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Aubrey Beardsley Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Aubrey Beardsley, English artist, book illustrator, and writer, was born on August 21, 1872 in Brighton, England. He showed signs of intelligence and talent from a young age, developing writing, musical, and drawing skills. Unfortunately, Beardsley was also afflicted with poor health from a young age, infected with tuberculosis by age seven. He tried to work at an insurance company, but his weak lungs prevented him from working there for long. After briefly focusing on his writing, Beardsley began to work more on his drawing. His health improved, and seriously began his artistic career in the early 1890s. In 1892 he received a commission from J.M. Dent to illustrate Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur. This commission allowed him to survive on his drawing alone. In 1894, he created 17 images for Oscar Wilde's Salome, beginning his relationship with the avant-garde. From 1894 to 1895 he worked as art editor for Yellow Book, but fled to France when the Wilde was arrested. Upon his return to London, Beardsley founded a new magazine The Savoy, which included parts of his romantic novel Under the Hill. He illustrated Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock and Aristophanes' Lysistrata in 1896. Around the same time, Beardsley's health began deteriorating again and he was unable to work continuously. He passed away on March 16, 1898.
The Aubrey Beardsley Collection contains drawings from Beardsley's early Art Nouveau work, book illustrations, borders, chapter headings, title pages, and posters. In addition, a signed autograph manuscript of "The Art of Hoarding," notes for a Volpone prospectus, its revision, and introduction are included, as well as notes for a short story, "The Celestial Lover," which Beardsley never developed, and portions of the original holograph manuscripts of "Under the Hill" and "The Ivory Piece."
Among the major correspondents are Edmund Gosse, Robert Underwood Johnson, and Leonard Smithers. Albert Eugene Gallatin, art critic and collector of this material, is also represented in letters from Henry Harland, Philip Hofer, Mitchell Kennerley, Percy Lubbock, A. Hyatt Mayor, Arthur Symons, and others. In addition, there is correspondence from Douglas Ainslie, Joseph M. Dent, John Lane, and Beardsley's mother and sister, as well as photographs of Beardsley and family members.
The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: Grove Art Online.
The collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author.
In 1948, Albert Eugene Gallatin gave the University drawings, manuscripts, letters, and related material. Princeton has expanded the collection over the years by additional gifts and purchases. See the Collection File for additional information.
Beardsley's illustrated copy of Stéphane Mallarmé's L'après midi d'un faune (1882) was purchased in 2012 with funds provided by the Richard M. Ludwig Endowment donated by Michael Spence, Class of 1966.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Barbara Volz in 1996. Finding aid written by Barbara Volz in 1996.
Biography written by Alyxandra Cullen, '09.
In 2022, restrictions on materials where researchers were required to use surrogates were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.
These books have been transferred to the Rare Books Division:
King, A. W. (Arthur William): An Aubrey Beardsley Lecture...., London, R. A. Walker, 1924, #140 of 500, signed by R. A. Walker
Reade, Brian: Aubrey Beardsley, an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1966.
Reade, Brian, compiler: Aubrey Beardsley: an Exhibition Arranged by Brian Reade for the Gallery of Modern Art, Foundation for Modern Art, New York, 1967
Walker, R. A., editor: Letters from Aubrey Beardsley to Leonard Smithers, The First Edition Club, Chiswick Press, London, 1937.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Barbara Volz
- Finding Aid Date
- 2006
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists of original drawings of Aubrey Beardsley as well as information regarding the drawings.
This series is arranged into three subseries: Information About the Matted Drawings, Original Drawings, Unmatted, Original Drawings, Matted & Loose.
Physical Description11 boxes
This section contains information about the matted drawings such as catalog entries, dealer notes, notes from old mats, letters noted in this list, etc.
Arranged by number of drawing.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
Also including ALS by Lilian C. Dash to R. A. Walker, 1931.
Physical Description1 folder
(See: ExPR2841.A2B4 1800z)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of original drawings by Aubrey Beardsley, which are unmatted.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
Printed article.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Printed card designed by AB for a volume of "The Savoy" to be enclosed in the magazine for readers to send or frame (D. Olsen)
Physical Description1 folder
Also includes tracings by Edmund Gosse of AB's drawings for the suppressed Yellow Book.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Consists of matted and loose drawings by Aubrey Beardsley, including those for "Le Morte Darthur," "Keynotes," and "The Yellow Book," as well as others.
Arranged by book the drawing was used for.
Physical Description9 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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3 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
[see the Robert H. Taylor Collection of English and American Literature (RTC01) for two additional Beardsley drawings for Le Morte Darthur: ink drawing vignettes for Vol. I, Book 1, and for Vol. II, Book 9.]
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
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2 boxes
1 folder
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5 boxes
1 folder
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(see catalog pages)
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
See also: (Ex) NE642.B363F73.1894
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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Consists of manuscripts for works such as "The Art of Hoarding," "The Ivory Piece," and "Under the Hill," as well as others.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the correspondence of Aubrey Beardsley.
This series is arranged into two subseries: Letters By Beardsley, Letters to Beardsley from
Physical Description4 boxes
Consists of letters written by Aubrey Beardsley to individuals such as his mother, his sister, Edmund Gosse, and John Lane, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description4 boxes
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
7 ALsS by Beardsley to his publisher, J.M. Dent. One is dated 3 Oct. 1892; most are undated. AM 2015-9.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
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1 box
1 folder
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[See also: Box 5]
Physical Description1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of letters sent to Aubrey Beardsley by Edmund Gosse, E. Bella, and W. Furse.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description2 boxes
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of photographs, correspondence, and printed material about Aubrey Beardsley.
This series is arranged into three subseries: Photographs, Correspondence & Papers of Others About Beardsley, and Miscellaneous Material.
Physical Description3 boxes
Consists of photographs of Aubrey Beardsley and of his family.
Arranged by subject.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of correspondence of Aubrey Beardsley's mother, his sister, John Lane, various other persons. Also includes biographical sketches of Aubrey Beardsley by his mother.
Arranged by author.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
"The chief thing that I remember about Aubrey as a child...."
Physical Description1 folderAutograph manuscript, in slipcase
1 folderTyped manuscript, 2 copies
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(see: Payne, H. & Read, T.)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 box
1 folder
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Also includes tracings by Gosse of AB's drawings for the suppressed Yellow Book, sent to Gallatin in 1902.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(with letters to Walker by: John Lane, Haldane MacFall, J. M. Dent, & P. G. Konody)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 box
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1 box
1 folder
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Consists of an advertisement for "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope as well as material regarding the death of Aubrey Beardsley.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
This was a BBC TV documentary by John Selwyn Gilbert. Also includes a postcard announcing the broadcast
Physical Description1 folderTyped manuscript
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
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1 box
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
Consists of a catalogue of an exhibition of drawings by Aubrey Beardsley as well as other printed matter related to Aubrey Beardsley and his work.
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
(See: Box 2. fol. 2)
Physical Description1 folder
Includes typescript marked for printer and galley proof of the title page.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
In The Princeton University Library Chronicle, Vol. XVI, No. 3, Princeton University Press, Spring.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Consists of additional drawings and correspondence added to the collection through a later accession.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
Being Beardsley's own collection of his early work in india ink, sepia, light wash and colors, each mounted by the artist in a small album, and having his signature "A. Beardsley" on a fly leaf at the front, and repeated with the date "6/5/90" on a fly leaf at the end. Bound in half roan in a brown morocco case by Riviere. Recorded in Aubrey Beardsley by Robert Ross, under "List of Drawings," compiled by Aymer Vallance. Ten of the drawings are reproduced in The Early Work of Aubrey Beardsley. Includes description and list. Acquired by PUL from the Hanzel Galleries auction of the collection of David Gage Joyce.
Physical Description1 folder
Beardsley's copy of Stephane Mallarmé (1842–1898), L'après midi du'un faune: Eglogue par Stéphane Mallarmé. Édition définitive (Paris: Printed by Louis Boyer et Cie, Asnières, for La Revue Indepéndante, 1882). The printed booklet comprising part of the Édition definitive of 1882 later bound into vellum wrappers with the following autograph decorations by Beardsley: (i) brown front original over (now the front endpaper): Whistleresque butterfly and three neumes in black ink; (ii) first page of the poem: faun's head and naked breast, hairs from the latter trailing into the initials "AVB", with the edge of a jagged cloud and blue sky in watercolour behind him; (iii) opening covering the second and third pages of text (numbered 6 & 7): wispy forms and floating tendrils in black ink; (iv) fourth and fifth pages of text (numbered 8 & 9): lily-pad, tendrils and neumes in black ink; (v) seventh page of text (numbered 11): branch with flowers in black ink, above the inscription in lower-case capitals "Aubrey Beardsley" with an additional tendril ending in the initials 'AVB', in black ink; together with a loosely inserted unrelated signed Beardsley inscription dated Xmas 1895, 7 pages of drawings in all, bound into vellum wrappers (possibly by Leonard Smithers. Accompanied by a typed note by Sir Eric Maclagan (1929) stating that he bought Beardsley's copy of Mallarmé from Leonard Smithers in 1900; as well as an unrelated note signed by Beardsley for Alfred Lambart (1895) and later inscribed by the latter to Gerald Maclagan (1935). The two notes are in a Mylar sleeve in Beardsley's Mallarmé, which has a parchment wrapper.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder