Byron's copy of 'Frankenstein' discovered

There has been some exciting news for the world of Romanticism announced today: Lord Byron's personal copy of Frankenstein, inscribed by Mary Shelley, has been discovered hidden away in a family library. The book had remained, untouched, on a top shelf in the library of Lord Jay for fifty years, and was only found when his grandson was sorting through some political papers and happened to come across it.

The inscription, which reads 'To Lord Byron from the author', was verified as being in Mary Shelley's hand by Richard Ovenden of Oxford's Bodleian Library, and the book will now be auctioned. It is expected to fetch £400,000. The volume will be on public display at Peter Harrington's premises (100 Fulham Road, Chelsea) for one week from Wednesday 26 September 2012 along with a selection of contemporary literary artefacts. Let's hope that this treasure is purchased by a research library rather than falling into the hands of a private collector.

For the full news story, please see the Huffington Post.