Search results

Author, Title, Summary Subject Price
Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892), palaeontologist, first Director of Natural History Museum, opponent of the theory of evolution [Samuel Birch (1813-1885), Egyptologist; Lady Ann Cullum of Hardwick House]

[Sir Richard Owen, palaeontologist.] Autograph Letter Signed to Lady Cullum, enclosing a long translation by Samuel Birch of inscriptions on an Egyptian statue in the British Museum, annotated by Owen and with transcription of letter to him by Birch.

An interesting item in the field of Victorian Egyptology. The subject is what Owen describes here as 'one of the oldest Statues of an Egyptian Notable in the British Museum'. Its current Museum Number is EA103, and it has been in the Museum since 1835, but the details of its acquisition are...

 £850.00
Cardinal Antonelli [Giacomo Antonelli, ‘The Italian Richelieu’ and ‘Red Pope’] (1806-1876) Roman Catholic prelate, Cardinal Secretary of State for the Holy See, central to the unification of Italy

[Cardinal Antonelli, ‘The Italian Richelieu’, who played a leading role in the unification of Italy.] Secretarial Letter in Italian, Signed by him, to the Brazilian ambassador to the Holy See.

See his entry in Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of discoloration at edge, and traces of glue from mount on blank reverse. Two folds. Addressed to ‘Sigr. Ministro del Brasile presso la S. Sede’ and signed ‘G Card Antonelli’. The signature is in...

 £80.00
John Oxenford (1812-1877), playwright, translator and theatre critic of The Times, promoter of Schopenhauer and Richard Wagner [the Athenaeum, London; C. A. Feiling]

[John Oxenford, playwright, translator and theatre critic of The Times.] Autograph Letter Signed [to the editor of the Athenaeum], expressing thanks for a ‘very handsome and prominent notice’ of the ‘German Tales’ he has written with C. A. Feiling.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On brittle, discoloured paper, cropped at foot. Signed (‘J. Oxenford’). The recipient is not named, but is clearly the editor of the Athenaeum. Reads: ‘Sir/- / In the name of Mr. C. A. Feiling and myself, I beg leave to thank you for the very handsome...

 £65.00
Sir William Hunter [Sir William Wilson Hunter] (1840-1900), Scottish historian, statistician, Indian civil servant and editor of the Imperial Gazetteer of India and Oxford 'Rulers of India' series

[Sir William Hunter, Scottish historian, statistician and Indian civil servant.] Autograph Presentation Inscription, with Signature ('W W Hunter').

On 12mo leaf, intended to be inserted in a book. In good condition lightly aged and worn. Centred on the page the inscription reads: 'With the author's kind remembrances. | W W Hunter. | Oaken Holt. | 1895.' The reverse is blank.

 £20.00
R. L. Hobson [Robert Lockhart Hobson], ceramicist and cataloguer, Keeper of the Department of Ceramics and Ethnography at the British Museum and President of the Oriental Ceramic Society [De Winton of

[Robert Lockhart Hobson, Keeper of the Department of Ceramics and Ethnography at the British Museum.] Autograph Letter Signed to Wilfred Seymour De Winton, describing the process of reopening the Museum in the wake of the Great War.

See his obituaries in The Times, Burlington Magazine and elsewhere. Casting light on the process of reopening the British Museum in the wake of the Great War. From the papers of the recipient, Wilfred Seymour De Winton of Haverfordwest and Cardiff. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly worn and...

 £45.00
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Liberal Prime Minister

[William Ewart Gladstone ('The Grand Old Man'), Liberal Prime Minister.] Autograph Signature ('W Gladstone') as frank, on panel cut from front of envelope, addressed by Gladstone to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

5.5 x 10 cm piece of paper, cut from the front of an envelope. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Immediate | The | Lord Archbishop of Canterbury | W Gladstone'. The signature is in the customary place, in the bottom left-hand corner.

 £45.00
Alan Bennett (b.1934), playwright, screenwriter and author whose career began in the Cambridge Footlights, and includes the script for the film 'The Madness of King George'

[‘the play goes on night after night’: Alan Bennett, playwright, screenwriter and author.] Autograph Letter Signed, thanking ‘Mr Robinson’ for his letter [about his play ‘The Old Country’], stating that he likes to hear from members of the audience.

1p, 12mo. On grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed ‘Dear Mr Robinson’ and signed ‘Alan Bennett.’ A short response to a letter about his play ‘The Old Country’, whose run at the Queen’s Theatre had started on 7 September 1977. He thanks him for his kind letter, and states that ‘...

 Literature, Music and Theatre £35.00 Bennett
‘Henry Compton’ [stage name of Charles Mackenzie (1805-1877)], English actor noted for his Shakespearian comic roles [John Hollingshead (1827-1904), manager of Alhambra and Gaiety theatres in London]

[‘I am persuaded you have talent for Farce writing’: ‘Henry Compton’ (Charles Mackenzie), actor noted for his Shakespearian comic roles.] Autograph Letter Signed to J. Hollingshead, giving his ‘honest opinion’ of the farce he has sent him.

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. An interesting letter, linking two significant figures in the London theatre. Around the time of writing Hollingshead had given up his career in the clothing business to write full time, early on for Dickens at ‘Household Words’, then later for...

 £100.00
Sir George Strong Nares (1831-1915), Royal Navy Vice-Admiral, commander of first ship to pass through the Suez Canal, Arctic Explorer with Challenger Expedition and British Arctic Expedittion

[Vice-Admiral Sir George Strong Nares, Arctic explorer and commander of first ship to pass through the Suez Canal.] Autograph Note Signed ('G. S. Nares.') regarding his 'delicate instrument for Alert or Discovery'.

See Nares' entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. Clearly and boldly written, reading: 'Please give the bearer my delicate instrument for Alert or Discovery | G. S. Nares.' (Wikipedia) "Because of his previous experience in the Arctic, he was...

 £250.00
Sir Henry Taylor (1800-1886), poet, dramatist and civil servant [his son Henry Ashworth Taylor (1854-1907); E. A. Scott of Rugby School]

[Sir Henry Taylor, poet, dramatist and civil servant.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Taylor') to 'Mr Scott' [E. A. Scott] of Rugby School, regarding 'the predicament' of the lack of educational progress of his son [Henry Ashworth Taylor].

4pp, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded four times. Encouraged by Scott's response to his wife's letter, Taylor is 'encouraged to ask for yr. advice in the predicament in which we stand at present. My boy has made hardly any progress in the last term & stands only four fm...

 £250.00