Clark MS 2000.005

• Primary compiler
• Major author

Regular. Items very clearly designated as the compiler's poems; in one case co-authored, in another case possibly by his daughter or sister, Miss S—(vol. 3).

Bound in contemporary straight-grained red morocco with gilt edges and neo-classical ornaments on spines.

Erroneous labelling of volume 4 as volume 3 on spine – the first 3 volumes are labelled “Sanderson’s Poems,” the fourth volume as “Sanderson’s Memoirs.”

Volume 1 illustrated with frontispiece showing the author's self portrait; other illustrations throughout the text.

Single.

Annotations show retrospective reading, whether by the compiler or others.

Introductory remarks in volume one state that the compiler has collected his scattered pieces because of  a resolution to leave off writing poetry; his friends have tried to persuade him to print a volume for private purposes, but he's glad he hasn’t done so – “for as this Manuscript-Copy may serve hereafter as a Memorandum of some of my past spent Hourse during my Clerkship, and may remind me of a few agreeable Circumstances hinted at or expressed in some of the pieces, my utmost Wishes and Expectations are most satisfactorily answered” (1.12; signed J.S. Junior and dated Doncaster Novr. 1790.)

Volume 2 begins with noting he is breaking the resolution not to write any more poetry; says his new poetry has been stimulated by studies at the University of Oxford when he left the profession of Law for the Church; he writes he is not seeking praise, but hopes the poems “may in future afford such a Satisfaction to himself and his friends as contemplative Minds enjoy in tracing back past Occurrences, and calling to remembrance the Circumstances of Youth” (volume 2, p. 7).

Volume 4 (the memoir) titled: "Private memoirs of the life of the Rev. John Sanderson, A.B. / written by himself and designed for domestic perusal."

Double rules after items.

Single rules after titles, which are in large hand.

Some introductory gestures in each case: Vol. 1 – Introductory Observations; Vol. 2 – dedication to Elizabeth Marsden, whom he was courting at the time; Vol. 3 – Preface; Vol. 4 – Preface. 

Volumes 1-3 have subsections by poetic subgenre.

Yes, apparently all original poetry.

Each volume contains an armorial bookplate "Ex Libris Fairfax of Cameron" on the front paste-down endpapers.

Paginated (by the compiler). 

Yes, for each volume – at the ends of volumes 1-3, at the beginning of volume 4.

Yes, for each volume. Each title page includes dates and place of composition: Vol. 1 1790, Doncaster; Vol. 2 1796, Houghton; Vol. 3 1805, Darfield; Vol. 4 1799, Tyers-Hill.