AUTOGRAPH

Two pages, 12mo, one edge ragged, with glue residue, with no loss of text, mainly good condition. [...] But, as far as Women's Suffrage is concerned, you may rest assured that I will do everything in my power to secure a decision of Parliament on the broad issues this Session.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, minor defects not affecting text, last page laid down on sl. larger card. I have read with great interest your Article in the Contemporary Review on Local Self Government in India, and I cannot help troubling you with a few lines to say how much gratified I am to find that my policy on that important subject meets so fully with your approval.

One page, trimmed, 11 x 12cm, glue stains on verson (blank), right edge sl. roughened. Je suis charme de diner avec vous Jeudi le 8 - Presentez mes hommages a Madame et croyez toujours a mon ancienne amitie.

A. BACKGROUNDAt his death in 1904 Piers Thursby, Esq., of Broadwell, Gloucestershire, was a respectable member of the local gentry, the brother of a baronet, a Justice of the Peace, active with his wife in church affairs, and taking a benevolent interest in the welfare of local children and the conditions of the inmates of the workhouse. In contrast, as these letters reveal, half a century previously he had enjoyed a good deal of 'fun' as a captain in the 9th Lancers, slaughtering 'Pandies', 'niggers', 'treacherous murderous brutes' and 'black Cawnpore murderers' during the Indian Mutiny.

1. Autograph Note Signed Shirin Spencer, daughter of Stanley, to Daphne, 23 June 1961, in envelope:Unity [sister] and I were both so sorry to hear that you had lost your father in such a sad way. We send you our love and sympathy.; 2. Two Typed Letters Signed Andrew Boyle, sometime BBC producer, author, one page each, 30 Nov. and 11 Dec. 1962, about his inclusion of her in a programme about Spencer. [...] Yours is such a fascinating story, so personal and so vivid that it would be wrong not to have you in the programme; 3.

One page, cr.8vo, very good condition. She has only just found Cond's letter on her return from abroad. I am so glad you enjoyed 'A Relative Stranger' and have much pleasure in returning your bookplate [presumably signed]. I do appreciate the trouble you took to write to me. It is always very nice indeed to hear from readers who have read and enjoyed one's books.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition, docketed on p.[4] 1852 | C R Leslie RA. He extends an invitiation for Mrs Gardiner to visit before two oclock when he will with pleasure give her such information and assistance as I can respecting models. He continues with insights into his own works: My faces & figures are sometimes painted from firends, sometimes from members of my own family but [some?] often from hired models, who do not, however, supply [dresses?]. These I make up as I can, & sometimes borrow them from Nathan in [?] Street [theatrical costumier?].

One page, 12mo, top of page grubby, closed tears (one repaired on reverse), signature smudged, fold marks, text clear in a neat secretarila hand. I beg to enclose you an advance proof of an appeal which will be widely circulated after eleven o'clock tomorrow. Presumably this relates to the electoral shenanigans of 1881: Bradlaugh later returned to the House, but because Members had to take the oath before being allowed to take their seats, he effectively forfeited his seat in Parliament once he cast a vote in early 1881. His seat fell vacant and a by-election was declared.

One page, 8vo, prominent fold mark but ow good. Would you mind giving me some details about Captain Christmas' work. I think it would be better for me to be able to speak of it with more knowledge than I have at present, when I mention it to my niece. I was so glad to see you again & to meet your son, covered with glory! - How nice for you! Note: Presumably referring to the Danish author : Walter Christmas (born Walter Christmas-Dirckinck-Holmfeld) [...] Danish author who is best known for his children's books.

14 pages, 4to, large handwriting (lower case letters 5mm), punch-holes, two of four damaged. The manuscript has elisions, substitutions and additions by the author, indicating a lot of thinking, perhaps a desire to use a long word rather than a short. She attempts to analyse Spencer's (artistic) character and their relationship (including sexual). I have attached scans of two pages, 5 and 14 (the final page) to illustrate her subjects and re-thinking (elisions etc).

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. Text: I am really touched by yr. contribution & hope soon to see Miss Mary Wardell & to put our heads together regards the project of a Home for Scarlet Fever Convalescent Patients. - The gift from the two Servants & the old house delights me[.] [I]f such subscriptions were common, we should have very little difficulty in raising money.[...][Postscript] I will [?] note to Miss Wardell & send you my photograph.

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, faint foxing, small closed tear at fold, ow good condition. Your letter of the 5th July last only reached me a very short time ago for it was directed to me 'War Office. London' and I have never left South Africa since the War. I enclose my autograph if you think it is worth having in your collection.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, final page blank with residue of tipping in process, ow good condition. Text: Your note has just been forwarded to me with a batch of others from the [Thorndike?]. I would have loved a visit to Newport. But as soon as my business was completed in Boston I come racing home just like an anxious bovine mother. It is foolish, but I positively cannot stay long away from our six year old baby. Mr. [Haughton?] and his wife had a dinner arranged for Monday evening, where I should meet Dr.

Typescript (carbon), not paginated, [30pp], stapled, good condition. Another copy is in the Ray Roberts Collection of John Fowles material (HRC). See image of Contents page, from Background and Fowles on location to Developing the Novel ,The Book, the actors, Unit List, Cast List.

John Bromfield Gay Rees (1912 - 1965), known to his family and friends as Brom, was a Welsh painter whose work was admired by such eminent figures as Dylan Thomas, Augustus John, William Rothenstein and Eardley Knollys, among others. Introspective and private, he was practically unknown to the general public during his lifetime, and the first major exhibition devoted solely to his work was in 1989.

Two pages, 12mo, corner chipped with loss, evidence of its being tipped onto something, not affecting the text, mainly good condition. Text: Many thanks for letting me know of the forthcoming concert. Being here I should probably not otherwise have heard of it. I do hope your lovely music will be properly appreciated and the concert altogether a great success.. I cannot - alas! attend it myself. I am here on the Sick List more or less, and not yet [...?] to anything much in the way of exertion[...]

32 line poem, cr.8vo, in a frame of an album page (detached), 4to, one ragged edge, celebrating summer, commencing: Is it not well, when the long day is over, | That brimmed with fulness of the summer time-| - Joy of wild bees that roam the the scented clover; [....] See image for full text. Verso: Sentiment by obscure German.

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. Teext: When Dwarkanath Tagore dined at Buckingham Palace he was shocked at the Indian mat which covered the floor of the picture gallery which he said was what a tradesman of Calcutta would not have used [.] [H]e also begged to be allowed to procure a mat for her Majesty[.] I now enclose you the dimensions of the floor of the picture gallery & beg that you will convey them to him. [...] Note: William Vesey Fitzgerald, Baron Fitzgerald and Vesey (1783-1843) was President of the Board of Trade, 1841-43 (death).

Signed `Hesing´ in bold black ink at the foot beneath his portrait, also adding the junk's name `Keying´ and the name `Suckling´ [not traced] to the portrait, all with their equivalent Chinese characters beneath. Quite heavily foxed, mainly around not on the image and signatures, top left corner torn off (a red ink stamp might have been there as in other examples, with Chinese characters, being the seal of Prince Hui Rui, but other examples would not have fitted in the lost corner). See image.

Two page, 12mo, fold marks, good condition. Text: I thank you by post [underlined] for you invitation, in order you may get my answer sooned. | I am in town & not likely to go out of it any more than the monument. I have not been well & have been obliged to shut & live by rule. I suppose that owing to that I am better, but I must not presume too much, and, with great reluctance, I must beg to be excused from being with you on Monday next. With many thanks believe me [...].

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. Text: I fear you are like myself, & [burning?] into a state of mental debility or you would never imagine that such an old friend as you are could in any way have displeased one. I have not yet been to Brighton again but the invitation is in abeyance ---- I went last week to Deal & enjoyed the change much - Every body is out of Town & I fear we shall be very much alone next Sunday - but if under these circumstances you could venture to come, with Miss Reid & [stayed?] with us we should be very much pleased.

Signature on slip of paper, c.11 x 2cm, with embossed coat of arms (crown on top), laid down on slightly larger card, sl. irregular, good condition. Docketed the late Madame Grisi. See image,

B & W Photograph, 8 x 13cm, very good condition except for remnants of laying down on the reverse. See image.

Scrap of paper, irregular, 16 x 6cm, partially laid down on sl. larger scrap, some folded over. Three lines in a language I can't identify (yet?), signature Florence Douglas, and on reverse of the paper folded over, the word Infinitive followed by three words in the same language. I have yet to find any evidence that Lady Florence was interested in languages. See image.

An important artefact: a folio page carrying an Autograph Rough Draft of the central passage of a lecture in which Owen – four years after the publication of Darwin's 'Origin of Species' – defends the theistic view of evolution. One of two folio pages in Owen's autograph on the same leaf, the other page carrying the beginning of the description of plates in Owen's 'Memoir on the skull and scapular arch of the Dinornis Robustus [Giant Moa]'. 2pp, folio. On the two sides of a leaf of aged and worn paper, with fraying and chipping at head and foot. Folded twice.

One page, 12mo, laid down on slightly larger. unevenly cut, card. A bold hand: I confirm my letter of the 25 inst in which I accepted your king invitation for Monday next and beg now to ackowledge the receipt of the invitation card you kindly sent me and remain sincerely [...]

Piece of letter, shaped, 7 x 4cm, laid down on paper (part of album leaf prob.), 14 x 8cm. Text: I am | Yrs very truly | Linlithgow. Docketed in pencil with information about him (Governor-General of Australia). See image. On reverse of paper, the signature of the Breadalbanes.

Piece of paper, c.11 x 5cm, on sl.larger card, foxed. Some marking of address but text clear: Lady Stepney | Henrietta Street | Cavendish Square

One page, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. Since I saw you last I hve not neen well, and have in consequence not been able to make progress with the work, on the completion of which depended my being able to undertake and illustrations for you book. | I regret that it is so, but am obliged to say that it is not in my power to furnish any drawings for your work before Christmas. | Your book, howevere, is so very well supplied with illustrators of note that the absence of my name in the list cannot be of any consequence.

Two pages, obl. 8vo, fold marks, closed tear along fold, remnants of sellotape, some marking, text clear and complete. He appreciates Temple's enjoyment of Brittany, and his and his description of prehistorical remains so enticing that it makes me wish to visit the same spot. He is holding a letter addressed to Temple. He then reveals what his wife is doing (visiting their son). I am now doing a little work in the studio for it is probable that we may prolong our stay till after the end of Oct. when we hope to see you in full possession of your usual good health.