'Fairy Tales in Verse from Grimm' manuscript volume

Unpublished volume of poetry by Frederick Startridge Ellis, who was primarily known as William Morris's bookseller.

This manuscript is primarily fair copy with occasional additions and revisions, all in Ellis' hand. The manuscript consists of his translations of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, including versions of 'The Rabbit's Bride', Six Soldiers of Fortune' and 'The Frog Prince'.

Ellis left squares sketched in at the beginning of the first line of some of the later stories in the volume, as if a decorated initial were to be supplied. In one instance, at the beginning of 'The Goose Girl' (f.57r), Ellis has tried to paste in a capital 'I', very similar to the sort of initial which might be found in a Kelmscott book. Given Ellis's strong association with the Press (he was editor of the Kelmscott Chaucer) it is possibly that this was where the initial came from.

The volume also contains one loose sheet, also in Ellis's hand, of a sonnet written for the Shelley Centenary in 1892.

Frederick Startridge Ellis (1830 - 1901) began his bookselling career with C.J. Stewart of London, and set up on his own at the age of 30.

As a bookseller, Ellis dealt mainly in older books and manuscripts, and for much of his career was the British Museum's official representative at London auctions. His importance in literary history stems from his friendship with the Pre-Raphaelite circle, in particular Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris, but also Swinburne, Burne Jones and Ruskin. Amongst other literary endeavours, Ellis edited the Kelmscott Chaucer in 1896.

Ellis is believed to have retired to Cornwall, where he apparently owned The Red House in Torquay.

This collection is subject to various access conditions. Please see individual catalogue descriptions for further details on access.

Acquired by Special Collections in August 2017, from Christopher Edwards, bookseller.

Ellis was survived by two sons and a daughter, Phillis M. Ellis, who was similarly interested in old books and manuscripts. An erased pencil inscription on the inside front cover reads '...the Author. July 3 1918. Torquay.' Words above are less visible, but seem to read 'From the library of the daughter of...'