Beschreibung:

Nine autograph letters signed, seven to Libby Bell ("Darling Libbie") of Hawes Bank, Coniston, two to her elder sister Polly ("Dear Polly"), the first letter written in 1884 to the twenty-two-year-old Libby from Oxford [where Ruskin had been forced to break off his increasingly intemperate lectures by Vice-Chancellor Jowett], looking forward to an idyllic Christmas and renewing their drawing lessons ("...I hope you all – you especially, have been missing me very much! I have, you – and the old man [of Coniston], greatly too... I hope to be back the 15th for some Christmas drawing – only I mean to have a kiss or two before Xmas..."), others [after his fourth breakdown] complaining of ill-health ("...I've been very sick and weary my self – not fit to speak to any body...") and looking forward to seeing her when the weather mends ("...I never expected to see you – in that Lapland snow – but the moment any body can see either sky or ground again – shall look for you to tea and muffins: the new gown must not be risked – I like you all the same in any gown..."); the first letter to Polly, asking her to make a dress ("...I want you make a nice little dress for my little pet Janie to go to school in – strong & simple – but a little bit pretty too – her mother is coming to choose or talk it over with you either today or Monday. You might come & talk it over with me too – if you liked, and I shouldn't mind Libbie coming – to give us her opinion – if she liked..."), and on receipt of the dress breaking into verse ("...Ive been thrice across the lake to plead with Polly,/ And I promised her a silken gown, and an Irish shawl/ But she's wild as the heather bells, and hard as the holly/ And I couldn't get an answer,/ at all, – at all – !..."); plus an envelope addressed to Ruskin, forged by Miss Gladstone in imitation of her father, forwarded by Ruskin to Libby to pass on to her father; with seven autograph envelopes, 11 pages, minor stains and slight dust-staining, 8vo, Oxford and Brantwood, 1884-1886