Rare - top William Jerdan - Engraved by Henry Robinson after George Henry Harlow - 1852 - "Artist Before Letters Working Proof"

An extremely rare Artist Before Letters Working Proof engraving at its very early stages; of William Jerdan - created to be published for The Autobiography of William Jerdan Vol 1. Published by Arthur Hall Virtue & Co 25 Paternoster Row 1852.

Engraved by H Robinson (aka John Henry Robinson - it which this artist working proof, and the majority of our listings were directly sourced from "Robinson's" own portfolio of works,) - after G H Harlow.

There are handwritten instructions by John Henry Robinson (the same handwriting appears on other of his works seen in the collection and some signed "HR") it reads as follows; "This is the width of what the Daguerreotype is to be - the length to corner as it wide"

"The chalked marks upon the sides of the picture, is to indicate, that so much of each side of the picture is not be introduced into the Daguerreotype" - each corner has also be highlighted in pencil.

Overall size: 28cm x 18cm - Plate 19cm x 13cm - Engraved area 9.5cm x 8cm

We've added two additional images that show and relate to this same image of William Jerdan; one comes from the above mentioned autobiography it which shows the name of the painter, engraver and publishers - the title William Jerdan 1833.

The second image dates as recent as 2010 and was used for the front cover of a book titled; "Conflicted Life: William Jerdan, 1782-1869" - by Susan Matoff 14 Oct 2010.

It cannot be emphasized enough when it comes to the majority of our listings; which is they are "Artist Working Proofs" directly sourced from John Henry Robinson's personal portfolio of works. This means that many of the archival collections in the NPG, RAA and V&A museum of the same subject matter are in fact later editions - "copies". Whereas, our collection are not only aesthetically pleasing, they have an academic and historic interest, as they were never intended to be published in their current state/s and to have remained private.

William Jerdan was a pivotal figure in the history of English literature spanning the Georgian and Victorian eras. For thirty-four years he was the editor of the first weekly review of literature, the London Literary Gazette, where he wrote most of the journals critical reviews which made or marred literary success in this period of exceptional growth in book production and rise in readership.

Jerdans convivial character and central place in English literary life caused him to be personally acquainted with almost all top the creative and influential figures of his day. He was raised in the Scottish Borders where he met Robert Burns and Walter Scott. Later Byron, Wordsworth, Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Dickens and many other luminaries played a part in his life. At the time of the attack in the House of Commons he detained the assassin of one Prime Minister and was the intimate friend of another. Jerdan was a founder member of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Garrick Club, a maverick member of the Literary Fund, and an honorary Fraserian. This first biography of Jerdan discusses his own fiction and poetry, revealing several works not previously attributed to him. Many aspects of his colourful professional and private life are explored, including the scandalous relationship with his protegée, the famous poet LEL, for which he was lampooned in the satirical press. His conflicted life led him from the heights of literary and social celebrity through the Bankruptcy Court and into penury. His life at the centre of literary London mirrored the violent swings in the countrys political and financial affairs events which provide the background to Susan Matoffs extensive and revealing biography. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conflicted-Life-William-Jerdan-1782-1869/dp/1845195639