LANGUAGE

[‘I used it because I meant it’: Nicolas Bentley, writer, illustrator and cartoonist.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, defending his use of the phrase ‘I am afraid’.

Author: 
Nicolas Bentley [born Nicholas Clerihew Bentley] (1907-1978), writer, illustrator and cartoonist [Vere Henry Collins]
Publication details: 
10 October 1955. On letterhead of Andre Deutsch Limited, Publishers, 12-14 Carlisle Street, Soho Square, London W1.
£50.00

See his entry by Ruari Maclean in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. With Bentley’s distinctive stylized signature ‘Nicolas Bentley’. After thanking him for his letter he writes (apparently with reference to a newspaper article): ‘I am sorry if in using the phrase “I am afraid” I ruffled your grammatical sensibilities. I used it because I meant it.

['I write it as rapidly as I can, with my head full of Marcel': Pamela Hansford Johnson, writer and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, discussing her Proust-inspired BBC radio play 'Madame de Charlus'.

Author: 
Pamela Hansford Johnson [married name Pamela Helen Hansford Snow, Lady Snow] (1912-1981), writer and playwright, wife of the novelist C. P. Snow [Vere Henry Collins, author]
Publication details: 
31 December 1954. On letterhead of Nethergate House, Clare, Suffolk.
£56.00

An interesting letter, in which Johnson discusses her writing practice. See her entry and that of her husband in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. 2pp, 12mo. 27 lines of text. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight rust spotting from a paperclip. Folded twice for postage. On the topic of ‘Madame de Charlus’, one of the ‘Six Proust Reconstructions’ - plays by Johnson inspired by the work of Marcel Proust - just broadcast on the BBC Third Programme, she thanks him for his ‘most kind & pleasing letter’.

[Randolph Churchill [Major Randolph Spencer-Churchill], only son of Winston Churchill.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, invoking his father’s name in support of his use of the word ‘EGALITARIAN’.

Author: 
Randolph Churchill, only son of Winston Churchill [Major Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer-Churchill] (1911-1968), writer, soldier, and Conservative Member of Parliament [Vere Henry Collins, author]
Publication details: 
7 July 1953. Oving House, Oving, Nr. Aylesbury, Bucks, on cancelled letterhead of 12 Catherine Place, London SW1.
£65.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Signed ‘Randoph S. Churchill. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. After apologising for the delayed response he administers an effective put-down: ‘I do not pretend to be an expert in these mattes, but I have never heard the word EQUALITARIAN used in ordinary talk. EGALITARIAN, on the other hand, I have heard used by a wide variety of people who speak good English, including Sir Winston Churchill.

[Michael Sadleir, novelist, biographer and bibliographer.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, apologising for a grammatical error, and informing him that he is ordering a copy of his book ‘The Choice of Words’.

Author: 
Michael Sadleir [Michael Thomas Harvey Sadleir, formerly Sadler] (1888-1957), novelist, biographer and bibliographer [Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), author and literary stylist]
Publication details: 
12 August 1953. On letterhead of [Constable & Co.,] 10 Orange Street, London WC2.
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with a crease, dogeared corner and small nick. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘Michael Sadleir’. He is grateful to Collins ‘for pointing out the careless grammatical mistake of mine in the SUNDAY TIMES review. It is only too easy to slip into a conversational style (for I think that what I meant was perfectly clear) when writing rapid condensations for a newspaper.

[‘the lover of words (as I am)’: Lord Birkett, judge, British representative at the Nuremberg Trials.] Two Typed Letters Signed, one with long Autograph Postscript, and Typed Note Signed, all to V. H. Collins, defending his use of language.

Author: 
Lord Birkett [William Norman Birkett, 1st Baron Birkett] (1883-1962), judge, a British representative at the Nuremberg Trials, Lord Justice of Appeal, Liberal Member of Parliament [Vere Henry Collins]
Publication details: 
LETTERS: 9 July 1953 and 11 May 1954. NOTE: 14 July 1953. All three items on letterheads of the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2.
£180.00

The third letter gives an excellent indication of Birkett’s pride in his use of language. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. All three signed ‘Norman Birkett’. In fair condition, lightly aged and little grubby. The first letter with a small hole to one corner, and the two leaves of the last letter held together with a pin. ONE: ALS, 9 July 1953. 1pp, 4to. He is adding Collins’s book to his ‘select library on “words”’.

[Horne Tooke [John Horne Tooke], radical and philologist, tried for treason in 1794.] Autograph Signature on receipt for ‘the third volume of EPEA PTEROENTA, or, The Diversions of Purley’.

Author: 
Horne Tooke [John Horne Tooke, born John Horne] (1736-1812), radical clergyman and philologist, Member of Parliament and supporter of John Wilkes, tried for treason in 1794
Publication details: 
31 January 1794. ‘No. 370.’
£120.00

See his long entry in the Oxford DNB. On one side of a 12.5 x 6.5 cm piece of laid paper, embossed with a tax stamp. In fair condition, lightly aged and discoloured. Very neatly written and set out: ‘Jan 31 . 1794 / No. 370. / Received of Wm. Phillips / fourteen shillings for the third volume of / EPEA PTEROENTA, or, The Diversions / of Purley. John Horne Tooke / £2. 2. 0’. See Image,

[A ‘happy and hap-hazard hedonist of etymologist’: Ivor Brown.] Autograph Letter Signed and Autograph Card Signed to V. H. Collins, the former defending his position as an ‘amateur’ rather than a ‘verbal authority’.

Author: 
Ivor Brown [Ivor John Carnegie Brown] (1891-1974), popular and prolific author, noted for his entertaining books on language [Vere Henry Collins, author]
Publication details: 
LETTER: 24 July 1953, on letterhead of the Observer, 22 Tudor Street, London EC4. CARD: 30 March [1954]. 20 Christchurch Hill NW3 [London].
£80.00

One could not find a better assessment by Brown of his qualities as a writer on language than the letter offered here. As his entry in the Oxford DNB notes: ‘As well as using the English language expertly, he was one of those logophiles, such as F. G. Fowler, H. W. Fowler, and Eric Partridge, who are fascinated by language itself. He became famous for his books about words, agreeable rambles around correct usage and philology, enlivened by literary allusion, quotation, wit, and personal anecdote.

[Peter Mark Roget; Inscribed by Author (with authorial annotations by Roget or, less likely, his son; Thesaurus of English words and phrases, classified and arranged so as to facilitate the expression of ideas and assist in literary composition

Author: 
Peter Mark Roget (Thesaurus)
Publication details: 
Second edition, revised and enlarged. London : Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1853
£500.00

Brown morocco, recased (not quite perfectly, eg gathering still loose), hinge strain front, corners bumped. xxxix,[1],434,[2]p. ; 8vo. INSCRIBED John Lewis Roget | from his affectionate father | the Author. With the bookplate of S.R. Romilly [Samuel Romilly Roget, a later editor of the Thesaurus]. S.R. Roget's obituary is in Grace's Guide. Annotations in tiny hand, probably Roget himself but possibly his son who inherited his mantle (see image): a. P.203, under WEALTH, 'Almighty Dollar' term Ist used in Wm Jennings 'Creole Village'.

[G. Lionel Wright of Bristol.] Printed educational work on 'How Children may Read at the Age of 6', titled 'The Vocal System based on The Fundamental Laws of Language'.

Author: 
G. Lionel Wright [Allen, Davies & Co., Bristol printers; Victorian education; language; linguistics; pronunciation]
Publication details: 
Bristol: Printed by Allen, Davies & Co., Nelson Street & Rupert Street. [1902]
£120.00

20pp., 4to. Stapled into card wraps printed in blue and red. In fair condition, aged and worn, with vertical crease and rusted staples. The front inside wrap carries an 'Introductory Note' (including the claim: 'Half-an-hour's daily practice will produce material results in a very short time.') Labels and stamp of the Board of Education Library. The cover is illustrated with an engraving of two hands emerging from mountains and icebergs and shaking across the waters, above which are the Union Flag and two ensigns (Australia and Canada?), captioned 'Semper Fidelis'.

[ Professor Charles de Flandre of Edinburgh University. ] Lithographed Circular in form of a facsimile of an Autograph Letter Signed, requesting subscriptions to his translation of 'Professor Petit's unpublished History of Mary, Queen of Scots'.

Author: 
Charles de Flandre, Professor of French Language and Literature at Edinburgh University
Publication details: 
On his monogrammed letterhead, 15 Dundas Street, Edinburgh. 24 February 1873.
£100.00

1p., 12mo. Aged and grubby. A convincing facsimile, sent with 'a copy of the title page, the authors preface, a few explanatory remarks and a list of chief subscribers', in the hope that the recipient 'may be induced to become a subscriber' and mention the work 'to any one likely to take an interest in the subject'. No other copy traced.

[ 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.'

[[ Professor A. Marshall Elliott of Johns Hopkins University; George Francis Scott-Elliot, botanist; and David Douglas, Edinburgh publisher] Correspondence relating to Scott-Elliot's 'The Border Elliots'.

Author: 
Aaron Marshall Elliott (1844-1910) of Johns Hopkins University, language scholar, helped found Modern Language Association; David Douglas (1823-1916), Edinburgh publisher; George Francis Scott Elliot
Publication details: 
Douglas's letter: On letterhead of 9 Castle Street, Edinburgh; 2 October 1900. Villa Reale, Bad Ems; 6 September 1900. Marshall Elliott's letter headed British Museum Library, 11 July, 1900.
£450.00

Four items, aged and somewhat creased. Scott-Elliot's book was privately printed by Douglas in 1897. Aaron Marshall Elliott was founder of the Modern Language Association and founding professor of Romance Languages at Johns Hopkins University. ONE: ALS from Aaron Marshall Hall to David Douglas, 2pp., 8vo, asking him if he could supply a copy of G.F.S. Elliott's "The Border Elliotts", giving publishing history and mentioning his work on American Elliotts which he hopes to publish.

[ Simplified Spelling; pamphlet ] Petition for a Royal Commission to Examine the Question of English Spelling [continued below]

Author: 
[ Simplified Spelling Society ]
Publication details: 
The Darien Press, Edinburgh, [1925]
£120.00

[Tite continued] Papers read at the Meeting of the Simplified Spelling Society at the Conference of Educationla Asociations 3rd January 1925]. Pamphlet, 24p., 8vo, printed paper wraps, dulled/sunned, stapled sl. rusted, ow good condition. Chairman Reginald Macan, input from various people inc. Percy Simpson. Two copies recorded (at Leeds and Birmingham).

[ Esperanto magazine. ] Four numbers of 'La Vagabondo', the organ of Caroline Oxenford's 'Esperantista Vagabonda Klubo'.

Author: 
Caroline Oxenford (1865-1919) of Hove, Sussex, editor of the Esperanto magazine 'La Vagabondo', organ of 'La Esperantista Vagabonda Klubo' [ Eric Forbes-Robertson (1865-1935), artist and actor ]
Publication details: 
La Esperantista Vagabonda Klubo, 1 Wilbury Avenue, Hove, Sussex. Three from '2-a Serio': 'Nro. 8' ('Marto, 1912'), 'Nro. 10 ('Julio-Augusto, 1912') and 'Nro. 11' ('Septembro-Oktobro, 1912'). One from 'Serio 4': 'Nro. 1' ('Jan.-Februaro 1914').
£200.00

'La Vagabondo' (The Tramp) was the organ of 'La Esperantista Vagabonda Klubo', founded and edited by the artist Caroline Oxenford. Having previously been named 'La Vagabonda Monatajo' (January to March 1908) and 'La Vagabondisto' (April to July 1908), it became 'La Vagabondo' from September 1908. The First World War put an end to both club and magazine. The four issues are in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Uniform in design, and each 12pp., 4to. (although the last number is slightly taller), in printed wraps carrying advertisements. The three numbers from '2-a Serio' (all by 'W. G.

[ Companion volumes illustrated by John Leech. ] 'The Comic Latin Grammar; A new and fracetious Introduction to the Latin Tongue' and 'The Comic English Grammar; A new and facetious Introduction to the English Tongue.'

Author: 
[ Percival Leigh (1813-1889), satirist and humorist, contributor to 'Punch' [ John Leech (1817-1864), illustrator and caricaturist; Charles Tilt and Richard Bentley, London booksellers ]
Publication details: 
'Latin Grammar': London: Charles Tilt, Fleet Street. 1840. [ Printed by T. H. Coe, Old Change, St. Paul's. ] 'English Grammar': London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street. 1840. [ Printed by Samuel Bentley, Bangor House, Shoe Lane. ]
£100.00

Two good tight copies, on lightly aged paper, in worn original bindings with gilt decorations on front covers, with engravings on browning paper because of high acidity content. Both volumes with bookplate of Alan Angele and manuscript library shelf label. ONE: 'The Comic Latin Grammar'. 163 + [3]pp., 8vo. Eight engravings and numerous illustrations in text (the first engraving is positioned as frontispiece rather than at p.23 as specified).

[ G. A. Beale, spelling reformer. ] Two Typed Letters (one signed 'G. A. Beale', the other incomplete) to Philip Howard of The Times, on his system of spelling reform. With his booklet 'Items: The First Book Printed in Advanced English Orthography'.

Author: 
G. A. Beale [ George Alexander Beale ], proprietor of the Cadenza Press, and inventor of the 'Advanced English Orthography' [ Philip Howard (1933-2014), journalist at The Times ]
Publication details: 
Booklet ('Items . Publication Number . E35 | Printed & Published by Gilbert Beale at his Cadenza Press | 19 Wellington Road, London W5', and consisting of 'About 100 copies'. The two letters from the same address. All three items dating from 1989.
£180.00

The three items in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Booklet: [2] + iv + 29 + [2]pp., 8vo. With fold-out table at front. Nicely printed in green paper wraps with white label printed in red and black. According to the colophon 'The type is 14 point Monotype Bembo 270 augmented by 7 newly designd characters engraved by Ludlow Ltd Hertford | About 100 copies impressed on Archive Text paper in September 1989'.

[Offprint.] Upon a Method of Teaching Language to a Very Young Congenitally Deaf Child. By Alexander Graham Bell, Ph.D.

Author: 
Alexander Graham Bell, Ph.D. [The American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb]
Publication details: 
Third edition. Extracted, by permission, from the American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb, April, 1883, vol. xxviii, pp.124-139. Washington, D. C. Gibson Brothers, Printers. 1886.
£250.00

16pp., 8vo. Including full-page facsimile 'Specimen of Impromptu Conversation' and of 'the plan, recommended by George Dalgarno, of writing the alphabet upon a glove'. In grey card wraps. In good condition, on aged paper, with label and stamp of the Science & Art Department of the Educational Library on the front cover. In tasteful modern grey paper wraps with white printed label on front. No copies of this third edition on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat (but a total of fourteen copies of the first edition).

[Printed pamphlet.] Visible Speech as Taught to the Deaf. An Address Delivered Tuesday, July 7th, 1891, at the First Summer Meeting of the American Associate to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf, held at Lake George, N.Y.

Author: 
Alexander Graham Bell [American Association to Promote the Teachings of Speech to the Deaf]
Publication details: 
Reprinted from the Report of Proceedings [First Summer Meeting of the American Association to Promote the Teachings of Speech to the Deaf.] Mentor Print. [1891.]
£180.00

32pp., 8vo. Includes seven full-page charts. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, in worn and aged light-brown printed wraps. With shelfmarks, stamp and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. A total of eight copies located on OCLC WorldCat and COPAC, with the only copy in British libraries at the British Library.

[Printed pamphlet.] Suggestions to Teachers of English in the Secondary Schools.

Author: 
C. M. Gayley, Professor of the English Language and Literature, and C. B. Bradley, Associate Professor of the English Language and Literature, University of California, Berkeley
Publication details: 
Berkeley: Published by the University [of California]. 1894.
£30.00

68pp., 12mo. In grey printed wraps. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with shelfmark, stamp and labels of the Education Department Reference Library, London. Scarce.

[Printed pamphlet.] A Retrospect of the Education of the Deaf, on the occasion of the Clerc Centennial Commemoration. December 28th, 1885. With numerous illustrations engraed by Wm. R. Cullingworth.

Author: 
Henry Winter Syle, M.A. Pastor of All Souls' Church for the Deaf, Missionary of the Pennsylvania Diocesan Commission on Church Work among Deaf Mutes [William R. Cullingworth of Philadelphia]
Publication details: 
Philadelphia: Wm. R. Cullingworth, 517 Locust Street, 1886.
£100.00

36pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with historic repairs to last leaf, and slight damage to spine from disbinding. Printed grey front wrap only. With stamp and label of the Educational Library, Science & Art Department, London. An attractive production, with numerous illustrations including several sign-language alphabets. Scarce: no copy on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

[Printed pamphlet.] The Education of the Deaf on the "German" System, A Paper Read in the Educational Department of the "National Association for the Promotion of Social Science," at the Twenty-second Annual Congress, Cheltenham, 1878.

Author: 
Arthur A. Kinsey, Principal of the Training College for Teachers of the Deaf, Castlebar Hill, Ealing, London, W.
Publication details: 
London: W. H. Allen & Co., 13, Waterloo Place. 1879.
£60.00

[2] + 16 + [2] pp., 12mo. Stitched, in pink printed wraps. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With stamp, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. Three lines deleted on p.14. Uncommon: a total of six copies found on COPAC and OCLC WorldCat, none of them in North America.

[Printed 'Supplement Elucidating Circular of Information, No. 4.'] The Difference between the Two Systems of teaching Deaf-Mute Children the English Language. Extracts from a letter to a parent requesting information [...], by Joseph C. Gordon, [...]

Author: 
[Joseph C. Gordon, M.A., Ph.D., Superintendent of the Illinois Institution for the Education of the Deaf. Author of "Education of the Deaf," "Hints to Parents," etc. [Volta Bureau, Washington]
Publication details: 
Washington, D.C.: Sanders Printing Office, 3414 Q. Street. 1898.
£40.00

[1] + 4pp., 12mo. In yellow printed wraps. In good condition, lightly-aged. With stamp, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. Full subtitle: 'Extracts from a letter to a parent requesting information relative to the prevailing methods of teaching the English language to Deaf-Mutes in America, by Joseph C. Gordon, M.A., Ph.D., Superintendent of the Illinois Institution for the Education of the Deaf. Author of "Education of the Deaf," "Hints to Parents," etc.' Uncommon.

Pamphlet by Shadrach Pryce, Dean of St Asaph, 'The Welsh Language in relation to Education in Wales'; with handbill address to Sir William Hart-Dyke from John Griffiths, Archdeacon of Llandaff, Chairman of the Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language

Author: 
Shadrach Pryce (1833-1914), Dean of St Asaph, Welsh Anglican priest and educationalist; John Griffiths (1820-1897), Archdeacon of Llandaff, Chairman of the Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language
Publication details: 
Pryce's pamphlet 'read at the London Church Congress, on Oct. 11th, 1899'. Griffiths's address headed with details of The Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language, 66 Miskin Street, Cardiff; 26 November 1888.
£400.00

Both items are excessively scarce: with no copy of either in the British Library, on COPAC or WorldCat. Both of the present copies carry the stamps, labels and shelfmarks of the Board of Education Library. ONE: Drophead title: 'The Welsh Language in Relation to Education in Wales. | A paper read at the London Church Congress, on Oct. 11th, 1899, by S. PRYCE, M.A., Dean of St. Asaph, and examining Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of St. David's; (formerly one of H.M. Inspectors of Schools).' 8pp., 12mo. In manuscript at head of first page: 'With the Dean of St Asaph's compliments'. Stitched.

[Census of England and Wales, 1911.] Six printed documents comprising: 'Welsh Schedule' and 'enlarged' schedule, set of 'Explanatory Notes', and circular, memorandum and notice issued by the Welsh Department, Board of Education, Whitehall.

Author: 
[Census of England and Wales, 1911; Welsh Department, Board of Education, Whitehall, London; Bernard Mallet, Registrar-General; John Burns, President; Alfred T. Davies]
Publication details: 
Three of the documents from the Welsh Department, Board of Education, Whitehall. 1910 and 1911.
£250.00

The six items are in excellent condition, on lightly-aged paper. None of the forms have been filled in. From the Board of Education Reference Library, but with no indications of the fact. ONE: An 'enlarged copy of the front of the Occupier's Schedule' (so described in Item Five below), headed 'CENSUS OF ENGLAND AND WALES, 1911.' Printed in March 1911 by Eyre & Spottiswoode ('3/11. E. & S.'), on one side of a piece of 68 x 86 cm. paper.

Grammatical Sketch and Specimens of the Berber Language: preceded by four Letters on Berber Etymologies . . .Read October 2nd, 1829.

Author: 
William B. Hodgson (1801-1871), scholar-diplomat
Grammatical Sketch and Specimens of the Berber Language
Publication details: 
[1829]
£185.00
Grammatical Sketch and Specimens of the Berber Language

Offprint, "Transactions of the American Philosophical Society", vol.iv, New Series, brown paper wraps, 48pp., 4to, two one-word corrections in Hodgson's hand, some foxing, marginal chipping of page edges, fair. INSCRIBED "To President Adams | With the hommage | of W B Hodgson". Note: Hodgson served in the State Department through the influence of Henry Clay who, when secretary of state in Adams's administration, "assigned Hodgson to the Barbary States . . ."

Valuable Works Lately Published, or in course of publication, by Treuttel and Würtz, and Richter, 30, Soho Square.

Author: 
Treuttel and Wurtz, and Richter [Treuttel et Würtz; Wuertz], foreign booksellers in London
Valuable Works Lately Published , , ,  by Treuttel and Würtz, Printed Catalogue
Publication details: 
July, 1833. [ Treuttel and Würtz, and Richter, 30, Soho Square.]
£56.00
Valuable Works Lately Published , , ,  by Treuttel and Würtz, Printed Catalogue

12mo, 16 pp. Unpaginated. Unbound and unstitched. Stabbed as issued. Fair, on lightly aged and worn paper. Extensive descriptions of 62 items, from 'The Mother's Manual; or Illustrations of Matrimonial Economy' to 'History of Russia, and of Peter the Great. By General Count Philip de Segur'. Five items 'In the Press' on the last page. Scarce: no copy in the British Library or on COPAC.

Autograph Letter Signed ('G : A Galignani'), in Italian, to Twining. With signed receipt by Galignani, in Italian, for '18 Lezioni'.

Author: 
Giovanni Antonio Galignani (1757-1821), Paris bookseller and publisher of English works [Richard Twining (1772-1857), tea merchant]
Publication details: 
Letter: 'Venerdi mattina' (docketed with date 8 November 1796). Receipt dated 21 January 1797.
£800.00

Letter: 12mo, 1 p. On bifolium. Text clear and complete. On aged and ruckled paper. Slight damage to second leaf caused by breaking open of wafer. Addressed to 'Illustrissimo Signore'. Having 'un affare di qualche importanza alle nove', he would like to give Twining his lesson (presumably in Italian) the following morning at 8 o'clock. He hopes that coming half an hour early does not cause any inconvence. Receipt: on one side of a slip of paper, 7 x 19.5 cm. Headed 'Memorandum del Signor Twining'. For '18 Lezioni la prima delle quali fa data li 15 Novembee', and signed 'Galignani'.

The Description and Explanation of a "Universal Character;" or, Manner of Writing, that may be intelligible to the Inhabitants of every Country, although ignorant of each others Language; and which is to be learnt with facility, [...].

Author: 
[anon.] [Bath, Somerset; provincial printing; pasigraphy; linguistics; universal language]
Publication details: 
Bath: Printed by J. Hollway, Engraver and Copper-Plate Printer, Union Street.' [1830? 1833? 1835?]
£450.00

4to: 48 + [3] pp of letterpress, with additional leaf after title of 'Errata of Letter Press' and 'Errata in Plates'. Twenty numbered plates (the first two transposed), including one fold-out, and a final seventeen full-page unnumbered plates ('Examples'). Apparently complete. In original brown quarter binding, with cloth spine and paper boards. Ownership inscription of 'Lady Rolle' (1796-1885, born Louisa Barbara Trefusis) on front board. Text clear and complete. On aged and lightly-spotted paper, with wear to extremities and wraps, and cloth spine torn and worn.

Adargraphiad Llythyrenol o Flodau y Beirdd Brytannaidd, a gydgynnullwyd gan y dyfgedig Dr. John Davies, o Fallwyd [...] Ynghyd a Rhagdraethawd ar Farddoniaeth Gymreig, gan yr enwog Gadpen Wiliam Midelton.

Author: 
Dr John Davies o Fallwyd [Wiliam Midelton; William Middleton; Robert Jones (1810-1879)]
Publication details: 
Llundain [London]: 1864. [Argraffedig dros y Parch. Robert Jones, yn Mhersondy "All Saints," Rotherhithe.'] ['Argraffedig yn Rhudd-ddwr-hydd.']
£45.00

12mo: [xii] + xxiv + 76 pp. In original red cloth boards, with 'FLORES POETARUM BRITANNICORUM.' stamped in gilt on front board. Lightly aged and foxed, in slightly grubby binding, but good and tight. A few marginal notes in a contemporary hand.

Two Autographs Letter Signed ('George Goold' and 'George') to Paul Quinton, Classical Department, Blackwell's of Oxford; with inscribed offprint of Goold's lecture 'Richard Bentley, a Tercentenary Commemoration'.

Author: 
[YALE UNIVERSITY] George Patrick Goold (1922-2002), William Lampson Professor of Latin Language and Literature, Yale University [Richard Bentley; Blackwell's of Oxford; Loeb Classical Library]
Publication details: 
LETTERS: 30 September 1977 and 3 July 1979, both on letterhead of Yale University Department of Classics; OFFPRINT (from 'Harvard Studies in Classical Philology'): Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1963.
£200.00

Both letters two pages, quarto. LETTER ONE (annotated in ink with some ink marks in the blank space beneath Goold's signature): Written at the point at which Goold was relinquishing the University College Latin Chair to return to Yale. 'I told you I should be visiting Yale this autumn; and now I have to tell you that I shall be going on to Stanford after Christmas till March. Still, if I shan't have the pleasure of coming in occassionally to the bookshop, it probably means that I shall be ordering more books from you!' Orders a couple of copies of Austin's 'Aeneid'.

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