Shelfmark
MS 492b
Author
Title
Forged autograph letter from P. B. Shelley to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.
Publication, distribution, etc.
London?, after 1844?
Physical description
[1] leaf ; 19 cm.
Note
Devised title.
Note
Probably by 'Major George Gordon Byron', forger. 'Major Byron', who went under several other names including De Gibler, claimed to be the son of a liaison in Spain in 1809 between Lord Byron and a Countess de Luna. Major Byron became acquainted with John Wright, who was editing a selection of Lord Byron's letters for Murray. Wright died shortly after, and Major Byron acquired the letters deemed too personal for publication. It was probably then, with this material, that he began his career as a forger. He specialised in Byron but also faked letters by Shelley and Keats.
Note
Place and date of production from the period from which Major George Gordon Byron moved to England and acquired some genuine Lord Byron mss.
Note
Ms. note in pencil on reverse [?]by 'Major Byron': "This letter is addressed to Mary Wolstonecraft [sic] Godwin, and written when Shelley was in danger of being arrested for debt".
Summary, etc.
Scope and content: Forged P. B. Shelley autograph letter to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley [née Godwin], attributed to Major George Gordon de Luna Byron.
Subject
Subject
Added entry--place
England London.
Identifier
B28964