RICHARD MONCKTON (1ST BARON HOUGHTON) MILNES - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 73108

RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES, 1ST BARON HOUGHTON

The British literary patron informs a colleague that he will be at the theatre picking up his costume, and relays that he hopes to see him there, signing his name in black ink

Autograph Letter signed: "R.M. Milnes" in black ink, 1p, 4¾x7½. 26 Pall Mall, London, England. In full: "My Dear Sir, I mean to be at the Theatre tomorrow between two & three p.m. to see about my dress & hope I may find you there. Yours always & obliged". Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton (1809-1885) was an English poet, literature patron, and politician. While attending Cambridge, Milnes joined the socially and artistically progressive Apostles Club, which included members such as Alfred Tennyson and Arthur Henry Hallam. They involved themselves in issues such as copyright and the establishments of juvenile reformatories. His early work, mostly reflective poetry reminiscent of Wordsworth, led many people to regard him as one of the most promising writers of his generation, with books such as Memorials of a Tour in Some Parts of Greece (1834), Memorials of a Residence on the Continent and Historical Poems (1838), Poems of Many Years (1840), and Palm Leaves (1844) earning him recognition. However, Milnes' legacy was his standing as a generous and discriminating patron of writers; he published Life, Letters, and Literary Remains of John Keats (1848), helped Tennyson secure a pension, and popularized the writing of Ralph Waldo Emerson in England. Since his death, he has become known for his massive collection of erotic literature, including the first serious collection of the works of the Marquis de Sade. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Creased and stained throughout. Corners gently worn. Otherwise, fine condition.