Manuscript notebook of poems by William and John Overton submitted for the Cambridge Chancellor's Medal, 1818-1824, including 'Australasia' by William Overton, 1823

MLMSS 8027

fonds

1823-1824

923621

0.05 metres of textual material (1 box)

The Chancellor's Gold Medal was awarded each year to an undergraduate who submitted the best poem on a set topic. The topic in 1923 was 'Australasia' and Winthrop Mackworth Praed won the competition, William Charles Wentworth came second. Both of their poems were published. Overton's 'Australasia' was not published.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection and bookseller's notes.

Acquired by antiquarian bookseller Douglas Stewart in 2008 from a colleague in Spain.

A collection of original poems composed by William and John Overton, who are probably brothers, for entry into the Chancellor's Medal Cambridge. The poems are transcribed into a notebook and include William's entry for 1923 on the topic 'Australasia'.The notebook is a plain blank volume with a leather bound spine and papered boards. It is in rough and used condition with a large number of pages roughly removed, including the loss of the last few lines of Overton's 'Australasia'. All the text in the notebook is written in the same neat hand, probably the work of a professional scribe as submissions to the Chancellor's Medal competition were not allowed in the poets own hand. The notebook contains the poems: 'Imperial and Papal Rome', ca. 1818, 'Pompeii' by John Overton, 1819, 'Palmyra' by William Overton, 1822, 'Australasia' by William Overton, 1823, and 'Athens' by William Overton, 1824. 358 lines of 'Australasia' remain together with a page of notes which are footnoted through the text.

Copyright status:: In Copyright
Research & study copies allowed

Notebook paper watermarked 1823, last poem dated 1824