Cowper trove

Olney's Cowper and Newton Museum – which used to be the poet's home – has been offered the most important set of Cowper-related items ever to come on to the market, at the bargain price of £250,000.

The museum hopes to raise most of the cash through charitable grants, but it is asking local people for their help to collect the remaining £30,000 by the end of the year. . .

The collection comprises 170 letters, including many to his friend John Newton, the curate at Olney Church, who famously wrote the hymn Amazing Grace.

There are also 24 books from his library; two miniature paintings by the Romantic poet and artist William Blake, plus 11 other objects including a washstand and shaving mirror, portable writing table, and bookshelves.

However, there is the fear that if the museum is unsuccessful the collection could be broken up if auctioneers Bonhams put it on the open market.

For example, Princeton University, in the US, has 404 of Cowper's letters and would undoubtedly be prepared to pay substantial sums for additional items.

Posted by David on July 7, 2006 2:43 PM