The story of Thomas Chatterton (1752–1770) captured the imagination of the Romantics. He was a genius young poet who forged a medieval manuscript, and yet faced with rejection by Horace Walpole and the establishment, committed suicide in a Holborn garret at the age of 17.
As well as later becoming the subject of the famous Pre-Raphaelite painting by Henry Wallis, Chatterton was a source of inspiration for the likes of Keats, Shelley, and Coleridge. However, Chatterton’s desire to entice Horace Walpole as a patron fell upon deaf ears, as revealed in rare letters revealing the mood of this quintessential Romantic poet, coming up for auction at Bonhams Fine Books and Manuscripts sale on November 14 at Bonhams Knightsbridge.
The series of letters between Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770) and Horace Walpole (1717-1797), are the last known letters from their correspondence in private hands and have an estimate of £100,000 - 150,000. Chatterton had sent his would-be patron his forged medieval manuscript by a supposed 15th century monk named Thomas Rowley.
“Letters by Thomas Chatterton are exceptionally rare and very few ever have come to auction," said Matthew Haley, Managing Director of Bonhams Knightsbridge and Head of Bonhams UK Books & Manuscripts Department. "These letters are a significant addition to the ten or 12 complete Chatterton letters known to survive. Of the recorded letters, over half are thought lost or known only by fragments or copies, which makes the survival of our letters all the more remarkable. Indeed, these could be considered amongst the rarest letters Bonhams have ever offered, and, given the implication of the correspondence for both Chatterton and Walpole, they are certainly historically significant.”
As part of an exchange which took place across five months, Chatterton writes to Walpole requesting the return his manuscripts. He begins: “Being fully convinced of the Papers of Rowley being genuine, I should be obliged to you to return the copy I sent you having no other...” stating that Mr Barrett, a "very able" Antiquary writing a history of Bristol has asked for it; “...I should be sorry to deprive him, or the World indeed of a Valuable Curiosity which I know to be an Authentic Piece of Antiquity...”.
In a second letter, Chatterton pushes Walpole for a response, stating: “I can not reconcile your behaviour to me, with the notion I once entertained of you. I think myself injured Sir & did not you know my circumstances you would not dare to treat me thus. - I have sent twice for a copy of the MSs – no answer from you – an explanation or excuse for your Silence.”
