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Charles Lamb 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

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.

Charles Lamb was an influential English essayist and poet, and a close friend of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The collection consists of selected letters and manuscripts by and about Lamb, as well as twelve of Lamb's letters to Maria Fryer and others. The collection includes an autograph manuscript of his poem "To Louisa Martin," signed and dated 1830. Writers of letters about Lamb include Mary Lamb, Henry James (1843-1916), William Hone, and Luther Livingston. There are also photostatic copies of notes in the hands of both Lamb and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

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. The Luther Livingston letter was "pulled" from "Priscilla Farmer" (presumably a book?).

Various sources, see individual folders for more information.

Folder inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. Original Autograph Manuscript of poem "To Louisa Martin." First published as "The Change" in the Supplemental Number of Hone's The Year Book in 1831, 1830 August 9. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

First published as "The Change" in the Supplemental Number of Hone's The Year Book in 1831.

Physical Description

1 folder

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. Charles Lamb to Matilda Betham, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

1 A.L.S.

Physical Description

1 folder

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. Charles Lamb to Maria Fryer, 1829-1834. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

9 A.Ls.S. dated May 25 and Aug. 17, 1829; March 17, 1831; Jan. 17 and March 1, 1832; July 30 and Aug. 2 and Aug. 7, 1833; Feb. 10, 1834.

Physical Description

1 folder

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. Charles Lamb to "Dear H", circa 1814. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Reference to the appearance of his "Confessions of a Drunkard" in Basil Montagu's miscellany, "Some Enquiries into the Effect of Fermented Liquors."

Physical Description

1 folder

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. Negative photostats of Charles Lamb's copy of The History of Philip Commines, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains 2 A.Ms. note, one by Charles Lamb on front cover and one by Samuel Coleridge on back cover.

Physical Description

1 folder

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. Charles Lamb to Ollier, Booksellers and piece removed from 1st edition of Lamb's works, 1818 May 28. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Asks them to see to setting up the title page and table of contents of volume 2 of his works published in 1818. Sketches briefly his plan. Piece removed from Lamb's works is part of the Scribner Collection of Lamb.

Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
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Printed Description of the Autographed Manuscript of Lamb's contribution to Hone's "Every Day Book", 1827 April 16. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
  1. View digital content
An essay on Charles Lamb, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Probably a preface to an edition of the "Essays of Elia."

Physical Description

1 folder

Mary Lamb to Maria Fryer, 1829 May 14. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. from Enfield. Requests her to spend more time with Emma Isola, now with the Lambs.

Physical Description

1 folder

Assignment of the Copyright for "Tales from Shakespeare" and "Mrs. Leicesters' School" to Robert Baldwin and Charles Cradock, 1836 July 21. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

D.S. Signed by Mary Lamb.

Physical Description

1 folder

William Hone to Mr. Urban, of J.B. Nichols and Sons, along with leaves of printed memoir on Hone., 1832 April 3. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

"The Year Book", "The Everyday Book", "The Table Book", and "The Horn Book" and his contributions mentioned.

Physical Description

1 folder

Materials Viewable Online
  1. View digital content
Henry James to Wendell P. Garrison, circa 1880. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. to editor of "The Nation", asking that he advertise in "The Nation" a portrait of Charles Lamb by W. Haglett, which Mrs. Moxon, who is need of meny, wishes to sell.

Physical Description

1 folder

Luthers Livingston to Mr. Safford, 1903 February 17. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

From Scarsdale, NY. Proof that Lamb's "Poems", 1796, preceded "Priscilla Farmer."

Physical Description

1 folder

A Letter by Thomas Westwood, the son of Lamb's boarding mistress, 1840 April 25. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. Mentions Lamb's Chin, A Lamb ms.

Physical Description

1 folder

Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834.. 3 A.L.S. by Charles Lamb, 1833-1834. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest