AUTOGRAPH

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. A gossippy letter, much of the context of which has been lost. Begins: 'My dear Coke | May I trouble you to pay the inclosed Bill for me at Mattocks - I have sent you a small Bill on Coutts, which I will make payable to the Proprietor of the Museum -'. Regarding horsebreeding he notes from the newspapers 'that the hon. W. Howard has sold Hundershelf or Hengerst & Haphazard with a long Pedigree to Mr. Painter. The Abbot will no doubt have a second Dairy Maid - by the bye that sort of Butler is a very dear article -'.

4pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. An excellent letter on an unusual subject, written in forthright style. The author – who like the recipient is a member of the local mercantile community – gets down to business immediately: 'Sir | The late great demand for Bottles in England was the effect of Mr Pits [sic] commercial Treaty with France.

In Wyatt-Paine's obituary The Times (13 April 1935) described him as 'probably one of the most learned lawyers who ever held the office of stipendiary magistrate'. Both items in good condition, lightly aged, and both bearing the Society's date stamp. ONE: 12 August 1913. 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. The letter concerns the Swiney Prize, regarding which Wyatt-Paine has 'perused a notice [...] which states that the prospective award in January 1914 will be made for a treatise on "General Jurisprudence"'.

Five items in good condition, lightly aged. All items with the Society's stamp. ONE: TLS. 20 September 1921. 1p., 4to. Agreeing to the Society's request for 'an authoritative paper on the subject of trade with the Netherlands East Indies', and asking for the proposed date ('approximately'), as he will be 'in Holland in the latter part of October, when I shall be in a position to get all the latest and most reliable information obtainable upon this interesting and very important subject'. TWO: TLS. 30 September 1921. 1p., 4to.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the Society's date stamp. He has been informed by the secretary of the London Shakespeare League that 'other arrangements have been made for my Lecture, so that the official application for the loan of your Lecture Theatre will not be made'. He apologises for the trouble he has given, but was happy for 'the occasion it gave for seeing you. It was with pleasure I observed the signs of general "fitness" in you, although it was a long time since I saw you last'. He ends by asking Wood to inform 'Mr.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. With the Society's oval date stamp. He is sending as promised 'a note of the arrangements agreed upon between us at our interview to-day'. Undertaking to provide space at the Museum 'for the purpose of receiving, arranging for judgment, and re-despatching the designs submitted for the Owen Jones prizes for industrial design. The judging will be done by your nominees, and all correspondence in connection with the matter will be in your hands'.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. With the Society's date stamp and a query in red pencil. He apologises for the delay in replying to an invitation 'to give a short course of lectures': 'I should very much like to do this at some later date but I am afraid that I have already committed myself so deeply for this next winter and spring that it will not be possible for me to do so.' He is 'very flattered indeed' by the inviation and regrets having to decline it.

The six items in good condition, lightly aged. Each with the Society's stamp. Each 1p., 8vo. On 25 September 1925 he expresses sorrow on hearing 'of Mr. Digby's death. What was the cause of it? It seems only the other day that I saw him at the Society of Arts on the occasion of Professor Parks' address, when I took the chair.' He also states that he can 'say positively that I could read my paper before the Royal Society of Arts on December 2nd, but I am doubtful on the point – such a mass of pressing work has come along since I first contemplated writing the paper.

2pp., 12mo. On blue paper. In good condition. She writes on Coward's behalf from his home, saying that 'he was delighted and amused at receiving the clever caricature of himself'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn. Docketed: 'Application of the Revd. Robt. Whiston to make Dock & use Creek'. Written in a hurried hand.

Both items in fair condition, aged and worn. ONE: ALS. 28 September 1872. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. He is 'taking somewhat of a liberty', but having heard 'that you are parting with one of your Clerks', says 'a word in favour of a person in whom for many reasons I take a great interest, & of whom you & your Brothers may know something. | I mean Mr. Prothero for many years an Inmate of my House, & an Assistant Master in the School'. Prothero was 'for some years a Clerk in the County Court', but 'is obliged from paucity of business to leave it, & is now out of employment'.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium, docketed on reverse of second leaf 'Popish Bill'. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins with reference to the giving of the recipient's 'Directions' to 'the Gentleman', before turning to the anti-Catholic agitation: 'As I never heard of the allarm [sic] taken about Popery, but from the News Papers, I took it to be a thing little attended to. I am assured no step is to be taken in the matter this Session. It is therefore the business of every Friend to our Constitution to prevent the Protestants from being deceived into any Acts of violence.

Both letters 1p., 4to. Both on bifoliums with second leaf docketed. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: London; 18 February 1766. He begins with reference to the sending of two bills to 'Mr. Fairholme', then turns to the question of a receipt for 'Rob: Minto', which he provides, with its own signature, at the end of the letter. He then states that as a result of 'Mr Pringles Letter' he has 'lost hopes of Lord Nisbet'. Finally he says that he has 'had a Letter of form from Billie notifying Widderburn's Death'. TWO: London; 18 April 1776. Docketed 'Great Seal'.

Ruthven was born in Ireland, the son of Galway landowner Clifford Trotter. He was a master mariner, a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and wrote several nautical manuals. At the time of his retirement as commodore of the Orient Line of ships in 1911, Ruthven had completed forty-five years at sea and thirty years in command of Orient steamers (Orient Steam Navigation Company, Limited – hereafter OSNC).

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, stapled to the carbon of the letter from Samson to which it is replying. On his return from holiday he states: 'I shall be very happy to take the chair for Sir Rex Cohen, Chairman of Selfridges, when he reads a paper on modern retail trading to the Society on Wednesday, January 13th.'

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, on aged paper with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Reads: 'Dear Sir | Will you kindly let me know the latest date for sending pictures to the Melbourne International Exhibition and Oblige | Yours very sincerely | Cecil Lawson.'

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, aged and with bands of glue at head and tail on reverse. He thanks her for her note, but he cannot join her party. 'I wish I could!' Postscript: 'I hope you are quite well again!'

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Folded in customary fashion, with 'Brief | for the opinion of Mr Harington' on the outside of the packet, beneath which, in another hand: 'Feby 14th. 1890 | Richard Harington Esq'. The author's hand is clearly disguised, as is usual with valentines, the writing being markedly ornate. There are various crude drawings in the margins, ranging from images of a barrister and a woman, faces of two women (one smoking a pipe), to small representations of cigar boxes, briefs and books.

The three in good condition, lightly aged. All addressed to 'My dear Derek'. The autograph letters are closely written. Three excellent letters, the first two containing lengthy discussions of his recently-published book 'The Birthday King', which Stanford is reviewing. The three letters also contain references to Stanford's former lover Muriel Spark. ONE: ALS ('Gabriel'). 18 September 1962. 8pp, 8vo. Regarding his recently published book, he thanks him for his 'long, exciting, and excited letter about TBK and the most discerning article'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He has learnt with 'the deepest regret' of his 'old friend's passing'., and sends his condolences. He will be unable to attend the funeral service, as he had 'a bad fall & fractured two ribs'. He concludes: 'Herman was a great fellow, & nobody will ever replace him -'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Although '[w]ords at these times seem rather empty things', he feels he must write to express his sympathy on her loss: 'To know dear Herman as I knew him, was to love him - & I am ,mindful of many happy times we had together & many kindnesses he has shown me'. He asks her to be consoled by the fact that Finck 'leaves behind him a fine reputation & a grand record of service'. According to a contemporary account: 'Joseph Lewis, senior conductor of the BBC, was born in Brierly Hill Staffs, in 1878.

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. He only met Finck on a few occasions, but offers his condolences 'as a Composer of Light Music, and as a former Director of Music at a West End Theatre (Daly's)'. In his view, Finck 'surely had no superior in the art of giving pleasure to others, not only by his personality, but also by his pen.

The collection of 35 items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. A good-natured playful correspondence on both sides, with both parties delighting in literary byways (Hine signs one letter 'Yours in the love of learning'). ONE: 10 Signed Letters (7 in Autograph; 3 Typed) to Franziska Hyde, and one unsigned Autograph Letter Signed, regarding his writing and hers, with four letters to her from his wife following his suicide, and copies of her letters. Between 5 October 1948 and 20 February 1949.

On his death Finck was described by the Daily Mirror as 'one of the world's greatest writers of light music'. His 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played on RMS Titanic before it went down. The collection is in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Items One and Two are in an envelope addressed to Mrs Finck at 122 Finchley Road, with note by her: 'Funeral Cards & names of people at Service'. ONE: Collection of 73 signatures of people attending Finck's funeral service. 5pp., folio. Mostly in pencil. With calling card of 'Mr. Stanley F. Galpin'.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. He knew that Finck was ill, but 'the news of his death broadcast on Friday night came as a shock to me. | He & I had known each other for many years, & specially during the last five or six years we had much to say to each other at the Savage, my admiration for him deepening the more I knew him.' Another member of the Savage Club, Philip Page, referred to Finck as 'the most genial man he ever knew', and this was 'endorsed by all his fellow Savages'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with a short closed tear along a fold line and small rust stain. He begins in conventional fashion, with a reference to 'Herman's countless friends', before continuing: 'As I write this there is in front of me part of a small collection of books I have each containing some personal inscription from its famous author. Among them is one from Herman. He had thought of me one evening, &, with his usual kindliness, he took a book from his collection, wrote in it, & brought it to me there & then. He spent most of that evening in my dressing room.

Aged and worn postcard. Written in pencil, and addressed to 'The Mac Finck | 21 Heatherfield Pk | Willesden Green | NW'. Reads 'All right Sunny | See you soon. So busy. No time to Finck of ennyfinck for a week | Yours | GRS'. The image of 'MR. GEORGE ROBERT SIMS' on the front of the card shows a seated Sims pondering what to write with pen in hand and finger on cheek, seated surrounded by curios in what is probably his study. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played while RMS TItanic went down.

1p., 12mo. In good condition. He is writing 'as an old brother savage' (i.e. a member like Finck of the Savage Club), and asks her to accept his 'most sincere sympathy in the loss' of her husband, and his regret that he cannot be present at his funeral. Headed by Mrs Finck 'Answered'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. She is writing on behalf of herself and ''. Regarding Finck she says: 'He was always so kind, so full of human sympathy & suchj a dear Man - I feel I have lost a very dear & treasured friend - I think I must have known him over 40 years. My husband loved him & had great admiration for him as a man'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.?>

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Offering him, following the unanimous decision of a committee meeting and on his recommendation, an honorary 'Diploma of Fellowship [...] limited to 100 members, of past-students and Professors'. Finck's song 'In the Shadows' was one of the last to be played as RMS Titanic went down.