Search results

Author, Title, Summary	Subject	Price
Sir Samuel Morton Peto (1809-1889), civil engineer, railway contractor and Radical Liberal Member of Parliament, George Borrow’s ‘Mr Flamson’ [The man Brunel called the largest railway contractor in the world: Sir Samuel Morton Peto, civil engineer, railway contractor and MP.] Autograph Letter in the third person to Lady Hooker, regarding ‘the next Election of the Idiot Asylum'. See his entry in the Oxford DNB: ‘In the 1840s Peto had thirty-three railway contracts worth £20 million, the largest number held in the kingdom; according to Brunel he was the largest contractor in the world.’ 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. Begins: ‘Sir Morton...		£75.00
Solly Sachs [Emil Solomon Sachs] (1900-1976), South African trade unionist and anti-apartheid campaigner, exiled in England from 1953 [Philip Dosse of Hansom Books, publisher of 'Books and Bookmen'] [Israel; Solly Sachs [Emil Solomon Sachs], South African anti-apartheid campaigner, exiled in England.] Typed Letter Signed, thanking Philip Dosse of ‘Books and Bookmen’ for his offer to publish ‘our “Open Letter” to the Prime Minister of Israel’. 27 February 1975. On letterhead of the Committee for Peace in the Middle East. From the papers of Philip Dosse (1925-1980), proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally...		£120.00
Winston Graham [Winston Mawdsley Graham, born Grime] (1908-2003), English novelist, author of the hugely-popular ‘Poldark’ series of Cornish historical novels [Winston Graham, author of the ‘Poldark’ series of Cornish historical novels.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Miss Cond’, with reference to her autograph collection and ‘gift shop in Sidmouth’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On grey paper. In fair condition, worn and creased. Addressed to ‘Dear Miss Cond’, and signed ‘Winston Graham’. It was ‘nice’ to hear from her again, and he is happy to send her ‘the usual autograph’. ‘What a fine collection of first editions you must...		£50.00
[Proportional Representation in Ireland, 1911; Electoral Reform] The Right Hon. Lord MacDonnell [Antony Patrick MacDonnell] (1844-1925); Independent Newspapers, Ltd., Dublin Printed pamphlet: ‘Some Suggestions concerning the Future Welfare of Ireland / An Address delivered before the Literary and Scientific Society of the Queen’s University. Belfast, on February 23rd. 1911. By the Right Hon. Lord MacDonnell of Swinford, From the papers of Sylvia and Robert Lynd. Scarce: copy in NLI, and three on JISC (LSE, Oxford and Cambridge), but not in BL. 30pp, 12mo. Stapled in wraps of shiny paper, with title and publication details on front cover (which is part of pagination). Text clear and complete, but in poor...		£100.00
Abbey Theatre, Dublin, founded by W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn; Walter Riddall; A. Patrick Wilson; John F. Larchet [The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 1914.] Printed programme for the first production of 'The Prodigal' by Walter Riddall, produced by A. Patrick Wilson, with orchestra conducted by John F. Larchet. From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd papers. A scarce piece of Abbey Theatre ephemera: the National Library of Ireland has a copies of the programmes for later revivals of the play in the Joseph Holloway collection (1918-1920), but does not have this one. ‘The Prodigal’ was Riddall’s only play. It...		£120.00
Henry Arthur Jones (1851-1929), naturalist playwright and conservative polemicist [T. E. Woodrow, Chief Clerk, London Library] [Henry Arthur Jones, playwright and polemicist.] Autograph Letter Signed to T. E. Woodrow of the London Library, thanking him for his trouble over the 'Restoration Dramatists' and proffering 'places for the Vaudeville' in return. 'There are three rules for writing plays', Oscar Wilde is said to have declared. ‘The first rule is not to write like Henry Arthur Jones; the second and third rules are the same.’ See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, slightly trimmed at the edges, and in a windowpane...		£45.00
J. R. Planché [James Robinson Planche] (1796-1880), dramatist, antiquary and heraldic officer of arms (Rouge Croix Pursuivant) [J. R. Planché [James Robinson Planche], dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Miss Blackburne’, complaining that he has been ‘completely floored with an attack of influenza’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, in trimmed windowpane mount, with glue marking on blank reverse. He thanks her for her letter, adding ‘I am completely floored with an attack of influenza and can only just manage to scribble this and assure you that I am / Very...		£45.00
James Hain Friswell (1825-1878), novelist and essayist [William Shakespeare portraits; George Virtue, London publisher] [Shakespeare portraits: James Hain Friswell, novelist and essayist.] Autograph Letter Signed to the publishers Virtue & Co, regarding their ‘fine print of the Chandos Portrait’ and his ‘certain status as a critic on that special subject’. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Friswell was described by Tennyson as ‘the would-be poet, / Friswell, Pisswell - a liar and a twaddler’. 1p, 16mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Fourteen lines of text. Addressed to ‘Messrs Virtue & Co.’ Signed ‘J. Hain...		£65.00
John M. Morton [John Maddison Morton] (1811-1891), English playwright specialising in one-act farces, the most famous of which was ‘Box and Cox’ [Benjamin Nottingham Webster, actor-manager] [‘I’m afraid the veteran farce writer’s “little game” is nearly up!’: John Maddison Morton, playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to the actor-manager Benjamin Nottingham Webster, negotiating terms and discussing his present penury. The phrase ‘Box and Cox’ has entered the English language. See the OED, and the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, landscape 12mo. Neatly inserted in a trimmed windowpane mount. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Signed ‘John M Morton’. Begins: ‘Dear Webster. / As Mr Anson...		£50.00
John William Calcraft [stage name of John William Cole (c.1793-1870)], actor, dramatist and lessee of the Theatre Royal, Dublin [Theatre Royal, Dublin: John William Calcraft [stage name of John William Cole], actor-manager and dramatist.] Autograph Letter Signed to a playwright, setting out the arrangements for a production. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of grey-paper bifolium, the blank second leaf carrying a thin strip of tape from the mount. In good condition, folded once. Signed ‘John W. Calcraft’. The recipient is not named. Thirty-four lines of text, in a somewhat difficult hand. After a reference to ‘Mrs. Cook’s...		£50.00