Two Autograph Letters Signed and two Autograph Notes Signed (all four 'J. Ashby-Sterry') to [Edward] Draper.

ITEM ONE (note, one page, 12mo, 3 December 1871, remains of grey paper mount adhering to verso of blank second leaf of bifolium): Apologises for sending a undated note: 'I daresay you can manage to fix at about what period it was written'. ITEM TWO (note, one page, 8vo, 12 December 1872, on creased, aged paper): Declining a dinner invitation. ITEM THREE (letter, one page, 8vo, 21 November 1873, on aged paper heavily chipped at head and foot): He has just described Draper's paper to Blanchard, who 'thinks it just the very thing they want. They like to have dates. If you have the original bill I would think that might go in.' Blanchard wants Draper to send it 'to Edward Leigh Era Office as soon as you can'. 'He is not quite sure whether they are full or not. But I think it would be worth trying. It is much too good a <?> to be thrown away.' ITEM FOUR (letter, one page, 8vo, 13 October 1880, good in purple ink on lightly aged paper, docketed second leaf of bifolium a little grubby and with traces of previous mount adhering): It is good of Draper to say he will send the 'Mathematical Song': 'It is one of the very best comic songs I know of.' He 'will take good care no one has a copy'. Draper's letter 'with regard to bookbinding brought many replies'. 'The "monsters" came in shoals & I shall probably have some difficulty in making a selection.' He was amused to hear about Ledbury 'and will get the paper'. Says he has 'been doing the "Lays of a Lazy Minstrel" in Punch lately. "Le Sportsman" in the current number is mine.' On his return hopes to have 'a smoke & a chat' with Draper at his 'place'. Assumes that Draper knows about the states of Hogarth's plates. Addresses of three recommended London bookbinders in Ashby-Sterry's hand on second leaf, together with directions to Carter Draper's Hampshire home (in Drapers hand?).