"I LOVE YOUR VERSES WITH ALL MY HEART, DEAR MISS BARRETT": THE LETTERS OF ROBERT BROWNING AND ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING, BEAUTIFULLY BOUND

BROWNING, Elizabeth Barrett; BROWNING, Robert. The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Edited With Biographical Additions by Frederic G. Kenyon. (Two volumes.) WITH: The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, 1845-1846. (Two volumes.). London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1898, 1899. Together, four volumes. Octavo, modern full navy morocco gilt, raised bands, red and green morocco labels, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $2200.

Early editions of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's letters in two volumes, together with her famed courtship correspondence with her future husband Robert in two volumes, with frontispiece portraits in each of the four volumes, finely and uniformly bound in full calf-gilt by Riviere & Son.

Robert Browning carefully preserved the letters which he and Elizabeth Barrett Browning exchanged during the period of their courtship in 1845-46, leaving a detailed record of their famous love story, opening with a fan letter from Browning to the reclusive Barrett, beginning "I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett." After his wife's death in 1861, he also collected from various recipients letters which she had written to friends over her lifetime. Although he did not wish either collection to be published during his lifetime, he left to their son permission to publish them after his death. The second collection covers the remainder of Elizabeth's life, from 1828 till the year of her death, with more than half the letters dating to the period after the Brownings' marriage. Letters of Browning and Elizabeth Barrett stated "Third Impression"; Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning stated "Fourth Edition."

Interiors clean, only mildest toning to spines, gilt bright. A lovely set in fine condition.