Stevenson Collection
Paintings by noted 19th century artists associated with Stevenson include: H. R. Bloomer, Thomas Hill, William Keith, Lorenzo Latimer, Ernest Narjot, Fanny Stevenson, Robert Alan Mowbray Stevenson, Isobel Strong, Joseph Strong and Virgil Williams. There are sculptures by Gertrude Amidar, Gutzon Borglum, Michael de Lisio, Allen Hutchinson, John Tweed and Augustus Saint Gaudens. Photos at right: Top - Rare first editions of Stevenson works under a portrait of Stevenson by J. Rutherford Patrick. Bottom - An original mahogany wood slant top writing desk owned and used by Robert Louis Stevenson when writing Treasure Island and other works. This desk was shipped to Stevenson's home at Vailima, Apia, Samoa in 1891, and placed in his library. Stevenson began writing Treasure Island while staying in the Scottish Highlands at Braemar in October 1881. To amuse his young twelve-year-old stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, and because weather was stormy, Louis drew an imaginary map of an island with names like 'Skygklass Hill' and 'Skeleton Island.' With the help of Lloyd, he painted in the sea and principal features using a box of watercolors. The next morning he began to compose the classic adventure story of pirates and hidden treasure, working on a chapter a day for fifteen days. Stevenson completed the novel in Davos-Platz, Switzerland. Treasure Island established Stevenson as a romantic novelist capable of writing elegant clear prose. As the author Jack London stated: "His Treasure Island will be a classic to go down with Robinson Crusoe, Through the Looking Glass, and The Jungle Books." This book became a bestseller that has never been out of print since its first publication in 1883. |
The Museum's original 800 items have increased to over 9,000 and the collection continues to grow. Many items were acquired directly from heirs and friends of the Stevenson family. Original letters; manuscripts; journals; first, variant, early and presentation editions (including translations and annotated copies); rare periodicals; paintings and drawings; sculptures; photographs; scrapbooks; and memorabilia form the collection which includes: Stevenson's childhood letters and drawings; the last words he ever penned; two pages from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Stevenson's own copy of his first book, An Inland Voyage; the copy of A Child's Garden of Verses which he presented to his wife; his manuscript notes on The Master of Ballantrae and The Morals and Ethics of Life; unpublished manuscript poems; and over a hundred books from his library in Samoa. His lead soldiers; the desk at which he worked and composed Treasure Island; the box he made when learning carpentry as a boy; a girondole mirror; toll road sign; and his wedding ring are among many of the memorabilia comprising the collection.