Ballads and Sonnets (1881), proof Signature F (Delaware Museum first author's proof, copy 1)

This is a complete set of the first proofs for Signature F. The proofs carry the printer's date stamp April 81 on the first page as well as the handwritten number 1 in the upper left corner. As in the case of other early date stamped proofs, light inking for the day has resulted in its not being legible. The day should have printed as 6 April.

The library of the Delaware Art Museum has three complete sets of proofs for this signature: besides this first author's proof, a perfect copy of the second revise (dated 14 Apr 81 and numbered 4) and a copy of the final revise (dated 22 Apr 81 and numbered 5). The museum also has an incomplete copy of what appears to be the first revise (unnumbered and undated), an incomplete copy of the second revise (date 14 Apr and numbered 3), an incomplete copy of the third revise (undated, unnumbered), and a loose proof leaf for pages 79-80 that shows DGR calling for a revision on page 80 that he failed to include in the first author's proof. The British Library proofs include an undated copy of the first revise (numbered 2).