The proprietors of B&B Rare Books located in New York City became suspicious when a young man approached them last year with a sizable collection of vintage literature for sale. Included in his assortment were 37 love letters penned by English poet John Keats to his fiancée, Fanny Brawne.
Joshua Mann, one of the store’s co-owners, noted that the seller asserted the letters had been passed down through his family for generations and had once belonged to his grandfather but failed to provide any supporting evidence. Mann expressed his doubts, stating that everything seemed dubious about the situation.
Subsequently, it was revealed that the books, estimated to be worth around $3 million US ($4.1 million Cdn), had been stolen from a private collection in the 1980s. Following an investigation, the items were returned to their rightful owner.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized the importance of combating the trafficking of art and antiquities in the borough.
The tragic love story between Keats and Brawne, where Keats, a Romantic era poet, viewed Brawne as his muse and true love, ended abruptly with Keats’s death in Rome at the age of 25 from tuberculosis. The poignant final letter from Keats to Brawne expressed his deep longing for her.
Brawne passed away in 1865, bequeathing the letters to her children, who later auctioned them off in 1885. Eventually, the stolen book found its way into the private collection of John Hay Whitney, a prominent figure in the publishing industry.
Efforts were made to sell 17 of the stolen items to B&B Rare Books and Adam Weinberger Rare Books in Manhattan in 2025, leading to the exposure of the theft and subsequent return of the items.
The return of the stolen goods to Whitney’s grandson was a significant moment for the family, as they plan to sell the collection at auction and donate the proceeds to charity. The missing books are still being sought, and investigations into the theft are ongoing.
Despite the mixed feelings surrounding the auctioning of the Keats letters, valued at $2 million US ($2.7 million Cdn), there is a recognition of their historical and sentimental significance to admirers of Keats and Romantic literature.
John Savarese, a scholar specializing in Romantic literature, highlighted the immense value of the handwritten letters beyond their monetary worth, describing them as a treasured rediscovery for Keats enthusiasts.