Sales catalogue: Sotheby's

Date:
June 1928
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/20/742
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue: Sotheby's. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    149/162 (page 141)
    900 SHAKESPEARE. “ Christopher North” (John Wilson, the author of Noctes Ambrosianae) A. L. s. 8 pp. 4to, 11 Oct. 1849, to “ My dear Shirra,” critising “Othello,” 4 VERY FINE LETTER giving a very full and detailed discussion of the various intricate points concerned with the time of duration of the action of the play : Your statement of the Creed of the Short-timeists is essentially correct— but twoud be well to guard against misconception, by distinctly adding that the Short-timeists are well acquainted with the many passages that indicate long time—and that in those passages lies the difficulty to be explained. We the Short-timeists hold that Desdemona was murdered on the Sunday night—all parties having arrived at Cyprus on the Saturday—was murdered about 36 or 38 hours after setting foot on the fatal Island. We see Long Time staring us in the face—and we.demand of Saturn—how came you here? The gentleman with the Scythe—the Scythian can make no apology for his intrusion—and letting his hour glass fall on the floor, exit. ‘True, he again and again tries to force himself in through the bars of the cage where Othello is pacing about likea Diger. &c. There 1 pause to resume ... . the inspection of your. motes..... In the meantime—as far as we have gone—and we have not gone very far— we have not got beyond lunch hour of the Second Day in Cyprus— Sunday—the day of the murder. Please never forget that so far from seeking to find fault with Shaky, I am seeking but to understand him— and one of his noblest works. If you finally believe him guilty of daringly using Two Times, perhaps he had an end to obtain thereby, which could not otherwise be obtained. I believe he used Two Times. &c. The Property of a Gentleman. 201 » GISSING-(GHORGE) “BY THE IONIAN SEA)” tan Ato. MS. OF THE LAST NINE CHAPTERS, BEGINNING AT CHAPTER X, “ CHILDREN OF THE SOIL,” written on one side on 17 large 4to leaves, numbered from. 19 to 35, in Gissing’s minute writing, with numerous corrections * Gissing’s literary manuscripts are of the greatest rarity. [See ILLUSTRATION. | 902 Harpy (Thomas) A. L. s. 24 pp. 8vo, Sept. 6, 1895, Max Gate, to George Gissing, a charming letter asking him to stay in Dorset, with a Postscript on the curious effect of an owl’s cry 903° Harpy (Thomas) A. L.s. 4 pp. 8vo, 1.7.86, 28 Upper Bedford Place, to George Gissing, thanking him for the presentation copy of “Isabel Clarendon ” : I am afraid that one who has such a keen eye for good work as your-