NINETEENTH

Autograph Letter Signed to the English mineralogist and geologist William Phillips (1775-1828).

Author: 
Henry Kater (1777-1835), English physicist of German descent
Publication details: 
23 May 1823; Union Place, Regent's Park [London].
£180.00

12mo: 2 pp. Very good. Addressed to 'Mr. W. Phillips' on otherwise-blank second leaf of bifolium, which carries traces of previous mount. Acknowledges 'the obliging present' of Phillips's 'valuable work on mineralogy' (the influential 'Outline of the Geology of England and Wales', 1822, written with William Conybeare).

Famous Literary Impostures, A Series of Essays.

Author: 
H. R. Montgomery [Henry Riddell Montgomery, 1818-1904] [Thomas Chatterton; James Macpherson; George Psalmanazar; Richard Bentley]
Publication details: 
London: E. W. Allen, 4, Ave Maria Lane, Paternoster Row. [1884]
£56.00

12mo: iv + 132 pp. Unbound. In original red printed wraps. Stapled. A poor copy of a scarce item (COPAC only lists copies at the British Library and National Library of Scotland). Dog-eared and grubby, with wraps faded and with loss to extremities and spine repaired with tape. Staples rusted and worn through prelims. Text complete and entirely legible. Five essays: 'Chatterton and the Rowley Poems', 'Macpherson's Poems of Ossian', 'The Shakspeare Forgery', 'Psalmanazar and the Formosa Imposture' and 'Bentley and the Epistles of Phalaris'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Tom Gallon') and Typed Letter Signed to Ernest Pertwee.

Author: 
Tom Gallon (1866-1914), English novelist, dramatist and humourist [George Routledge & Sons, Ltd.]
Publication details: 
TLS, 16 July 1903; ALS, 13 August 1903; both on embossed letterhead 190, Adelaide Road, St. John's Wood, N.W. [London.]
£56.00

Both items quarto. On worn, discoloured paper, with a couple of closed tears to the folds. Pertwee was the author of numerous anthologies for recitation, and these letters presumably relate to his 'Reciter's treasury of prose and drama: serious and humorous' (Routledge, 1904). TLS: 'Provided, of course, that Messrs. Routledge have actually agreed with you to publish the book of humorous prose recitations, I shall be very willing to allow you to reprint any one of the stories the titles of which I give below.

Excelsior: Helps to Progress in Religion, Science, and Literature.

Author: 
James Hamilton, ed. [Stonehenge; druids]
Publication details: 
No. I - January. London: James Nisbet and Co. Berners Street. [Printed by G. BARCLAY, Castle St., Leicester Sq.]
£100.00

8vo: 44 + 8 + 80 pp. Three engravings by Pearson ('Stonehenge', 'The Walrus' and 'Infusoria'). In original brown printed wraps. Good, though a touch dusty and dogeared, in creased and worn wraps, with loss to one corner at rear (not affecting text).

Printed 'Regulations for the Admission of Gentlemen Cadets into the Royal Military College, near Bagshot. January 1st, 1852.' With one other printed item and four manuscript items relating to John Miller Dickson's attempt to join the British army.

Author: 
William Dickson; John Miller Dickson; General Henry Shadforth [Royal Military College, Bagshot; British army; military history]
Publication details: 
The printed 'Regulations' 1852; the other printed item is dated 1851; the four manuscript items between 1852 and 1854.
£125.00

The collection is in good condition, with occasional light creasing. The 'Regulations' ('ON HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE') consist of four pages printed on a folio bifolium. The other printed item, in facsimile handwriting, dated '15.11.51' (and dated in manuscript 'Horse Guards 1st.

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!'

Autograph Letter in the third person to the London printseller James Caulfield (1764-1826).

Author: 
Thomas Coutts (1735-1822), London banker of Scottish extraction [Coutts & Co.]
Publication details: 
23 January 1817; Strand.
£38.00

12mo: 1 p. Somewjhhat grubby, but with text clear and entire. Caulfield 'has been misled in supposing Mr Coutts is inclined to collect Hogarth's or any other pictures as he has hardly ever had any taste or inclination for that Line.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('S C Hall') ['To Mrs G. Barrow'].

Author: 
Samuel Carter Hall (1800-1889), English journalist of Irish extraction, editor of the Art Journal [Art Union]
Publication details: 
19 May 1883; Sussex Villas, 3, Sussex Place, Victoria Road, W. Kensington [London].
£45.00

8vo: 1 p. Good, with slight wear to outer edge, and strip from previous mount neatly adhering to reverse. With name of recipient at head, and docketed on reverse. He has 'seen some charming & useful Leaflets advocating Humanity to Animals' and has been 'led to understand they may be obtained through' his correspondent. He would like a hundred of the leaflets to be sent to him, 'for which I will gladly send stamps'. Hall was a sanctimonious figure, supposedly the model for Dickens's Pecksniff.

Prospectus announcing the publication of 'the First number of the PALL MALL MAGAZINE' on 25 April 1893.

Author: 
[The Pall Mall Magazine; George Routledge & Sons]
Publication details: 
[London: George Routledge & Sons, 1893.]
£56.00

Quarto: 4 pp. Unbound bifolium. Grubby and creased, with a couple of pin holes and small closed tears, and a little ink staining to the margins (not affecting text). Five illustrations, including full page engraving of two cherubs, entitled 'L'Enfance de l'amour'. Claims that 'neither labour nor expense will be spared to achieve and maintain the highest standard of literary and artistic excellence', and that the magazine will be 'strictly non-political, in the sense that it will champion the views of no particular party'.

Autograph Notes relating to the London district of Fulham.

Author: 
Sir Walter Besant (1836-1901), English novelist and historian of London
Publication details: 
Undated; on three letterheads of 'Frognall End, Hampstead, N.W.' [London].
£100.00

The notes, on three 12mo bifoliums, cover three pages, with a few lines on a couple of others. In excess of eighty lines. Very good. Brief chronology and list of notable residents, presumably an outline for the description of the district in Besant's 'London' (1892) or another of his many writings on the city.

MS. "Country Commissions by the Author of 'The Rejected Addresses." In the hand of Horatio [Horace] Smith.

Author: 
James Smith [Horatio Smith], author ("Rejected Addresses" et al).
Publication details: 
[Watermark 1822[ First published in James Smith, "Comic Miscellanies", edited by Horatio Smith (1840)
£750.00

Two pages, bifolium, 4to, fold marks and minor faint staining, good condition. An earlier draft of the satirical piece printed first in "Comic Miscellanies" (1840)(no other publication listed by LION, though one has to suspect an earlier periodical publication). Comparison with samples of Horatio's and James's hands (the latter is poorly represented by a hasty note in the BL collections) lead to my conclusion that Horatio wrote out this version in his neat hand with its flourishing capitals.

Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs Sartoris, 27 Chapel Street, London.

Author: 
Mary Somerville (1780-1872), Scottish scientist after whom Somerville College, Oxford is named
Publication details: 
15 July [postmarked 1844, with Penny Red stamp]; 14 Lower Belgrave St, Eaton Square [London].
£100.00

16mo: 3 pp. A small bifolium (each leaf 10.5 x 9 cms) on aged paper. Discoloured strip at foot of first leaf, containing four lines of text and the signature, cut away and reattached with archival tissue, with damage to two words (not in signature). Second leaf with minor damage through breaking of seal. Good Penny Red stamp, postmarked in black, and second red postmark. The earliest she can accept the dinner invitation is the following Wednesday.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr. James' [the novelist Henry James?].

Author: 
William Dean Howells (1837-1920), American novelist and literary critic
Publication details: 
7 February 1886; Auburndale.
£200.00

12mo: 2 pp. Good, with thin strip of glue and grey paper from previous mounting adhering at foot of reverse (not affecting text). While it is possible that Howell may have given 'Mr. Gill' [tMichael Henry Gill, later of McLashan & Gill?] 'letters [of introduction]' when he 'went to New York ten or fifteen years ago', it is unlikely.

Autograph Letter Signed ('F C B.') to 'My dear Phil' - the publisher of 'Punch' Philip Leslie Agnew (1863-1938).

Author: 
Sir Francis Cowley Burnand (1836-1917), editor of 'Punch' [Phil May; Philip Leslie Agnew]
Publication details: 
31 July 1893; on letterhead 'Whitefriars, London.'
£56.00

12mo: 2 pp. On creased, discoloured paper, with small closed tear and traces of previous mount adhering to reverse. An amusing, playful letter in a smudged, expansive hand. Reads 'My dear Phil | The other Phil Phil May will Phil the page in Xmas No. This will fill up & give it a fillip. ergo no Caran d'Ache | With Phil we're full. | Ought to be a fine number. | Have asked Phil May to contribute previously - | Well Phil May - but will Phil? | perhaps a wilfil person'. Accompanied by long typed commentary, giving provenance 'From a group of letters to Phil Agnew.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter to the architect of the Houses of Parliament Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860).

Author: 
Joseph Kay (1821-1878), English barrister and economist
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£35.00

On piece of creased and lightly spotted paper roughly 11 x 11 cm. Reads '<...> for half a Century. | Believe that I remain | Dear Barry | Your's faithfully | [signed] Joseph Kay | Charles Barry Esqr. Kt. | &c &c &c'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed ('Charles Spence') to the printers John Bowyer Nichols and his son John Gough Nichols.

Author: 
Charles Spence of the Admiralty, Devonport [John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863); John Gough Nichols (1806-1873)]
Publication details: 
Both dated 11 November 1852.
£75.00

Letter One (12mo: 4 pp, to 'My dear Mr Nichols', good, on discoloured paper): Explains that he has given 'a note of introduction to a most particular friend of mine Mr Lawrence of Ipplepen near Totnes and Launceston Cornwall'. Lawrence 'was a great friend of the late Mr Arundel of Landulph' and is 'a great friend of Mr Bray of Tavistock'. He is 'a man of ancient Cornish descent & from its first families'. Spence thinks Nichol will find Lawrence 'a valuable West Country Correspondent, well up in County history and nothing loth in the pursuit of antiquarian lore[.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Theodore Martin') to 'Mr. Fulton'.

Author: 
Sir Theodore Martin (1816-1909), Scottish poet, biographer and translator
Publication details: 
20 September 1881; on letterhead 'Bryntysilio, near Llangollen.'
£28.00

12mo: 2 pp. On lightly creased, discoloured paper, with traces of hinge from previous mounting adhering to margin of first page. He has 'an uncomfortable feeling' that he 'laid aside' a letter from Fulton 'to be answered, but which I cannot now find. It must somehow have got mixed up with other papers [...] If I am right in my fear, may I ask you to send me a copy of it?'

Autograph Letter Signed ('Theodore Martin') to John Grant, presumably the bookseller.

Author: 
Sir Theodore Martin (1816-1909), Scottish poet, biographer and translator
Publication details: 
10 October 1896; on letterhead 'Bryntysilio, near Llangollen'.
£45.00

12mo: 1 p. On discoloured paper, ruckled and with traces of glue from previous mounting on reverse. He is returning 'the account of the Burns Volume' which accompanied his correspondent's letter of 8 October. 'It does not suit me to purchase it, as I have already other & more important memorials of Burns.'

Photographic portrait by J. E. Mayall of Brighton and New Bond Street.

Author: 
Sir Theodore Martin (1816-1909), Scottish poet, biographer and translator
Publication details: 
Without date. 'J. E. MAYALL | 91, KING'S ROAD | BRIGHTON | 164, NEW BOND ST. | LONDON. W.'
£35.00

Dimensions of photograph 9 x 5.5 cm. Good sepia image, on backing card with Mayall's details printed in red at foot. Reverse of card mostly covered with remains of previous cream paper mount. This image does not feature among the three portraits of Martin listed in the National Portrait Gallery's online catalogue of its collection.

Autograph Signature ('Bernardino Rivadavia').

Author: 
Bernardino de la Trinidad Gónzalez Rivadavia y Rivadavia (1780-1845), first President of Argentina
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£56.00

On piece of paper roughly 5 x 8 cms. The signature is clear and firm, on a piece of lightly discoloured grubby paper, with a spike hole to the right (not affecting any text). Reads '[in another hand] Bernardino Rivadavia | [signature] Bernardino | Rivadavia' | [in another hand, in pencil] President of Buenos Ayres'. Laid down on irregular shaped piece of paper removed from autograph album, on which is written, in a nineteenth-century hand 'President of Buenos Ayres'.

Autograph Note Signed ('Hans Sloane') to John Fuller junior.

Author: 
Sir Hans Sloane [later Hans Sloane-Stanley] (1739-1827), Member of Parliament for Southampton
Publication details: 
Tuesday [no date]; Stoneham. Franked, with Southampton postmark.
£20.00

12mo: 1 p. On discoloured paper slightly damaged in one corner (not affecting text) by breaking of wafer. Second leaf of bifolium carrying address and postmarks. He received Fuller's letter containing a bill of twenty pounds from his brother. 'All here join in best love to you and believe me Ever Yrs.' Addressed to 'John Fuller Esqr. Junr. | Clement Lane | Lombard St. | London | [signed] Hans Sloane'. Circular frank in red ink, 'FREE'. Postmarked in black 'SOUTH | AMPTON'. Third circular postmark in black in two parts.

Autograph Signature ('Mary A. Ward.') on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Mary Augusta Ward (1851-1920, nee Arnold), English novelist 'Mrs. Humphry Ward'
Publication details: 
Docketed '1914' in pencil.
£15.00

On piece of lightly discoloured paper roughly 4 x 10 cms, with horizontal fold on left. Reads '[typed] Yours sincerely, | [signed] Mary A. Ward.' Docketed in pencil at foot 'Mrs Humphry Ward 1914'.

Cyclostyled signature ('Laura Knight') on receipt.

Author: 
Dame Laura Knight (1877-1972), English impressionist painter [The Artists' General Benevolent Institution]
Publication details: 
2 June 1937; 5 Vigo Street, London, W.1. [printed by Vacher & Sons, Ltd., Westminster House, S.W.1]
£56.00

On blue paper 10 x 18 cms. Good, with trace of previous white paper mount on reverse. Printed receipt, filled in in manuscript. Reads 'No. [32] 5, VIGO STREET, | W.1. | [June 2nd 1937] | Received a DONATION of [One Guinea] | from [The Misses Ruck] | for the ARTISTS' GENERAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. | £[1] : [1] | [-] | [next word deleted] Secretary | [next two lines cyclostyled in purple ink] most gratefully | Laura Knight'.

Three sketches, two in pencil and one in charcoal.

Author: 
Henry Wyatt (1794-1840), English artist, pupil of Sir Thomas Lawrence
Publication details: 
One of the pencil sketches on reverse of envelope addressed to Wyatt, and postmarked 1833.
£285.00

ITEM ONE: pencil sketch (roughly three inches square) of pensive woman in full dress seated on chair beside table with vase. Good. On reverse of part of envelope addressed to 'H. Wyatt Esqre. | Newman Street | Oxford Street' and postmarked in red ink oval '2 . A NOON . 2 | MY 4 | 1833'. Another postmark in black ink, and wafer still adhering. ITEM TWO: pencil sketch (roughly one inch by one and a half) of trees around long wall with spire in distance. On visiting card of 'Mr. Henry Wyatt' (the sketch over the word 'Wyatt').

Autograph Letter Signed ('Stanley') to Lord Henry George Charles Gordon-Lennox (1821-1886), Conservative Member of Parliament.

Author: 
Edward Henry Stanley (1826-1893), 15th Earl of Derby [as Lord Stanley], English Conservative politician
Publication details: 
5 September 1868; Paris.
£56.00

12mo: 2 pp. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Headed 'Private' and addressed to 'My dear Henry'. Describes Lennox (a close friend of Benjamin Disraeli) as 'a sanguine man'. 'If you thought as I do of the result of the "hundred days" between the present time and the trial of strength in Dec. you would hardly care to move.' He has 'heard nothing from Disraeli of his intentions about the Irish office', but if the opportunity arises he will do what he can to help Lennox. In 1866 Stanley had become Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his father's third administration.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Palmerston') to Major General Patrick Campbell (1779-1857), British Consul General in Egypt.

Author: 
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865), British Prime Minister (as Foreign Secretary)
Publication details: 
13 December 1837; Foreign Office.
£85.00

4to: 1 p. Good. Folded three times. A neatly-written letter of introduction for 'Major William Henry Grote [1795-1844], of the 33d. Regiment, now at Malta, Brother of Mr. Grote MP. for London, who is about to visit Egypt': 'I beg leave to introduce him to your acquaintance, and to recommend him to your Protection and good Offices.'

Ought France to Worship the Bonapartes?

Author: 
Ahriman I., pseud. [Napoleon Bonaparte]
Publication details: 
London: Robert Hardwicke, 192, Piccadilly. 1863. [W.H. Collingridge, City Press, 117 to 119, Aldersgate Street, E.C.]
£100.00

8vo: [iv] + 90 + [ii] pp. In original grey printed wraps. The answer to the question in the title is an emphatic 'No!', with the author's argument summed up in the conclusion: 'The publication of these remarks has been elicited by a feeling of indignation and surprise, on learning, that, in any part of the world, and especially of France, the man, whom a former generation cursed, should now be deemed worthy of being canonised.' The author puts his case forcefully and well, marshalling a number of quotations from classical and modern sources.

Autograph Letter in the third person to Messrs A. & C. Black, 4 Soho Square, London [publishers of 'Who's Who'].

Author: 
Freiherr Adolph von Deichmann (1831-1907) [Baron Deichmann], German banker and anglophile 'four-in-hand' coaching enthusiast
Publication details: 
8 October 1900; on letterhead of Schloss Bendeleben [Germany].
£38.00

8vo: 2 pp. Good, on lightly-aged laid paper with slight chipping and glue stain at head (not affecting text). A formal letter written in English in the third person. He asks them to send 'another form [for him to write his entry in 'Who's Who'] to be filled up [...] The first one sent was mislaid on leaving London'. Deichman was the subject of a 'Spy' cartoon ('Vanity Fair', 14 May 1903: 'He wears curious hats'), in which he is shown driving a coach.

Autograph Note Signed ('Isa . Craig . Knox') to her publisher Alexander Macmillan (1818-1896).

Author: 
Isa Craig Knox (1831-1903), Victorian women's rights activist, social reformer, poet, novelist and journalsit [Alexander Macmillan, publisher]
Publication details: 
9 November [no year]; 14 Clyde Terrace, Brockley Road, New Cross [London].
£36.00

12mo: 1 p. Good. Since he 'liked the last little thing' she sent for his magazine, she ventures to think that he may approve of the piece she encloses (not present).

Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm. L. Kingsley') to 'Mr. <Dekler?>'.

Author: 
William Lathrop Kingsley (1824-1896), proprietor and editor of the 'New Englander and Yale Review'
Publication details: 
21 July 18<91?>; New Haven.
£56.00

8vo: 4 pp. Good. Difficult handwriting. He wants him to keep the cheque, which he considers 'only a compromise between our different expectations'. 'I know that you deserve the larger sum that you spoke of - but it is a tight squeeze to make the & expenses for the year of the New Englander come out even, and I do the best I can.' With seven-line postscript.

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