NOVEL

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded once. Endorsed with a number. A light-hearted letter, possibly written to his agent or secretary, beginning: 'Dear Miss Cohen | Thanks 1001 to you! | Tell the man to send the 21/- book down here, the Keith Johnson books must not be later than Saturday or Monday at the latest. Tell him to send the 1/- & 2/6 ones also. We are a military family!' [Crockett was raised by his Cameronian maternal grandparents.] He asks whether she sent 'the nail scissors', reporting that he has heard from his wife that 'they have not turned up.

3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Begins: 'My dearest Aunt Agnes | Thank you very much indeed for your last letter. I send with this the announcement of my new book "Knight Errant", & if it would not trouble you to pass on the cards to any likely readers I should be very grateful.' She gives news of her children Amy and Maurice, and is enclosing 'a list of all the children of the family & their birthdays' (not present).

3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf. An energetic letter, giving a sense of the writer's character, in wild and truly atrocious handwriting. It would appear to be addressed to 'Mackenne', but the recipient's name is in fact 'Mackinnon', an associate of Lady Ann Cullum, widow of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum of Hardwick House, from whose papers the item derives.

On both sides of the card. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient is not named. Reads: 'Dear Sir | I should like to see the [Sandwith?] portrait, & will take an early opportunity of calling at the Club. Perhaps, in case you are not there, you will kindly instruct the poert to shew it me when I call. The signature looks like H. [Sandwiths?] writing – but he certainly wore moustache & whiskers from 1850 onwards.'

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium of grey paper. Good firm and elegant signature: 'Anne Thackeray'. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces from two labels from mount adhering at head of second leaf. Folded twice. The recipient is Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875) of Hardwick House, widow of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855), 8th Baronet of Hardwick. She was a regular correspondent of Thackeray's, eight of whose letters were in the same album.

The letter contains an undertaking by Trollope to publish a piece by Blewitt, but the Wellesley Index has no record of a piece by Blewitt being published at this time in the St Paul's, of which Trollope was editor. The nature of the 'failure' of Dickens (who would be dead within months) and Lytton, is unclear, but it may concern the provision for impoverished authors.

4pp, 16mo. Bifolium. Forty-two lines of text. Letterhead of family crest in gold and red. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of white paper mount adhering to last page. Three fold lines. The editor's 'obliging Note' affords her 'sincere pleasure to have the opportunity of expressing her gratitude to him in person', and she asks him not to call some day the following week (she is 'going out of Town' the week after), but not in the morning, as she has 'much business, of a disagreeable and imperative nature to transact now'.

Evocative artefacts of the interesting connection between Powys and the man who supplied him with the books for his translation of Rabelais. On 24 September 1940, in 'Letters to Sea-Eagle', Powys gives a lengthy account of 'Our Jew Book-Pedlar' and the bombing by the Germans of his Russell Street address.

On one side of 4.5 x 10.5 cm piece of paper, cut from end of letter for autograph hunter. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Believe me, dear Mr Browne | Yours very sincerely | Katharine Tynan Hinkson | Robert Browne Esq.'

Perrin's entry in the Oxford DNB describes the renewed interest in her work in recent years. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice. The salutation is to 'Mr. Wheeler', this being Stephen Wheeler, from whose papers it derives. She suggests an early lunch 'on Friday next 30th', as she and her husband 'have to catch a train about 4 o'clock'. 'We shall much look forward to seeing you.'

2pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with traces of glue from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. She signs 'Anna Eliza Bray', and the letter is a response to a request of an autograph of the artist Thomas Stothard (1755-1834), father of her late husband Charles Alfred Stothard (1786-1821). She writes that she is 'much gratified' by Spence's 'appreciation of Mr. Stothard, not only as an Artist, but as a man: he was indeed truly estimable'.

Carleton's controversial reputation is dealt with in his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn. Folded twice. In response to a request for an autograph, he writes: 'My dear Mrs. Banks | You wish to have my humble name - You have however more than my name – You have my esteem and my highest respect – and I feel proud in [ratifying?] this by the subscription of Yours most faithfully and respectfully - | Wm. Carleton -'.

Admired by both Scott and Byron, Galt's novels are, as his entry in the Oxford DNB states 'so accurate in their account of social change that historians such as G. M. Trevelyan have recommended them as authentic social history'. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on paper cut from leaf of an album. Folded twice. Addressed to 'Wm. Stewart Esqr.' The letter relates to Galt's 'Autobiography', published in the same year, in which Galt states that 'a visit from Mr. William Stewart, the principal proprietor', led to his appointment as editor of the Courier.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and lightly creased. Folded twice. Addressed 'To the Editor of the Courant'. Having been made Recorder of Hull in 1852, Warren begins his letter from that place: 'Sir, | Some friend has sent to me your paper of Thursday, last, containing a very kindly notice on my late Charge to the Grand Jury here.

The letter congratulates the recipient on the engagement of her daughter Ada Maud Broadwood to the Anglo-American sculptor Thomas Waldo Story (1855-1915). Ada Maud Story was the daughter of Mary Davison and Thomas Capel Broadwood, and the granddaughter of the New Orleans jurist Alfred Hennin. In Rome in 1883 she married Story, who was the son of sculptor and writer William Wetmore Story. The couple were friends of the artist James McNeill Whistler. 3pp., 16mo. Bifolium, folded once.

Good bold signature, on 5 x 10 cm slip of paper, cut from the end of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Believe me | Yrs. most sincerely | Charlotte E L Riddell'.

In addition to his distinguished career as a playwright, Fry had some success in Hollywood. He completely rewrote (uncredited) the screenplay of 'Ben-Hur' (1959), and was responsible for the screenplay of the Dino De Laurentiis epic 'The Bible: In the Beginning' (1966), directed by John Houston. The present item is a treatment for a film that did not make it into production. It is [1] + 71pp, 8vo. Each page on a separate loose leaf. With thin card covers, also loose, the front cover carrying a duplication of the title-page, and the back cover blank. In good condition, lightly aged.

Nine items, all in good condition. All of the letters are signed 'Anthony', and four of them (two autograph and two typed) are each 1p, 8vo. The other letter, in autograph, is 1p, 16mo. With four items of material relating to Hostage Action Worldwide. The first letter (11 May 1989) accompanies 'our first reply to our first 350 donors – we're hoping to build rapidly now'. He reports that 'The Archbishop of Canterbury has this week responded positively to us and appointed a man, John Lyttle to our Advisory Council.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition. Folded once. Signed with both her real name and her pseudonym: 'Ada Ellen Bayly. | “Edna Lyall.”' An interesting letter, revealing the practicalities of the Irish wool trade. Begins: 'Dear Miss McKeown, | When I was staying last month in Lunare [for 'Lurganare'?] I ordered some wool to be spun, for some frieze. I think you said the blacksmith's wife would do it, & I am afraid she may have been a little disappointed that we did not call as there had been some talk of one doing.

For two months in 1872, during his naval training, Loti 'went native' in Pape'ete, Tahiti, the inspiration for his Polynesian idyll 'Rarahu' (1880, later 'Le Mariage de Loti', and he inspiration for Delibe's 1883 opera 'Lakmé'), whose narrator explains that the name Loti was bestowed on him by the natives. For the Vernier family (also associated with Paul Gaugin), and their contribution of 'a striking missionary succession to the Society Islands' churches under French rule', see John Garrett, 'To Live Among the Stars: Christian Origins in Oceania' (1982).

The two cards are accompanied by the envelope in which the first card was sent, with stamp and postmark. All three items in good condition, lightly aged. Envelope addressed to 'Ian McPherson, Esq.' at his house on the Isles of Scilly. Both cards written in blue ink on side with letterhead, the other side being blank. ONE: 25 April 1983. She thanks him for his letter and cheque, adding: 'I have no signed copies at present, and in any case we must wait for my husband's return from a research trip during the next week before I can get him to inscribe it specifically for Andrew'.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, with pin holes to one corner and a few drops of light staining. She thanks Greenwood for her letter, but does not feel that her 'Valiant Woman' has any 'chance of making a successful film, for the very reasons you say it ought to'. She explains: 'In this country there would not be a large enough public for a film setting out the Christian attitude towards divorce, as popular sympathy is mostly on the other side'. Nevertheless she is sending Greenwood's letter to her agent 'Mr. A. D.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Folded once. Signed 'Rafael Sabatini'. After thanking her for her letter of sympathy, he notes: 'In the past I have had plenty of cause for complaint, but nothing quite so flagrant.' He has been 'avenged by the Press, which described the unutterable scenario from which the film was made in terms similar to those which I employed when I requested that my name be removed from the “author credits”'. He ends with good wishes to her 'laudable enterprise'.

[3] + 222pp. With additional page carrying two figures to be inserted in the text (the first a 'Bezel', the second two cartouches). Each page on the recto of a separate leaf. Autograph emendations throughout, including additional text on reverse of one leaf. Housed in grey-card punch-hold binder. The typescript and leaf of illustrations are in good condition, on lightly aged thick paper, the three pages of prelims are on creased and worn thin paper; the binding is heavily worn. Typed label on cover (pasted over other labels) from 'Apex Literary Agency, 293 Grays Inn Road, W.C.1.

On one side of 7 x 11 cm slip of paper, possibly cut down. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering. Reads: 'Have you any engagement on Tuesday 9th. (7/30) and will you come to a masculine dinner with | Yours always | W M Thackeray'. Addressed at bottom left to 'One Two Three Park Street Esqr.' The celebrated travel writer Richard Ford, best-known for his 'Handbook for Travellers in Spain' (1845), lived at 123 Park Street, Grosvenor Square, from 1849 to his death in 1858.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and folded twice. The letter reads: 'Dear Mrs. Hind. | I would if I could but I have no power to do so. I know C. C (though our intimacy is much exaggerated) and he is particularly resistant to all instructions & recommendations. | All my good wishes | H. G. Wells'. The identity of 'C. C' is unclear. From the papers of Charles Lewis Hind (1862-1927), author, journalist and art historian.

LETTER: 3pp, 4to. Bifolium addressed on reverse of second leaf, with Saint Quentin postmark, 'A Monsieur | Monsieur Mathias | pour inspecteur des Douanes.' in good condition, neatly written, with repair to corner cut off in breaking of the wafer, and with stub from mount adhering. 43 lines of closely-written text. A warm letter of good length, addressed to 'mon cher Camarade'. The handwriting is difficult.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Explaining, with 'regret', that he will not be able to accept an invitation.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition. He has 'from week to week been purposing a visit to you to express my gratitude & sincere thanks for your kindness to me & the cure you accomplished'. He can only write his thanks, having been overwhelmed by 'the arrears of work that followed my illness', and leaving for Paris the following day.

On 5 x 10 cm slip of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Yours faithfully | George du Maurier'. The first line lightly inked, the signature itself bold and strong. Nothing else on the card, except for the number '92' in a contemporary hand at top left above the signature.