CHARLES

On 10 x 15 cm piece of laid paper. Simply a bold signature, underlined, with no other text, clearly given in response to a request for an autograph. In good condition, lightly aged.

1p, 4to. In poor condition, aged and worn. The male recipient is not named. The letter read s: 'At a small meeting attended by Walter Crane, H. S. Salt, Charles Charrington, S. G. Hobson, Edward Rose, and myself it was considered advisable to issue to the whole Fabian Society a statement on the lines of the enclosed proof which I herewith send you. A desire has been expressed that you should sign it and if you agree to do so I should be much obliged to have your signature at an early post.

2pp, 4to. On first leaf of bifolium, the second leaf carrying the address to 'Lady Palgrave | Hampstead Green', with four postmarks, one dated 29 July 1837. In fair condition, on aged, worn and creased paper. Lady Elizabeth Palgrave was the wife of the archivist and historian Sir Francis Palgrave (1788-1861, né Cohen), and daughter of the banker, naturalist and bibliophile Dawson Turner (1775-1858) of Yarmouth.

The letters are in fair condition, lightly aged; the card is discoloured and stained. Loosely inserted in a copy of Williams's 'Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury', 75 + [1]pp, 8vo, with the ownership signature 'Christopher Fry' on the front free endpaper, in worn binding with fraying at head of spine. Delightful and revealing letters, mixing personal and business (Williams worked for the Oxford University Press and Fry was published by them). ONE: ALS from Southfield House, 17 December 1941. 2pp, 12mo. Thirty lines of closely-written text, on a leaf of ruled paper torn from a notebook.

115pp, 12mo. In good condition: sound and tight, on browning War Economy paper, in green cloth with slight bloom, and in slightly worn and chipped browning dustwrapper. (The subtitle 'A Play in Three Acts' features on the dustwrapper, but not on the title-page.) Fry's ownership inscription 'Christopher Fry' is in blue ink at the top right-hand corner of the recto of the front free endpaper. A verse drama from the library of the leading twentieth-century English exponent of the genre, after T. S. Eliot.

55pp, 8vo. In fair condition, internally tight and sound, on browning paper, in lightly-worn blue cloth binding. No dustwrapper. Slight dink at head of spine. Ownership inscription 'Christopher Fry' in blue ink at top right-hand corner of recto of front free endpaper. Fry and Williams were on cordial terms, the latter working for Oxford University Press and the former being published by them.

1p, 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge of second leaf. The recipient is not named, but is probably the secretary of the Hunterian Society.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge of reverse of second leaf, and impinging slightly on the final 'y' of Huxley's signature. Addressed at the foot of the last leaf to 'Mrs. or Miss …...

2pp, foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with strip of paper from mount adhering to one edge. The document has three horizontal fold lines, one of which has led to wear at along the foot of Dashwood's signature. An interesting assemblage of individuals. Of the six signatories three played a significant part in the American Revolution: King George III and his Prime Minister Lord North, with Charles Townshend, who was responsible for the unpopular 'Townshend Acts', taxing the colonies and leading to the Boston Massacre.

On 2 x 8 cm slip of paper, cut from document. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on larger piece of white paper cut from leaf of an album. A distinctive, strong signature, reading 'Geo Cruikshank'. No other text. From the distinguished autograph collection of Richard Hunter, son of Ida Macalpine, whose collection of 7000 books relating to psychiatry is in Cambridge University Library.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged, with strip of stub from mount adhering. Folded twice. Referring to his series of essays 'On the Methods and Results of Ethnology' (1865), he asks Müller to accept 'the numbers of the “Fortnightly Review” containing my article on Ethnology'. He continues: 'I lost no time on Monday in referring to “Christianity & Mankind' and the perusal of your chapter on Ethnology v. Phonology – leads me profoundly to regret that I had not been able to avail myself, of the aid of so powerful an ally'.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip from stub of mount adhering to one edge. A warm, light-hearted letter of praise, written on reading McCormick's 'Voyages of Discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic Seas and Round the World' 1884. The letter begins: 'My dear Mc.Cormick, | No days of my release from Museum-duties have been spent here more agreeably & profitably than in your Society. | Having voyaged with you, shiver'd with you, shot with you, climbed with you, through your two noble Volumes; imagine the coziness of an English fire-side!!

3pp, 16mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Phillipps's letter (or draft letter) is a reply to a dinner invitation from the wife of the eminent Worcester physician Sir Charles Hastings. It occupies the reverse of the first leaf, and both sides of the second leaf of the bifolium. The recto of the first leaf carries the invitation, in manuscript, with the text in square brackets printed in copperplate: 'Sir Charles & Lady Hastings [Request the pleasure of] Sir Thos & Lady Phillipps' [Company at Dinner] on Thursday the 28th. Inst.

Both letters in good condition, lightly aged. Both bifoliums, and both signed 'Charles Hastings'. ONE: 25 January 1846. 4pp, 12mo. He is 'glad to hear' that Phillipps is thinking of 'coming down to one of our evening meetings at the Natural History Society' (Hastings being the chairman). The date for the next meeting will be fixed on the following day, and Hastings' son, who is a member of the committee, will communicate with Phillipps. 'Our last meeting went off very well.

One page, 12mo, good condition. "I am much obliged to you fro sending me copies of those two interesting letters to Mr. Charles Dickens. I will not ask you to take the trouble of sending the originals as I have not the slightest doubt of their authenticity."

An unsigned note in the handwriting of the first President of the United States, regarding the L'Enfant Plan for the layout of the future Washington, D.C. 1p, 16mo, on one side of an 11 x 7 cm piece of watermarked laid paper. In good condition, lightly aged and spotted, tipped-in onto a sheet of yellow paper. Nine lines of text, in Washington's autograph, reading: 'Submitted to the | President of the | U. States for considn. | by Mr.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter is addressed to 'My dear Mrs. Wigan' and begins: 'I am sorry to find that the friends I mentioned to you, have decided on another house already – but if I hear of any one else who would be glad of your very charming house, I will not fail to mention it.' She thanks her for offering to 'help Charlie some day with a word or two of advice – in case he should eventually decide on choosing the Stage as his career'. She would be 'very grateful for your valuable opinion on many points connected with it'.

Between 1604 and 1868 the House of Commons exercised jurisdiction over controverted (disputed) elections, which were usually referred to its Committee of Privileges and Elections. The Parliamentary Archives hold the Controverted Elections Court Evidence minute books for the period between 1829 and 1906. The minute books contain transcripts of the evidence laid before the committee.

Title continued: [...] Prefaced by the Announcement of the award of the Wollaston Medal [...] The Murchison Medal [...] and the Lyell Medal and Fund [...]. [76]pp., 8vo, lacking blue front wrap, remnants of binding in miscellaneous volume of pamphlets at spine, title sl. sunned, otherwise good condition. It includes a lengthy obituary of Charles Lyell who had died the previous year. Scarce: copies held by copywright libraries and Columbia.

2pp, 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with dogeared corners. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'The Rev. C. Sumner'. Begins: 'Rev. Sir | I have been encouraged by the advice of friends to propose to you confidentially a question, to which you would much oblige me by returning a reply. The Committee of the British & Foreign Bible Society have occasionally transmitted to different quarters, as presents, a set of Copies of the version of the Holy Scripture executed by their aid, and the new edition, which they have published.

Elizabeth Bury, illustrator and theatre designer, wife of and collaborator with John Bury (1925-2000), British theatre designer noted for his innovative work with Peter Hall, the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre (see his obituary in the Guardian, 15 November 2000). Two ring-bound 8vo Christmas keepsake private printings, both filled with full-page illustrations by Bury. Both inscribed by her to the playwright Christopher Fry. Both in good condition, with light signs of age. Uniform in layout, both with coloured covers of striking design.

The son of Sir John Kennaway of the East India Company, Kennaway was well-connected. In 1819 Poet Laureate Robert Southey provided him with a letter of introduction to Walter Scott. ONE: 'Poems of Rev. C. E. Kennaway, M.A.' (1846). xv + 216pp, 12mo. Black leather binding, with stamp of Nisbet & Co, 21 Berners Street, London, on front free endpaper.in gilt, stamped with the words 'Bagster's Binding'; all edges gilt. Internally a good tight copy on lightly-aged paper; in worn binding, especially at the spine and hinges. Bookplate of Sarah Godley.

4pp, 4to. Bifolium, printed in brown on cream paper. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, folded twice. The first page is headed, beneath the royal crest, 'St James' Royal School of Arms, | 23 ST JAMES' SQUARE, EDINBURGH, | Professor Chas. Ball, | Master of the Art of Self-Defence, | “The most Experienced and Skilful Teacher of Boxing and Indian Clubs in Scotland.” - Vide Press. | Fifteen years Tutor in the University Gymnasium, Edinburgh; Tutor in Fettes College; | and formerly Tutor in the Gymnastic Academy, Greenock, etc.' An elegant production in late-Victorian typographic style.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight glue staining from mount along one edge. In reply to an 'honored letter' from Butler, Chiniquy writes: 'I hasten to tell you that It was formelly, [sic] as it is, to day, the practice of the Church of Rome to sell for money the indulgences, or remission – not of the Sins - but of the penalty of the Sins. They deny it boldly – But their denyations [sic] do not prevent the fact from being true.' He gives details of two books by others Butler should get, 'and you will have the proofs'; and follows this with two titles of his own.

2pp, 4to. On leaf tipped-in onto a piece of light-green card from an album, at head of which is attached a printed slip: 'BARENTIN C. L. F. de P. | Born 1738. Died 1819. | KEEPER OF THE SEALS TO LOUIS XVI.' The letter is undated, but the year '1789' has been added in pencil in a nineteenth-century hand. (That same year, following the Storming of the Bastille, Barentin was dismissed by the king.) Nineteen lines of closely-written text. Addressed at bottom left of first leaf to 'M le P Gl' (Monsieur le Procureur général?).

All three 1p, landscape 12mo. All in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: 9 December 1974. He thanks him for 'the invitation […] But as I'm teaching full-time here now, this would be very difficult to arrange as far as schools visits would be concerned. (I asked the Arts Council to take my name off the schools list, but they don't seem to have done so).' He suggests a 'reading during the holiday break, perhaps. One aimed principally at adults, I mean.' The 'London Poetry Secretariat/Arts Council link-up' might 'provide some kind of subsidy'.

The present letter dates from the time of the appearance of the first volume of Napier's 'History of the Peninsular War' (1828-1840), and in it Napier criticises the recently-published rival 'Story of the Peninsular War by the late Marquess of Londonderry; with continuation by G.R.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with fold lines. Annotated up one margin: 'Writer of Travels &c'. Andersson writes: 'Dear Mr. Blackett, - | I enclose a literal translation of a paragraph extracted from one of the best Swedish newspapers, by which you will see that the King has honoured me with a medal. If you think that this paragraph may be of any use to you when advertising the 2d. Edition of “Lake Ngami”, it is quite at your service. Of course you may put it any [sic] language you may think proper. | Yours faithfully | Chs. J. Andersson.' Apparently a scarce autograph.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. She asks Adams to inform her 'what day has been fixed for the Committee in the Vane Estate Bill' (in which she clearly has a family interest), continuing: 'When the Duke of Marlborough saw Mr Adam with Lord Redesdale last night he understood that Tuesday next was the day on which he was to be present in order to give his consent to the Bill; he has since heard from Mr. Wagstaff to say that Friday or the following Monday will be the earliest day on which the Bill can be committed.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, aged and worn, in worn windowpane mount removed from album, with several folds. The recipient is not named. Begins: 'Sir/ | I received yours of the 19th and should have answered it by return but I having also written on that day was the answer to it – I now ask can you send it down by the Mail either on the Saturday or Sunday the 23 or 24 if not all the play the 2 first Acts. I wish to have the parts written out quick as possible or I shall not be able to get it played on the Monday the 2nd of May'.