FRANKLIN

[Eleanor Roosevelt: the wife of the President's wartime visit to Britain.] Post Office Telegram from Mrs Roosevelt, thanking Vice-Chancellor Sir David Ross for hospitality of Oxford University.

Author: 
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), wife of 32nd President of United States of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt [Sir David Ross (1877-1971), Provost of Oriel, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University]
Roosevelt
Publication details: 
Post Office Telegram sent from Manchester. With Oxford office stamp, 9 November 1942.
£120.00
Roosevelt

Towards the end of 1942, with America having been at war with the Axis powers for a year to Britain’s three, Eleanor Roosevelt accepted an invitation from Queen Elizabeth to travel to Britain in order to ‘study the British home front effort and visit US troops stationed there. [...] she spent almost a month inspecting factories, shipyards, hospitals, schools, bomb shelters, distribution centers, Red Cross clubs, evacuee centers and military installations in England, Scotland and Ireland’ (Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, Columbian College).

[Erma Franklin, soul singer, elder sister of Aretha Franklin.] Autograph Inscription, with Signature.

Author: 
Erma Franklin [Erma Vernice Franklin] (1938-2002), American gospel and soul singer, elder sister of Aretha Franklin
Erma Franklin
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£35.00
Erma Franklin

The inscription reads ‘Best Wishes / [flourish] / Erma Franklin’, and is written on a piece of thick paper cut from an envelope, and shaped into an oval roughly 9.5 x 5 cm. In fair condition, lightly aged, with two vertical folds, one through the centre of the oval. See Image.

[John Mills, author and agriculturalist.] Autograph Letter Signed to his bookseller John Nourse, describing French books he wishes him to procure, one ‘on account of some matters relative to Agriculture, which I have in my head’.

Author: 
John Mills (c.1717-c.1794), author and agriculturalist whose Fellowship of the Royal Society was sponsored by Benjamin Franklin [John Nourse (1705-1780), scientific bookseller in the Strand, London]
Publication details: 
12 April 1765. Welbank Street [London].
£180.00

The recipient is not named, but can be identified as the Strand bookseller John Nourse, from Notes and Queries, 3 September 1881, which has as its first article a transcription, with commentary of five long letters from Mills to John Nourse, the noted scientific bookseller in the Strand, and the present item clearly belongs to the same correspondence, predating the first, which is dated 15 May 1765.

[‘What a play!’: Percy Merriman, musician and songwriter, mainstay of the Roosters troupe of entertainers.] Autograph Letter Signed to theatre historian W. J. Macqueen-Pope, recalling Sir George Alexander’s 1896 production of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’.

Author: 
Percy Merriman [Percival Harry Merriman] (1882-1966), musician and songwriter with the Roosters troupe of entertainers, who began as a First World War concert party [Walter James Macqueen-Pope]
Publication details: 
14 October [no year, but before 1958]. On letterhead of ‘Percy Merriman / Lecturer and Entertainer / 37 Parliament Hill / London / N.W.3’.
£45.00

From the Macqueen-Pope papers (see his entry in the Oxford DNB). Merriman was accorded the honour of an episode of the BBC’s Desert Island Discs in 1964. 2pp, 12mo. Signed ‘Percy’ and addressed to ‘Dear Popie’. In good condition, lightly aged, with one dog-eared corner and folded twice for postage. Begins: ‘Am not of course seeking any publicity over your book on St. James Theatre [published in 1958] only wish I could help more. / You know of course Allan Ainsworth [sic, for ‘Aynesworth’] is alive the doyen of the Garrick Club! He played often with G[eorge]. A[lexander]. - in Pinero & Wilde.

[Daughter of a drug smuggler and mother of a president: Sara Roosevelt, mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.] Signed Autograph Inscription (‘Sara D Roosevelt’), proclaiming that she is ‘mother of President Franklin D Roosevelt’.

Author: 
Sara Roosevelt [Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt] (1854-1941), mother of President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the mother-in-law of Eleanor Roosevelt
Roosevelt
Publication details: 
11 July 1934. Place not stated.
£45.00
Roosevelt

On 11.5 x 7.5 cm leaf, with rounded outer edges, extracted from an autograph album. In good condition, lightly aged. Written at the head of the recto, the rest of the leaf being blank: ‘Sarah D Roosevelt - (Mrs James Roosevelt, Sen.) / mother of President Franklin D. Roosevelt / July 11th. 1934’. See image.

[President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Sara D Roosevelt') to 'Peggy', on a sketch to be made of the 'village' library she and her son are endowing in Hyde Park in memory of her husband.

Author: 
Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt (1854-1941), second wife of James Roosevelt I, mother of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt [James Roosevelt Memorial Library, Hyde Park on the Hudson]
Publication details: 
23 February [no year]; on letterhead of Hyde Park on the Hudson, N.Y. [New York].
£135.00

The subject of the letter is a sketch which Mrs Roosevelt wishes the recipient to make on a scroll, depicting the library which she and her son the future president Franklin Delano Roosevelt are endowing in the 'village' of Hyde Park, in memory of her husband James Roosevelt I (1828-1900). (The library opened in 1927, and is still in use.) 4pp, 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once, with short closed to one edge of the fold. She begins: 'My dear Peggy | I received your parcel just before I came up here so have a few days of country air with my son [F. D.

[ Franklin White, Australian artist. ] 24 items from his papers, including drafts and copies of his letters to the feminist Thelma Cazalet-Keir and the artist Harold Copping, and an ALS to him from Louis McCubbin, National Gallery of South Australia.

Author: 
Franklin White (1892-1975), Australian artist, teacher at the Slade Art School, London; Harold Copping (1863-1932), artist;; Louis McCubbin (1890-1952), Director, National Gallery of South Australia ]
Publication details: 
Several of White's letters on letterheads of The Reedbeds, Shoreham, Nr. Sevenoaks, Kent. Between 1921 and 1968.
£950.00

Two years after arriving in England from Australia in 1913, Franklin White entered the Slade School. His studies were interrupted by the First World War, during which he worked as a draughtsman at the Admiralty. In 1919 he re-entered the Slade, and was soon invited by Tonks to join the teaching staff. On his retirement in 1957, he devoted his full energies to the Samuel Palmer School of Art, which he had run from his home in Shoreham since 1924, when he first held summer classes in landscape painting for his Slade students.

[John Coakley Lettsom, physician, founder of the Medical Society of London, friend of Benjamin Franklin.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. C Lettsom'), to Charles Taylor, expressing great distress on the death of his son John Miers Lettsom, M.D.

Author: 
John Coakley Lettsom (1744-1815), physician, philanthropist, abolitionist, founder in 1773 of the Medical Society of London, friend of Benjamin Franklin [his son John Miers Lettsom, M.D. (1771-1800)]
Publication details: 
'Sambrook Co [Sambrook Court, Basinghall Street, London]; 29 January 1800.
£450.00

Lettsom's entry in the Oxford DNB erroneously states that his son John Miers Lettsom, M.D., 'a physician of promise', died in 1799. For the true details, see Gentleman's Magazine, January 1800. 1p, 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn, with thin strip of paper adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf, which is addressed, with fragment of seal in black wax, to 'Mr Charles Taylor | 134 | Cheapside'. The recipient may well be Charles Taylor (d.1816), physician, originally a Manchester calico printer and dyer, who later became Secretary of the Society of Arts, London.

[John Coakley Lettsom, physician, founder of the Medical Society of London, friend of Benjamin Franklin.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. C. Lettsom') to 'Dr. Taylor' [Charles Taylor], regarding his nomination as member of the Society.

Author: 
John Coakley Lettsom (1744-1815), physician, philanthropist, abolitionist, founder in 1773 of the Medical Society of London, friend of Benjamin Franklin [Dr Charles Taylor, Secretary, Society of Arts]
Publication details: 
['Sambrook Co [Sambrook Court, Basinghall Street, London] | Nov. 25. 1805.'
£450.00

The recipient is Charles Taylor (d.1816), physician, originally a Manchester calico printer and dyer, who later became Secretary of the Society of Arts, London. 1p, 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is addressed, with postmarks to 'Dr. Taylor | Principal Secretary | to the Society of Arts &c | Adelphi'. Folded four times. Reads: 'Dear Doctor | I have this day proposed your name to the Medical Society of London.

[Sir Allen Young, Arctic explorer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Allen Young') to society homeopathist Dr Chepmell, conveying a message regarding an appointment.

Author: 
Sir Allen Young [Sir Allen William Young] (1827-1915), English master mariner and Arctic explorer who searched for Sir John Franklin [Edward Charles Chepmell (1820-1885); Lillie Langtry (1853-1929)
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Turf Club, Piccadilly [London]. 'Wednesday Evg' [no date].
£180.00

In addition to his achievements, Young is remembered for holding a dinner party in 1877, at which the Prince of Wales arranged to sit next to Lillie Langtry while her husband was discreetly seated elsewhere, thus beginning their affair. 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and ruckled, with two small pinholes at head of first leaf, and traced of mount on blank reverse of second leaf. The letter begins: 'I have just got note from Mrs Langtry saying that she will have to go out of Town tomorrow morning and asking me to write to you to tell you'.

[ Sherard Osborn, Royal Navy admiral and arctic explorer. ] Part of Autograph Letter Signed ('S Osborn') to 'Dr. Allchin' [ Sir William Henry Allchin ] , regarding a 'consideration' to a woman.

Author: 
Sherard Osborn (1822-1875), Royal Navy admiral and Arctic explorer who searched for Franklin [ Sir William Henry Allchin (1846-1912), physician ]
Publication details: 
33 Charles Square [ London ]. 1 March [ no year ].
£35.00

Written on both sides of the top two-thirds of a 12mo leaf with mourning border, the bottom third having been torn away. In good condition, lightly aged. The recto reads, beneath the address, 'My dear Dr. Allchin | I should be glad if you would come here on Wednesday evening as <...> 1/2 past 4 at [...]'. The reverse reads: '[...] after hearing her own story you can say whether a consideration on Saturday would be advisable | Yours truly | S Osborn | I am progressing steadily [...]'.

[ Charles Henry Hart on the portrait of Benjamin Franklin at the Royal Society. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Charles Henry Hart') to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, discussing his discovery and attribution of the portrait.

Author: 
Charles Henry Hart (1847-1918), American art expert and author [ Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts; Benjamin Franklin; Caleb Whitefoord ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Royal Societies Club, St. James's Street, S.W. [ London ] 26 August 1914.
£130.00

2pp., 12mo, and 1p., 8vo. On a 12mo bifolium, with the opening written lengthwise as one page. In good condition, lightly aged, with the Society's oval date stamp. He regrets 'exceedingly' that he was not able to meet Wood on the previous day 'when I was at the Hall'. He thanks him for 'recalling to me the Whitefoord Correspondence which I had forgotten altho I used it in writing my monograph on the Unique Portrait of Franklin at the Royal Society that was presented by Caleb Whitefoord and which the Royal Society did not know by whom it was painted until I discovered it & wrote my paper'.

[ Barrie Pitt, military historian. ] Two Typed Drafts of a biographical account of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. One with autograph emendations.

Author: 
Barrie Pitt (1918-2006), British military historian and editor, 'Purnell's History of the Second World War' [ Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States of America ]
Publication details: 
Neither with place or date stated.
£220.00

Both items in good condition, on yellow paper. Apparently written as an entry in a work of reference, but no evidence of publication discovered. ONE: Later draft. 10pp., 4to. Single spaced. Begins: 'ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN DELANO was born on January 30th 1882, the only son of James and Sara Delano Roosevelt.

[ 'George Franklin | The World's Worst Wizard' and 'original cod prestidigitateur'. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('F Spence.'), requesting a book from the Thule Press.

Author: 
'George Franklin | The World's Worst Wizard' [ F. Spence ] and 'original cod prestidigitateur'
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, with autograph address Green Gates, 55 Corton Road, Lowestoft [ Suffolk ]. 16 September 1948.
£50.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, aged and creased. The letterhead, in orange and blue, boasts that Franklin is 'The World's Worst Wizard', and is headed 'Too Tuubes [sic] | The original cod prestidigitateur with a new act which is packed with crazy comedy and clean fun'. He asks him to send 'Stevenson Toy Theatre Book', and asks if he has 'any books on Marionette & string Puppets'.

[ B. F. Stevens of Vermont, London bookseller. ] Stevens' Historical Collections. Catalogue of the First Portion of the Extensive & Varied Collections of Rare Books and Manuscripts relating chiefly to the History and Literature of America [...]'.

Author: 
Henry Stevens (1819-1886) of Vermont, American bibliographer based in London, brother of the London bookseller Benjamin Franklin Stevens (1833-1902) [ Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London auctioneers ]
Publication details: 
Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 13 Wellington Street, Strand, W.C., London. On 11 July 1881 and four following days. [ J. Davy & Sons (The Dryden Press), 137 Long Acre, London. ]
£220.00

vi + 229 + [1]pp., 8vo. Frontispiece facsimile letter from Benjamin Franklin. In original printed wraps. In blue cloth binding with title in gilt on front cover and spine. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding. Full title: 'Stevens' Historical Collections.

[ B. F. Stevens of Vermont and his 'Index of all the documents of American concern in private or public Archives of Great Britain, Holland, France and Spain', 1763-1783 ] Printed pamphlet: 'American Manuscripts in European Archives.'

Author: 
[ Benjamin Franklin Stevens (1833-1902) of Vermont, American bookseller in London ]
Publication details: 
Without place [ B. F. Stevens, 4 Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London ] or date [ 1887 ].
£120.00

18 + [1]pp., 8vo. In red cloth half-binding, with brown marbled boards. Stamp of the Royal Historical Society on endpaper, and pencil shelfmarks. In fair condition, aged and worn. A curious production. The intent of the author (certainly Stevens) is to facilitate 'definite and permanent organisation', by his 'preparation of an Index of all the documents of American concern in private or public Archives of Great Britain, Holland, France and Spain that accumulated between the years 1763 and 1783'.

[ Col. S. F. Cody, American aviator and showman. ] Black and white postcard photograph captioned, 'Col. S. F. Cody with Indian Chief in his Aeroplane.'

Author: 
[ Colonel S. F. Cody [ Samuel Franklin Cody; Samuel Franklin Cowdery ] (1867-1913), American aviator and showman; Native American 'Indian Chief' ]
Publication details: 
Place, publication details and date not stated [circa 1910?].
£80.00

9 x 14 cm black and white postcard. In frail condition, aged, worn and chipped, with near-vertical central crease repaired on reverse with archival tape. Removed from album, and with traces of newsprint adhering to the reverse. The caption scratched into the plate and appearing in small white capitals at the foot of the image. Shows Cody in near-profile, seated at the controls of a biplane which is pointing to the left of the image, with a Native American in robes and headdress seated to his right. The central part of the plane is shown, with woodland behind it.

[Sir William Franklin, FRS.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Franklin') to 'Dr <Marriot?>', regarding the election of William Merry, Deputy Secretary at War, to the Geological Society.

Author: 
Sir William Franklin (1763-1833), physician, Principal Inspector-General of Army Hospitals, Fellow of the Royal Society [William Merry (1762-1855), Deputy Secretary at War]
Publication details: 
24 Charlotte Streeet, Portland Place [London]. 24 March [no year, but on paper with watermarked date 1807].
£38.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Dr '. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | Having been requested by Mr Merry the Depy Secretary at War to propose him as a Member of the Geological Society, I shall esteem it a favor, if you will put your Name to the enclosed Paper, & return it to me by the Post.'

[Printed catalogue.] One Thousand English Books all in handsome Bindings recommended by B. F. Stevens for the Foundation of the English Portion of an American Home Library.

Author: 
B. F. Stevens [Benjamin Franklin Stevens] of Vermont, London-based American bookseller, 17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden [The Chiswick Press, Whittingham and Willkins, Tooks Court, Chancery Lane]
Publication details: 
B. F. Stevens, 17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London, England. [1874.] [Chiswick Press: Printed by Whittingham and Wilkins, Tooks Court, Chancery Lane, London, England.]
£280.00

Not paginated. [107]pp., 16mo. Internally good and tight, elegantly printed in red and black. In original heavily-worn green leather binding. Small leaf, printed on both sides, advertising the book, loosely inserted. In the twenty-two lines on the reverse Stevens states that 'The price of all these books in substantial andn ornamental bindings of great variety, with leather, calf, morocco or russia backs and corners, and muslin on paper sides, is Four Hundred Guineas (420l.) If with full leather backs and sides, very handsome, the price is Four Hundred and Fifty Guineas (472l. 10s.)'.

Clipped signature "Tho Mifflin".

Author: 
Thomas Mifflin, Governor of Pennsylvania, etc.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£120.00

Irregular piece of paper c. 14 x 5 at most, good condions. Pencil note identifying signature

12 Typed Letters Signed marine explorer Jacques Piccard to Arthur Bourne, including specifications of his 'new submarine (the PX-28)', with transcript of speech, booklet on the 'Ben Franklin', offprint, photograph, copies of Bourne's replies.

Author: 
Jacques Piccard (1922-2008), Swiss oceanographer, first explorer with Don Walsh of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench [Arthur G. Bourne, science journalist]
Publication details: 
Piccard's letters from Lausanne, Switzerland: three on letterheads of the Bureau Jacques Piccard, and nine on letterheads of the Fondation pour l'Etude et la Protection de la Mer et des Lacs; dating from between 1970 and 1981. Booklet c.1972.
£1,500.00

A collection of 26 items, consisting of 12 letters from Piccard to Bourne, copies of 9 of Bourne's replies, a copy of a letter from Piccard to D. F. Horrobin, an offprint article, a transcript of a speech by Piccard in 1972, a booklet on the 'Ben Franklin' and an undated publicity photograph. The first of Piccard's letters (5 November 1970) is repaired with tape, the other items in the collection are in good condition, lightly-aged, with a few staple and punch holes, and some of Piccard's letters carrying notes in pen and pencil by Bourne.

Autograph Note Signed ('E. Leslie -') by the American author of popular cookbooks and works of etiquette Eliza Leslie [Miss Leslie].

Author: 
Eliza Leslie [Miss Leslie] (1787-1858), American author of popular cookbooks, and of works on etiquette
Publication details: 
No place. 14 October 183<4?>.
£90.00

1p., 4to. On aged paper, in two pieces, lightly-attached to a piece of backing paper. The text of the note and the signature are intact on the upper part of the letter, but the name of the recipient is lacking. The note reads '- May I ask you to advance me fifty dollars on account of the souvenir - Being disappointed in receiving some money that I expected from Boston, I am just now quite at a loss. | Yours | [signed] E. Leslie -'. Leslie's story 'The Souvenir' was first published in 1830 in 'The Pearl', and republished in 1832 in 'Affection's Gift'.

Original hand-coloured engraved portrait of 'Dr. Benjamin Franklin' by James Hopwood Senior, 'from an original Picture in the possession of the late General Washington'.

Author: 
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America [James Hopwood Senior (1745 or 1754 to 1819), engraver]
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790
Publication details: 
'Pub[lished]: Nov. 1 1801, by M. Jones, Paternoster Row' London.
£85.00
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790

Oval head-and-shoulders portrait of a bare-headed Franklin, roughly 8 x 6 cm. Well coloured. Good clear impression, on aged paper with some spotting. On paper 16.5 x 10.5 cm, laid down on leaf from autograph album.

Illustrated Catalogue of Acts and Laws of the Colony and State of New York [...] constituting the collection made by Hon. Russell Benedict, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York.

Author: 
Hon. Russell Benedict, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York [The American Art Association]
Publication details: 
To be sold [...] on Monday, February 27th, 1922 [...] The sale to be conducted by Mr. Thomas E. Kirby and his assistants, of The American Art Association, Managers, New York City.
£60.00

Octavo: 261 unpaginated pages. In original printed wraps. Internally sound and clean, in stained and creased wraps. Unobtrusive ownership mark of Myers & Co. of London on front wrap. Fifty full-page facsimiles of title-pages, etc. Foreword by Benedict, followed by Resume, beginning, 'The Collection of Laws belonging to Judge Russell Benedict, [...] is the Most Important Collection of its kind that has ever been brought together by a private party.

The Autograph Signatures of the members of the Hedley Ward Trio.

Author: 
The Hedley Ward Trio: Jack Mckechnie, guitar; Derek Franklin, bass; Bob Carter, piano [English jazz musicians' autographs]
Publication details: 
Undated.
£200.00

On a leaf of blue paper (roughly 11 x 14 cm), removed from an autograph album. Good: lightly aged and spotted. Reads 'With best wishes The Hedley Ward Trio | Jack Mckechnie | Derek Franklin | Bob Carter'. Docketed, presumably by the recipient, with the members' instruments. Hedley Ward was one of the foremost British bandleaders of the 30s, 40s and 50s, and his Trio featured in many radio and television broadcasts, and are still to be heard on archive programmes.

Three Autograph Letters Signed to Mrs [?] Kent.

Author: 
John Bigelow
Publication details: 
14 March 1911, 27 April 1911, and undated.
£250.00

American diplomat and author (1817-1911), editor of Benjamin Franklin's works. All three items are very good on paper discoloured with age, though all with small punch holes for binding in upper corners, resulting to loss to six words of text. All three signed 'John Bigelow'. The second letter represents an important exposition of Bigelow's religious position at the very end of his life. LETTER ONE (14 March 1911, 21 Gramercy Park, two pages, octavo): In response to his correspondent's 'Syrenic appeal' he is sending a cheque for $25, 'at the rate of $5 for the next five years'.

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