Beinecke Osborn c563

• Recipient

• Primary compiler
• Major author

Rare, though most of the material seemingly original.

Pre-bound. Binding is very tight and solid, despite wear on the spine. Several blank pages.

Spine title reads "Poems."

Catalogue entry says: "Contemporary(?) full calf; banded and gilt-stamped spine. Red Morocco label." 

Single (Simpson's) pp. 1–100, 105–105v.

pp. 102–104 in J. Eyre's hand; p. 104v in Sarah Leaper's hand.

Intended as a present to the compiler’s future wife Sarah “Sally” Leaper, see p. 100. 

Oxford school friends: many poems to/ about recently deceased school friend Robert LaRogue (aka “R.L.R.” or “Bob”); many poems to J. Eyre; annotations p. 49v: “Blick and Eyre us’d to be particularly intimate. As were LaRogue & Simpson”; annotation p. 51v gives the order the friends arrived at Oxford, followed by “And my intention of verifying this little Tale was unhappily prevented by the unfortunate Death of R.L.R.”

Note Leaper and Eyre contributions at the end, implying Eyre saw it before it was given to Leaper (presumably?), and Leaper returned to it after her marriage to Simpson to finish the story. 

Uniform presentation of titles (not underlined, just larger than the rest of the text).

Many poems with numbered stanzas.

New items begun on new pages. 

Prefatory and concluding gesture to dedicatee, Sarah Leaper.

Rectos filled only, except for the few additions at the end of the manuscript.

Yes, most if not all. Many revolving around group of school friends or Sarah Leaper, as well as many imitations. 

“S Simpson” on front-flyleaf and title page; record of Simpson and Leaper's marriage on p. 104v. 

Yes: "M.S. being A choice Farrago of new Poems,—lately collected from the papers of that wonder-working Genius, S. Simpson of Coventry Weaver. — pace quo coeteri poet ce sondent[?] and Now first copied by himself at his Garret in the High Street. Cum pribilegio Apollonius. 10th July 1773."