Edward Lear diaries

Each volume contains diary entries by Edward Lear from 1858 until a few months before his death. The entries, generally kept daily with some notable omissions, frequently discuss his paintings, as well as his health problems and depression. Lear's primary residence was in England through 1870, when he settled in San Remo, Italy. He also traveled extensively, and usually took at least one long trip each year, often in search of new artistic material. These diaries describe travels in Egypt, England, France, Greece, India, Italy, Lebanon, and Switzerland, among other places.

Each diary also includes personal financial accounts arranged by month in the back of the volume. Some volumes include Lear's registers of correspondence (1858-1861, 1873-1888), and lists of his paintings (1864-1885), sometimes annotated with purchaser and price. Occasionally, diary entries are illustrated with Lear's pen and ink drawings, or with seating diagrams for dinner parties Lear attended. Several volumes include pay receipts signed by Lear's servant Giorgio Kokali.

The diaries are all written into blank volumes published yearly by Charles Letts & Co., which include printed advertisements, calendar dates, information on British customs, tariffs, bank rates, etc. Lear often annotated the printed almanac pages with his travel itineraries.