HARCOURT

[Simon Nowell-Smith, bibliographer, book collector and Librarian of the London Library.] Autograph Letter Signed to Philip Dosse, publisher of ‘Books and Bookmen’, expressing an unwillingness to review all but expensive books he wishes to possess.

Author: 
Simon Nowell-Smith [Simon Harcourt Nowell-Smith] (1909-1996), bibliographer, book collector and Librarian of the London Library [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), publisher of ‘Books and Bookmen’]
Publication details: 
13 January 1975; on letterhead of Quarry Manor, Headington, Oxford.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. The present item is 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘Simon Nowell Smith’.

[ Field Marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt. ] Autograph Signature ('Harcourt') to a secretarial letter to 'Mr Simpson', soliciting his vote for Captain Sir Murray Maxwell's candidacy in the Westminster election.

Author: 
Field Marshal William Harcourt (1743-1830), 3rd Earl Harcourt, army officer, Master of the Horse to Queen Charlotte, Colonel of the 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons [ Captain Sir Murray Maxwell ]
Publication details: 
St. Leonard's. 10 June 1818.
£45.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed with postmarks, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Mr. Simpson, | Clothiere, | St. Martin's Lane | London.' In fair condition, on aged paper. Docketted with Harcourt's dates. The letter reads: 'Sir, | Captain Sir Murray Maxwell having signified his intention of offering himself as a Candidate for Westminster at the ensuing Election; I shall be much obliged to you if you will give him Your Vote upon that occasion.' In the 1818 general election Maxwell (1775-1831) was defeated by less than 400 votes, losing to Sir Samuel Romilly and Sir Francis Burdett.

[ Sir Cecil Harcourt Smith, archaeologist and Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Cecil H. Smith.') to Sir Henry Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, describing arrangements for the judging of the Owen Jones prizes

Author: 
Sir Cecil Harcourt Smith (1859-1944), archaeologist and Director and Secretary of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1909-1924 [ Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 24 October 1916.reg
£50.00

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. With the Society's oval date stamp. He is sending as promised 'a note of the arrangements agreed upon between us at our interview to-day'. Undertaking to provide space at the Museum 'for the purpose of receiving, arranging for judgment, and re-despatching the designs submitted for the Owen Jones prizes for industrial design. The judging will be done by your nominees, and all correspondence in connection with the matter will be in your hands'.

[ Rev. Robert Whiston, the inspiration for Trollope's 'The Warden'. ] Autograph Letter Signed and Autograph Note Signed (both 'Robert Whiston') to Richard Prall, Rochester solicitor

Author: 
Robert Whiston (1808-1895), Headmaster of Rochester Cathedral Grammar School [ King's School ], 1842 -1877, inspiration for Anthony Trollope's 'The Warden' [ Richard Prall (1802-67), solicitor ]
Publication details: 
Letter from Rochester [ Kent ]; 28 September 1872. Note from St. Margarets; 20 April 1877.
£150.00

Both items in fair condition, aged and worn. ONE: ALS. 28 September 1872. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. He is 'taking somewhat of a liberty', but having heard 'that you are parting with one of your Clerks', says 'a word in favour of a person in whom for many reasons I take a great interest, & of whom you & your Brothers may know something. | I mean Mr. Prothero for many years an Inmate of my House, & an Assistant Master in the School'. Prothero was 'for some years a Clerk in the County Court', but 'is obliged from paucity of business to leave it, & is now out of employment'.

[ William Harcourt, ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm. Harcourt'), regarding the admission of the recipient's son as a cadet in the Royal Military College.

Author: 
William Harcourt (1743-1830), 3rd Earl Harcourt, Field Marshal of the British Army, Governor of the Royal Military College, Great Marlow
Publication details: 
St Leonards [ St Leonards Hill, near Clewer, Berkshire ]. 14 August 1805.
£80.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He informs the recipient that he is 'happy to have it in my power to comply with your request for the admission of your Son as a Cadet in the Royal Military College', and that he has 'inserted him in the List of Candidates for Examination' on 1 October 1805. He states that he is sending 'the usual Circular letter, which will give you the necessary information respecting the qualifications required, and articles to be provided by the Young Gentleman on his admission into the Establishment'.

[John Blaquiere.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Blaqre.'), reporting [to Sir R. Ainslie] that he is to be principal secretary to the new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Harcourt.

Author: 
John Blaquiere, 1st Baron de Blaquiere (1732-1812) [Sir Robert Ainslie (1730-1812), diplomat and numismatist; Simon Harcourt (1714-1777), 1st Earl Harcourt, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1772-1777]
Publication details: 
'Tuesday evening | 2 June [1772]'.
£220.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on creased and aged paper. Docketted on reverse: 'Ld de Blaquiere to Sir R A | 1772.' The letter begins: 'It may give you some pleasure to hear, & it may be of some use to you, to know; that Ld. Harcourt is appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. I have not however the merit of giving you the intelligence, it is, by my Lord's desire, and His Lordship tells me [last four words deleted] that I shall certainly attend him to that Country as the principal secretary.' He concludes by inviting Ainslie, on Harcourt's behalf, to dinner the following day.

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