FISHER

[‘Become an ambassador if you like’: H. A. L. Fisher [Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher], English historian and Liberal politician.] Autograph Letter Signed to Beresford-Hope, congratulating him on his ‘triumph in the Diplomatic Service examination’.

Author: 
H. A. L. Fisher [Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher] (1865-1940), English historian and Liberal politician; Virginia Woolf’s cousin [Harold Thomas Beresford-Hope (1882-1917)]
Publication details: 
9 June 1907; 34 Norham Road, Oxford.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. At his death in 1917, H. T. Beresford-Hope was Third Secretary at the British Legation at Athens; and he left the enormous sum of £67,167. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice for postage. Addressed to ‘My dear Beresford-Hope’ and signed ‘H. Fisher’. Twenty-eight lines of text. He begins a gently teasing letter by stating that he is delighted to hear of Beresford-Hope’s ‘triumph in the Diplomatic Service examination’, his wife joining him in sending congratulations.

[The growing First World War pensions crisis discussed by a member of the government.] Autograph Letter Signed from William Hayes Fisher [the future Lord Downham] to Willoughby Hyett Dickinson, discussing the problem ‘full of difficulty’.

Author: 
William Hayes Fisher [Lord Downham] (1853-1920), Conservative politician, President of Local Government Board and Minister of Information in Lloyd George's War Cabinet [Sir Willoughby Hyett Dickinson]
Publication details: 
25 October 1915. 13 Buckingham Palace Gardens, S.W. [London.]
£90.00

See Fisher’s entry in the Oxford DNB. Earlier in 1915 he had joined the Asquith government as Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, and he would retain this post until June of 1917, when Lloyd George would promote him to the cabinet as President of the Local Government Board. The recipient Willoughby Hyett Dickinson (1859-1943), later an influential proponent of the League of Nations, began his career as a Liberal MP. He was knighted in 1918, and elevated to the peerage as Baron Dickinson of Painswick in 1930, the same year in which he joined the Labour Party.

[Slavery in Wilcox County, Alabama; LIst ] Manuscript 'Account of Sales of the Estate of Wm. Fisher dec[ease]d.' by Green A. Fisher

Author: 
Slavery in Wilcox County, Alabama; Estate of William Fisher (died 1835); Green A. Fisher
Publication details: 
The State of Alabama, Wilcox County. 21 December 1835.
£450.00

4pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Headed with the date of the sale 'December 4th 1835'. At end: 'The State of Alabama | Wilcox County | Came into open Court Green A. Fisher one of the Executors of the last will & testament of William Fisher decd. who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that the forgoing is a correct account of the sales of said decedents Estate so far as the same have come to his hands | Sworn to & Subscribed in Open Court this 21st Decr. 1835'. Received, with illegible signature, on same date.

[ Jane Cobden Unwin, Radical Liberal politician and suffragist. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Jane Cobden Unwin') regarding books being send 'by Messrs. Knights' Van'..

Author: 
Jane Cobden Unwin [ Emma Jane Catherine Cobden ] (1851-1947), Radical Liberal politician and suffragist, daughter of Richard Cobden of the Anti-Corn Law League
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£120.00

1p., on 12 x 11.5 cm piece of paper, possibly cut from the conclusion of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount on reverse and slight loss to two words of text from wear. Apparently written to a family member or intimate (but see note below), the note reads: 'The enclosed is the list of the books that will reach you tomorrow morning by Messrs.

[ Thomas Fisher, artist and antiquary. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos Fisher') to <J. T. Home?>, regarding 'plates of [Chinese?] symbols'

Author: 
Thomas Fisher (1772-1836), artist and antiquary
Fisher
Publication details: 
19 September 1825. Place not stated [ London? ].
£80.00
Fisher

1p., 4to. In fair condition, somewhat aged and worn. The letter reads: 'My dear friend | On examining your plates of symbols I find no perceptible [corrected from 'practicable'] difference between Nos 154 & 155; although the former is described as a dog and the latter as a hairy shaggy dog. Is the fact so? Excuse the freedom of yours | very sincerely | Thos. Fisher'. Fisher's letter may be connected with Robert Morrison's 'Dictionary of the Chinese Language' (1815-1823), which has a symbol for 'A hairy, shaggy dog.'

Manuscript 'Writing of Award indented', signed by 'John Whishaw & ffletcher Gyles Arbitrators' in a dispute between Joseph Fisher and 'Mark Jinks otherwise Jenks [...] Administrator of Samuel Mascie'.

Author: 
Fletcher Gyles (d.1741), London bookseller; John Whishaw [ Joseph Fisher; Mark Jinks or Jenks; Samuel Mascie ]
Publication details: 
[ London. ] 10 August 1741.
£400.00

On one side of a 42 x 33 cm. piece of watermarked laid paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with Gyles's seal torn away from the bottom right-hand corner. Signatories' names at bottom right: 'J: Whishaw [seal in red wax] | F Gyles'. Witnesses' names at bottom left: 'Rob: Wadeson | Jno. Jackson Cursitor's Street'. Three embossed tax stamps to left-hand margin. Headed: 'All Matters adjusted to Midsummer 1735 inclusive', followed by two columns of accounts, that on the left headed 'Mr. ffisher hath paid Since that time to wit', and that on the right headed 'Mr.

[ Mrs. Humphrey Ward, novelist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mary A. Ward') [ to W. J. Fisher ], regarding 'the fund to be raised for Mr. Harold Frederic's widow & children', expressing disquiet over 'circumstances disclosed' at .Frederic's inquest.

Author: 
Mrs. Humphrey Ward [ Mary Augusta Ward, nee Arnold ] (1851-1920), English novelist [ Harold Frederick (1856-98), London correspondent of New York Times; W. J. Fisher ]
Publication details: 
25 Grosvenor Place, London SW, on cancelled letterhead of Stocks, Tring. 5 December 1898.
£50.00

An interesting letter regarding a celebrated Victorian scandal. In 1884 Frederic had come to England with his wife and five children as the London correspondent of the New York TImes. He set up a second household with Kate Lyon, with whom he had a further three children. Lyons was a Christian Scientist, and when Frederic suffered a stroke in 1898, she tried to cure him by faith healing, but he died. At the instigation of Mrs Frederic, Lyon was tried for manslaughter, but was acquitted. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border.

[ Herbert Henry Asquith, Liberal Prime Minister. ] Autograph Note Signed ('H. H. Asquith') to W. J. Fisher, agreeing to join a committee appealing for help for the family of Harold Frederic.

Author: 
Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith [ H. H. Asquith ] (1852-1928), English Liberal Prime Minister
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 20 Cavendish Square, W. [ London ] 15 November 1898.
£55.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'My dear Sir, | I shall be very happy to be one of the committee who are to appeal for help for the family of the late Harold Frederic.' The letter relates to a Victorian scandal. In 1884 Frederic (1856-1898) had come to England with his wife and five children as the London correspondent of the New York TImes. He set up a second household with Kate Lyon, with whom he had a further three children. Lyons was a Christian Scientist, and when Frederic suffered a stroke in 1898, she tried to cure him by faith healing.

[ John Fisher Murray ('Maire'), Irish poet and humorist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jno Fisher Murray'), offering the London publisher Richard Bentley a 'humorous paper' and 'a series of Essays on LONDON'.

Author: 
John Fisher Murray [ 'Maire' ] (1811-1865), Irish poet and humorist [ Richard Bentley (1794-1871), London publisher and proprietor of 'Bentley's Miscellany' ]
Publication details: 
11 Bark Place, Bayswater. 10 November 1843.
£70.00

1p., 12mo. On bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Richard Bentley Esqre'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The first paragraph concerns a 'humorous paper' he is forwarding for Bentley's consideration (i.e. possible publication in Bentley's Miscellany). In the second paragraph he informs him that he has ready 'a series of Essays on LONDON, similar to those which attracted so much attention in Blackwood'.

[ Thomas Fisher Unwin, London publisher. ] Typed Letter Signed ('T. Fisher Unwin') to G. K. Menzies, regarding London plaques by the Royal Society of Arts. With a long press release for four books, including Thomas Wright's life of John Payne.

Author: 
Thomas Fisher Unwin (1848-1935), London publisher, as T. Fisher Unwin Ltd., 1 Adelphi Terrace [ G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts; Thomas Wright of Olney; John Payne ]
Publication details: 
Letter: on letterhead of T. Fisher Unwin Ltd., 1 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2. 6 February 1920. Press release: on firm's letterhead. 20 November 1919.
£56.00

Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Letter: 1p., 4to. With RSA stamp and manuscript note. He would like 'a list of the plaques you have placed in London', and would like to hear from Menzies, if he has 'anything to say on the subject, or have any article in your Journal'. Press release. 2pp., 8vo. Headed 'Literary Notes', it deals with E. T. Raymond's 'All and Sundry', Thomas Wright's 'The John Payne Society', Arthur Hayden's 'Bye-Paths in Curio Collecting' and H. C. Dowdall's 'Local Development Law'. Of the second book Unwin writes: 'Mr.

[Lottie Venne, Edwardian actress and comedienne.] Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male recipient, describing her painful separation from her husband Walter H. Fisher of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.

Author: 
Lottie Venne (1852-1928), English actress and comedienne, wife of Walter H. Fisher [Walter Henry Fisher], singer with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 5 Norfolk Road, St John's Wood, NW [London]. 18 July 1910.
£35.00

2pp., 8vo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She begins by asking whether the recipient is 'the same gentleman who wrote to me from Bournemouth', and to whom she replied that she was 'unable to give the information required, for many years before my husband's death we were seperated [sic]'. She explains that when Fisher was not 'travelling about in the Country he lived with his Father I believe, who has now been dead some years. The whole thing was very tragic and painful, & I shall feel obliged to you not writing to me again on the subject'.

[Roy Fuller, poet.] Three Typed Letters Signed and two Autograph Letters Signed (the first 'Roy Fisher' and the other four 'Roy') to the literary scholar Miriam Allott, regarding an edition of the collected poems of her late husband Kenneth Allott.

Author: 
Roy Fuller (1912-1991), English poet and novelist [Miriam Allott [née Farris] (1920–2010), literary scholar and wife of the poet and criticKenneth Allott (1912-1973)]
Publication details: 
All five on his letterhead, 37 Langton Way, London SE3 7TJ. 26 May, 12 and 17 July, and 10 and 20 August 1973.
£280.00

Each letter 1p., 8vo. In very good condition, lightly aged and worn. The first two letters in autograph, the other three typed. ONE (26 May 1973): He condoles with her on her husband's death. 'I always greatly admired his poetry & then his work as a critic. I've just been writing down hisname in the index of my second book of Oxford lectures, where I refer briefly to both these activities of his. It is a sad loss, particularly to those of us who admire creative & sensitive scholarship, so rare & so much needed now.

[Printed pamphlet.] Deputation to the President of the Board of Education and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Minutes of Proceedings.

Author: 
[H. A. L. Fisher, President of the Board of Education; A. Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Sir Oliver Lodge; Sir Donald MacAlister; Sir Bertram Windle; Sir Alfred Ewing; Bragg; Gillespie]
Publication details: 
London: Universities Bureau of the British Empire, Imperial Institute, SW7. [Undated, but concerning a deputation on 23 November 1918.]
£135.00

36pp., 12mo. Stapled and unbound. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with rust to staple. With manuscript shelf-marks (of the Board of Education Reference Library). Compliments slip of the Universities Bureau of the British Empire tipped-in onto front cover. The first page begins: 'MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS of a Deputation of Representatives of the Universities of the United Kingdom and of certain other institutions doing work of University standard, which waited upon the President of the Board of Education (the Right Honourable H. A. L.

Typed Letter Signed ('H A L Fisher') from the historian H. A. L. Fisher to the educationist Thomas Lloyd Humberstone.

Author: 
H. A. L. Fisher [Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher] (1865-1940), historian and Liberal politician [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone (1876-1957), educationist; William Napier Bruce (1858-1936)]
Publication details: 
14 March 1918; on letterhead of the Board of Education, Whitehall, London.
£38.00

4to, 1 p. Good, on aged paper, with light traces of mount on reverse. Giving the results of his enquiries 'with regard to the statement attributed to one of our Inspectors by a speaker at the January Educational Conference at University College', with reference to W. N. Bruce.

Proof engraving on India paper of ruined abbey, with signed inscription by Fisher to 'L Stocks'.

Author: 
Samuel Fisher (c.1802-1855), British engraver
Samuel Fisher (c.1802-1855), British engraver
Publication details: 
London. Undated (c. 1837?).
£56.00
Samuel Fisher (c.1802-1855), British engraver

The proof itself is in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, 22 x 14 cm. Dimensions of image roughly 10.5 x 7 cm. Mounted on the original foxed and aged paper, 43 x 29 cm, with wear to extremities, carrying Fisher's inscription in pencil: 'L Stocks Esqr with S Fisher's Comts'. Oval vignette, showing what appears to be a ruined Norman abbey, with stone staircase and high window, a skull, a sword, a helmet, a stork and a key in rushes on water in foreground. Possibly one of the enravings from Leitch Ritchie's 'Ireland, Picturesque and Romantic' (London: Longmans, 1837-8).

Proof engraving on India paper of 'Bantry Bay Cork' (from a drawing by Thomas Creswick), with signed inscription by Fisher to 'L Stocks'.

Author: 
Samuel Fisher (c.1802-1855), British engraver [Thomas Creswick]
Samuel Fisher (c.1802-1855), British engraver
Publication details: 
London. Undated (c. 1837).
£56.00
Samuel Fisher (c.1802-1855), British engraver

The proof itself is in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, 24 x 16 cm. Dimensions of image roughly 12 x 10 cm. Mounted on the original foxed and aged paper, 43 x 29 cm, with Fisher's inscription in pencil: 'Bantry Bay Cork. L Stocks Esqr with S Fisher's Comts'. Oval vignette, giving tasteful view from hill, with soldiers and women, down into the bay, with mountains behind. The engraving appeared in Leitch Ritchie's 'Ireland, Picturesque and Romantic' (London: Longmans, 1837-8).

Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed (all three 'H A L Fisher') to 'Ronnie' [Ronald Chapman], and one Autograph Letter Signed ('Herbert Fisher') to the latter's mother, Mrs Chapman, concerning his education.

Author: 
H. A. L. Fisher [Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher] (1865-1940), British historian, Liberal politician and Warden of New College, Oxford [Ronald Chapman; Limnerslease, Compton; G. F. Watts]
Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed  'H A L Fisher'
Publication details: 
1938 and 1939. Three on letterheads of New College, Oxford (one from the Warden's Lodgings), and one from Thursley, Godalming, Surrey.
£120.00
Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed  'H A L Fisher'

Each of the four items has text clear and complete. The four are in fair condition, on aged paper, with minor staining from the paperclip used to attach them, and a small closed tear at the foot of the first letter. Letter One to 'Dear Mrs Chapman'; the other three to 'Dear Ronnie'. Letter One (4to, 2 pp): 19 November 1938. Chapman (referred to throughout as 'Ronnie') has not been well, and Fisher makes a suggestion to his mother regarding his 'future': 'Cecil Rhodes spent seven years on this process and never regretted it.

Autograph Letter Signed ('John Fisher') to the Rev. E. Taggart, Addison Rd, Kennington, regarding the distribution of Unitarian material in France and Spain.

Author: 
John Fisher (d. 1850), author and member of the Committee of the Unitarian Association
Publication details: 
8 July 1843; 4 Highbury Park.
£65.00

4to, 1 p. In bifolium. Fifteen lines of text. Clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with thin strip of archival paper from mount adhering to the second leaf. Addressed and docketed, with postmarks, on the reverse of the second leaf. Begins by discussing a translation, then discusses a 'grant of Books': 'probably a series or two of the Repository may relieve the shelves of the society to some advantage'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Herbert Fisher') to 'My dear Gore', the first conferring upon him an honorary fellowship, and the second containing an assessment of Ormsby-Gore's son David.

Author: 
H. A. L. Fisher [Herbert Fisher; Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher] (1865-1940), English historian and Warden of New College, Oxford [William George Arthur Ormsby-Gore (1885-1964), 4th Baron Harlech]
Publication details: 
7 October 1936 and 12 March 1937; both on letterheads of 'The Warden's Lodgings, New College, Oxford'.
£65.00

Both items good, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One: 4to, 1 p. Begins 'The College today at its Special General Meeting did itself the honour of electing you to an Honorary Fellowship. We trust that it may not be unacceptable to you to be thus associated with our Society. There are no duties, save that of wearing a surplice in Chapel on Sundays and Feasts of the Church.' He thanks Gore for his 'generous words' of the previous day. Letter Two: 4to, 2 pp.

A Catalogue of a Collection of Old and Modern Pictures and Drawings, Engravings, Prints and Books. [...] the late Sir Robert W. Dibdin, [...] the late James Duncan Campbell (Craignish) Esq.. C.M.G., [...] the late S. Morell, Esq. [...].

Author: 
Robinson, Fisher & Harding, London auctioneers [Sir Robert W. Dibdin; James Duncan Campbell; S. Morell]
Publication details: 
22 March 1934. Robinson, Fisher & Harding. L. C. Robinson, R. H. Hurlbatt. At their great galleries, Willis's Rooms, King Street, St. James's Square, S.W.1. [Barnard & Crannis, Ltd., Printers, 11, Baldwin's Place, Holborn, E.C.1.]
£75.00

8vo, 12 pp. Stapled pamphlet. Text clear and complete. On aged, worn and spotted paper. A total of 204 lots. Pencil notes to lots 4, 9 and 11, with slip indicating their purchase prices, totalling £10 12s 0d. Lot 179 ('Another Property') is given prominence: 'FRANCIS COTES, R.A. A PORTRAIT OF A LADY in White Dress with Green Sash and Pink Cloak, her hair dressed high and adorned with pearls, 3.4 length | 50in. x 40in. | Signed and dated 1788.' No copy in the British Library, on COPAC or WorldCat.

Dorothy Canfield. A Biographical Note'.

Author: 
Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958), American novelist, educational reformer and social activist [Vrest Orton]
Publication details: 
Undated [1930s?]. 'Typography by VREST ORTON'.
£225.00

Stapled pamphlet of thirteen pages (dimensions of leaf 15 x 8 cm), in original grey printed wraps. Attractively produced in relatively small print. Small stain to rear wrap, and some spotting to p.12. Inscribed beneath frontispiece photograph of a pensive Canfield at her writing desk, 'With best greetings to Harry from [signed] Dorothy Canfield Fisher'. The final page consists of a list of 'Books By Dorothy Canfield', several of which are scored through in pencil, with the titles of four others added. No copy listed on COPAC, and none listed in the Yale and Harvard catalogues.

Autograph Letter Signed, 2pp., 8vo, to "Admiral" (Sir John Fisher)

Author: 
Lord Burnham (Edward Levy-Lawson)
Publication details: 
21/11/07
£45.00

Edward Levy-Lawson, Newspaper proprietor (1833-1916). He describes a variety of physical ailments to which he is prey but concludes that "My suffering has not diminished my belief in one popularly known as 'Jack Fisher'. . .". Burnham's relationship with Fisher is perhaps explained by his Newspaper, The Daily Telegraph's, support of a "strong navy" policy.

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