Letters to F.S. Ellis and Davis White

Scope and Content

Comprising:

  • (a) numbers 1-43 (1871-1884), letters to F.S. Ellis (mainly) and his partner David White (d.1910), Ruskin's publishers, from Ruskin (numbers 34-43 are undated);
  • (b) numbers 44-46 (1868), a revised draft of Ruskin's circular letter announcing his need to work uninterrupted and in seclusion, with 2 printed copies;
  • (c) numbers 47-60, letters to Ellis and White from George Allen, 1871 (numbers 47-48), G. Collingwood, 1882 (number 49), Laurence Hilliard, 1878 (number 50), James Rothschild, 1878 (number 51), Arthur Severn, 1878 (number 52-54), Joan Severn, 1877-[81] (number 55-59), Valpy and Ledsam, 1869 (number 60);
  • (d) number 61-73 (c 1870-1879), letters to Ellis and White from Ruskin (numbers 67 -73 are undated).

Acquisition Information

Numbers 1-60 were purchased by the John Rylands Library at auction at Sotheby's on 8 July 1959 (Lot 757). Numbers 61-73 were purchased from Emily Driscoll of New York, dealer in autographs and manuscripts, in October 1959.