BOOK

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, first and lst pages grubby but text clear and complete. Text: Thank you very much for sending Mr Henley's book which I shall have much pleasure in reading, and my wife will get hints for 'style' as she doth peruse it. It is nicely got up, but is not so sweet to handle as the 'Book of Verses' which is a gem. He relates that he has a drawing of the new Steamer 'Duchess of Hamilton' [which] I think I might utilise [...] if you can introduce something in next week's notes about the remoteness of Arran getting diminished. It is really a fine boat and very swift.

One page, sm. folio, airmail, one small closed tear, good condition. Text: I was glad to get your letter of 8th August and must apologise for my delay in answering it. I was, just then, caught up into a confusion of work. | I telephoned Mr Leventhal (he doesnt live in Woodbury, but in Boston; howeyer, we are in touch) and he was delighted at his good fortune in acquiring a copy of my FARMER'S YEAR.

Both in pencil. Letter One (17 Jan.): One page, 8vo, good condition. Text: Hope you are better. All was well at the RA - as you saw [T?] Wheeler going well. | Now - Her is a lovely estuary wide & tidal from Harwich to Manningtree 800 swans ---- Vast herds of them - close in to edge often & out of the wader - You can touch them. | Masses of stuff ---- come & stay at Dedham Sun[day] ----or Colchester ----- & have a look [underlined]. Letter Two (7 Dec. 1956), two pages, 8vo, good condition.

One page, 12mo, very good condition. Text, a verse from Gerald Massey's To-Day and To-Morrow (see note below) as follows: [Fanny's quotation marks] Though hearts brood o'er the past, our eyes | With smiling features glisten, | For, lo! our day bursts up the skies! | Lean out your souls and listen! | The world rolls Freedom's radiant way, | And ripens with her sorrows; | Keep heart! who bears the cross to-day, | Shall wear the crown tomorrow. | Fannie Garrison. | Boston, Oct.21st, 1860 | [ 'Mrs Henry villard' in another hand ] || Why ask a name?

For information on Kenney and the recipient Thomas Hill, see their entries in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. Bifiolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Thos. Hill Esqr | Queen Hith' [i.e. Queenhithe, London]. Hill had presumably requested a representation of Kenney, and the tone of the letter is that of one man of the world addressing another, accurately caught by a dramatist: 'Dear Sir, | I have just received your note of the 10th.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Reads: 'Mr. Robert Anning Bell regrets that he is unable to accept the kind invitation of the President of the Corporation of the Royal Literary Fund to become a Steward at the Anniversary Dinner on July 6th.'

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of yellow paper mount adhering to the blank reverse. Reads: 'Mr & Mrs. Bohn present their compliments to the Mayor of Liverpool and Mrs. Hubback, and have much pleasure in accepting their polite invitation for the 15th. proxo.'

Both in good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip from mount adhering, and crease lines from folding. Two excellent long letters in Spedding's neat and close hand, full of content regarding the relationship between Victorian author, publisher and reader. The topic is Spedding's preparation for the publication of his pamphlet 'Publishers and Authors' (London: J. R. Smith, 1867). Both letters addressed to 'My dear Mervivale'. ONE: 3 September 1866. 4pp, 18mo. On a bifolium.

2pp, 18mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with a couple of emendations. The subject is Coxe's 'History of the House of Austria', which was 'Printed by Luke Hansard and Sons, for T. Cadell and W. Davies, in the Strand'. The letter begins: 'Mr. Coxe wishes to keep back for a week or two sheet 3z, because he intends to divide the first Volume into two parts; and therefore desires Mr Hansard not to strike off that Sheet; and will trouble Mr Hansard to transfer the commencement of Ferdinand's reign from p 542.

2pp, 18mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with a couple of emendations. The subject is Coxe's 'History of the House of Austria', which was 'Printed by Luke Hansard and Sons, for T. Cadell and W. Davies, in the Strand'. The letter begins: 'Mr. Coxe wishes to keep back for a week or two sheet 3z, because he intends to divide the first Volume into two parts; and therefore desires Mr Hansard not to strike off that Sheet; and will trouble Mr Hansard to transfer the commencement of Ferdinand's reign from p 542.

2pp, 8vo. On a gilt-edged leaf of umwatermarked wove paper. In good condition, lightly aged. A fair copy in Milnes's autograph. A curious poem, in which Milnes's Napoleon-worship wins through over considerations of the futility of war. Retitled 'The Funeral of Napoleon', the poem was first published in 1841 in the Spectator, and in slightly different form in Milnes's 1844 collection 'Poems, Legendary and Historical'. There are a number of differences between the present version and that published in the Spectator. The final stanza is entirely recast.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper with one corner torn away (without any loss of text). Folded three times. The recipient is not named. The letter begins: 'Sir | Your letter enclosing a prospectus of your proposed work has just reached me. I beg you will excuse me for not entering into a discussion of the subject, which is a rule I have found it necessary, under my engagements, to make.

Dec. green cloth, 88pp., 8vo, corners bumped, ends of spine worn, ow good condition. INSCRIBED by the Author, "Rev. John Clements, | With the respects of Wm Rogers" (front endpaper); SIGNED by the Author beneath title (book published with no named author except in registration with the District Court); heavily edited, annotated throughout mainly by the Author, and perhaps by the recipient (two hands probably) with corrections, elision, changes, substantial additions, and additions on tipped in pieces of paper. See image. This book is scarce, 6 copies recorded on WorldCat in Madrid (x.

The four items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: ALS. 2pp, 8vo. Folded twice. He wishes to tell him 'what pleasure Pleasure Garden has given & is giving me - chequered only by occasional [footnote: '& most unworthy'] annoyance that you should have spotted something which I thought that no one but myself had ever noticed and appreciated'. He finds it 'a delightful and entirely fresh book - which pleases many different bits of one's mind'. He continues in the same tone, noting with approval that Hill has 'preserved specimen's of Pan's quaint pomposity'.

80pp., 8vo, grey wraps. small closed tears, signs of wear. [Japan Daily Mail, 1891] "The [volume] is a collection of press notices of Mr. Alfred East's exhibition of Japanese landscapes. The notices have been brought together and re-printed by Mr. Lazenby Liberty,[...]" Presumably the Exhibition stimulated a wider interest in Japanese art but no-one on Google (cursory glance admittedly) has seen fit to comment except to exclaim that it was a "spectacular success". No other copy traced on the market or on COPAC/WorldCat.

The recipient William Shoberl was the son and successor of Frederic Shoberl (1775-1853), for whom see the Oxford DNB. Having served as an assistant to Henry Colburn, William Shoberl set up on his own in Great Marlborough Street. In 1852 he published the first of the projected four volumes of Fowler's 'Lives of the Sovereigns of Russia, from Rurik to Nicholas; including a History of that Empire, from its Foundation to the Present Time'.

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'.

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.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. In Cockerell's close, neat hand. Addressed to 'Miss Dorothy a B. Terrell'. He explains that in his 'text-book' he has 'given some slight account of rebacking', adding: 'If your books have to stand any considerable wear, any that have broken sewing cords must be resewn.' On the other hand, if the books 'are merely to stand on a shelf for occasional reference', they can be rebacked with leather alone. 'It is important that your new leather should be of good quality.

2pp, 16mo. Bifolium with mourning border. Heavily aged, worn and creased, with traces of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. There is no salutation. The letter begins: 'It is impossible to make the best selection, out of 11 vols which I gave Quaritch, £8. for, from the Bindon Blood Collection, and 3 thick vols, collected by the very well known Collector Chas. Kirkpatrick Sharpe of Edinbro'. I bought from Upham & Beet for £4. nett so many curious amongst the above vols.' He hopes some of these volumes will be useful to the recipient, 'now, and already before sent'.

[16]pp, 16mo (11.5 x 7.5 cm). Stitched unpaginated pamphlet, tastefully printed with decorative headpiece to title, and the Press's celebrated device to the colophon. A frail survival, aged, worn and spotted, with one corner of last leaf dogeared. At foot of title-page: 'Any volume will be sent on receipt of Postal Order in advance.' Following the title-page are two pages with a history of 'The Chiswick Press. | Founded 1789.' Then a full-page advertisement for 'A Practical Treatise on the Art of Typography', with a full page containing 'Some Press Opinions'.

Evocative artefacts of the interesting connection between Powys and the man who supplied him with the books for his translation of Rabelais. On 24 September 1940, in 'Letters to Sea-Eagle', Powys gives a lengthy account of 'Our Jew Book-Pedlar' and the bombing by the Germans of his Russell Street address.

See Sams's entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. On a bifolium, the second leaf of which has had a rectangle, almost amounting to half, cut away from the bottom. The text of the letter is complete, but the priced list of the prints and drawings on the last page, lacks the lower half. A long letter, closely written. Signed 'J. Sams.' Aged, worn and lightly stained, but nevertheless in passable condition. The recipient, saluted as 'Esteemed Friend', is not named.

See Sams's entry in the Oxford DNB. Two letters providing an interesting glimpse of the practicalities of Victorian antiquarian bookselling. Both letters 3pp, 12mo, and bifoliums addressed on reverse of second leaf, with broken seals and postmarks, to 'Godfrey Meynell Esqre | at Mr Stamp's, | Surgeon, | Seaton Carew, | nr Hartlepool.' Both addressed to 'Respected Frd.' In fair condition, aged and worn. ONE: 15 August 1847. He begins by explaining that he was 'from home in the city of Durham' when Meynell's letter came.

Two pages. 16mo, bifolium, glue residue on verso edge,ow good condition. "If you have the least regard for me pray send the paper containing Acc of the Wrecks [underlining from "pray"] for how I shall face J. Timbs Esq on Thursday (if he has not previously received it) I do not know.

The only copy of this item on OCLC WorldCat is in the Canadian National Archives. An attractive and characteristic piece of late nineteenth-century French printing. The present copy is 14 + [1] pp, 16mo. With frontispiece and eight illustrations and vignettes. Stitched booklet (13 x 7.5 cm). In wraps printed in black and red. In fair condition, lightly aged, in grubby wraps.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, lightly aged, with slight traces of glue from mount adhering to edge on reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. An interesting letter, casting light on publication practices in Victorian London, with reference to a successful female author. Mrs Gascoigne asks Schoberl advice regarding the publication of her book 'Spencer's Cross; or, The Manor House. A Tale for Young People. By the author of "Belgravia"', which would be published by Charles Westerton in 1854. The letter begins: 'Mrs. Gascoigne presents her compliments to Mr.

See Moxon's entry in the Oxford DNB, which describes his association with William Wordsworth as 'arguably his most important publishing relationship'. The present poem was published as 'The Two Streams' in the 'Literary Souvenir' of Alaric Watts in 1830, a year before Moxon published his first volume of Wordsworth's verse. The present item is 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, and laid down on a leaf removed from an album. Folded three times. Entirely in Moxon's autograph, titled 'Sonnet', and signed at the end 'Edward Moxon | London Jan. 5th | 1847'.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded three times. The recipient is not named, but is clearly a book illustrator, and the letter provides an interesting view of the practices of book illustrators and engravers in Victorian London. Whymper begins by stating that he is sorry to have missed his 'Call', and to have been 'equally unfortunate this afternoon', when he left at his house 'Two pieces of wood & a little book I want you (if convent [sic]) to make me a Front[ispiece]. for by Thursday Morng.

One page, 12mo, bifolium, second leaf (with address and postal marks) sl. damaged. Text: "If it will be convenient to you to supply me a design on wood as a frontispiece to a volume I am about to publish I shall be glad if you will meet the author here at 3 o'clock tomorrow."