Item 231 - R. H. Shepherd: variorum readings of the poetical works of Tennyson, vol. 1

1 volume; one loose bifolium enclosed.

Has the 'Quod vis, potes' bookplate of Robert Bowes (1835–1919).

The spine was originally embossed to read 'Tennyson. R.H.S. Appendix'; a loose bifolium at the front notes that it is in fact Volume I, and the spine lettering has been altered accordingly. The bifolium also records that the volume is 'Completed & paged at foot for binding', and that it relates to Poems by two brothers and Timbuctoo.

Eight slightly smaller folia are bound in with the rest of the volume: these bear the heading 'Tennyson's Poems. Inlaid in 7 Vols' and comprise a list of contents of each volume with page numbers, pencil annotations give dates. 6v has pencil notes headed 'Printed Matter inlaid per [?] MS additions'. 7-9r have notes in ink headed 'Tennyson's Poems': 'R. H. Shepherd who made a Bibliography of Tennyson's Works brought together in 1866 all the then printed Poems, inlaid on folio paper, the latest editions then published being used, the earlier form of the poems being given at the foot of each page, together with illustrations from other poems of Tennyson as also from other authors. Where entire poems had not been reprinted in later editions, they were inserted either in M.S. or in cutting from some other source... The present collection consists of extracts of such of the 7 volumes of Shepherd as contained any note on alterations, each leaf containing such extract being marked with the MS page as made by Shepherd & also in a circle [example given] the page of the printed edition inlaid'; it is also noted that marks in pencil 'give the volume & page of the Cabinet edition' (1875-1877).

An MS title page in another hand [presumably Shepherd's] is followed by extracted pages as detailed in the note. The pencil notes giving page references for the 'Cabinet edition' are in the same hand as the introductory material [Robert Bowes'?]

Other volumes of variorum readings of Tennyson by Shepherd: Add.MS.c/232-238.
Shepherd's catalogue of Tennyson editions and Tennysoniana: Add MS.c/239.