Mary Shelley (1797-1851)
Autograph letter signed ('M.W. Shelley') to Charles Ollier, n.p., 29 April 1835.

One page, 186 x 114mm. Integral address leaf, remnant of seal.

'Are you not shabby?': Mary Shelley jokingly protests at being sent too few copies of her newly-published novel, Lodore. 'Are you not shabby? – 12 Copies are promised – I receive 10 & you wish to deprive me of two – you would so much oblige me if you would send me one copy to my Aunt Miss Wollstonecraft ... Do this at least & you will do me a favor'.

The recipient, Charles Ollier (1788-1859), was the literary advisor to Richard Bentley, who published Shelley's penultimate novel, Lodore, that year. Ollier was also the chief publisher of Mary's husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, as well as of Keats's Poems, 1817. The aunt referred to is Everina Wollstonecraft, the younger sister of Shelley's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft.

A.M. Overton (presumably the Mrs A.M. Overton listed as a member of the Shelley Society in 1887) – given on 27 June 1888 to [Henry Rosher] James (1862-1931, Professor of English Literature, Patna College, India: accompanying letter of presentation); and by descent.

Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.