Sketchbooks by R. M. Ballantyne, including seven autograph letters
- Reference:GB 237 Coll-1838
- Dates of Creation:1860s
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:2 Volumes
Scope and Content
The collection consists of two sketchbooks by Scottish writer R. M. Ballantyne:
1. The first sketchbook is made of approximately 85 leaves, almost all of which bear original drawings (pencil, ink and ink-and wash), cartoons, sketches and preliminary ideas. Some are highly finished images intended for a subsequently abandoned book of his fishing trip to Norway, as well as material for the published 'Freaks on the Fells'. On the first blank is Ballantyne's presentation inscription to the sister-in-law Christina Alice. The book later formed part of Eric Quayle's celebrated collection and has his pencilled inscription on the verso of the front free endspaper.
2. The second sketchbook is entitled 'A Walk from London to Edinburgh'and consists of a series of seven 4pp autograph letters signed by Ballantyne to his sister-in-law Christina Alice ("Teenie") describing the walk, mounted in an album with 19 highly accomplished watercolours showing himself en route. Ballantyne's pencilled comments are on the rear of each watercolour. The date 1864 appears in one. At front and rear mounted dried flowers and seaweed. Inside the front cover is an autograph note by Eric Quayle ("for the story of this collection of watercolours and letters, read Ballantyne the Brave, 1967").
Access Information
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Acquisition Information
Purchased in May 2017. Accession no: SC-Acc-2017-0174.
Archivist's Note
Catalogued by Aline Brodin in November 2017.
Subjects
Geographical Names