremely pretty etchings" [Bennett 4]. There is a two-volume copy of Alain-
Rene Lesage's Le Bachelier de Salamanque published in Paris in 1767 (item
306). A difficult-to-identify title of which only the first volume in "(broken) calf
is present, is Les Nuits Anglaises with the 1770 Paris imprint (item 308).
Another eighteenth-century Parisian imprint is an incomplete copy of the friend
and disciple of Voltaire, Jean-Francis MarmontePs (1723-1799) "slight tales
with a moral intention, agreeably told" (Harvey and Heseltine, 456), Contes
Moraux, published in 1766 (item 339). There is also an undated copy of the
classic work of physiology by Xavier Bichat (1771-1802): his frequently
reprinted Recherches Physiologiques (item 38), first published in Paris in 1800.
Of the ninety-five Parisian imprints in the collection there are a high number of
novels and dramas. Forty are novels and twenty-nine plays. The vast majority of
these are nineteenth-century imprints. Of the major writers, Beaumarchais's
dramas are found in a 1846 edition (item 25). There is a twenty-two-volume
Paris edition, published in 1821, of Denis Diderot's works (item 163). There are
collections of the Dumas' (items 169-172), and a copy of Gustav Flaubert's
Madame Bovary (item 200). There are four separate Victor Hugo titles including
a copy of his three-volume [Le Theatre] published in 1850 (items 267-270). In a
letter written to Pigott, WC observes: "Excepting Falstaff and Dogberry, I think
Moliere a greater humourist than Shakespeare" {Letters, I, 146). A seven-volume
edition of Moliere's CEuvres Completes, published in Paris in 1824, is in the
Library (item 357). There are two George Sand novels (items 427-428), and four
Jules Verne (items 501-504).
There are volumes of French novelists and dramatists who have in the early
twenty-first century fallen into neglect. Some no doubt provided WC and his
contemporaries with creative fodder: "the works of dramatists such as Augier
[(item 15)], Sardou [(item 429)] and Scribe [(items 436-437)] could be picked
off at will by British adapters at no cost to themselves, because for most of the
time theatre managers had their spies out in Paris with instructions to send home
texts of all the latest novelties for instant translation" (Stephens 130). This may
explain the presence of so many popular French best-selling novelists and
theatrical successes in the collection. There are for instance in the collection, the
Scenes et Comedies, published in Paris in 1854 (item 194), of the very popular
Octave Feuillet (1821-1890) whose "blend of gentility and sentimentality
secured for him a large public under the Second Empire" (France 311-12). WC
owned an eight-volume edition of Eugene Labiche's (1815-1888) Theatre

Complet with a preface by Emile Augier, published in Paris in 1879 (item 291).
Labiche wrote more than one hundred sixty farcical comedies and has been
"considered the most important comic author of the nineteenth century" (Dolbow
161).
Other works by popular writers include the drama of Henri Meilhac (1831-1897)
(item 348), who collaborated with the librettist and comic dramatist Ludovic
Halevy in smash hits such as Frou-frou (1869). Meilhac and Halevy wrote the
libretto for Bizet's Carmen. There are also copies of the dramas of Anne Honore
Joseph Melesville (1787-1865) (item 350), whose work was adapted for the
London stage by Planche and other dramatists. WC's collection of theatrical
plays published in Paris includes the theatrical pieces of the librettist for the
Comedie Fransais, Pierre Julien Nargeot (b.l799)(item 363). There are four
volumes (item 390) of the plays of the prolific popular dramatist Rene-Charles
Guilbert de Pixerecourt (1773-1844). Less forgotten today is the work of the
prolific dramatist, author of vaudeville, comedies of intrigue and opera libretti,
Eugene Scribe (1791-1861). Two editions of his work are found in WC's
collection. There are his plays, part of six volumes bound up with no titles (item
436), and the second edition, in twenty-four volumes, of his Theatre Completes,
published in Paris between 1834 and 1842 (item 437). According to a 15 March
1886 letter WC wrote to his French collaborator and translator de Heussey:
"Some of my earlier stories had been translated into French . . . and some
illustrious French authors had read them - notably Scribe who charmed me by
his kind encouragement" {Letters, II, 520).
WC's collection of nineteenth-century French fiction with Parisian imprints

encompasses the serious and the popular. There are forty-five volumes of Balzac
(item 19), whom WC regarded, as one of "the three Kings of Fiction," James
Fenimore Cooper and Sir Walter Scott being the others {Letters, II, 467). The
highly influential romantic novel by the Vicomte de Francois-Rene
Chateaubriand (1768-1848), Atala, is present with Rene in the 1830 edition
(item 85). The very successful collaboration of the Alsatian historical novelist
Pierre Alexandre Chatrian (1826-1890) and Emile Erckmann (1822-1899) is
represented by a volume of unspecified novels probably published in Paris (item
188). There is a copy of Paul Feval's La Tontine Infernale published in Paris in
1868. During the Second Empire Feval dominated the serial fiction market (item
195). There is an extensive collection of the novels of Emile Gaboriau, including
a ten-volume Vie Infernal (items 216-219). According to The Oxford
Companion to French Literature, Gaboriau (1832-1873) was the "father of the
roman policier, or detective novel, in France, sometimes called the Edgar Allan
Poe of French literature. . . . His famous detective Monsieur Lecoq . . . is the
precursor of Sherlock Holmes" (296). Gaboriau's detective probably reinforced
WC's interest in detectives seen in various writings including his "A Terribly
Introduction 41
Strange Bed" (1852), and "The Diary of Anne Rodway" (1856), finding its most
famous expression in his Sergeant Richard Cuff of The Moonstone (1868)
(Gasson 48, 44).
Amongst the non-fictional and dramatic volumes with Parisian imprints are two
items containing police memoirs, which WC no doubt drew upon for fictional
use. These consist of two volumes of the ten-volume Memoires de Mr. Claude,
Chef de la Police de Surete sous le Second Empire published 1881-1883 (item
89). There are also six volumes of Jacques Peuchet's Memoires Tirees des
Archives de la Police de Paris pour Servir a I 'Historie de la Morale et de la
Police, depuis Louis XIVjusqu'a nos Jours published in 1838 (item 384). The
volumes were considered so useful for fictional source material that, as WC
wrote to his friend Frederick Lehmann on 25 October 1869 {Letters, II, 326)
"Reade has been here, and has carried off my book about the French Police."
Other works of a similar nature with Parisian imprints, include J. B. B. Eyries
exploration into parapsychology in his two-volume Fantasmagoriana (1812)
(item 190). Also present is a copy (item 203) of the critical writings of Emile
Forgues (1813-1883), the French critic and translator to whom WC dedicated his
Queen of Hearts (1859). This was WC's way of acknowledging his gratitude for
Forgues's sympathetic defense of WC's work published in the La Revue des
Deux Mondes of 1859 (Gasson 62). French editions and translations of WC are
also found amongst Parisian imprints (items 126, 254).
Dutch, German, Italian, and Swedish translations of WC are present in his

Library. There are fourteen volumes of translation with imprints from
Gravenhage in the Netherlands (item 125) and six volumes of translations into
German with Leipzig and Berlin imprints (item 127). Italian translations of his
works include six volumes with imprints from Milan and Rome (item 128).
Incorrectly described in Bennett's Catalogue [Bennett 53] as "Danish"
translations are three volumes of his writings translated into Swedish, published
in Goteburg by T. Hedlund (item 124).
In terms of places of publication, languages are no respecters of place. A Paris,

Amsterdam, Milan or St. Peterbourg imprint, for example, doesn't necessarily
mean that a volume published there is in French, Dutch, Italian or even Russian.
An eighteen-volume account of French criminal trials, Francois Richer's Causes
Celebres et Inter ess antes is in the collection. WC's copy was published in
Amsterdam between 1772 and 1781 (item 418). A work on cremation, also in
French, by G. Pini published in 1885 has a Milan imprint (item 388). A travel
memoir by the pseudonymous [Topchi] with a St. Petersbourg [1888] imprint is
in fact in French (item 494). Not all of the Parisian imprints are in French. There
is an 1842 copy published in Paris in English of the Irish poet Tom Moore's
Poetical Works (item 358). On the other hand, there is in WC's collection six
volumes, bound in three in French, of the Charles Honore Laverdiere's (1826-
1873) edition of Samuel de Champlain's (1567-1635) account of the French

discovery and exploration of Canada and North America. The edition was
published in Quebec (item 84).
Language Analysis
Table IV. Language Analysis
English 424 80.00%
French 106 20.00%
Other languages 7 .13%
TOTAL 537 100%*
* Cf. Table III. In fact due to "rounding up" the percentage comes to 100.13%).
Eighty percent of the items in the collection are in English. Of those items in
other languages, two are in German (items 127, 531), and two in Italian (items
42, 128). One each are in Dutch (item 125) and Swedish (item 124). Both
German items, one of the Italian volumes (item 128), and the Dutch and Swedish
imprints are translations of WC's works or a book in German about him (item
531). The other item in Italian is a five-volume edition of Boccaccio's //
Decameron published in Venezia in 1813 (item 42). Another item (item 284) is
in many languages. The presentation copy of Charles Kent's Corona Catholica
"supplied translations of an English epigram into fifty languages; among the
many eminent scholars who supplied the translations were Max Mtiller, who
turned the translation into Sanskrit, Prof. Sayce, who turned it into Assyrian, and
Prince Lucien Bonaparte who rendered it in Basque" {DNB). WC tells his friend
Sebastian Schlesinger in a letter dated 29 December 1883: "My novels are so
popular among the native races of India (who can read English) that they are to
be translated into the Bengali language for the native inhabitants who want to
read me. The Series is to begin with The Woman in White'" {Letters, II, 464).
WC was "always extremely popular" in Russia "and almost all of his works were
translated" (Gasson 149). None of these translations are to be found in the
collection.
In addition to translations into Dutch, French, German, Italian and Swedish of

WC's own works, there are a number of translations into English of other works
in the Library. There are eight translations from the French, including a
presentation copy from the translator Mary French Sheldon of Gustave
Flaubert's Salammbo (item 201). There is a four-volume translation of The
Works of. . . Rabelais, published in 1844, with WC's signature on the fly-leaf
dated "June 1844" (item 402). Amongst the eight translations from the German
Introduction 43
are a presentation copy of Goethe's Faust (item 83), and a translation of Lessing
published by Bohn in 1878 (item 310). There are three translations from the
Spanish into English. Two of these are translations of Cervantes's Don Quixote
(items 78,79). The third is William Walton's two-volume translation from the
Spanish documents of Antonio Puigblanch's The Inquisition Unmasked: Being a
Historical Account of that Tremendous Tribunal Founded on Authentic
Documents published in 1816 (item 400). Translations from classical languages
include a presentation copy from the translator, the classical scholar Theodore
William Alois Buckley (1825-1856), of Aeschylus's Tragedies published by
Bohn in 1849 (item 5). There is a two-volume translation in English verse by A.
Hawkins of Claudian (item 90) published in 1817. Sir John Kingston James
(1815-1893), who lived in Tunbridge Wells, the same town as Harriet Collins,
WC's mother, presented him with a copy of his translation of Tasso's Jerusalem
Delivered published in 1865 (item 475).
Subject Analysis
Subject analysis of books in WC's library is a complicated matter. Subject

categories are by no means exclusive and duplication will arise. For instance,
although forty-three items are identified as biography, autobiography and
memoirs, they additionally contain material on history as well as literature and
the theater. Specifically, for instance, John Geneste's ten-volume Some Account
of the English Stage from the Restoration in 1660 to 1830, published in Bath in
1832 (item 221), is a history of the English theater encompassing a period of
over and a century. It is also a work of English Literature dealing with one of its
aspects: the English stage. Arthur Murphy's two-volume Life of David Garrick,
the great eighteenth-century actor and theatrical manager, is a biography,
concerned with English Literature, and specifically with the theater (item 361).
Another illustration of the difficulty of narrowing an item down to one subject
category is seen in the case of Walter Farquhar Hook's Church Dictionary
published in 1843 (item 266). This is both a Reference work and one fitting into
the subject category of "Religion": in my analysis it is included under the
"Religion" category. The table which follows consists numerically of more items
than are actually recorded in the catalogue. Given the extent of duplication it is
hardly surprising that the percentages exceed one hundred percent. The
percentages have been rounded up.
Table V. Subject Analysis
SUBJECT TITLES %
1. English Literature (including Drama) 263 35.0
2. French Literature 146 19.0
3. History 75 10.0
4. Biography/Autobiography/Memoirs 43 6.0
5. Adventures/Travel 42 6.0
6. American Literature 39 5.0
7. Art/Artists/Architecture/Sculpture 25 3.0
8. Religion 18 2.4
9. Music 11 1.5
10. Dictionaries and Reference 10 1.5
11. German Literature 10 1.5
12. Politics 10 1.5
13. Trials 10 1.5
14. All other subjects* 60 8.0
TOTAL 762 101.9%
* This includes: Guides (6); Laws, Medicine, Superstition (5 each); Australian

Literature, Italian Literature, Psychology/ Psychiatry, Magazines (4 each);
Philosophy, Protest, Spanish Literature (3 each); Archaeology, Newspaper
cuttings (2 each); Anecdotes, Animal Magnetism, Apparitions (Ghosts), Arabian
Nights (translation), Canadian Literature, Cremation, Gastronomy, Physiology,
Palmistry (1 each).
English Literature (including Drama)
Two hundred sixty-three items, 35 percent, belong to this subject categorization

- the largest single subject area amongst the recorded items. Forty-six of these
are related to the theater. They range from histories of drama, collections of
plays, biography, and memoirs, to copies of individual dramatists' works. There
is a curious lack of the work of WC's dramatic contemporaries, and other
nineteenth-century British dramatic writers. One looks in vain for plays by Dion
Boucicault, Douglas Jerrold whose Black-Eyed Susan; or, All in the Downs
(1829) was a most successful long-running play, Henry Jones, James Sheridan
Introduction 45
Knowles, or to take but one other example, James Robinson Planche. Edward
Fitzball (1792-1873) is present through his two-volume theatrical memoirs
published in 1859 and a presentation copy to Charles Dickens of his poetry
published in 1857 (items 199,198). None of his over one hundred fifty dramas,
are in the Library (see Stephens). WC's theatrical contemporaries are
represented by Bulwer-Lytton's Dramatic Works (items 323-324). There is a
personally inscribed association copy of a drama by Thomas Brigstocke, who
was primarily an artist (item 52).
There are three dramatic histories. These include the 1812 edition of David
Erskine Baker's classic Biographica Dramatica (item 18). The dramatist and
manager Alfred Bunn's three-volume The Stage, published in 1840, is a record
of the early- and mid-nineteenth-century theater (item 56). There is also the poet
Robert Southey's copy of John Geneste's Some Account of the English Stage . . .
(item 221). Collections of plays range from Elizabeth Inchbald's two-volume
compendium of British theatrical dramas (item 272), a four-volume London
Stage; A Collection of the Most Reputed Tragedies, Comedies, Operas,
Melodramas, Farces, and Interludes, published in 1824 (item 318), to Isaac
Reed's six-volume 1825 A Select Collection of Old Plays (item 412). There is
also Sir Walter Scott's five-volume selection of tragic, farcical and comic drama
published in 1811, The Modern British Drama (item 433).
WC possessed two basic theatrical reference works. He had The Theatrical

Observer, and Daily Bills of the Play covering the years 1821 to 1832 (item
488), and a copy of Thesaurus Dramaticus. Published in two volumes in 1724
(item 489), its subtitle explains that the volume contains "all the celebrated
passages, soliloquies, similies, descriptions, and other poetical beauties in the
body of English plays, antient and modern, digested under proper topics; with
the names of the plays, and their authors, referr'd to in the margin." The
presence of at least nine biographies, and individual memoirs of theatrical people
further attests to WC's fascination with the stage. These recollections mainly
consist of the lives of eighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century actors and
actresses. They range from a three-volume life of George Anne Bellamy (1731-
1788), the actress, published in Dublin in 1785 (item 32), the two-volume
memoirs of Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), widely regarded as one of the great
actresses of the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-century British theater (item
41), to WC's annotated copy (item 283) of the reminiscences of the theatrical
manager Michael Kelly (1762-1826). There is Arthur Murphy's two-volume
biography of the life of the great eighteenth-century actor and producer David
Garrick (1717-1779), published in 1801 (item 361). WC's more immediate
contemporaries are represented by a copy of the reminiscences of another great
actor-manager, William Charles Macready (1793-1873), published in 1876 (item
336), and by the autobiographical reflections of the professional dramatist
Frederick Reynolds (1764-1841) with whom WC had much in common. Both
depended on income from their writings. In his autobiography (item 416)

Reynolds describes how "he was for long periods totally dependent upon his
income from dramatic authorship and was forced into producing plays at regular
intervals in order to satisfy immediate financial demands" (Stephens 19).
By far the largest number of theatrical works in WC's library are primary works.
Copies of English dramatists reveal considerable interest in the drama of the
Restoration and post-Restoration theater. The presence of volumes by women
dramatists complements memoirs and recollections of great actresses. In 1872-
1874 the Edinburgh publishing firm of William Paterson, in collaboration with
the well known London publishing house of H. Sotheran, produced the
Dramatists of the Restoration. Such a publication is indicative of an interest in
the late-seventeenth-century theater in late Victorian England. Volumes in WC's
library from this series include the first (item 146) of four volumes of plays by
John Crowne (1640-1712). There are four of the five volumes of the dramatic
works of Sir William D'Avenant (item 150). Also published by Patterson and
Sotheran, and present in the collection (item 518), are the dramatic works of
John Wilson (1626-1696). Some of the earliest dated copies in the collection are
those of dramatists. These include two eighteenth-century editions of the works
of George Farquhar (1678-1707), one dated 1728 and the other dated 1760 (item
191). A two-volume Works of Mr. Thomas Otway, the Restoration dramatist
(1652-1685) is dated 1712 (item 381). Thomas Southerne's comedy Sir Antony
Love or, The Rambling Lady is present in its first edition, published in 1698
(item 453).
A similar pattern of the presence of primary texts is evident in the non-dramatic

English literary volumes in WC's collection. Two hundred seventeen items
belong to this category. Pre-eminent amongst them are an extensive run of WC's
own writing (items 98-128) containing first British editions of his fiction, and
translations of his work into Danish, Dutch, French, German, and Italian. There
are scrapbooks including "criticisms of the press" (item 102). Perhaps there are
fewer items by WC's collaborator and friend, Charles Dickens, than expected.
The eight items include a run of Household Words (item 161) and copies of
three novels {Great Expectations, Pickwick, and the uncompleted posthumous
Edwin Drood) (items 155-157). These are supplemented by copies of The
Letters of Charles Dickens (items 159-160), edited by Georgina Hogarth and
Mary Dickens. As a letter he wrote to her on 18 March 1879 bears witness, WC
advised Georgina on the publication of these volumes {Letters, II, 420-21).
There is, in addition, a twenty-two-volume Library edition of Charles Dickens's
Works (item 162).
Of other Victorian novelists there is no Anthony Trollope. Thackeray, upon

whom hearing of his death WC wrote so movingly (see his letter to Mrs. Harriet
Collins, 8 January 1864: Letters, I, 242), is represented by only four items.
Introduction 47
These include copies of four novels: The Book of Snobs, The History of
Pendennis, The Newcomes, and Vanity Fair (items 484-487). Another surprising
absence are copies of the novels of Bulwer-Lytton, who was not adverse from
writing to WC for advice.22 There is one George Eliot work present, an undated
copy of her first published fiction, Scenes of Clerical Life, published by
Blackwood's in two volumes in 1858 (item 179). There is also a copy of WC's
old friend George Henry Lewes's first venture into fictional form, Ranthorpe,
published in 1847 (item 313). On the other hand, there are fourteen volumes of
the works of William Harrison Ainsworth (item 6), an unspecified run of the
novels of Charles Lever (item 311), and sixteen volumes of the works of
Frederick Marryat (item 341). This is accompanied by a copy of his The Pirate
and the Three Cutters (1836) containing Clarkson Stanfield's plates (item 340).
Perhaps a surprising presence in the collection is that of five presentation copies

to WC by the Scottish clergyman, editor and writer George MacDonald (1824-
1905). There are copies of his three-volume Castle Warlock (item 329), Marquis
of Lossie (item 331), Sir Gibbie (item 332), and St. George and St. Michael
(333), and another novel, Home Again (item 330). All were published by Kegan,
Paul and Trench between 1876 and 1887. This was a period when WC was
acting as a publisher's reader and advisor. All the copies were purchased as one
lot {lot 143} at the Puttick and Simpson auction by the London dealers Francis
Edwards. It is unclear from the auction catalogue description whether they are
presentation copies from the author, or the publisher, or somebody else. Both
MacDonald and WC used the same literary agent and advisor, A. P. Watt.
The presence in the collection of two novels by the Manx novelist Sir Thomas
Henry Hall Caine (1853-1931) (items 69-70), reflect his friendship with WC.
This is a product of the last years of WC's life, and is reflected in a lengthy letter
WC wrote Caine upon reading Caine's three-volume The Shadow of a Crime
{Letters, II, 553-554) (item 68). Another contemporary and friend of WC, the
prolific novelist Walter Besant (1836-1901), is represented in the collection by a
single novel, the three-volume Herr Paulus, published in 1888 (item 37). Both
Besant and WC were active in protecting authors' rights, and both had
connections with A. P. Watt. It was at WC's suggestion that Watt approached
Besant with the suggestion that Besant should complete the novel WC was too ill
to complete, the posthumously published Blind Love (1889-1890) (Gasson 18).
The presence of six novels (items 180-185) by Frances Vickress Dickinson,

Frances Elliot (1820-1898) is somewhat less surprising than the presence of only
one by WC's collaborator Walter Besant. WC dedicated Poor Miss Finch (1872)
to Mrs. Elliot. A popular Victorian writer, she wrote in various genres:
journalism, travel works, histories, and fiction. WC drew upon his friend's
unhappy marriage and "ten-year-long matrimonial wrangle, finally decided in her
favour on appeal to the House of Lords" and subsequent "protracted, public, and
messy" proceedings. An 1859 story "A New Mind" published in Household

Words is "clearly based on her experiences" He also used Frances Elliot's
experiences in depicting the marital brutality suffered by Laura Fairlie and the
legal complications in The Woman in White (Peters 173; Gasson 54).
Already noted is the remarkable run of the works of the author WC revered
above all others, Sir Walter Scott. The four Scott items encompass his
Miscellaneous Prose Works (item 432), Scott's five-volume edition of The
Modern British Drama (item 433), twelve volumes of his poetry (item 434), and
the forty-eight-volume 1859 edition of the Waverley Novels (item 435). There
are ten volumes of Lockhart's life of his father-in-law, published in 1848 (item
317). Of other nineteenth-century poets and non-fiction prose writers, there is a
single work by Tennyson, a copy of Locksley Hall Sixty Years After (item 483).
There are no Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, William Morris, or Dante Gabriel
Rossetti volumes in the collection. There are three volumes only of the sixteen-
volume works of Thomas De Quincey (1785-1859), published in Edinburgh
from 1862-1871 (item 153). Thomas Babington Macaulay is found in a copy of
his Critical and Historical Essays (item 326). William Hazlitt is present in a
four-volume edition of his biography of Napoleon (item 251). There is, however,
an eight-volume edition of one of WC's favorite poets, George Crabbe (item
141). In a 5 August 1878 letter to William Winter, Collins writes of his "delight
in Byron and Scott - and more extraordinarily still, that I am a frequent reader
even of Crabbe!" {Letters, II, 413). There are three Byron items in his collection.
There is an [1842] Complete Works with Life, a single-volume Life, Letters and
Journals published in 1838 and an eight-volume Poetical Works published in
1857 (items 65-67). In addition, WC possessed a copy of Thomas Medwin's
memoirs of Byron published in 1824, his Journal of the Conversations of Lord
Byron Noted during a Residence with His Lordship at Pisa, in the Years 1821
and 1822 (item 347).
Under-represented in the collection are works of pre-nineteenth-century

literature. There are two editions of Shakespeare: a copy of Robert Bell's edition
of The Poems published in 1855 (item 441) and Charles Knight's six-volume
"Stratford Shakspeare" published in 1860 (item 442). Eighteenth-century
novelists fare better than poets. There is a four-volume 1767 Edinburgh edition
of The Works of Henry Fielding (item 197) and, disappointingly, only one
Smollett, a four-volume 1784 Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (item 448).
Another early exploiter of the fictional form, Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) is
found in an eight-volume third edition of Clarissa (417). Daniel Defoe is
represented by two items. A General History of the Robberies and Murders of
the Most Notorious Pyrates, published in 1724 (item 151), is attributed to Defoe.
WC possessed the two-volume 1790 edition of Robinson Crusoe (item 152). The
edition is particularly noteworthy for its large paper proof plates by the
illustrator Thomas Stothard (1755-1834).
Introduction 49
A greater presence in WC's Library is work by Samuel Johnson and Boswell. In

addition to John Croker's two-volume Johnsoniana (item 145), and two
volumes of what may be a first edition of Lives of the Poets (item 280), there is a
twelve-volume 1806 Works of Samuel Johnson (item 281). In a letter of 27
December 1885 to the American poet Paul Hamilton Hayne, WC called Johnson
"one of my heroes", and he "persists] in thinking his 'Vanity of Human Wishes'
and his 'lines on the death of Robert Levett' two of the grandest poems ever
written" {Letters, II, 490). Boswell is present in four items. There are his 1768
An Account of Corsica, and the sixth edition of his Journal of a Tour of the
Hebrides (items 44-45). There are two copies of Bowell's Life of Samuel
Johnson, called by WC in a letter of 14 February 1887 to de Heussey,
"Boswell's wonderful book" {Letters, II, 533): the five-volume seventh edition,
published in 1811; and the ten-volume mid-Victorian edition of 1859 published
by Bohn (items 46-47).
No volumes of Marvell are present, but there is Dryden. He is found in the four-
volume Poetical Works, with Life of the Author, published in 1832-1833 as part
of the Aldine edition of the British poets by Pickering (item 168). There is a
copy of a three-volume undated Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, and the
nine-volume Warton edition of Pope's Works published in 1797 (items 394-
395). The Pickering fifty-volume Aldine edition of the British poets is further
represented by its first volume, a copy of the poetry of WC's namesake, the
eighteenth-century poet William Collins (1721-1759) (item 96). Thomas Gray is
present in an 1821 edition of his poetry with plates by Richard Westall (1765-
1836), the historical and genre painter, etcher and mezzotint engraver (item
236). There are three Goldsmith items: a four-volume Miscellaneous Works
published in 1837, edited by Sir James Prior (item 231); a two-volume 1786
copy of his Poetical and Dramatic Works (item 232); and an 1803 copy of The
Vicar ofWakefield (item 233). Perhaps a surprising presence in the collection is
that of the ballad writer and satirist, Matthew Prior (1664-1721). A copy of his
two-volume Poems on Several Occasions, published in 1766, is found in the
collection (item 397). Prior imitated Samuel Butler's satirical Hudibras, found in
WC's library in an 1836 edition (item 62). There is also the eighth edition
published in 1676 of Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy (item 61).
Somewhat less of a surprise is the presence of the twenty-one-volume 1766-1767
edition of The Works of Jonathan Swift, with Life and Notes by John
Hawkesworth (item 474). In a 16 October 1853 letter to his mother, WC shows
his familiarity with Swift by commenting on the St. Peters mechanical cock in
Rome and its "Brobdingnag" propensities {Letters, I, 99).
French Literature
One hundred forty-six titles, 19% of the titles, belong to this subject
categorization. Sixty-three of these titles are associated with the French theater.
Most of these are primary texts of plays from the nineteenth-century French
theater or earlier. Publication place and date analysis reveal that most of these
are Parisian nineteenth-century imprints. They range from the dramas and
comedies of Alexandre Dumas fils (items 169-170) and the dramas of Victor
Hugo (item 270) to the prolific dramatic output of Eugene Scribe (1791-1861)
producer of vaudeville comedies, opera libretti and comedies of intrigue (items
436-437). Less well-known dramatists are represented, for instance, by the
presence of the works of the Guilbert de Pixerecourt (1773-1844). Known as the
"Corneille of the Boulevards", he was prolific, producing more than a hundred
dramas "where genres were mixed and violence and the romanesque abounded."
Most of his plays (item 390) "were produced in the theatres des boulevards (the
secondary theatres) in Paris" (Dolbow 248; Harvey and Heseltine 558). These
were the theatres attended by WC during his frequent visits to Paris.
Classics of French theatrical literature are represented by the presence of

Moliere. WC's library contains a seven-volume CEuvres Completes de Moliere
published in Paris in 1824 (item 357). A curious absence from the collection are
separate collections of the work of the great French classic dramatists Racine
(1639-1699), and Corneille (1606-1684). There is, however, recorded a sixty-
seven-volume set of Repertoire de Theatre Francais published in Paris in 1813
(item 415). Dramatic works found in these volumes include Corneille, Racine,
Moliere, Regnard, Crebillon, and Voltaire amongst other writers considered to
represent the cornerstones of the French classical theater. The lack of individual
copies of the great founders of the French classical theater serves to highlight the
emphasis in WC's surviving collection of French nineteenth-century theater, and
writers of farces and reviews from the popular theater. To take but two instances
from many, there are the drawing-room comedies of Henri Meilhac (1831-1897)
(item 348), who write the libretti of some of Offenbach's operettas, and part of a
twenty-six-volume set, published in Paris, consisting of Pieces de Theatre by
Pierre Julien Nargeot (b. 1799), the librettist for the Comedie Frangais (item
363).
The range of French fiction, and to a lesser extent poetry, in the Library reveals
an interest in popular as opposed to classic and high-brow literature. There are,
as has been observed, very thorough runs of Balzac (item 19), Victor Hugo
(items 267-270), and Jules Verne (items 501-504). There are also writers who, at
the start of the twenty-first century, are no longer fashionable. The majority are
nineteenth-century writers. To take but two instances, WC has three novels in his
collection (items 375-377) by Georges Ohnet (1848-1918). His novels are
described in The Oxford Companion to French Literature "as snobbishly
Introduction 51
sentimental . . . which made him the best seller of the 19 century and aroused
the disgusted wit of critics" (527). Charles Pigault-Lebrun (1753-1835) was the
author of popular and fashionable "lively, licentious novels." He was "the
favourite reading of old Miss Crawley in Thackeray's Vanity Fair" {Oxford
Companion, 557). WC's collection has a copy of his two-volume fictional
L 'Enfant du Carnival, published in Paris in 1815 (item 387).
French verse is less evident than theatrical and fictional work. There are a
greater number of popular low-brow works rather than serious poetry. An
example is the CEuvres Completes, published in two volumes in Paris in 1858
(item 34), of Pierre-Jean de Beranger (1780-1857). A "popular and national
songwriter who sang the praises of Napoleon and the common man," he "has
been called the greatest French songwriter ever" (Dolbow 26). It is hardly
surprising for a hedonist such as WC that his collection should contain erotic and
pornographic etchings and verse, found for instance in the works of Pierre-
Joseph Bernard (1710-1775) (item 36). However, there is not extant in his
collection poetry by Gerard de Nerval (1808-1855), Charles Nodier (1780-
1844), Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863) or, to take one other instance, Paul Verlaine
(1844-1896).
American Literature
Thirty-nine titles, five percent of the total collection, are represented by this
category. Many of the books are a legacy of WC's 1873-1874 North American
tour. The contacts he made during the tour are reflected, as has been noted, in
the presence of inscribed copies from, for instance, the diplomat John Bigelow
(item 210), the poet, physician and humourist, Oliver Wendell Holmes (item
263), the theater critic William Winter (item 522), and the South Carolina poet
Paul Hamilton Hayne (item 250). Other items of interest are a thirty-one-volume
set of the New York Household edition of the novels of James Fenimore Cooper
(1789-1851) (item 133). The American novelist is included in a 3 May 1884
letter to Paul Hamilton Hayne, with Scott and Balzac, as amongst WC's "three
Kings of Fiction" {Letters, II, 467). According to Gasson, "Cooper is a likely
influence on the character of Old Mat" in WC's early novel Hide and Seek
(Gasson, 42). Mat Marksman is an eccentric wandering character scalped by the
native Americans.
The copy of Washington Irving's (1783-1859) burlesque History of New York

(item 273) has WC's 1844 dating on the fly-leaf. Curiously missing from the
collection is a copy of Irving's nineteen stories and sketches included in his
Chronicles of Wolfert's Roost and Other Papers, reviewed by WC in The
Leader in its 24 February 1855 issue. There is, however, a ten-volume Complete
Works of the American humourist published by Bohn in 1854 (item 274). Also
largely absent are copies of the writings of Richard Henry Dana (1815-1882).
There is an 1877 copy of his best selling novel Two Years before the Mast (item
149), first published in 1840. WC, in the last of three known surviving lengthy
letters of his to Dana, a friend of his father, dated 17 June 1850, observes: "I
have read 'Two Years before the Mast', and read it with great delight - it is a
most entertaining and most original book; and is deservedly popular in England,
among all classes of readers" {Letters, I, 62).
Affinities between WC's works and the stories of Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849)
have not gone unnoticed. Catherine Peters observes that in the fourth tale in the
extra Christmas number of Charles Dickens's Household Words, supplied by
WC, '"The Lawyer's story of A Stolen Letter' was perhaps suggested by Poe's
story 'The Purloined Letter.' The stories have similar titles, and both have a self-
satisfied narrator, an obvious hiding place and a clever boy" (145). Only one Poe
title has survived in WC's library, a copy of Baudelaire's [1872] edition of Poe's
Works (item 392). A note in the copy in WC's hand - "Stories by Poe not
included in the 'Complete collection'" - suggests that he possessed other
editions of Poe.
A surprise in the collection is the presence of a copy of Walt Whitman's great

collection of poems, Leaves of Grass. This has a complicated publication
history. The first edition appeared anonymously in 1855. From the record in
Puttick and Simpson's January 20, 1890 sale catalogue of WC's Library, lot 81,
"Leaves of Grass port, cl Boston 1860-1," it seems as if a copy of the enlarged
third edition of 1860 is in his collection (item 516). No correspondence appears
to have survived between WC and Whitman (1819-1892), and no connection
between the two has been established.
German and Other Literatures
With the exception of foreign language translations into Danish, Dutch, French,
German, and Italian of WC's own works (items 124-128), and his collection of
French fiction and drama, there is a lack of materials not in English. This is in
contrast with items in the libraries of contemporaries of WC, such as George
Eliot and George Henry Lewes. In their collection, now at Dr. Williams's
Library, London, 24.5% of the titles are in German, nearly 5% in French, just
under 5% in Latin, and nearly 4% in Italian. There are also items in Greek,
Spanish, and Hebrew.23
This is not the pattern in WC's Library. There are only ten titles representing
German literature in the collection. None are in German. All are translations into
English. The one item in German is a copy of Ernst von Wolzogen's study of
WC's life and critical assessment of his writings, Wilkie Collins, ein
Biographisch-Kritischer Versuch, published in Leipzig in 1885 (item 531).
There is no evidence that this is a presentation copy from the author to the
Introduction 53
subject of his biographical explorations. Two translations are presentation

copies. Henry Phillips Jr's translation of Adelbert von Chamisso's Faust: A
Dramatic Sketch (item 83) is probably a legacy of WC's American visit. Another
probable legacy is the copy of Henry Phillips's translations of German and
Spanish poetry published in Philadelphia in 1878 (item 385). Hardly a literary
work, but written originally in German, the presentation copy of Karl Freiherr
von Reichenbach's Researches on Magnetism, published in 1850 (item 414),
owes its presence to WC's January to April 1852 Leader series of letters on
"experiments in hypnotism and clairvoyance" (Peters 109-110). Friendship may
well explain the copy of George Henry Lewes's acclaimed biography of Goethe:
the 1875 edition published by Smith, Elder is present (item 312) (Gasson 95).
No individual volumes of Goethe are recorded in either Puttick and Simpson's

auction catalogue, or in M. L. Bennett's subsequent catalogue of books from
WC's library. German classical literature is thinly represented. There is a two-
volume 1878 Bell edition of Lessing's Dramatic Works (item 310), and
Benjamin Thompson's (17767-1816) six-volume translation of plays from the
German theater published in 1801 (item 492). These volumes contain six dramas
by Baron Augustus von Kotzebiie (1761-1819). Found also are plays by Joseph
Marius Babo (1756-1822), August Wilhelm Iffland (1759-1814), Friedrich von
Schiller (1759-1805), Friedrich Ludwig Schroeder (1744-1816), Karl von
Reitzenstein (1749-1832), Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's Emilia Galotti, and
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Stella.
A five-volume Italian edition of Giovanni Boccaccio's // Decameron, published

in Venezia in 1813 (item 42), is the highlight of the four items of Italian
Literature. It is hardly surprising, given WC's hedonism, that he should possess a
copy of Giacomo Casanova's Memoires. His copy is a six-volume one published
in French in Bruxelles in 1860 (item 76). The other two items are both
translations of Torquato Tasso's epic poem of a Crusade, Jerusalem Delivered.
There is a presentation copy of a translation by the Anglo-Irish baronet Sir John
Kingston James, published in 1865 (item 475). The other copy is a two-volume
translation published in 1818 (item 476) by the Reverend J. H. Hunt with his
prefatory sketch of Tasso's life.
Three items represent Spanish Literature. WC owned two English translations of

Cervantes. He has a four-volume translation by Thomas Shelton, published in
1725, with plates (item 78). WC also has a four-volume translation by Charles
Jarvis, published in 1801, with plates (item 79). A 6 August 1846 letter to his
mother reveals that the volumes are not in the library merely because of their
plates. WC uses Don Quixote's words to describe a crowd which "smelt of
anything rather than amber" {Letters, I, 38). The third volume is Phillips's
Poems Translatedfrom the Spanish and German (item 385).
The riches of classical literature are scantily represented in the collection. The
presence of a translation of Aeschylus's Tragedies, published by Bohn in 1849
(item 5), is probably due to the fact that it is a presentation copy. The translator,
the classical scholar Theodore William Alois Buckley (1825-1856), was also a
contributor to Household Words and other journals. A. Hawkins's translation of
the political satirical poems of Claudian, published in 1817 (item 90), is likely to
have been drawn upon by WC for background material for his first published
novel, Antonina; or The Fall of Rome. A Romance of the Fifth Century,
published in 1850.
WC met the great Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen at Gad's Hill during
his 11 June to 15 July 1857 stay with Charles Dickens (Dickens, Letters, VIII,
426 and n. 2). Anna S. Bushby's translation of Anderson's To Be, Or Not to Bel
was published by the firm of Bentley in early June 1857 and dedicated to
Dickens. A copy is now in the collection (item 10). From Puttick and Simpson's
Catalogue description - "trans, by Bushby presentation copy from the author to
Wilkie Collins" - it is not entirely clear whether the book (lot 149), is from the
translator Bushby or its Danish author.
Literature written in English, published in what were then colonies, receive some
representation. There is a copy of the first book edition published in Melbourne
in 1874 of Marcus Clarke's (1846-1881) novel concerning transportation,
inheritance, convict life and murder. His Natural Life (item 88) was
subsequently published in London in three volumes by Bentley in 1875. WC
owned an author's presentation copy of Robert Dudley Adams (1829-1912), the
Australian lawyer and poet's, Song of the Stars and Other Poems, published in
Sydney in 1882 under the pseudonym of "Alpha Crucis" (item 144). There are
two other Melbourne imprints. Both are by Garnet Walch (1843-1913). One is a
copy of his Head over Heels. A Christmas Book of Fun and Fancy, published in
1874. The other is a presentation copy to WC from Walch of his A Little Tin
Plate, published in Melbourne in 1881 (items 506, 507). Another emerging
literature in English is represented by the presence of Nell Gwynne's Acorn
Leaves: A Series of Canadian Tales, published in Toronto in 1873 (item 239).
History, Biography, Autobiography and Memoirs
Seventy-five titles, 10 percent in this category, belong to the broad "History"

subject categorization. Forty-three titles, or 6% of the total, belong to the
biography, autobiography and memoirs categorization. WC began work on the
memoirs of his father shortly after William Collins's 1847 death, putting to one
side work on Antonina, his own historical novel. The presence of biography,
autobiography and memoirs in the auction catalogue of books from WC's library
suggests that he would agree with sentiments in Henry Fielding's Jonathan Wild,
that biography is the "quintessence of history," its value residing in "the true
Introduction 55
beauty of virtue and deformity of vice" and in its depiction of the complexity of
human psychology in its "mixture . . . of good and evil in the same character",
except in extreme instances.24 Titles in WC's collection range in period, subject
and national focus. There are books on French history, Irish life, Scottish history,
English political and court history, and works recounting North American
frontier history.
French history focuses upon Napoleon and the French Revolutionary period.
Translations into English are prominent. They range from Laure Junot duchesse
d'Abrantes's Memoirs of [Napoleon] and His Court and Family, published by
Bentley in 1836 (item 2), to William Hazlitt's detailed four-volume biography of
Napoleon published in 1830 (item 251). Hazlitt's Life of Napoleon praises
Napoleon, and condemns England's role in destroying liberty in France. Hazlitt
is critical of the national hero - Wellington. There are two other biographies of
Napoleon in WC's collection. One is a translation into English of Louis Antoine
Fauvelet Bourrienne's three-volume Life, published in 1831 (item 49). The other
is the four-volume French Pierre Lanfrey biography, published in Paris in 1869
(item 294). Two Napoleonic items of interest are the French memoirs by Las
Cases, focusing upon Napoleon's imprisonment on St. Helena (item 298), and an
English translation of Laurent's History of Napoleon (item 300). Both items are
replete with illustrations. Especially interesting is Laurent's volume, described in
M.L. Bennett's Catalogue as "from the French of l'Ardeche with 500
illustrations after Horace Vernet and original portraits" (Bennett 107). In a
lengthy letter to his mother dated 6 October 1845, WC praised Horace Vernet's
work {Letters, I, 35). Also present in the collection is a copy of the seventh
edition of the two-volume account of Napoleon's life in exile, published in 1827
(item 379), by Barry Edward O' Meara (1786-1836), who was close to the fallen
Emperor on St. Helena. In addition, there is a copy of the frequently reprinted
Sir William Francis Patrick Napier's (1785-1860), History of the War in the
Peninsula and in the South of France, from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814. The
collection has the three-volume 1882 edition (item 362) of this classic account of
the Peninsula wars, first published in six volumes between 1828 and 1840.
The great nineteenth-century French historian of the Revolution and post-

Revolutionary France, Adolphe Thiers (1797-1877), is represented by his two
classic works in French (items 490-491). The presence of the memoirs in French
(item 320) of Jean-Baptiste Louvet de Couvray (1760-1797) reveals two
interests of its owner WC: the history of the French revolutionary period and
erotica. Louvet was a revolutionary member of the Convention nationale. He was
also the author of the erotic fiction Les Amours du Chevalier de Faublas (1789-
1790), not extant in WC's library.25
Pre-revolutionary France finds its place amongst the books with a copy of
Latude's French memoirs of his thirty-five year incarceration (1749-1784) for
inventing a plot against Mme de Pompadour (item 299). There is a copy of

WC's close friend Frances Elliot's two volumes on Old Court Life in France,
published in 1873 (item 184). Also in English, published in 1878, is a copy of
the memoirs of Philippe de Commynes, who documented life during the long
reign of Louis XI from 1423 to 1483 (item 129).
English historical memoirs, biography and autobiography are not confined to one
historical period or historical personality. There is little on Cromwell or the
period of the English Civil Wars. The exceptions are copies of John Forster's
The Debates on the Grand Remonstrance, November and December, 1641. With
an Introductory Essay on English Freedom under Plantagenet and Tudor
Sovereigns (item 204), and his two-volume biography of Sir John Eliot (item
207). The former is a presentation copy from the author to WC. The latter is a
biography of the Parliamentarian Sir John Eliot (1592-1632), who defied Charles
I, and opposed Royal excesses against Parliamentary privileges.
There are three basic historical reference tools present. The first of these is the
ninth revised edition of Haydn's A Dictionary of Dates Relating to All Ages and
Nations (item 249), which is not confined to British history. The second is a
copy of Hatherly's A New Genealogical Scale of the Sovereigns of England with
Copious Tables and Explanatory Remarks (item 248). Its 1889 publication date
suggests that WC's copy was received from the publishers or the author, and was
not a reference book he used over a period of time. The third reference work
consists of ninety-five volumes of Dodsley's Annual Register (item 165). This is
a run from the first volume published in 1758 through to 1851, and was useful
for basic factual information on politics, literature, biography, statistics and
commerce.
Other materials range from books on social life and customs, poor laws, labor
history and local history. There are copies of William Grant Sewell's analysis of
labor in the West Indies, published in 1862 (item 440), and the account by
Thomas Wright, a journeyman engineer, of working-class habits and customs,
published in 1867 (item 536). Wright's work was praised by Dickens's All the
Year Round, which observed that "the working man remains a study - in some
respects, too, a problem - in great part a difficulty - in much a contradiction -
but, on the whole, a national hope and a national pride."26 There are studies of
the poor laws and their operation (item 383), and the autobiography of the
Chartist working-class leader William Lovett (1800-1877) (item 321). In his
great Progress and Poverty (item 222), first published in 1884, Henry George
(1839-1897) attributes poverty to rent and puts forward a land tax as the solution
to social ills. George's strictures on rent and its ills might well have struck a
sympathetic chord with WC. In the autumn of his life, in February 1888, he was
forced to move house owing to a rapacious landlord, "an enormously rich
Introduction 57
nobleman named Lord Portman" (WC to de Heussey, 12 July 1888: Letters, II,
559).
The presence of a two-volume autobiography of a companion to Princess

Charlotte, published in its 1861 second edition (item 289), and Langdale's
Memoirs of Mrs. Fitzherbert (item 295), reveal an interest in the activities of
George IV before he ascended to the throne. Perhaps surprisingly, especially in
the light of WC's extensive comments in a 12 January 1849 letter to the
American novelist R. H. Dana concerning the reception of Macaulay's History of
England (Letters, 1,'54), there is only one macaulay title recorded in the
collection. There is no copy of his history, the first two volumes of which were
published in 1848, the third and fourth volumes in 1855, and the final volume
posthumously in 1861. There is a copy of his essays contributed to the
Edinburgh Review, contained in his three-volume Critical and Historical Essays,
published in 1854 (item 326). Colonial adventurism, so prevalent during the
period in which WC lived, is related in Sir William Francis Butler's (1838-1910)
account of Sir Garnet Wolseley's 1873 Ashanti campaign. In his Akim-Foo: The
History of a Failure, published in 1875 (item 63), Butler relates how he was sent
by Wolseley to Accra, and then instructed to make his way inland to Western
Akim, and to gather a fighting force in order to cut off a retreating Ashanti army.
His attempts to raise an army were unsuccessful, and he was forced to retreat.
However, he had succeeded in creating an important diversion, which held down
the forces of an important Ashanti chief.
WC's collection of historical, biographical and memoir material is by no means

confined to French or British perspectives. A copy of the memoirs of Baron
Valentine Cloncurry (1773-1853) reveals an interest in early-nineteenth-century
Irish politics and government (item 93). The diverse aspects of American history
are present in frontier history, frontier exploration and searches for the north-
west passage, a concern with slavery, constitutional history, the history of Wall
Street, and local history. Moses Foster Sweetser's King's Handbook of Boston
Harbor, published in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1882, is both a guide book and
a history (item 473). James Knowles Medbury's Men and Mysteries of Wall
Street, published in Boston in 1870, combines biographical accounts of financial
speculators with historical and financial explanations (item 346). George W.
Holley (1870-1897), the American natural historian, presented WC with a copy
of his history and geology of Niagara (item 260). WC owned seven volumes of
George Bancroft's ten-volume A History of the United States, published in
Boston between 1851-1875. He attempted unsuccessfully to draw upon Bancroft
27
(item 20) for a drama "in American history - not connected with wars." There
are two copies of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. One is a presentation copy
from its editor John Bigelow (1817-1911) to WC (item 210). The other is a
three-volume edition published in Philadelphia in 1874 (item 211).
Works which have taken on a status as historical classics are not under-
represented. There is a twelve-volume Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire, published in 1813. This is probably a re-issue of the twelve-volume
edition published by Strahan in London, 1791-1792 (item 225). Henry Hallam's
account of the middle ages, View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages,
published in 1841, is present (item 246). There is an undated single-volume
edition of the American historian John Lothrop Motley's (1814-1877) The Rise
of the Dutch Republic (item 360). Another American historian, William Hickling
Prescott (1796-1859), is found in a three-volume 1849 edition of his classic
History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic (item 396). Other
classic nineteenth-century histories are E. Foster's English translation in three
volumes of Leopold von Ranke's History of the Popes, published in 1847 (item
407), and Andrew Steinmetz's three-volume History of the Jesuits, published a
year later (item 458).
Adventures and Travel
Forty-two titles, 6.0% of the titles, belong to this subject categorization. In

September 1836, when he was only twelve years of age, WC traveled with his
parents and brother to France and Italy, where they remained until August 1838.
His fascination with travel began early and remained with him. It is reflected in
the travel and volumes recording adventures in his collection. In his writing, his
early attempt at fiction, Ioldni; or, Tahiti as It Was. A Romance, remained
unpublished until 1999. Set in the South Pacific Islands, in Polynesia, WC drew
upon the four-volume second edition, published in 183, of William Ellis's
Polynesian Researches: During a Residence of Nearly Eight Years in the Society
and Sandwich Islands (item 187). Ellis (1794-1872) left England in 1816 to
serve for six years as a missionary for the evangelical London Missionary
Society. His account of Polynesian life, its ethnography, and religious practices,
is, in the words of Ira Nadel, the editor of the first published edition of the novel,
"the origin of the plot as well as the characters of Ioldni." Also present in the
collection is a copy of Basil Hall's (1788-1844) three-volume Fragments of
Voyages and Travels Including Anecdotes of a Naval Life: Chiefly for the Use of
Young Persons (item 244), published 1831-1833. WC possibly drew upon this
work of a former naval officer when composing Ioldni (Nadel xxii, xxxi). In
addition, WC owned a copy of Hall's account of Schloss Hainfeld: or A Winter
in Lower Styria, which was published in 1836 (item 245).
Other volumes in the collection attest to a fascination with adventure and travel
ranging from the Americas to the Orient. There are three works on Mexico. Two
of these focus on the Yucatan region. Both are written by John Lloyd Stephens
(1805-1852), born in New Jersey, who left his legal practice to travel. He was
sent by President Van Buren on intelligence missions to Central America. These
missions formed the foundation for his accounts of the jungle, and the remnants
Introduction 59
of ancient civilizations, in his two-volume Incidents of Travel in Yucatan,

published in 1843, and its sequel, also published in two volumes, in the
following year, Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapus and Yucatan
(items 462, 463) (Hart 636). The volumes are illustrated by his co-traveler, the
English artist Frederick Catherwood (1799-1854). He accompanied Stephens on
both his Mexican trips. According to Esther Acevedo's entry on Catherwood in
The Dictionary of Art, he "employed both the camera lucida and daguerrotypes
in the production of drawings, from which more than 200 engravings were
made."28 The other work on Mexico is by George [Augustus] Frederick Ruxton
(1820-1848). Following a Sandhurst education, Ruxton served in a Spanish civil
war, in the British army in Canada and in the far west of America. His
adventures are recorded in his Adventures in Mexico and the Rocky Mountains
(item 426) published five years after Stephens's Chiapus and Yucatan adventures
(Hart 579).
WC's interest in other areas of the vast American continent is reflected in

various volumes. He owned a copy of John Byron's (1723-1786) ten-volume
account of deprivation and distress in harsh terrain, recounted in his Narrative of
the Loss of the Wager: With an Account of the Great Distresses Suffered by
Himself and His Companions on the Coast of Patagonia from the Year 1740 till
Their Arrival in England 1746 (item 68). A different geographical perspective
and timeframe is seen in the work of the landscape architect and conservationist
Frederick Law Olmstead (1822-1903). Three of his books focusing on his travels
in the south of the North American content, A Journey in the Seaboard Slave
States (1856), A Journey Through Texas (1857), and A Journey in the Back
Country (1860), were condensed and reissued as two volumes in his Journeys
and Explorations in the Cotton Kingdom. A copy of the second edition,
published in 1862 (item 378), is found in the collection.
Other copies attest to WC's interest in the opening up of the Northern Canadian
territories. There is a copy, replete with illustrations and maps, of Sir William
Francis Butler's account, published by Sampson Low, Marston, Low and Searle
- the publishers of WC's The Woman in White - in [1872], of his adventures and
travels in the American North West, under the title The Great Lone Land (item
64). In this work, published in 1872 and reaching a fourth edition but a year
later, Butler relates his special mission. This was, in the words of the DNB
obituary of Butler, "to investigate the situation in Saskatchewan and report on
the need for troops, the Indians, and the fur trade. Striking the north
Saskatchewan at Carlton, he followed it up to the base of the Rocky Mountains,
and then descended it, reaching Fort Garry on 20 Feb. 1871, after a winter
journey of 2,700 miles."29 To take but one other example of their owner's
interests, WC possessed the six-volume-in-three facsimile reprint, published in
Quebec in 1870, of Charles Honore Laverdiere's (1826-1873) edition, published
under the title CEuvres de Champlain, of the Jesuit explorer Samuel de
Champlain's (1567-1635) account of his discovery and exploration of Canada

(item 84).
Exploration and adventures in other parts of the world are reflected in books on
the Antipodes and the Orient. Present is the account by John Lort Stokes (1812-
1885) of his discovery and exploration of the Australian hinterland and coast,
found in his two-volume, Discoveries in Australia, with an Account of the
Coasts and Rivers Explored and Surveyed During the Voyage of the Beagle,
1837-1843, published in 1846 and illustrated with maps and plates (item 466).
Stokes sailed with the Beagle during the period Darwin was on board. He served
on the ship for a period of eighteen years and commanded it from March 1841.
His two volumes are a record of his Beagle voyages {DNB, 28. 1287). Darwin's
writings are not found in WC's library. There is a copy of the pseudonymous
volume published under the name "Topchi" in St. Petersbourg in the year before
WC's death, A Trovers L'Orient et L'Occident. The title page has the subtitle
"Recit de Huit Annees de Voyages en Espagne, Portugal, Grece, Montenegro,
Turquie," and other areas (item 494).
Art, Artists, Architecture, Sculpture
Given WC's family connections with art and artists, it is perhaps surprising that
only twenty-five titles, 3% of his collection, represent these subject areas.
Perhaps there were more books relating to art and artists, architecture and
sculpture in his collection. It is tempting to speculate that his mother retained
books which had personal associations with WC's father, William Collins (1788-
1847), member of the Royal Academy and friend of many fellow artists. Further,
WC's brother, the painter Charles Allston Collins (1818-1873), would have had
as equal a claim as his brother to possess books once owned by their father.
Indeed, in an 11 May 1867 letter to his mother, WC related how he and his
brother Charles "have tossed" for his father's pictures {Letters, II, 285).
Of the books remaining in his collection at the time of his death, there are
biographies, plate books, and lithographs. There are two prominent biographies
of artists known to WC's father. There is Anna Elizabeth Bray's Life of Thomas
Stothard: With Personal Reminiscences, published in 1851 (item 51). Thomas
Stothard, R.A. (1755-1834), was a popular illustrator, historical and portrait
painter.30 The other biography is by his grandfather William Collins Senior
(1740-1812), his three-volume Memoirs of a Picture (item 97). This semi-
fictional, partly-biographical depiction of his friend George Morland (1763-
1804) became the source for WC's early novel A Rogue's Life. According to
Gasson, William Collins's Memoirs of a Painter gives an "account of faking and
shady dealings in the art world together with the improvident and scandalous life
of Morland" (32).31 In his two-volume The Life of William Collins, Esq. RA. By
His Son, published in 1848, WC refers to his grandfather's Poem on the Slave
Introduction 61
Trade, "illustrated by two of Morland's most successful pictures, subsequently

engraved by J. R. Smith" (I, 6). WC's biography focuses upon his father's
professionalism, and concludes with a listing of the pictures painted annually by
his father, a listing of exhibition sites, buyers and prices, plus a listing of the
engravings produced from his father's paintings. WC's biography and his
grandfather's poem are not found in his book collection.
In the collection is a copy of Walter Thornbury's two-volume account of British

Artists from Hogarth to Turner, published in 1861 (item 493). Thornbury (1828-
1876) was a colleague of WC on Household Words and All the Year Round?2
Other items of artistic interest are also by associates of WC, such as Harry
Quilter and George Redford (1816-1895). Quilter's 1886 Sentential Artis is
subtitled "First Principles of Art for painters and picture lovers" (item 401).
George Redford's two-volume 1888 Art Sales. A History of Sales of Pictures
and Other Works of Art (item 412), and his A Manual of Ancient Sculpture,
published two years earlier (item 411), reflect an increasing professionalism and
respectability found in biographies of artists and works about art in "late
Victorian Britain."33
It is difficult to suggest why WC possessed a copy of William Sharp Ogden's

1885 folio, Studies in Mercantile Architecture Comprising Fifty Suggestive
Designs for Warehouse, Shop, and Office Buildings (item 374). Possibly
inherited from his father is a copy of Edward William Cooke, R.A's (1811-1880)
sixty-five etchings of Shipping and Craft, published in 1829 (item 131). Cooke
sketched boats for Clarkson Stanfield (1793-1867), whose etchings are found in
a 1836 copy of Frederick Marryat's The Pirate and the Three Cutters (item
340).34 Perhaps a remnant from WC's father's religious obsession is a folio
consisting of six pages of colored plates with eleven illustrations, distributed
only to subscribers, of J. J. Johns's Anglican Cathedral Church of Saint James,
Mount Zion, Jerusalem, produced in 1842 (item 279). Another folio of interest is
that by John Frederick Lewis, R.A. (1805-1876), the orientalist painter,
draughtsman, etcher and mezzotint painter. His 1835 Sketches and Drawings of
the Alhambra, Made during a Residence in Granada, in the Years 1833-4 is
present (item 314).35 Other plate books of note are those by Turner and William
Blake. WC makes a passing reference to "walls . . . covered with choice
engravings from Wilkie Turner" in a letter to his Mother dated 2 August 1847,
describing a visit to a French art collector {Letters, I, 47). A copy of Turner's
Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour round the Southern Coast of England,
published in 1849 (item 498), and Leitch Ritchie's Wanderings by the Loire,
containing twenty-one of Turner's plates, published in 1833 (item 419), are
found in the collection. There is also a copy of the poet Edward Young's Night
Thoughts, published in 1797 (item 537), as a folio with designs by William
Blake. At the Puttick and Simpson auction of WC's books the book was
purchased for ten shillings {lot 239}.
Other Subjects
One hundred twenty-eight items, 17.9% of WC's library, constitute a multitude

of areas of which there are from one to eighteen titles. These are: Religion (18
titles); Music (11 titles); Dictionaries and Works of Reference, German
Literature, Politics, Religion, Trials (10 titles each); Guides (6 titles); Law,
Medicine, Superstition (5 titles each); Australian and Italian Literature,
Psychology and Psychiatry, magazines (4 titles each); Philosophy, Protest,
Spanish Literature (3 titles each); Archaeology, newspaper cuttings (2 titles
each). Subjects having a single title include: Anecdotes, Animal Magnetism,
Apparitions (Ghosts), Arabian Nights (translation), Canadian Literature,
Cremation, Gastronomy, Physiology, and Palmistry.
Mary H. P. Cunliffe, a contemporary of WC, in her unpublished "A Record of

Pleasant Memories," records WC, in the company of Robert Browning and
Charles Reade, being fascinated by music: "I was astonished at the capacity for
enjoyment that. . . Collins seemed to have . . . . He seemed to absorb the music .
. . . He told me afterwards that it . . . made him feel ten years younger."36 WC
had strong musical likes and dislikes. Following attendance with his close friend
Elizabeth Benzon, the sister of Frederick and Rudolph Lehmann, at a concert, he
wrote to her in a letter dated 26 February 1869: "I hope you were not the worse
for the concert. As for me, Herr Schumann's music, Madame Schumann's
playing and the atmosphere of St. James's Hall, are three such afflictions as I
never desire to feel again" {Letters, II, 319). There are two biographies of
Mozart in his collection: Edward Holmes's 1845 biography, now in the
possession of Faith and William Clarke (item 261), and Pauline D. Townsend's
three-volume translation, published in 1882, of Otto Jahn's biography (item
276). There is also an English two-volume 1841 edition of Ignace Moscheles's
edition of Anton Felix Schindler's classic Life of Beethoven (item 431). There is
a copy of George Hogarth's two-volume Memoirs of the Opera in Italy, France,
Germany and England, published in 1851 (item 256). Perhaps more of a surprise
is the presence of a copy in French of the second edition of Hector Berlioz's
two-volume Memoires, published in Paris in 1881 (item 35). WC's interest in
French music is demonstrated by the presence in his Library of the music score
of French hymns, choruses and sacred music for mixed voices in the form of
Henri Lutteroth's Chants Chretiens, published in Paris in [1851] (item 322). WC
also possessed a copy of John Wall Calcott's musical manual, A Musical
Grammar in Four Parts. With a publication date of 1817, this manual possibly
belonged to WC's family (item 71). There is also a presentation copy of Michael
Thomas Bass's protest, published in 1864, against the noise and racket made by
street musicians - Street Music in the Metropolis (item 24). An interest in
theatrical and popular music and friendship is reflected in the presence of the
recollections, in the form of a presentation copy from the author, of Stephen C.
Introduction 63
Massett (1820-1898), the American lyricist and composer of popular songs (item
344).
Amongst WC's childhood books may have been the two-volume Wonders of the
Universe with its subtitle Curiosities of Nature and Art: Including Memoirs and
Anecdotes of Wonderful and Eccentric Characters of Every Age and Nation,
published in 1827 (item 532). Other encyclopedias, dictionaries and reference
works he probably obtained for writing purposes. There is a ten-volume
Chambers' Encyclopedia, published in 1876 (item 81), the 1860 ninth revised
edition by Benjamin Vincent of Haydn's classic Dictionary of Dates (item 249),
and an 1849 Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language (item
512).
Other volumes containing material WC consulted whilst writing may be found in

the works relating to legal trials in France, Germany, Scotland and the United
States, as well as in England. There are ten books focusing on legal trials and
five books focusing on the law. As Barbara Leckie remarks in her Culture and
Adultery. The Novel, the Newspaper, and the Law 1857-1914 (Philadelphia:
University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999): "It is well known . . . that Wilkie
Collins and Charles Dickens read legal trials with real interest and a keen eye for
literary insights." In particular they read divorce court proceedings and murder
cases (104). For instance, in WC's Library is a presentation copy of the closing
argument of the attorney Nathaniel C. Moak at the October 1878 Jessie Billings
Jr. murder case of his wife in which medical testimony played a crucial role
(item 356). Two of his novels written during the 1880s, Heart and Science
(1883) and The Evil Genius (1885-1886), focus on vivisection and medical
testimony in the first instance, and in the second treat the themes of adultery and
divorce. There is, as noted, the twenty-six-volume Maurice Mejan's Recueil des
Causes Celebres, purchased by WC in a Parisian bookstore in 1856, and drawn
upon for The Woman in White (item 349). For this novel WC probably also drew
upon Alfred Swain Taylor's 1859 work, On Poisons (item 479).
The six guide books in the Library focus upon areas of the United Kingdom and
were used by WC whilst writing his novels. For instance, he visited, with his
companion Caroline Graves, in August 1863, the Isle of Man in order to gain
material for his novel Armadale. This visit explains the presence in his Library
of a copy of Edward Forbes's Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion
through the Isle of Wight (item 202). Crucial passages of No Name (1862) are
set around Aldborough on the East Anglia coast. This probably explains the
presence in WC's Library of a copy of Mackenzie Edward Charles Walcott's
The East Coast of England from the Thames to the Tweed, Descriptive of
Natural Scenery, Historical, Archaeological, and Legendary (1861) (item 508).
In WC's Library there are eighteen religious titles. In a series of letters to Pigott,
stimulated by a controversy in The Leader, WC defended the declaration of the
Immaculate Conception made by Pope Pius IX on 8 December 1854. 37 Two

years earlier, in the The Leader, he took issue with his friend over the mixing of
politics and religion. His late novel The Black Robe (1881) develops a theme
used in a short story published in Household Words in July 1855. In "The
Yellow Mask" and the later novel, a Jesuit priest is involved in the restitution of
property which he considers rightfully belongs to the church. Both explore the
theme of inheritance and personal love versus institutional proprietary claim.
Some of the religious books are associated with Catholicism. They range from a
presentation copy from his friend Charles Kent (item 284), to papal histories by
Ranke (item 407), and Steinmetz's History of the Jesuits (item 458).
Harriet Collins's copy of Jeremy Taylor's Holy Living and Dying, in an 1824
edition (item 482), reflects his parents' Protestant Tractarianism. There is a copy
of James Kershaw's The Grand Extensive Plan of Human Redemption published
in Louth in Scotland in 1797 (item 286). There is a curious absence of the family
Bible and books indicating that they belonged to WC's religious father William
Collins. Devotional works include a copy of Edward Bouverie Pusey's edition of
the eleventh-century Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury's Meditations and
Prayers to the Trinity, published in Oxford in 1856 (item 13). There is a third
edition of James A. Begg's Scriptural Evidence of the Redeemer's Speedy
Personal Return, 1831, with Harriet Collins's signature on the fly-leaf (item 30).
A copy of Walter Farquhar Hook's Church Dictionary, 1843, also contains
Harriet Collins's signature, this time on the title page (item 266). There are
copies, too, of Thomas Nolan's six-penny The Vicarious Sacrifice of Christ,
published in 1860 (item 370), and of the late-sixteenth- and early-seventeenth-
century Christian divine Christopher Sutton's Disce Vivere: Learn to Live with
Memoir of the Author in an 1847 edition (item 472).
Perhaps the lack of temperance literature in the collection of a personality who

enjoyed fine wines and spirits is hardly a surprise. There is a copy of James
Miller's Alcohol; Its Place and Power, published in Glasgow in 1861 (item
355). WC's interest in superstition is demonstrated by the presence in his library
of five items. These range from a two-volume work on Fantasmagoriana,
published in Paris in 1812 (item 190), to Thomas Digby Brooke's translation of
The Exemplary Life of the Pious Lady Guion, published in Bristol in 1806 (item
238). There is a work on the superstitions of old Cornwall (item 271), and
Edward Smedley's account, published in 1855, of The Occult Sciences: Sketches
of the Traditions and Superstitions of Past Times, and the Marvels of the
Present Day (item 446). The owner's pencil linings in the copy of Henry
Spicer's Strange Things among Us, published in 1863, serve to demonstrate that
the unexplained was not without interest to WC. He marks a passage describing
a "deaf and dumb child conscious of the passing of a ghost which expresses its
presence by sound" (item 456). His copy of von Reichenbach's Researches on
Introduction 65
Magnetism (item 414) was probably used for his letters on "experiments in
hypnotism and clairvoyance" published in The Leader (Peters 109-110).
There is a singular lack of philosophical work in the collection. There is no

Aristotle or Plato from the ancient classic philosophers. There are few modern
classics of philosophy - no Spinoza, Descartes, Hobbes, Hegel, Kant or John
Stuart Mill, to mention a few. The only philosophers present are French. There is
a seventy-volume set of Voltaire (item 505). Also present is a twenty-two-
volume edition of Denis Diderot, published in Paris in 1821 (item 163), and a
translation of Victor Cousin's The Philosophy of the Beautiful. Published in New
York in 1849, this is a presentation copy from its publisher, Daniel Bixby, to
WC (item 139).
Further representation of subjects marginally found amongst WC's books are

those dealing with psychology or psychiatry. There is a copy of the first edition
of Sir Benjamin Brodie's Psychological Inquiries. Given the 1855 publication
date, the book may well have been a copy acquired by WC during his Leader
reviewing days (item 53). Two works on insanity, which he may have consulted
whilst writing The Woman in White, both by the physician Forbes Winslow
(1810-1874) {DNB, XXI, 674-75), are presentation copies (items 519, 520).
CONCLUSION
The books belonging to WC listed in the Puttick and Simpson January 20, 1890
auction sale catalogue, and in the "Caxton Head" M. L. Bennett Bookseller's
catalogue from the same year, reveal eclectic taste. They contain books used for
research for WC's creative endeavors, but are by no means the only sources of
information for his work. As his notes for The Moonstone, now at Princeton
University Library, reveal, he took notes from various books. He noted from, for
instance, the amateur gem collector Charles William King's The Natural History
of Precious Stones and Gems (1865).38 At his London club, the Athenaeum, WC
took notes from the eighth edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. He read the
two-volume edition of Theodore Hook's The Life of General Sir David Baird,
published in 1832, and he read J. Talboys Wheeler's The History of India from
the Earliest Ages (1867). None of these items are recorded in either the Puttick
and Simpson or Bennett catalogues. WC also consulted articles in Notes and
Queries. An unbound volume ten of this journal is recorded as being amongst his
books after his death. However the issue (item 373) dates from 1872 - four years
after the publication of The Moonstone.
WC's library contains a singular lack of antiquarian, rare items, finely printed
books or manuscripts. There is an overwhelming preponderance of nineteenth-
century materials, and a good many inscribed presentation copies attesting to
their owner's social affability. WC was not, if the evidence presented here is
reliable, a bibliomaniac. He did haunt the Parisian bookstalls and used the books
he owned for creative purposes. Some books he inherited from his family. Some
he received as copies from publishers. He was, after all, a publisher's reader -
hence the presence of books by Rider Haggard. These were gifts from his agent
Watt. His collection of works by Sir Walter Scott, Balzac, and James Fenimore
Cooper provide an insight into his tastes and inspiration. WC was a book man.
He lived amongst books, and he wrote to maintain himself and more than one
family. The surviving volumes in his collection reveal much about the man, the
writer, his friendships, his associations, and the sources for his creative
inspiration. They also provide an insight into a now-vanished world of book-
collecting and the late Victorian dispersing of the books of a writer regarded
amongst the pantheon of nineteenth-century English writers.
1 Armadale, ed. J. Sutherland. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books,

1995. 183.
2
Basil: A Story of Modern Life. New York: Dover Publications, 1980. 194-195.
3
Man and Wife: A Novel. New York: Dover Publications, 1983. 87.
4
The Law and the Lady, ed. J. Bourne Taylor. Oxford U.P., World's Classics,
1992. 82-83.
5
The Fallen Leaves. Stroud: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1994. 186.
6
See Clarke, 191.
7
Cited Alexis Weedon, "Bernard Quaritch," in Nineteenth-Century Book-
Collectors and Bibliographers, ed. William Baker and Kenneth Womack,
Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. 366.
8
See Gasson, 128. Information on Quaritch from David Quentin, of Bernard
Quaritch, personal communication to William Baker, 26 February 2001.
9
Arthur and Janet Ing Freeman, Anatomy of an Auction. London: The Collector
Limited, 1990. 82.
10
Information from David Quentin. For William Barclay Squire, book collector
and music librarian at the British Museum, see A. Hyatt King, "William Barclay
Squire, 1855-1927," The Library, Fifth Series, 12 (March 1957), 1-10. I have
been unable to locate the whereabouts of Squire's library. His books don't
appear to be in the British Library collections.
Introduction 67
11
See Gasson, 63, and Graham Law, Serializing Fiction in the Victorian Press.
Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave, 2000. 104, 260.
12
A. and J. I. Freeman, Anatomy of an Auction, 91.
13
Information from David Quentin of Bernard Quaritch.
14
Personal communication, 5 November 1999.
15
See also S. Lonoff, "Sex, Sense, and Nonsense: The Story of the Collins-Lear
Friendship," in Nelson Smith and R. C. Terry, ed. Wilkie Collins to the
Forefront: Some Reassessments. New York: AMS Press, 1995. 37-51.
16
See C.K. Hyder, "Wilkie Collins and The Woman in White," PMLA, 54
(1939), 297-303, Appendix C: "The Main Source of The Woman in White," in
The Woman in White, ed., H. P. Sucksmith. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
1971. 599-600, and L. Nayder, Wilkie Collins. New York: Twayne, 1997. 74-75.
17
A Collection of Hayne Letters, ed. D. M. McKeithan. Austin, Texas:
University of Texas Press, 1944: reprinted Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press,
1944. xv-xvi.
18
An 1886 copy of Tennyson's Locksley Hall Sixty Years After is the only
Tennyson present amongst WC's books (item 483).
19
See John M. Kleeberg, "Phillips, Henry, Jr." American National Biography.
Vol. 17. Ed., John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1999. 446-47.
20
For an account of Wilkie Collins's relationship with Watt see G. Law,
Serializing Fiction. 103-09.
21
See The Moonstone, ed. J. Sutherland. Oxford: World's Classics, 1999. 386-
87. For Collins's reading of De Quincey and Elliotson, see 497-98.
22
See Bulwer's letter of 22 October 1870, now at the Hertfordshire Record
Office.
23
See William Baker, The George Eliot-George Henry Lewes Library: An
Annotated Catalogue of Their Books at Dr. Williams's Library. London:
Garland Publishing, 1977. xxviii.
24
Frederick G. Ribble and Anne G. Ribble, Fielding's Library: An Annotated
Catalogue. Charlottesville: Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia,
1996. xx.
25
For Louvret de Couvray, see Dolbow, 182.
26
8 June 1867: cited Asa Briggs, The Age of Improvement. London: Longmans,
1963. 522.
27
Collins to Mary Anderson, 14 April 1885: Anderson, A Few Memoirs. New
York: Harper and Brothers, 1896. 144-45.
28
The Dictionary of Art. Vol 6. London: Macmillan, 1996. 87.
29
DNB Supplement 1901-1911. London: Oxford University Press, 1912. 287.
30
See Dictionary of Art, 29. 732-33.
31
For Morland, see ibid., 22. 122-124; DNB, XIII. 961-64.
32
See DNB, XIX. 769-770, and Dickens, Letters, vol. IX. 61, n. 3.
33
See Julie F. Codell, "Serialized Artists' Biographies: A Culture Industry in
Late Victorian Britain," in Book History, 3 (2000), 94-124. For Redford, see The
George Eliot Letters. Vol. 3. Ed. Gordon S. Haight. New Haven: Yale
University Press, 1954. 178, n. 7.
34
For Cooke, see Ian Mackenzie, British Prints Dictionary and Price Guide.
Woodbridge: Suffolk: Antique Collectors' Club, 1998. 126. For Stanfield, see
Dictionary of Art, 29. 535-36.
35
For Lewis, see Mackenzie, 233-34.
36
Unpublished manuscript now at the Armstrong Browning Library, Baylor
University: cited Allan W. Atlas, "Wilkie Collins on Music and Musicians,"
Journal of the Royal Musical Association, 124 (1999). 255.
37
See Letters, I, xxix, 130-131, and cf. K. Lawrence, "The Religion of Wilkie
Collins: Three Unpublished Documents," Huntington Library Quarterly, 52
(1989). 389-402.
38
See J. Sutherland, "Explanatory Notes" to The Moonstone. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1999. 468-69, [xxx]-xxxi, and William M. Burgan, "Masonic
Symbolism," in Smith Terry, 101-48.
Reconstruction of
Wilkie Collins's Library
WC died on 23 September 1889. There were four main subsequent auctions of
his possessions:
1. Catalogue of the Sale of the Furniture of the Late Wilkie Collins, Walter
Holcombe, 24 October 1889.
2. Catalogue of the Interesting Library of Modern Books of the Late Wilkie

Collins, Esq., Puttick and Simpson, 20 January 1890. 246 lots which realized
£200.
3. Catalogue of the Collection of Modern Pictures, Water-Colour Drawings &

Engravings, of Wilkie Collins, Deceased. Christie, Manson & Woods, 22
February 1890. 66 lots which realized £415. Of these, 24 by William Collins,
and others by Charles Collins, J. E. Millais, A. Geddes, J. Linnell and Mrs.
Carpenter. This Catalogue is the Appendix to the present work.
4. Catalogue of the Original Manuscripts, by Charles Dickens and Wilkie

Collins. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 18 June 1890. Includes 29 manuscripts of
WC's novels and short stories. These realized £1310.1
THE PRESENT CATALOGUE: RATIONALE AND FORM

The present reconstruction is based on a marked-up copy of the Puttick and
Simpson 20 January 1890 auction catalogue. Now in the possession of William
and Faith Clarke, this contains the names of the purchasers of individual lots.
There is also an unmarked copy in private hands, owned by Andrew Gasson.
Copies of the unmarked auction catalogue may also be consulted in the Parrish
Collection at Princeton University Library, the British Library, and the Bodleian
Library, Oxford. In the present work, this information is combined with details
from M. L. Bennett's Catalogue. A copy of the catalogue dated "February 1890"
is now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and was made available through the
kindness of Catherine Peters. It contains 133 items. As explained, M. L. Bennett
were the major buyers at the Puttick and Simpson auction. Their sale catalogue
adds details excluded from the earlier auction catalogue, and in some instances
includes books not mentioned in the Puttick and Simpson auction.
The purpose of the present reconstruction is to combine these two catalogues

containing information on books in WC's Library, so that identification of them
can take place, to give some sense of their nature and contents, and to indicate
what their importance may have been for him. Wherever possible, from the
evidence available, the exact editions owned by WC, as well as the identification
of works themselves, has taken place. In his second Hanes Lecture, delivered at
the University of North Carolina in 1981 and published in his The History of
Books as a Field of Study, the distinguished bibliographer G. Thomas Tanselle
observes: "One cannot satisfactorily discuss the influence of a work . . . without
knowing the peculiarities of the texts in which that work was being read . . . . it
can make a great deal of difference whether people were reading one translation
rather than another of a foreign work . . . or an abridgement or a children's
adaptation rather than the full text."2
In the identification of editions owned by WC, where relevant, alternative issues

have been identified. However this reconstruction is not a descriptive
bibliography in the mode of W. W. Greg, Fredson Bowers or, to take one other
instance, David Gilson's descriptive bibliography of the writings of Jane Austen.
Rather it is a descriptive reference bibliography in the tradition of my own The
Libraries of George Eliot and George Henry Lewes? This study combined two
book listings in order to convey the working library of two great Victorian
authors.
Puttick and Simpson's 20 January 1890 auction of the "Library of the Late
Wilkie Collins, Esq." is arranged by lots and sizes. Lots one to two hundred
thirty-one are "Octavo et infra." Lots two hundred thirty-two to thirty-eight are
"Quarto," and lots two hundred thirty-nine to two hundred forty-six, are "Foli."
The lots contain either individual or mixed volumes. Authors, titles, number of
Reconstruction of Wilkie Collins's Library 71
volumes, and dates of publication are given. Sometimes binding details and other
details are given. For instance lot one reads:
"1 Annual Register from the commencement in 1758 to 1851 including Index
1758 to 1819, together 95 vols. hf cf {some broken) 1758-1851."
To give another example, lot 7 reads:

" 7 Beethoven's Life, edited by Moscheles port. 2 vols. 1841 - Bass' Street
Music in the Metropolis presentation copy from the author 1864 - Callcott's
Musical Grammar 1817; 9 vols."
The marked-up copy, now in the possession of William and Faith Clarke, also
contains the price realized for the item at the auction and the name of the
purchaser. The first lot was bought for one shilling and six pence by "Bennett."
The seventh lot was purchased by "Withers" for fourteen shillings.
M. L. Bennett's "February 1890" catalogue contains one hundred thirty-three

alphabetically arranged items. The arrangement is not by author, but by general
subject category, such as "America," "Atlas," "Australian Poet," and "Foreign
Works Cheap."
Puttick and Simpson auction lot one becomes in the M. L. Bennett Catalogue:
17 ANNUAL REGISTER (DODSLEY'S) A COMPLETE SET FROM ITS

COMMENCEMENT IN 1759 to 1858 INCLUSIVE, with INDEX from 1758
to 1819, 95 VOLS, %vo, half calf, (some broken)
£5 12s 6d 1758-1851
An invaluable set of books for a Public Library, comprising in a concise style
well adapted for reference, a detailed view of the Politics, Literature, Biography,
Parliamentary History, Commerce, Statistics, &c, of the past century, all the
State Papers of any interest are printed at length; the whole thus forming a body
of data for the future historian unparalleled either in extent or importance.
The above Set requires some of the binding being repaired - a trifling matter
- and would then form an excellent Set at a very low price indeed. From writing
inside Volume I, they appear to have cost the Eminent Novelist £24.
Entries in the reconstruction which follows are arranged alphabetically by the

name of the author. The "Annual Register" is found not under its title but under
its original publisher, "Dodsley, Robert" (1703-1764)(item 165). It is cross-
referenced under "Annual Register" with the note "See under Dodsley, (165)."
So, combining the data in Puttick and Simpson and in M. L. Bennett, the entry
reads:
165. Dodsley's Annual Register: A Complete Set from Its Commencement in

1758 to 1851 Inclusive, with Index from 1758 to 1819. 95 vols. 1758-
1851.
"8vo, half calf, (some broken)."
{1} [17]
Bennett bought for £l-6s and priced in his Catalogue for £5 - 12s - 6d.
Bennett describes as:
"An invaluable set of books for a Public Library,
comprising in a concise style well adapted for reference, a detailed view
of the Politics, Literature, Biography, Parliamentary History, Commerce,
Statistic, &c, of the past century, all the State Papers of any interest are
printed at length; the whole thus forming a body of date for the future
historian unparalleled either in extent or importance.
The above set requires some of the binding being repaired -
a trifling matter - and would then form an excellent Set at a very low
price indeed. From writing inside Volume I they appear to have cost the
Eminent Novelist £24."
The entry begins with a serial number (e.g., 165), based on the alphabetical place
of entry in the reconstruction. This number is followed by the last name of the
author and first name. This is followed by a short-title description, in italics, with
capitalization retained where necessary. The number of volumes are followed by
the place and date of publication. Where this is not given in either the Puttick
and Simpson or Bennett data, or has not been ascertained from available
information, the date/s are placed in [ ] brackets. On a separate line following
the serial number assigned the entry, the author, title, number of volumes (if
more than one), place of publication and date of publication, and information
from either the Puttick and Simpson or Bennett sources relating to book size and
binding states, such as "8vo half calf, (some broken)", details of the original
auction lot number and purchaser, are found. Item 165 was lot one in Puttick and
Simpson's auction, so this becomes "{1}". Its purchaser was Bennett. This fact
is recorded by "[17]". This indicates that the item "17" in the Bennett Catalogue
is the Annual Register. Information underneath such basic data contains
information of interest. In this instance the price Bennett purchased the book for,
and the price he attempted to sell it for, and a quotation from the Bennett
description. In other cases, where deemed relevant, there are dates and
information on the author of the item, citation from WC's letters if he refers to
the author or title, including whenever possible information on the present
location, or subsequent history of the ownership of WC's copy.
In instances where the purchaser is not Bennett, the name of the buyer appears in
brackets before Puttick and Simpson's auction lot number. Thus, to take one
instance, Puttick and Simpson lot 7 contains "Beethoven's Life, edited by
Moscheles port. 2 vols. 1841". The purchaser of the nine vols in this lot 7 was
"Withers", who paid fourteen shillings. Bibliographical research identifies these

volumes to be by Anton Felix Schindler, under whose name they appear, and the
title, "The Life of Beethoven, Including His Correspondence with His Friends . .
. Edited by Ignace Moscheles", followed by the number of volumes, in this
instance two, and the date of publication, "1841". The original Puttick and
Simpson auction description as "Beethoven's Life, edited by Moscheles port."
follows on a separate line. This is accompanied on a separate line by "[Withers]
{7}."
Under each author, titles are arranged alphabetically. Puttick and Simpson and
M. L. Bennett list a plethora of works by WC. These are arranged alphabetically
by title beginning with "After Dark" (item 98) and concluding with "Works.
Translated into Italian" (item 128). Works not in the auction or in Bennett,
believed from other evidence to have belonged to WC, are included in the
alphabetical ordering. It is indicated that they are not in Puttick and Simpson, or
in Bennett. For instance, my serial number 137 refers to a copy of Barry
Cornwall's - the pseudonym of Bryan Waller Procter (1787-1874) - English
Songs and Other Small Poems. A copy, inscribed on the front fly-leaf "Wilkie
Collins Esq | with the Authors' | Kind Regards," is now in the possession of
Andrew Gasson.
For capitalization, the following procedure has been followed:

In titles of published books, journals, magazines, essays, articles, films,
poems, and songs, use a capital letter for all words except articles {the,
a, an), coordinating conjunctions {and, but, or, nor, so, for, yet), to in
an infinitive {to stay), and prepositions unless they begin or end a title
or subtitle. (Raimes, 353-54.)
For a detailed list of abbreviations used in the Reconstruction see

"Abbreviations" chapter.
RECONSTRUCTION
1. About, Edmund. Les Manages de Paris et de Province. 2 vols. Paris,

1857-68.
[Olivero] {176}
Edmund About (1828-1885), novelist and journalist.
2. Abrantes, Laure Junot, duchesse d'. Memoirs of [Napoleon] and His Court
and Family. 2 vols. London, 1836.
Half morocco "gilt edges, 16 fine Portraits on steel"
{66} [108]
3. Achard, Amedee Miseres d'un Millionaire. 2 vols. Paris, 1861.

Part of 3 5 vol. lot.

[Powell] {177}
Adams, Robert Dudley. See under [Crucis, Alpha] (item 144).
4. Addison, Joseph. The Miscellaneous Works of. 4 vols. Oxford, 1830.

[Withers] {90}
5. Aeschylus. Tragedies. Bohn, 1849.

"presentation copy to Wilkie Collins"
[Farren] {160}
Theodore William Alois Buckley (1825-1856), classical scholar, revised
for Bohn their classical series. He contributed to Household Words and
other journals. According to the DNB, his life was curtailed: "organic
disease is supposed to have induced a recourse to opium, and subsequently
alcohol."
6. Ainsworth, William Harrison. [Works with a Memoir by S.L.Blanchard.

14 vols. (1850-1851)].
Part of 20 vol. lot.
[Smith] {158}
WC writes to his mother from Paris:
"I have subscribed to Galignani's Library to keep off ennui. Harrison
Ainsworth was there today, sitting, as usual, in the positions of his
different portraits" (16 September 1845: Letters, I, 29).
7. Albemarle, George Thomas Keppel, Earl of. Fifty Years of My Life. 2

vols. 1876.
"8 vo., very nicely bound, half navy morocco, marbled sides and edges,
portrait and pedigree."
{67} [3]
George Thomas Keppel, Earl of Albemarle (1799-1891: DNB).
8. Aldeburgh and Adjacent Places, [A Guide to}. Aldeburgh, 1861.

"cloth, presentation copy from the writer"
{51} [76]
Probably used as a source for No Name (1862), parts of which are set in
Aldeburgh and its vicinity. WC visited Aldeburgh with Caroline Graves in
late August 1861.
Aldine Poets.
See under Collins, William (item 96) and Dryden, John (item 168).
9. American Magazines.
"various nos. a parcel" See also The Forum (item 209), Harper's (item
247), and Scribner 's (item 438).
[Bennett] {185}
10. Andersen, Hans Christian. To Be, Or Not to Be? [ 1857]

"trans, by Bushby presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins
1857"
[Suckling] {149}
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) stayed with Dickens at Gad's Hill
11 June-15 July 1857. WC was at Gad's Hill at the same time. Mrs. Anna
S. Bushby's (1814-1876) translation of To Be, Or Not to Be? was
published by Bentley in early June 1857 and dedicated to Dickens. See
Dickens, Letters, VIII, 426, n 2. WC "satirized Andersen in 'The Bachelor
Bedroom', All the Year Round, 6 August 1859; reprinted in My
Miscellanies (1863)" (Gasson 7).
Anderson, John Parker. See under Marzials, Frank T. (item 343).
11. Angelo, Henry Charles William. Reminiscences of Henry Angelo, with

Memoirs of His Late Father and Friends. 2 vols. 1830.
"port."
[Maggs] {24}
Theatrical reminiscences of Henry Charles William Angelo (1756-1835)
and his family.
12. Anglo-American International Copyright - Colonial Copyright - Report

of the Copyright Association, 1872-3.
Part of 5 vol. lot of items on "English and Foreign Copyright" containing
"A few notes here and there in Mr. Collins' writing, shewing the intense
interest he took in the question" (Bennett).
{15} [54]
See also items 134, 278, 319, 342.
For WC, and his obsession with copyright issues, see Gasson 42.
Annual Register. See under Dodsley (item 165).
13. Anselm, Saint, Archbishop of Canterbury (1033-1109). Meditations and

Prayers to the Holy Trinity and Our Lord Jesus Christ, ed. by Edward
Bouverie Pusey. Oxford, 1856.
[Bennett] {60}. Not recorded in Puttick and Simpson.
14. Arabian Nights' Entertainments

"with signature of W. Wilkie Collins, vols. 2 and 3, 12 mo. 1820."
[Woollett] {153}
For a detailed discussion of WC's use of the Arabian Nights, see

Caracciolo in Smith and Terry 169-173.
15. Augier, Emile. Comedies, Paris, n.d.

[Dobell] {204}
Emile Augier (1820-1889), writer of social and political satiric comedies.
His works were "picked off at will by British adapters at no cost to
themselves, because for most of the time theatre managers had their spies
out in Paris with instructions to send home texts of all the latest novelties
for instant translation" (J. R. Stephens, The Profession of the Playwright:
British Theatre 1800-1900, Cambridge, 1992. 103).
16. Austen, Jane. [Novels].

[Oliver] {157}
Aytoun, W. E. See under Gaultier, Bon (item 220).
17. Bailey, Philip James. Festus, 7th edition, 1861.

[May] {94}
Philip James Bailey (1816-1902). Festus first published 1839 and added
to in various editions. A very popular on-going verse version of Goethe's
Faust.
18. Baker, David Erskine. Biographica Dramatica. Continued by Isaac Reed

and again by Stephen Jones. "3 vols. in 4, cf, 1812."
[Dobell] {109}
David Erskine Baker (d. 1782).
19. Balzac, Honore de. CEuvres Completes. 45 vols. Paris 1859-1869.

"hf bd. 12 mo."
[Roche] {194}.
Purchased on behalf of Quaritch, who were acting on commission for
William Barclay Squire.
WC translated Balzac's "Episode sous la Terreur," Bentley's Miscellany,
41 (June 1852), 629-38. WC writes to Paul Hamilton Hayne: "It may be
hundreds of years, before another Fenimore Cooper appears in America,
or another Walter Scott in England. I call these two and Balzac - the three
Kings of Fiction" (3 May 1884: Letters, II, 467). WC paid tribute to
Balzac in his "Portrait of an Author Painted by His Publisher," All the
Year Round, 18 and 25 June 1859; reprinted in My Miscellanies, 1863
(Gasson 13, 63-65).
20. Bancroft, George. A History of the United States. 1 vols. Boston 1851-
1861.
"hf. cf. gt."

[Nugent] {132}
Part of a ten-volume set published in Boston (1851-1875).
Mary Anderson, the American actress, suggested that WC write a drama
for her. He replied:
"[I]f we can together meet the one serious difficulty that I see - finding a
good subject. If something could be found in American history - not
connected with wars - 1 should like it best, because the dramatic writers of
the United States have left that field free, and I could let my imagination
go at a full gallop without the fear of unintentionally trespassing on the
literary ground which the dramatists of Europe have so largely occupied.
Some suggestive book to consult must be our first discovery, and we must
look back nearly 100 years or we shall be defeated by the hideous costume
of the beginning of this century" (Cited M. Anderson, A Few Memories
[New York, 1896, 144-45]: 14 April 1885).
"Not even a perusal of Bancroft's long History of the United States could
produce a suitable theme, and the idea was ultimately dropped"
(Robinson, 308).
21. Bard, Samuel A. Waikna; Or Adventures on the Mosquito Shore. New

York, 1855.
"60 illustrations."
[Edwards] {103}
Samuel A. Bard, pseud., i.e., Ephraim George Squier.
22. Barriere, Theodore. Comedies. Paris, n.d.

[Dobell] {204}
Theodore Barriere (1823-1877). His Comedies were frequently translated
and performed on the English and American stage.
23. Barriere, Theodore. Dramas. Paris, n.d.

[Jones] {205}
24. Bass, Michael Thomas. Street Music in the Metropolis. 1864.

"presentation copy from the author."
[Withers] {7}
Bass (1799-1884: DNB), liberal MP, philanthropist and grandson of the
founder of the Burton Breweries, introduced into the House of Commons
"a Bill for the Suppression of Street Music" (Dickens, Letters, X, 388 and
n.l).
WC writes from Ramsgate, in a letter to A.P. Watt: "departure is hastened
by the infernal noises which make this delightful place a hell on earth.
Organs - brass bands - howling costermongers selling fish, make day
hideous - and night too, up to 10 o'clock. Nobody complains but me" (24
June \SS5: Letters, 11, 4S0).
25. Beaumarchais, Pierre-Augustine Caron de. [Le Theatre]. Paris, 1846.

"port. hf. cf."
[deCoverley] {198}
Pierre-Augustine Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799), great French
classical dramatist whose works were frequently pirated on the London
stage.
26. Beaumont, Francis and John Fletcher. Tragedy ofValentinian. 1717.

[Money] {238}
Cataloged under quarto size vols.
WC may have consulted this as part of the background for his first
published novel, Antonina; or The Fall of Rome, A Romance of the Fifth
Century, 1850. Beaumont and Fletcher's tragedy - produced between
1610 and 1614 - focuses upon "the vengeance of Maximus, a general
under Valentinian III, for the dishonour of his wife Lucina by the emperor,
and her self-inflicted death" (Harvey, 815).
27. Bede, Cuthbert. Fotheringhay and Mary, Queen of Scots. 1886.

"illustrated."
[Withers] {150}
WC requested a copy from Alfred King, 8 February 1886 (MS:
Princeton). Published by Simpkin and Marshall. Cuthbert Bede pseud.,
i.e., Edward Bradley (1827-1891), best known for The Adventures of Mr.
Verdant Green, An Oxford Freshman and its sequels.
28. Begg, Alexander. Creation of Manitoba; or, A History of the Red River
Troubles. Toronto, 1871.
"ports."
{30} [7]
29. Begg, Alexander. i(Dot It Down ": A Story of Life in the North West.
Toronto, 1871.
"cr. 8 vo, cl."
[Bennett] [8]
Bennett offered [7] and [8] separately for "2/6 or with preceding 4/-".
Both works published by Hunter Rose, WC's Toronto publishers. See
Gasson 82.
30. Begg, James A. A Connected View of Some of the Scriptural Evidence of

the Redeemer's Speedy Personal Return . . . Israel's Restoration to
Palestine. 1831.
"bds. H. Collins on fly-leaf."

[Bennett] {59}
Not recorded in Puttick and Simpson.
31. Behn, Aphra (Mrs.). The Plays, Histories, and Novels of the Ingenious
Mrs. Aphra Behn with Life and Memoirs. Edited by R. H. Shepherd. 6
vols. 1871.
"Large Paper, bd uncut. Pearson." Reprinted from the plays of 1724 and
the novels of 1725.
[Maggs] {106}.
Mrs. Aphra Behn (1640-1689), regarded as the first professionally writing
English woman. She produced at least eighteen plays and fifteen "novels."
Forced to write for bread to survive, her themes are those of unwilling
marriages, "financial malpractice, and women (either victimized or
triumphantly reversing the sexual balance of power)" (V. Blain, P.
Clements, I. Grundy, The Feminist Companion to Literature in English,
1990,78).
32. Bellamy, George Anne. An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy,
Late ofCovent-Garden Theatre. 3 vols. Dublin, 1785.
"Bellamy's Life vols. 1-3 (stained)"
[F. Hurt] {123}
George Anne Bellamy (1731-1788), actress: "her later years were
burdened with suffering and debt" {DNB).
33. Bentley Ballads: Containing the Choice Ballads, Songs & Poems
Contributed to "Bentley's Miscellany." 1861.
"engraved title by G. Cruikshank, signature of Wilkie Collins 1861, on
title cl."
[Woolley] {100}
34. Beranger, Pierre Jean de. CEuvres Completes. 2 vols. Paris, 1858.
"port. 2 vols. hf. cf."
[deCoverley] {198}
Pierre Jean de Beranger (1780-1857), songwriter who celebrated
Napoleon Bonaparte.
35. Berlioz, Hector. Memoires de Hector Berlioz: Comprenant Ses Voyages

en Italie, en Allemagne, en Russie et en Angleterre, 1803-1865. 2nd ed. 2
vols. Paris, 1881.
"hf. mor."
[Pullen] {212}
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), composer.
36. Bernard, Pierre-Joseph. CEuvres Completes. Paris, 1794

"L'Art d'Aimer. 12 mo. calf gilt, several extremely pretty etchings."
Under "Amatory" in Bennett Catalogue [4].
Pierre-Joseph Bernard (1710-1775), writer of vers de societe, and of L'Art
d'Aimer on the Ovidian model.
37. Besant, Walter. Herr Paulus. 3 vols. 1888.

[Money] {138}
Sir Walter Besant (1836-1901), friend of WC who completed his Blind
Love. A consummate professional writer concerned with author's rights.
WC wrote to Walter Besant: "You are our leading spirit and our director
in this matter - and yours is the pen to represent us a t ' 10 Downing
Street'" (MS: Texas: 25 April 1889). Besant was instrumental in founding
the Society of Authors in 1883. See Gasson 18.
38. Bichat, Xavier. Recherches Physiologiques sur la Vie et la Mort. Paris,

n.d.
"cr. 8 vo., half calf, front."
[Bennett] [64]
Xavier Bichat (1771-1802). His Recherches Physiologiques, a classic
work in physiology, first published in 1800, and frequently reprinted with
subsequent editions.
39. Black's General Atlas. Edinburgh, 1847.

Folio "maps hf. mor."
{246} [18 a]
Bennett describes this as "Black's General. 61 Maps by Hall Hughes, &c,
and Index of 57,500 names." Bennett purchased this item for one shilling
and offered it for four shillings.
40. Blenkinsop, Adam. Memoirs of Dr. Blenkinsop. 2 vols. 1852.

[Maggs] {22}
Novel published by Bentley.
41. Boaden, James. Memoirs of Mrs. Siddons Interspersed with Anecdotes of

Authors and Actors. 2 vols. 1827.
"port, (spotted).. . hf. cf."
[Suckling] {112}
Sarah Siddons, nee Kemble (1755-1831: DNB), one of the great actresses
of the late 18th century and early 19th century British theatre.
42. Boccaccio, Giovanni. II Decameron. 5 vols. Venezia, 1813.

"port."
[Cogswell] {162}
43. Borrow, George Henry. [Craik's] Celebrated Trials and Remarkable

Cases of Criminal Jurisprudence from the Earliest Records to the Year
1825. 6 vols., 1825.
"ports, and plates cf."
[Nugent] {4}
"Much, if not all, of preface by Sir R. Phillips, who directed the
compilation" {The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, vol. Ill,
ed. J Shattock, 1999; 1107).
44. Boswell, James. An Account of Corsica: The Journal of a Tour to That

Island: And Memoirs of Pascal Paoli. 1768.
"map"
[F. Hurt] {134}
45. Boswell, James. Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides. 6th ed. 1813.
"enlarged, 8vo, half calf, gilt Portrait of Boswell after Reynolds and vig."
{51} [22]
46. Boswell, James. The Life of Samuel Johnson. 7th ed. 5 vols. 1811.
"sm. 8vo, hf. old calf. 'W. Collins' on fly leaf in pencil."
{168} [90]
In a letter to Robert du Pontavice de Heussey, WC writes: "I most
sincerely envy you a first reading of Boswell's wonderful book - the
greatest biographical work that has ever been written. I am constantly
dipping into it, to this day" (14 February 1887: Letters, II, 533).
47. Boswell, James. The Life of Samuel Johnson. 10 vols. 1859.

"port, fronts, and vignettes . . . hf. cf. . . . 12 mo, Bohn."
[Withers] {42}
See also under Croker, John Wilson (item 145), Johnson, Samuel (items
280-281).
48. Bouilhet, Louis Hyacinthe. [CEuvres].Paris, 1880.

"Drames par . . . Bouilhet. .. hf. mor. . . . Paris v. y."
[Jones] {205}
Louis Hyacinthe Bouilhet (1822-1869), minor poet, dramatist, friend of
Flaubert, author of historical dramas.
49. Bourrienne, Louis Antoine Fauvelet de. Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. 3

vols. 1831.
"thick post 8 vo, hf. morocco, gilt edges, portraits and plates."
{168} [112]
Bradley, Edward. See under Bede, Cuthbert (item 27).
50. Brandling, Henry Charles. Views in the North of France. 1848.

"lithograph plates atlas fol."
[Cogswell] {244}
Henry Charles Brandling, artist friend of WC, who contributed 12
lithographs for Rambles Beyond Railways (1851). See Gasson 23-4.
51. Bray, Anna Elizabeth. Life of Thomas Stothard: With Personal

Reminiscences. 1851.
Quarto "numerous illustrations"
[Dobell] {236}
52. Brigstocke, Thomas. The Mutual Scourges; or, France and Her
Neighbours. An Historical Drama in Four Acts. 1871.
"Thin cr. 8vo., cloth, Present, copy with Author's Inscription 1871, and
MS corrections by Collins, on back of title in pencil."
{98} [23]
Thomas Brigstocke (1809-1881), portrait painter. "He spent eight years in
Paris and Italy, and made some copies from pictures by the old masters,
among them one of Raphael's 'Transfiguration' in the Vatican, which, on
the recommendation of W. Collins, R.A., was purchased for Christ
Church, Albany Street, Regent's Park" {DNB).
53. Brodie, Benjamin, Sir. Psychological Inquiries: In a Series of Essays,

Intended to Illustrate the Mutual Relations of the Physical Organization
and the Mental Faculties. 1855.
"8vo., cloth."
[Bennett] [24]
First edition 1854.
54. Brown, Oliver Madox. The Dwale Bluth, Hebditch's Legacy, and Other
Literary Remains. Ed. William Michael Rossetti and Philip Bourke
Marston. 2 vols. 1876.
"ports, presentation copy."
[Bennett] {146}
William Michael Rossetti and Dante Gabriel Rossetti were greatly
attached to the promising artist and writer Oliver Madox Brown who died
aged 19 on 5 November 1874. Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "Oliver Madox
Brown" - a sonnet in remembrance - was published in The Athenaeum, 14
November 1874.
WC wrote to Oliver's father, Ford Madox Brown:
"I beg that you will accept my best thanks for the volumes containing
the literary remains of your son.
My time happens to be very closely occupied just now - and I have

only, thus far, made myself acquainted with the memoir, and the story
called "The Black Swan." I can, with perfect sincerity, assure you that I
have been touched and interested by what I have read. I see in "The Black
Swan" - through the inevitable defects of youth and inexperience - a real
vocation for the difficult art of writing fiction, and I entirely agree with
the author of the Memoir that the untimely death of your son is a loss to
literature which all friends of Art have true reason to regret. In this sense
at least, I may ask you, and do ask you, to accept the expression of my
true sympathy" (MS: John Rylands University Library, Manchester: 15
January 1876).
55. Bullar, Joseph. A Winter in the Azores; And a Summer at the Baths of the
Furnas. 2 vols. 1841.
"illustrated cl."
[Salisbury] {40}
Joseph Bullar, M.D., was a close friend of the Collins family.
56. Bunn, Alfred. The Stage: Both before and behind the Curtain from
"Observations Taken on the Spot". 3 vols. 1840.
[Parsons] {116}
Alfred Bunn (1798-1860), dramatist, manager, and member of the Garrick
(Stephens, 11).
57. Burke, Peter. The Romance of the Forum, or, Narratives, Scenes, and
Anecdotes from Courts of Justice. 2 vols. [1852-1853]
"fronts."
[George] {142}
Peter Burke (1811-1881: Boase), alternative title: Narratives, Scenes, and
Anecdotes from Courts of Justice: published in 4 vols. 1852-1861.
58. Burnaby, Fred. A Ride to Khiva: Travels and Adventures in Central Asia.
2nd ed. 1876.
"maps."
[Edwards] {103}
59. Burns, Robert. Poetical Works. 3 vols.

"cl. n. d."
[Hartley] {85}
Unable to identify - various 3-vol. editions of Burns.
60. Burton, John Hill. Narratives from Criminal Trials in Scotland. 2 vols.
1852.
"cl"
[Nugent] {3}
WC drew upon the conflicts of Scottish and English marital law in "The
Parson's Scruple," originally published under the title "A New Mind,"
Household Words, 1 January 1859, and in his novel Man and Wife, 3 vols.
1870.
61. Burton, Robert. The Anatomy of Melancholy. 8th ed. 1676.

Folio, "engraved title (margins mended) cf."
[Parsons/Hill] {241}
Wing B 6184
62. Butler, Samuel. Hudibras. 1836.

"thick 32 mo, cloth, g.e. Port & vig. 'William Wilkie Collins 1842,' on
fly-leaf."
{98} [26]
63. Butler, William Francis, Sir. Akim-foo: The History of a Failure. 1875.
"map"
[F. Hurt] {152}
An account of the disastrous Ashanti War 1873-1874.
64. Butler, William Francis, Sir. The Great Lone Land: A Narrative of Travel
and Adventure in the North-West of America [1873].
"map and illustrations."
[Maggs] {37}
First edition 1872. There were several editions: 2nd in 1872; 3 rd in 1873.
Both Butler titles were published by Sampson Low, Marston, Low &
Searle, with whom WC had dealings. Sampson Low published The
Woman in White, 1860-1863. See Gasson 136-7.
65. Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron. Complete Works with Life. [1842].
"port, cf. gt.. . . roy. 8 vo."
[Storre] {128}
In a letter to Richard Edgcumbe, WC accepts with pleasure "the honour of
becoming a member of the Committee for The Byron Memorial - and . . .
will assist to the best of my ability in helping forward this object - the
excellent object as I think" (MS: Present whereabouts unknown: 27
March 1875). He writes to William Winter: "You will now not be
surprised to hear that I delight in Byron and Scott" (5 August 1878:
Letters, II, 413).
66. Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron. Life, Letters and Journals of Lord
Byron: Complete in One Volume. 1838.
"Complete in 1 vol. but bound in two, imp. 8vo, handsomely bound in

half brown polished morocco, marbled sides and edges, front, and vig.
fine copy. . . . with Wilkie Collins Autograph dated 1843 on fly-leaf."
{49} [27]
Bennett purchased this for 11/- and priced it at 21/-.
67. Byron, George Gordon, 6th Baron. The Poetical Works of Lord Byron. 8
vols., 1857.
"(impft.) hf. cf. 12 mo."
[Cogswell] {159}
See also Medwin, Thomas, item 347.
68. Byron, John. Byron's Narrative of the Loss of the Wager; With an
Account of the Great Distresses Suffered by Himself and His Companions
on the Coast of Patagonia from the Year 1740 till Their Arrival in
England 1746. 10 vols. 1832.
[Thistlewood] {148}
The narrative of John Byron (1723-1786).
69. Caine, Hall. The Deemster. 3 vols. 1887.

"presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins 1888"
[Hartley] {139}
70. Caine, Hall. The Shadow of a Crime. 3 vols. 1885.

[Hartley] {139}
WC wrote to Hall Caine:
"(Let us drop the formality of 'Mr.' and let me set the example
because I am the oldest).
I have waited to thank you for 'The Deemsters' until I could
command time enough to read the book without interruption. Let me add
that the chair in which I enjoyed this pleasure is not the chair of the critic.
What I am writing conveys the impressions of a brother in the art.
You have written a remarkable work of fiction- a great advance on
'The Shadow of a Crime' (to my mind) - a powerful and pathetic story,
the characters vividly conceived, and set in action with a master hand.
Within the limits of a letter, I cannot quote a tenth part of the passages
which have seized on my interest and admiration. As one example, among
many others which I should like to quote, let me mention the chapter that
describes the fishermen taking the dead body out to sea in the hope of
concealing the murder. The motives assigned to the men and the manner
in which they express themselves show a knowledge of human nature
which places you among the masters of our craft, and a superiority to
temptations to conventional treatment that no words of mine can praise too
highly. For a long time past, I have read nothing that approaches what you
have done here. I have read the chapters twice, and, if I know anything of
our art, I am sure of what I say.
Now let me think of the next book that you will write, and let me
own frankly where I see some form for improvement in what the painters
call 'treatment of the subject'.
When you next take up your pen, will you consider a little whether
your tendency to dwell on what is grotesque and violent in human
character does not require some discipline? Look again at the 'The
Deemster', and at some of the qualities and modes of thought attributed to
'Dan'.
Again, your power as a writer sometimes misleads you, as I think,
into forgetting the value of contrast. The grand picture which your story
presents of terror and grief wants relief. Individually and collectively,
there is variety in the human lot. We are no more continuously neglected
than we are continuously happy. Next time, I want more of the humour
which breaks out so delightfully in old 'Quilleash'. More breaks of
sunshine in your splendidly cloudy sky will be a truer picture of nature,
and will certainly enlarge the number of your admiring readers. Look at
two of the greatest of tragic stories - Hamlet and the Bride of
Lammermoor, and see how Shakespeare and Scott take every opportunity
of presenting contrasts, and brightening the picture at the right place" (15
March 1888: Letters, II, 553-54).
Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine (1853-1931: DNB), Manx novelist and
friend of WC. The Deemster and The Shadow of a Crime were published
by Chatto and Windus, who from November 1874 had a seven-year lease
on WC's available copyrights. See Gasson 27, 25.
71 Calcott, John Wall. A Musical Grammar, in Four Parts. 1817.

[Withers] {7}
Probably the 3 rd edition of a musical manual.
72 [Calverley, Charles Stuart]. Verses and Translations Cambridge, 1862.

"8vo, cloth."
[Bennett] [29]
First edition, 1862: author given as "C.S.C." i.e., Charles Stuart Calverley
(1831-1884: Boase), poet and translator. Fellow of Christ's College,
Cambridge, and barrister of the Inner Temple (1865). Wrote light verse
and parodies.
73. Canler, Louis. Memoires de Canler, Ancien Chefdu Service de Surete.

Brussels, 1862.
"hf. mor."
[Pullen] {212}
French police criminal investigations: Louis Canler (1797-1865). WC

drew upon the Parisian police records for several of his works (see
Gasson 48). Canler's work was translated into English and published in
London by Ward and Lock, 1862, under the title Autobiography of a
French Detective, from 1818 to 1858, Comprising the Curious
Revelations of the French Detective Police System.
74. Caplin, Jean Francis Isidore. The Electro-Chemical Bath: For the
Extraction of Mercury, Lead and Other Metallic Poisonous and
Extraneous Substances from the Human Body; Which, by Their Presence
in the Organism. [1868].
"presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins 1868"
[Hartley] {16}
The first edition was published in 1856. In 1868 an edition "revised and
much enlarged; with plates, including a portrait" was published.
WC wrote to Charles Benham: "I have begun the electric baths. Rating the
pores of my skin at only 7 millions - 1 have had 7 million currents of
electricity running through me for 45 minutes. The result is great
cheerfulness and great disinclination to pay inland revenue" (25
September 1868: Letters, II, 313).
Jean Francis Isidore Caplin, French physician.
75. Carre, Fabrice. Pieces de Theatre. Paris, n.d.

"cloth."
[Jones] {195}
Fabrice Carre, flourished 1855. Author of theatrical comedies such as Ma
Bru!
16. Casanova, Giacomo. Memoires de Jacques Casanova de Seingalt. 6 vols.

Bruxelles, 1860.
"edition originale, la seule complete .. . hf. cf."
[St. Martins] {197}
77. Causes Celebres. 2 vols. [n.d.].

"illustrated, various nos. bound in . . . hf. mor. (a few pencil notes and
scorings in vol. 2 by Wilkie Collins) 8 vo."
[Nugent] {200}
[Cecil, John] see Hone, William (items 264-265).
78. Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de. The History of the Valorous and Witty
Knight-Errant Don Quixote of the Mancha. Translated by Thomas
Shelton. 4 vols. 1725.
"plates from the French of Coypel."
[Hartley] {172}
79. Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de. The Life and Exploits of the Ingenious
Gentleman, Don Quixote de la Mancha. Translated by Charles Jarvis. 4
vols. 1801.
"port, map and plates . . . cf."
[Suckling] {50}
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616).
WC writes in a letter to Mrs. Harriet Collins concerning Antwerp: "We
mixed with the crowd (who to use the words of Don Quixote - 'smelt of
anything rather than amber') and awaited the solitary advent of the sacred
box with considerable impatience." (6 August 1846: Letters, I, 38).
80. Chambers' Edinburgh Journal. 2 vols. Edinburgh, 1837.

"impft."
[Heald] {237}
81. Chambers' Encyclopedia: A Dictionary of Useful Knowledge. 10 vols.

revised edition, 1876.
"maps and woodcuts . . . hf. cf. 8 vo."
[Francis] {136}
82. Chambers, Robert. Traditions of Edinburgh. New edition. 1868.

"presentation copy to Wilkie Collins n.d."
[Oliver] {14}
Robert Chambers (1802-1871: DNB), partner in W. and R. Chambers,
publishing house, and father of WC's close friend Nina Lehmann.
83. Chamisso, Adelbert von. Faust: A Dramatic Sketch. Translated by Henry

Phillips, Jr. Philadelphia, 1881.
"presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins."
{95} [31]
"One hundred copies printed only for private circulation."
Adelbert von Chamisso (1781-1838).
Henry Phillips (1838-1895).
See also item 385.
84. Champlain, Samuel de. CEuvres de Champlain. 6 vols. in 3, facsimile

reprint. Quebec, 1870.
"publiees par l'Abbe C.H. Laverdiere port, maps and plates . . . (vol. 6
wants title) panelled calf gilt."
[Edwards] {235}
Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635). Charles Honore Laverdiere (1826-

1873), editor of this account of the French discovery and exploration of
North America/Canada.
85. Chateaubriand, Francis-Rene, Vicomte de. Atala, Rene. Les Aventures de

Dernier Abencerage. Paris, 1830.
"12 mo., half calf, front."
[Bennett] [65]
WC's signature on fly-leaf "W. Wilkie Collins." Now at Parrish
Collection, Princeton.
Chateaubriand (1768-1848), French prose writer.
Chatrain, Pierre Alexandre. See item 188.
86. Cibber, Colley. An Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber: Comedian,
and Late Patentee of the Theatre-Royal: With an Historical View of the
Stage During His Own Time. 2nd edition, 1740.
"with signature of W. Wilkie Collins 1845 on fly-leaf
[name of buyer illegible] {170}
Colley Cibber (1671-1757): description of Restoration theatre. Cibber,
actor, theatre manager (Drury Lane), dramatist, adapted Moliere and other
French dramatists for the London stage. Ridiculed for snobbery by Pope,
Dr. Johnson, and Fielding in Joseph Andrews (Harvey).
87. Cibber, Colley. Dramatic Works 5 vols. 1777.

"first edition, port. . . cf. 12 mo."
[Hartley] {114}
88. Clarke, Marcus Andrew Hislop. His Natural Life. Melbourne, 1874.
[Suckling] {149}
Marcus Clarke [Andrew Hislop] (1846-1881), "author of the finest
Australian novel of the nineteenth century His Natural Life," serialized in
the Australian Journal, March 1870-June 1872, published in a single
volume in Melbourne, 1874 (Sadleir, 560), first English edition, 3 vols.
Bentley, 1875 (Sadleir, 560 A). Complicated plot concerning
transportation to Australia, inheritance dispute, convict life, discovery of
gold, murder, illegitimacy, with powerful prison scenes and descriptions
of the Australian landscape (Sutherland, 128, 297).
89. [Claude]. Memoires de Mr. Claude, Chefde la Police de Surete sous le

Second Empire. 2 vols. Paris, 1881.
[Powell] {175}
Published in 10 vols. 1881-1883.
90. Claudianus, Claudius. The Works of Claudian. Translated into English

Verse by A. Hawkins. 2 vols. in 1, 1817.
[Edwards] {10}
Puttick and Simpson Catalogue gives date for lot 10 as "1847."
Claudian (Claudius Claudianus), "the last great Latin poet in the classical
tradition. He was born at Alexandria in the late fourth century AD and
came to Italy before 395." He wrote political satirical poems, focusing on
the politics of the Roman Empire in the period after 395 and before 404.
His The Rape of Proserpine, an idyll in which Proserpine is abducted by
Pluto in the field of Enna, was translated by Abraham Cowley (see M. C.
Howatson, The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, 2nd edition,
1989, 137).
WC possibly drew upon Claudianus for the background to his first
published novel Antonina; or The Fall of Rome. A Romance of the Fifth
Century (1850).
91. Cleland, Robert. A Rich Man's Relatives. 3 vols. 1885.

[Money] {138}
92. Cleland, Robert. True to a Type. 2 vols. Edinburgh, 1887.

[Money] {138}
93. Cloncurry, Valentine, Baron. Personal Recollections of the Life and

Times, with Extracts from the Correspondence of Valentine Lord
Cloncurry. Dublin, London, 1849.
[Maggs] {24}
Valentine Cloncurry, Baron (1773-1853: Boase). Memoirs concerning
early-nineteenth-century Irish politics and government.
94. Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. Christabel, &c. 1816.

"3rd edition with signature of Wilkie Collins on fly-leaf."
[Suckling] {135}
95. Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. The Poems of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 1857.
"cf. 12 mo."
[Nugent] {171}
96. Collins, William. Poems with Notes by W. Crowe.1830.

"Pickering"
[Roche] {29}
The Aldine edition of the British poets, published by Pickering. Collins is
the first of what became a 50-volume set, published 1830-1853.
William Collins (1721-1759: DNB).
97. Collins, William. Memoirs of a Picture. 3 vols. 1805.

"cl. 12 mo."
[Parsons] {218}
William Collins's (1788-1847: DNB) memoir of George Morland the
painter. Picture "so intrigued Wilkie Collins that he interrupted the
narrative of his life of his father to devote nine pages to unravelling the
complicated plot of a book which he compared, not absurdly, to Smollett,
Sterne and even Fielding" (Peters 11).
98. Collins, William Wilkie. After Dark. [1859].

[Bennett] {227}
Probably the one-volume edition published by Smith Elder. See Gasson 3.
Bennett's Catalogue, under the title "COLLINS (WILKIE) WORKS - 1st
Editions," notes that they are "in publisher's cloth, mostly unopened and
almost new."
99. Collins, William Wilkie. Antonina; or The Fall of Rome. 3 vols. 1850.
"the Author's own copy with his autograph ' W. Wilkie Collins' on first
title."
{221} [42]
Bennett bought for 18/- and offered at 25/-.
100. Collins, William Wilkie. Antonina; or The Fall of Rome. 1864.

{227} [43]
The single-volume Sampson Low edition with a new preface and
illustrated title by John Gilbert. See Gasson 8.
101. Collins, William Wilkie. The Black Robe. 3 vols. 1881.

"cr. 8vo."
{224} [36]
102. Collins, William Wilkie. Criticisms of the Press.

"in 3 scrap-books"
[Parsons] {231}
103. Collins, William Wilkie. The Dead Alive. Boston, 1874.

"sm. 8vo., cloth, front."
{228} [44]
Short story originally published in the Home Journal, 27 December 1873-
4 February 1874, and elsewhere. Reprinted as The Dead Alive in book
form, Boston 1874 [1873]. Also titled "John Jago's Ghost; or, The Dead
Alive: An American Story." See Gasson 88.
104. Collins, William Wilkie. The Dead Secret. 2 vols. 1857.

[Sabin] {222}
105. Collins, William Wilkie. The Dream Woman: A Mystery in Four

Narratives and Two Parts. Boston, 1873.
"4 copies."
"Privately printed for the author."
[Parsons] {231}
Originally published as "The Ostler" in the extra Christmas number of
Household Words for December 1855. The Boston 1873 privately printed
edition is one "altered and enlarged, for reading in public, from the
original story published in the collection The Queen of Hearts" [1859].
See Gasson 55.
106. Collins, William Wilkie. The Evil Genius. 1887.

{225} {227} [43]
Probably the single-volume Chatto & Windus 1887 edition (Gasson 58).
107. Collins, William Wilkie. The Fallen Leaves: First Series. 3 vols. 1879
{224} {229} [40]
108. Collins, William Wilkie. The Frozen Deep and Other Stories. 2 vols.
1874.
[Sabin] {222}
See Gasson 66.
109. Collins, William Wilkie. The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice
to which is Added My Lady's Money. 2 vols. 1879.
"WC has written 'Wilkie Collins, 90 Gloucester PL, Portman Square,
April 21 st 1883' on the fly-leaf in pencil."
[Sabin] {222}; {228} [38]
Author's copy is at the Huntington Library RB 120329.
110. Collins, William Wilkie. Heart and Science. 3 vols. 1883.

"cr. 8vo."
{223} {226} [41]
111. Collins, William Wilkie. The Law and the Lady. 3 vols. 1875.
"cr. 8 vo."
{225} [33]; {229} [name of buyer illegible, not Bennett]
112. Collins, William Wilkie. The Legacy of Cain. 3 vols. 1889.

"cr. 8 vo."
{223} [39]
113. Collins, William Wilkie. Little Novels. 3 vols. 1887.

"cr. 8vo."
{223} [35]
114. Collins, William Wilkie. Man and Wife. 3 vols. 1870.

[Bennett] {225}
115. Collins, William Wilkie. Miss or Mrs? and Other Stories in Outline. 1873.
"cr. 8vo., cloth."
{228} [45]
116. Collins, William Wilkie. The New Magdalen. 2 vols. 1873.

[Sabin] {222}
117. Collins, William Wilkie. No Name: A Drama. 1870.

"82 pp. on one side only, sm. 8vo. cloth."
[Bennett] [47] Not recorded in Puttick and Simpson Auction catalogue.
According to Gasson, 'Wo Name was never produced as a play in England
although there were two different adaptations. The first version, No
Name: A Drama in Five Acts(60 pp. pink paper wrappers), was written
by W.B. Bernard in 1863.. . . The second, No Name: A Drama in Four
Acts (160 pp., buff paper wrappers), was written and published by Collins
himself in 1870" (115). Author's copy with alterations now at the
Huntington Library RB 120321: purchased from Maggs April 1924.
118. Collins, William Wilkie. Poor Miss Finch. 3 vols. 1872.

"With signature Wilkie Collins February 1872 on title . . . cl."
[Swift] {220}
Published 26 January 1872 by Richard Bentley, London.
119. Collins, William Wilkie. The Queen of Hearts. 1862.

"Front, by Gilbert."
{227} [43]
Sir John Gilbert, R.A. (1817-1897) "provided vignette frontispieces for
Sampson Low's collected edition of Collins's works issued between 1861
and 1865" (Gasson 69).
120. Collins, William Wilkie. Rambles Beyond Railways or Notes in Cornwall

Taken A-foot.2nd ed. 1852.
Bennett's Catalogue notes: "with 12 fine tinted illustrations by H.C.
Brandling. 8vo, cloth, perfectly unopened, IN EXCELLENT STATE, A
SCARCE BOOK No book that Wilkie Collins ever wrote is so
greatly sought after as this. To secure, therefore, a copy which he himself
possessed must be a prize."
{227} [32]
121. Collins, William Wilkie. A Rogue's Life. New York, 1879.

"sm. 8 vo. cloth . . . 4 lines of corrections on p. 4 in pencil, are probably
Collins'".
[Bennett] [46]
"The first U.S. edition, part of Appleton's New Handy Volume Series,
New York, 1879" (Gasson 133).
122. Collins, William Wilkie. The Two Destinies. 2 vols. 1876.

[Bennett] {224} {226}
First published two volumes, Chatto & Windus, 1876 in reddish-brown
cloth. Gasson notes a variant binding in green cloth. The first U.S. edition
published in the same year by Harper (Gasson 151).
123. Collins, William Wilkie. Works. New edition, illustrated, 23 vols. various
years.
"hf. mor. (a few newspaper cuttings, and 2 letters relating to Works etc.
inserted)."
[Quaritch] {219}
124. Collins, William Wilkie. Works. 3 vols. Goteborg, 1881.

"Translated into Danish 8 vo., sewed."
Comprises: 'Jezebel's Dotter, Svartrockarne, Spbkhotellet".
{230?} [53]
Bennett's description incorrectly describes the translations as "Danish." If
they were published in Goteborg, they were translated into Swedish and
published by T. Hedlund. Jezebels Dotter is Jezebel's Daughter,
Svartrockarne is The Black Robe; Spokhotellet is [The Haunted House],
the Christmas number of All the Year Round (1859).
125. Collins, William Wilkie. Works. Translated into Dutch. 14 vols.

Gravenhage, 1877-1886.
"9 of his chief novels. . . imp. 8vo, sq. size, all sewed"
Comprises: Noeni [No Namel] 2 vols. [1863?]; Het Zwarte Kleed, [The
Black Robe] 2 vols. 1881; Jezebel's Dochter, [Jezebel's Daughter] 2 vols.
1880; Gevoel en Kennis, [Heart and Science] 2 vols. 1883; Man en
Vrouer [Man and Wife] 1876; My Lady's Geld en Percy de Voorspelling
[My Lady's Money and Percy and the Prophet] 1878; George en Marie
[George and Mary] 1877; Verdorde Bladeren, de Geestverschijning [The
Haunted Hotel] 2 vols. 1879.
{230?} [52]
"Belinfante Brothers became Collins's authorized Dutch publishers and
by 1885 had issued twenty-five titles" (Gasson 149).
126. Collins, William Wilkie. Works. Translated into French. 6 vols. Paris,
1875-1888.
"cr. 8 vo, swd."

Comprises: Je dis Non, 1884; La Piste du Crime,\S15; L'Abime, 1879;
Les Deux Destinees, 1879.
{230} [48]
"Beginning in 1858 with 'The Dead Secret', Collins's main authorized
French publishers were Hachette, although The Woman in White and No
Name were issued in Paris by J. Hetzel. Translators included E.-D.
Forgues, Camille de Cendrey and C. Bernard-Derosne against whom
Collins took legal action in 1878" (Gasson 149).
127. Collins, William Wilkie. Works. Translated into German. 6 vols. 1871-
1882.
Comprises:
John J ago's Ghost. Berlin, 1875.
"sm., 12 mo., swd."
Mann und Weib. 6 vols. in 3. Leipzig, 1871.
"cr. 8vo., in hf. mor."
Der Schwarze Rock. 2 vol., [Berlin, 1882].
"cr. 8vo, swd. Present copy to Wilkie Collins from the Publisher
[Engelmann]. Berlin, 1882"
{230} [50]
128. Collins, William Wilkie. Works. Translated into Italian. 6 vols. 1876-
1884.
Comprises:
Cuore e Scienza. Milan, 1884.
Translated by Lida Cerracchini. "sm. 8vo, vellum gilt, red edges, very
[nice condition] . . . copy to W.C. with Autofgraph]."
/ due Destini, 2 vols. Roma, 1876.
"cr. 8vo. swd. port."
La Vita di un Marinolo[Mariolo]. [Roma] 2 vols. 1880.
"12 mo. swd. present copy to W.C. from the translator] Santarelli."
Le vesti Nere. [Roma], 1882.
"cr. 8 vo, neat leather, red edges."
{230} [51]
129. Commynes, Philippe de. Notes on Louis XI: With Some Short Extracts
from Commines' "'Memoirs. " 1878.
[Dobell] {236}
Extracts from Commines's Memoirs, with a short introduction by the
editor, "A.E." with his "Notes on Louis XI." privately printed by J. C.
Wilkins of London.
130. Congreve, William. Works. Ornamented with Copper-Plates, to which Is

Prefixed a Life of the Author. 2 vols. 1788.
"port, and copper-plates . . . bds. uncut."

[Vesey]{119}
131. Cooke, Edward William. Shipping and Craft. 1829.

"65 etchings cl."
[Nugent] {233}
Possibly a legacy of WC's days from January 1841 until May 1846 spent
at Antrobus & Company. Many years later her wrote to Edmund Yates
that most of his time was spent at Antrobus attempting to write "tragedies,
comedies, epic poems and the usual literary rubbish invariably
accumulated about themselves by 'young beginners'" - rather than
dealing with "invoices, bills of lading, and the state of Chinese tea
markets" (cited by Yates, The Train, [June 1857] reprinted in his
Celebrities at Home, 3rd Series [1879], 355).
132. Cooke, Joseph B. Wanderings with the Muse. Leicester, 1874.

Presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins.
[Hartley] {99}
Joseph B. Cooke of Loughborough.
133. Cooper, James Fenimore. Novels. 31 vols. New York, Household Edition,
1872.
"fronts, and vignettes . . . cl."
[Roche] {83}
In a letter to Paul Hamilton Hayne, WC writes:
"It may be hundreds of years, before another Fenimore Cooper appears in
America, or another Walter Scott in England. I call these two and Balzac
- the three Kings of Fiction" (3 May 1884: Letters, II, 467).
134. A. Copyright Question. Bill to Amend the Law 1879.

{15} [54]
B. Copyright Question. Correspondence on Suggested Convention
between Gt. Britain and U.S. 1881.
{15} [54]
C. Copyright Question. Minutes of the Evidence Report of the Royal
Commission 1878.
"folio swd."
{15} [54]
"The question of international copyright became a burning issue in the
nineteenth century and Wilkie Collins was at the forefront of demands for
reform" (Gasson 42).
See also Anglo-American International Copyright (item 12), Jerrold, S.,
(item 278), Longman, T., (item 319), Marston, E., (item 342).
135. Cornwall, Barry, pseud, [i.e., Bryan Waller Procter]. Charles Lamb: A
Memoir. 1866.
"portrait."
[Parsons] {26}
Bryan Waller Procter (1787-1874: DNB), poet, lawyer, and from 1832,
one of the metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy. WC dedicated The
Woman in White"To Bryan Waller Procter; from one of his younger
brethren in literature, who sincerely values his friendship, and who
gratefully remembers many happy hours spent in his house."
See also under Lamb, Charles (item 293).
136. Cornwall, Barry, pseud. Dramatic Scenes: With Other Poems. 1857.
"illustrated."
[Parsons] {26}
137. Cornwall, Barry, pseud. English Songs and Other Small Poems. 1856.
The copy is inscribed on the front fly-leaf "Wilkie Collins Esq | with the
Authors' [sic] | Kind Regards". Marginal lining contains pencil markings
highlighting certain poems. Not in Puttick and Simpson 20 January 1890
Catalogue or in Bennett. Copy in the possession of Andrew Gasson in
1999.
138. Cornwall, Barry, pseud. Procter: An Autobiographical Fragment. Ed.

Coventry Patmore. 1877.
"portrait."
[Parsons] {26}
139. Cousin, Victor. The Philosophy of the Beautiful. Trans. New York, 1849.
"presentation copies from Daniel Bixby to Wilkie Collins."
[Suckling] {20}
Daniel Bixby, New York publisher who met WC during his American
tour.
140. Cozzens, Samuel Woodworth. The Marvellous Country; or, Three Years
in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' Home. Boston, 1873.
"illustrated cl."
[Vernon] {102}
141. Crabbe, George. The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe: With Hi
Letters and Journals, and His Life. 1834.
"fronts, and vignettes 8 vols. cl. 12 mo."
[Withers] {28}
WC writes to William Winter:
"I positively decline to let the poet preach to me or puzzle me. He is to

express passions and sentiment in language which is essentially
intelligible as well as essentially noble and musical - or I will have
nothing to do with him. You will now not be surprised to hear that I
delight in Byron and Scott - and, more extraordinary still, that I am a
frequent reader even of Crabbe!" (5 August 1878: Letters, II, 413).
142. Craddock, Charles Egbert. The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Boston; New York, 1886.
[Thistlewood] {148}
Fictional account of social life and customs in the Great Smoky Mountains
- North Carolina and Tennessee.
143. Crebillon, Claude-Prosper J. de. Collection Complete des CEuvres de M.

de Crebillon. 7 vols. Paris, 1779.
[Nugent] {199}
Claude-Prosper Jolyot de Crebillon (1707-1777), dramatic censor, author
of tales and dialogues.
144. Crucis, Alpha. Song of the Stars and Other Poems. Sydney, 1882.
"8vo, bds. Present copy to Wilkie Collins with Author's Inscription."
{98} [19]
"Alpha Crucis," pseud, of Robert Dudley Adams (1829-1912), Australian
lawyer and poet.
145. Croker, John Wilson, [James Boswell], Johnsoniana; A Collection of

Miscellaneous Anecdotes and Sayings of Dr. Samuel Johnson, Gathered
from Nearly a Hundred Different Publications. 2 vols. 1845.
"ports, bds."
[Maggs] {22}
Published by Bohn. A sequel to Boswell's Life of Johnson.
Cf. Boswell, James (items 46, 47).
146. Crowne, John. The Dramatic Works of John Crowne. Vol. I. Edinburgh,
1873.
[Dobell] {107}
Part of the Dramatists of the Restoration. Only the first volume of John
Crowne's (1640-1712) works was in WC's library. Vol. 1 contains
Juliana', The History of Charles the Eighth of France', Calisto.
147. Cumberland, Richard. Memoirs of Richard Cumberland. 2 vols. 1807.

"port. . . . bds."
[Maggs] {24}
Richard Cumberland (1732-1811), dramatist and novelist: Sheridan's "Sir

Fretful Plagiary."
148. Cumming, Joseph George. A Guide to the Isle of Man. 1861.

"cl. map, few pencil notes."
[{155}] [76]
See also Forbes, Edward (item 202).
WC probably consulted this during his August 1863 to the Isle of Man to
prepare for Armadale.
149. Dana, Richard Henry. Two Years before the Mast. Boston, 1877.
[Thistlewood] {148}
WC writes to Dana: "I have read 'Two Years before the Mast', and read it
with great delight - it is a most entertaining and most original book; and is
deservedly popular in England, among all classes of readers" {Letters, I,
62: 17 June 1850).
150. D'Avenant, William, Sir. The Dramatic Works of Sir William D'Avenant.
Edinburgh, 1872-74.
[Dobell] {107}
Four of five volumes only recorded in WC's library. Part of the
Dramatists of the Restoration. William D'Avenant (1606-1668).
Davesies de Pontes, Lucien. See under Pontes (item 393).
151. [Defoe, Daniel]. A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the
Most Notorious Pyrates . . . by Captain Charles Johnson. 1724.
"plates (impft.)."
[Nugent] {6}
152. Defoe, Daniel. Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson

Crusoe of York.2vols. 1790.
"Large Paperproof plates by Stothard... . cf."
[Lupton] {48}
For a discussion of Gabriel Betteredge's use of Robinson Crusoe in The
Moonstone, see C. Kent in Smith and Terry 62, 92-96, 99, and also J.
Sutherland, ed. The Moonstone, 472. Clarke, in The Secret Life, writes
that WC was "an avid reader of Daniel Defoe and a devotee of Robinson
Crusoe" (109).
153. De Quincey, Thomas. The Works of Thomas De Quincey. 16 vols.

Edinburgh, 1862-71.
[George] {142}
WC possessed only 3 vols. of 16 vol. set: probably, vol. 1, Confessions of

an English Opium-Eater; vol. 11, Coleridge and Opium-Eating; and vol.
16, Suspiria de Profundis, Being a Sequel to the Confessions of an
English Opium-Eater, and Other Miscellaneous Writings.
154. Derby, James Cephas. Fifty Years among Authors, Books, and Publishers.
New York, 1884.
"ports cl."
[Suckling] {20}
155. Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations, first edition. 3 vols. 1861.

"in the original blue cloth."
[Robson] {56}
156. Dickens, Charles. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, first
edition. 1837.
"plates by Seymour and Phiz with the Buss plates (cut down) signature of
W. Wilkie Collins on fly-leaf, roan, gilt edged."
[Stirling] {57}
157. Dickens, Charles. Mystery of Edwin Drood. 1870.

"portrait and plates by Fildes, 6 nos. in original wrappers."
[Stirling] {58}
158. Dickens, Charles. Plays and Poems, edited by R.H. Shepherd. 2 vols.
1882.
"cl."
[Spencer] {59}
159. Dickens, Charles. The Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by Georgina

Hogarth and Mary Dickens, first edition. 3 vols. 1880-1882.
"cloth."
[Spencer] {60}
Edited by Georgina Hogarth (1827-1917), Dickens's sister-in-law, and
Mary Dickens (1836-1896), Dickens eldest daughter. WC advised
Georgina Hogarth on the publication of these volumes: see for instance,
WC to her (18 March 1879: Letters, II, 420-21).
160. Dickens, Charles. The Letters of Charles Dickens. 2 vols. 1882.

"cr. 8vo, red cloth extra. 'Chas. Dickens' edition, presentation copy to
Wilkie Collins, 'with love from the editors,' on fly-leaf."
{61} [55]
161. Dickens, Charles. Household Words. Vols. 1-19 (wanting vol. 15) in 10
vols. 1850-9.
[Oliver] {62}.
For WC's contribution to Household Words, see Gasson 81-82. Volume
15 (1857) contains WC's The Dead Secret.
162. Dickens, Charles. Works, Library edition. 22 vols. 1858-9.

"presentation copy from C. Dickens with interesting autograph letter
inserted in vol. 1,.. . hf. bd."
[Stirling] {55}
See also Forster, J. (item 206); Marzials, F. (item 343); and Ward, A.W.
(item 510).
163. Diderot, Denis. CEuvres avec Memoires par Naigeon. 22 vols. Paris, 1821.
"port, and plates . . . hf. cf."
[St. Martin's Public Library] {191}.
Denis Diderot (1713-1784).
164. Dixon, William Hepworth. New America. [Philadelphia, 1867].

"port, cl."
[Maggs] {37}
165. Dodsley's Annual Register: A Complete Set from Its Commencement in

1758 to 1851 Inclusive, with Index from 1758 to 1819. 95 vols. 1758-
1851.
"8vo, half calf, (some broken)."
{1} [17]
Bennett bought for £1- 6s and priced it in his Catalogue for £5- 12s - 6d.
Bennett describes as:
"An invaluable set of books for a Public Library, comprising in a
concise style well adapted for reference, a detailed view of the Politics,
Literature, Biography, Parliamentary History, Commerce, Statistics, &c,
of the past century, all the State Papers of any interest are printed at
length; the whole thus forming a body of data for the future historian
unparalleled either in extent or importance.
The above set requires some of the binding being repaired - a trifling
matter - and would then form an excellent Set at a very low price indeed.
From writing inside Volume I they appear to have cost the Eminent
Novelist £24."
166. Doran, John. A Lady of the Last Century: (Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu), 2nd
ed.4vols. 1873.
[F. Hurt] {152}
Elizabeth Montagu (1720-1800). Her Essay on the Writings and Genius

of Shakespeare (1769) defended Shakespeare against Voltaire's attacks.
167. Douce, Francis. The Dance of Death. 1833.

"facsimile plates, cf. gt."
[Smith] {68}
Dramatists of the Restoration. See under Crowne, J. (item 146);
D'Avenant, W. (item 150); and Wilson, J. (item 518).
168. Dryden, John. Poetical Works, With Life of the Author. 4 vols. 1832-1833.
[Roche] {29}
Part of Pickering's Aldine edition of the British poets.
169. Dumas pare, Alexandre. La Dame de Monsoreau and other Plays and
Comedies. [Paris], v.y.
[Oliver] {174}
Part of 38-vol. collection.
170. Dumaspere, Alexandre. Le Comte de Monte-Cristo. 6 vols. Paris, 1875.

[Edwards] {196}
Alexandre Dumas pere (1802-1870).
171. Dumas pere, Alexandre. Vicomte de Bragelonne and other works. [Paris],
v.y.
[Oliver] {174}
Part of 38-vol. collection.
172. Dumas fds, Alexandre. Theatre Complet. 14 vols. Paris, 1863-5.

"hf. mor."
[Edwards] {196}
Alexandre Dumas fds (1824-1895), illegitimate son of Alexandre Dumas
pere.
173. [Dunham, Samuel Astley]. History of Spain and Portugal. 1833.

[Edwards] {103}
Part of Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopaedia. See also item 296.
Samuel Astley Dunham (1795/6-1858), historian, friend of Southey,
member of the Royal Spanish Academy.
174. Edgeworth, Maria. [Early Lessons]. 2 vols. n.d.

"plates."
[Suckling] {149}
First published 1801.
Reconstruction of Wilkie Collins' s Library 103
175. Edgeworth, Maria. Moral Tales for Young People, n.d.

[Suckling] {149}
176. Edgeworth, Maria. Popular Tales, n.d.

[Suckling] {149}
177. Edwards, Annie. Ought We Visit Her? 3 vols. 1871.

[Hartley] {139}
Novel by Annie Edwards (1830-1896), first published by Bentley.
178. Egan, Pierce. Tom and Jerry, or, Life in London, n.d.
"coloured plates by G. Cruikshank."
[Oliver] {14}
First published in [1821].
179. [Eliot, George]. Scenes of Clerical Life. n.d.

"plates."
[Suckling] {140}
First published in 2 vols., 1858; one vol. illustrated 1868.
180. Elliot, Frances. Diary of an Idle Woman in Sicily. 2 vols. 1881.

[F. Hurt] {151}
Frances Vickress Dickinson (1820-1898), close friend of WC. Dedicatte
of Poor Miss Finch (1872). See Dickens, Letters, VIII, 361, n.2, and
Gasson 54.
181. Elliot, Frances. Diary of an Idle Woman in Sicily. New edition. 1884.
[F. Hurt] {151}
182. Elliot, Frances. Ill-Tempered Cousin: A Novel. 3 vols. 1885.

[F. Hurt] {151}
183. Elliot, Frances. The Italians. 3 vols. 1875.

[F. Hurt] {151}
184. Elliot, Frances. Old Court Life in France. 2 vols. 1873.

[F. Hurt] {151}
185. Elliot, Frances. The Red Cardinal: A Romance 2vols. 1884.

[F. Hurt] {151}
186. Ellis, Joseph. Meletac: Poems. 1869.

"8vo., cloth. Beautifully Printed."

{92} [62]
Published by Pickering.
WC wrote to Joseph Ellis:
"Pray accept my best thanks for the copy of your Poems which you
have kindly sent to me. Where my own works are concerned, I am (I hope
and believe) a very severe critic while I am in course of producing them.
Where the works of others are concerned, I subside to the infinitely
pleasanter character of 'the gentle reader'. Speaking in this latter capacity,
I may instance 'The dirge of man' as being, to my mind, one of the most
successful among your more ambitious efforts - and 'Try Again' as
offering a lively and pleasant essay in poetry of the more homely and
practical sort. Wishing your volume every success" (MS: Bodleian: 17
June 1869).
187. Ellis, William. Polynesian Researches: During a Residence of Nearly

Eight Years in the Society and Sandwich Islands, 2nd edition. 4 vols. 1831.
"illustrated"
[Edwards] {39}
"The main source for Ioldni." WC "borrowed the names of the four
principal characters, Iolani, Aimata, Idia and Mahine, citing Tahitian
pronunciation, marriage customs, scenic descriptions and the practice of
infanticide which provides a key issue for the novel" (Gasson 85). See
also Ioldni, ed., Ira B. Nadel, xxiii-xxx.
188. Erckmann, Emile; Chatrian, Pierre Alexandre.

"French novels by."
[Oliver] {176}
Erckmann (1822-1899) and Chatrian (1826-1890) collaborated in writing
historical novels focusing on the French Revolution and the Napoleonic
Wars.
189. Ewald, Alexander, Charles. Stories from the State Papers. 1882.
[Hartley] {141}
190. Eyries, J.B.B. Fantasmagoriana. 2 vols. Paris, 1812.

[Powell] {177}
191. Farquhar, George. The Works of the Late Ingenious Mr. George
Farquhar. 2 vols. 9th and 5th editions. 1728,1760.
[Hartley] {124}
George Farquhar (1678-1707), dramatist. WC owned two copies of
Farquhar's Works: according to the British Library Catalogue,the 5th
edition was published in 1728.
192. Fawcett, Edgar. Fantasy and Passion. Boston, 1878.

"presentation copies from the author to Wilkie Collins."
[Sabin] {80}
Poems by Edgar Fawcett (1847-1904), American novelist and dramatist.
193. Feuerbach, Paul Johann Anselm, Ritter von. Narratives of Remarkable

Criminal Trials. Trans, by Lady Lucie Duff Gordon. 1846.
[Nugent] {5}
194. Feuillet, Octave. Scenes et Comedies. Paris, 1854.

"hf. mor."
[Dobell] {204}
Octave Feuillet (1821-1890). According to Peter France, Feuillet was a
"highly popular French novelist and dramatist. His blend of gentility and
sentimentality secured for him a large public under the Second Empire,
when social mobility and uncertain standards made his idealized images of
the gentry congenial to the expanding class of novel-readers who looked to
fiction for guidance from their 'betters'" (311-12). See also item 348.
195. Feval, Paul. La Tontine Infernale. Paris, 1868.

[Powell] {175}
Paul Feval (1817-1887). According to France, Feval was a "leading
exponent of the roman-feuilleton who, with Les Mysteres de Londres
(1844), offered an early challenge to Dumas's supremacy. It was,
however, during the Second Empire that Feval came to dominate the
market in serialized fiction" (312).
196. Field, Kate. Charles Albert Fechter. Boston, 1882.

"illustrated, presentation copy 'with regards of Kate Field' to W. Collins."
{32} [12]
Kate Field (1838-1896), American journalist, actress, lecturer and
feminist. WC wrote to Kate Field: " If you are not in a hurry - a very
serious 'if,' in these days - 1 will gladly search my archives for such few
letters of poor dear Fechter as autograph-collectors have left to me. And
if there is anything I can tell you besides, you shall be welcome to some of
the least melancholy recollections associated with my old friend
[Fechter]" (14 December 1880: Letters, II, 431).
197. Fielding, Henry. The Works of Henry Fielding. 4th ed. 12 vols. Edinburgh,
1767.
"Calf."
[Hill] {126}
WC wrote to Charles Ward: "I have only two words to say about that ball
dress, and the charming person in it - they are the words of the immortal
Fielding: — 'My Arse in a Bandbox!'" (30 January 1861: Letters, I, 192).
WC also wrote to Edward Pigott: "one of the most tedious books (to me)
that I ever read in my life was Tom Jones. This is wrong, I know, but all
men have their 'cracked' points - and these are some of mine" ([October-
December 1855]: Letters, I, 146).
198. Fitzball, Edward. The House to Let, with Other Poems. 1857.
"presentation copy to Charles Dickens from the Author, cl."
[Spencer] {121}
Edward Ball, later Fitzball (1792-1873), author of over 150 plays, four
novels, and six volumes of verse, also adapter for the stage of many
novels and song writer. See J. R. Stephens The Profession of the
Playwright, 1992.
199. [Fitzball, Edward.] Thirty-Five Years of a Dramatic Author's Life. 2 vols.

1859.
[Spencer] {121}
200. Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary. Paris, 1876.

"hf. mor."
[Pullen] {212}
201. Flaubert, Gustave. Salammbo. Trans, by Mary French Sheldon. 1886.

"presentation copy [from Mary French Sheddon] to Wilkie Collins."
[Suckling] {140}
WC wrote to the translator, Mary French Sheldon (1847-1936),
concerning this volume:
"My letter must begin with excuses for a long-deferred reply, as well as
with thanks. The addition which you have so kindly made to my library
reached me at a time when I was very busily occupied, and not very
prosperously situated in the matter of health.
When 'Salammbo' was first published, I read it - and (I hope it is
needless to add) I was deeply impressed by the power and beauty of the
work. The one drawback to my enjoyment (as I now remember) was the
sense of effort, here and there, which I have found in the writings of all
the disciples (English and Foreign) of the unapproachably-great master
who wrote 'Old Mortality' and 'Quentin Durward'. Even the admirably
easy 'narrative' of the elder Dumas does not, to my mind wholly conceal
this defect. It is felt, instinctively, by the average reader - and it will be,
as I think, the only obstacle in the way of the success of the English
'Salammbo'.
Whether I am right or wrong in taking this view, of one thing I feel

sure. Your translation has honestly met, and has triumphantly conquered,
the innumerable difficulties of transforming the language of France into
the language of England. From the beginning of the book to the end, I
admire without reserve the profound knowledge of the two languages, the
delicacy of handling, and the inflexible integrity of interpretation, which
you have brought to your task. Your translation of 'Salammbo' has given
an English book to English readers. I say this honestly, and I need say no
more" (11 April 1886: Letters, II, 520-21).
202. Forbes, Edward. Quiggin's Illustrated Guide and Visitor's Companion

through the Isle of Man. Douglas, Isle of Man, 1839. Frequently reprinted,
1858, 1862, etc.
"cloth, map and illustrated."
[Black] {155} [76]
WC visited the Isle of Man August 1863 with Caroline to gain material
for Armadale. In a letter dated 29 August 1863 to his mother, he called it
"the one inaccessible place left in the world" (Letters, I, 231).
203. Forgues, Emile-Daurand. Originaux et Beaux Esprits de TAngleterre

Contemporaine. 2 vols. 1860.
[Powell] {175}
WC dedicated his collection often short stories, The Queen of Hearts
(1859), to the French critic and translator Emile-D. Forgues (1813-1883)
in gratitude for his 1855 La Revue des Deux Mondes essay praising WC's
work.
204. Forster, John. Debates on the Grand Remonstrance. 1860.

[Edwards] {27}
John Forster (1812-1876), biographer of Dickens and others.
205. Forster, John. Land and Labour, n.d.

[Osborne]{182}
206. Forster, John. Life of Dickens. 2nd ed. 3 vols. 1872.

"ports, and plates. Wilkie Collins' copy with signature on title, and a few
pencil notes added here and there by W.C."
[Quaritch] (63)
WC wrote to Forster:
"For three days past I have been trying - and vainly trying - to get to
Palace Gate House, and to thank you as heartily (as I thank you now) for
the new volume of the Life. I am devouring you at night (the only time
when I have any 'leisure hours' at my disposal) - and I am more

interested than any words of mine can tell in your admirable narrative - to
my mind, the most masterly biographical story you have ever told" (16
November 1872: Letters, II, 356).
Marginalia, attributed to Collins, in his copy of Forster's Life, is published
in the Pall Mall Gazette, 20 January 1890, 3 (see P. Collins, Dickens: The
Critical Heritage, 1971, 587-88 and Robinson, 258-59):
". . . discussing Oliver Twist, Mr. Forster remarks, 'Here was the
interest of a story simply but well constructed' (Life, 106). 'Nonsense',
writes William Collins, 'the one defect of that wonderful book is the
helplessly bad construction of the story. The character of "Nancy" is the
finest thing he ever did. He never afterwards saw all the sides of a
woman's character - saw all round her. That the same man who could
create "Nancy" created the second Mrs. Dombey is the most
incomprehensible anomaly that I know of in literature.'
The next note . . . relates to Barnaby Rudge [Forster notes that Dickens
had a 'fancy' to make the leaders of the Gordon riots 'three splendid
fellows . . . who should turn out, when all was over, to have broken out of
Bedlam'. With some difficulty, Forster made him see 'the unsoundness of
this' (Life, 168).] Concerning this Wilkie Collins writes, 'Where is the
unsoundness of it? I call it a fine idea. New, powerful, highly dramatic,
and well within the limits of truth to nature. It would have greatly
improved the weakest book that Dickens ever wrote' .. .
In a note in the second volume he describes Martin Chuzzlewit as in
some respects Dickens' finest novel, but severely criticises its successor.
'The latter half of Dombey no intelligent person can have read without
astonishment of the badness of it, and the disappointment that followed
lowered the sale of the next book Copperfield, incomparably superior to
Dombey as it certainly is."'
According to Robinson "Forster's assertion that there is scarcely a page
of Dickens which could not be placed in the hand of a child provokes the
explosion we might expect.
It is impossible to read such stuff as this without a word of protest.

If it is true, which it is not, it would imply the condemnation of
Dickens' books as works of art, it would declare him to be guilty
of deliberately presenting to his readers a false reflection of
human life. If this wretched English claptrap means anything it
means that the novelist is forbidden to touch on the sexual
relations which literally swarm about him, and influence the lives
of millions of his fellow creatures [except] those relations are
licensed by the ceremony called marriage. One expects this
essentially immoral view of the functions of the novelist from a
professor of claptrap like the late Bishop of Manchester. But that

Forster should quote it with approval is a sad discovery indeed
"When Forster writes in his final chapter of his thirty-three years'
friendship with Dickens, marked by 'unbroken continuity of kindly
impulse,' Wilkie comments:
The 'kindly impulse' did unquestionably exist, but not in
'unbroken continuity'. More than once there were fierce
quarrels between Dickens and Forster (sometimes at Forster's
own table), which took place in my presence. Dickens sense of
what he owed to Forster's devotion — rightly and properly a
strong sense — was often subjected to severe trial by Forster
himself. The assertion (quite sincerely made) that no letters
addressed by Dickens to other old friends revealed his
character so frankly and completely as his letters to Forster, it
is not necessary to contradict. Dickens' letters published by his
sister-in-law and his eldest daughter may be left to settle the
question.
. . . Mr. Forster compares the description in Edwin Drood with the

dialogue in Oliver Twist (Life, 809). On which Mr. Wilkie Collins
remarks:
'He would have pointed out the contrast more fairly if he had
compared dialogue with dialogue or description with
description in both cases. A novelist knows what Forster does
not know - that dialogue is more easily written than
description. To my mind it was cruel to compare Dickens in
the radiant prime of his genius with Dickens's last laboured
effort, the melancholy work of a worn-out brain.'"
207. Forster, John. Sir John Eliot: A Biography. 2 vols. 1864.

"portrait."
[Edwards] {27}
208. Forster, John. Walter Savage Landor, a Biography 1821-64. 2 vols. 1869.
"port."
[Edwards] {27}
WC wrote to Forster:
"My heartiest congratulations on the completion of 'Landor', and my best
thanks for the copy of the book which you have so kindly sent to me. I
shall read it with no common interest and attention - first as coming from
yow, secondly as saying, what no one else could have said so well, in
vindication of Landor's claims to a great place in English literature. You
taught me to understand 'Eliot' - and you will find me willing to learn (if
I can) to understand 'Landor'" (15 May 1869: Letters, II, 322-23).
209. The Forum [New York]. Various issues.

[Bennett] {185}
An American monthly magazine founded in 1886 (it ran until 1950)
concerned with contemporary political and social problems.
210. Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Edited from

His Manuscript, with Notes and an Introduction. Philadelphia, 1868.
'"Wilkie Collins with the sincere regards of the Author' on the fly-leaf."
{32} [11]
Edited by John Bigelow (1817-1911), American editor, diplomat, and
author. WC met Bigelow during his 1873-74 tour of America. See WC to
Mrs. John Bigelow (31 December 1874: Letters, II, 388).
211. Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Edited from

His Manuscript, with Notes and an Introduction. 3 vols. Philadelphia,
1874.
"port, cl."
[Suckling] {35}
212. French "Dramatique." [Miscellaneous works, Paris, various years]

[Jones] {202}
See also under Mazeres (item 345), Melesville (item 350), and Scribe
(item 436).
213. "French Novels." Miscellaneous.

[Olivero] {176}
214. "French Plays, original editions, a parcel."

[Jones] {180}
215. "French Works . . . a parcel."

[Olivero] {179}
216. Gaboriau, Emile. L'Affaire Lerouge. [Paris, 1868].

[Smith] {217}
Emile Gaboriau (1832-1873), chiefly remembered today for "his famous
detective Monsieur Lecoq . . . the precursor of Sherlock Holmes" (Harvey
and Heseltine, 296). A possible source for Sergeant Richard Cuff in The
Moonstone.
217. Gaboriau, Emile. Les Esclaves de Paris. [Paris, 1868].

[Smith] {217}
218. Gaboriau, Emile. Monsieur Lecoq. [Paris, 1868].

[Smith] {217}
219. Gaboriau, Emile. Vie Infermale[Paris 1870].

"10 vols. sewed and 3 vols. hf. mor."
[Smith] {217}
220. Gaultier, Bon [Aytoun, W.E. and Theodore Martin]. The Book of Ballads.
Edinburgh, 1859.
"illustrated by Doyle, Leech . . . (used copy)"
[Woolley] {100}
221. Geneste, John. Some Account of the English Stage from the Restoration in
1660 to 1830. 10 vols. Bath, 1832.
"hf. mor. (Robert Southey's copy Keswick 1834 and signature of Wilkie
Collins 31 st March 1881 both written on title of vol. 1)."
[Withers] {108}
222. George, Henry. Progress and Poverty. 1884.

[Hartley] {21}
Henry George (1839-1897). American social critic and advocate of single
taxation on land.
223. George, Henry. Some Habits and Customs of the Working Classes. 1867.
[Hartley] {21}
224. Gibbon, Charles. For Lack of Gold: A Novel. 1st ed. 3 vols. 1871.
"cr. 8vo. cloth."
{146} [72]
Charles Gibbon (1843-1890), novelist. For Lack of Gold, first published
by Blackie & Sons in three-volume format in 1871. Reissued in other
formats in 1873, 1877, 1878 and in 1881 by Chatto & Windus (see
Chester W. Topp, Victorian Yellowbacks, & Paperbacks, 1849-1905, III,
Hermitage Antiquarian Bookshop: Denver, Colorado, 1997. 75).
225. Gibbon, Edward. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 12 vols.
1813.
"port, and maps . . . cf."
[Sabin] {77}
Possibly a re-issue of the 12-vol. new edition; London: W. Strahan, etc.,
1791-92.
A possible source for WC's Antonina; or The Fall of Rome. A Romance
of the Fifth Century (1850).
226. Gibson, William Sidney. Lectures and Essays on Various Subjects,

Historical, Topographical and Artistic. 1858.
"roy. 8vo., cloth, Large Paper of which only 50 were issued, present, copy
to W.C. from the author with his autograph dated from Tynemouth 1858"
{9} [73]
William Sidney Gibson (1814-1871: DNB), antiquarian.
227. Giles, Chauncey. The Spiritual World and Our Children There. 1875.
"cloth," gilt edged.
[60]. Not recorded in Puttick and Simpson.
228. Gill, William Fearing. The Martyred Church. Boston, 1874.

"sm. 4 to cloth, ex. g.e. Illus. present, copy from the author to W.C. 1874
with inscription."
{54} [74]
William Fearing Gill (1844-1917), American journalist and poet.
229. Gillies, Robert Pearse. German Stories: Selectedfrom the Works of

Hoffman, De La Motte Fouque, Pichler, Kruse, and Others. 3 vols.
Edinburgh, 1826.
"hf. cf."
[Thistlewood] {166}
230. Gilpin, Henry. Miscellaneous Poems. 1863.

"roy. 8 vo. .. . presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins."
[Sabin] {80}
Henry Gilpin, fl.1840, miscellaneous provincial writer.
231. Goldsmith, Oliver. The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Ed. Sir
James Prior. 4 vols. 1837.
"vignettes on titles. . . cf."
[Gardner] {75}
232. Goldsmith, Oliver. The Poetical and Dramatic Works of Oliver

Goldsmith. 2 vols. 1786.
"port."
[Cogswell] {169}
WC wrote to Robert du Pontavice de Heussey:
"Forster told me that 'Northcote' was not to be depended on - and
Forster's account of 'She Stoops to Conquer' takes Goldsmith to the
Theatre - makes him alarmed by hearing a solitary hiss, and repeats
Coleman's abominable insult to Goldsmith: 'Don't be afraid of a squib,
Doctor, when we have been sitting these two hours on a barrel of
gunpowder!'" (4 February 1887: Letters, II, 533).
John Forster's The Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith, published in 1848;
James Northcote's (1746-1831), anecdotes of Goldsmith published in
Memoirs offG.J Joshua Reynolds, 2 vols., 1818.
WC also wrote to his mother, Mrs. Harriet Collins: "I walked yesterday to
the Serpentine - rested - and walked back again! An amazing
achievement for me. If I can keep it up 'Tony Lumpkin [A character in
Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer] will soon be his own man again.'" (2
July \863: Letters, I, 227).
233. Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar ofWakefield: A Tale. 1803.

"signature of W. Collins plates."
[Cogswell] {169}
234. Goncourt, Edmond de. La Fille Elisa. Paris, 1877.

"2 vols. hf. mor."
[Dobell] {215}
Edmond de Goncourt (1826-1896), naturalistic novelist, who collaborated
with Jules Goncourt (1830-1870).
235. Goncourt, Edmond de. Soeur Philomene. Paris, 1877.

[Dobell] {215}
236. Gray, Thomas. The Poems of Thomas Gray. 1821.

"plates by Westall with signature William Wilkie Collins January 8th,
1840 cf."
[Nugent] {171}
237. Guide Books, various 17 vols.

[Black] {155} Cf. Bennett [76].
See also under Aldeburgh (item 8); Cumming, J.G. (item 148); Forbes, E.
(item 202); and Wetton, G.N. (item 514).
238. Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La Motte. The Exemplary Life of the
Pious Lady Guion. Trans. Thomas Digby Brooke. Bristol, 1806.
"8vo, hf. old cf."
{133} [25]
239. Gwynne, Nell. Acorn Leaves: A Series of Canadian Tales. Toronto, 1873.
"sm. 4to., cloth."
{30} [6]
240. Haggard, Sir Henry Rider. Allan Quatermain. 1887.

{144} [78]
241. Haggard, Sir Henry Rider. Jess. 2nd ed. 1887.

{144} [80]
242. Haggard, Sir Henry Rider. King Solomon's Mines. [1885].

"28th Thousand red cloth."
{144} [79]
WC wrote to A.P. Watt at length concerning this volume:
"Let me honestly confess it, my frame of mind was not hopeful when I
opened 'King Solomon's Mines'.
To my wonder and delight the book seized me at once, and held me fast
straight through to the end. I found myself reading the work of a man,
possessing imagination, invention, sense of dramatic effect, respect for
truth to nature, and - in an inferior degree as yet - an eye for character.
Here I find room for improvement in Mr. Haggard, and I will try to
explain myself.
To my mind, our author is strong in the conception, and weak in the
development, of character. 'Allan Quatermaine' is, as the lawyers say, a
case in point. He is supposed to be the writer of the story, and he begins in
his own character. But as he goes on, he is set aside and replaced by Mr.
Haggard himself.
If you look again at the earlier pages of the book, you will find Q.
writing in harmony with his own character, as described by himself- a
sensible man whose native good sense has made use of his opportunities,
within his limits. Quaint humour and capacity for observation are in him
(again within limits) but, by his own confession, he is without literary
cultivation. On that side of him an ignorant man.
Now look on to page 72 and you will find this uncultivated elephant
hunter exhibiting a highly trained admiration of the beauties of nature -
and actually expressing admiration in a skilled and eloquent English style.
I will copy one sentence, and you will see what I mean.
' . . . we lay down and waited for the moon to rise. At
last about nine o'clock up she came in all her chastened glory,
flooding the wild country with silver light, and throwing a
weird sheen on the vast expanse of rolling desert before us,
which looked as solemn and quiet and as alien to man as the
star-studded firmament above'.
Here - and in dozens of other places to which I might refer if I had no
respect for your time - is merely Mr. Haggard's poetical feeling, and Mr.
Haggard's skilled handling of English, pouring miraculously from Mr.
Quatermaine's pen. I fancy I hear Q. intent on improving himself, asking
for explanations: 'Excuse me sir, but when you say "chastened glory", do
I understand you to mean it was a fine bright moon? And would you mind
telling me whether "weird sheen", is a thing or a person or a place? I am
with you, sir, heart and soul, when you say "alien to man"! That's a cut at
the Hottentots and they richly deserve it'.
The defect which I have tried to indicate is the only obstacle that I can
now see in Mr. Haggard's way. If he will be on his guard against this -
and if he will not let publishers tempt him to lead his readers too often
over the same ground - 1 believe he has the ball at his foot, and I shall be
rejoiced to see him kicking it to good purpose" (4 January 1887: Letters,
II, 529-30).
243. Haggard, Sir Henry Rider. She. 1887.

1st ed. "cr. 8vo. cloth, 2 plates."
{144} [77]
WC wrote to A.P. Watt of this book:
"I must talk to you about 'She' the next time you give me a look-in.. . .
'She' is better written than 'Mines' - but it has not got the movement of
the story and the variety of situations... . And I doubt the effect on the
stupid reader (a most important person, unhappily, to please) of the lady
who is 2000 years old" (25 January 1887: Letters, II, 531).
244. Hall, Basil. Fragments of Voyages and Travels Including Anecdotes of a

Naval Life: Chiefly for the Use of Young Persons. 3 vols. in 9. Edinburgh,
London, 1831, 1833.
"cl. 12 mo."
[Edwards] {39}
Possibly a source for Ioldni (see Gasson 85 and Nadel xxxi).
245. Hall, Basil. Schloss Hainfeld, or, A Winter in Lower Styria. 1836.
246. Hallam, Henry. View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages. 2
vols. 1841.
"8vo. hf. grey calf, W. Collins' Autofgraph] in volume I Good Library
Edition."
{133} [81]
247. Harper's magazine. Various issues.

[Bennett?] {185}
WC contributed to Harper's Bazaar, A Repository of Fashion and
Instruction', Harper's New Monthly Magazine', and to Harper's Weekly, A
Journal of Civilization (Gasson 75).
248. Hatherly, Stephen Georgeson. A New Genealogical Scale of the

Sovereigns of England with Copious Tables and Explanatory Remarks.
1889.
[Withers] {150}
Hayward, Abraham. See item 389.
249. Haydn, Joseph. A Dictionary of Dates Relating to All Ages and Nations.
9th ed, revised and greatly enlarged, by Benjamin Vincent. 1860.
"(with signature of Wilkie Collins 1860) cf. gt."
[Packer] {70}
250. Hayne, Paul Hamiliton. Poems. Boston, 1882.

[Suckling] {79}
Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830-1886), South Carolina poet.
On receiving this volume, WC wrote to Hayne:
"I should not have troubled you with this little grievance of mine but for
one consideration. It explains the delay that has occurred on my part as
one of your readers. I could look at your beautiful volume - 1 could feel
sincerely grateful for the kindness which had made this welcome addition
to my library - but I was utterly unworthy of your poems, until my mind
had rested a little. Only at the beginning of this week have I begun to read
you - confining myself at first to the shorter poems. May I pick out my
favourites thusfar? They are, 'By the Autumn Sea', 'The Dryad of the
Pine', and 'Love's Autumn'. These three represent many others in which
I find true poetical feeling, expressed delightfully in truly poetical
language. To my mind, this is a very rare quality in the present time.
Affectation of language, and obscurity of meaning - no matter what
popular names may be attached to them - always, produce the same
result, in my case. I close the book, and deny that the writer is a poet. He
must please me, he must excite some feeling in me, at a first reading, or I
will have nothing to do with him. All good poetry, I know, improves on
acquaintance - but what I insist on is, a favourable impression at starting.
Excepting Tennyson (in his shorter poems) I read hardly any modern
poetry with pleasure. What I like in your poetry (so far as I yet know it) is
- that it makes me feel, and that it has not stopped me . . . with detestable
doubts whether I do, or do not, understand what you are saying to me" (16
July 1884: Letters, II, 469-70).
251. Hazlitt, William. The Life of Napoleon Buonaparte. 4 vols. 1830.

"hf. bd."
[Roche] {74}
WC wrote to Charles Kent: "I have discovered that Hazlitt was (saving
your presence) was one of the damnedest blackguards, as a literary man,
that ever lived" (MS: Princeton: 5 April 1885). See also item 257.
252. Heber, Reginald, ed. Hymns, Written and Adapted to the Weekly Church
Service of the Year. 1827.
"with signature of H. Collins."
[Suckling] {135}
253. Heussey, Robert du Pontavice de. L'Inimitable Boz: Sur la Vie et TOeuvre
de C Dickens. 2 vols. Paris, 1889.
"thin 8 vo., swd, vig. port, on title and front, by Courboin . . . beautifully
clean copy. On fly leaf is written, 'A mon cher Maitre W. Wilkie Collins
hommage d'admiration et d'affectueux respect Robert du Pontavice de
Heussey 17. Janvier. 1889."
{173} [58]
Robert du Pontavice de Heussey (1850-1893), Breton author who
translated WC's work into French and represented his interests in Paris
and elsewhere.
Copy now at Princeton, Parrish collection.
254. Heussey, Robert du Pontavice de. Madeline; Piece en Quatre Actes, dont
un Prologue d'apres Wilkie Collins par R. du P. de Heussey. Paris, 1887.
"cr, 8 vo."
{173} [49]
WC wrote to de Heussey: "I leave the proof of 'Magdalen' in perfect
confidence to you - and I look forward with true interest to receiving a
copy of the play when it has received your last correction and has become
a published work" (14 February 1887: Letters, II, 533).
255. Heussey, Robert du Pontavice de. CEuvres Completes. 2 vols. Paris, 1887.
"2 roy 8vo. vols, swd. 2 finely etched portraits, clean as new."
{173} [83]
WC wrote to de Heussey: "You are the only French Man of Letters -
mind, I say this seriously - who understands England and the English.
And, because I mean this, you will find on the next morsel of paper, some
corrections of trifling slips - to be noted before you republish your
contributions to 'Le Livre'" (4 February 1887: Letters, II, 532).
256. Hogarth, George. Memoirs of the Opera in Italy, France, Germany, and
England. 2 vols. 1851.
"ports cl."
[Suckling] {120}
For a discussion of WC's operatic interests, see Allan W. Atlas, "Wilkie
Collins on Music and Musicians," Journal of the Royal Musical
Association, 124 (1999), 264-65. George Hogarth was Charles Dickens's
father-in-law.
257. Holcroft, Thomas. Memoirs of the Late Thomas Holcroft. 3 vols. 1816.
"port, bds."
[Maggs] {22}
Thomas Holcroft (1745-1809), friend of Thomas Paine and William
Godwin. His Memoirs, posthumously edited and completed by William
Hazlitt.
258. Holden, James. Poetic Zephyrs. Bury, 1866.

"presentation [copy] [from the author] to Wilkie Collins, Leicester,
1874."
[Hartley] {99}
James Holden, provincial poet.
259. Holl, Henry. The King's Mail. 3 vols. 1863.

[Money] {138}
Henry Holl (1811-1884). His novel was published by Sampson Low.
According to the Dedicatory Preface it "was Wilkie Collins who
introduced [Holl] to his publishers" (Wolff, 3238).
260. Holley, George W. Niagara: Its History and Geology, Incidents and
Poetry, with Illustrations. NewYork, 1872.
"presentation copy to W. Collins."
[Bennett] {32}
Purchased by Bennett but not in his sale.
George Washington Holley (1810-1897), American natural historian. WC
wrote to G. Maclean Rose of Hunter Rose & Co (Holley's Canadian
publishers): "Reverting to personal matters, my Godson and I have to
thank you for more than your kindness and Mr. Rose's kindness to us in
Toronto. Your friendly consideration followed us to Niagara - Saw us
through the Custom House . . . and showed us the Falls under the best
possible guidance. No words can tell how these wonderful Falls
astonished and impressed me. It is well worth the voyage from England
to see Niagara alone" (2 January 1874: Letters, II, 371).
261. Holmes, Edward. The Life of Mozart: Including His Correspondence.

1845.
In original brown cloth with damage to the spine. On the fly-leaf in pencil
"Purchased at the Sale of Wilkie Collins Library at Puttick & Simpson,
Jany. 20th 1890 Lot 7." Not listed in Puttick and Simpson Auction
Catalogue. Lot 7, purchased by Withers, consists of books relating to
music. After three titles ("Beethoven's Life," (item 431), "Bass' Street
Music in the Metropolis," (item 24), and "Callcott's [sic] Musical
Grammar" (item 71)), there is an "etc." In 1999 WC's copy of Holmes

was in the possession of Faith and William Clarke.
262. Holmes, J. Gibb. Ghosts' Gloom: A Novel. 1889.

"front."
[Hartley] {147}
Dedicated '"To Wilkie Collins, Esq., This novel is gratefully dedicated by
an admirer of his genius and a recipient of his kindness'" (Gasson 48)
263. Holmes, Oliver Wendell. Songs of Many Seasons: 1862-1874. Boston,

1875.
"presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins cl."
[buyer name indecipherable] {82}
Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894: DAB), poet, physician, humourist.
WC wrote to Oliver Wendell Holmes:
"I must say (most imperfectly) in writing that I am indeed gratefully
sensible of all that I owe to your cordial welcome, and that I shall prize as
long as I live the charming little poem which speaks to me of your genius
and your kindness whenever I look at it. Farewell, dear Doctor Holmes,
for the present. I have few dearer hopes than the hope of my return to
America" (MS: Library of Congress: 7 March 1874).
WC dedicated his Readings and Writings in America, 1874, to Holmes.

Upon receiving Songs of Many Seasons, WC wrote to Holmes:
"Your last Poems have been - in bed and out of bed - my always
welcome companions. I know them well enough to have my special
favourites. 'The Organ Blower' delights me by its delicate irony and its
true and charming feeling. "At the Pantomime" - where the sudden
revulsion of feeling is so finely touched - is, as I think, another
masterpiece. Of the 'War Songs' all have the 'ring' of true poetry in
them. 'Never or Now' is the finest thing of the kind I have read since
Campbell laid down his pen for ever. Again, in quite another way the
delightful 'Class Meeting' Poems have the same masterly hold over the
feelings of the reader - simple, pathetic, unaffected and finely true. I am
not a little proud to find the "Toast" with which you honoured me at that
memorable dinner, included among your Poems. I may say for myself
honestly that the kindness which has thus distinguished me has not been
thrown away on an ungrateful man - and I may add that the little which I
have here ventured to say on the subject of your Songs of Many Seasons
is said truly with my whole heart" (17 May 1875: Letters, II, 394).
WC met various American literati, including Bryant, Clemens [Mark
Twain], Holmes, Longfellow, and Whittier, at a 22 October 1873
breakfast party in his honour. During the party Holmes read the following
toast:
A Toast to Wilkie Collins

The painter's and the poet's fame
Shed their twinned lustre round his name,
To gild our story-teller's art,
Where each in turn must play his part.
What scenes from Wilkie's pencil sprung,

The minstrel saw but left unsung!
What shapes the pen of Collins drew,
No painter clad in living hue!
But on our artist's shadowy screen

A stranger miracle is seen
Than priest unveils or pilgrim seeks
The poem breathes, the picture speaks!
And so his double name comes true,

They christened better than they knew,
And Art proclaims him twice her son,
Painter and poet, both in one!
264. Hone, William. The Every Day Book, or, A Guide to the Year: Describing
the Popular Amusements, Sports, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs, and
Events, Incident to the Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Days, in Past and
Present Times. 4 vols. 1878.
"numerous woodcuts hf. bd."
[Smith] {46}
William Hone (1780-1842), pseudonym John Cecil, appears on title page.
265. [Hone, William]. Sixty Curious and Authentic Narratives and Anecdotes.
1822.
"bds uncut"
[Nugent] {5}
266. Hook, Walter Farquhar. A Church Dictionary. [1843].

"cloth . .. 'H.Collins' on title."
[Bennett] [59]. Not recorded in Puttick and Simpson.
Household Words. See under Dickens, Charles (item 161).
267. Hugo, Victor. Hans dTslande. 2 vols in 1. [Paris], 1858.

"hf. mor."
[Nugent] {211}
268. Hugo, Victor. L 'Histoire d'un Crime. 2 vols. Paris, 1877.

"hf. mor."
[Nugent] {211}
269. Hugo, Victor. Notre-Dame de Paris. 3 vols. Brussels, 1836.

"hf. mor."
[Nugent] {211}
270. Hugo, Victor. [Le Theatre}. 3 vols. Paris, 1850.

"hf. cf."
[Nugent] {211}
Probably a compilation of various plays.
271. Hunt, Robert. Popular Romances of the West of England; or, The Drolls,
Traditions, and Superstitions of Old Cornwall. 1881.
"illustrated by G. Cruikshank"
[Oliver] {14}
272. Inchbald, Elizabeth, ed., [The British Theatre.] 2 vols., 1806-1809.

"with signatures of William Wilkie Collins"
[Nugent] {115}
WC wrote to an unidentified correspondent: "I very sincerely admire
Mrs. Inchbald's Simple Story [1791] - but I have never written an essay
on the subject" (MS: Texas: 23 September 1887).
Mrs. Elizabeth Inchbald (1753-1821), novelist, dramatist, actress.
273. Irving, Washington. [Knickerbocker, D.] The History of New York.

[1835].
"frontis. by Heath, 12 mo.
"signature of Wilkie Collins dated 1844 on fly-leaf."
[Withers] {31}
WC reviewed Chronicles of Wolf erfs Roost, and Other Papers by
Washington Irving in The Leader, VI: 255 (24 February 1855), 187-188.
274. Irving, Washington. Complete Works. 10 vols. Bohn, 1854.

"substantially bound, hf. green morocco, marbled sides and edges,
Portrait"
{78} [85]
Bennett purchased for £1 5s. and catalogued for 32s and also offered
another copyat"35s in cloth".
275. Jackson, William. The New and Complete Newgate Calendar: or,
Malefactor's Universal Register. Vols. 1-3. 1800-[1803].
Plates.
[Nugent] {6}
276. Jahn, Otto. Life of Mozart, trans, by Pauline D. Townsend. 3 vols. 1882.
"ports, cl."
[Smith] {8}
277. Jardine, David. Celebrated Criminal Trials. 2 vols. 1835.

Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
[Nugent] {5}
278. Jerrold, Sidney. A Handbook of English and Foreign Copyrights in

Literary and Dramatic Works. 1881.
{15} [54]
See also items 12, 134, 319, 342.
279. Johns, J. J., Anglican Cathedral Church of Saint James, Mount Zion,
Jerusalem. 1842.
"thin folio, cloth, 6 pages of coloured plates, containing 11 Illustrations,
loose in case, List of Subscribers"
{245} [18]
280. Johnson, Samuel. Lives of the English Poets. [Dublin]. 1779-1781.

"vols. 1 and 2, 8vo, old calf, title of 1 vol. repaired."
[Bennett] [89] Not identified in Puttick and Simpson.
For the complicated bibliographical nature of this publication, see J.D.
Fleeman, A Bibliography of the Works of Samuel Johnson (2000), II, 1357
ff.
281. Johnson, Samuel. The Works of Samuel Johnson, with Life by Murphy. 12
vols. 1806.
"8vo, diamond calf, gilt, marbled edges. Portrait after Reynolds, M. A.
Beloe on title and Wm. Beloe's bookplate . . . Trade Edition."
Bennett's catalogue notes "Some of the covers are loose but could be put
in Library condition for a trifle. The price is very moderate." Bennett
purchased for 2s 6d and offered for sale at 15/-. See also Fleeman, II,
1661-1669.
{137} [88]
WC wrote to Paul Hamilton Hayne,
'"What must be done, sir, w|li be done,' old Doctor Johnson said, and
said truly, in the last century. I hope you like Doctor Johnson. He is one
of my heroes - Boswell's Life of him is my favourite book - and (to the
astonishment of some of the shallow literary men of the present time in
England) I persist in thinking his 'Vanity of Human Wishes,' and his
'lines on the death of Robert Levett' two of the grandest poems ever
written." (27 December 1885: Letters, II, 490).
See also under Boswell, James (items 44-47), Croker, John Wilson (item
145), and Piozzi, Hester Lynch (item 389).
282. Kane, Elisha Kent. Arctic Explorations in 1853-54-55. . . The Second and
Last United States Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin. 2
vols. Hartford, Conn. 1871-72.
"numerous illustrations hf. cf."
[May] {71}
283. Kelly, Michael. Reminiscences of Michael Kelly of the King's Theatre and
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Including a Period of Nearly Haifa Century
with Original Anecdotes of Many Distinguished Persons, Political,
Literary and Musical. 2 vols. 1826.
"port. . . . hf. cf."
[Bain] {111}
The Athenaeum, WC's London club, purchased this copy with WC's
annotations in 1890.
At the foot of p. 154 (volume 2), WC notes "This is a mistake. The play
had proceeded beyond the Act in which these words occur, when Palmer
dropped dead on the stage (see the notice of John Palmer in Geneste's
'English Stage'.)" WC is reacting to Kelly's "On the 2nd of August [1798]
the stage had an irreparable loss, by the death of that excellent actor, John
Palmer [1742?-1798], who expired on the stage, while acting in 'The
Stranger,' just as he uttered - 'There is another, and a better world!'" (II,
154). The DNB entry on Michael Kelly (1764?-1826), actor, vocalist and
composer, attributes his Reminiscences to "Theodore Hook from
materials furnished by Kelly" (X, 1245).
284. Kent, Charles. Corona Catholica. 1880.

"presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins"
[Coverley] {52}
Charles Kent (1832-1902), edited The Sun (1853-1871) and the Weekly
Register (1874-1881), worked on Household Words, friend of Bulwer
Lytton and Dickens. Kent frequently corresponded with WC (see Letters,
II, 598).
See also under Lamb, Charles (item 293).
285. Kent, Edward George. Lindum Lays and Legends. 1861.

"cr. 8vo. cloth" gilt edged "illus."
{92} [91]
286. Kershaw, James. The Grand Extensive Plan of Human Redemption.

Louth. 1797.
"cr. 8vo, leather. H. Collins on title"
287. Ketchum, William. An Authentic and Comprehensive History of Buffalo. 2

vols. Buffalo, NY. 1864.
[Roche] {38}
William Ketchum (1798-1876), historian of Buffalo, probably met WC
during his New Year 1874 visit to Buffalo.
288. Kinglake, Alexander William. Invasion of the Crimea. Vol. 1. 1877.

"Cabinet edition, cr. 8vo, red cloth"
{154} [92]
Bennett has publication date as "1876". WC dined with Kinglake (1809-
1891) whilst staying with Dickens at Folkestone, 2 September 1855
(Letters, I, 143). Kinglake's Eothen: or, Traces of Travel Brought Home
from the East, first published in 1844, proved to be very popular and went
through many editions.
289. Knight, Cornelia. Autobiography of Miss Cornelia Knight, Lady

Companion to the Princess Charlotte of Wales with Extracts from Her
Journals and Anecdote Books. 2nd ed. 2 vols. 1861.
"port morocco extra"
[Maggs] {64}
290. Kock, Charles-Paul de. French Novels. [Paris].

[Olivero] {176}
Charles-Paul de Kock (1794-1871), prolific comic novelist.
291. Labiche, Eugene. Theatre Complet avec une Preface, par E. Augier. 8
vols. Paris. 1879.
"sewed"
[purchaser indecipherable] {178}
Eugene Labiche (1815-1888) wrote more than 160 farcical comedies.
292. Lamb, Charles. Specimens of English Dramatic Poets, Who Lived about
the Time of Shakespeare. 2 vols. 1835.
[Hartley] {85}
293. Lamb, Charles. Works: Poetical and Dramatic Tales, Essays and
Criticisms, with Biographical Introduction, Notes by Charles Kent. 1889.
"thick cr. 8vo, cloth,. . . Routledge"

See also under Cornwall, Barry (item 135).
294. Lanfrey, Pierre. Histoire de Napoleon. 4 vols. Paris. 1869.

"hf. mor."
[deCoverley] {198}
295. Langdale, Charles. Memoirs of Mrs. Fitzherbert; With an Account of Her

Marriage with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, afterwards King George IV.
1856.
"port, pencil notes on title and pp. 121-2 by Wilkie Collins, cl."
[Seymour] {23}
The pages annotated by WC relate Mrs. Fitzherbert's marriage "to the
Prince, according to the rites of the Catholic Church in this country;....
No Roman Catholic priest officiated." The names of the witnesses were
cut out of the marriage certificate. Mrs. Fitzherbert regretted this "but a
letter of the Prince on her return to him, has been preserved to supply any
deficiency, in which he thanks God, that the witnesses to their union were
still living" (121-122).
296. Lardner, Dionysius. ed. Cabinet Cyclopedia. 6 vols.

[Woollett] {156}
The Cabinet Cyclopedia was published in 133 vols. 1829-1849. See also
[Dunham, Samuel Astley] (item 173).
297. L'Art. [Paris],

"illustrated, various nos."
[Oliver] {189}
298. Las Cases, Emmanuel-Auguste Dieudonnee. A-D. Memorial de Sainte -

Helene. 2 vols. Paris, 1842.
"2 large thick vols.. . . 8vo, half calf, profusely illustrated with some
hundreds of engravings"
{201} [110]
These memoirs of Napoleon in captivity Bennett bought for 8s and
catalogued at 15s.
299. Latude, Jean Henri Masers de. Memoires de Henri Masers de Latude.
2 vols. in 1. Paris, 1835.
[Suckling] {161}.
Suckling was acting for Quaritch who were purchasing on commission for
William Barclay Squire.
Jean-Henri Masers de Latude (1725-1805), imprisoned for thirty-five
years (1749-1784) for inventing a plot against Mme de Pompadour.
300. Laurent, Paul Mathieu, called de I'Ardeche [1793-1877], P. M. History of

Napoleon. New York: 1848.
"From the French of I'Ardeche with 500 illustrations after Horace Vernet
and original Portraits, 2 vols. in 1, very thick cr. 8vo, half calf. Very
substantial. 8/6. Willoughly, n.d."
{66} [107]
WC wrote to his mother:
"The weather has, hitherto, prevented my journey to Versailles to see
Vernet's last great picture. Everybody is in extasies about it, here" (30
September 1845: Letters, I, 34). A few days later her wrote to her:
"Yesterday however the human family had a respite from 'la [penitence]',
which I took advantage of to go to Versailles and see Horace Vernet's last
great... painting 'The taking of Smalah'. I know of no picture - except
Michael Angelo's Last Judgment - in Ancient or Modern Art, so
triumphantly successful as this wonderful work. Difficulties of the most
stupendous nature, in drawing and composition, extending over a space of
upward of two hundred feet, and varying in complexity at every
succeeding foot of canvas, are overcome by Vernet - positively - in every
instance . . . . The Arab palanquins, the squadron of French cavalry
galloping out of the picture - the frantic . . . pursued by an infuriated herd
of cattle - the overthrown tents - the fainting women - the scared
antelopes - the sand hills in the background - the slaughtered and
slaughtering Arabs - these, and a hundred other objects incident to the
terrible occasion, are all treated with equal fidelity and equal skill. How
long I stood before the picture, I know not. It. . . raised my . . . belief in
the power of painting to a pitch I could never have imagined possible
before. It stands alone among the productions of Modern Historical Art -
above all expression and beyond all criticism" (6 October 1845: Letters, I,
35).
Horace Vernet's (1789-1863) "The Taking of Smalah d'Abd-el-Kader
al Taguim" depicts the events of May 1843 when a force headed by the
due d'Aumale "surprised and defeated the zmala", or the household of
about 30,000 people of the Amir Abd al Qadir. See John Ruedy, Modern
Algeria (\992), 64.
A translation of Laurent de PArdeche's illustrated Histoire de
I'Empereur Napoleon (Paris, 1849).
301. Layard, Austen Henry. Discoveries at Nineveh. 2 vols. 1848-49.

"woodcuts presentation copy to Wilkie Collins 1852"
[Thistlewood] {104}
Sir Austen Henry Layard (1817-1894) excavated Nineveh, became under-
secretary for foreign affairs, and served as British minister in Madrid and
then Constantinople. Layard joined WC, Dickens and others, when they
ascended Vesuvius in November 1853 (see Letters, I, 114, 116).
302. Lear, Edward. Journal of a Landscape Painter in Corsica. 1870.

"a large volume . . . 8vo with map. 40 full page plates and 40 cuts in the
text"
{9} [94]
Robinson refers to Edward Lear (1812-1888), the artist, traveller, and
writer of nonsense verse, as "a lifelong friend of WC" (93): for an
assessment of the friendship, see Lonoff in Smith and Terry 37-51.
303. Lee, Harriet. Canterbury Tales. 4th ed. 5 vols. 1803-1804.

"with signature of Wilkie Collins on fly-leaf of vol. 1"
[Hartley] {76}
Short stories by Harriet Lee (1757-1851).
304. Leigh, Henry Stone. The Religions of the World. 1869.

"sm. 8 vo, cloth, 6d." Published by Trubner.
305. Leon, Edwin De. Askaros Kassis, the Copt. A Romance of Modern Egypt.
Philadelphia, 1870.
[Withers] {31}
Edwin De Leon (1828-1891), American diplomat and journalist. WC
wrote to 7 May 1874 and 1 June 1877.
306. Le Sage, Alain-Rene. Le Bachelier de Salamanque. 2 vols. Paris, 1767.

"12mo, old calf, nice old plates"
{163} [66]
307. Le Sage, Alain-Rene. Histoire de Gil Bias. 4 vols. Paris, 1818.

"plates . . . hf. cf."
[Nugent] {199}
308. Les Nuits Anglaises. Paris, 1770.

"first volume 8vo (broken) calf [unidentified]
{163} [67]
309. Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. New York,

"various nos. a parcel."
[Oliver] {189}
This ran from 1876-1906. Founded by Frank Leslie (1821-1880), pseud,
of Henry Carter. Illustrated current events, it divided drawings into blocks
distributed among several engravers and then reassembled them. "In this
way, his illustrations reached the public long before those of his
competitors." The paper was continued after Leslie's death by his widow
Miriam F. Leslie (1836-1914). [Hart, 6th ed.]. WC sold the serial rights of
The Fallen Leaves, The Black Robe, and Heart and Science to Frank
Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. See G. Law, Serializing Fiction in the
Victorian Press (2000), 104, 260, and also WC to William Seaver 12
January 1881 (MS: Princeton).
310. Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. The Dramatic Works ofG E. Lessing, edited
by Bell, 2 vols. Bohn, 1878.
[Nugent] {115}
311. Lever, Charles. Novels, n.d.

[Oliver] {157}
WC wrote to Charles Lever (1806-1872): "Perhaps I almost need an
introduction myself- it is so long since I have had the pleasure of seeing
you. In this case, I can only refer you to Jack Hinton, Charles O'Malley
[i.e., the eponymous heroes of two of Lever's novels], and a few other old
friends of yours, who will vouch for me that they are old friends of mine
too, and who will help to keep me in your remembrances until you give
me the opportunity of making up for lost time when you are next in
England." (MS: Harvard: 12 September 1862).
312. Lewes, George Henry. The Life and Works of Goethe. 1875.
[Lupton] {25}
313. Lewes, George Henry. Ranthorpe, or A Poet's First Struggles. 1847.

[May] {94}
WC and Lewes were friendly in the 1850's and 1860's. WC was one of
the earliest contributors to The Leader. His series of six letters addressed
to Lewes, "Magnetic Evenings at Home" (17 January-13 March 1852),
were followed by Lewes's "The Fallacy of Clairvoyance" (27 March
1852) and WC's "The Incredible Not Always Impossible" (3 April 1852).
314. Lewis, John Frederick. Sketches and Drawings of the Alhambra, Made
during a Residence in Granada, in the Years 1833-4. 1835.
"Folio . . . lithograph plates by Harding"
[Heald | Parsons] {242}
John Frederick Lewis, R.A. (1805-1876), Orientalist painter, draughtsman,
etcher, and mezzotint engraver. Colleague of William Collins. James
Duffield Harding (1797-1863), watercolorist, engraver and lithographer,
specializing in landscapes and topographical views.
315. Linton, Eliza Lynn. Novels, n.d.

[Smith] {158}
Eliza Lynn Linton, nee Lynn (1822-1898), novelist. In 1856 she sold
Gad's Hill to Dickens.
316. Locker, Frederick, afterwards Locker-Lampson, Frederick. A Selection

from the Works of Frederick Locker, with illustrations by R. Doyle. 1865.
Moxon's Miniature Poets.
[May] {94}
Frederick Locker (1821-1845), poet and civil servant.
317. Lockhart, John Gibson. Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott. 10 vols.
Edinburgh, 1848.
"hf. mor."
[Graham] {89}
See also under Scott, Sir Walter.
318. London Stage; A Collection of the Most Reputed Tragedies, Comedies,

Operas, Melodramas, Farces, and Interludes. 4 vols. 1824.
"ports and woodcuts, hf. cf."
[buyer's name indecipherable] {113}
319. Longman, Thomas. Copyright and Our Colonies. [1881]

"with others, sewed"
{15} [54]
See also items 12, 134, 278, 342.
320. Louvet de Couvray, Jean-Baptiste. Memoires de Louvet de Couvray. Paris,

1823.
"signature of W. Wilkie Collins on fly-leaf "
[Suckling] {161}
Jean-Baptiste Louvet de Couvray (1760-1797).
321. Lovett, William. The Life and Struggles of William Lovett, in His Pursuit
of Bread, Knowledge, and Freedom. 1876.
"cl."
[Lupton] {25}
William Lovett (1800-1877), Chartist.
322. Lutteroth, Henri. Chants Chretiens [6th ed. Paris, 1851].

"with signature of Wilkie Collins inserted Paris 1851."
[Suckling] {161}
Musical score, Hymns, French choruses, Sacred (unaccompanied voices, 4
parts).
323. Lytton, Edward George Lytton Bulwer. First Baron. Dramatic Works. 2
vols. 1876.
[Suckling] {140}
324. Lytton, Edward George Lytton Bulwer. First Baron. Dramatic Works, n.d.
"thick cr 8vo, cloth . .. Red Line Poets, Routledge"
{84} [96]
325. Lytton, Edward George Lytton Bulwer. First Baron. King Arthur, a Poem.
Toronto, 1871.
"cloth"
{84} [95]
WC wrote to his friend, the artist Edward Matthew Ward "I met Bulwer at
a party on Monday night. He is looking bright and plump. Now is the
time to take his portrait." (28 June 1849 Letters, I, 56). WC gave advice
to Lytton (1803-1873) on Canadian copyrights (MS: Herts Record Office:
22 October 1870).
325A. Lytton, Edward George Lytton Bulwer. First Baron. [Novels].

[Oliver] {157}
326. Macaulay, Thomas Babington, Baron. Critical and Historical Essays

Contributed to the Edinburgh Review. 3 vols. 1854.
"thick . . . 8vo whole calf gilt, marbled edges"
{168} [99]
WC wrote to R.H. Dana: "All literary London is now astir . . . about a
work of a very different order - Macaulay's History of England. It is
regarded everywhere, as a really great achievement, and as tending to
found a new school of Historical writing. The first edition of three
thousand copies was out of print in a fortnight. This is indeed a great age
for great authors." (12 January 1849: Letters, I, 54).
327. McCarthy, Justin. Miss Misanthrope. 2 vols. 1878.

"8vo cloth . . . 12 illustrations by A. Hopkins"
{146} [97]
Justin McCarthy (1830-1912), novelist and journalist.
328. McCarthy, Justin. Our Sensation Novel. 1886.

"cloth"
{146} [98]
329. MacDonald, George. Castle Warlock. [3 vols. 1882].

[Edwards] {143}
330. MacDonald, George. Home Again. 1887.

[Edwards] {143}
331. MacDonald, George. Marquis ofLossie. [3 vols. 1877].

[Edwards] {143}
332. MacDonald, George. Sir Gibbie. [3 vols. 1879].

[Edwards] {143}
333. MacDonald, George. St. George and St. Michael. [3 vols. 1876].
[Edwards] {143}
"5 vols. presentation copies to Wilkie Collins 1883-1887." Macdonald's
London publishers were Kegan, Paul and Trench. No correspondence
between WC and George MacDonald (1824-1905) has yet come to light.
334. Mackay, Robert William. A Sketch of the Rise and Progress of

Christianity. 1854.
"cloth, 1/6," published by Chapman.
335. MacMullen, John Mercier. The History of Canada, from Its First
Discovery to the Present Time. Ontario, 1868.
"mor."
[Maggs] {129}
336. Macready, William Charles. Macready's Reminiscences and Selections

from His Diaries and Letters., ed. by Pollock. 1876.
WC sent a copy of his Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., R.A.
(1848) to Macready, the great actor-manager (1793-1873) (MS: Kansas:
18 June 1849).
337. M'Crie, Thomas. History of the Progress and the Suppression of the
Reformation in Italy in the 16th Century Including a Sketch of the History
of the Reformation in the Grisons. Edinburgh, 1833.
338. ' 'Magazines, etc.''

"a parcel"
[Oliver] {186}
Part of a lot which includes Notes and Queries. No other information
available.
339. Marmontel, Jean Francois. Contes Moraux. 2 vols. Paris, 1766.

"vols. 2 and 3 . . . 8vo. sheep. John Boteler's Bookplates"

{163} [68]
Jean Francois Marmontel (1723-1799), French dramatist and novelist. The
copy possibly belonged to John Boteler (1796-1885), British Naval
Captain, whose journals were privately printed in 1883.
340. Marryat, Frederick. The Pirate and the Three Cutters. 1836.
"8vo, hf. brown, morocco gilt, gilt edges, with Portraits and 20 exquisite
plates by Clarkson Stanfield, brilliant impressions and spotless of the
original edition"
{72} [121]
Frederick Marryat (1792-1848), highly-paid, prolific novelist.
341. Marryat, Frederick. Works. 16 vols. [1873].

"illustrated, hf. cf. Routledge"
[Edwards] {44}
342. Marston, Edward. The Articles of the International Copyright Union: With
the Act and Order in Council Giving Effect to Them in the British
Dominions. 1887.
{15} [54]
Edward Marston (1825-1914), publisher, and partner in Sampson Low
who published The Woman in White and other WC novels. For Marston's
reminiscences of WC, see his After Work: Fragments from the Workshop
of an Old Publisher (1904), 86-87. Cf. WC to Marston (31 October 1860:
Letters, I, 191).
See also items 12, 134, 278, 319.
343. Marzials, Frank Thomas. Life of Charles Dickens. 1887.

"cloth uncut."
{61} [57]
"Great Writers" series. Volume includes J.P. Anderson's Bibliography of
Dickens' Works.
Martin, Sir Theodore. See under "Gaultier, Bon" (item 220).
344. Massett, Stephen C. (iDrifting About, " or, What (<Jeems Pipes, of
Pipesville" Saw-and-Did. New York, 1863.
"illustrated, presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins"
{30} Item purchased by Bennett, not listed by him.
Stephen C. Massett (1820-1898), American lyricist, composer of popular
songs.
345. Mazeres, Edouard Joseph Ennemond. [Dramatique]. [Paris], n.d.

Part of 6 vols. bound with "no titles," also includes Melesvile and Scribe.
[Jones] {202}
Edouard Mazeres (1796-1866) collaborated with Scribe and others, wrote
theatrical vaudevilles.
346. Medbery, James Knowles. Men and Mysteries of Wall Street. Boston,
1870.
[Reya] {36}
347. Medwin, Thomas. Journal of the Conversations of Lord Byron Noted

during a Residence with His Lordship at Pisa, in the Years 1821 and
1822. 1824.
{72} [28]
See also items 65-67.
348. Meilhac, Henri. [Drame]. [Paris], n.d.

[Jones] {202}
Part of 3 vols. including Barriere, Bouilhet, Feuillet, Plouvier, and
Touroude.
Henri Meilhac (1831-1897) collaborated with Halevy in drawing-room
comedies e.g. Frou-frou (1869). Wrote the Libretti for Offenbach's
operettas La Belle Helene (1865), and La Vie Parisienne (1867).
349. Mejan, Maurice. Recueil des Causes Celebres, et des Arrets qui les Ont
Decidees. 2nd ed. 26 vols. Paris, 1808.
"hf. bd. with signature of Wilkie Collins in vol. 1"
[Roche] {192}
WC purchased this in a Paris bookstore in 1856: "T was in Paris
wandering about the streets with Charles Dickens .. . amusing ourselves
by looking into the shops. We came to an old bookstall - half shop and
half store and I found some dilapidated volumes of records of French
crimes, a sort of French Newgate Calendar. I said to Dickens 'Here is a
prize'. So it turned out to be. In them I found some of my best plots. 'The
Woman in White was one'" (Clarke 100, citing Wybert Reeve,
"Recollections of Wilkie Collins," Chambers's Journal, June 1906).
350. Melesville, Anne Honore Joseph. [Drame]. [Paris], nd.

Part of 6 vols. bound with "no titles," also includes Mazeres and Scribe.
[Jones] {202}
Anne Honore Joseph Melesville (1787-1865), French dramatist,
collaborated with Scribe and others. His Le Chalet (1834) was adapted by
Planche, and others for the Victorian stage.
351. Melville, Hermann. Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas:

A Sequel to 'Typee, or The Marquesas Islanders'. 1849.
[Thistlewood] {104}
WC's Ioldni; or, Tahiti as It Was; A Romance was written in 1844.
352. Merimee, Prosper. Theatre de Clara Gazul. Paris, 1881.

[Olivero] {179}
353. Meryon, Edward. The Huguenot. 1876.

[Suckling] {97}
Edward Meryon (1809-1880), author of The History of Medicine (1861)
and also "On the mode of propagation of nervous impulses", Lancet, no.
2942 (17 January 1880), 85-86.
354. Miles, Henry Downes. Pugilistica; Being One Hundred and Forty-Four
Years of the History of British Boxing. 3 vols. 1880-1881.
"plates . . . cl."
[Thompson] {2}
355. Miller, James. Alcohol; Its Place and Power. Glasgow, 1861.
{12} Purchased by Bennett, but not listed in his catalogue.
356. Moak, Nathaniel Cleveland. Closing Argument of Nathaniel C. Moak: At

Ballston Spa, October 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 1878, on Behalf of the People in
the Case of The People against Jesse Billings, Jr.: With the Charge of
Hon. Judson S. Landon, Presiding Justice. Albany, New York, 1879.
"presentation copy to Wilkie Collins, hf. cf."
[Nugent] {6}
Nathaniel Cleveland Moak (1833-1892), attorney. Jesse Billings, Jr. was
tried for the murder of his wife: crucial was the medical testimony.
357. Moliere, Jean Baptiste Poquelin de. Oeuvres Completes de Moliere. 1

vols Paris, 1824.
"12 mo."
[Cogswell] {162}
WC wrote to Edward Pigott "excepting Falstaff and Dogberry, I think
Moliere a greater humourist than Shakespeare" ([October-December
1855]: Letters, I, 146).
358. Moore, Thomas. The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore. Paris, 1842.
"port. hf. cf. gilt, royal"
[Storre] {128}
WC wrote to his close friend Sebastian Schlesinger, who composed

popular songs: "I suppose you know the original Irish melody to which
Moore adapted his words. Excepting 'God Save the Queen' it is the most
widely known 'tune' in Great Britain. Anybody who can hum anything -
knows the 'Minstrel Boy.' Here is serious established competition against
you" (MS: Harvard, 28 January 1884).
359. Morris, Mowbray Walter. Essays in Theatrical Criticism. 1882.

[Nugent] {115}
Mowbray Walter Morris (1847-1911), dramatic critic of the London
Times from 1873 to 1885 when he became editor of Macmillan's
Magazine until at least 1900.
360. Motley, John Lothrop. The Rise of the Dutch Republic, n.d.
"cl."
[Thistlewood] {104}
First published by Harper, New York in 3 vols. (1856). There were
various subsequent single volume editions.
361. Murphy, Arthur. The Life of David Garrick, Esq. 2 vols. 1801.
"port. .. bds. uncut."
[Suckling] (118)
362. Napier, William Francis Patrick, Sir. History of the War in the Peninsula
and in the South of France, from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814. 3 vols.
1882.
"plans cl."
[Broadhurst] {101}
363. Nargeot, Pierre Julien. Pieces de Theatre. Paris, n.d.

"cloth"
[Jones] {195}
Pierre Julien Nargeot, born 1799, librettist for the Comedie Fran£ais.
364. Narrey, Charles. Pieces de Theatre. Paris, n.d.

"cloth"
[Jones] {195}
Charles Narrey (1825-1892), French comic dramatist.
365. Nesbit, Edith. Lays and Legends. 1887.

"presentation copy from the publisher"
[Hartley] {99}
Longmans, who published in November 1848 WC's first book Memoirs of
the Life of William Collins, Esq., RA.
366. Newman, John Henry. Apologia Pro Vita Sua: Being a History of His
Religious Opinions. 1879.
[Coverley] {52}
Published by Longmans. For the complex history of publication see The
Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, III (1999), 2254.
367. Newspaper Cuttings Relating to Our Civilization, Hints for Scenes and
Incidents, etc.
"in 2 scrap-books and small parcel, with a few notes by Wilkie Collins"
[Edwards] {188}
368. "Newspapers. Health Various Nos. "

"a parcel"
[Bennett] {187} Not listed in Bennett's Catalogue.
369. Nicholls, Henry George. The Forest of Dean; An Historical and

Descriptive A ccount. 1858.
"fancy cloth extra, numerous illustrations"
{75} [51]
370. Nolan, Thomas. The Vicarious Sacrifice of Christ. 1860.

"thin 8vo, limp cloth, 6d."
371. Nordhoff, Charles. The Communistic Societies of the United States; From
Personal Visit and Observation: Including Detailed Accounts of the
Economists, Zoarites, Shakers, the Am ana, One i da, Bethel, Aurora,
Icarian and Other Existing Societies; Their Religious Creeds, Social
Practices, Numbers, Industries, and Present Condition. 1875.
[Maggs] {34}
WC used this as a source for The Fallen Leaves (1879) in which the hero
Amelius Goldenheart "has been brought up in a Utopian community in
America. .. . Wilkie took the details of the community from a description
of the Oneida communities in a book he owned, The Communistic
Societies of the United States by Charles Nordhoff (Peters 386).
372. Norman, Benjamin Moore. Rambles in Yucatan, or, Notes of Travel

through the Peninsula. New York, 1843.
[Maggs] {34}
373. Notes and Queries. 4th series, vol. 10. 1872.

"unbound"
[Oliver] {186}
WC used "Indo-Mahommedan Folk-lore," in Notes and Queries, 3 rd

Series II (1867), 180, when writing The Moonstone (Sutherland, ed. The
Moonstone, 474).
374. Ogden, William Sharp. Studies in Mercantile Architecture Comprising

Fifty Suggestive Designs for Warehouse, Shop, and Office Buildings.
1885.
Folio. "55 plates cl."
[Hill] {240}
375. Ohnet, Georges. La Comtesse Sarah. Paris, 1882-1888.

"hf. mor. and sewed"
[Dobell] {215}
First published in 1883. Georges Ohnet (1848-1918) wrote very popular
sentimental novels.
376. Ohnet, Georges. Le Maitre de Forges. Paris, 1882-1888.

[Dobell] {215}
377. Ohnet, Georges. Volonte. Paris, 1882-1888.

[Dobell] {215}
First published [1888].
378. Olmstead, Frederick Law. Journeys and Explorations in the Cotton

Kingdom. 2 vols. 2nd ed. 1862.
[Maggs] {37}
379. O'Meara, Barry Edward. Napoleon in Exile. 2 vols. 1827.

"half dark calf, 3 ports, and 2 vigs. frequent pencil marks in the margins
by W.C."
{66} [109]
380. Opening Ceremonies of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge. Brooklyn,
New York, 1883.
[Money] {238}
Published by the Press of Brooklyn Eagle Job Printing Department.
381. Otway, Thomas. The Works of Mr. Thomas Otway, in Two Volumes.
Consisting of His Plays, Poems and Love-Letters. 2 vols. 1712.
"vol. 2 wants a cover"
[Hartley] {124}
Thomas Otway (1652-1685), Restoration dramatic writer of tragedies.
382. Parkinson, Joseph Charles. Places and People: Being Studies from the
Life. 1869.
{154} [113]
Joseph Charles Parkinson (1833-1908: DNB), journalist, civil servant,
social reformer. Contributed to the Daily News, All the Year Round,
Temple Bar, among other periodicals. Married in 1867 the daughter of
George Elliot - the industrialist. Friend of W. P. Frith, Edmund Yates,
and others: advocate for Poor Law Reform.
WC sought Parkinson's advice during the writing of Man and Wife', see
for instance WC to Parkinson (17 July 1869: Letters, II, 323-24).
383. Peek, Francis. Social Wreckage: A Review of the Laws of England as They
Affect the Poor. 1883.
[Hartley] {21}
384. Peuchet, Jacques. Memoires Tirees des Archives de la Police de Paris por
Servir a I 'Histoire de la Morale et de la Police, Depuis Louis XIVjusqu 'a
Nos Jours. 6 vols. Paris 1838.
"hf. cf. with signature of Wilkie Collins"
[Roche] {209}. Roche were acting for Quaritch who were buying on
commission for William Barclay Squire, 14 Albert Place, Victoria Road,
Kensington.
WC wrote to Frederick Lehmann, "Reade has been here, and has carried
off my book about the French Police (Memoires tirees des Archives, &c
&c)." (25 October 1869: Letters, II, 326).
385. Phillips, Henry. Poems Translatedfrom the Spanish and German.

Philadelphia, 1878.
"thin, 8vo, cloth"
{95} [14]
See also Chamisso, Adelbert von (item 83).
386. Picard, Louis-Benoit. Oeuvres. 10 vols. Paris, 1821.

"binding broken"
[Nugent] {164}
Louis-Benoit Picard (1769-1828), French dramatist.
387. Pigault-Lebrun, Charles Antoine Guillaume. LEnfant du Carnival. 2 vols.

Paris, 1815.
[Powell] {177}
Charles Pigault-Lebrun (1753-1835), wrote licentious fiction.
388. Pini, G. La Cremation en Italie et al 'Etr anger de 1774 jusqu 'a Nos
Jours. Milan, 1885.
"illustrated"
[Parsons] {181}
389. Piozzi, Hester Lynch. Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of

Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale). by Abraham Hayward, 2nd ed. 2 vols. 1861.
"port, and front. . . hf. mor"
[Smith} {65}
Hester Lynch Piozzi, Mrs. Thrale (1741-1821), friend of Dr. Johnson.
Her Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson, published in 1786. In 1788
her correspondence with Johnson was published. See also items 280-281.
390. Pixerecourt, Rene-Charles Guilbert de. Theatre Choisi. 4 vols. Paris,

1841.
"hf. mor."
[Money] {210}
Rene-Charles Pixerecourt (1773-1844), prolific popular dramatist.
391. Plouvier, Edouard. Le Pays des Amours: Comedie en Cinq Actes, Melee
de Chant. Paris, n.d.
[Jones] {205}
Edouard Plouvier (1821-1876), author of dramatic comedies.
392. Poe, Edgar Allan. The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Including the Choicest
of His Critical Essays. With a Study of His Life and Writings from the
French of Charles Baudelaire. [1872].
"thick, cr. cl. WC has written in pencil 'Stories by Poe not included in the
'Complete collection' on first page."
{84} [114]
See Gasson 124.
393. Pontes, Lucien Davesies de. Social Reform in England. 1866.

[Hartley] {21}
394. Pope, Alexander. The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope. 3 vols. n.d.
"cl."
[Hartley] {85}
For WC's use of Pope in No Name, see Caracciolo in Smith and Terry
174-176.
395. Pope, Alexander. The Works ofAlexander Pope, Esq. with Notes and
Illustrations by Warton. 9 vols. 1797.
"cf."
[Nugent] {73}
WC quotes Pope in a letter to Frank Ward: "Well might Pope say 'The
life of a writer is warfare on earth.'" (MS: Princeton: 8 April 1886).
396. Prescott, William Hickling. History of the Reign of Ferdinand and

Isabella, the Catholic. 3 vols. 1849.
[Broadhurst] {101}
397. Prior, Matthew. Poems on Several Occasions. 2 vols. 1766.

[Cogswell] {169}
Procter, Bryan Waller. See under Cornwall, Barry (items 135-138).
398. Proposed Destruction of the Well Walk Hampstead, 1879.

4 to "presentation copy".
[Osborne] {182}
According to Thomas J. Barratt, The Annals of Hampstead, 3 vols., 1912,
the quarto pamphlet is by Sir Gilbert Scott. It was reprinted in London by
Lionel Leventhal Ltd., in association with Camden Historical Society,
1972.
399. The Public Ledger Building, Philadelphia: With an Account of the

Proceedings Connected with Its Opening June 20, 1867. Philadelphia,
1868.
[Reya] {36}
Published by G. W. Childs of Philadelphia. Contains the "Dedication of
Printers' Cemetery, Woodlands," 187-205. Probably a presentation copy.
WC met Childs (1829-1894): see WC to Childs, 16 March 1874 (Letters,
II, 382).
400. Puigblanch, Antonio. Inquisition Unmasked, trans, by William Walton. 2

vols. 1816.
"plates"
[F. Hurt] {134}
This work by Antonio Puigblanch (1775-1840) was originally written in
Spanish.
401. Quilter, Harry. Sententice Artis, First Principles of Art for Painters and
Picture Lovers. 1886.
"Author's edition plates presentation copy from the author to Wilkie
Collins, crimson mor. extra t.e.g. impl. 8 vo."
[Sotheran] {45}
Harry Quilter (1851-1907), editor of the Universal Review, close friend

and correspondent of WC's in the final years of his life. See for instance
11 April 1888 (Letters, II, 555-56) and cf. Gasson 128.
402. Rabelais, Francis. The Works of Francis Rabelais, trans, from the French
with explanatory notes. 4 vols. 1844.
"vols. 1 and 2 with signature of Wilkie Collins, June 1844 cl."
[Withers] {93}
Vol. 1 (rebound) with WC's signature on the fly-leaf "Wilkie Collins,
June 1844" in 1999 in the possession of Faith and William Clarke. On the
fly-leaf in pencil is the note "Lot 93, Purchased at the sale of the Library
of the late Wilkie Collins Esq at Puttick & Simpson's. Jany. 20th 1890."
403. Radcliffe, Anne. The Italian, or, The Confession of the Black Penitents a
Romance. 3 vols. 1797.
[Thistlewood] {167}
"Collins's mother, Harriet, was a fan of [Radcliffe's] work" (Nadel, xxxi).
Radcliffe (1764-1823), "gothic" novelist.
404. Radcliffe, Anne. Mysteries ofUdolpho. 4 vols. 1803.

"copper-plates"
[Thistlewood] {167}
405. Radecliffe, Noell. St. Katharine of Alexandria: A Dramatic Legend. 1859.

"cl."
406. Raisson, Horace. Le Manuel du Gastronome; ou, Nouvel Almanach des

Gourmands, Servant de Guide dans les Moyens de Faire Excellente
Chere. Paris, 1830.
"6mo. hf. calf, cover loose, 2 plates"
[Bennett] [63]
407. Ranke, Leopold von. History of the Popes, trans, by E. Foster. 3 vols.
1847.
[Farren]{160}
WC probably consulted during the writing of The Black Robe.
408. Reade, John Edmund. The Laureate Wreath and Other Poems. 1863.
[Withers] {91}
409. Reade, John Edmund. The Poetical Works of John Edmund Reade. New
edition. 3 vols. 1865.
[Withers] {91}
John Edmund Reade (1800-1870), poet.
410. Redford, George. Art Sales. A History of Sales of Pictures and Other
Works of Art. 2 vote. 1888.
Quarto "roy"
[Withers] {232}
411. Redford, George. A Manual of Ancient Sculpture. 1886.

"numerous illustrations presentation copy from the author to Wilkie
Collins cl."
[Withers] (19)
Following WC's death, his old friend from The Leader days, George
Redford (1816-1895), surgeon and art critic, fine baritone, wrote to
Harriet Elizabeth Bartley:
I was pleased to hear from you though it was such a grief to lose our
dear old Wilkie. I wrote to your mother before I knew of his death,
having heard that he was not so well.
I am so grateful to think that I saw him and had such a delightful
(though touched with sadness) chat with him one evening when I called.
.. .1 thought then he would pull through, he was so strong, and
intellectually quite himself as far as [it] went. He said as he grasped my
hand with all his old warmth "you see, I'm all right - feel my arms" - but
I had hard work to hide my eyes lest he should see what I really dreaded.
Then he said in the most cheery tones let's have a cigar - a small one -
and Caroline brought the box and we each took one and she lighted them,
and so enjoyed this last of smokes together! And long as I live shall I
remember with joy and gratitude that last parting - so genial - so like his
generous own nature - now as I recall it the tears drop from my eyes. I
fancy this was a privilege that few had besides me, and I'm sure to none
was it happier or more valued. Well - now we must be content with our
memories - so it must be with the dearest some time - Alas!
If I'm well I shall go to stand around his grave. I don't write to her -
for one should be alone in those hours of grief and mourning but I will ere
long and sometime speak to her [Caroline Graves]....
P.S. Do you know that when you were a little girl, I witnessed his signing
his will (MS: Princeton: 25 September 1889).
412. Reed, Isaac. A Select Collection of Old Plays. 1825.

"vol. 6 with signature W. Wilkie Collins 1845"
413. Regnier de la Brierre, Frangois Joseph Philocles. Comedies. Paris, n.d.

[Dobell] {204}
Frangois, Joseph Philocles Regnier (1807-1885), to whom WC dedicated

The Law and the Lady, distinguished French actor. For WC and Regnier,
see Gasson 131-32.
414. Reichenbach, Karl Freiherr von. Researches on Magnetism. 1850.

"presentation copy"
[Edwards] {10}
Karl Freiherr von Reichenbach (1788-1869). His book probably used by
WC for his January to April 1852 Leader series of letters on "experiments
in hypnotism and clairvoyance"
(Peters 109-110).
415. Repertoire de Theatre Franqais. 67 vols. Paris, 1813.

"cf. 12 mo."
[Nugent] {165}
Probably: Theatre des Auteurs du Second Ordre, ou, Recueil des
Tragedies et Comedies Restees au Theatre Franqais; Pour Faire Suite
aux Editions Stereotypes de Corneille, Racine, Moliere, Regnard,
Crebillon et Voltaire: Avec des Notices sur Chaque Auteur, la Liste de
Leurs Pieces, et la Date des Premieres Representations. 61 vols. Paris,
1813.
17th- and lS^-century French drama.
416. Reynolds, Frederick. The Life and Times of Frederick Reynolds. 2nd ed. 2
vols. in 1. 1827.
"cl."
[Hartley] {117}
Frederick Reynolds (1764-1841), dramatist.
417. Richardson, Samuel. Clarissa. 3 rd ed. 8 vols. 1751.

"cf."
[F.Hutt] {125}
418. Richer, Frangois. Causes Celebres et Inter ess antes, avec les Jugements
qui les Ont Decidees. 18 vols. Amsterdam, 1772-1781.
"cf. 12mo."
[Bennett] {193}
French criminal trials: possibly used as a plot source for The Woman in
White and elsewhere.
419. Ritchie, Leitch. Wanderings by the Loire. 1833.

"21 plates by Turner." Alternative title: Turner's Annual Tour (1833).
[May] {69}
See also item 498.
420. Ritson, Joseph. Robin Hood: A Collection of All the Ancient Poems,
Songs, and Ballads, Now Extant, Relative to That Celebrated English
Outlaw. 1820.
"woodcut on title painted, with signature 'William Collins aged 8 years
1832'"
[Maggs] {96}
421. Roosevelt, Blanche. The Copper Queen: A Romance of To-day and

Yesterday. 3 vols. 1886.
[Hartley] {139}
Mrs. Blanche Roosevelt (1853-1896), American writer who dedicated her
Verdi, Milan, and Othello (1887) to WC. She wrote "To Wilkie Collins.
My dear friend . . . knowing that the work never would have been written
without you, I dedicate it to you" (Gasson 48).
422. Roscoe, William. The Life of Lorenzo de 'Medici: Called the Magnificent.
1846.
"signature of W.W. Collins 1846"
[Farren] {160}
First edition [1822].
423. Roslyn, Guy. Village Verses. 1876.

[Suckling] {97}
424. Ross, Alexander Milton. Recollections and Experiences of an Abolitionist

from 1855 to 1865. Toronto, 1875.
[Withers] {31}
Alexander Milton Ross (1832-1897).
425. Ruggles, Henry Joseph. The Method of Shakespeare as an Artist, Deduced

from an Analysis of His Leading Tragedies and Comedies. New York,
1870.
"sm. 8vo. cl."
{12} [119]
WC thanked Jesup, Paton & Co., for a copy of the volume (MS:
Princeton: 14 March 1876).
426. Ruxton, George Frederick Augustus. Adventures in Mexico and the Rocky
Mountains. 1849.
[Thistlewood] {104}
Puttick and Simpson Auction Catalogue misprints the author as "Buxton"
for "Ruxton." Ruxton (1820-1848), Sandhurst-educated adventurer (Hart,
579).
427. Sand, George. Consuelo. [Paris, 1842].

[Purchaser indecipherable] {178}
Puttick and Simpson Catalogue lot 178 after Les Beaux Messieurs de
Bois-Dore indicates "etc." and "11 vols.": It is likely that WC had other
works by George Sand in his library.
WC wrote to Kate Field: "Is there any fatigue in this weary world which
is equal to the fatigue that comes of daily working of the brains for hours
together? George Sand thought all other fatigues unimportant by
comparison — and I agree with George S." (January 1881: Letters, II,
433). To Paul Hamilton Hayne, he wrote "In one of her letters or her
prefaces, George Sand declares that of all the wretchedest forms of mortal
weariness the fatigue produced by hard work of the brain is the most
complete. My otherwise unpardonable silence offers to you its only
excuse under the protection of George Sand." (16 July 1884: Letters, II,
469). Similarly, he wrote to W.G. Collings "I have been writing novels for
the last five and thirty years, and I have been regularly in the habit of
relieving the weariness which follows on work of the brain - declared by
George Sand to be the more depressing of all forms of mortal fatigue - by
dry champagne at one time, and by brandy and water (oW Cognac) at
another" (MS: University of Illinois, Urbana: 20 May 1889).
428. Sand, George. Les Beaux Messieurs de Bois-Dore. [Paris, 1842].

[Purchaser indecipherable] {178}
429. Sardou, Victorien. [Comedies]. 10 vols. bound in 3 vols. Paris, v.y.

"Nos Imtimes, Les Ganaches, Nos Bons Villageois, Seraphine etc."
"hf. mor. remainder sewed"
[Jones] {203}
Victorien Sardou (1838-1901), prolific writer of comedies and historical
dramas.
430. Scadding, Henry. Toronto of Old. Toronto; Collections and Recollections

Illustrative of the Early Settlement and Social Life of the Capital of
Ontario. Toronto, 1873.
"ports, hf. mor."
[Maggs] {129}
431. Schindler, Anton Felix. The Life of Beethoven, Including His

Correspondence with His Friends . . . Edited by Ignace Moscheles. 2 vols.
1841.
"Beethoven's Life, edited by Moscheles port."
[Withers] {7}
432. Scott, Walter Sir. The Miscellaneous Prose Works. 28 vols. Edinburgh
and London, 1834-1836.
"ports, fronts, and vignettes after Turner . . . red cl."
[Roche] {87}
See William B. Todd, Ann Bowden. Sir Walter Scott: A Bibliographical
History 1796-1832 [1998] 921-31 [350 A].
WC wrote to A.P. Watt:

"My account of myself is a little gloomy this time. I have lost the dear old
friend and companion of many years - my dog. I should not acknowledge
to many people what I have suffered during his last illness and death. But
I think you will understand me. No more of it now! I think of Walter
Scott, when his dog died - asking the friends with whom he was to have
dined that day to excuse him because 'he had lost a dear old friend' - and
love and admire him more than ever" (7 September 1885: Letters, II,
484).
He also wrote to A.P. Watt:

"The stick has arrived in perfect safety. I am indeed most heartily obliged
to you for this singularly interesting gift. A stick is a familiar friend - and
when that friend associates me with Walter Scott's own plantation I am
(in some degree at least) associated with the writer of all others whom I
love and admire - the greatest of novelists and the kindest and truest of
men. My new stick will be my treasured possession as long as I live"
(MS: Private Possession: 23 October 1885: Letters, II, 487).
For an account of WC's use of Scott in No Name and Armadale, see Peter
L. Caracciolo in Smith and Terry 165-181. Also see Gasson 137.
433. Scott, Walter Sir. The Modern British Drama, ed. by Sir Walter Scott. 5
vols. Edinburgh and London, 1811.
"five large thick imp. 8vo. volumes, half old calf, fine vignette on each
title by Smirke. Bookplates, 'The Harte.' Tragedies (2 vols.), Comedies (2
vols.), Operas and Farces (1 vol.), from 1598 to 1788 by the best writers
of both centuries."
{110} [61]
Bennett purchased for 10 s and priced in his catalogue for 28 s.
In fact, Smirke only drew the title vignette - in this instance of a Giant
Jester for the fifth volume. The other title vignettes were drawn by H.
Howard and M. W. Sharp (William B. Todd, Ann Bowden, 238-41 [54
A]).
434. Scott, Walter Sir. Poetical Works. 12 vols. Edinburgh and London, 1888.
"fronts, and vignettes after Turner . . . hf. bd."
[Graham] {88}
Adam and Charles Black, of Edinburgh, published in 2 vols. in 1888 the

Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott. Todd and Bowden record only the
first collected edition of The Poetical Works of Walter Scott, Edinburgh,
1820 as being issued in 12 vols. (William B. Todd and Ann Bowden, 742-
46; 262 A).
WC wrote to his mother from Whitby: "On the other side of the room, two
more windows look out over the town, and the ruins of Whitby Abbey
(celebrated in 'Marmion') on the cliff above" (7 August 1861: Letters, I,
198). WC wrote to William Winter: "I positively decline to let the poet
preach to me or puzzle me. He is to express passions and sentiment in
language which is essentially intelligible as well as essentially noble and
musical - or I will have nothing to do with him. You will now not be
surprised to hear that I delight in Byron and Scott - and, more
extraordinary still, that I am a frequent reader even of Crabbe!" (5 August
1878: Letters, II, 413). WC wrote to Paul Hamilton Hayne: "Shall I
astonish you if I confess that I read Walter Scott's poetry with admiration
and delight - and shall I add that I believe Byron to be beyond
comparison the greatest poet that has sung since Milton? Now you know
what my criticism is worth?"
(16 July ISS4: Letters, II, 470).
435. Scott, Walter Sir. Waverley Novels. 48 vols. Edinburgh and London, 1859.
"Illustrated edition, numerous illustrations, cl."
[Maggs] {86}
In an early letter to his mother, Mrs. Harriet Collins, WC wrote from

Scotland: "We have made another tour to Sumburgh head (mentioned by
Scott in the Pirate) it is 30 miles from head quarters" (2 July 1842:
Letters, I, 12). Subsequently, he wrote to William Winter: "My nerves are
too much shaken for travelling. An armchair and a cigar - and a hundred
and fiftieth reading of the [word erased] glorious Walter Scott (King,
Emperor, President, and God Almighty of [erased word] novelists) - there
is the regimen that is doing me good! All the other novel-writers I can
read while I am at work myself. If I only look at the 'Antiquary' or 'Old
Mortality', I am crushed by the sense of my own littleness, and there is no
work possible for me on that day" (14 January 1883: Letters, II, 453).
To Sebastian Schlesinger, he wrote "I am one of the literary men who

think T. [i.e., Tennyson] is right in accepting a peerage - not as a
distinction conferred on himself, but as a recognition of Literature which
has its use and its value in such a country as England. Since the baronetcy
conferred on Walter Scott - who ought to have been created a Prince if he
had only written 'The [erasure] Antiquary' and Tvanhoe' - no purely
literary man has been ennobled in this country" (14 January 1883: Letters,
II, 464).
To Paul Hamilton Hayne, he wrote "It may be hundreds of years, before

another Fenimore Cooper appears in America, or another Walter Scott in
England. I call these two and Balzac - the three Kings of Fiction" (3 May
IS&4: Letters, 11,467).
In a similar vein, he wrote to A.P. Watt: "I cannot work at present. . . . In

the meanwhile I have been reading 'Guy Mannering' again for the 50th
time at least. That wonderful book was written in six weeks! What a set of
pigmies we are, by comparison with Scott!" (1 July 1887: Letters, II,
540).
To J.A. Stewart, he wrote "After more than thirty years' study of the Art, I
consider Walter Scott to be the greatest of all novelists, and 'The
Antiquary' is, as I think, the most perfect of all novels" (9 January 1888:
Letters, II, 552). Similarly, he wrote to Hall Caine: "Look at two of the
greatest of tragic stories - Hamlet and the Bride of Lammermoor, and see
how Shakespeare and Scott take every opportunity of presenting contrasts,
and brightening the picture at the right place" (15 March 1888: Letters, II,
554).
The hero Amelius Goldenheart of The Fallen Leaves has Scott's works in
his library: "The writings of the one supreme genius who soars above all
other novelists as Shakespeare soars above all other dramatists - the
writings of Walter Scott - had their place of honour in his library"
(Stroud: Sutton, 1994; 186).
436. Scribe, Eugene. [Dramatique]. [Paris], n.d.

Part of 6 vols. bound with "no titles," also includes Mazeres and
Melesvile.
[Jones] {202}
Eugene Scribe (1791-1861) prolific dramatist, author of vaudeville
comedies, comedies of intrigue and opera libretti.
WC wrote to Robert du Pontavice de Heussey: "I ought to add that I had
not ever thought of the 'Woman In White' in 1855. The book was not
published - even in its first serial form - until 1859-60. Some few of my
earlier stories had been translated into French at that time - and some of
the illustrious French authors had read them - notably Scribe who
charmed me by his kind encouragement" (15 March 1886: Letters, II,
520).
437. Scribe, Eugene. Theatre Complete. 2nd ed. 24 vols. Paris 1834- 42.
"plates, hf. bd."

[Hill] {190}
438. Scribner's. New York,

"magazine, various nos. a parcel"
[Bennett] {185}
WC wrote to A.P. Watt that he agreed to Watt trying Scribner's with a
story: "My idea is that these American magazines all stand committed to
the new American school of fiction - and that my way of writing
represents the abomination of desolation in their eyes" (MS: Pembroke
College, Cambridge: 28 June 1887). Scribner's Monthly first appeared in
1870 and ran to 1881: its successor, Scribner's Magazine began in 1887
and closed in 1939. WC does not appear to have contributed to either.
439. Serret, Ernest. Pieces de Theatre. Part of 26 vols., Paris, n.d.

"cloth"
[Jones] {195}
Ernest Serret (1821-1874), French comic dramatist.
440. Sewell, William Grant. The Ordeal of Free Labor in the British West
Indies. 1862.
[Vernon] {102}
441. Shakespeare, William. The Poems. Ed. Robert Bell. 1855.

"cl." The annotated edition of the poet published by J. W. Parker and Son.
[Bennett] [118]
WC notes in a letter to Edward Pigott that he had just met Bell (MS:
Huntington: 21 April, 1855). On 23 October 1851, WC wrote to the
publisher, Richard Bentley that he contemplated writing a story called
"The Mask of Shakespeare" (Letters, I, 73).
WC wrote to Edward Pigott "My appreciation is all wrong in no end of
literary subjects . .. Excepting Falstaff and Dogberry, I think Moliere a
greater humourist than Shakespeare" ([Oct-Dec 1855] Letters, I, 146).
WC wrote to Frederick Lehmann: "Mrs John Wood had made the St.
James Theatre a perfect fairy palace - and is playing old English Comedy
- with American actors. Scenery and dresses marvellously good. A great
success. The other great success I am going to see on Wednesday -
monkeys, who [erasure] are real circus riders -jump through hoops, dance
on the horse's back, and bow to the audience voluntarily when they are
applauded. We shall see them in Shakespeare next - and why not? They
can't be worse than the human actors, and they might be better" (25
October 1869: Letters, II, 327).
There are fewer references in WC's letters to Shakespeare, and to specific
Shakespearean dramas, than would be expected. Caracciolo does indicate
"an intricate web of reference" to "Shakespearean and Sheridan allusions"

in No Name and Armadale (Smith and Terry 165, 168-169, 174-175).
442. Shakespeare, William. The Stratford Shakspeare. Ed. Charles Knight. 6

vols. 1860.
"hf. bd. 12mo"
[Withers] {43}
443. Sheridan, Richard Brinsley. The Critic. 1781.

"title mounted"
[Suckling] {135}
WC wrote to Mrs. Harriet Collins from Rome: "The horrible Neapolitan
exhaustion and depression, seemed to be oozing out of me like the valour
of'Acres' in the Rivals" (4 December 1863: Letters, I, 240). Bob Acres in
Sheridan's The Rivals, discovers that his rival is his friend, and finds that
his courage is "oozing out at the palms of his hands." WC wrote to Rosa
Kenney "I saw your two scenes from 'The School for Scandal' on
Monday. . . . I also wondered whether 'Lady Teazle' [A character in
Sheridan's The School for Scandal] might not be brought a little nearer to
nature, without losing her necessary relationship to Art?" (MS: Harvard: 17
May 1882).
On 5 May [1883], he wrote to the actor Frank Archer, "I most sincerely
thank you for a delightful evening. Pray add my thanks to Mr. Thorne
[Sheridan's The Rivals was produced by Thomas Thorne at the Vaudeville
Theatre in December, 1882 and continued for over 200 performances.] for
his kindness, and my congratulations on his admirable performance of
Acres. He and Mrs. Stirling are comedians in the highest and best sense of
the word. And let me not forget Faulkland. You made the most idiotic
character on the British stage (written, I am firmly convinced, in some of
Sheridan's most utterly drunken moments) a gentleman in presence and
manner - the victim of his own bad temper. If I had been working with
you, as in the days of the "Magdalen", I should have protested against a
hardness here and there, and a little hurry in elocution (natural enough,
having such words to speak!), and there is the beginning and the end of my
criticisms" (Cited: Frank Archer, An Actor's Notebooks, [1912], 186).
444. Siebe, Henry. The Conquest of the Sea; With Numerous Illustrations: A
Book about Divers and Diving. 1874.
[Woollett]{153}
445. Simpson, Jane C. Linda or Beauty and Genius: A Metrical Romance

[Poems]. Glasgow, 1859.
[Suckling] {97}
446. Smedley, Edward. The Occult Sciences: Sketches of the Traditions and
Superstitions of Past Times, and the Marvels of the Present Day. 1855.
[Woollett] {153}
447. Smith, Sydney. The Works of the Rev. Sydney Smith. 3 vols. 1854.
"with autograph of Wilkie Collins on title of vol. 1"
[Withers] {53}
448. Smollett, Tobias George. The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. In which

are Included, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality. 4 vols. 1784.
[Hartley] {172}
It is somewhat curious that WC doesn't appear in his letters to refer to
Smollett (1721-1771), whose "coarse realism" might have appealed to
him.
449. Soulie, Frederic. La Confession Generate. Paris, [1840-48].

[Smith] {216}
450. Soulie, Frederic. La Lionne. Paris, [1846].

[Smith] {216}
451. Soulie, Frederic. Les Memoires du Diable. Paris, [1837-38].

[Smith] {216}
452. Soulie, Frederic. Sathaniel. Paris, [1837].

"Part of 11 vols. sewed Paris v.y."
[Smith] {216}
Frederic Soulie (1800-1847), author of more than forty best-selling
sensational novels.
453. Southerne, Thomas. Sir Antony Love or, The Rambling Lady: A Comedy.
1698.
[Money] {238}
Thomas Southerne (1659-1746), Anglo-Irish dramatist.
Wing S 4767
454. Southey, Robert. Essays, Moral and Political. Now First Collected. 2
vols. 1832.
"presentation copy to 'Master Collins 1st Prize Maida Hill Academy
Xmas 1835'"
[Withers] {90}
455. Souvestre, Emile. Pieces de Theatre. Part of 26 vols., Paris, n.d.

"cloth"
[Jones] {195}
Emile Souvestre (1806-1854), French dramatist.
456. Spicer, Henry. Strange Things among Us. 1863.

[Withers] {150}
Lot 150 in the Puttick and Simpson Catalogue lists three items plus "etc.:
8 vols in all". Spicer's work is not indicated. However, it was sold at
Sotheby's 21 July 1983, Lot 24. Sotheby's Catalogue describes WC's
"copy of Strange Things among Us by H. Spicer, with several passages
marked by him in pencil and autograph annotation in four places ('. . .
Deaf and dumb child conscious of the passing of a ghost which expressed
its presence by sound . . . ' ) . Original cloth rubbed and soiled." The book
was once owned by Dorothy L. Sayers and was purchased by Quaritch for
£290. Possibly WC used as a source whilst writing Poor Miss Finch: A
Novel (1872) which has a heroine who "has been blind with cataracts
since she was a year old" (Gasson 125).
457. Standard Novels. 5 vote.

[Woollett] {156}
Possibly five of Bentley's Standard Novels.
458. Steinmetz, Andrew. History of the Jesuits. 3 vols. 1848.

"numerous pencil marks by Wilkie Collins hf. mor."
[May] {47}
Possibly WC used as a source whilst writing "The Yellow Mask,"
Household Words 7-28 July 1855 and The Black Robe (1881).
459. Stephen, George Sir. Adventures of an Attorney in Search of Practice. 2nd

ed. 1840.
"cloth, bears evidence that [WC] had read it carefully - having his pencil
marks in the margin"
{12}[122]
460. Stephen, George Sir. The Jesuit at Cambridge. 2 vols. 1847.

"hf. cf."
[Thistlewood] {166}
461. Stephen, Henry John. New Commentaries on the Laws of England Partly
Founded on Blackstone. 4 vols. 1841.
"cl."
[Woollett] {18}
462. Stephens, John Lloyd. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapus

and Yucatan. 1844.
"plates 2 vols. cf. gt."

[Maggs] {131}
John Lloyd Stephens (1805-1852), New Jersey-born author. In 1834 he
left his legal practice to travel and write (Hart, 636). His Incidents of
Travel in Central America and Incidents of Travel in Yucatan were both
illustrated by Frederick Catherwood (1799-1854).
463. Stephens, John Lloyd. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. 2 vols. 1843.

"120 plates cf. gt."
[Maggs] {130}
464. Sterne, Laurence. Tristram Shandy. 2 vols. 1783.

[Hartley] {172}
WC wrote to his Mother: "As for the [pepper], (in the words of Captain
Shandy in reference to his nephew's first [informative] work) 'wipe it up
and say nothing about it'" (11 March 1856: Letters, I, 150). In a letter to
Charles Ward, WC refers to Slawkenbergius, the author of a treatise on
noses in Tristram Shandy: "Sell a child - terms, £10 - down!
Slawkenbergius would fetch more, if disposed of by weight - but I think
him too amiable to be parted with" (10 October 1860: Letters, I, 190). In a
letter to Andrew Chatto, WC writes "I agree with Mr Shandy that there is
a great deal in a name - which does not encourage me" (MS: Princeton:
11 October 1887).
465. Sterne, Laurence. The Works of Laurence Sterne; With a Life of the
Author. 5 vols. 1823.
"cl."
[Withers] {90}
466. Stokes, John Lort. Discoveries in Australia, with an Account of the Coasts
and Rivers Explored and Surveyed during the Voyage of the Beagle,
1837-1843. 2 vols. 1846.
"plates cl."
[Maggs] {41}
467. Sue, [ Eugene]. Clemence Herve. Paris, 1862-1869.

Part of 13 vols. "Works" of Sue.
{214?} [123]
Puttick and Simpson Lot 214 identifies "Mysteries de Paris 4 vols; Le Juif
Errant 4 vols.; Mathilde 4 vols. etc.; 16 vols. hf. mor. and sewed." Bennett
[123] identifies these three titles plus Clemence Herve.
Marie-Joseph, called Eugene, Sue (1804-1875), popular novelist.
468. Sue, [Eugene]. Le Juif Errant. Paris, 1862-1869.

"4 vols. uniform, but in hf. dark green morocco" Part of 13 vols. "Works"
of Sue.
{214} [123]
469. Sue, [Eugene]. Mathilde. 4 vols. Paris, 1862-1869.

{214} [123]
470. Sue, [Eugene]. Les Mysteres de Paris. 4 vols. Paris, 1862-1869.

{214} [123]
471. Sue, [Eugene]. The Legend of the Wandering Jew. trans, by W.

Thornbury. illustrations by Gustave Dore. 1857.
Folio "cl."
[Heald] {243}
472. Sutton, Christopher. Disce Vivere: Learn to Live. 1847.

"cloth, name on title"
[60] Not recorded in Puttick and Simpson.
Printed for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, reprinted from
the first edition of 1602, with a memoir of Sutton's life (15657-1629).
473. Sweetser, Moses Foster. King's Handbook of Boston Harbor. Cambridge,

Mass, 1882.
[Reya] {36}
474. Swift, Jonathan. The Works of Jonathan Swift, with Life and Notes by
John Hawkesworth. 1166-1161.
"copper-plates 21 vols. (small hole in title of vol. 17 and last 2 11. of vol.
21 damaged) cf."
{127} [124]
WC writes to Mrs. Harriet Collins from Rome: "St. Peters cock (big
enough to eat-up fifty St. Peters) flaps his wings, and crows mechanically
three times, during the ceremony - the machinery in the inside of this
Brobdingnag bird creaking and rattling audibly while the automation goes
through its performance" (16 October 1853: Letters, I, 99).
475. Tasso, Torquato. The Jerusalem Delivered ofTorquato Tasso. trans, by

J.K. James. 2 vols. in 1. 1865.
"presentation copy from [Sir John Kingston James] to Wilkie Collins
1865"
[Maggs] {96}
Sir John Kingston James (1815-1893), Anglo-Irish Baronet, translated

from the Italian. Lived in Tunbridge Wells and may well have known
Harriet Collins.
476. Tasso, Torquato. The Jerusalem Delivered ofTorquato Tasso. 2 vote.

1818.
"16 mo. hf. cf. .. . cover loose" Contains WC's autograph.
Translated by the Rev. J. H. Hunt.
477. Taveau, Augustin Louis. Poems. Volume I. New York, 1884.

{95} [15]
Augustin Louis Taveau (1828-1886), South Carolina poet, author of
various collections of poems including The Magic Word (Boston, 1855)
and Montezuma: An Historical Poem of the Ancient Aztecs of Mexico,
1883-1855. This was included in the first volume of his Poems, published
in New York and London by G. P. Putnam's, 1884. No more volumes
published.
478. Taylor, Alfred Swaine. Poisons in Relation to Medical Jurisprudence.

1849.
[Hartley] {16}
479. Taylor, Alfred Swaine. On Poisons. 1859.

[Hartley] {16}
480. Taylor, Bayard. The National Ode, the Memorial Freedom Poem. Boston,
1877.
"sm. 4to finely bound in brown morocco, antique, gilt edges, 78 pretty
illustrations by leading American artists"
{72} [125]
481. Taylor, Edward Samuel. The History of Playing Cards. 1865.

[Nugent] {171}
482. Taylor, Jeremy. Holy Living and Dying. 2 vols. 1824.

"cl. presentation copy to [WC's] mother 1825"
{54} [59]
WC requests his mother to tell his brother Charley: "I have read a little of
Jeremy Taylor - in accordance with my promise: a little because my
present course of life is not favourable to theological studies, and Jeremy
is rather involved and hard to understand after a day's . . . rolling over
rough high roads in a travelling carriage" (16 October 1853: Letters, I,
100).
483. Tennyson, Alfred Lord. Locksley Hall Sixty Years After. 1886.
"green cl."
{92} [128]
WC wrote to Mrs. Harriet Collins: "As they all like Tennyson at Oxford,
they may like to hear what he said about himself to a friend of mine, who
repeated it to me. 'My misfortune is,' said the great T. - 'that I have not
got anything in me. If I had only got something in me, I could write as
well as Shakespeare'" (26 July 1859: Letters, I, 169-70).
484. Thackeray, William Makepeace. The Book of Snobs. 1855.

"one shilling edition"
[Dobell] {184}
On hearing of Thackeray's death, WC wrote to Mrs. Harriet Collins: "I
have been answering your last letter but one - but not your last, telling me
of Thackeray's death. I had seen the news some days before in 'Galignani'
and had tried hard to hope it was a false report - but the next day's paper
cut the hope from under me. I am heartily sorry for his poor children and
for Charley and all his intimate friends. I, as you know, never became
intimate with him - but we always met on friendly and pleasant terms. He
has left a great name most worthily won, and he has been spared the slow
misery of a lingering death-bed. These are the consolations for his loss -
which his family and his old friends will feel when Time has helped them.
I can say no more" (8 January 1864: Letters, I, 242).
See also Gasson 146.
485. Thackeray, William Makepeace. The History ofPendennis. 2 vols. 1878.

"illustrated by the author and R. Doyle"
[buyer indecipherable] {145}
486. Thackeray, William Makepeace. TheNewcomes. 2 vote. 1879.

487. Thackeray, William Makepeace. Vanity Fair. 2 vote. 1879.

488. The Theatrical Observer and Daily Bills of the Play. 1821 -1832.
"some nos. wanting, bound in 12 vols. bds."
[Parsons] {105}
489. Thesaurus Dramaticus. Containing All the Celebrated Passages,

Soliloquies, Sim Hies, Descriptions, and Other Poetical Beauties in the
Body of English Plays, Antient and Modern, Digested under Proper
Topics; With the Names of the Plays, and Their Authors, Referr 'd to in the
Margin. 2 vote. 1724.
"cf."
[F.Hutt] {123}
490. Thiers, Adolphe. Histoire de la Revolution Frangaise. 10 vols. Paris,

1845-1862.
"hf. mor."
[Maggs] {207}
491. Thiers, Adolphe. Histoire du Consulat et de TEmpire. 20 vols. Paris,

1845-62.
Two copies were sold. One with "ports, and plates...hf. mor." [Maggs]
{207}; the other was "no plates, hf. bd." [Hudson] {208}.
492. Thompson, Benjamin. The German Theatre. 6 vote. 1801.

"plates"
[F.Hutt] {123}
493. Thornbury, Walter. British Artists from Hogarth to Turner. 2 vote. 1861.
"cl. presentation copy with interesting autograph letter from the author
inserted in vol. 1"
[Withers] {13}
Walter George Thornbury (1828-1876), miscellaneous writer, prolific
contributor to Household Words and All the Year Round. The Athenaeum
art critic.
494. [Topchi [pseud]]. A Travers L 'Orient et L 'Occident. Recit de Huit Annees

de Voyages en Espagne, Portugal, Grece, Montenegro, Turquie, etc., etc.,
St. Petersbourg. [1888].
[Parsons] {181}
495. Tourode, Alfred. [Drames]. [Paris], n.d.

Part of 3 vols. including Barriere, Bouilhet, Feuillet, Meilhac, and
Plouvier.
[Jones] {202}
Alfred Tourode (1839-1875), author of comic farces.
496. Townshend, Chauncy Hare. The Three Gates: In Verse. 1859.

" presentation copy from the author to Wilkie Collins"
[May] {94}
Rev. Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798-1868), Dickens's friend "who had
taken holy orders, was a wealthy man who, perhaps fortunately, never
practised his profession" (Peters 133). WC and Dickens stayed with him
whilst in Switzerland October 1853 (See WC to Mrs. Harriet Collins, 16

October, 28 October 1853: Letters, I, 100, 101). WC wrote to the Rev.
Chauncy Hare Townshend concerning clairvoyance: "I forgot to give you
this little payment of information, in the interest of our discussion about
the bell-pulling ghost. I am afraid I believe still in the supernatural origin
of the nine o'clock ring - partly, I suspect, because it would make such a
[picturesquely] awful opening for a ghostly Romance!" (MS: Wisbech &
Fenland Museum: 5 June [1856]). See also Gasson 148. WC thanked
Townshend for "the copy of his new poems" in a letter dated 29 June
1859 (Letters, I, 165).
497. Trowbridge, John Townsend. Coupon Bonds, and other stories. Boston,
1873.
"plates, presentation copy to Wilkie Collins from the author"
[Hartley] {141}
John Townsend Trowbridge (1827-1916), Boston-based novelist and
short story writer.
498. Turner, Joseph Mallord William. Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour

round the Southern Coast of England. 1849.
Quarto, "plates by Cooke, Collins, etc. vignettes on India paper, hf. mor.
uncut"
[Swift] {234}
See also under Ritchie, Leitch (item 419).
499. Twain, Mark. The Prince and the Pauper. Toronto, 1882.
[Withers] {150}
500. Vanbrugh, John, Sir. Plays. 2 vote. Ml6.

[Hartley] {124}
Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726), dramatist and architect.
501. Verne, Jules. Cinq Semaines en Balloun. [Paris, 1863].

[Dobell] {213}
502. Verne, Jules. Vile Mysterieuse. 2 vote. [Paris, 1875].

"illustree de 154 dessins par [Jules-Descartes] Ferat"
"hf. mor."
[Nugent] {200}
503. Verne, Jules. Vingt Mille Lieues sous les Mers. 2 vote. [Paris, 1870].
[Dobell] {213}
504. Verne, Jules. Voyage au Centre de la Terre. [Paris, 1864].

"9 vols. (3 vols. hf. mor. and 6 sewed). .. Paris v.y."

[Dobell] {213}
505. Voltaire. Oeuvres Completes de Voltaire. 70 vols. [Kehl], 1784.

"avec la Vie, portrait and plates by Moreau . . . cf. (rubbed) g.e."
[St. Martins] {206}
506. Walch, Garnet. Head over Heels. A Christmas Book of Fun and Fancy.
Melbourne, 1874.
"cr. 8vo. cl., many comical cuts"
{97?}[129]
507. Walch, Garnet. A Little Tin Plate. Melbourne, 1881.

"presentation copy to WC from the author"
[Suckling] {97}
Garnet Walch (1843-1913), member of Melbourne's literary circles,
probably a friend of WC's Australian representative, the Melbourne-based
H. Biers.
508. Walcott, Mackenzie Edward Charles. The East Coast of Englandfrom the
Thames to the Tweed, Descriptive of Natural Scenery, Historical,
Archaeological, and Legendary. 1861.
[Black] {155}
509. Walton, Izaak. The Complete Angler oflzaak Walton and Charles Cotton.
2 vote. Chiswick, 1824.
"orig. bds., uncut fronts, and vigs. Finely printed"
{154} [16]
510. Ward, Adolphus William, Sir. Dickens. 1882.

"Morley's English Men of Letters"
{61} [56]
511. Warren, Claud. Celebrated Hands: The Life-Size Outlines of the Hands of
Twenty-Two Celebrated Hands. 1882.
Folio, "plates"
{245} [82]
Contains "The hands of Wilkie Collins": illustrated Gasson 37.
512. Webster, Noah. An American Dictionary of the English Language. [New

York], 1849.
Quarto, "port, cf."
[Heald] {237}
513. Westall, William. The Phantom City: A Volcanic Romance. 1886.

[Hartley] {147}
William Westall (1835-1903), novelist.
514. Wetton, George Norman. Wetton's Guide-Book to Northampton, and Its

Vicinity. 1849.
"cr. 8 vo, cloth, Illus."
[Black?] {155} [76]
515. Whitman, Sidney. Conventional Cant, Its Results and Remedy. 1887.
[Hartley] {147}
516. Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Boston, 1860-61.

"port, cl."
[Frieling] {81}
517. Wilson, James. Autobiography of the Blind, with Essay on the State of the
Blind by John Bird. [1856].
"sm. 8vo, cloth, front."
[Bennett] [21]
Bennett Catalogue gives the date as "1859."
WC probably consulted during the writing of Poor Miss Finch (1872).
518. Wilson, John. The Dramatic Works of John Wilson. Edinburgh, 1874.
[Dobell] {107}
John Wilson (1626-1696), comic dramatist.
519. Winslow, Forbes. Lettsomian Lectures on Insanity. 1854.

"presentation copy to the 'Editor of The Leader'"
{17} [103]
WC's friend Edward Pigott edited The Leader ca. January 1852-ca. July
1853, ca. March 1854-June 1858. For WC and The Leader, see Gasson
93.
520. Winslow, Forbes. On Obscure Diseases of the Brain. 2nd ed. 1861.
"cl. with present. Inscription from the Author to Wilkie Collins"
{17} [102]
Forbes Winslow (1810-1874), physician, member of the Royal College of
Surgeons: "regarded by the public as an authority in cases of insanity, and
in 1847 opened two private lunatic asylums at Hammersmith, where he
employed the humane method of treating lunatics. . . . The frequent
establishment of the plea of insanity in criminal cases was largely due to
his influence" (DNB). WC may well have consulted whilst writing The
Woman in White.
521. Winter, William. Brief Chronicles. 2 pts. New York, 1889.

[Dobell] {184}
522. Winter, William. English Rambles and Other Fugitive Pieces, in Prose
and Verse. Boston, 1884.
[Bennett] {11}
523. Winter, William. In Memory of John McCulloch. New York, 1889.

"only 500 copies printed" De Vinne Press.
[Dobell] {33}
524. Winter, William. The Poems of William Winter. Boston, 1881.

"3 pencil marked by W. Collins"
{11} [131]
525. Winter, William. The Press and the Stage, an oration. New York, 1889.
"only 250 copies printed cl."
[Dobell] {33}
526. Winter, William. Shakespeare's England. Boston, 1886.

[Dobell] {184}
527. Winter, William. Thistle-down: A Book of Lyrics. 1878.

"cloth"
{11} [132]
WC wrote to William Winter thanking him for his "last volume of poems.
. . . I am sure you will believe I speak sincerely, when I thank you for
some hours of real pleasure, derived from your volume. Both in feeling
and expression I find your poetry (to use a phrase which I don't much
like, but which expresses exactly what I mean) 'thoroughly sympathetic'
'The Ideal,' 'A Dirge,' and 'Rosemary' are three among my chief
favourites. I thank you again for them - and for all the rest" (5 August
\81S: Letters, 11, 413).
William Winter (1836-1917), dramatic critic of The New York Tribune
and friend of WC. See Gasson 158. Winter's Old Friends (New York,
1909) contains reminiscences and extensive citations from WC's letters to
Winter.
528. Winter, William. The Trip to England. Boston, 1879.

"uncut"
[Dobell] {31}
529. Winter, William. The Trip to England. 2nd ed. Boston, 1881.
"8vo. cl. gilt top, 10 heliotype plates by" Joseph Jefferson

{11} [130]
530. Wiseman, Nicholas Patrick. Recollections of the Last Four Popes and of
Rome in Their Times. 1858.
"ports, hf. cf. gt."
[Packer] {70}
Possibly a source for The Black Robe. Cardinal Wiseman (1802-1865),
Archbishop of Westminster.
531. Wolzogen, Ernst von. Wilkie Collins, ein Biographisch-Kritischer

Versuch. Leipzig, 1885.
"8vo. sewed."
[Bennett] [50]
532. Wonders of the Universe; or Curiosities of Nature and Art: Including

Memoirs and Anecdotes of Wonderful and Eccentric Characters of Every
Age and Nation. 2 vote. 1827.
"plates"
[Edwards] {10}
533. Wood, Henry, Mrs. East Lynne. 1888.

[Hartley] {141}
WC wrote to George Smith: "I may certainly, without undue arrogance,
consider myself to be a rather better novelist, with a rather wider
reputation than Mrs. Henry Wood. I happen to know that she averages a
thousand a year profit to herself by the sale of her novels - aH in six
shillings a volume" (5 December 1872: Letters, II, 359). WC may well be
thinking of Mrs. Henry Wood's (1814-1887) best-seller, East Lynne
(1861) "By 1876 Bentley had printed 65,000 copies", and she received an
unusually high price from Bentley for the copyright (Sutherland, 678).
WC wrote to John Hollingshead, the theatrical manager and journalist:
"You know the case of Mrs. Henry Wood's 'East Lynne'? I believe, she
has never received six [pennies] of the money which the piece has made"
(25 February 1873: Letters, II, 363).
534. Woodrooffe, Anne Cox. The History of Michael Kemp: The Happy
Farmer's Lad. 4th ed. 1830.
535. Wraxall, Nathaniel William, Sir. Historical Memoirs of My Own Time. 2

vote. 1815.
"old diamond cf, port, notes in pencil on fly-leaf by WC"
{133} [133]
Nathaniel William Wraxall (1751-1837: DNB)
536. Wright, Thomas. Some Habits and Customs of the Working Classes. By a
Journeyman Engineer. 1867.
[Hartley] {21}
537. Young, Edward. The Complaint, and the Consolation; or, Night Thoughts.
With Marginal Designs by W. Blake. 1797.
Folio "hf. bd., edges uncut."
[Parsons] {239}
ADDENDA
The following items were omitted in error.
Bible. The New Testament. Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1869.

Now in private possession. The volume is inscribed, "Wilkie Collins Esq |
with Baron Tauchnitz' | kindest regards." WC wrote to Baron Tauchnitz
thanking him "for the beautiful specimen of German printing and German
binding which you have so kindly sent to me. You have added one more
to the many agreeable which I connect with 'The Tauchnitz Edition' in
adding your Thousandth volume to my little library" (12 February 1869:
private possession). Published on 11 February 1869, Tauchnitz's
thousandth volume was the Bible. The New Testament. Presentation
copies were bound in red morocco with gilt lettering on the front (see
Todd and Bowden 187, 314; cf. Gasson [144]-145, and Letters, ii, 456-
57).
Boddam-Whetham, J. W. Pearls of the Pacific. 1876.

"plates hf. cf. gt."
[Packer] {70}
Description of Polynesia and Hawaii.
Addition:
462. See Richard Collins, "The Ruins of Copan in The Woman in

White: Wilkie Collins and John Stephens's Incidents of Travel in
Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, " Wilkie Collins Society
Journal, 2 (1999), 5 - 7 .
1
Sotheby's 18 June 1891 Sale containing WC's books is recorded in Index of
English Literary Manuscripts, Vol IV1800-1900 Part I Arnold-Gissing,
Compiled by Barbara Rosenbaum and Pamela White. London and New York,
Mansell, 1982. She also records a Sotheby's 3-4 June 1891 Sale containing
WC's "printed work" (665).
2
Cited Frederick G. Ribble and Anne G. Ribble. xliii.
3
ELS Monograph Series 24. Victoria, British Columbia: English Literary
Studies, University of Victoria, 1981.
Appendix
PAINTINGS AND ART WORK IN COLLINSfS POSSESSION AT THE

TIME OF HIS DEATH
WC's first published book, his two-volume biography of his father, Memoirs of
The Life of William Collins, Esq., RA. With Selections from His Journals and
Correspondence published by the London publishers Longman, Brown, Green,
and Longmans in 1848, contains as an "Appendix," to the second volume, an
"enumeration" of his father's paintings (II, 341-352). The date of the painting is
followed by the title of the work, details of where exhibited, information on "for
whom painted, or by whom purchased" and then the sum received for the work.
Collins's biography of his father concludes with a two-page listing of
"Engravings from the Work of William Collins, R.A." (353-54).
Two years before her death, Harriet Collins agreed to the division of her
husband's paintings between her two sons. WC wrote to his mother on 11 May
1867: "Charley and I have tossed for the pictures, and Frith is coming today to
value Charley's half. Charley won the toss and chose first (to my astonishment!)
the upright Sorrento - (with the chestnut tree) - leaving the sea-Sorrento
(afterwards repainted large for Gibbons) to fall to me. We then went on
alternating. Charles chose next, the small park-[raling] landscape went with the
shadows on the road (near Hendon I think). I followed, and took the Roman
boy's heads! Charley followed . . . and took the green pool & weeds. I took next
the Devonshire stream. Charley took the (upright) Bembridge Sands. I took the
trees at Pond St. Charley took the copy from De Hoog. I took the portrait of my
Grand Mother, and there it ended." WC added, "I am quite content, and so is he.
You must certainly come to town - and see my Sorrento in its new and
beautiful, frame!" (Letters, II, 286).
166 Appendix
The evaluation by William Powell Frith (1819-1909), the Victorian painter and
close friend of both WC and Charles Collins, of the latter's share of his father's
paintings is unavailable. In the second volume of his biography of his father,
WC gives a description of the paintings realized at Sorrento. The painting of the
sea "possessed all the attractive simplicity of subject and purity of tone . . . a
view of the Mediterranean, with Vesuvius in the horizon, and a strip of beach
and promontory in the right-hand foreground - the whole being treated with
remarkable airiness and transparency of effect" (II, 191).
In her biography The King of Inventors: A Life of Wilkie Collins, Catherine

Peters describes WC's house at 90 Gloucester Place, where he lived from
September 1867 until early 1888. WC hung Margaret Carpenter's "portrait o f
his mother Harriet "as a young g i r l . . . in his study, with a portrait of his father
and a painting of Sorrento by William Collins, which hung to the left of the
massive writing table which had belonged to his father. Charley's portrait of
Wilkie as a young man and one by Millais were also in this room and an etching
of Dickens. His own Academy painting, 'The Smuggler's Retreat', went in the
dining-room" (287).
WC gave a copy of his Memoirs of his father to his literary agent and friend A.
P. Watt. The first of the two volumes, now in private possession, contains on its
front papers the inscription, "To A. P. Watt from | Wilkie Collins | April 21
1885". WC has annotated his "enumeration" of his father's paintings. The
undated annotations contain prices and purchasers. Tipped into the first volume
is a note in WC's hand, headed "Vol. I. Page 69":
'The Reluctant Departure." (1815).

The descriptions of pictures exhibited before 1823, are taken from my
mother's recollections of them on the Royal Academy walls. In this
case, I have evidently mistaken what she told me - and perhaps her
memory may also have been a little at fault. On, and after 1823, my
mother spoke (and I wrote) of what she had seen in progress in my
father's studio. Her memory - in these cases (tested by old friends of
my father who had to read my life of him). . . declared to be
wonderful. W. C.
Collins refers to the second chapter of his Life of his father, which covers the
years 1807-1816. He writes, "In the year 1815, my father exhibited at the Royal
Academy, - 'The Reluctant Departure,' (sold to Mr. Carpenter;) 'Half-holiday
Muster,' (sold to Lady Lucas;) and 'A Harvest Shower,' (sold to Mr. Currie)".
There follows a detailed description of "The Reluctant Departure" (I, 69-70).
Appendix 167
Christie, Manson & Woods auction sale at 8 King Street, St. James's Square, on
Saturday, February 22, 1890 contains "The Collection of Modern Pictures,
Water-Colour Drawings & Engravings of Wilkie Collins, Deceased." There are
sixty-six lots in all divided into twenty-six lots consisting of "Engravings and
Photographs - Framed." These are followed by a single lot consisting of "Sir
David Wilkie's palette" (lot 27) and by thirteen lots of "Water-Colour
Drawings" underneath which is the name of "W. Collins, R. A." - WC's father.
The remaining lots of "Pictures" are identified by the artist and then the title.
The following transcription follows the auctioneer's lot numbering. Whenever
any light can be thrown on a lot item, this is placed underneath the transcription
of the lot. The auctioneer's description is in italics. My annotation is not.
Transcription of "The Catalogue of The Collection of Modern Pictures, Water-

Colour Drawings & Engravings, of Wilkie Collins, Deceased. . . . Christie,
Manson & Woods, at their Great Rooms. 8 King Street St. James's Square on
Saturday, February 22, 1890. "
Engravings and Photographs, Framed
1. After Claude and Turner

Probably Claude (le) Lorrain (1604/5-1682): great landscape painter.
2. Portraits, &c.
3. Photographs from the Sistine Chapel

Rome was "one of Collins's favourite cities, first visited as a boy" with his
family "between January and April 1837 and from February to April 1838." He
revisited the city 13-18 November 1853, and also stayed in Rome with Caroline
Graves and her daughter "for three months from December 1863" (Gasson 133).
4. After Heilbuth, Gerome, &c.

Ferdinand Heilbuth (1826-1889), French artist. Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904),
French painter and sculptor, and exponent of realism.
5. "1884" after E. Meissonier

Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891), French artist.
6. "Ave Caesar, " after Gerome; and the Death of Caesar

Jean-Leon Gerome (1824-1904), Parisian sculptor and painter
168 Appendix
7. Wilkie Collins, by Sarony of New York, 1873

Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896) was the dedicatee of Heart and Science (1883).
WC sat for Sarony during his 1873-4 reading tour of America. WC wrote to him
"You have taken just the sort of photograph I like. Those taken of me over here
are perfect libels, but I feel like giving your pictures to my friends" (cited
Gasson 137). Reproductions of "photographs taken by Sarony in New York
during Collins's reading tour of America" are found in Gasson 137; Smith and
Terry 44; Clarke, The Secret Life, 112-13.
8. Jacob Bell, after Sir E. Landseer, R.A. An engraving by Thomas Landseer

(1795-1880), after E. Landseer, dated 1869.
9. Rossini's Views in Rome

Luigi Rossini (1790-1857): Italian engraver, painter, architect.
10. Venus, after Titian, by Strange

Sir Robert Strange (1721-1792). "His stated aim was to reproduce works by the
great Italian masters for the British public, and he travelled in Italy from 1760 to
1764 copying paintings. . . . Today, however, these reproductive engravings are
neglected due to dullness of subject matter" (Ian Mackenzie, British Prints
Dictionary and Price Guide, 1998. 322).
11. Rubens' Son, and a Landscape after Rubens; and one after Rembrandt; &c.
12. Charles Dickens
13. Augustus Egg, R.A., after J. Phillip R.A. by T 0. Barlow, R. A.

Augustus Leopold Egg, R.A. (1816-63). His early death left WC "dreadfully
shocked and distressed" (Letters, I, 218). Thomas Oldham Barlow (1824-1889),
a "notable etcher and mezzotint engraver of portraits, sentimental and sporting
subjects after many of the best known Victorian painters" (Mackenzie 86).
14. Dr. Johnson, after J. Opie RA., by Townley

Charles Townley, b.1745 "Mezzotint and occasional stipple engraver of portraits
and decorative, historical and animal subjects after his contemporaries and Old
master painters" (Mackenzie 336).
15. Village Politicians, after Wilkie, by Raimbach

Abraham Raimbach (1766-1843), line engraver who specialized in large plates
after Sir David Wilkie.
16. The Penny Wedding, by Stewart

Appendix 169
17. Fetching the Doctor after W. Collins, R.A. by Wagstaff

Charles Edward Wagstaff (1808-1850), line mezzotint and mixed-method
engraver.
18. The Fisherman's Home, after W. Collins, R. A. byJ. Phelps - artist's proof
WC's Appendix "Pictures Painted by William Collins, Esq., R.A." at the end of
the second volume of his Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., RA.
identifies a 1826 painting under the title "Fishermen Leaving Home for the
Night" - (afterwards entitled "The Fisherman's Departure"). The purchaser is
given as "J. Morrison, Esq" and the sum received as "350 gs." (346).
19. Young Shrimp Catchers; Happy as a King; and Rustic Hospitality

See WC's "Appendix": "Young Shrimp Catchers . . . Engraved by [Phelps]" - a
"Line Engraving from Pictures"; and "Line Engravings from Pictures and
Drawings, Published in Periodical Works . . . In the Royal Gallery of Modem
British Art. . . Happy as a King . . . Engraved by Finden. Rustic Hospitality . . .
Engraved by Outram" (353).
Edward Francis Finden (1791-1857) and William Finden (1787-1852) both line
engravers after their contemporaries and the Old Masters. John Outram, fl. mid-
19th century, London line engraver.
20. Searching the Net; and Going for a Sail

WC's "Appendix" identifies "Searching the Net" amongst "line engravings from
pictures . . . engraved by [Phelps]" (353).
21. Cromer, by W. Ward

Probably "Etchings by the Painter . . . Shrimp Boys at Cromer. The same plate
engraved in mezzotint, by W. Ward" ("Appendix," 353). "Shrimp Boys at
Cromer" dated 1816, exhibited at the Royal Academy and purchased by Sir T.
H. Heathcote (343). William Ward, (1766-1826), "eminent mezzotint and
occasional stipple engraver of portraits, decorative, genre, sporting and animal
subjects after his contemporaries, his own designs and Old master painters"
(Mackenzie 348).
22. Four small plates in two frames
23. A Literary Party at Sir Joshua Reynolds'

Sir Joshua Reynolds, R.A., (1723 - 1792), First President of the Royal
Academy.
24. Hastings and Dover, after J. M. W. Turner

WC records in his "Appendix" six "Line Engravings From Pictures and
170 Appendix
Drawings, Published in Periodical Works" "In Turner's Southern Coast." None

of these are specifically of "Hastings and Dover" (354).
25. The Peaceful Thames, after F. Walker, A. R. A. by C. Waltner - remarque

proof
Francis Sylvester Walker (1848-1916), Anglo-Irish landscape, genre painter,
mezzotint etcher of landscapes. Charles Albert Waltner (1846-1925), Parisian
"etcher of portraits and figure subjects after his French and British
contemporaries" (Mackenzie 346).
26. An Illustration to the New Magdalen, by Godefroy - chalk

Probably John Godfrey c. 1817-1889, "line engraver of small bookplates"
(Mackenzie, 173). For the publication of various editions of WC's The New
Magdalen (1873), see Gasson 113.
27. Sir David Wilkie's Palette Taken with him to Syria, and presented to William
Collins, R.A., by Wilkie's Sister
There is a detailed account of Sir David Wilkie's (1785-1841) close relationship
with William Collins, in WC's Memoirs, see especially I, 235.
Water-Colour Drawings
W. Collins, R.A.
28. A Bird's Eye View
29. A Common
30. Old Willows
31. At Sorrento
See Letters II, 286.
32. Studies of heads - in one frame
33. Studies of Landscapes - in one frame
34. Coast Scenes - in one frame
35. Studies of Figures - two in one frame

Appendix 171
36. Landscapes - in one frame
37. Coast Scenes - in one frame
Pictures
38. A. W. Fowles.
The Yacht "Coquette" (in four views); and a photograph 2
In late June 1856 WC "went sailing with Pigott and Pigott's brother . . . . They
hired a boat of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Coquette" (Peters 166): WC
describes, in a letter of 2 July 1856, his experiences on board whilst crossing the
Channel and entering the Bristol Channel (Letters, I, 156). A. W. Fowles of
Ryde (fl. 1840-1860), a maritime painter.
39. C R. Leslie, R.A.

The Entombement, after Titian
Charles Robert Leslie (1794-1859), historical genre and portrait painter.
40. W. Gill.
Children, with a dog and mouse-trap
William Gill, fl. 1826-1869, exhibited at the Royal Academy: a follower of
David Wilkie.
41. C Collins
Portrait of a Lady, after Sir J. Reynolds
42. C Collins
The Empty Purse
43. C Collins
Nine Studies for Pictures
J. A. Gere observes in Pre-Raphaelite Drawings in the British Museum (1994)
that "the group of eighteen [Charles Collins] drawings in the Museum collection
was bought in 1891, for only £6 - 6 -, from Charles Fairfax Murray.. .. The
drawings by Collins had previously belonged to his brother Wilkie, who had
died in 1889" (101).
44. W. Collins, R.A.

Taking Out the Thorn - a study for the large picture
172 Appendix
45. Another Study, for the same picture

In the "Appendix" to his Memoir WC dates "Taking out a Thorn" to 1828. It
was exhibited at the Royal Academy and purchased by "J. Delafield" for "250
gs." (346). In the first volume of Memoirs he writes about the painting at some
length:
'Taking out a Thorn' was his [father's] only inland scene of

the year [1828]. The locality of this picture is on Hampstead
Heath; the point of view, the clump of fir-trees, near the inn
called 'The Spaniards,' looking across towards 'North End.'
On a bank sits an old furze-cutter, extracting a thorn from the
finger of a chubby urchin, who rubs his eyes dolefully with the
corner of his pinafore during the operation, which is
compassionately and curiously observed by the unlucky
patient's companions. The rich, soft colouring; the simple
rustic incident; the vigorous truth and nature of this picture,
rendered it immediately and widely popular. Among other
connoisseurs, by whom the possession of it was desired was
the King, who expressed a wish, if it was not already sold, to
add it to the two sea-pieces by the painter, which he already
possessed. But the picture had been a commission; and its
owner, very naturally, prized it too highly to be able to prevail
on himself, under any circumstances, to forgo his prior right to
his valuable possession (I, 305-306).
46. Sir J. E. Millais, R. A.

Portrait of Wilkie Collins
The jacket illustration to the American edition of Peters, The King of Inventors
reproduces in color the oil on panel, 267 x 178 mm (10 1/2 x 7"), painting of
WC, signed with monogram dated 1850 by Millais, and now in the National
Portrait Gallery London. It is also found in Peter Funnell, et al. Millais Portraits
(1999), 53. A black and white reproduction is in Gasson, 35. It was purchased
by Henry Powell Hartley, who "in 1893 sold [it] to the National Portrait Gallery
to raise funds" (Gasson 14; and see Clarke 191).
47. H Gray
Portrait of Wilkie Collins
Probably WC's "cousin, Henry Gray, who kept a picture dealer's shop in Old
Cavendish Street" Peters 269).
48. W. Collins, R.A.

Sorrento, Vesuvius in the distance -painted on the spot
The Collins family stayed in the Sorrento area during the Summer of 1836. In
Appendix 173
his Memoir of his father, WC recalls two of his father's sketches which "bear
the appearance of finished pictures." Of these, "the first is coloured with
surpassing brilliancy and vigour. Its foreground is a strip of cornfield, over-hung
by the branches of a large chesnut-tree; its distance, the olive-gardens of
Sorrento, the coast of Vico, the bright Mediterranean, and Vesuvius beyond."
The second also "looks towards Vesuvius . . . but from a different point. Here
the smooth limpid sea, with gay market-boats floating idly on its surface, ripples
into the foreground, tinged with the clear Italian reflections of the hour and
scene. A strip of beach, an extremity of rocky cliff, and the point of Vico,
presented the rest of the composition in Nature, and supply it in the sketch." WC
adds that "the airy delicacy and day-light of the effect thus produced proved so
popular in England, that the painter was commissioned to paint two pictures
from it. The original study, (for which many offers have been made,) remains as
well as the landscape first mentioned, a treasured heirloom in the family of the
painter" (II, 108-09). WC's Appendix listing his father's paintings contains
various paintings of Sorrento, Ischia and the Bay of Naples (II, 349, 51-52).
49. W. Collins, R. A.
Two Studies of the Head of a Roman Youth
A Devonshire River Scene
Paintings by William Collins listed by his son include "Buckland on the River
Dart" exhibited in 1824 at the Royal Academy and purchased by E. P. Bastard,
Esq., M.P. for 120 gns. (II, 346).
The Withered Tree
Trees at Hampstead
Portrait of Mr. Collins, father of the artist
William Collins (1740-1812), settled in London from County Wicklow and eked
out a living from picture dealing and restoring. He died a bankrupt. See Gasson
32.
54. A. Geddes
Portraits of Wilkie Collins and Charles Collins, when they were boys
Reproduced as Plate 3 in Letters, I, between [xlii-1]. Acquired at this auction by
WC's friend Horace Pym (1844-1896), and in possession of the Pym family until
174 Appendix
sold in the Pym auction, June 2001. Also reproduced as Illustration 5 in Peters
between 240-41.
55. C. Collins
Portrait of William Collins, R. A. - chalk
Probably "William Collins, 1846, from a drawing by Charles Allston Collins
National Portrait Gallery, London" reproduced as Illustration 3 in Peters
between 240-41.
56. J. Linnell, Sen.

Portrait of William Collins, R. A.
Reproduced in Clarke, facing p. 112. In possession of Faith Clarke. WC's
Memoir is prefaced by J. Linnell's portrait of William Collins engraved by H.
Robinson.
57. J. Linnell, Sen., After

Portrait of William Collins, R. A. by C Collins
58. J Linnell, Sen., 1834

Head of a Boy
59. CA. Collins

Portrait of a Lady, seated
60. Mrs. Carpenter

Portrait of Mrs. Collins, Wife of W. Collins, RA.
Gasson writes, "Collins acquired Margaret Carpenter's portrait of his mother as
a young girl from Jane's daughter, Margaret Ward, when he moved into
Gloucester Place, during 1867. Margaret Carpenter's portrait of Collins's
paternal grandmother is now in the National Gallery of New Zealand" (25).
Portrait of the Artist's Mother
Portrait of the Artist's Father: Studies of heads of children on the back
A Landscape, with figures, after J. Ruysdael
Appendix 175
The Virgin and Child
Exhibited at the Royal Academy 1843
Antonio, from the "Merchant of Venice "
Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1845
A Patriarch
Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1844
Index
All references to the Introduction and the Addenda are in bold and to page
numbers. References to the Reconstruction are to item numbers, not page, and
are not in bold.
Adams, Robert Dudley, 17, 23, 54; Anecdotes, 265

144 Angelo, Henry Charles William, 11
Adventures, 58-60; 64, 68, 84, 152, Angelo, Michael, 300
282,351,372,444; Annual Register, 3-4, 56; 165
Addenda, 164 Anselm, Saint, 38, 64; 13
Ainsworth, William Harrison, 47; 6 Antrobus & Company, 131
Albemarle, George Thomas Apaches, 140
Keppel, Earl of, 7 Apparitions, 227, 456
Alcohol, 25; 355 Appleton, D. & Co. (publishers),
Aldeburgh, 16, 25, 36; 8 121
Aldine editions, 8, 49; 96, 168 Arabian Nights' Entertainments, 14
All the Year Round, 22, 56, 61; 10, Archaeology, 44, 62; 301, 508
19, 124,382,493 Archer, Frank, 443
America, Central, 58-59; 462 Architecture, 374, 380, 398-399
American Literature, 44, 51; 133, Arctic Explorations, 282
144, 149, 154, 164, 192, Arizona, 140
196,209-210,228,247, Art, 29, 44, 60-61; 50-51, 97, 131,
263, 273-274, 305, 309, 167,279,297-298,302,
344,351,392,396,438, 306,314,374,401,410-
477,480,497,499,516, 411
521-529 Artists, 20, 44, 60-61; 51, 300, 340,
Andersen, Hans Christian, 10; 419,493,498,537
To Be, Or Not to Be? 10 Ashanti War, 63
Anderson, J. P., 343 Asia, Central, 58
Anderson, Mary, 20 Athenaeum, The, 29; 54, 493
178 Index
Athenaeum Club, 9, 65; 283 Edward

Atlas, 14; 39 Beethoven, Ludwig van, 261, 431
Atlas, Allan W., 256 Begg, James A., 64; 28
Augier, Emile, 15,291 Behn, Mrs Aphra, 31
Australia, 23, 36, 60; 466, 507 Belifante Brothers (publishers),
Australian Journal, 88, 128, 134, 125
144, 146, 148, 160, 165, Bell, Robert, 48; 310, 441
186, 196,202,209-210, Bellamy, George Anne, 45; 32
224,226-228,238-243, Beloe,M.A.,281
246-247, 253-255, 260, Beloe, William, 281
266,274,278,280-281, Benham, Charles, 74
285-286, 288, 293, 298, Bennett, M. L. (booksellers/buyers
300, 302, 304, 306, 308, at Puttick and Simpson),
319,324-328,334,339- 6,10-15,22-23,28,32,
340, 342-344, 347, 355, 35, 30-39, 41, 53, 55, 65;
368-370, 379, 382, 385, 2,7-9, 12-13,28-30,36,
392,406,418,425,433, 38-39, 45-46, 49, 52-54,
438, 444, 459, 467-470, 62, 66, 72, 83, 85, 98-
472, 474,476- 477, 480, 101, 103, 106-107, 109-
482-483,506,509-511, 115,117,119-122,124-
514,517,519-520,522, Bentley (publishers), 24, 26, 37,
524,527,529,531,535 54-55; 40, 118, 177,457,
Australian Literature, 44; 88, 143, 533
506-507 Bentley, Richard, 24, 37; 441
Aytoun, W. E., 220 Bentley's Miscellany, 19, 33
Azores, 55 Beranger, Pierre Jean de, 34
Berlioz, Hector, 62; 35
Bailey, Phillip James, 17 Bernard, Pierre-Joseph, 39, 51; 36
Bain (buyer at Puttick and Bernard-Derosne, C , 126
Simpson), 9; 283 Besant, Sir Walter, 37
Baker, David Erskine, 45; 18 Bible (New Testament), 2, 64;
Ball, Edward, later Fitzball, 8, 17, Addenda, 164
20, 45; 198-199 Bichat, Xavier, 39; 38
Balzac, Honore de, 19, 133, 435 Biers, H., 507
'Bard, Samuel, A.,' see Squier, Bigelow, John, 18, 30, 51, 57; 210
Ephraim, George Billings, Jessie, Jr. 356
Barratt, Thomas J., 398 Biography, 6, 9,14, 21-24, 35, 43-
Barriere, Theodore, 22-23, 495 45, 48, 53-56, 60-62; 7,
Bartley, Harriet Elizabeth, 411 11, 18,30,32,35,46-47,
Bass, Michael Thomas, 25, 62; 24 49,51,56,73,76, 93,
Baudelaire, Charles, 392 129, 138, 147, 154, 166,
Beaumarchais, Pierre-Augustine 199,206-208,210-211,
Caron de, 25 238,251,253,256-257,
Beaumont, Francis, 26 261,276,280-281,283,
'Bede, Cuthbert,' see Bradley, 289,295,298-300,312,
Index 179
320,336,343-344,361, Burke, Peter, 57

382,389,416,422,431, Burton, John Hill, 4; 60
459,474,510-511,517, Bushby, Anna S., 54; 5, 10
531 Buss, Robert William, 156
Bird, John, 517 Byron, George Gordon Byron,
Bixby, Daniel, 17, 30, 65; 139 Baron, 65-67, 141,434
Black (buyers at Puttick and
Simpson), 202, 237, 508, Cabinet Cyclopedia, The, 296
514 Caine, Hall, 16, 47; 69-70, 435
Blackie & Sons (publishers), 224 Calcott, John, 71,261
Blackstone, Sir William, 461 Calverley, Charles Stuart, 38; 72
Blain, Virginia, 31 Cambridge, 21, 29, 32, 36, 38, 57;
Blake, William, 8, 61; 537 460
Blanchard, S. L., 6 Camden Historical Society, 398
Boase, Frederic, 22; 93 Canada, 29, 36-37, 42, 59-60; 28,
Bodleian Library, Oxford, 12; 186 85,335,430
Bohn (publisher), 16, 24, 43, 49, Canadian copyrights, 325
51,54; 145,274 Canadian Literature, 44, 62; 239
Bonaparte, Napoleon, 8,14, 48, 51, Canler, Louis, 27; 73
55; 2, 34, 49, 188,251, Caplin, Jean Francois Isidore, 74
294, 298, 300 Caracciolo, Peter, 14, 394, 432, 441
Borrow, George Henry, 5; 43 Carre, Fabrice, 75
Boston Harbor, 57; 473 Cassell's Magazine, 2
Boswell, James, 46-47, 145, 281 Catherine, Saint of Alexandria, 405
Boteler, John, 339 Catherwood, Frederick, 59; 462
Bouilhet, Louis Hyacinthe, 48, 495 'Cecil, John,' see Hone, William
Bourke, Phillip, 54 Cendrey, Camille de, 126
Bowden, Ann, 432-434; Cerrachini, Lida, 128
Addenda, 164 Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de, 79
Boxing, 354 Chambers' Edinburgh Journal, 80,
Bradley, Edward, 27 349
Brain (diseases of), 520 Chambers' Encyclopedia, 81
Brandling, Henry Charles, 50, 120 Chambers, Robert, 82
Brigstocke, Thomas, 16, 21, 45; 52 Chamisso, Adelbert von, 16, 29,
Broadhurst (buyers at Puttick and 53; 83
Simpson), 362, 396 Champlain, Samuel de, 84
Brooke, Thomas Digby, 13, 64; Chapman, John (publisher), 334
238 Charlotte, Princess of Wales, 289
Brooklyn (New York), 36; 380 Chartism, 321
Brown, Olivier, Madox, 54 Chateaubriand, Francis-Rene, 40;
Browne, Hablot Knight, see Phiz 85
Bryant, William, 263 Chatrian, Pierre Alexandre, 188
Buckley, Theodore William Alois, Chatto, Andrew, 37; 464
16, 24, 43, 54; 5 Chatto and Windus (publishers),
Buffalo (New York), 287 70, 106, 122, 224
Bullar, Joseph, 55 Chiapus, 59; 462
180 Index
Childs, George W., 24; 399 365,371,382,384,394-

Christianity, 27, 64; 334 395,399,401,403,407,
Cibber, Colley, 86-87 411-414,421,425,427,
Clairvoyance, 53, 65; 496 432,434-436,438,441,
Clarke, Faith, 6, 9; 261, 402 443, 448, 456, 464, 474,
Clarke, Marcus [Andrew Hislop], 482-484,496,507,511,
54; 88 517,519,527,531,533
Clarke, William M., 152, 261, 402; (inscribed/association
Classical Literature, 5, 90, 280 copies), 15, 22-23, 30,32,
Claudian (Claudius Claudianus), 52; 5, 8, 10, 24, 33, 46, 52,
43, 54; 90 54, 62, 69, 74, 77, 82-83,
Clemens, Samuel L., see Twain, 85-86,94,99, 109, 118,
Mark 121, 127-128, 132, 137,
Clements, Patricia, 31 139, 144, 156, 160, 162,
Cloncurry, Baron Valentine, 57; 93 173, 192, 196-197,201,
Coball (buyer at Puttick and 204-206,210,221,226,
Simpson), 51 228, 230, 233, 236, 246,
Cogswell (buyers at Puttick and 249-250, 253, 258- 260,
Simpson), 42, 50, 67, 232, 263,272-273,283-284,
357, 397 295,301,303,305,320,
Coleman, George, 232 333, 344, 349, 353, 365,
Collings, W. G., 427 367,392,398-399,401-
Collins, Charles Allston (WC's 402,411-412,420,422,
brother), 4, 29, 60; 482, 424, 447, 454, 456, 458-
484 459,475-476,493,496-
Collins, Harriet (WC's mother), 4, 497,507,519-520,522,
20, 43, 46, 64; 252, 286, 524, 535; Addenda, 164;
403,434-435,443,464, (Works), After Dark, 98;
474-475, 482-484, 496 Antonina, 54; 26, 90, 99,
Collins, Philip, 206 225; Armadale, 1,7,25,
Collins, Wilkie, 1-66; 6, 12, 14, 19, 63; 148,202,432,441;
20, 24, 26-27, 29, 37, 46, "Bachelor Bedroom, The,"
50,55,60,64-65,70,73, 80; "Balzac translation,"
79,90,96,97-98,117, 19; Basil, 1-2; Black
119-120,122-126, 131, Robe, The, 4, 7, 26, 64;
133-135, 141, 146, 148- 101,124-125,128,309,
150, 152-153, 159, 161, 407, 458, 530; Dead Alive,
180, 186-187, 191, 196- The, 103; Dead Secret,
197,202-203,208,210, The, 104, 126, 161;
216,225,232,242-243, Dream Woman, The, 105;
251,254-256,261-263, Evil Genius, The, 63; 106;
272,281,283-284,287- Fallen Leaves, The: First
288, 295, 300-302, 309, Series, 4, 7, 27; 107, 309,
311,313,325-326,333, 371, 435; Frozen Deep,
336, 342, 349, 357-358, The, 108; George and
Index 181
Mary, 125; Haunted 520; "Yellow Mask, The,"

Hotel, The, 109, 125; 458; (Danish) 25, 41, 46,
Haunted House, The, 124; 52,54; 124; (Dutch) 41-
Heart and Science, 7, 63; 42, 46, 52; 125; "Works"
110, 125, 128,309; (English) 7, 21-22, 41-42,
"Incredible Not Always 52; 123; (French) 18, 23,
Impossible, The," 313; 27, 30, 38, 40-42, 50-52;
Ioldni, 6,27, 58; 187,244, 126; (German) 41-44, 46,
351; Jezebel's Daughter, 52-53; 127; (Italian) 8,19,
124-125; "John Jago's 22, 41-42, 44, 46, 52; 128;
Ghost," 127; Law and the (Swedish) 41-42; 124;
Lady, The, 3; 111, 413; Collins, William (1721-1759), poet,
Legacy of Cain, The, 112; 49; 96
Little Novels, 113; Collins, William (WC's father),
"Magnetic Evenings at 6, 8, 21, 54, 60, 64; 52, 97,
Home," 313; Man and 314,498
Wife, 2,7, 24; 60, 114, Colorado (Rocky Mountains), 59;
125, 127, 3S2; Memoirs, 426
21, 54, 60; 336, 365; Comedie Fran9ais, 363
"Miss or Mrs?" 115; Communistic Societies, 28; 371
Moonstone, The, 4, 27, 37, Commynes, Philippe de, 56; 129
41,65; 152, 216, 373; My Congreve, William, 130
Lady's Money, 125; My Cooke, Edward William, 61; 131
Miscellanies, 10, \9;New Cooke, George (line engraver), 498
Magdalen, The, 23, 29; Cooke, Joseph B., 23; 132
1 1 6 , 2 5 4 ; ^ ^ ^ , 16, Cooke, William Bernard (line
25, 63; 8, 125-126,394, engraver), 498
432, 441; No Name: A Cooper, James Fenimore, 8, 40, 51,
Drama, 117; "Parson's 66; 19, 133,435
Scruple, The," 60; "Percy Copyright, 12, 134, 278, 319, 325
and the Prophet," 125; 342
Poor Miss Finch, 47; 118, Corneille, Pierre, 415
180,456,517; "Portrait Cornhill, The, 1
of an Author Painted by Cornwall, 64; 120,271
His Publisher," 99; Queen 'Cornwall, Barry,' 8,11,17; 135-
of Hearts, The, 105, 119, 138
203; Rambles Beyond Cotton, Charles, 509
Railways, 120; Readings Coverley (buyers at Puttick and
and Writings in America, Simpson), 284, 366
263; Reviews, 273; Cowley, Abraham, 90
Rogue's Life, A, 60; 121, Crabbe, George, 48; 141, 434
128; Two Destinies, The, Crebillon, Claude-Prosper Jolyot
122, 128; Woman in de, 143,415
White, The, 4, 22, 26-27, Cremation, 41,44, 62; 388
42, 48, 59, 63, 65; 126- Crimea, 288
127,135,342,418,436, Criminal cases, 21; 520
182 Index
Croker, John Wilson, 145 249, 264, 266, 296, 446,

Crowe, W., 96 488-489,492,511-512,
Crowne, John, 37, 46; 146 532
'Crucis, Alpha,' see Adams, Robert Dictionary of American Biography
Dudley, 17, 23, 54 (DAB), 263
Cruikshank, George, 33, 178, 271 Dictionary of National Biography
Cumberland, Joseph George, 147 (DNB), 5, 7, 32, 41, 52,
Curiosities and Wonders, 446, 70, 82, 96-97, 135, 226,
456,532 283, 520
Diderot, Denis, 9, 39, 65; 163
Daily Bills of the Play, 45; 488 Diving, 444
Daily News, The, 382 Dobell, Bertram (booksellers/
Dana, Richard Henry, 51; 149, 326 buyers at Puttick and
Danish Literature, 10 Simpson), 6; 15, 18,22,
D'Avenant, Sir William, 37, 46; 129,145,150, 194,375-
150 377,413,484,501,503-
De Coverley (buyers at Puttick and 504,518,521,523,525-
Simpson), 25, 34, 294 526
Defoe, Daniel, 48; 151-152 Dore, Gustave, 471
De Quincey, Thomas, 37, 48; 153 Doyle, Richard, 220, 316, 485-487
Detectives, 40; 73, 216, 218, 384 Drury Lane, Theatre Royal, 9; 283
De Vinne Press (New York), 523 Dryden, John, 168
Dickens, Charles, 6-10, 16-17, 20, Dumas fils, Alexandre, 172
23, 25-26, 32, 45-46, 54, Dumas pere, Alexandre, 169-171
56,63; 10, 155-62, 180, Dunham, Samuel Astley, 173, 296
198,204,206,284,288,
301,315,343,349,496, East Coast of England, 63; 508
510; 157,206,256; Edgcumbe, Richard, 65
Barnaby Rudge, 206; Edinburgh Review, 57; 326
David Copper field, 206; Edgeworth, Maria, 1
Dombey and Son, 206; Edwards, Annie, 174-177
Edwin Drood, 46; Letters, Edwards, Francis (booksellers/
8,17,25,32,46,54; 10, buyers at Puttick and
24, 159, 180; Martin Simpson), 5-6, 47; 21, 58,
Chuzzlewit, 206; Oliver 84,90, 170-171, 173, 187,
Twist, 206; Pickwick 204, 208, 244, 329-333,
Papers, 156; Plays and 341,367,414,523
Poems, 8; 158; see also All Electro-Chemical bath, 74
the Year Round, Eliot, George, 47, 52; 179
Household Words Eliot, Sir John, 6, 56; 207
Dickens, Mary, 17, 32, 46; 159-160 Elliot, George (industrialist), 382
Dickinson, Frances Vickress Ellis, Joseph, 22; 186
('Frances Elliot'), 180-185 Engelmann (publisher), 127
Dictionaries and Reference, 44-46, Engineer, 536
57, 63; 18, 81, 165,248- England, Social Reform in, 382-
Index 183
383,393 Fitzherbert, Mrs, 295

England, South Coast of, 498 Flaubert, Gustave, 42; 48, 200-201;
English Literature, 21, 43-49; 4, 6, Salammbo, 17, 30, 42; 201
16-18,26,31,33,37,40- Fleeman, J.D., 280-281
41,44-47,52,54,56,59, Fletcher, John, 26
61-62,65-67,69-70,72, Forgues, Emile D., 126, 203
80,86-88,91-92,94-96, Forster, John, 6, 35, 56; 204-208,
98-128, 130, 133, 135- 232
138, 141, 144-147, 150- Forum, The, 9, 209
153, 155-162, 165-166, Foster, E., 407
168, 174-185, 191, 197- France, 21, 23, 30, 36-37, 40, 55-
199,203-208,220-221, 56, 58, 62-63; (criminal
224,230-233,236,240- investigations) 27; 73, 89,
243,251,253-254,257- 218,349,384,418;
259, 262, 272, 278, 280- (gastronomy) 406;
281,283-285,292-293, (history) 55; 2, 49, 129,
302-303,311,313,315- 183,184,238,251,294,
319,323-325,327-333, 298- 300, 320, 379, 490-
336, 340-343, 347, 358- 491; (literature) 40; 1,3,
359,361,365,381,392, 15, 19,22-23,25-26,34-
394-395, 397, 403-405, 36,48,75,85, 142,163,
408-409,412,416-417, 169-172, 188, 190, 194-
420, 423, 425, 432-435, 195,200-201,203,212-
441-443,445,447-448, 214,216-219,234-235,
453-454, 457-458, 460, 255,267-270,290-291,
464, 474, 482-484, 486- 306-308, 339, 345, 348-
489,496,500,509-510, 350, 352, 357, 363-364,
513,515,518,531,533- 375-377,386-387,390-
534,537 392,402,413,415,427-
Erckmann, Emile, 40; 188 429, 436- 437, 439, 449-
Europe, Middle Ages, 13, 58; 246 452,455,467,468-471,
495, 501-505; (music) 62;
Farquhar, George, 11, 43, 46, 64; 322; (philosophy) 139,
191 505; (South of) 55; 362
Farren (buyers at Puttick and France, Peter, 194
Simpson), 5, 407, 422 Francis, 81
Fawcett, Edgar, 17,30; 192 Frank Leslie's Illustrated
Fechter, Charles Albert, 17, 30; 196 Newspaper, 7; 309
Ferat, Jules-Descartes, 502 Franklin, Benjamin, 30, 57; 211
Feuillet, Octave, 39; 194, 495 Franklin, Sir John, 282
Feval, Paul, 40; 195 Frieling (buyers at Puttick and
Field, Kate, 30; 196,427 Simpson), 516
Fielding, Henry, 38, 48, 54; 86, 97, Frith, W. P., 382
\97; Tom Jones, 38; 197
Fildes [Sir Samuel] Luke, 157 Gaboriau, Emile, 40; 216-219
Fitzball, Edward Ball, 198-199 "Galignani," 484
184 Index
Galignani's Library (Paris), 6 Simpson), 317, 434

Gardner (buyer at Puttick and Graves, Caroline, 25, 27, 63; 8, 411
Simpson), 231 Gray, Thomas, 49; 236
Garrick, David, 43, 45; 361 Greece, 494
Gasson, Andrew, 11, 23, 26-27, 37- Grundy, Isabel, 31
38, 41-42, 47-48, 51, 53, Guides, 44, 62; 8, 148, 202, 237,
60; 12, 19,29,37,50,64, 508,514
70, 100, 105-106, 108, Haggard, Sir Henry Rider, 240-
117, 119, 121-122, 125- 243
126,137,161, 180,244, Halevy, Ludovic, 40; 348
262,392,401,413,421, Hallam, Henry, 13, 58; 246
432,456,484,496,511, Hampshire, (Forest of Dean), 369
519, 527; Addenda, 164 Hampstead, 19, 24; 398
Gastronomy (French), 44, 62; 406 Harding, James, Duffield, 314
Gaultier, Bon (Sir Theodore Harper & Brothers (publishers),
Martin), 220 122, 360
Genealogy, 248 Harper's Magazine, 9, 247
Geneste, John, 43, 45; 221, 283 Hart, James D., 426, 462
George (buyers at Puttick and Hartley (buyer at Puttick and
Simpson), 5-8, 11, 13,21, Simpson), 7; 59, 69, 70,
24, 27, 30, 38, 40, 46-49, 74,78,87,132,177,189,
53-54,57-58,60-63; 191,222-223,258,262,
57, 153 292,303,365,381,383,
George, Henry, 56; 222-223 393-394,416,421,448,
German Literature and Culture, 44, 464, 478-479, 497, 500,
52, 62; 83, 229, 261, 276, 513,515,533
310,312,385,407,414, Harvard University Library, 311,
431,492,531 358, 443
Ghosts, 23, 44, 62, 64; 190, 262, Harvey, Sir Paul, 26, 86, 216
446, 450 Hawaii, Addenda, 164
Gibbon, Charles, 224 Hawkesworth, John, 11, 49; 474
Gibbon, Edward, 225 Hayne, Paul Hamilton, 18, 28, 49,
Gibson, William Sidney, 226 51; 19,133,250,281,
Gilbert, Sir John, 119 427, 434-435
Gill, William Fearing, 18, 30; 228 Hay ward, Abraham, 389
Gilpin, Henry, 230 Hazlitt, William, 8, 48, 55; 251,
Godwin, William, 257 257
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 43, Heald (buyer at Puttick and
53; 17,83,312 Simpson), 80, 314,471,
Goldsmith, Oliver, 231-233 512
Goncourt, Edmond de, 234-235 Heath, William (engraver), 273-
Goncourt, Jules, 234 274
Gordon, Lady Lucie Duff, 193 Hedlund, T. (publisher), 124
Goteborg (Sweden), 36; 124 Hemans, Felicia Dorothea, Mrs., 1
Graham (buyers at Puttick and Heseltine, J. G., 216
Index 185
Hetzel, J. (publisher), 126 Hunter Rose & Co. (publishers),

Heussey, Robert du Pontavice de, 37; 260
9, 18, 23-24, 40, 49, 57; Huntington Library, The, 109,
232, 253-255, 436 117
Hill (buyers at Puttick and Hurt, F., (buyers at Puttick and
Simpson), 61, 197,374, Simpson) 32, 44, 63, 166,
437 180-185,400,417,489,
History, 2, 20, 27-28, 49, 492
63, 73, 82, 89, 93, 129, Hymns, 62; 252
151,163,165, 173,189,
204-205,207,210-211, Inchbald, Elizabeth, 45; 272
221,223,225-226,246, India, 4, 42, 65
248-249,251,260,271, Insanity, 15, 21, 65; 519
273, 275, 277, 287-289, Ireland, 36-38; 93, 358
294-295,300-301,320- Irving, Washington, 51; 273
321,326,335,337,346, Italy, 2, 20-22, 36, 58, 62; 42, 76,
349, 354, 360, 362, 366, 90, 183,337,407,422,
369,371,378-379,383, 475-476, 530
393, 396, 400, 407,422,
424, 430, 440, 448, 458, James, Sir John Kingston, 6, 43,
473,481,490-491,515, 53; 475
530,535,536 Jefferson, Joseph, 529
Hoffman, C. T. W., 229 Jerusalem (churches), 279
Hogarth, George, 17, 61-62; 256 Jesuits, 4, 26, 58-59, 64; 460
Hogarth, Georgina, 32, 46; 159-160 Jesup, Paton & Co., 425
Holcroft, Thomas, 257 Johnson, Captain Charles, 151
Holden, James, 23; 258 Johnson, Samuel, 14, 49; 44-47, 86,
Holl, Henry, 259 145,280-281,389
Holley, George, 260 Jones (booksellers/buyers at Puttick
Hollingshead, John, 533 and Simpson), 23, 48, 75,
Holmes, J. Gibb, 262 214, 345, 348, 350, 363-
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 29-31, 364,391,429,436,439,
51; 263 455, 495
Hone, William, 264-265 Jones, Stephen, 18
Hook, Theodore, 65; 283 Journal of the Royal Musical
Hook, Walter Farquhar, 43, 64; 266 Association, 256
Household Words, 7,16, 22, 24, Jurisprudence (medical), 478
26, 46, 48, 52, 54, 61, 64;
60,105,161,284,458, Kegan, Paul and Trench
493 (publishers), 333
Howard, H., 433 Kelly, Michael, 8, 45; 283
Howatson, M. C , 90 Kent, Charles, 25, 35, 42, 64; 251,
Hudson (buyer at Puttick and 284,293
Simpson), 491 Kent, Christopher, 152
Hugo, Victor, 24, 39, 50; 267-270 Ketchum, William, 287
Hunt, Rev., J. H., 476 King, Alfred, 27
186 Index
Kinglake, Alexander William, 288 Lewes, George Henry, 47, 52-53;

'Knickerbocker, Diedrich,' see 312-313
Irving, Washington Lewis, John Frederick, 8, 61; 314
Knight, Charles, 48; 442 Linnell, John, 4
Knight, Cornellia, 289 Linton, Eliza Lynn, 315
Kock, Charles-Paul de, 290 Locker, Frederick (later Locker-
Kruse, Lawrids, 229 Lampson), 316
Lockhart, John Gibson, 317
Labiche, Eugene, 40, 291 Loire, The (France), 419
Lamb, Charles, 26; 135, 293-294 London Stage, 45; 318
Lancet, The, 353 Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth,
Landon, Hon. Judson S., 356 263
Landor, Walter Savage, 6; 208 Longman, Thomas, 319
I'Ardeche, 300 Longmans (publishers), 19; 365-
Lardner 's Cabinet Cyclopaedia, 366
173,296 Lonoff, Sue, 302
Lardner, Dionysius, 296 Loughborough, 23; 132
L'Art, 297 Louis, XI. (King of France), 129
Latude, Jean Henri Masers de, 299 Louvet de Couvray, Jean Baptiste,
Laurent, Paul Mathieu, called 'de 7; 320
Laverdiere, Charles Honore, 41, Lovett, William, 56; 321
59; 84 Lupton (buyers at Puttick and
Law, Graham, 309 Simpson), 152,312,321
Laws, 2, 4-5, 44, 56; 383, 459, 461, Lutteroth, Henri, 62; 322
478-479,519 Lytton, Edward George Lytton
Layard, Sir Austen Henry, 301 Bulwer, 45, 47; 284, 323-
Leader, The, 15, 20-21, 51, 63-65; 325, 325A
273,313,411,414,519
Lear, Edward, 24; 302 Macaulay, Thomas Babington,
Leaves of Grass, 52; 516 Baron, 326
Lee, Harriet, 303 Macmillan's Magazine, 359
Leech, John, 220 Macready, William Charles, 45;
Lehmann, Frederick, 10, 41; 384, 336
441 McCarthy, Justin, 327-333
Lehmann, Nina, 16; 82 McCulloch, John, 523
Leon, Edwin De, 305 Magazines, 7,11, 44, 62; 338, 373,
Le Sage, Alain-Rene, 306-307 438
Leslie, Frank [Henry Carter], 7; Maggs Brothers (booksellers/
309 Buyers at Puttick and
Leslie, Miriam, 309 Simpson), 6; 11,31,40,
Les Nuits Anglaises, 39; 308 64,93,117,145,147, 164,
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim, 43, 53; 257,289,335,371-372,
310 378, 420, 430, 435, 462-
Leventhal, Lionel, 398 463,466,490-491
Lever, Charles, 47; 311 Magnetism, 19, 44, 53, 62, 65; 414
Index 187
Man, Isle of, 25, 36, 63; 148, 202 Moore, Thomas, 358
Manitoba, 13-14; 28 Moreau, J. M., 505
Marmontel, Jean Francois, 339 Morland, George, 8, 21, 60-61; 97
Marryat, Frederick, 6, 47, 61; 340- Morley (publisher), 510
341 Moscheles, Ignace, 62; 431
Marston, Edward, 342 Motte Fouque, Caroline, Baroness
Martin, Sir Theodore, see 'Gaultier De La, 229
Bon'. Mowbray, Walter Morris, 359
Mary, Queen of Scots, 27 Moxon, Edward, 316
Massett, Stephen C , 19, 30, 63; Mozart, Wolfgang, Amadeus, 261,
344 276
May (buyer at Puttick and Murphy, Arthur, 43, 45; 281
Simpson), 17,282,313, Music, 9, 25, 44, 62; 24, 33-35, 71,
316,419,458,496 252,256,261,276,318,
Mazeres, Edouard Joseph 322,344,431
Ennemond, 345, 350, 436
Medical testimony, 63; 356 Nadel, Ira B., 187,244,403
Medicine, 44, 62; 74, 478-479, Naigeon, Jaques Andre, 163
519-520 Nargeot, Pierre Julien, 40, 50; 363
Medwin, Thomas, 48; 347 Narrey, Charles, 364
Meilhac, Henri, 40, 50; 348 Netherlands, The, 360
Mejan, Maurice, 4, 8, 26, 38, 63; New America, 164
349 New Mexico, 140
Melbourne (Australia), 36, 54; 507 New York, 7,11, 15,17, 24, 29-32,
Melesville, Anne Honore Joseph, 36, 51, 65; 273, 380
40; 345, 350 New York (State), Ballston Spa,
Memoirs, 7-8,13, 21-22, 35, 41, 356
43-46, 48, 54-57, 60, 62- New York Tribune, The, 527
63; 35, 41, 73, 76, 89,93, New York (Wall Street), 57; 346
97, 129, 147, 154, 163, Newgate Calendar, 26; 275, 349
199,256-257,283,295, Newspapers, 2, 7, 35; 309, 367-368
298-299,317,320,336, Niagara, 29, 57; 260
347,384,416,424,472, Noise, 25, 62; 24
532-535 North America, 29, 42, 51, 55, 59;
Meryon, Edward, 353 84
Mexico, 58-59; 372, 426, 462-463 North Carolina, 142
Milton, John, 434 North West, The, 29
Moak, Nathaniel Cleveland, 19, 30, Northampton, 36; 514
63;356 Northcote, James, 232
Moliere, Jean Baptiste Poquelinde, Notes and Queries, 65; 338, 373
357 Nugent (buyer at Puttick and
Money (buyers at Puttick and Simpson), 7; 20, 43, 60,
Simpson), 26, 37, 91-92, 77,95,143,193,233,236,
259,380,390,453 265, 267-270, 272, 275,
Montagu, Elizabeth, 166 277,307,310,356,359,
Montenegro, 494 386,395,415,481,502
188 Index
Offenbach, Jaques, 348 Picard, Louis-Benoit, 386

Ohnet, Georges, 50; 375-377 Pickering, William (publisher), 96,
Oliver (buyers at Puttick and 168, 186
Simpson), 7; 16, 170, 172, Pichler, Karoline, 229
178, 188,297,309,311, Pigault-Lebrun, Charles, 51; 387
325A, 373 Pigott, Edward, 357
Opera, 22, 40, 45, 50, 62; 256 Piozzi, Hester Lynch (Mrs. Thrale),
Osborne (buyers at Puttick and 389
Simpson), 205, 398 Pixerecourt, Rene-Charles, 390
Otway, Thomas, 11, 46; 381 Planche, James Robinson, 40, 45;
Oxford, 12, 36, 38, 40, 50-51, 64; 350
483 Playing Cards, 481
Plouvier, Edouard, 391
Pacific, 58; Addenda, 164 Poe, Edgar Allan, 40; 392
Packer (buyer at Puttick and Poisons, 63; 479
Simpson), 249, 530, Politics, 1, 44, 56-57, 62, 64; 204-
Addenda, 164 205, 209, 222-223, 382-
Paine, Thomas, 257 383,393,440,536
Palestine, 30 Pollock, Sir Frederick, 336
Pall Mall Gazette, 206 Polynesia, 6, 27, 58; 187,
Palmistry, 44, 62; 511 Addenda, 164
Papacy, 530 Pompadour, Mme de, 7, 56
Paris (bookstores), 349 Poor Law Reform, 382-383
Parker, J. W. and Son (publishers), Pope, Alexander, 49; 86, 394-395
441 Portugal, 60; 494; (History of), 173
Parkinson, Joseph Charles, 24; 382 Powell (buyers at Puttick and
Parsons, Edwin (booksellers/ Simpson), 3, 89, 190, 195,
buyers at Puttick and 203, 387
Simpson), 7-8; 56, 61,97, Princeton University Library
102, 135-136, 138,314, (Parrish Collection), 4, 9;
388, 488, 494, 537 27,85,251,253,309,411,
Patagonia, 59; 68 425, 464
Patmore, Coventry, 138 Prior, Sir James, 49; 231
Peninsula War, 362 Procter, Bryan Waller, see
Peters, Catherine, 21, 25, 28, 32, 'Cornwall, Barry', 8,11,
37, 48, 52-53, 65; 97, 371, 17
414,496 Protest, 44, 62; 24, 398, 424
Philadelphia, 24, 29, 30, 36, 53, Psychiatry, 44, 62, 65; 519-520
57, 63; 399 Psychology, 44, 55, 62, 65; 53, 414
Phillips, Henry, 83, 385 Publishing, 7, 37, 46; 12, 134, 154,
Philosophy, 17, 30, 44, 62, 65; 139, 278,319
163,505 Puigblanch, Antonio, 43; 400
Phiz (i.e., Browne, Hablot Knight), Pullen (buyers at Puttick and
156 Simpson), 35, 73, 200
Physiology, 31, 37, 39, 44, 62; 38
Index 189
Pusey, Edward Bouverie, 38, 64; Rhetoric, 515

13 Ritchie, Leitch, 61; 419
Putnam, G. P. (publishers), 477 Robin Hood, 6; 420
Puttick and Simpson (auctioneers), Robinson, Kenneth, 24; 20, 206,
5-15, 22-23, 28, 32, 35, 302
37-38, 47, 52-54, 61, 65; Robson (buyer at Puttick and
13,30,90, 117, 137,227, Simpson), 10; 155
261,266,280,286,293, Roche (buyer at Puttick and
304, 334, 370, 426-427, Simpson), 7-8; 19,96,
456, 467, 472, 476 133, 168,251,287,349,
Quaritch, Bernard (booksellers/ 384,432
buyers at Puttick and Roman Empire, 58; 225
Simpson), 6-8; 19,23, Rome (history of), 26, 530; (St.
206, 299, 384, 456 Peters), 49; 474
Quilter, Harry, 7-8,19, 35, 61; 401 Roosevelt, Blanche, Mrs., 22; 421
Rose, G. Maclean, 260
Racine, Jean, 415 Ross, Alexander Milton, 30; 424
Radcliffe, Anne, 403-404 Rossetti, Dante Gabriel, 29, 48; 54
Radecliffe, Noell, 405 Rossetti, William Michael, 28; 54
Railways, 120 Routledge (publishers), 293, 324,
Raisson, Horace, 406 341
Ramsgate, 25; 24 Ruedy, John, 300
Raphael, 21; 52 Ruxton, George Frederick
Reade, Charles, 10, 62; 384 Augustus, 426
Reade, John Edmund, 408-409
Redford, George, 61; 410-411 Sabin, Frank T. (booksellers/
Reed, Isaac, 45; 18 buyers at Puttick and
Reeve, Wybert, 26; 349 Simpson), 104, 108, 116,
Reformation, 337 192,225,230
Regnard, Jean Francis, 415 St. James Theatre, 441
Regnier, de la Brierre, Francis St. Martin's Public Library (buyer
Joseph Philocles, 413 at Puttick and Simpson),
Religion, 1, 43-44, 62, 64; 13, 30, 9; 163, 505
227-228, 252, 266, 284, Salisbury (buyers at Puttick and
286, 304, 334, 337, 366, Simpson), 55
370, 400, 407, 458,460, Sampson Low (publisher), 59; 64,
472, 482, 530 100,119,259,342
Restoration Drama, 11, 37, 46; 130, Sand, George, 39; 427-428
146,150,167,381,500, Sandhurst, 59; 426
518 Sandwich Islands, 27, 58; 187
Revue des Deux Mondes, La, 41; Santarelli, 128
203 Sardou, Victorien, 429
Reya (buyers at Puttick and Sarony, Napoleon, 29
Simpson), 346, 399, 473 Sayers, Dorothy L., 456
Reynolds, Frederick, 45; 416 Schlesinger, Sebastian, 29, 42; 358,
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 232 435
190 Index
Scotland, 4, 63-64; (Sumburgh Siddons, Sarah (nee Kemble), 45;

Head), 435 41
Scott, Sir Gilbert, 19, 24; 398 Simpkin and Marshall (publishers),
Scott, Sir Walter, 4, 8, 40, 45, 48, 27
66; 19,65,133, 141,201, Slavery (Abolition), 57; 424
317,432-433,444,435; Smirke, Robert, 433
Antiquary, The, 435; Bride Smith (buyers at Puttick and
of Lammermoor, The, 70; Simpson), 7; 6, 167,216-
Guy Mannering, 435; 219,264,276,315,389,
Ivanhoe, 435; 449-452
miscellaneous prose Smith, Elder (publishers), 98
works, 48; 432; Modern Smith, George, 533
British Drama, 48; 433; Smith, Nelson, 14, 152, 302, 394,
poetry, 48; 434; Old 432,441
Mortality, 201; Quentin Smollett, Tobias, 97,448
Durward, 201; Waverley Society for Promoting Christian
Novels, 1, 48 Knowledge, 472
Scribe, Eugene, 345, 350, 436-437 Society for the Diffusion of Useful
Scribner's (publishers), 438 Knowledge, 27; 277
Scribners, Magazine, 9, 438 Sotheran (booksellers at Puttick
Sculpture, 19, 44, 60-61; 411 and Simpson), 8, 37, 46;
Seaver, William, 309 401
Serret, Ernest, 439 Soulie, Frederic, 449-452
Seymour (buyers at Puttick and Southerne, Thomas, 46; 453
Simpson), 295 Southey, Robert, 10, 45; 173, 221,
Seymor, Robert, 156 454
Shakespeare, 3-4, 15, 39, 48; 166, Souvestre, Emile, 455
292,357,425,441-442, Spain, 396, 400, 494; (history of),
483, 526; Hamlet, 70, 435 173
Sharp, M. W., 433 Spanish Literature, 44, 53, 62; 78-
Shattock, Joanne, ed., The 79, 173,385
Cambridge Bibliography Spenser, Walker T. (booksellers/
of English Literature, 43, buyers at Puttick and
366 Simpson), 158-159, 197-
Sheffield and Rotherham 198
Independent Supplement, Spicer, Henry, 64; 456
4 Squier, Ephraim George, 21, 384
Sheldon, Mary French, 17, 30, 42; Squire, William Barclay, 7-8; 19,
201 299
Shelton, Thomas, 53; 78 Stanfield, Clarkson, 47, 61; 340
Shepherd, R. H., 31, 158 Stephens, John Lloyd, 462
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 147, Sterne, Laurence, 97, 464-465
443 Stephens, John R., 15, 198
Shipping and craft, 61; 131 Stephens, Russell, 56
Stewart, J. A., 435
Index 191
Stirling (buyers at Puttick and 199,221,232,272,278,

Simpson), 10; 156-157, 283,292-293,318,323,
162 336,359,361,381,405,
Storre (buyer at Puttick and 412,416,425,433,441-
Simpson), 65, 358 443, 453, 488-489, 500,
Stothard, Thomas, 48, 60; 51, 152 518,521,526; French, 15,
Street Music, 9,16, 25, 62; 24 22-23,25,48,75, 169-
Suckling, George (booksellers/ 170,172,194,212,214,
buyers at Puttick and 254,270,291,345,348,
Simpson), 10,41,79,88, 350, 352, 357, 363-364,
94, 139, 154, 174-176, 386,390-391,413,415,
179,201,211,250,252, 429, 436-437, 439, 455,
256, 299, 320, 323,353, 495; German, 310, 492
361,423,443,445,507 Theatrical Observer, The, 8, 45;
Sue, [Eugene], 467-469 488
Sun, The, 26; 284 Thesaurus Dramaticus, 45; 489
Superstitions, 44, 62, 64; 190, 227, Thistlewood, (buyer at Puttick and
238,271,285,446 Simpson), 68, 142, 167,
Sutherland, John, 88, 152, 373, 533 229,301,351,360,403-
Sutton, Christopher, 64; 472 404, 426, 460
Swift, (buyer at Puttick and Thompson (buyer at Puttick and
Simpson), 118,498 Simpson), 68, 142, 167,
Swift, Jonathan, 11, 49; 474 229,301,351,354,360,
Switzerland, 496 403-404, 426, 460
Thornbury, Walter, 61; 493
Tasso, Torquato, 6,19, 43, 53; 475- Times, The (London), 359
476 Todd, William B., 432-434;
Tauchnitz, Bernhard and Christian Addenda, 164
(publishers), Addenda, 164 Topp, Chester W., 224
Taveau, Augustin Louis, 477 Toronto, 13, 29, 32, 36-37, 54; 260,
Taylor, Jenny Bourne, 3 430
Taylor, Jeremy, 20, 35, 64; 482 Tourode, Alfred, 495
Temperance, 64; 355 Townsend, Pauline D., 276
Temple Bar, 382 Townshend, Rev., Chauncy Hare,
Tennessee, 142 496
Tennyson, Alfred Lord, 250, 435, Train, The, 131
483 Travel, 6,13, 29, 31, 38, 41, 44, 47,
Terry, R. C , 14, 152,302,391, 58-59; 21, 35, 44-45, 50,
432,441,444;^. 171 55, 58, 64, 84, 140, 148,
Thackeray, William Makepeace, 164,179-180,186,244-
484-487 245,260,282,351,372,
Theatre: 378,419,426,462-463,
American, 196, 521, 525; 466, 473, 494, 508, 528-
English, 18,26,31-32,41, 529
52, 56, 86, 87, 130, 146- Trials (incl. Criminal), 3-5,19, 27,
147, 150, 174, 191, 196, 41, 44, 62-63; 43, 57, 60,
192 Index
193,275,277,356,418, Westall, William, 236, 513

459,461 Whitby (Yorkshire), 434
Trowbridge, John Townsend, 20, Whittier, John Greenleaf, 263
30; 497 Wilkins, J. C , 129
Triibner (publishers), 304 Wilson, John, 37, 46; 518
Tunbridge Wells (Kent), 43; 475 Winslow, Forbes, 15, 21, 65; 519-
Turkey, 494 520
Turner, Joseph Mallord William, Winter, William, 15, 30-31, 48, 51;
419,493,497,498 65, 141,434-435,521-529
Twain, Mark (Clemens, Samuel Wiseman, Nicholas Patrick
L.), 29, 32; 263, 499 (Cardinal), 530
Tynemouth, 226 Withers (booksellers at Puttick and
Simpson), 7, 9-10; 4, 24,
United States (History of), 20; 27,47,71, 141,221,248,
(Communistic Societies), 261,273,305,402,408-
371; (Travels in), 378 411,422,424,431,447,
Universal Review, The, 401 454, 465, 493, 499
Wolff, Robert Lee, 259
Vanbrugh, Sir John, 500 Wonders of the Universe, 63; 532
Vaudeville Theatre, 443 Wood, Mrs. Henry, 533
Verdi, Giuseppe Fortunino Wood, Mrs. John, 441
Francesco, 421 Woolley (buyer at Puttick and
Vernet, Horace, 55; 300 Simpson), 33, 220
Vernon, (buyer at Puttick and Woollett (buyer at Puttick and
Simpson), 140,440 Simpson), 14,296,444,
Versailles, 300 446,457,461
Vesey (buyer at Puttick and World, The, 4
Simpson), 130 Wraxall, Nathaniel William, 13;
Vincent, Benjamin, 63; 249 535
Voltaire, 3-4, 9, 39, 50, 65; 166, Wynne, Nannie, 5
415,505
Yates, Edmund, 131,382
Walch, Garnet, 20, 54; 506-507 Yucatan, 58-59; 372, 462-463
Walton, Izaak, 509
Walton, William, 43; 400
Ward and Lock (publishers), 27; 73
Ward, Charles, 197,464
Ward, Edward Matthew, 325
Ward, Frank, 395
Warton, Joseph, 395
Watt, A. P., 23, 25, 37, 47, 66; 24,
242-243, 432, 438
Webster, Noah, 512
Weekly Register, 26; 284
West Indies, 56; 440
About the Author
WILLIAM BAKER is Professor, Department of English, and Professor, University

Libraries, at Northern Illinois University. His previous books include Recent Work in
Critical Theory, 1989-1995: An Annotated Bibliography (1996), Twentieth-
Century Bibliography and Textual Criticism: An Annotated Bibliography (2002),
and A Companion to the Victorian Novel (2002), all available from Greenwood
Press. He also coedited The Letters of Wilkie Collins (1999), and has been awarded a
National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for 2002-2003 to edit another
three volumes of Wilkie Collins's letters.

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ilkie Collins's

The Juvenile Novels of World War II: An Annotated Bibliography

Bibliographies and Indexes in World Literature, Number 55

Baker, William, 1944-

The paper used in this book complies with the

Wilkie Collins and His Books 1

The 1890 Dispersion of Wilkie Collins's Library 5

The Composition of Wilkie Collins's Library

RECONSTRUCTION OF WILKIE COLLINS'S LIBRARY

The Present Catalogue: Rationale and Form 70

Paintings and Art Work in Collins's Possession

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) is a major British Victorian novelist, dramatist,

The present work is the first reconstruction of his library. It is an attempt — to

WILKIE COLLINS AND HIS BOOKS

References to books and libraries are scattered throughout WC's copious

The crucial psychological reverberations of books, specific books, libraries and

THE 1890 DISPERSION OF WILKIE COLLINS'S LIBRARY

The existence of two catalogues of books in WC's Library makes it possible to

The existence of a second catalogue of books from WC's Library produced by

Puttick and Simpson's auction catalogue of 20 January 1890, annotated with

With notable exceptions it is difficult to trace the late subsequent movement of

Furthermore: "The sale of any Lot of Prints or Drawings, or Illustrated Books, or

The main purchaser at the Puttick and Simpson auction of WC was M. L.

Albemarle's two-volume autobiographical reminiscences, Fifty Years of My Life

Each item in Bennett's Catalogue is individually priced. Bennett's prices often

Sir N. W. Wraxall's Historical Memoirs were part of an auction lot consisting of

There seems to be a realism at times about Bennett's pricing, reflecting what he

A five-volume Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, seventh edition of 1811, has in

THE COMPOSITION OF WILKIE COLLINS'S LIBRARY

Volumes in the Puttick and Simpson auction, and in the M. L. Bennett

There follows an alphabetically arranged tabular listing of presentation copies to

Table I. Presentation/Association Copies

ITEM AUTHOR SHORT- DATE INSCRIBER DETAIL

11 132 J.B. Cooke Wanderings 1874 Poet provincial poet

12 137 B. Cornwall English 1856 Poet B.W.Procter

24 210 B. Franklin Auto- 1868 Editor J. Bigelow

42 398 Sir Gilbert Well Walk 1878 Author (1811-1878)

49 482 J. Taylor Holy Living 1824 Unknown To Mrs. Harriet

Of these fifty-six presentation copies a number are not to WC personally. For

Given the closeness of WC to his mother Harriet it is hardly surprising that

The presence of WC's father, William Collins (1788-1847), the distinguished

An interesting illustration of WC's father's legacy is reflected in the presentation

According to Frederic Boase in his Modern English Biography: Containing

On the other hand, J. G. Holmes's Ghost Gloom, published in 1889, is in the

contains an affectionate and effusive inscription to WC (item 253). Curiously the

"opium, and subsequently alcohol" {DNB). Another inscription revealing an

The presence of a presentation copy of Michael Thomas Bass's (1799-1884)

There is also a copy of Edward Forbes's Quiggin's Illustrated Guide and

journalist, had extensive knowledge of English Catholicism and of Catholic

The copy of the second edition, published in Paris in twenty-six volumes in

The Fallen Leaves (1879) is a relatively late novel by WC. Dedicated to

communities in a book he owned, The Communistic Societies of the United

The presence of presentation copies provides the key to unexplored epistolary

WC toured North America and Canada between 25 September 1873 and 7

societies. A scion of a prominent wealthy Sephardic Jewish Philadelphia family,

WC's library contains Winter's travel books, his recollections of theatrical

therefore possible, in most instances, to analyze the composition of the books in

Table II. Imprint Analysis

PUBLICATION TOTAL ITEMS %

496, [516], 517, 530)

The collection contains no manuscripts or incunabula, and fails in terms of

Place of Publication Analysis

Table III. Place of Publication Analysis