RUGBY

[‘The Ultimate All-Rounder’: C. B. Fry, one of the greatest of English cricketers.] Autograph Signature from Typed Letter written as Honorary Director of the training ship Mercury..

Author: 
C. B. Fry [Charles Burgess Fry] (1872-1956), one of the greatest of English cricketers, sportsman, scholar, journalist
Fry
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£35.00
Fry

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, which states that he has ‘strong claims to be regarded as the greatest sporting all-rounder of his or any era since’. (Neville Cardus counted him ‘among the most fully developed and representative Englishmen of his period’.) It also seems that in 1920 he was offered the chance of becoming king of Albania. His grave at Repton is inscribed: ‘Cricketer, scholar, athlete, Author – The Ultimate All-rounder’.

[ LEICESTER TIGERS; Rugby Union ] Two albums of newspaper clippings and handwritten notes recording the games of Leicester Tigers

Author: 
[ LEICESTER TIGERS ]
Publication details: 
Seasons 1922-23 AND 1930-31.
£120.00

Two albums giving full details of the above seasons for Leicester Tigers, including fixture list (with all details to Won or Lost); Try scorers (with number) and other records (e.g. Converted goals); newspaper clippings of team sheets for home fixtures (only) with newspaper pictures of the action. Presented neatly with headings.

[Thomas Hughes, politician and judge, author of 'Tom Brown's School Days'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Tho. Hughes') to 'Bricknell', regarding the threat of resignation (from the Athenaeum?) by 'the good but peppery & impulsive D[octo]r.'

Author: 
Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), politician and judge, author of 'Tom Brown's School Days'
Publication details: 
7 June 1875. On letterhead of the Athenaeum Club [London].
£100.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Clearly and firmly written. The letter would appear to concern an individual who is threatening to resign his membership of the Athenaeum Club, and ends with reference to proxy voting for new members. Hughes begins by reporting that he has 'already written to the good but peppery & impulsive Dr. of whom I am as fond as you are'.

[Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol College, Oxford.] Autograph Letter Signed ('B. Jowett') to T. W. Jex-Blake, Headmaster of Rugby School, regarding 'the prosperity' of the school, the regaining of its 'prestige', and the accepting of 'certificates

Author: 
Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893), Master of Balliol College, Oxford, influential tutor and administrator at the University [Thomas William Jex-Blake (1832-1915), Headmaster of Rugby School, Dean of Wells]
Publication details: 
27 September [no year]. Oxford.
£120.00

The 1880 'Balliol Masque' indicates Jowett's standing, and the pronunciation of his name: 'First come I. My name is Jowett. | There's no knowledge but I know it. | I am Master of this College, |What I don't know isn't knowledge.' 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with fold lines. Begins: 'My dear Jex Blake | I am very glad to hear of the prosperity of Rugby, in which I shall always take a great interest.

[Sir George Jessel, Master of the Rolls.] Autograph Letter Signed ('G. Jessel') to E. A. Scott, explaining why he has changed his mind about withdrawing his son [the future Sir Charles James Jessel] from Rugby School.

Author: 
Sir George Jessel (1824-1883), British judge, Master of the Rolls, the first Jew to be a regular member of the Privy Council [his son Sir Charles James Jessel (1860-1928); E. A. Scott of Rugby School]
Publication details: 
24 October 1878; Ladham House, Goldhurst.
£150.00

For Jessel's judicial high standing see his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. In envelope with Penny Red and postmarks, and 'LADHAM HOUSE, | GOLDHURST' printed on the flap, addressed by Jessel to 'E. A. Scott Esq | Schoolfield | Rugby | Warwickshire'. The envelope is signed 'G. Jessel' at bottom left of cover, and the letter concludes with the same signature. He is 'glad to be able now to withdraw the notice' he gave Scott about his son Charles 'leaving Rugby'.

[Thomas Hughes, author of 'Tom Brown's School Days'.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Tho. Hughes') to 'Mr. Kynnersley', discussing: meeting Rugby schoolfellow 'Blandford', educating an abandoned boy, his co-operative beliefs, Joseph Chamberlain.

Author: 
Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), politician and judge, author of 'Tom Brown's School Days'
Publication details: 
ONE: 3 March 1884; 52 Promenade, Southport, Lancashire, on letterhead of the County Courts, Circuit No. 9, Chester. TWO: 30 November 1885. On letterhead of Uffington House, Chester.
£250.00

Both items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: 3 March 1884. 1p, 12mo. Addressed to 'Dear Mr. Kynnersley'. Having received Kynnersley's undated letter he writes: 'I shall meet Blandford as you propose on the 11th. with very great pleasure. He was one of the heroes on whom I used to look with awe as a 3rd. form boy in 1834 in which year I joined & he I think left Rugby.' He is sitting at Congleton on the day of the meeting, and 'there is just a chance that some perverse suitor may be in full blast at my train time in which case (as I never leave a cause part heard) I may be late'.

[Sir Henry Taylor, poet, dramatist and civil servant.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Taylor') to 'Mr Scott' [E. A. Scott] of Rugby School, regarding 'the predicament' of the lack of educational progress of his son [Henry Ashworth Taylor].

Author: 
Sir Henry Taylor (1800-1886), poet, dramatist and civil servant [his son Henry Ashworth Taylor (1854-1907); E. A. Scott of Rugby School]
Publication details: 
1 January 1872. East Sheen, [London] S.W.
£250.00

4pp, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded four times. Encouraged by Scott's response to his wife's letter, Taylor is 'encouraged to ask for yr. advice in the predicament in which we stand at present. My boy has made hardly any progress in the last term & stands only four fm. the bottom of the upper Fifth.' He explains that on a former occasion he was in favour of 'a change of house & of companions', but that 'the boy was exceedingly averse & I was induced by assurances of doing better to let him go back to Mr Arnold's'.

[Thomas Arnold, influential headmaster of Rugby School.] Commencementt of an Autograph Letter, written while touring the South of France, describing scenes. Presented to an autograph collector by Arnold's widow Mary.

Author: 
Thomas Arnold (1795-1842), headmaster of Rugby School and pioneering educationalist; father of the poet Matthew Arnold [his wife, nee Mary Penrose]
Publication details: 
'Lyons, July 18th. [no year]'
£220.00

On both sides of a 17.5 x 20.5 cm piece of wove paper cut from the first leaf of a letter, with 14 lines of text on the recto, and 20 lines of text on the verso. In fair condition, lightly aged, with two small labels used as mounts still adhering. Annotated at the head of the first page, in a small light hand, dating the letter by reference to Arnold's 'Memoirs', and explaining that the letter is written 'To Mrs. Arnold who gave me this | [?] from Her dear hand | Autumn 1860'. For the context of the letter see the Memoirs, 'Appendix C. | VIII. Tour in the South of France'.

[Thomas Arnold, headmaster of Rugby School.] Autograph Signature ('T. Arnold') on part of letter to close friend or family member.

Author: 
Thomas Arnold (1795-1842), headmaster of Rugby School and pioneering educationalist; father of the poet Matthew Arnold
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£75.00

4.5 x 18.5 cm slip of paper. In fair condition, aged and laid down on piece of card. Four lines from the conclusion of a letter. Reads: '[…] Things here are going on as usual, – and all our Friends are well. – Tucker will write to you soon himself about your Visit to Malling, - which I yet hope will be accomplished. I hope your next Letter will contain some Account of the State of the Inhabitants of Fled:, and when you expect your Uncle Home – Adieu & believe me ever your | very sincerely attached & affectionate Friend. | T. Arnold.'

[ Edward Meyrick Goulburn, Headmaster of Rugby school and Dean of Norwich. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Meyrick Goulburn') to Rev. H. J. Beaumont, writing dismissively of 'Church Defence' and 'Parochial Machinery'.

Author: 
E. Meyrick Goulburn [ Edward Meyrick Goulburn ] (1818-1897), Headmaster of Rugby School, Dean of Norwich, Prebendary of St Paul's, religious author [ Rev. H. J. Beaumont ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 21 Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, W. 27 October 1864.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. He cannot help Beaumont, 'having no time to do so', and being 'disqualified, having never given any attention to the thought of Church Defence'. Regarding 'Parochial Machinery' he writes that he has 'none in my own Parish but the most ordinary and common-place appliances, which (in these days) every body else has'. He is sorry that Beaumont 'should have taken so much trouble to get help, which, if I could give it, would be of the smallest possible value'.

[ Edward Meyrick Goulburn, Headmaster of Rugby school and Dean of Norwich. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Meyrick Goulburn') to the sculptor Thomas Sharp, declining a statuette of himself, because he is 'not a sufficiently dignified personage'.

Author: 
E. Meyrick Goulburn [ Edward Meyrick Goulburn ] (1818-1897), Headmaster of Rugby School, Dean of Norwich, Prebendary of St Paul's, religious author [ Thomas Sharp (1805-1882), sculptor ]
Publication details: 
No place, 15 October 1862.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Sharp's gift is 'kind and acceptable', and Goulburn hopes 'soon to call upon Mrs Sharp and yourself and acknowledge your kindness in person'. However he does not consider himself 'a sufficiently dignified personage to be honoured by a Statuette. - Possibly some few members of my congregation might like to have this memorial of me; and if this be so, pray let them have it'. Accompanied by a long manuscript bioigraphical note, on two parts of an envelope, written while Goulburn was still alive.

[ Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury and Headmaster of Rugby School. ] Autograph Note in the third person to 'Major Macgregor' [ Robert Guthrie Macgregor ], acknowledging receipt of his 'Translations from the Greek Anthology'.

Author: 
Frederick Temple (1821-1902), Archbishop of Canterbury and Headmaster of Rugby School [ Major Robert Guthrie Macgregor (1805-1869) ]
Publication details: 
Rugby. 25 October 1864.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dr. Temple returns his thanks to Major Macgregor for the Greek Anthology received by Post which will be placed in the School Library. Dr Temple is much interested with the little he has been able to see of the Book.' Macgregor's 'Translations from the Greek Anthology' was published without date in London by Nissen and Parker.

[ Privately-printed item. ] Early Memories for the Children | By the Author of "Tom Brown's Schooldays."

Author: 
[ Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' ]
Publication details: 
London: Thomas Burleigh. 1899. 'For private circulation only.' [ Barnicott and Pearce, Printers, Taunton. ]
£180.00

[4] + 78pp., 12mo. In original grey-green printed wraps. Presentation inscription on fly-leaf, dated January 1907. The volume comprises three pieces. First, an untitled memoir, with footnote at end: 'My father begun [sic] this autobiography at the request of my brother Jack, and after his death did not continue it.'; second, an account of a street fight between a policeman and a 'bone-picker', titled 'A Street Adventure, 1845'; lastly, 'The Working Men's College'. Four copies on COPAC, but now uncommon.

[ Thomas Hughes, author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'. ] Autograph Signature on part of letter.

Author: 
Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), English lawyer and judge, author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
Publication details: 
Place not stated. [ 1873. ]
£25.00

On 3.5 x 16.5 cm piece of paper, cut from the end of a letter. Ruckled and lightly stained, with small closed tear (not affecting signature). Good firm signature. Reads: 'Kindest regards to your wife | Ever most truly yours | Thos Hughes'. At bottom left: '1873'. Same year printed on reverse, which carries more autograph text by Hughes, written at right angles to the text on the other side.

[ South Africa; Rugby Union; autographs ]The Springboks Tour of the UK in 1931-2, Signatures of the Players.

Author: 
[ South Africa; Rugby Union ]The Springboks Tour of the UK in 1931-2
Springboks
Publication details: 
1931-2
£150.00
Springboks

Two pages extracted from an autograph album, c.17.5 x 11cm, sl. grubby, mainly good condition. One entitled (in ink, "North of Scotland v. Springboks. | Aberdeen: 9th Jan.1932"; the other just headed by date so, "10/1/31 [32 in fact]" There are eight (8) signatures of South African players on the first page described above, and twenty-two (22) signatures on the second, total 30. One name, "S G Osler" is repeated on both pages. Given that a scrawled signature is liable to misinterpretation, the following members of the touring party appear to have signed: First page (total 8 signatures): a.

[Rugby School; Pre-Raphaelite] Autograph Letter Signed "F Temple", Headmaster, to [John Lucas] Tupper, obscure member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Author: 
Frederick Temple, Headmaster Rugby School [later Archbishop of Canterbury].
Publication details: 
Embossed "Oxford & Cambridge Club". Written, "Rugby", 7 Feb. 1865.
£150.00

Three pages (expansive hand), 12mo, fold mark, good condition. "Ihave decided on offering you our Drawing Mastership. | The salary will be half a guninea for every Boy in the School not on the Foundation up to a maximum of 160 guineas. | The boys have steadily exceeded 320, not on the Foundation, for years. But [...] is our rule of payment in all cases. | I should be glad if you could come in about a month."

[Walter Delafield Arnold ('Punjabee'), army officer and author.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W D Arnold.') to an unnamed male recipient, apologising for his non-appearance at a dinner ('I got as far as Charing Cross') and inviting him to one.

Author: 
William Delafield Arnold (1828-1859), British army officer and novelist, best known for his novel 'Oakfield', published under the name 'Punjabee', fourth son of Thomas Arnold (1795-1842) of Rugby
Publication details: 
17 Queen's Terrace, Bayswater. 24 May 1854.
£45.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with remains of stub adhering to margin on reverse of leaf. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir | I got as far as Charing Cross last night on my way to you - when horrified by the lateness of the Hour, I did not venture to put in an Appearance & turned Homeward. -' He concludes by inviting him to a dinner at the East India Club, 14 St James's Square.

[England Rugby Union Football Team, 1954.] Autograph Signatures of 17 members of the squad, including Dickie Jeeps; Gordon Rimmer; Peter Yarranton; Jeff Butterfield; John Kendall-Carpenter; Vic Leadbetter; Tug Wilson; Bob Stirling; Pat Quinn.

Author: 
England Rugby Union Football Team, 1954 [Dickie Jeeps; Vic Leadbetter; Ted Woodward; Phil Jones; John Kendall-Carpenter; Jeff Butterworth; Pat Quinn; Tug Wilson; Gordon Rimmer; Peter Yarranton]
Publication details: 
[England; 1954.]
£250.00

The seventeen signatures are on a piece of 8.5 x 11 cm paper, laid down on a leaf removed from an album, captioned '"ENGLAND" RUGBY FOOTBALL TEAM | 1954'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Present (with one unidentified) are the signatures of Vic Leadbetter; Ted Woodward; Phil Jones; John Kendall-Carpenter; <?>; Jeff Butterworth; Pat Quinn; Eric Evans; Tug Wilson; Peter Young; Dickie Jeeps; Gordon Rimmer; Peter Yarranton; Rob Stirling; Martin Regan; Sandy Sanders; Reg Higgins. It may be that the item is misdated, as this exact team did not play in the Five Nations of that year.

Autograph Letter Signed, in French, from Etienne Allègre to 'Cher Monsieur Manfield'

Author: 
Etienne Allègre, French rugby player and Communist politician, Deputy for Toulon, 1935-1940, brother-in-law of Jean Bartolini (1899-1977), Mayor of Toulon from 1945 to 1947
Publication details: 
5 Chemin de Plaisance, Toulon. 12 July 1954.
£45.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with a few short closed tears along fold lines. He apologises for replying with 'un retard inqualifiable!' He apologises profoundly for 'ce contretemps' which has not allowed him to thank Mansfield properly 'pour l'Admiration que vous avez bien voulu me temoigner - sans doute à l'occasion de l'un des derniers Salons à Paris'. He is sending a photograph, with his autograph.

Autograph Testimonial Signed ('R. B. Henderson MA (Ox) | Head Master Alleyn's School | formerly Assistant Master of Rugby School', for the artist and educationalist E. Clarence Whaite.

Author: 
R. B. Henderson [Ralph B. Henderson] (1880-1958), Headmaster, Alleyn's School, Dulwich, who lived in a ménage à trois with the novelist E. H. Young ('Mrs Daniell') [E. Clarence Whaite (1895-1978)]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Alleyn's School, Dulwich, SE22. 19 May 1925.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper with small pin-holes to one corner. 'Mr. H. Clarence Whaite is a part time art master in this School. [...] He succeeds in stimulating an interest in art & has conducted parties of boys over the Dulwich Gallery with that end in view. Of course the post he holds here does not offer much opportunity for the exercise of his powers either as an artist or a teacher of art & he is therefore justified in seeking a position more in accordance with his qualifications.' From the Whaite papers. Whaite was first cousin twice removed of his more famous namesake.

ALS ('E. Meyrick Goulburn') from Rev. Edward Meyrick Goulburn, Dean of Norwich, to Rev. Dr Adam Sedgwick, FRS, Woodwardian Professor of Geology at Cambridge, regarding improvements to the canonry, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge.

Author: 
Edward Meyrick Goulburn (1818-1897), Dean of Norwich from 1866 to his death, and Headmaster of Rugby, 1849-1857 [Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873); St Catharine's College, Cambridge]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Deanery, Norwich. 9 January 1873.
£220.00

4pp., 12mo. 51 lines of text. Bifolium. On aged paper. The context is explained by the fact that until 1927 one canonry in the cathedral establishment of Norwich was attached to the Mastership of St. Catharine's College. The letter begins: 'I have requested the Master of Catherine [sic] [Charles Kirkby Robinson] to read you two letters from Canon Nisbet, which will show you how very litle prospect there is of our getting permission from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to spend any part of the money gained by our sale of the Barracks in the improvement of our Canonry Houses.

[Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing] Book of Words. J. H. E. 16th November, 1893.

Author: 
'J. H. E.' [J. H. Ewing; Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing] [Rugby School]
[Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing] Book of Words.
Publication details: 
[1893.] Rugby: Printed by J. H. Pepperday, 24, High Street.
£280.00
[Juliana Horatia Gatty Ewing] Book of Words.

12mo: unpaginated. Pamphlet of eight leaves, on good laid paper, stitched with lilac ribbon. A total of 14 pp, with the body of the text on 12 pp, plus title on front cover and woodcut vignette ('S. JULIANI') on back. Creased and with light staining to front cover, otherwise fair. Eight poems, preceded by a quotation from 'We and the World', and followed by three pages of notes, containing background information about the writing of the poems. Scarce: issued with a programme (not present) for 'Entertainment to be given in New Big School' at Rugby.

Autograph Letter Signed to Canon Knowles

Author: 
Henry Hayman (1823-1904) [Canon Edward Hadarezer Knowles (c.1823-1899); Rugby School; Matthew Holbeche Bloxam]
Publication details: 
3 December 1875; on printed letterhead of the Rectory, Aldingham, Ulverston.
£85.00

12mo, 1 p, 8 lines. With mourning border. Good, on aged paper, with small closed tear at head neatly repaired on reverse with archival tape. Blank second leaf of bifolium stained from previous mounting. Printed as part of the letterhead at top of page are two lines giving Hayman's terms as a private tutor. (Begins 'The Rev. H. HAYMAN, D.D., ex-Head Master of Rugby, prepares Pupils for the Universities, &c.') Hayman writes to say that he has mislaid the letter from the 'Secry Archl Socy [Matthew Holbeche Bloxam (1805-1888), Secretary of the Oxford Architectural Society]'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Matt H Bloxam') to Reginald H Pope, Standlake Rectory, Witney, Oxfordshire.

Author: 
Matthew Holbeche Bloxam (1805-1888), architectural historian [Rugby School]
Publication details: 
17 May 1887; Rugby.
£56.00

12mo, 2 pp. Very good. Several of the letters of congratulation he received on his birthday were from 'old Rugbeians', and Pope's was 'one of the first'. He has been 'invited by the President and Council of the Royal Archaeological Institute to be President of one of the Sections at their meeting this year at Salisbury but age and infirmity have obliged me to decline'. Although 'not under the Doctor's hands' he feels he is 'going down hill apace'. The previous Tuesday 10 boys from Rugby 'came in to partake of Cake Gingerbreads and fruit 9 of whom were from your old boarding house now Mr.

Autograph Letter Signed ('F W Farrar') to [Herbert Armitage] James[, Headmaster of Rossall School].

Author: 
Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903), Dean of Canterbury and Master of Marlborough College, 1871-6 [Herbert Armitage James; Rossall School; Rugby School]
Publication details: 
21 September 1875; on letterhead of The Lodge, Marlborough College.
£100.00

Four pages, 12mo. Very good, on lightly aged paper, with minor traces of two mounts adhering to verso of second leaf of bifolium. Praises 'the excellent Sermon'. 'You will doubtless have a difficult work at Rossall, but every term will render it less difficult' [...] One can't ask for a greater blessing than difficult work when it is also - as yours is & will be - entirely hopeful & immensely useful.

Three Typed Letters Signed, one Autograph Poem Signed, and Two Typed Letters signed by his Private Secretary.

Author: 
Wavell Wakefield
Publication details: 
All five Typed Letters on House of Commons notepaper, 1961-2; the poem April 1962.
£120.00

Politician and rugby player (DNB). The five letters all one page, 16mo, and each with two staple holes and in good condition. The autograph poem is on a printed bifoliate menu for the Cricket Society Spring Dinner (6 April 1962), 16mo, slightly discoloured. The letters relate to various Cricket Society Dinners. He agrees to attend the 1961 Spring Dinner at the Lords Tavern, but his private secretary P. Barling declines on his behalf an invitation to the autumn dinner as he is out of the country recovering from an operation.

Autograph Letter Signed (part) to unknown correspondent.

Author: 
Thomas Arnold.
Publication details: 
No date.
£45.00

Headmaster of Rugby. c.4.5" x 2", soiled from vestiges of laying down process but text mainly clear as follows: Likes India, and that he is doing well there. Believe me to be, my dear [Torkell?], / Ever very truly yours, / T. Arnold.

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