Remember those déjà-voodoo racy renegado rakes & rascals, Dear IOWers?
Of course, you do; who could forget 'em?
Welp, guess what? The most important collection of Byron letters to come to market in over 30 years exceeded its pre-sale high estimate to fetch £277,250 (488,332.22 CAD); plus, in so doing, it set a world auction record for any group of letters or manuscript by a British Romantic poet.
"We are absolutely delighted," reporteth Dr. Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby's Senior Specialist, Books and Manuscripts Department, "with the above-estimate price achieved for such an important collection of letters by Byron. The pre-sale interest in the collection has been international in its scope and extremely enthusiastic, demonstrating just how prominent Lord Byron remains in the literary canon and in people's affection."
Translation? There's still a Gabe; but, now? He's in Seventh Heaven (somewhere in the general vicinity of Cloud Nine . . . :)):
"There has been particular interest in what this unique collection reveals about Byron as a poet as well as the more sensitive and thoughtful side to a man most frequently recognised as one of history's most notorious lotharios. The letters talk of love and poetry, of religion, travel and revolution, and their sale has offered a wonderful opportunity to reveal aspects of Lord Byron's character that were either unknown or long-forgotten. The winning bidder now has the privilege of exploring the previously unpublished content in the selection of letters."
Translation? After extended bidding, both in the room and on the phone, the collection of letters featuring in the sale at Sotheby's London of books and manuscripts from the prestigious English library of former British Prime Minister Archibald, 5th Earl of Rosebery, was won by an anonymous phone bidder and Gabe had to forketh 'em over (which he diddeth, albeit reluctantly since, prior to the smashingly successful sale, he'd been the sole ogler of said delectatious items).
After all, the significant collection of pages of autograph Byron includes many unpublished letters that have not been explored in over 100 years and contains material detailing infamous relationships as well as his thoughts and pursuits immediately prior to his rise to fame upon the publication of Childe Harold.
Pas de sweat. Roger Griffiths, Senior Director of Sotheby's Books and Manuscripts Department and the sale's auctioneer filleth in the remaining blanks for us: "Today's sale achieved a total of £1,522,303 (2,679,068.79 CAD) above the pre-sale high estimate of £782,700 (1,377,065.30 CAD) and was 98% sold by value and 94% sold by lot, demonstrating the continuing appeal to the market of an exceptional bibliophilic collection -- a wonderful combination of prestigious provenance and the very rare opportunity for those who appreciate the very best of rare publications to acquire."
No kidding! Can you imagine what that lusty lothario might've done with that mountain of moolah? You can?
Thought so :).
Still and all, had George Gordon Lord Byron (1788-1824) ever come into such a stash of cold hard cash, he might never have penned one of the most beautifully poignant songs (from Fugitive Pieces) ever created in English:
They say that hope is happiness;
But genuine hope must prize the past,
And mem'ry wakes the thoughts that bless --
They rise the first, they set the last;
And all that mem'ry loves the most,
Was once our only hope to be,
And all that hope adored and lost
Hath melted into memory.
Alas! it is delusion all;
The future cheats us from afar,
Nor can we be what we recall,
Nor dare we think on what we are.
Sigh . . .
(Hat tippeth, Sarah Rustin and Matthew Floris.)
