GB 0096 MS 583 - Clark, John

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS 583

Title

Clark, John

Date(s)

  • 1832-1852 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume containing 229 leaves

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

George Gordon Noel Byron, 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale, began writing Don Juan in Italy in 1818, and continued to add episodes until his death in 1824. The long, digressive satiric poem is a loose narrative, based on the life and adventures of the eponymous hero. The first two cantos were published in 1819, though the poem was not published in its entirety until eighty years after Byron's death. Willis W. Pratt, in his Notes on the Variorum Edition of Byron's Don Juan, Vol IV (1957), says (p.312) '...throughout the forties and fifties...there was still a spate of imitations and continuations [of Don Juan], but they became fewer, and, if possible, worse'. Among those he cites (on p.313) is 'John Clark (?), second of two volumes, titlepage missing, printed between 1834 and 1847'. The British Museum does not record a copy of this work.

Archival history

GB 0096 MS 583 1832-1852 Collection (fonds) 1 volume containing 229 leaves Clark , John , fl 1832-1852 , [haberdasher] and poet
George Gordon Noel Byron, 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale, began writing Don Juan in Italy in 1818, and continued to add episodes until his death in 1824. The long, digressive satiric poem is a loose narrative, based on the life and adventures of the eponymous hero. The first two cantos were published in 1819, though the poem was not published in its entirety until eighty years after Byron's death. Willis W. Pratt, in his Notes on the Variorum Edition of Byron's Don Juan, Vol IV (1957), says (p.312) '...throughout the forties and fifties...there was still a spate of imitations and continuations [of Don Juan], but they became fewer, and, if possible, worse'. Among those he cites (on p.313) is 'John Clark (?), second of two volumes, titlepage missing, printed between 1834 and 1847'. The British Museum does not record a copy of this work.

Bought from G Jeffrey in 1963 as an addition to the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature.

Manuscript volume, originally used as a stock book for haberdashery, belonging to John Clark [of Bridgewater, Somerset], containing lists of hosiery, thread, pins, ribbons, laces, tapes, bobbins, blankets, flannel and other cloths, furs, tippets, muffs, capes, silk cloaks, cambric handkerchiefs, pasteboard, paper and umbrellas, 1832-1837. Many pages have had pasted on to them newspaper cuttings and illustrations from popular magazines, [1838-1852], including plans for the new parish church of Paddington, 1840. From folio 18, the volume has interspersed on previously blank pages a draft continuation by Clark of Byron's Don Juan (i.e. cantos xvii-xxiv), described by the author as 'rough copy - incorrect' (each leaf being cancelled presumably as the fair copy was made) and signed by himself as 'completed 1842 September 1, at X a.m. clk. struck, & flute playing in the street'.. There are also some notes on Byron's original poem, his life and literary style accompanying the continuation, which date from later in the 1840s. The vellum cover is inscribed 'John Clark's first copy of his poem'.

Single item.

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
14½" x 9". Bound in vellum.

Collection level description.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Oct 2001 Bridgewater Byron , George Gordon Noel , 1788-1824 , 6th Baron Byron of Rochdale , poet x Byron of Rochdale , 6th Baron Clark , John , fl 1832-1852 , [haberdasher] and poet England Europe Haberdashery Industry Literary forms and genres Literature London Manufacturing industry Paddington Poetry Somerset Textile industry UK Western Europe City of Westminster

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Bought from G Jeffrey in 1963 as an addition to the Goldsmith's Library of Economic Literature.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Manuscript volume, originally used as a stock book for haberdashery, belonging to John Clark [of Bridgewater, Somerset], containing lists of hosiery, thread, pins, ribbons, laces, tapes, bobbins, blankets, flannel and other cloths, furs, tippets, muffs, capes, silk cloaks, cambric handkerchiefs, pasteboard, paper and umbrellas, 1832-1837. Many pages have had pasted on to them newspaper cuttings and illustrations from popular magazines, [1838-1852], including plans for the new parish church of Paddington, 1840. From folio 18, the volume has interspersed on previously blank pages a draft continuation by Clark of Byron's Don Juan (i.e. cantos xvii-xxiv), described by the author as 'rough copy - incorrect' (each leaf being cancelled presumably as the fair copy was made) and signed by himself as 'completed 1842 September 1, at X a.m. clk. struck, & flute playing in the street'.. There are also some notes on Byron's original poem, his life and literary style accompanying the continuation, which date from later in the 1840s. The vellum cover is inscribed 'John Clark's first copy of his poem'.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Single item.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Collection level description.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area