Hamlet’s Letter to Ophelia ‘set to music’ in a Regency Commonplace Manuscript Book

‘Doubt thou the stars are fire’ - Hamlet’s teasing letter to Ophelia found in a gentleman’s commonplace manuscript book dating from the Regency era. Entitled ‘Words from Shakespeare set to music by [Charles] Dignum’ (tenor and composer, 1765-1827). Additionally a satirical epitaph for local delivery man ‘Thomas Wright the Epsom Carrier’ with the initials E.R.C.T to the foot of a poem. Included within the manuscript is a poem titled ‘Tribute to the Memory of Sir Ralph Abercromby’; an acrostic poem by Ralph Skelton - perhaps the author of this collection - a set of dining riddles titled ‘Questions sent by Mr Wm Spencer when at Lord Robert Spencer to Mr Charles Moore’ and most importantly Shakespeare in a version ‘set to music’.

PHYSICAL CONDITION: Vellum over boards tooled to edges very good; age toned as expected; a little nicked to spine; ‘Louisa’ written to upper; square and sound; just cracking over pp 14/15; watermarked paper. Written to recto and verso to 28pp in a very legible cursive. Remaining leaves are blank. Clean and unmarked throughout.