Introduction
This is a complete copy (dated 28 April 1881) of the first revise of
Signature N of the
Ballads and Sonnets
volume. Like the duplicate
copy of this first revise, this copy has DGR's textual corrections,
but unlike the latter, it also carries his corrrections to some of the
titles of the sonnets. In the first proofs for Signatures M and N, the
sonnets ran over to the versos so that on Signature M only seven sonnets
plus the Introductory sonnet were first printed, and on Signature N only
eight sonnets were printed. As DGR's note to the printer on page 163 of the
first author's proof for
Signature M in the Delaware Museum Library shows, both of these signatures
were directed for major redesign, with one sonnet to be printed on each
page. Beginning with this first revise, all subsequent printings put each
sonnet on a separate page, with no run-ons to the versos.
Another major change was made in early May, as the proofs pulled on 6 May
show. DGR called for a shift in the sequence-position that involved four of
the sonnets (see DGR's notes to the printer on pages 183 and 191 of copy 1 of the fourth revise).
This is the only signature that contains a cancel, which DGR called for on 3
August and which was made by the printer on 7 August. The proof for this
cancel leaf is among the Delaware Museum's large collection of proofs.
Textual History: Revision
Besides this copy of the first revise, the Delaware proofs include the
following: copy 1 and copy 2 of the first proof with
only eight sonnets printed; a duplicate copy of the first
revise (dated 28 April 1881 and numbered 1b), with DGR's corrections
throughout; copy 1 and copy 2 of the second revise
(dated 3 May 1881 and numbered 1a and 1b respectively), both without
revisions; a corrected and two
uncorrected copies of the third revise (uncorrected copy 1 and uncorrected copy 2), all dated 4
May 1881 and numbered 3c, 3a, and 3b respectively; an uncorrected and two corrected copies
of the fourth revise (corrected copy
1 and corrected copy 2),
all dated 6 May 1881 and numbered 4a, 4b, and 4c respectively; four copies
of the final proof, including WMR's
copy with his notes, DGR's
corrected copy, an uncorrected partial copy, and a copy with uncut sheets), all
undated and numbered 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d. Delaware also has the proof of the
cancel leaf (pages 185-186),
marked as such and with with DGR's correction. The British Library
proofs have another copy (partial) of revise proofs for this
signature (dated 28 April).