[Original poetry by John Wodehouse fair-copied into an album, the album a gift from John Hopcraft]

John WODEHOUSE, poet.

An album containing 57pp. of autograph manuscript poetry, preceeded by a page with a presentation inscription 'Mr John Woodhouse / With John H\opcraft's / Kind Regards / July 23 1823' followed by a 12-line 'apology' by Wodehouse, signed and dated 'London October 1832'.

[United Kingdom: July 1823 - April 1842]. Quarto (8 3/8 x 7 1/4in; 213 x 184mm). 57pp. of manuscript poetry, comprising 21 different poems, ranging in length from 8 lines, to 24 pages. Extra-illustrated with 10 pagesof loosely inserted verse (apparently by the same hand). Approx.107 laeves of blank paper complete the album. Blue straigt-grained morocco, covers bordered in gilt, the fllat spine divided into six compartments by gilt rules and roll tools, lettered in gilt in the second compartment 'Woodhouse / 1823', marbled endpapers, gilt edges (some scuffing to extremities (see images).

A attractive collection of manuscript poems: one on the Irish Famine in 1822.

Wodehouse seems to have been based in the southern half of England: locations mentioned include Wimbledon, Hastings and Leamington Spa. The subjects covered are quite wide ranging, and include one poem that was published: "Lines Excited by Reading of the sad distress of the Poor Irish occasion'd chiefly by the scracity of thier Potatoes - in 1822, when much relief was sent from England - and more needed. and appear'd in the Morning Post - July 10 - 1822"