Eminent Scottish poet and songwriter (1759–1796) who was a seminal figure of the Romantic movement and whose verses and songs (including “Auld Lang Syne”) take a place among the most durable and beloved works in the history of Western literature. Original handwritten manuscript of the poem 'Once Fondly Lov'd, and Still Remember'd Dear' (also known as 'To an Old Sweetheart'), one page, 7.25 x 9. The page reads, in full:
"To an old Mistress, then married, with a Copy of Poems, when the author was on the wing for the West Indies—
Once fondly lov'd, and still remember'd dear;
Sweet, early object of my youthful vows;
Accept this mark of friendship warm, sincere,
Friendship! 'tis all cold duty now allows.
And when you read the simple, artless rhymes,
One friendly sigh for him, he asks no more,
Who distant burns in flaming, torrid climes,
Or haply lies beneath th' Atlantic roar.”
Docketed on the reverse in an unknown hand, the poem has been tipped into a handsome presentation album, bound in red Moroccan leather by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. In very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds, a bit of mild light toning (heavier to reverse), a couple small brushes, short unobtrusive vertical tear at center touching two words, and a few professional repairs.
Ah, the power of lost love! For Burns, the desire for a former paramour led to the creation of powerful prose. This example is an early manuscript—one of only five autographed copies known to still exist—that was originally composed in 1786 for one of Burns’ former mistresses, Peggy Thomson. The poem was first printed in 1797, a year after the poet’s death, in The Belfast News Letter and later appeared in book form in the 1800 publication, The Works of Robert Burns. It once found a home with well-known manuscript collector Robert Borthwick Adam. Many of Adam’s possessions can now be found in the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. Part of the provenance for this particular example dates to a 1952 auction at Sotheby’s. Furthermore, this very poem was one of only two original Burns manuscripts exhibited at the Library of Congress in Washington as part of the Robert Burns Symposium: Robert Burns at 250: Poetry, Politics and Performance, held in February 2009! An exceedingly rare original poem penned by one of Scotland’s favorite sons. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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