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Author, Title, Summary Subject Price
Léon Gozlan (1803-1866), French novelist and playwright

[Léon Gozlan, French novelist and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Monsieur le President des Ministres’ [Soult or Thiers??]

1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and creased, with thin stub from previous mounting neatly adhering to inner edge. He explains that his request for an audience is ‘exclusivement littéraire’, and that it is as a ‘titre d’honneur de lettres’ that he hopes to obtain ‘la haute faveur’ of...

£180.00
Napoleonic Wars: British North Sea Convoys [Hull to Tønning, Duchy of Schleswig, Denmark (now Tönning, Germany), 1805; Royal Navy]

[Napoleonic Wars: Eleven-ship British North Sea Convoy, from Hull to Tønning, Duchy of Schleswig, Denmark (now Tönning, Germany), 1805.] Detailed and lengthy manuscript ‘Statement & Division of 11 Ships Freight to Tonning 1st Round 1805’.

An interesting indicator of the economic impact of the continental blockade in the year of the Battle of Trafalgar. Roger Knight provides an excellent overview of the background to the present document in his ‘Convoys: The British Struggle against Napoleonic Europe and America’ (2022), and in...

Military and Naval History £350.00 Convoy
‘The Lion Hunter’: Roualeyn George Gordon-Cumming (1820-1866), Scottish traveller and big game hunter, whose trophies were exhibited around Britain [Henry Charles Angelo, fencing master]

[‘The Lion Hunter’: Roualeyn George Gordon-Cumming, Scottish traveller and big game hunter.] Autograph Letter Signed, arranging for a portrait to be sent to the fencing master H. C. Angelo via a ‘pampered menial’.

At the time of writing Gordon-Cumming’s trophies were being exhibited at this Piccadilly address, having previously formed part of the Great Exhibition. The recipient Henry Charles Angelo (1806-1866) was a member of the celebrated family of fencing masters, and was at this time teaching the art...

£180.00
Alexander W. Williamson [Alexander William Williamson] (1824-1904), Professor of Analytical and Practical Chemistry, University College, London [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), entomologist; Choshu Five]

[Alexander W. Williamson, Professor of Chemistry at University College, London.] Autograph Signature on engraved ticket to his lecture on ‘Chemistry’, made out for the microscopist Bernard Piffard.

Williamson is notable for his work on the formation of ether, and for furthering Anglo-Japanese relations by welcoming the 'Choshu Five' and later members of the Satsuma han into his home. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the Piffard papers. Signed ‘Alexr W. Williamson’ on ticket engraved...

Science, Medicine and Technology £56.00 Alexander W. Williamson
Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha [Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh; 1844-1900], second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.] Manuscript text of an 1862 telegram from ‘Prince Alfred to The Queen / Osborne’, asking for ‘the Fairy’ to be sent to Southampton.

An amusing piece of Victorian memorabilia. Written in pencil on one side of a slip of paper, roughly 14 x 7 cm, torn from the bottom of a leaf. Both sides of the paper are ruled, with the ruling on the reverse wider spaced. Confirming the fact that the item is a telegram is the fact that the...

Royalty £80.00 Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Bamber Gascoigne (1935-2022), television presenter and author, original quizmaster on the ITV television series ‘University Challenge’ [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), publisher]

[Bamber Gascoigne (1935-2022), television presenter and author, original quizmaster on the ITV television series ‘University Challenge’.] Autograph Letter Signed to Philip Dosse, on reviewing (for ‘Books and Bookmen’), Harold Acton and Lord Longford.

Victoria Coren’s comment to the BBC on Gascoigne’s death is most apt: ‘No quiz host has ever seemed more like they could answer all the questions themselves.’ The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and...

£100.00
Charles Gore (1853-1932), theologian, Bishop of Oxford (previously Worcester and Birmingham) and chaplain to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII [Sir W. D. Ross (1877-1971), Oxford Vice-Chancellor]

[Charles Gore, theologian and Bishop of Oxford.] Autograph Card Signed to Sir W. D. Ross, Oxford Vice-Chancellor, with reference to ‘the meeting for Oxford House in Magd. Hall last summer’.

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. Plain postcard, with stamp printed in red. In fair condition, discoloured and worn. Addressed by Gore to ‘W. D. Ross Esq / 6 Charlbery Road / Oxford’. Begins: ‘Will you forgive a p. c.? I have no secretary & am rather overwhelmed with applications...

£45.00
Charles Napier Hemy (1841-1917), RA, painter based in Falmouth, Cornwall, regarded as the foremost marine artist of his generation

[Charles Napier Hemy, RA, painter based in Falmouth, Cornwall, regarded as the leading marine artist of his generation.] Autograph Letter Signed dealing with the disposal of unsold pictures.

An interesting letter, dealings with the practicalities of the artist’s profession in late Victorian/Edwardian England. Hemy was regarded as the leading English marine artist of his generation, with his paintings often selling for in excess of a thousand pounds. With the proceeds he built a...

£150.00
Charles Owen Waterhouse (1843-1917), entomologist, son of George Robert Waterhouse, godson of Charles Darwin and Richard Owen [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), entomologist]

[Charles Owen Waterhouse, entomologist, godson of Charles Darwin and Richard Owen.] Autograph Letter Signed to Bernard Piffard, micrscopist, regarding ‘British examples’ of the ‘cicada haematodes’.

Waterhouse and his two younger brothers were all entomologists. He was named after his godfathers, Charles Darwin and Richard Owen. See his father’s entry in the Oxford DNB. From the Piffard papers. 2pp, 12mo. Addressed to ‘B. Giffard Esq’ and signed ‘ Chas. O. Waterhouse’. Begins: ‘Dear Sir, /...

£120.00
Henry Doubleday (1810-1902), pioneering Quaker horticulturist of Coggeshall in Essex [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), entomologist]

[Henry Doubleday, pioneering Quaker horticulturalist of Coggeshall in Essex.] Five Autograph Letters Signed to the entomologist Bernard Piffard, discussing various topics in natural history, common acquaintances and personal news.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the Piffard papers. A total of 10pp, 12mo. Aged and worn, with the first letter on creased grey paper, the second with one leading edge rolling inwards, and the last with a 2cm closed tear; but with text clear and entire. The recipient named as ‘B. Piffard...

£180.00