Romance Blossoms at Heritage-Slater Americana!

Dallas, Texas: Rare artifacts from two of the most important poets of the Romantic Age will be offered in Heritage-Slater Americana's (HSA) upcoming auction of Historical Manuscripts and Autographs, to be held April 13 in Dallas, Texas.

Featured in this sale is a handwritten love letter from John Keats, the great Romantic poet and author of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and "Hyperion," to his paramour, Fanny Brawne. Written roughly a year before the poet's death on February 23, 1821, it is believed to be the last such love letter held in private hands.

"John Keats was one of the great young voices of the Romantic Age," said Tom Slater, Director of HSA. "Unlike his contemporaries, which included Percy Bysshe Shelley and George Gordon, Lord Byron, Keats was born without the advantages of rank and station. His parents, who died when Keats was a boy, were working class, and he was plagued with financial troubles throughout his short life. Nevertheless, he had a significant impact on poetry and literature that continues to be felt to this day."

"Keats suffered from tuberculosis for several years," continued Slater, "which would eventually claim his life on February 23, 1821 at the age of 25. The first onset of the disease followed a coach ride from London to Hampstead on a particularly cold night, and it left the poet housebound for over a month. During this time, he developed an infatuation with his neighbor, Fanny Brawne, who visited him often. She was an exceptional woman for her times, described as being 'of remarkable perception and imagination, keen in the observation of character and events, possessing an unusual critical faculty, and intellectually fitted to become the wife of Keats.'"

"In this letter," Slater continues, "Keats dwells on his 'swooning admiration' for Brawne's beauty and longs for her companionship, but poignantly concludes, 'better not come today.' No doubt his symptoms that day were so severe he did not wish to distress her. Even though written from his sick bed, the letter beautifully demonstrates the poet's brilliant mind and gift for expressive, romantic language. This letter is a true treasure, a glimpse into the mind and heart of one of the greatest poetic geniuses the world has ever known."

The letter, hand-written on both sides and addressed to "Miss Brawne" on a large, folded sheet of paper, bears the initials "J.K." at the end.

Slater added, "As a companion piece to the Keats letter, we're proud to offer another treasure from a Romantic giant: a bound volume of some of Lord Byron's earliest works, including The Giaour (1813), The Bride of Abydos (1813), and The Corsair (1814) with five handwritten margin annotations in the renowned poet's own hand. The book, indicated as the Ninth edition, is dated 1814, and bears the title "Lord Byron's Copy with Corrections and Additions," on the spine. The changes indicated in this 72-page volume were subsequently incorporated into later editions of the book. This unique copy was used by eminent scholar Leslie Marchand to set his final editions of these works of Byron; Marchand thanked the then-owner of the book, Geoffrey Jones, in print for allowing Marchand to use it in finalizing the text, and in his definitive three-volume biography of Byron."

For more information about Heritage-Slater Americana auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageAmericana.com. Heritage-Slater Americana is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219-3941.

Potential consignors are invited to contact Tom Slater, TomS@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 441 or contact John Hickey at JohnH@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 264.