Beschreibung:

SURTEES, Robert Smith (1803-1864). Eight autograph letters signed (retained drafts, six signed with initials, 'R.S.S.') to F.M. Evans, John Leech (2), W.H. Ainsworth (4) and Mark Lemon, Scarborough, Gateshead, Cambridge Street, and other places, 25 June 1851--3 January 1864, 12 pages, 8vo ; an autograph working draft, on blue paper, approximately 4½ pages, 4to (occasional slight wear at edges); twelve letters addressed to Surtees by Hablot Knight Browne (the illustrator, 'Phiz'), 30 September 1847, John Leech (4), 24 June 1854--27 January 1859, 12½ pages, 8vo ; Mark Lemon, n.d. [25 June 1851], 3 pages, 8vo ; William Harrison Ainsworth (6), 15 July 1851--6 January 1853, 11½ pages, 8vo ; two galley proof sheets of the chapter of Young Tom Hall's Heartaches and Horses , and typewritten transcripts, tipped into an album, modern red morocco, 280 x 240mm , by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. AN INTERESTING GROUP OF LETTERS BETWEEN SURTEES AND HIS EDITORS AND ILLUSTRATORS, the majority referring to his plans for the serialisation of Young Tom's Heartaches and Horses . Surtees proposes a new serial to Evans ('it will be sporting in disguise'), and approaches John Leech for his collaboration (on Romford , for which the illustrations were completed by H.K. Browne after Leech's death). He offers Tom Hall to Mark Lemon for Punch ('If you like him I shall be glad to try to meet your wishes in any way & to make my pen subservient to Mr Leech's pencil'), but the negotiations founder, Lemon being 'sadly perplexed', while Surtees offers it to Ainsworth for the New Monthly , '[it] is descriptive of a rich good natured young greenhorn's sporting, amatory, yeomanry, cavalry & other exploits. It is quite different to Mr Sponge inasmuch as Tom has plenty of money and is a victim instead of a shark'. After eighteen months another tiff, as Ainsworth's reaction changes from enthusiasm to impatience, leads Surtees to discontinue it. Leech refers to the unavoidable delay of 'H.X.' [ Handley Cross ], and 'The kind things you say about Jorrocks to me [which] give me great pleasure, I assure you. I have no doubt ... that the volume will turn up trumps'. The draft is endorsed 'waste but may contain hints for Romford'. Surtees, whose interest lay in the scientific skills of hunting rather than in sporting records and kills, never publicly acknowledged his career as an author. His most successful creation was the jovial hunting grocer, Jorrocks, and Leech's illustrations contributed enormously to his popularity.