HEAD

[Sir Edward Malet, diplomat.] Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Robert Head, regarding a dinner engagement at ‘Countess Brockdorff’s’.

Author: 
Sir Edward Malet [Sir Edward Baldwin Malet, 4th baronet] (1837-1908), British diplomat, Consul-General in Egypt, 1879-1883 [Sir Robert Garnett Head (1845-1907), 3rd Baronet, of Rochester]
Publication details: 
14 January 1893; on letterhead of the British Embassy, Berlin.
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, and folded once for postage. With the item’s worn envelope, with ‘British Embassy, / Berlin.’ printed on the damaged flap, addressed by Malet to ‘Sir Robert Head Bt. / 97 Zimmer Strasse’, and initialed by him at bottom-left, ‘R B Malet’. The letter, which is signed ‘Edward B Malet’, begins: ‘Dear Sir Robert Head, / My wife will be very happy to take you and Lady Head to Countess Brockdorff’s on Monday at 3 1/2.

[ Margaret Gatty; children's author] Autograph Note Signed Margaret Gatty to Stephen [perhaps her grandson, Stephen Herbert Gatty?]

Author: 
Margaret Gatty [ Margaret Gatty (1809–1873), children's author and writer on marine biology. Some of her writings argue against Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species.
Publication details: 
Ecclesfield, 26 May [1860[8?]]
£45.00

One page, 12mo, staining and ink blots but text clear and complete, laid down on larger piece of paper, docketed The late Mrs. Margaret Gatty (writer for children) Editor of Aunt Judy's Magazine.

[A. H. Bullen [Arthur Henry Bullen], Elizabethan scholar, proprietor of the Shakespeare Head Press.] Autograph Letter Signed ('A. H. Bullen'), making arrangements for a meeting with F. A. H. Eyles of the Observer.

Author: 
A. H. Bullen [Arthur Henry Bullen] (1857-1920), Elizabethan scholar, editor and publisher, proprietor of the Shakespeare Head Press [F. A. H. Eyles of the Observer]
Publication details: 
26 November 1915; The Old George Inn, 77 Borough High Street, London, on letterhead of the Shakespeare Head Press, Stratford-upon-Avon.
£35.00

1p, 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. He thanks him for his letter of the previous day, and looks forward to seeing him on the Monday 'at the “Shakespeare Head Press” about 11.20 (and afterwards to the pleasure of your company at lunch)'. With the envelope, addressed to 'F. A. H. Eyles, Esq. | “The Observer” Office, | Newton Street, | High Holborn, W.C'.

[Francis Ralph Gray, first High Mistress of St Paul's School.] Autograph Signature ('Frances R. Gray' to an eight-line transcription 'From the St Paul's Girls' School Song', inscribed to Margery Clerk.

Author: 
Frances Ralph Gray (c. 1863-1935), first High Mistress of St Paul's School, 1902 to 1927
Publication details: 
5 April 1927. In envelope with printed address of St. Paul's Girls' School, Brook Green, Hammersmith, S.W. [London]
£100.00

An attractive item, neatly written out by Gray on 1p., 4to. In good condition, with central horizontal fold. Headed 'From the St. Paul's Girls' School Song'. The eight transcribed lines begin: 'In Faith and Knowledge! May it prove | When here our work is done, | […]' Beneath the quotation Gray has written: 'With my love to Margery | Frances R. Gray | 3rd. April 1927'. In envelope with the address of the school printed at top left of cover, addressed at centre by Gray to 'Margery Clerk'.

'Miscellanies and Poems. By Henry Fielding, Esq. Edited, with Preface, by James P. Browne, M.D. [ Including the first printing of 'A true State of the Case of Bosavern Penlez'. ]

Author: 
James P. Browne, M.D., editor [ Henry Fielding ]
Publication details: 
London: Bickers and Son, 1, Leicester Square. H. Sotheran and Co., 136, Strand. Little, Brown and Co. Boston, U.S. 1872. [ London: Printed by Head, Hole & Co., Harp Alley, Farringdon Street, and Ivy Lane, E.C. ].
£120.00

[4] + 36 + [2] + 200 pp., 8vo. In good internal condition, lightly aged and worn, in worn quarter binding of dark green leather spine and brown cloth boards. Armorial bookplate of J. C. Newman. A tastefully printed collection, with Browne stating in his twenty-two page introduction that 'this supplementary volume of the works of Fielding' includes among its contents of forty pieces of writing the first printing of 'A true State of the Case of Bosavern Penlez' (wrongly spelt 'Boscavern Penlez' in the contents), which is 39pp. in length (pp.44-82).

[ Edmond Warre, Head Master of Eton College. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Hugh' (a former pupil?), sending 'the usual Certificate', discussing his father's ill health, and with mention of 'Cyril' and the Hampton Court Tapestry.

Author: 
Edmond Warre (1837-1920), successively Provost and Head Master of Eton College, and outstanding rower
Publication details: 
Eton (on his monogrammed letterhead); 8 October 1882.
£60.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. He is sending 'the usual Certificate', and is sorry to hear of the recipient's father's accident. 'How did he do it? I hope he will have no ill effects from it.' He asks to be remembered to his mother. 'Cyril is staying out with a Cold to day but not much the matter.' He concludes: 'I hope you will get through the Exam all right at Balliol. Come & see us on yr way down'. A postscript refers to 'the Hampton Court Tapestry "The Fates" 3 pieces', and ends with a Latin quotation.

[ Charterhouse; book ] Carthusian Worthies.

Author: 
J. L. Smith-Dampier [ Shakespeare Head Press, Oxford; Charterhouse ]
Publication details: 
Oxford: Printed at the Shakespeare Head Press, St Aldates, and Sold by Basil Blackwell, Broad Street. 1940.
£200.00

xxiv + 366pp., 8vo. In rough red cloth with lettering in blue. A good copy, lightly aged and worn, in a chipped and worn dustwrapper with closed tears mended with archival tape. Tastefully printed in the firm's robust style. The blurb on the front of the dustwrapper states: 'The aim of the author, himself an Old Carthusian, is to introduce or recall some of the famous men who have successively peopled the Charterhouse, whether as monastery, mansion or school.

[No. 41 of 65 copies, with original etching and lithograph, both signed by Brangwyn.] Prints & Drawings by Frank Brangwyn with some other Phases of his Art: By Walter Shaw Sparrow.

Author: 
Walter Shaw Sparrow [Frank Brangwyn]
Publication details: 
London: John Lane, The Bodley Head. New York: John Lane Company. 1919.
£600.00

[10] + 288pp., 4to. In original quarter-binding, with blue paper boards and cream buckram spine with gilt lettering. A handsome book, profusely illustrated, with 49 plates (some with guards) and the two signed 'Extra Plates', and numerous illustrations in text. Announcement on reverse of first page: 'THIS edition, with an original etching and an original lithograph by Frank Brangwyn, is limited to 65 copies, of which this is No. 41'. The etching, facing p.1, is titled 'A Back Street, Tours', and the lithograph, facing page 180, is titled 'Newcastle'. Both are signed by Brangwyn in pencil.

[ Travel book ] A student in Sicily

Author: 
Mrs Nevill Jackson [Emily Nevill Jackson]
Publication details: 
London: John Lane The Bodley Head Ltd., 1926
£28.00

Small octavo. Pages: xx + 257. Original black cloth decorated in orange. Orange dustwrapper. Eight illustrations in colour, sixty-five in half-tone, and map. Good copy, though foxed throughout, in good binding lightly worn at head and tale of spine and with a little spotting. Dustwrapper discoloured and with wear and loss at corners and head and tail of spine.

[ Vernon Hill, sculptor and artist. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed to 'Mr Bleackley' [ the writer Horace Bleackley ], regarding a drawing of the recipient he has been asked to make by 'Mr Lane' [ the publisher John Lane ].

Author: 
Vernon Hill (1887-1972), sculptor, lithographer, illustrator [ Horace Bleackley (1868-1931), author; John Lane (1854-1925), London publisher who founded the Bodley Head with Charles Elkin Mathews ]
Publication details: 
30 St Luke's Road, W [ London ]. 1 July 1915 and 'Thursday' [ no date ].
£35.00

Both letters 1p., 4to. Both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letters concern a drawing of Bleackley, made by Hill at the instigation of 'Mr Lane'. On 1 July 1915 Hill writes that he has 'placed it before such authorities as Mr Willette and Mrs Lane, persons all I think to whom the shock of an unlikeness would have evoked candid opinion in criticism. I found them agreed as to its likeness Mr Lane voicing the common opinion by declaring on the instant: "That's got him!"'

[ Log book of a Yorkshire publican, 1910 to 1940. ] Autograph 'Spirit Stock Book' of A. E. Hoyle of the Bull's Head Hotel, Halifax (dealing with Webster's Brewery), with seven associated Excise documents.

Author: 
Arthur Ernest Hoyle of the Bull's Head Hotel, Halifax, Yorkshire, publican and retailer of spirits [ Samuel Webster & Sons Ltd, Yorkshire brewers ]
Publication details: 
[ Arthur Ernest Hoyle, Bull's Head Hotel, Bull Green, Halifax, Yorkshire. ] 1910 to 1950, with accompanying documents dated 1923, 1928, 1936 and 1939.
£220.00

ONE: Spirit Stock Book. 116pp., 4to. Internally in good condition, on aged paper, in heavily-worn cloth binding, with worn paper label on front cover. (The purpose of the book is given in the description of Item Two, below.) Detailing the sale (or return?) of spirits, exclusively to Samuel Webster & Sons, between 1910 and 1950. The entries on each page are divided into eight printed columns: 'Date when the Spirits were Sent out', 'No.

The Defence of Guenevere and other Poems by William Morris. Illustrated by Jessie M. King.

Author: 
William Morris and Jessie M. King [ Isabel Bonus ]
Publication details: 
London and New York: John Lane The Bodley Head. 1904.
£280.00

8vo. 310pp. Red cloth, gilt extra, with ornate design to front board and spine. First edition with King's illustrations. A good copy of an extremely attractive book, in binding with light fading in parts, but gilt still bright, and with the merest wear at head of spine. Bookplate by Isabel Bonus for Annie C. Dolamore. Collated and complete. All of King's ninety-five illustrations are present, with twenty-four of them, including the frontispiece, on shiny art paper. A sumptuous item, produced at the high point of King's Art Nouveau period.

[James Tregaskis, London bookseller.] An engraving by Herbert Railton of the interior of his celebrated Holborn shop, captioned 'Old Stairway at the "Caxton Head."' Signed in pencil by Tregaskis.

Author: 
James Tregaskis (1850-1926), London bookseller; Herbert Railton (1857-1910), illustrator
Publication details: 
Published by James and Mary Lee Tregaskis, "Caxton Head," 232 High Holborn, London, 1894.
£100.00

On 32.5 x 23 cm piece of thin wove paper. In fair condition only: aged, especially at extremities, and with loss to all four corners on removal from mount. The image (which is roughly 21 x 17 cm) and text are clear and clean, as is the signature 'James Tregaskis', in pencil in the bottom right-hand corner. A charming view, in Railton's characteristic style, of a somewhat decrepit eighteenth-century interior, with a plump young girl in voluminous late-Victorian smock playing on the stairs with a small dog.

Seventeenth-century Vellum Manuscript Indenture, a Terrier of John Head's lease lands in West Hendred, Berkshire.

Author: 
[John Head of Langley, Hampstead Norreys, High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1698-1699; terrier his lease lands in West Hendred]
Publication details: 
[West Hendred, Berkshire.] Late seventeenth-century.
£220.00

On one side of a strip of vellum (circa 40 x 18 cm). In fair condition, aged and worn. In English. Scan of part on application

[Thomas Seccombe, biographer.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to the publisher John Lane, concerning the Titmarsh Club, and Lane's publication of books by Stephen Sydney Reynolds.

Author: 
Thomas Seccombe (1866-1923), English critic and biographer [John Lane (1854-1925), London publisher (The Bodley Head); Stephen Sydney Reynolds (1881-1919), Devon author; The Titmarsh Club]
Publication details: 
One from 18 Perryn Road, Acton, W [London]. 2 April 1908. The other with the same address on letterhead of the East London College (University of London), Mile End Road, E. 21 October [no year].
£120.00

Both items in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. The letter begins: 'Dear Mr Lane, | Conscientious research in Titmarshian activities seems to point to the fact that you owe to the club the sum of 22/- for two dinners in October 1907.' He continues on this theme for a while, before turning to Reynolds: 'I am very glad to hear that you are going to bring out the Holy Mountain & Poor Mans House by Reynolds. As partly responsible for the suggestion of the Mountain & the location at Acton, I take some interest in the book & also in its author.

[The Numismatic Society of London.] Two Autograph Letters Signed on the election of George Edwyn Hill-Trevor as a member, the first from Alfred E. Copp, Hon. Secretary, the second from Barclay V. Head, Keeper of Coins and Medals at the British Museum

Author: 
[The Numismatic Society of London (from 1906 the Royal Numismatic Society); Barclay Vincent Head (1844-1914), Keeper of Coins and Medals, British Museum; Alfred E. Copp; George Edwyn Hill-Trevor]
Publication details: 
Copp's letter: on letterhead of the Numismatic Society of London, 3 January 1887. Head's letter: on embossed British Museum letterhead. 15 December 1886.
£80.00

Copp's letter: 1p., 12mo. Attractive letterhead, with embossed design. Addressed to 'The Hon: Geo. E. Hill Trevor | Brynkinalt | Chirk'. In good condition, with slight creasing and discoloration at foot. He is sending a receipt for Hill-Trevor's 'entrance fee and subscription to this Society', and discusses subscription matters. Head's letter: 2pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper.

[Incorporated Association of Head Masters and Headmasters' Conference (Incorporated), London.] Entrance Requirements to Universities, Faculties and Requirements of Professional Bodies. [With three related items, two duplicated and one printed.]

Author: 
[Incorporated Association of Head Masters and Headmasters' Conference (Incorporated), London]
Publication details: 
The Secretary, I.A.H.M. and H.M.C. [Incorporated Association of Head Masters and Headmasters' Conference (Incorporated)], 29 Gordon Square, London, W.C.1. [Printed by C. F. Hodgson & Son, Ltd., Pakenham St., London, W.C.1.] September 1950.
£60.00

24pp., 12mo. In red printed wraps. In fair condition, lightly aged, with rusted staples, and stamp, shelfmarks and label of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. In manuscript on front cover: 'Reference copy only not for loan' and 'See edition | Revised 1957.' In manuscript at head of p.1: 'There has been a change in London University Entrance requirements. See T.E.S.

[Alexander Hattrick, carpenter, or R. Turnbull.] 28 illustrations: depicting Australian scenes (panoramas of North Head Quarantine Station; Farm Cove, Sydney; Hobart, Tasmania) and a narrative of an excursion to Nurstead Woods, Kent.

Author: 
[Alexander Hattrick or R. Turnbull; Alexander Hatrick (1857-1918), New Zealand merchant; Pacific Steam Navigation Co.; North Head Quarantine Station, Sydney; Nurstead Woods, Kent; 'Swift Sure' whaler]
Publication details: 
One item with date 'May 1893'. All twelve items on stationery of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., including eight 'Soundings' forms, filled in 'For Chief Engineer', signed 'Alex Hattrick', and dated 25 March and 2, 7, 8, 11, 18, 24, 29 June [1893?]
£850.00

28 illustrations: 3 of which depict Australian scenes (panoramas of North Head Quarantine Station; Farm Cove, Sydney; Hobart, Tasmania) with a cartoon/narrative of an excursion to Nurstead Woods, Kent. One item with date 'May 1893'. All twelve items on stationery of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., including eight 'Soundings' forms, filled in 'For Chief Engineer', signed 'Alex Hattrick', and dated 25 March and 2, 7, 8, 11, 18, 24, 29 June [1893?] One item with date 'May 1893'. The twelve items in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Charmingly-executed in a naive style.

[Mathew Varenne, bookseller, near Somerset House in the Strand.] Engraved bookplate ('H: Hulsbergh Sc.') with inscription 'This Book and all sorts are to be had at Math: Varrenne's at the Senecas head near Sommerset house in ye Strand.'

Author: 
[Mathew Varenne [Matthew de Varenne; Varens] (d.1726), bookseller at the sign of Seneca's Head, near Somerset House in the Strand, London; Hendrik Hulsbergh (d.1729), London-based Dutch engraver]
Publication details: 
[Mathew Varenne, bookseller at the sign of Seneca's Head, near Somerset House in the Strand, London. Before 1726.]
£250.00

Note that Varenne's Christian name is spelled with one 't' on the bookplate, and generally with two 't's by later sources. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, tipped in onto a grey paper mount. Engraved on a 12 x 8 cm piece of wove paper, with no margin.

[Charles Conway Thornton, Second Secretary at the British Embassy, Berlin.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Conway Thornton') to Lady Florence Head, providing a detailed 'list of times & places' for a reception in the Stadtschloss, Berlin.

Author: 
Charles Conway Thornton (1851-1902), successively Second Secretary at the British Embassy, Berlin, and Consul-General at Budapest [Lady Florence Head, wife of Sir Robert Garnett Head (1845-1907)]
Publication details: 
Berlin [on British Government embossed letterhead]. 19 January 1893.
£45.00

5pp., 12mo. The letter proper is three pages long, on a bifolium, and is accompanied by a two-page 'list of times & places' on a separate leaf. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. With 18 x 23 cm letterhead, on the cover of which Thornton has written 'To | Sir Robert Head. Bart. | III | Zimmer Strasse 97 | Hier.', with his signature 'C. Thornton' in the bottom left-hand corner.

[No. 41 of 65 copies, with original etching and lithograph, both signed by Brangwyn.] Prints & Drawings by Frank Brangwyn with some other Phases of his Art: By Walter Shaw Sparrow.

Author: 
Walter Shaw Sparrow [Frank Brangwyn]
Publication details: 
London: John Lane, The Bodley Head. New York: John Lane Company. 1919.
£1,200.00

[10] + 288pp., 4to. In original quarter-binding, with blue paper boards and cream buckram spine with gilt lettering. A handsome book, profusely illustrated, with 49 plates (some with guards) and the two signed 'Extra Plates', and numerous illustrations in text. Announcement on reverse of first page: 'THIS edition, with an original etching and an original lithograph by Frank Brangwyn, is limited to 65 copies, of which this is No. 41'. The etching, facing p.1, is titled 'A Back Street, Tours', and the lithograph, facing page 180, is titled 'Newcastle'. Both are signed by Brangwyn in pencil.

[Dr Edward Dalrymple Laborde of Harrow School.] Manuscripts of 'The South Sea Islands. A paper read before the Harrow Fifty Club' and 'The Pacific Islands. Rough drafts of a chapter [of one of his books]'. With four photographs of Fiji and documents.

Author: 
Dr Edward Dalrymple Laborde (1890-1962), Head of the Geography department of Harrow School and author [Stinson Studios ('E. E. De Mole, Suva, Proprietor'); Fiji islands; Pacific Islands]
Publication details: 
[Harrow, Middlesex.] The paper dated 1928; the drafts of the chapter undated, but for a book published in 1932. Three of the four photographs with the stamp of Stinson Studios ('E. E. De Mole, Suva, Proprietor').
£450.00

In his history of the school Christopher Tyerman points out that Laborde came to Harrow in 1919 after Colonial Service employment as a Head Master in Fiji.

Holograph Poem by the English poet Sir William Watson, titled 'To the Lady Katharine Manners | (with a volume of the author's poems)'.

Author: 
Sir William Watson (1858-1935), English poet
Publication details: 
Dated 'William Watson | Windermere | Aug 1897'.
£100.00

2pp., 8vo. Neatly written out on two leaves of laid paper with watermark of Caxton Superfine Vellum. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The poem consists of twenty-eight lines arranged in seven four-line stanzas, the first reading: 'On lake and fell the loud rains beat, | And August closes rough and rude.

Typed Testimonial Signed ('M. L. Jacks') from Maurice Leonard Jacks, headmaster Mill Hill School, for H. Clarence Whaite, on his application for the post of HM Inspector of Art

Author: 
Maurice Leonard Jacks (1894-1964), headmaster Mill Hill School and Director of Education in Oxford [H. Clarence Whaite (1895-1978), Head of Art Department, University of London Institute of Education]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Mill Hill School, London, NW7. 30 July 1937.
£35.00

Whaite was first cousin twice removed of his more famous namesake. He was himself an excellent artist and teacher, and there is a large collection of his work at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester. 2pp., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The testimonial begins: 'Mr. H. C. Whaite has been on my Staff as visiting Art Master since January 1929, and I am very glad to write in support of his application for an Inspectorship of Art. Mr. Whaite has had wide experience of Art teaching, and has done remarkably successful work here with boys of 14 to 18 years of age.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Joseph Wood') to 'Miss Tapp'.

Author: 
Joseph Wood, headmaster of Harrow School, 1899-1910
Publication details: 
2 May 1905; on letterhead of 'THE HEAD MASTER'S, | HARROW.'
£28.00

12mo: 1 p. Good, with traces of previous mounting on blank reverse. He thanks her for her kind note, and is glad she enjoyed 'our little tour, in spite of wind and weather'. He has sent off her camera, 'carefully packed', and hopes 'it will arrive without injury. This is not promising weather for your cycling project!'

Typed Letter Signed to G[eorge]. K[enneth]. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Lieutenant-Colonel John Herbert Boraston [Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig; Earl Haig]
Publication details: 
27 June 1919; on letterhead 'G[eneral]. H[ead]. Q[uarters]. The Forces in Great Britain, | Horse Guards, | London, S.W.1.'
£45.00

English soldier and military historian (1885-1969). One page, quarto. Folded twice. Good, but with minor discoloration and some ink smudging along one edge (not affecting text). Bearing the Society's stamp. Replying, as Haig's private secretary, to a letter electing Haig a fellow of the Society. 'Sir Douglas Haig has asked me to thank you very much for your letter of the 25th instant and will be glad if you will convey to the Council and members of your Society his great appreciation of the honour they have done him.

Autograph Signature countersigning cheque.

Author: 
Narciso Campero [BOLIVIA]
Publication details: 
10 June 1872; drawn on the Paddington Branch of the London & County Bank, Berkeley Place, Edgware Road.
£100.00

General (1815-96) and President of Bolivia between 1880 and 1884. Dimensions seven inches by three inches. Creased and with several closed tears, and with ink employed in printing cheque faded to purple and lilac. One edge perforated and with perforated numbers '17 x 6' (not affecting signature). Order to pay 'General Narciso Campera' five pounds and sixteen shillings. Drawer's signature illegible. Signed 'Narciso Campero' on reverse.

Syndicate content