[LORD BYRON] [BRIGGS (SOPHIA)] 'SOPHIE' THE GITANA presentation copy signed on the half title of v

[LORD BYRON] [BRIGGS (SOPHIA)] 'SOPHIE' THE GITANA presentation copy signed on the half title of volume one Elizabeth Pigot Jany 25th 1845 the Gift of the authoress Mrs Wm Sturges Briggs of Sloane St London, three vols with a watercolour and two pencil drawings by Elizabeth Pigot (ffe of vol two, last p vol two and endpaper of vol three), original stamped dark green cloth, 2p of volume three loose (3)Provenance: Elizabeth Bridget Pigot (1783-1866).Byron's early friend and correspondent Elizabeth Pigot of Southwell, Nottinghamshire was to prove an invaluable source of information to Thomas Moore, is first biographer. The present lot, discovered recently in Southwell, is of interest for several reasons, not least the enigmatic small watercolour and pencil drawings in Pigot's hand. These have marked similarities with others, which include her hand made and illustrated small book 'The Wonderful History of Lord Byron and his Dog.'The Gitana's obscure author, Sarah Briggs (1821-1894) the wife of a London attorney was a granddaughter of the Ref. Henry Houson (1753-1831) Vicar of Southwell. One of his attractive daughters, Ann was one of several of Byron's early 'conquests' when living at or returning to Burgage Manor from Cambridge. She is the subject of his poem 'On finding the fan of Miss A Houson'.