COVENTRY

[Lady Mary Augusta Holland, Whig society hostess, wife of Lord Holland.] Unsigned Autograph Letter [to Lord Rosebery or his wife?] regarding a foreign trip and Sydney Smith's view of the ballot.

Author: 
Lady Holland [Lady Mary Augusta Holland, née Coventry] (1812-1889), society hostess, wife of Lord Holland [Henry Edward Fox] (1802-1859), Whig politician [Sydney Smith (1771-1845), wit and cleric]
Publication details: 
'Saturday | Dover'. [7 September 1838.]
£80.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. The reverse of the second leaf laid down on part of leaf from an album, the other side of which carries an engraving of Lord Melbourne. The letter is endorsed '1838 Sept 7# | Lady Holland' on the reverse of the second learf, and at the head of the first page: 'R[eplied]. at Dalmeny | Septr. 12. 1838'. There is no salutation to the letter (which is also unsigned), but the reference to Dalmeny House would appear to suggest that the recipient was Archibald Primrose, 4th Earl of Rosebery, or his second wife, born Anne Margaret Anson.

[Coventry Patmore, poet.] Autograph Signature ('Coventry Patmore') beneath Autograph quotation of four lines from his own poem, 'The Angel in the House'.

Author: 
Coventry Patmore [Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore] (1823-1896), poet
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£250.00

1p, 12mo. Folded twice. In good condition. Presumably in response to a request for an autograph, the central third of the page carries Patmore's signature ('Coventry Patmore.') beneath a four-line quotation from Patmore's best-remembered poem, 'The Angel in the House': 'Spirit of Knowledge, grant me this: | A simple heart and subtle wit | To praise the thing whose praise it is | That all which can be praised is it!'

[ Everard Meynell and his 'Serendipity Shop': catalogue by J. & E. Bumpus Ltd. ] Catalogue of the Books of the Late Everard Meynell including the most interesting items from his "Serendipity Shop".

Author: 
[ Everard Meynell (1885-1956), author, and his 'Serendipity Shop' ] J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., London booksellers [ J. G. Wilson (John Gideon Wilson); Coventry Patmore ]
Publication details: 
Now offered for sale at the instruction of the Executors by Messrs J. & E. Bumpus Ltd. 350 Oxford Street, London, W.1. [ Circa 1956. ]
£220.00

120 pages (unpaginated), 12mo. Stitched without covers. In fair condition: worn (particularly the first two leaves) and aged. A marvellous collection, described in a carefully printed and compiled catalogue of 901 lots. A two-page 'Prefatory Note' has a long quotation from one of Meynell's catalogues, beginning: 'My books must at my death be turned to account.

Printed pamphlet: 'The Piety of Christian Faith. A Sermon Preached in the Church of St. Osburg, Coventry. On the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of its Consecration, Sunday, September 1, 1895.'

Author: 
Right Rev. John Cuthbert Hedley, O.S.B., Bishop of Newport and Menevia [ Church of St Osburg, Coventry ]
Publication details: 
London and Leamington: Art and Book Company, 1895.
£80.00

23pp., 8vo. Stitched and disbound. In blue printed wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, in chipped wraps. Drophead title, p.3: 'St. Osburg's Jubilee Celebration.' No copy found on OCLC WorldCat.

[Walter Farquhar Hook, Dean of Chichester.] Three Autograph Letters Signed (one in full and two 'W F Hook') to the wife of the Birmingham attorney Josiah Corrie.

Author: 
Walter Farquhar Hook (1798-1875), Dean of Chichester, Tractarian and ecclesiastical historian [Josiah Corrie of Woodford, Moseley, Birmingham attorney]
Publication details: 
First letter from Spark Brook, 26 July 1828; second letter from St Nicholas Place, Coventry, 16 April 1829; third letter without place or date [1871?].
£60.00

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, the second letter having a few very short closed tears on fold lines. The first two signed 'W F Hook' and the third 'Walter Farquhar Hook'. ONE (26 July 1828): 2pp., 12mo. Apologising because 'waiting upon' the Corries will now be impossible, as 'Sir Robert and Lady Wilmot intend to come on a Visit': His Mother will not be able to see Sir Robert, so Hook will be 'compelled to stay at home to entertain him'. TWO (16 April 1829): 2pp., 4to. On gilt-edged bifolium.

Fourteen Diaries 1904-1918 (Letts Rough Diary or Letts Clerical Diary), week per two pages.

Author: 
Rev. Prebendary Harry Freeman of Pitminster Vicarage, Taunton, son-in-law of the Bishop of Truro, James Elstone.
Publication details: 
1904-1918.
£450.00

Good condition. Paper Boards. A difficult hand. Diary entries variable in length, many full, some days blank. The Diaries chronicle his life at the Church of Holy Trinity (in.c football for Coventry City and Stoke), and the years (some First World War) serving his father-in-law, the Bishop of Truro. Subjects: [1904] services; journeys; preaching; litany; helping parishioner write letter; sermons; finances; schools; dinners; meetings; asked to play for Coventry City (1904", 'to raise tone of the team'); travels - mainly local (walking distance to Stoke, Rugby etc - initially c.

[Printed item.] The History of Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom of Coventry, with a Description of St. Michael's Church, the Holy Trinity, and other Places of Worship, with numerous Local Illustrations. [...]

Author: 
[J. Tomkinson, Coventry publisher; Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom; the Coventry Cemetery]
Publication details: 
Fifth Edition. Coventry: Printed and published by J. Tomkinson, High Street, 1877.
£220.00

After '[...] with numerous local illustrations.' the title continues: 'To which is added a short account of The Coventry Cemetery, Waterworks, St. Mary's and Draper's Halls, School of Art, New Free Library, Bond's and Ford's Hospitals; also the History of Stoneleigh and Combe Abbeys, Kenilworth Castle, &c.' 48pp., small (15 x 12 cm) 4to. With fold-out frontispiece and nine engraved plates, including 'The Countess Lady Godiva riding through Coventry' and 'Peeping Tom of Coventry'. In green printed card wraps with red cloth spine.

Printed 'Property Plot' for a production of Ralph Lumley's 'Throrough-Bred' by 'Mr. J. L. Toole's Company', with stage manager's 'Call' sheet for 'Thoroughbred' by 'Mr. Edward A. Coventry & Mr. John R. Collins' Company'.

Publication details: 
Neither item with date or place. [First item: London: Toole's Theatre, 1893.]
£180.00

The production to which the first item relates was Toole's last before being forced by gout to retire from the London stage. Both items in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper; the first with short closed tear at head. Both printed on one side only. Item One: 33 x 21 cm. Headed 'Mr. J. L. Toole's Company. | THOROUGH-BRED. | PROPERTY PLOT.' Listing, under 'Stage' and 'Hand', all the props needed for the three acts, the last (and shortest) entry reading '[ACT III.] HAND. | Field glasses, cases. Race cards for all. Letter (WILHELMINA). Set of bones (TOSH). Coins (all). 2 tambourines.

Autograph Letter Signed by George William Coventry, 7th Earl of Coventry, to Thomas Harrison, egarding the enclosure of Tooting Common. Together with franked envelope bearing Coventry's red wax seal.

Author: 
George William Coventry (1758-1831), 7th Earl of Coventry [the enclosure of Tooting Common]
Autograph Letter Signed by George William Coventry
Publication details: 
16 October 1819; Croome.
£145.00
Autograph Letter Signed by George William Coventry

4to, 1 p. Eleven lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for having 'appriz'd' him 'of the proposed enclosure of Tooting Common, to which I am equally hostile with the Rector, & the other principal Gentlemen who have express'd their determination to oppose the Measure'. Lady Coventry joins him in sending 'kind remembrances' to Mrs Harrison and her family. The franked envelope is a sheet of folded paper, bearing Coventry's red wax armorial seal in good condition, and postmark. It is addressed 'Pershore Octr. Seventeen | 1817 | Thomas Harrison Esqr.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Anne B. Procter') to 'My dear Mr Rathbone'.

Author: 
Anne Benson Procter (1799-1888, née Skepper), wife of the poet Bryan Waller Procter ('Barry Cornwall') (1787-1874), and mother of the poet Adelaide Anne Procter (1825-1864)
Publication details: 
18 December 1872; 32 Weymouth St, Portland Place, W. [London].
£35.00

12mo: 1 p. Very good. 14 closely-written lines. 'A friend of mine was asked by our dear old kind friend Chorley to assist in procuring for a Protege of his a musical education. I think the young person was originally introduced to him by Lady Devonshire. A sum was promised for two years, and the time is approaching for the payment to be made.' Asks if she can tell her 'anything about this'. 'You will be glad to hear I know that my husband is still well - His birthday the 21st. Novr. found him 84.'

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