Ballads and Sonnets (1881), proof Signature B (Delaware Museum, first revise)

This incomplete set of proofs for Signature B (dated 7 April 81) is the first revise, printed from DGR's corrected copy in the British Library but incorporating the late correction for line 39. The proofs have no manuscript markings except the printer's number on page [1].

This set of revises would be complete except for the printing error on Signatures B ⁵ and B ⁶, where a random piece of paper must have fallen between the forme and the sheet being printed.

The library of the Delaware Art Museum has six distinct sets of proofs for this signature, each but the last numbered and all date stamped by the printer Charles Whittingham, of Chiswick Press. In addition to these author's proofs, the other sets at Delaware are: the the first author's corrected proofs (numbered 1; perfect, dated 5 April), the set that he retained in his possession; the second printer's revise (numbered 4; perfect, dated 14 April); third printer's revise (numbered 5; imperfect, dated 22 April); third printer's revise (WMR's copy, with his notes and corrections) (numbered 5; perfect, dated 22 April); and what appears to be the final proof (unnumbered; perfect, dated 21 May). The Delaware library also has a fragment (pages 9-10) of what must have once been a complete second copy of the first revise proof. The British Library has a nearly complete set of proofs for DGR's book, including the first author's corrected proofs for this signature (dated 5 April).