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SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe.

Autograph letter signed ("Mr. Shelley." in the third person) to Christopher John Pike.

Shelley writes in the third person: "Mr. Shelley requests that Mr. Pike would give the Bearer the copy of the Settlement in his possession. Mr. S. will return it in the course of the week." Kenneth Neill Cameron provides the most accurate dating for this letter in Shelley and His Circle, vol. III, pp. 244–48. This letter and one other (probably written to Shelley's lawyer, G. B. Ballachey) are the only ones to be known to have been written by Shelley from William Godwin's house, 41 Skinner Street, Snow Hill, in London. The probable date for both letters is 18–19 August 1813, the only two days when Shelley was at Godwin's house and was actively involved in procuring the 1791 settlement of the Shelley family estates as part of his efforts to raise post obit money for the financially strapped Godwin (see also James Bieri, Percy Bysshe Shelley, 2004, vol. I, pp. 300, 340). Shelley had just achieved his legal majority, having turned twenty-one on 4 August 1813.Christopher John Pike was a solicitor who Shelley and his wife later met at Ballachey's office on 14 September 1814 when another post obit sale was taking place. At this time, however, after Shelley's July 1814 elopement with Mary Godwin (he was married to Harriet Westbrook), both were banned by Godwin from entering his home.

One page, 12mo, with Shelley's red wax seal, red cloth portfolio. Provenance: A. Edward Newton (his sale Parke-Bernet, pt III, 30 October 1941, lot 247; bookplate in portfolio); Roger H. West (bookplate in portfolio). Excellent condition, the seal intact.