Guide to the Robert Louis Stevenson letters and manuscripts
Maureen Carey, Kate Dundon
University of California, Santa Cruz
2018
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz 95064
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Robert Louis Stevenson letters and manuscripts
creator:
Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894
Identifier/Call Number: MS.431
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1882-1920
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights for this collection reside with the University of California. Literary
rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. The publication
or use of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use for research or
educational purposes requires written permission from the copyright owner. Responsibility
for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more
information on copyright or to order a reproduction, please visit
guides.library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/reproduction-publication.
Preferred Citation
Robert Louis Stevenson letters and manuscripts. MS 431. Special Collections and Archives,
University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the UC Office of the President from the purchase of the Isaac Foote Library in
1964.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains unpublished correspondence and manuscripts by Robert Louis
Stevenson. Included are holograph letters, typescript of unpublished translation of Swansong
from "Faust", two holograph poems, typescripts of fourteen original finished and unfinished
poems, three original manuscripts and one draft manuscript. Letters and manuscripts are
individually inlaid in folio volumes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Authors, Scottish -- 19th century -- Correspondence
Box 1
RLS. Montpellier, to his mother, speaking of his health and telling of his
determination to leave Montpellier for Hyères
3 October 1882
Scope and Contents
ALS, 3 pp, 8vo. - bound with blank leaves to form a 8vo volume, blue levant morocco,
gilt lettering on side, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 1
RLS. Letter subscribed and signed, Vailima, Samoa to James Payn, describing
under what trying conditions he writes Admiral Guinea.
4 November 1894
Scope and Contents
4pp., 8vo, - bound with blank leaves to form an 8vo volume, red levant morocco, gilt
lettering on side, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 1
RLS. Original unpublished translation of the Swansong from "Faust"
undated
Scope and Contents
3pp., in all, inlaid and bound with typed transcript, portrait and blank leaves to form
a folio volume, brown levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end-leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 1
RLS. Five Original manuscript poems: Ditty; (To an Air from Bach); Tempest
tosses and sore afflicted; Peace be Thy Name; Fearful Children I hold You; To Harry out
of Hill and den.
undated
Scope and Contents
4 pp., in all, inlaid and bound with typed transcripts, portraits and blank leaves to
form a folio volume, brown levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end-leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 1
RLS. Nine original manuscript unfinished poems: "I now, O Friend; And Montaigne
gossiped; Flower after flower, I have plucked them; Gone are the quite, twilight dreams;
Like Monarchs; On Windy Heights for me and you; No Friend, We Shall Despond no More; Are
you in Africa of Ind; I've got as much to tell as you.
undated
Scope and Contents
9pp., in all, inlaid and bound with typed transcripts, portrait and blank leaves to
form a folio volume, brown levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end-leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 2
RLS. Letter subscribed and signed. Grand Hotel, Nice, 1886, to Mr. Alexander
Cargill, Edinburgh, Scotland, discussing fishing techniques.
1886
Scope and Contents
1 p., unbound, attached to an off-white sheet, contained in a white papers folder with
the number "771" in pencil on the outside.
Box 2
RLS - Eleven Holograph Poems: Prelude; The Old World; Take not my Hand; The
Whole Day; The Old Chimaeras; Here He Comes; All Influences; The Moon is Sinking; The
Vanquishes Knight; Linck Your Arm in Mine; Epistle to Baxter
undated
Scope and Contents
18pp. In all, inlaid and bound with typed transcripts, portraits and blank leaves to
form a folio volume, blue levant morrocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end-leaves, bookplates of Isaac Foot.
Box 2
RLS. To Kalakaua. Holograph Poem of 2 Stanzas, dated Honolulu, 3 February 1889;
also "The Well-Head, unpublished holograph poem of 10 stanzas each of 4 lines, dated
March 1869
March 1869; 3 February 1889
Scope and Contents
Together - 3 pp., folio, red levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 2
RLS. Original manuscript: Preface to the Master of Ballantine,
undated
Scope and Contents
18pp., in all, inlaid and bound with typed transcript, portraits and blank leaves to
form a folio volume, blue levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end-leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 2
RLS. Original draft manuscript: Earliest draft for the "Envoi" of The House of
Tembinoka (To Tembinoka).
undated
Scope and Contents
2pp., in all, inlaid and bound with typed transcript, portraits and blank leaves to
form a folio volume, red levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk end
leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
Box 2
RLS. Original manuscripts: "Conversation of Tembinoka; Studies in Samoan and
Tahitian"
undated
Scope and Contents
6pp. In all, inlaid and bound with typed transcripts, portraits and blank leaves to
form a folio volume, red levant morocco gilt, gilt lettering on side and back, silk
end-leaves, bookplate of Isaac Foot.
