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COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT FOR “LADY OF THE LAKE”
406
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SCOTT, WALTER. Autograph Letter Signed, to publisher John Ballantyne &
Co. (“Gentlemen”), laying out the terms of copyright for his “Lady of the Lake,” mounted
to leaf in a first edition of the poem. The letter, mounted along extreme left edge to dedi-
cation-page. Notes inscribed by publisher William Miller at top of recto and bottom of
verso, including a table indicating the division of shares between himself, Longman & Co.,
and John Ballantyne & Co. 1
1
/
2
pages, 4to, written on the recto and verso of a single sheet;
faint scattered foxing and toning to edges, short tear with minor loss at lower left. The
book, 4to, contemporary mottled calf, rebacked retaining original backstrip, moderate
wear; bookplate for Richard Spencer on front pastetown and another for author Cornelia
Otis Skinner on front free endpaper, frontispiece leaf loose, minor scattered foxing and off-
setting to preliminaries and end pages, dealer’s ink inscription on front free endpaper.
Purchase receipt from George D. Smith of New York, 3 June 1898, mounted along top
edge to rear free endpaper.
FIRST EDITION
.
Edinburgh, 28 October 1809; Ballantyne & Co., 1810
[2,500/3,500]
“
Having a poem in Manuscript called the Lady of the Lake which with notes will make a
Quarto volume of about four hundred pages I beg leave to offer you the Copy Right on the fol-
lowing terms.
“
The work will be ready to go to press on the 22d of November on which day. . . you are to
pay . . . Fifteen hundred pounds Sterling . . . .
“
Although these terms may appear high you must be sensible I can have no difficulty in
procuring them in London. But I shall be much better pleased if you think you can make such
a purchase with a prospect of advantage.”
Does not appear in the Milgate Union Catalogue of Walter Scott Correspondence at the
National Library of Scotland.