READE

[‘Make children as either-handed as our Creator intended’: the novelist Charles Reade urges parents to train their children to be ambidextrous.] Printed Victorian handbill circular: ‘CHILDREN SHOULD BE EITHER-HANDED.’ Signed and addressed by Reade.

Author: 
Charles Reade (1814-1884), Victorian novelist and playwright [ambidexterity]
Reade
Publication details: 
Dated in type 2 April 1878, from 19 Albert Gate, Knightsbridge.
£250.00
Reade

Excessively scarce, with no copy listed on either WorldCat or JISC LHD, and absent from Parrish (1940). Not only a desideratum of a leading Victorian author (at his height only equalled in financial success by Dickens, George Eliot and Wilkie Collins), but also a fine example of eccentric Victorian zeal pushed almost to the point of insanity. The earnestness of the present item suggests that it is satirical in intent, but this is not the case.

[Charles Lever, Irish novelist, anticipates receiving a copy of George Eliot's 'Felix Holt'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Charles Lever') to 'Lady [Alford?]', regarding his reading of English novels in Italy, including one by Charles Reade.

Author: 
Charles Lever [Charles James Lever] (1806-1872), Irish novelist [George Eliot; Charles Reade]
Publication details: 
'Villa Morelli [Florence, Italy] Augt. 31. [1866]'
£90.00

Depressed and paranoid, Lever spent his last days in Italy. For the Villa Morelli, see his Downey's 'Life in his Letters' (1906). 2pp, 12mo. On aged and creased paper, with closed tears to edges, but no loss. Folded twice. The handwriting is neat and controlled, but not always entirely legible. He begins with the news that he is returning 'the books you so kindly lent me'. Presumably referring to Charles Reade's 1866 novel 'Griffith Gaunt', Lever writes: 'Mr Reade is all you said of him, - often very amusing, & oftener very [?]'. A reference to 'the pleasanter reading' follows.

[ John Edmund Reade, poet and author. ] Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed party, describing how his 'audience hitherto have been fit tho few'.

Author: 
John Edmund Reade (1800-1870), Victorian poet and author who met 'the contempt of the literary world'
Publication details: 
40 Upper Baker Street [ London ]. No date.
£220.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, tipped in onto leaf removed from album. After apologising for the late reply to the recipient's note he acknowledges 'the Compliment you make me'. He continues in his customary vainglorious style, appropriating Milton's words to himself: 'I am so deeply occupied in writing works I have been writing the last 20 years, that I have scarce a moment: my audience hitherto have been fit tho few'.

[ William Reade, junior. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Reade jun.') to 'The Editor', agreeing to act as dramatic critic to London 'a literary periodical'.

Author: 
William Reade, junior, of Ringwood, Hampshire, Victorian poet, lawyer, playwright and dramatic critic
Publication details: 
14 Upper Porchester Street, Cambridge Square [ London ]. 16 February 1861.
£38.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He is 'willing to undertake the office' under the rules mentioned: 'the two theatres you mention shall invariably be noticed - also the Panorama'.

[John Reade, 'the grand old man of Canadian letters'.] Autograph Letter Signed to Frederick M. Hopkins of New York, regarding his book of poems ['The Prophecy of Merlin and other Poems'].

Author: 
John Reade (1837-1919), Irish-born Canadian journalist, essayist and poet, 'the grand old man of Canadian letters', literary editor of the Montreal Gazette
Publication details: 
270 Laval Avenue, Montreal [Canada]. 9 and 18 October 1897.
£120.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with a couple of short closed tears along creases. The body of the letter, written on 9 October 1897, reads: 'Dear Sir, | I have published only one small volume of verse which has long been out of print ['The Prophecy of Merlin and other Poems', published in 1870]. I will see if from some friend I can borrow a copy to send you. | I have written some occasional and other verse besides that of the little book, but for some years have done little expect writing for the press.' In a postscript of 18 October 1897, signed 'J.

Part of Autograph Letter Signed by the novelist Charles Reade [to Manton Marble, proprietor of the New York World?], asking that a 'gentleman' should not be 'my public critic in the World', and that the recipient should himself review his play.

Author: 
Charles Reade (1814-1884), English novelist and playwright [Manton Marble (1834-1917), editor and proprietor of the New York World]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [Post 1860.]
£56.00

2pp., on both sides of the lower half of a 4to leaf. The recto is numbered by Reade '2', indicating that the two pages constitute the second leaf of a letter. The text reads: '[...] therefore you will consent to do me a bare act of justice viz not to let that gentleman be my public critic in "the World." Of course I should be still more pleased if you would do me the honor to see the play yourself and pronounce upon it. However half a loaf is better than no bread.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Chauncey B. Tinker') from the Boswell scholar Chauncey Brewster Tinker, Professor of English Literature at Yale University, concerning the proposed presentation of a manuscript by Charles McCamie of West Virginia.

Author: 
Chauncey Brewster Tinker (1876-1963), Professor of English Literature at Yale University, and authority on James Boswell and Doctor Samuel Johnson
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Yale College Department of English. 8 October 1924.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. With stamped and postmarked envelope, addressed by Tinker to 'Chas. Mc.Carnie, Esqr., | Natl. Bank of W. V. Bldg, | Wheeling, W. V.' Tinker considers that 'The MSS.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Aleyn Lyell Reade') from A. L. Reade, author of 'Johnsonian Gleanings' to fellow-Johnsonian Charles McCamic, with reference to Professor Albert W. Smith, Dean of Sibley College, Cornell University.

Author: 
A. L. Reade [Aleyn Lyell Reade] (1876-1953) of Blundellsands, genealogist and author of 'Johnsonian Gleanings' (11 vols, 1909-1952) [Charles McCamic; Albert William Smith; Samuel Johnson]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Treleaven House, Blundellsands, near Liverpool; 30 September 1924.
£180.00

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Reade is pleased that McCamic has returned safely from his travels, and that they 'extended as far as Venice'. He is sending the 'Barber book' by book post, and gives the price. 'A few weeks ago I had Prof. Smith from Cornell University [Albert William Smith (1856-1942), Dean of Sibley College] to see me: he is a good Johnsonian.' He has had a letter in the TLS, and asks McCamic to send his own 'Johnsonian papers'. He sends his regards, 'in which the rest of the circle join'.

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