AUTOGRAPH

From the celebrated autograph collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton), and evidently written out by Moscheles in response to a request for an autograph. On 10 x 15.5 cm piece of pink paper. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on piece of paper cut from an album. Entirely in Moscheles' extremely neat hand. Headed 'Etude', with the direction 'Andante espressivo'. At bottom right beneath the line of music is the elegant signature, underlined with a flourish: 'I. Moscheles'. At bottom left is the date: 'London 23d. June 1868.'

Evidently written out in response to a request for an autograph, centred on one side of a 9.5 x 12.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor creasing to one corner. Reads: 'On behalf of the Government of India | Jawaharlal Nehru'.

A rare and unusual engraving, not in the National Portrait Gallery collection, nor in that of the British Museum Department of Prints and Drawings, which does however possess (with Museum Number 1909,0601.1) the original drawing by American artist Robert Matthew Sully (1803-1855) from which it was made, which the BM describes as 'Portrait of Jeremy Bentham writing; half-length, seated at desk, almost in profile to left, wearing spectacles. 1827 Pen and brown ink, over graphite'.

For Jessel's judicial high standing see his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. In envelope with Penny Red and postmarks, and 'LADHAM HOUSE, | GOLDHURST' printed on the flap, addressed by Jessel to 'E. A. Scott Esq | Schoolfield | Rugby | Warwickshire'. The envelope is signed 'G. Jessel' at bottom left of cover, and the letter concludes with the same signature. He is 'glad to be able now to withdraw the notice' he gave Scott about his son Charles 'leaving Rugby'.

See the entries for both brothers in the Oxford DNB, as also those of individuals mentioned in the letter: Margaret Cavendish Bentinck (1715-1785), the fabulously-wealthy Duchess of Portland, owner at Bulstrode of the finest natural history collection in the land (her herbarium is now at Kew); her librarian the botanist Rev. John Lightfoot (1735-1788); and her companion the celebrated 'Mrs Delaney', Mary Delany (1700-1788). 3pp, 4to. On bifolium. Addressed, with postmarks, to 'T. G. Cullum Esqr | Bury St. Edmunds | Suffolk'.

Arthur Sidgwick's long entry in the Oxford DNB concludes with the following assessment: 'a university liberal of rare consistency and stamina: a progressive bridging Victorian and Edwardian generations, and pre-eminent among the male dons who made a place for women's higher education in Oxford'. At the time of the present letter he was nearing the end of a 'brilliant' undergraduate career at Cambridge, with the winning of many prizes: 'In 1863 he was second in the first class of the classical tripos and fourteenth senior optime in mathematics, and was also president of the union.

1p, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with fold lines and small hole made by breaking of the wafer. Addressed by Wharton on reverse to 'Hon. Jno. N. Purviance | Auditor Gen. | Harrisburg.' Endorsed: 'Francis Whatron, Esq. | Phila. | Ansd. 12 July 1850.' Wharton writes in a neat hand: 'Dear Sir | I enclose a note I have just received from Messrs Thomas and Rumsey - which please return. | Truly yrs | Francis Wharton'. Postscript reads: 'Let us know from you at your early convenience, as we are unable to advance a step till we know your views'.

The recipient is Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), widow of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855) of Hardwick House, Bury St Edmunds. 1p, 12mo. On grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. The salutation of the letter ('My dear Lady Cullum') is in English, the rest in French. Written at a turbulent period in Guizot's life, following the Revolution in 1848, with the overthrow of the monarchy and its ministry of which he himself was head.

From the celebrated autograph collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton), and evidently written out by Moscheles in response to a request for an autograph. On 10 x 15.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Entirely in Moscheles' extremely neat hand. Headed 'Affection | from Domestic Life Op 140. No. 2', with the direction 'Andantino espressivo'. At bottom right beneath the line of music is the elegant signature, underlined with a flourish: 'I. Moscheles'. At bottom left is the date: 'London 23d. June 1868.'

From the collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton). 6 x 11 cm rectangle of paper, cut from the conclusion of a letter with a mourning border. Laid down on a white piece of card. In fair condition, aged and spotted. Milnes was a friend of the Tennysons, and he has evidently cut this piece out so as to have both autographs together in his collection. Tennyson concludes the letter: '[...] If one could but get a pair of shoes made in this Godforsaken parish! | Yours ever | A Tennyson'.

1p, 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. He does not remember 'whether the Wardroom picture of the Queen in the JOHN BISCOE is signed or not. If it is signed, we have to return it to the Palace when it is replaced. If it is not signed, I would have no objection to you acquiring it, but this is a matter for the Captain to decide.

Both items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: 3 March 1884. 1p, 12mo. Addressed to 'Dear Mr. Kynnersley'. Having received Kynnersley's undated letter he writes: 'I shall meet Blandford as you propose on the 11th. with very great pleasure. He was one of the heroes on whom I used to look with awe as a 3rd. form boy in 1834 in which year I joined & he I think left Rugby.' He is sitting at Congleton on the day of the meeting, and 'there is just a chance that some perverse suitor may be in full blast at my train time in which case (as I never leave a cause part heard) I may be late'.

Musgrave is celebrated, as Postmaster of Bath, for the mailing of the first postage stamp of all: the “2nd May” Penny Black. 1p, folio. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper with closed tears and chipping to edges, folded twice. Endorsed by Freeling on reverse: '12 Jay 1829 | Twopenny Post Office | T Musgrave Esq', with the following in another hand: 'News Papers | for ye. | Colonies'.

8 x 12 cm illustration of a ship in polar waters, cut from book or periodical, with bold signature at bottom right: 'V. E. Fuchs | 1968'. Laid down on piece of white paper. In fair condition, but with slight bleeding of ink from signature towards foot of paper. Accompanying the item is an unsigned typed note by the recipient of the autograph, on a 4to piece of paper. It reads: 'Antarctic Crossing | The autograph of Sir Vivian Fuchs | The first crossing of the Antarctic continent was completed at 1.47 p.m. on 2 March 1958, after a 2,158 mile trek lasting 99 days from 24th Nov.

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 summoned from this assignment to take charge of another Arctic voyage in search of the North Pole in Discovery and Alert in 1875, the British Arctic Expedition."

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. the bottom of the upper Fifth.' He explains that on a former occasion he was in favour of 'a change of house & of companions', but that 'the boy was exceedingly averse & I was induced by assurances of doing better to let him go back to Mr Arnold's'.

For information on the campaign to save the Rokeby Venus for the nation, see Charles Saumarez Smith, 'The Battle for Venus', Spectator, 10 November 2003. 4pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. With one fold.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the conclusion and signature ('Juliana Horatia Ewing. | (Not an elegant signature!)') of the letter cross-written at the head of the first page. Drawing of a 'round chess board', with explanation, on second page. An excellent intimate letter, to a family member or friend whose name is not clearly written (Marion? Marnie?). She begins by acknowledging her 'very delightful' letter, and expressing pleasure at 'the prospect of our "play" in town'.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. He begins by thanking him for his 'kindness in the matter of the plate at New'. He called there that morning and has 'sent on Dr Russells letter of introduction', and has 'written to Dr Moyle', explaining his object, and he hopes he will give him permission to have the [?] photod. wh: I consider about the finest piece of dated H English Plate in existence -'.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, folded twice. Explaining that as it was a week-end he was not able to answer her letter sooner, he writes, evidently on the subject of a painting she has commissioned: 'I should be very pleased to see any of your friends to show them the portrait on Friday or Saturday next at 3.30 or on any other day at that time which may be more convenient.' He concludes: 'Do not hesitate to send anyone you think would like to see the picture'.

See Lestock's entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 8vo. With seal under paper. On aged and worn paper, with damage to corners caused by detaching the item from the mount to which it was glued. Apart from he signature, the whole warrant is in a secretarial hand. It is headed: 'By Richard Lestock Esqr. Commander in Chief of his Majes. Ships going to the Mediterranean'. Addressed at bottom left: 'To Mr. James Sheppard hereby appointed Master of his Majestys Ship the Nassau'. The body of the warrant consists of nineteen lines of text in the customary form, beginning: 'Mr.

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded once. Endorsed with a number. A light-hearted letter, possibly written to his agent or secretary, beginning: 'Dear Miss Cohen | Thanks 1001 to you! | Tell the man to send the 21/- book down here, the Keith Johnson books must not be later than Saturday or Monday at the latest. Tell him to send the 1/- & 2/6 ones also. We are a military family!' [Crockett was raised by his Cameronian maternal grandparents.] He asks whether she sent 'the nail scissors', reporting that he has heard from his wife that 'they have not turned up.

Two highly interesting letters relating to nineteenth-century New Zealand. Both concern Thomas Alfred Sneyd Kynnersley (1839-1874), chief warden and commissioner of the Nelson South West goldfield, whose entry in the New Zealand Encyclopaedia states was famed in the colony for 'his ingenuity and daring'.

2pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Folded once. A nice letter, providing an insight into domestic arrangements in nineteenth-century Oxford, and the more mundane doings of an elevated soul. Begins: 'Mary, | Will you look in the glass room my sitting room. I think that on the right part of the bookshelf there are 3 copies of S. Augustine's Confessions. Will you be so good as to send them to me'. Turning to another matter he writes: 'I do not know any good glazier at Malvern who could do such a job, as the roof of that room in which I sit.

Four items, all in good condition, lightly aged, the three letters with stubs and labels used in mounting in an album. In addition to the pleasant picture they paint of the court gathered around the blind king in the last year of his kingdom's existence (with an interesting reference to the new palace he had built his wife at Marienburg), the three letters indicate a surprisingly cordial state in nineteenth-century Anglo-German relations.

A highly interesting and entertaining letter, casting light on the processes of topographical book production in Georgian England, in which a leading British printer and publisher, related to the Caslon family (who are mentioned) responds in detail to the material he is being sent from Syria by one of the finest topographical artists of the period, in addition to providing economic and domestic news to the traveller. For information on the author, see the long entry in C. H. Timperley, 'Dictionary of Printers and Printing' (1839). The background of the letter is as follows.

One page, 4to, bifolium, edges dusted, with other minor staining, text clear and complete. Text as follows, Manuscript (i.e.

On 2 x 11 cm slip of paper cut from the end of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged, with small tape stain from mount at the edge to the left of the signature. Reads: 'very truly yours | J. S. Mill'. On the reverse, in Mill's autograph, are the words: 'the Government for a pecuniary'. Mill is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of classical liberalism, and one of the leading English-speaking philosophers of the nineteenth century.

An interesting correspondence, casting light on the practicalities of early twentieth-century English portrait-painting. The recipient is Colonel Frederick Hugh Langston Oldham, D.S.O., D.L., of Overley Hall, near Wellington, Shropshire, eldest son of the Archdeacon of Ludlow, and the letter concerns Brock's portrait of Oldham's wife Christabel Josephine Oldham. The five letters in good condition, lightly aged. The four dated letters are dated between 25 February and 13 July 1920. The total 9pp (seven in 8vo and two in 12mo).

4pp, 16mo. Bifolium of grey paper, with letterhead printed in red. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. The recipient is undoubtedly Elizabeth Missing Sewell or a member of her family, and the letter begins: 'My dear Miss Sewell, | I wish you could have accomplished giving us a day, hoping you might have found me in more lively and sensible trim than when you were here, when I had a headache just enough to make me stupid.' She is going to post her Roscoe's 'William I', which she got 'from the L[ending] Library'.