From Augusta Leigh’s Ransacked Papers to Anna Leighton’s Autograph Book: The Finding of an Unrecorded Draft Fragment of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage

Interest in autograph collecting grew in the nineteenth century and albums containing signatures, letters and other material relating to notable figures are commonly found in library collections. In an autograph album belonging to Anna Leighton, held in the special collections of Leeds Public Libraries, a fragment in the hand of Byron was discovered. This unrecorded holograph draft contains revisions and deletions not found elsewhere. The provenance of the fragment can be traced from Augusta Leigh’s papers after the death of Byron to Anna Leighton in Northallerton, Yorkshire. It is hoped that this discovery will offer opportunities for new research and public engagement activity.