CARNEGIE

One could not find a better assessment by Brown of his qualities as a writer on language than the letter offered here. As his entry in the Oxford DNB notes: ‘As well as using the English language expertly, he was one of those logophiles, such as F. G. Fowler, H. W. Fowler, and Eric Partridge, who are fascinated by language itself. He became famous for his books about words, agreeable rambles around correct usage and philology, enlivened by literary allusion, quotation, wit, and personal anecdote.

One page, black-bordered, sl. grubby, but text clear and complete, laid down on board (sl. chipped, with photo of unknown house and garden on reverse. Text: Sir, \ I understand from Lord Rosebery that | Andrew Carnegie Esq | New York | is enough direction.- | [Yrs?] faithfully | M Gladstone | March 2 - 85. Note: Perhaps this was the beginning of Gladstone's beautiful friendship with Carnegie.

Butler had been Taft’s running mate in the 1912 United States presidential election. Such was his standing in the US that The New York Times printed his Christmas greeting to the nation every year. He shared the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize with Jane Addams. The present item is not untainted by the pompous circumloctions what one critic described as Butler’s ‘interminable miasmas of guff’. 2pp, 4to. On aged and creased paper, with slight damage to extremities but with text completely intact. Signed ‘Nicholas Murray Butler’.

Mary Endicott Carnegie was the daughter of William Crowninshield Endicott (1826-1900), Secretary of War in Grover Cleveland's first administration. She married the British politician Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) in 1888 and moved to England. After Chamberlain's death she married William Hartley Carnegie (1859-1936), Sub-Dean of Westminster Abbey and Chaplain to the House of Commons. She was painted by Sir J. E. Millais and John Singer Sargent.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Note in contemporary hand on reverse of second leaf: 'Honble. Wm. Hill | Brirtish Minister at Naples to Revd Danl Lysons'. He has received Lysons's 'two notes & enquired at the time if your servant waited for my answers & was told that the servant was gone saying no answers were required'. Nevertheless he wishes to assure Lysons that 'we shall be ready for you on Monday but I trust you will have the goodness to excuse my joining your Breakfast party afterwards.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. In addition to the message he left for the recipient's guest 'as to Carnegie', he asks him to tell his father-in-law (the London parliamentary bookseller P. S. King?) 'that it will be a very great favour if he sends me, to glance over, those letters he spoke of'. He undertakes to 'return them at once', and gives his address in Aberdeenshire for August and September. He has 'called twice on the chance of seeing Mrs. Roberts to say Goodbye', and asks the recipient to 'say it for me, in kindly fashion'.

Both letters in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (25 June 1883): 6pp., 12mo.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In original envelope, with stamp, three postmarks and red wax seal, addressed by Southesk to 'John J. Baron Esq. | 48 Griffin Street | Wilton | Blackburn | England.' Unaware that Baron is a barefaced autograph hunter, he expresses regret that, having no copies of his own works to hand, he is 'unable to accede to the very gratifying request of the lady referred to by you, as desirous to have two verses of my poems, in my own handwriting'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. A circular, with Blashford adding the names of the recipients in manuscript, together with the words 'and Thursday, April 25' and 'and a pastiche poster'. An invitation on 22 and 25 April 1918, to 'a very few friends (as my studio will only hold a few) to come to me on the eighth floor of Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and 7th Avenue, to see several decorative canvases, and a pastiche poster, some of which will probably not be exhibited again in New York'. Blashfield's papers are in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian.

On one side of a piece of pink paper, roughly 18 x 23.5 cm, removed from an autograph album. Good, on lightly aged paper. Eight bars of music and libretto, with staves for 'Soprani', 'Alti', 'Tenori' and 'Bassi'. Covering most of the page, and followed by 'From "The Waters of Babylon" (Psalm 137) | (May 1935.) | E. Phyllis Roberts. | June 15th, 1935.' Twenty-nine line poem 'To the Gentle Owner of this Album' on the reverse, signed 'Moir Carnegie | 21-6-10'. (in whose name a "prestigious" prize was given).