CHARLES

The two letters are in fair condition, lightly aged and soiled. ONE: 'Friday' (docketed date June 1838). 2pp., 12mo. Applying for 'the Post of Guard to Any of the Roads', on behalf of 'James Poyntz of Tralee'. On the reverse Lichfield has written 'sorry cannot'. TWO: 'Friday' (docketed date 19 June 1840). 2pp., 12mo. 'Mr Maurice O'Connell presents his Compliments to Lord Lichfield and begs to recommend bearer John Keating for employment as a Letter Carrier - Mr M O'C will feel much obliged by Keating's appointment'. Docketed by Lichfield on reverse: 'a test - but negligible chance'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'My dear Sir, | I shall feel much pleasure in joining Your party tomorrow evening, with my nephew C. Cazalet, who conveyed to me the wish you had expressed to see us at your lodgings, before your not came. | I am Your's sincerely | de Bode'. See John H. Harland, 'Baron de Bode and his Capstan', in The Mariner's Mirror, vol.99, 2013.

The note is 1p., 16mo, on a bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with small strip of staining from mount along fore-edge. It reads 'Mr d'Eyncourt will be extremely obliged to the Editor of the Globe to insert the enclosed. | Friday 8 ' Attached at the head of the page is the cutting from The Times ('Death of Mr. Tennyson d'Eyncourt'), with manuscript date.?>

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lighly aged at extremities, with the second leaf, carrying the address ('Dr. Farre | Charter House Square', with postmark), laid down on part of a leaf removed from an album. Locock's note, on the recto of the first leaf, reads: 'My dear Sir - | We will not trouble you to call on Miss Gladstone tomorrow, as she remains much the same, and they are rather anxious to get out of Town.-' Farre's unsigned reply, on the reverse, complains that Locock's letter 'reached my hands too late to prevent on the 31st.

Four pages, 4to, not bound as issued, fold marks, minor folds at top edge, good to very good.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dear Sir | I am rather busy at present but later on if I can get there I shall be glad to send you a short paper.' In his youth Redmond had resigned his army commission to join the Land League agitation. He was arrested for possessing seditious pamphlets in February 1882, and served three months in Kilmainham, sharing a cell with Charles Stewart Parnell.

For more than a century the firm of John Brumfit Ltd of the City of London was one of Britain's leading cigar and tobacco merchants, its reputation international. The firm was founded in 1864 by John B. Brumfit, son of Charles Brumfit of No. 1 Pall Mall West. The items offered here are the journal and cash book written out by the founder at the firm's inception, together with two related items (Items Three and Four below).

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Lord Whitworth & the Duchess of Dorset [now his wife] request the honor of Lord Glenbervie's Company at dinner to morrow [sic] at ½ past five. | Hôtel de l'Empire | Sunday morn.' Whitworth was British Ambassador to Paris. 1802-1803. Note: "After the restoration of the Bourbons in France, which as a political expedient he [Whitworth] highly approved, he visited Paris in April 1819 with the Duchess of Dorset and a numerous train."

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'My dear Sir/ | I think it is the 28th. thar you proposed to come to me & I hope that you & Mrs. Farrer may find it not interfering with more agreeable <?> please to stay at least till the following Monday or Tuesday Aug 1st'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with spotting at gutter. While his 'new Magazine [ the Intellectual Observer ] will not have space for reader of general Literature', he will do what he can 'for Miss Meteyard's book' (Eliza Meteyard published 'Give Bread, Gain Love' and 'The Delft Jug' in 1861]. He continues with reference to 'scientific questions' and 'our new magazine'.From 1862 Slack edited the Intellectual Observer, a development of a journal called Recreative Science, founded in 1859.

7pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. She feels she has 'two reasons for approaching' Bondfield, at the time Minister of Labour: 'I believe you are a Somerset woman, & know that you are interested in the question of housing.' She hopes that 'in any plans for bettering housing conditions that this government may make, the state of rural workers' homes may not be overlooked. You are probably as familiar as I am with the horrors of the “Country Slum”.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged with minor burn mark to fore-edge. Reads: 'Dear Mr E Whittingham, | I fear I cannot be in St as usual tomorrow - I will endeavour to run down in the course of the day -'. The newspaper cutting of an obituary of 'The Late Mr. Charles Gilpin' is unattributed and undated. The portrait, apparently cut from the same newspaper, is 14 x 13 cm., and depicts the head and shoulders of 'The Late Mr. Charles Gilpin, M.P.', looking rather dazed.?>

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Written from the Prussian Embassy. The letter reads: 'Chevalier Bunsen presents his compliments to Mr. Henry M Kemishead, and regrets, that neither his health nor his public as well as literary occupations allow him to extend the sphere of the engagements, which he has already contracted for this season, and that therefore he shall not be able to accept the invitation for the Public Dinner of St. Mary's Hospital, which he has had the honour to receive.'

Both items in good condition, lightly aged, and both bearing the Society's stamp. ONE: 26 January 1915. 1p., 12mo. He is obliged by a previous engagement to decline the invitation 'to take the Chair for Mr. F Vincent Brooks lecture on Lithography on the 10th.', but feels the honour 'all the same'. TWO: 1 April 1915. 1p., 12mo. He would like, 'for every reason', 'to take the chair for M. Paul Lambottes lecture on C Meunier', but he will probbably be 'out of London during the first two weeks in May'.

Four interesting and evocative letters. The identity of the writer is not known. All but the third letter are addressed to 'Dearest Nonna', who appears to be married to 'George' and living in Viareggio. ONE: 30 December 1916. 2pp., 4to. 'This place is simply a nest of intrigues and I wish I had some of your dear familys clever brains to sort things out a bit & put them right. I loathe the double-faced dealing necessary to combat intrigues and am afraid I may lose my temper one day & tell them what I think of them - & that wd be fatal.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with tape stain at head from mount. The Keeper 'Mr. Duncan' (Philip Duncan) being absent from Oxford, Kirtland is forwarding to Smith 'that portion of the Ashmolean Catalogue which relates to Alfreds Jewell [sic] comprizing all the facts and ideas we have been able to gather respecting it'. He refers him to 'Mr. White Printseller of Brownlow St. Holborn', who visited the museum in the summer for the purpose of examining the item. He ends by informing him that there are 'no other antiquities of a similar kind in this Museum'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with minor smudge mark to corner of first page. Written with purple ink. Reads: 'Sir | I regret that, in consequence of a meeting of the Royal Society on Thursday Jany 29th., I am unable to do myself the honour of accepting the invitation of the Master & Wardens of the Haberdashers Company for that day'.

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn.

Sophia Neate took on the care of Sally Sinclair and her siblings – 'child-friends' of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson – when their parents died. Neate received financial support from Dodgson and the actor Lionel Brough. On first meeting Mrs. Neate (26 June 1879) Dodgson wrote in his diary that he ‘found her so interesting that I stayed 4 hours!' He occasionally visited her and noted the progress of the Sinclair children as they grew. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Aged and worn, with light staining at foot of gutter.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, wiht crease along one edge. The letter concerns international affairs. Regarding the United Kingdom Dilke writes: 'I think it would be quite proper for us to attempt to effect a reconciliation at any moment when it seems possible that we could be of use, and I fancy that we have made some such offer more than once, possibly along with Russia.' As it happens 'the belligerents have preferred, - which was not unnatural under the circumstances, - to avail themselves of the good offices of the United States'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount at head of first page. He is sorry to say 'that my Presentation to Christ's Hospital has long been given away to the Orphan son of an old Harrow Pupil who died early & left his family ill provided for'. He ends by describing his family's whereabouts.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to 'My Dear Lord Chief Baron'. He is coming 'to Town for my waiting for a few days', and hopes that Pollock's 'important time could allow of you to see me for a few minutes'. He is willing either to call on Pollock, or receive a visit from him, 'at any time you would kindly appoint'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'On looking through your "Bibliography to Climate" I find that you are not acquainted with my work on the Climate of Uckfield, pubd in 1871 - which comprises 28 years uninterrupted obs[ervation]s there'. He refers him to the library of the Royal Meteorological Society in George Street for a copy. He is about to publish 'eleven years observations at my present Observatory'

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The letterhead incorporates an attractive engraved front elevation of the College, of which Dallinger was Governor, 1879-1888. The note reads: 'Dear Sir | Please find enclosed 12 stamps for No 3 of Scientific Roll and oblige | Yours truly | W. H. Dallinger'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with small glue stain and thin strip of stub adhering to one edge. Reads: 'Dear Lady Stanhope | If you & Lord Stanhope could honor us with your company on Thursday evng the 19th. Sir Chas. & Dr. Waagen & I wd. be much gratified | Believe me yr's truly | Eliz: Eastlake'. 'Dr. Waagen' is the German art historian Gustav Friedrich Waagen (1794-1868).

1p., 12mo. On aged and norn paper. Written in a difficult hand. Appears to read: 'Dear Mr Woodrow | I send you the enclosed (my ticket) till the end of July. Please let me <?> it at 71 Seymour St on the evening of July 31st.' A Catholic convert, Mivart was increasingly disenchanted with his friend Thomas Henry Huxley's anti-papist stance, and repudiated his initial support for the theory of evolution. This did not, however, endear him the the Roman Catholic authorities.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Elaborate letterhead headed 'Third Year', with 'Repertoire' (beginning with 'Tristan & Isolda') down left-hand margin. Two printed notices as part of letterhead. First: 'At present the largest English Oper Company that has ever travelled Great Britain | Being played for the first time in the Provinces to the Pitch that the Composers intended their Operas should be Played, viz.; - NORMAL PITCH.' Second, 'The above Company are offering two Prizes of £250 each, and 10% on all profits for two Operas, selected by public competition.

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Aged and worn, with top part of second leaf torn away. Reads: 'My dearest friend | I attempted to see you to day but was not able to reach your house – Will you come in charity and sit with us two hours on Thursday evening | En famille | We will give you a well aired room, a little <?>, and your sons shall have a quadrille | Ever yours | Charles R. Maturin', Maturin was the great-uncle of Oscar Wilde, who adopted the name 'Sebastian Melmoth' during his self-exile on the continent.

According to Hawkins' entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In September 1852 Hawkins was appointed director of the fossil department of the Crystal Palace, under reconstruction at Sydenham, south London, and in collaboration with Richard Owen began to construct the first major public display of the progression of life on earth, comprising life-sized iron and stone models of fourteen genera of extinct animals, together with reconstructions of fossil plants and geological strata. He held a dinner party on 31 December 1853 in the mould of the largest model, of the dinosaur Iguanodon.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with small closed tear unobtrusively repaired. Reads: 'Take the enclosed note to Mr. Tinsley, 18 Catherine Sreet, Strand, a very rough but thoroughly clever and enterprising publisher, and tell him what you require. If possible, I trust he will meet your views'. According to Yates's entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In 1867, after leaving Temple Bar, he edited a new monthly, Tinsley's Magazine, but fell out with the proprietor who believed Yates was overpaying contributors, including himself. His official salary was by now £520 p.a.