Vita Nuova

Doughty, Arthur G., "Vita Nuova",  Rose Leaves: A collection of simple verses written on various occasions, London: Thomas Moring, 1894, pp. 50-52.

and

D., A.G., "Vita Nuova", Nugae Canorae, Portland, Maine: Smith & Sales, 1897, pp. 31-32.

"Vita Nuova" was one of 25 poems by Arthur G. Doughty published in the collection Rose Leaves, 1894; and one of 28 poems by A.G. D. in the collection Nugae Canorae, 1897. These two poems were essentially two versions of the same poem. When compared, the only difference was a word change: in the 39th line (the second from the last line) from ["To one immortal and most perfect strain"--] in Rose Leaves, 1894, to ["To one eternal and most lovely strain"--] in the Nugae Canorae, 1897.

During the 1890s, A.G. Doughty had composed, imprinted and/or published a number of poems which included illuminated manuscripts devoted to a single poem or a selection of poems. Many of these are difficult to track down and suggest that he may have produced one-of-a kind works.  For example, "Old and New", The Gazette, Montreal, 21 Sept. 1895, p.11, described a volume entitled Sir Lancelot's Return which featured the poem "The Knights of Old" and also contained the poems "To Hesper Phosphor" and "Vita Nuova".  This illustrated manuscript described in The Gazette, included illustrations by Frank L. Cardiff, in addition to one picture by Henry Sandham.  However, to date, we have not been able to locate the manuscript noted in the Gazette.

Print copy of Rose Leaves, 1894, held in Wilson Collection was reviewed; select images are pictured above. Digital copy from microform (CIHM 16860) available through Internet Archive (archive.org) was also reviewed; select images are pictured above.

Print copy of Nugae Canorae, 1897, held by LAC (OCLC #976966849) was reviewed; select images are pictured above. Digital copy from microform (CIHM 03939) available through Internet Archive (archive.org) was also reviewed; select images are pictured above.