Facsimiles — exact copies — of historical documents provide a way to access details of the original without having to actually possess it.
Some are of printed items for which certain versions are now rare, or for which the original publishing context — from material details to accompanying images — is often lost. Here, the interest may be in comparing these early versions to later or plainer representations.
Others are of unique handwritten manuscripts such as drafts of works that were later published. There, the interest is often in the author’s writing and revising process.
In this three-part series, we explore some of the facsimiles held by the Division of Special Collections. Part 1 takes a look at literary facsimiles at Hoole Library.
Dante Alighieri, 14th c.
Il Codice trivulziano 1080 della Divina commedia, Rare Books Collection Oversize Z1152.D2.T7
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- First page with illumination
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- Page with decorated capital
A 1921 reproduction of the work, composed in the early 14th century, made from the copy held in the personal library of Prince Luigi Alberigo Trivulzio.
William Shakespeare, 17th c.
Shakespeare’s comedies, histories, & tragedies: being a reproduction in facsimile of the first folio edition, Rare Books Collection PR2751.A15 1902
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- Table of contents
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- Title page, Much Ado About Nothing
A 1902 reproduction of the first folio of 1623, made from the Chatsworth copy.
John Milton, 17th c.
Facsimile of the manuscript of Milton’s minor poems, Rare Books Collection Oversize PR3552.A1
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- “Lycidas,” hand and typed versions
An 1899 reproduction of several poems, composed in the 1630s and 1640s, made from the manuscript held by the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, UK. Unbound. Accompanied by the text in print, on separate pages.
William Blake, 18th c.
Songs of innocence and of experience, Rare Books Collection PR4144.S6 1967
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- Title page, Songs of Innocence
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- “Night,” from Songs of Innocence
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- “The Chimney Sweeper,” from Songs of Innocence
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- “The Tyger,” from Songs of Experience
A 1967 reproduction of the work, originally published in 1794. Accompanied by textual representation, on facing or following pages.
Percy Shelley, 19th c.
Note books of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Rare Books Collection PR5436.F6 1911a
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- Draft poem, “What think you the dead are?”
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- Commentary and draft section of Prometheus Unbound
A 1911 textual representation of drafts and notes, dating from the early 19th c., held in the personal library of William K. Bixby. Accompanied by some facsimiles of the original.
D. H. Lawrence, 20th c.
Sons and lovers: a facsimile of the manuscript, Rare Books Collection Oversize PR6023.A93 S6 1977
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- Page with editing notes
A 1977 reproduction of the manuscript, originally published in 1913.
James Joyce, 20th c.
Ulysses: a facsimile of the manuscript, Rare Books Collection PR6019lO9 U482 1975
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- Opening passage, handwritten
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- Opening passage, marking changes to the manuscript
A 1975 reproduction of the manuscript, held by the Rosenbach Foundation (Philadelphia), originally published in 1922. In three volumes.
Marianne Moore, 20th c.
A-quiver with significance: Marianne Moore, 1932-1936, Alabama Collection PS3525.O5616 A77 2008
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- “Virginia Britannia”
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- “The Pangolin”
A 2008 reproduction of The Pangolin and Other Verse as well as other poems from the period, written 1932-1936.
George Orwell, 20th c.
Nineteen eighty-four: the facsimile of the extant manuscript, Rare Books Collection Oversize PR6029.R8 N525 1984x
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- Typed page with hand edits
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- Handwritten page with edits, facing typed representation
A 1984 reproduction of the manuscript, originally published in 1949. Accompanied by textual representation, on facing pages.