Search results

Author, Title, Summary	Subject	Price
Sir John Summerson [Sir John Newenham Summerson] (1904-1992), architectural historian and director of Sir John Soane’s Museum [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), proprietor of Hansom Books] [Sir John Summerson, architectural historian.] Two Autograph Letters Signed and Autograph Note Signed to the proprietor of ‘Books and Bookmen’, with two Autograph reviews written by him. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse (Summerson spells it ‘Dossé’) was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. The five items are in good condition, lightly aged. The three letters signed...		£120.00
Sybil Thorndike [Dame Agnes Sybil Thorndike] (1882-1976), distinguished English actress whose career spanned six decades [Sybil Thorndike [Dame Agnes Sybil Thorndike], distinguished English actress.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr. Bagnall’, and Autograph Card Signed to Victor Jones, both expressing thanks. See her entry in the Oxford DNB. ONE: ALS to Bagnall. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Reads: ‘Dear Mr. Bagnall. / How very kind of you to write me such a charming letter. I did appreciate all you said – thank you very much / Sincerely yrs / Sybil Thorndike’. TWO: ACS...		£45.00
Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton [Sydney Charles Buxton], British Liberal politician, the second Governor-General of South Africa [Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton, Governor-General of South Africa.] Autograph Signature cut from letter. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Slip of grey paper, 11 x 4 cm, cut from letter. In good condition, lightly aged, with central vertical fold and spotting on reverse (a few dots of which show through) from glue. Bold signature ‘Sydney Buxton’. Text on reverse: ‘[…] paper you thought [?] […] / or...		£20.00
Ted Noffs [Theodore Delwin Noffs] (1926-1995), Christian minister, laterly with the ‘Uniting Church’, founder of the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, Sydney, and campaigner for aboriginal rights [Ted Noffs [Theodore Delwin Noffs], ‘Uniting Church’ minister and social activist.] Typed Letter Signed, informing the editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ Sally Emerson that the Charles Prince of Wales described it as ‘the best magazine in the world’. See his entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography. Despite the Prince of Wales’s endorsement, the novelist Sally Emerson (b. 1954) proved to be the last editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’, which followed the suicide of the proprietor Philip Dosse of Hansom Books. (See her article ‘Death of a...		£65.00
William Whewell (1794-1866), polymath who coined the word ‘scientist’, Master of Trinity College Cambridge and authority on the history of science [Rev. J. E. Dalton; British and Foreign Bible Society [The man who coined the term ‘scientist’: William Whewell, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.] Autograph Letter Signed to Rev. J. E. Dalton of the British and Foreign Bible Society, declining the position of chairman of the Cambridge committee. See his entry in the Oxford DNB, and the entry for ‘scientist’ in the OED. Whewell first used the word in 1834 in the Quarterly Review, stating that ‘some ingenious gentleman proposed that, by analogy with artist, they might form scientist, and added that there could be no scruple in making free...		£50.00
Sir Ernest Gowers [Sir Ernest Arthur Gowers] (1880-1966), author of the guide to correct English usage ‘Plain Words’, and the revision of Fowler’s ‘Modern English Usage’ [V. H. Collins, grammarian] [Sir Ernest Gowers, author of the guide to correct English usage ‘Plain Words’.] Three Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed to fellow-grammarian V. H. Collins, discussing a crux and the perils of being an authority in the field. See the entry what was wrote about him in the Oxford DNB. The archives of the recipient, Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), are now housed in the library at Yale. All four items signed ‘Ernest Gowers’ ONE: ALS, 27 June 1952. 2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, worn and spotted, with pin holes to one...		£120.00
W. L. Wyllie [William Lionel Wyllie] (1851-1931), ‘the most distinguished marine artist of his day’ [S. W. Luard; the Salters' Company, City of London] [‘The most distinguished marine artist of his day’: W. L. Wyllie [William Lionel Wyllie].] Autograph Letter Signed to S. W. Luard, declining a dinner invitation from the Salters’ Company, as he is starting for Norway at the end of the month. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘W. L. Wyllie.’ He is sorry that he will be unable to avail himself of ‘the kind invitation to dinner sent me by the Master of the Salters Company’. He is starting for Norway on the last...		£60.00
Sir Robert Smirke (1780-1867), RA, architect of the British Museum [Sir Robert Smirke, RA, architect of the British Museum.] Autograph Note Signed to Charles Fowler, a vice-president of the Artiists' General Benevolent Institution, enclosing a cheque. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, torn along the inner edge on removal from mount. Addressed to ‘Chas. Fowler Esqr:’ (a vice-president of the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution) and signed ‘Rob. Smirke.’ Reads: ‘Dear Sir / May I request you will...		£45.00
Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984), Poet Laureate and popular broadcaster and public figure [Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate.] Autograph Signature on slip laid down beneath a printed version of his poem 'Henley-on-Thames'. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged. Good firm signature ‘John Betjeman’ on 9 x 3 cm slip of paper. Laid down at the foot of one side of a 12mo leaf (extracted from an edition of his poems), at the foot of the Betjeman poem ‘Henley-on-Thames’. On the reverse,...		£25.00
Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984), Poet Laureate and popular broadcaster and public figure [Enid Bagnold [Lady Jones] (1889-1981), writer and dramatist; Lady Billa Harrod] [Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Lady Jones' [the writer Enid Bagnold], regarding her housing of a 'prize' and Lady Billa Harrod. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, but lightly discoloured, with a large rectangle of sunning covering most of the lower part, and a neat crease at bottom right (not affecting the signature, which is partially sunned). Annotated in pencil by a later hand on the reverse...		£150.00