Keats Letter Sells for $126,500!

Dallas, Texas: Heritage-Slater Americana (HSA) sold a rare and important handwritten letter from the pen of the great Romantic poet John Keats (1795-1821) for $126,500 in their latest Grand Format auction, held April 13, 2005 in Dallas, Texas.

"This letter was written to Keats' paramour, Fanny Brawne, roughly a year before his death from tuberculosis," said Tom Slater, Director of HSA. "It is believed to be the last such love letter held in private hands."

"John Keats was one of the great young voices of the Romantic Age," said Slater. "Unlike his contemporaries, which included Percy Bysshe Shelley and George Gordon, Lord Byron, Keats was born without the advantages of rank and station. His parents, who died when Keats was a boy, were working class, and he was plagued with financial troubles throughout his short life. Nevertheless, he had a significant impact on poetry and literature that continues to be felt to this day."

"Keats suffered from tuberculosis for several years," continued Slater, "which would eventually claim his life on February 23, 1821 at the age of 25. The first onset of the disease followed a coach ride from London to Hampstead on a particularly cold night, and it left the poet housebound for over a month. During this time, he developed an infatuation with his neighbor, Fanny Brawne, who visited him often. She was an exceptional woman for her times, described as being 'of remarkable perception and imagination, keen in the observation of character and events, possessing an unusual critical faculty, and intellectually fitted to become the wife of Keats.'"

"In this letter," Slater added, "Keats dwells on his 'swooning admiration' for Brawne's beauty and longs for her companionship, but poignantly concludes, 'better not come today.' No doubt his symptoms that day were so severe he did not wish to distress her. Even though written from his sick bed, the letter beautifully demonstrates the poet's brilliant mind and gift for expressive, romantic language. This letter is a true treasure, a glimpse into the mind and heart of one of the greatest poetic geniuses the world has ever known."

"It's been a thrill to be able to bring this important and historic piece to market," Slater continued, "and I'm very pleased with the overwhelming response it inspired. This was certainly the high-point of last night's auction, and will certainly be the high-point of some fortunate collection for years to come."

For more information about Heritage-Slater Americana auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageAmericana.com. Heritage-Slater Americana is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219-3941.

Potential consignors are invited to contact Tom Slater, TomS@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 441 or contact John Hickey at JohnH@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 264.