Stevenson, Robert Louis; Sumner, Heywood

RARE: The Original Plans for Improvements to Middle Road which leads to Skerryvore Showing Robert Louis Stevenson as owner of Skerryvore and showing the Owners and Tenants of Neighboring Properties [Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]

Bournemouth. Framed. THE RARE: ORIGINAL PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO MIDDLE ROAD WHICH LEADS TO SKERRYVORE, Robert Louis Stevenson's home in Bournemouth where John Singer Sargent painted Stevenson and his wife and where Stevenson had the famous dream which inspired his great work "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". [Per the Robert Louis Stevenson web site which tale, among other great works, including, he wrote at Skerryvore, a property later owned by Heywood Sumner, Esq., a successor in ownership to the home, who was closely involved with the Arts and Crafts movement and the late-Victorian London art world. Sumner, who was qualified as a Barrister, also employed much of his time as an amateur archaeologist, geologist, naturalist, and folklorist.] Skerryvore, whose lawns ran down from the house to Alum Chine Road, is where Stevenson lived from 1885 until his departure for Samoa (where he died in 1894). Thus, the Plans for Middle Road improvements were prepared soon after his departure from that house and show the names of Stevenson's neighbors and/or tenants thereof. Skerryvore itself was a "wedding present" from Stevenson's father to Stevenson and his wife, Fanny, approximately four years after their marriage -- most likely the father's attempt to keep his peripatetic son near to him in his last years. [Stevenson came to legal ownership of it upon his father's death in 1887. Named after "Skerryvore", the tallest lighthouse in Scotland and one designed by his uncle, Alan Stevenson, who, like Stevenson's father, was a leading lighthouse engineer, the house was destroyed by German bombs on November 16, 1940. There now stands in its place a memorial garden containing a statue of the lighthouse for which the home was named.] These Plans constitute an important record of Stevenson's home and neighborhood and neighbors, a rare opportunity for the Collector. A WONDERFUL PAIR OF RARE ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ITEMS NOW PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED WITH GLASS ON BOTH SIDES; BEING QUITE RARE INDEED AND LIKELY THE ONLY EXISTING COPY.

[PLEASE NOTE: Per the Robert Louis Stevenson web site: "RLS and Fanny settled in Bournemouth from July 1884 – August 1887. Stevenson was very ill during this period, often unable to leave the house. Nevertheless, the Bournemouth years marked incredible industry on RLS’s part, when he wrote and published a huge volume of work.

He published “A Humble Remonstrance” (1884), A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885), The Dynamiter (1885), Prince Otto (1885), Jekyll and Hyde (1886), Kidnapped (1886) The Merry Men (1887) and “Pastoral” (1887, later included in Memories and Portraits, published in the same year). Indeed, this period marked the publication of some of his most famous works – RLS was finally becoming a serious author in the public eye."

While working on and publishing the above, he also wrote verses for Underwoods (1887), wrote “Thomas Stevenson: Civil Engineer” ( as a memorial for his father who died in 1887. The essay was later included in Memories and Portraits in 1887) and finished Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin (1888 – Jenkin had passed away in 1885).

Furthermore, he and W.E. Henley, who was a regular visitor to Bournemouth, were constantly working on collaborative projects. RLS and Henley worked on Admiral Guinea (1884), Macaire (1895), and many other ideas during this period."]

While working on and publishing the above, he also wrote verses for Underwoods (1887), wrote “Thomas Stevenson: Civil Engineer” ( as a memorial for his father who died in 1887. The essay was later included in Memories and Portraits in 1887) and finished Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin (1888 – Jenkin had passed away in 1885).

Furthermore, he and W.E. Henley, who was a regular visitor to Bournemouth, were constantly working on collaborative projects. RLS and Henley worked on Admiral Guinea (1884), Macaire (1895), and many other ideas during this period.

A RARE AND IMPORTANT PIECE OF ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON MEMORABILIA.









[PLEASE FURTHER NOTE: THIS SET IS HEAVY AND BUYER'S SHIPPING COST WILL EXCEED THE AMOUNT QUOTED BY THIS SITE.]. Very good +. Item #3564

Price: $9,250.00