Textual History: Revision
Besides this corrected copy of the fourth revise, the Delaware proofs
include the following: copy 1
and copy 2 of the first proof
with only eight sonnets printed; copy
1 and copy 2 of the
first revise (dated 28 April 1881 and numbered 1a and 1b respectively), both
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; the corrected
author's third revise plus 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; two other copies
of the fourth revise, the (uncorrected
copy 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 of revise proofs for this signature (dated 3 May).