EPHEMERA

12mo, 8 leaves opening to make seven sets of columns running across seven pairs of facing pages. Stitched, and within original yellow printed wraps, with rough cloth weave. Lightly aged and worn, but in good condition overall, and free from any manuscript entries (i.e. not filled in). The front wrap is headed by a governmental crest, and carries eleven lines of text. Five lines of text, and the slug, on the back wrap ('The Officers engaged in the discharge of their duties under this Ordinance shall not disclose, except to the Governor, or in due course of law, the name of any Depositor.').

Four pages, 12mo. Good, on aged paper with one half-inch closed tear. Claims to be 'compiling an historic book [...] which has been left to the nation', and asks for his contribution. Provides a full-page list from the 'over 500 Autographs'. The collection 'could not be complete without' Montgomery's 'honoured name'. Asks for 'a few words (as many others have done) on the blank side so as to keep this for Gen Alexander & others who took part in your campaign'. Congratulates him on his 'brilliant Victory'.

One page, on piece of lightly aged paper, roughly six and a half inches by seven. Strip neatly torn away at head (not affecting text, but perhaps bearing recipient's address). Good, with a little damage from breaking of wafer and slight evidence of previous mounting on revese. Thirteen lines. He is sending the selected autographs, and will 'be happy to receive, at your leisure, those of Currie, Daubeny, Mc.Culloch, Flowers, Woodville & Phillips & Jones - or such 5 of them as you can best spare'.

Octavo: 32 pp. Stapled and unbound. Rather worn, particularly at first and last leaves. A few pencil marks and notes, and slight ink staining at head of first leaf. Twenty illustrations. 168 items; three-part index on final page. Influential catalogue, the collection sold in its entirety to Duke University. One of Birrell & Garnett's managers was Graham Pollard, co-author of the book which unmasked T. J. Wise as a forger.

Printed on one side of a piece of paper 43 x 33 cms. Good, on lightly creased and spotted aged paper. A printed plan, with two diagrams, designed to show the members of the various livery companies where to sit at the banquet for Samuel Wilson, Lord Mayor of London. The name 'R. Taylor' (of the Ward of Farringdon Without) is filled in in manuscript: 'The Situation for Mr. [R. Taylor] is marked in Red; And for his Lady ........Blue.'

Dimensions of photograph roughly nine inches by seven wide. Aged, lightly creased and a little scuffed. Slight loss to bottom right-hand corner of border, not affecting image. A bespectacled Malko in a double-breasted pinstripe jacket, in the act of conducting, baton aloft, and with violinist in the background. Malko has written his inscription over his torso, beginning 'Cnacudo', and giving the date 1949.

12mo. 20 pages. Stitched and unbound. Creased, aged and somewhat dusty. Historic first publication of 'the most persistent and single-minded free trade lobby England has known' (W. N. Calkins, Economic History Review, 1960).

Two pages, 12mo. On aged and somewhat grubby paper, with a few closed tears to extremities. Text clear and entire. The recipients 'account for clubs' supplied to Samuel in June 1896 'has not been presented between that date and now'. Samuel thinks he paid the amount at the time'. '[O]n my return to town I will look through my receipts and communicate with you further.'

Good clean image of a seventeenth-century engraving, from an earlier idealised portrait of the putative 'father of printing'. It is of irregular shape, the background having been carefully cut away. Neatly mounted on piece of beige paper, illustrated with a brown pseudo-frame with decorative book devices in the four corners. Half-length portrait of a bearded Gutenberg in fur-lined hat and coat, with composing stick in left hand and stylus in right. Dimensions roughly eight and a quarter inches by seven wide. Engraved beneath is 'P Stent Excudit: R Gaywood fecit'.

One page, on rough-edged grey wove paper, roughly nine inches by six wide. An attractive production of twenty-two lines, with ornamental rules top and bottom, headed 'This Day is Published, | IN TWO VOLUMES OCTAVO, | PRICE ONE GUINEA IN BOARDS, | Monographia Apum Angliae; | [...] | By WILLIAM KIRBY, B.A. F.L.S. | RECTOR of Barham in Suffolk. | [...]'. According to BBTI John White traded between 1785 and 1816 and Stephen Couchman between 1774 and 1825.

On one side of a piece of paper roughly 22 x 14 cms. Good, apart from some repaired damage at head from scorching, resulting in loss to two lines of text. Title followed by the eight rules of the Society over twenty-one lines of text. At foot names of the sixteen members of the Committee (eight ladies and eight gentlemen), together with those of the treasurer and secretary. According to BBTI William Cowdroy Jr was a printer, publisher and newspaper proprietor between 1795 and 1824.

Two pages. On both sides of a piece of paper roughly twelve and a quarter inches by eight inches wide. Illustrated on both sides. An unusual piece of Post Office ephemera, and something of a period piece, on aged paper, with fraying to extremities. Begins 'The object of these instructions is to secure the apprehension of men and women who are negotiating stolen postal order forms and stolen penny stamps, the proceeds of thefts from Post Office. [...]'.

Leaflet. Two pages, 12mo. Tasteful bifolium on cream wove paper. Unbound. Good, though a tad grubby. Gill woodcut (roughly two inches by one and a half) on front: two hands around the front of a large 'V' with rest of word 'Veritas' on stem and cross at head. Apparently numbered in pencil bottom-right of woodcut 579.

Unbound. Large Octavo bifolium on grey wove paper. Good only, with creasing to corners (that would carefully iron out), and some marking to front cover. Title in large gold letters on front, details of edition on versos of both leaves, and specimen page on recto of second leaf. Illustration ('The author | A reproduction of Tegetmeier's frontispiece') on Arches paper (twelve and a half inches by nine wide) loosely inserted, together with printed 'Book order' leaf.

The item was obviously inserted in a book borrowed from the Times Book Club. The postcard leaf is detachable from the information leaf, the first page of which is headed "The Times Book Club" adding "If you wish to keep this volume, the attached post card should be filled in and posted." The second page says "The published price of this book is [7/6 - entered by hand].The first page of the postcard gives categories to be filled in by the customer (title, author) and the printed statement !I am keeping the copy of this book which I now have.

On both sides of a piece of paper roughly eight and a half inches by five and a half. Both sides of text enclosed within decorative border. A scare survival, in poor condition, worn and spotted with frayed edges and several closed tears. Text clearly legible. Headed 'FOR GRATUITOUS DISTRIBUTION.' Thirty-nine lines of text on reverse. Begins 'The following predictions of this venerable pillar of Church and State were at the time sneered at, as the senile and effete expressions of a bigoted octogenarian. What a lesson has he left to those who now hold the rudder of the State in their hands'.

Disbound, worn and some pages chipped, but text complete, worn leather spine with title "Circulars to Surveyors 1876 [-1883]", first six pages comprise a manuscript index to contents. The contents comprise a presumably comprehensive collection of the circulars sent to "Heads of Departments and Surveyors" of the General Post Office between 1876 and 1883, some folded (some of those with tears but still complete).

Gadshill was purchased by Dickens for £1770 in 1857, and remained his home for the rest of his life. Dimensions of photograph approximately six inches by four. Sepia. In good condition, with one tiny closed tear and minor creasing to two corners. Shot from the front lawn and showing the front of house, with extension and part of conservatory to its right.

An irregular rectangle of paper, roughly five inches by three and a half, with the image of a 1950's television printed on one side in light and dark brown. In good condition, with negligible glue-staining to front. The screen, roughly 1 1/2 inches by 2 inches, is cut away, with the image of a waving bespectacled man with a chimp laid underneath on piece of transparent plastic.

Small 8vo. 80 pages. Numerous woodcuts. In original grey printed wraps, with cloth spine. Internally good, with some light spotting and discoloration. Binding worn and grubby; front fep splitting. Ownership inscription. Interesting and informative introduction discusses 'the advance made in less than seventy years in popular art and literature'. Publisher's note (p.xxviii), 'The letter-press of the present volume exactly reproduces that of the original Christmas Box.

4 pages of advertisements. 2 leaves folio (roughly 12 inches by 18 inches). In extremely poor condition: grubby, creased and stained, with several closed tears and damage involving loss, particularly to the first leaf, the heading of which has been cut away, so that the name of the firm can only be deduced from the illustrations. There are 27 steel-engravings of various vehicles, of which 5 on the first leaf have been seriously damaged. Details, including prices, are given for each vehicle.

Dilke, the 2nd Baronet (1843-1911), was a disgraced politician and author. Engrossed in black ink on two large pieces of vellum. Ruled with red lines. Two-part schedule. Signed by Dilke and Hadgate to the left of two out of three red-wax seals on green ribbon at foot of document. Second sheet an indenture by Cartwright & Vintner of 51 Bedford Row, with two plans coloured in green, pink, orange and red, bearing stamps to the value of £22 15s. 0d. Witnessed on reverse of indenture, which also bears a memorandum of 16 March 1906.

Burn (died 1950) was President of the Institute of Actuaries, and a leading figure in twentieth-century British insurance. Dimensions five inches by eight inches. Folded once. In good condition on good thick wove paper. Headed by company crest with motto, between 'HOLBORN | BARS' and 'CHRISTMAS | 1921'. Reads 'With heartiest Christmas & New Year Greetings to all members of the Prudential Staff. | from | Joseph Burn | General Manager | & Actuary'.

Melvill was a noted English botanist (1845-1929). 8vo bifoliate. Four unpaginated pages. In very good condition, with some discolouration from age and remains of stub from previous mounting adhering to verso of second leaf. Decorative vignettes on all four sides. Engraving of Museum on recto of first leaf. 'PROGRAMME' (reception; tea and coffee; address by Sir William Turner Thiselton Dyer; inspection) on verso of first leaf. Description of 'AN EXHIBITION | of | A SERIES OF SPECIMENS | from the Herbarium' on both sides of second leaf.

Dimensions when folded roughly 4 3/4 inches by 6 inches. Somewhat grubby, but well printed and in good condition overall. Front of card printed in black with Searle's printed signature and 'to my Valentine -' in red at head. Cartoon illustration of bespectacled young lady with bouffant hair and hairband, in dainty skirt and heels, holding beribboned had in front of her, posing in front of wall on which she casts large shadow of horned devil with tail.

Cousin (1690-1740) of the poet of the same name. Both fragment and bookplate are pasted to a piece of thin, discoloured card. The fragment, which is roughly 5 inches by 2 inches, is grubby annd rubbed. It reads, in Cowper's hand '13th July Exhibited to us under the Commission agt. Thomas Park | Wm Cowper'. Beneath this the signatures of 'Fr. Rookes' and 'Rd Maddock'. The bookplate (roughly 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2, in good condition although somewhat grubby) is armorial, with the motto beneath reading 'FAX . MENTIS. HONESTAE. GLORIA | William Cowper Esqr.

One page. Roughly 13 inches by 8 inches. In good condition, although slightly discoloured, creased from folding and with one very small closed tear. Reports the resolution of a meeting held at the Town Hall in Leek on 30 December 1901, that beginning on 1 January 1902 'the operatives shall give up the five minutes grace now allowed on entering Mills at 6.30 and after dinner'. Also states the working hours for week-days and Saturdays.

Clayton (c.1713-1769) was MP for Bletchingley. 1 page, dimensions roughly 6 inches by 7 inches. In poor condition: creased, discoloured and with several closed tears. 12 items - mainly bushells of malt and hops - amounting to £31 12s 3d. Beneath this the receipt in another hand, signed in the same hand as the bill 'Edward Green'. Docketed on reverse: 'Edwd. Greens Bill for Malt'. Typewritten on reverse 'GREEN, Edward, 1747.' and 'CLAYTON MSS.'

"Mr Burne/ 20 King Street/ Covent Garden".Two pages, c.10 x 7", chipped, part torn off, small hole, text clear.

OUP. One page 8vo. A brief note about unpacking "Buenos Aires material" which had presumably been there for an exhibition.