SHIRLEY

[Shirley Brooks (‘Epicurus Rotundus’), editor of Punch.] Long Autograph Letter Signed to his aunt ‘Mrs. Piffard’, regarding the bad treatment of his family by ‘W. B.’ [his brother William Alexander Brooks?].

Author: 
Shirley Brooks [Charles William Shirley Brooks, ['Epicurus Rotundus'] (1816-1874), editor of Punch
Publication details: 
‘Ash Wednesday . 1869’. On letterhead of 6 Kent Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W. [London].
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB and Layard’s 1907 biography, the last stating that the Piffards were related to Brooks on his mother’s side. 3pp, 16mo. Fifty lines of closely-written text. On bifolium. Addressed to ‘Mrs. Piffard’ and signed ‘Charles Shirley Brooks’. In good condition, lightly aged, with part of paper mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice for postage. It is not unlikely that the ‘W. B.’ referred to in the letter is Brooks’s brother William Augustus Brooks.

[Edith Summerskill, physician, feminist and Labour politician.] Autograph Note Signed ('Edith Summerskill.') to 'Sir Thomas', thanking him [for the Christmas present of a diary].

Author: 
Edith Clara Summerskill (1901-1980), Baroness Summerskill (1901-1980), physician, feminist, Labour politician and writer, Minister of Insurance, 1950-1951; mother of Shirley Summerskill
Publication details: 
22 December 1947. On letterhead of the Ministry of Food (to which she was Parliamentary Secretary), Montagu House, Whitehall, London, S.W.1.
£40.00

2pp, 18mo. On aged paper, with short closed tear to one edge. He has evidently sent her a present of a diary, and she write that it was 'very sweet' of him to remember her over Christmas, adding: 'I shall use your diary every day during the coming year.' She ends with her best wishes of the season and coming year.

[ Shirley Brooks, the 'Epicurus Rotundus' of Punch. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('S. Brooks'), regarding the address of a club and 'Sir Rowland's myrmidons'.

Author: 
Shirley Brooks [ Charles William Shirley Brooks ] (1816-1874), journalist and novelist, the 'Epicurus Rotundus' of Punch
Publication details: 
9 Havelock Road, Hastings, on cancelled letterhead of 6 West Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W. [ London ] No date.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with traces of mount on blank reverse. He is sending, 'as promised, the address', but has forgotten 'the exact member of the club'. 'I conclude, however, that it is well known to Sir Rowland's myrmidons' (Sir Rowland Hill and his postmen). He asks for 'a line of assurance', and for a proof if the recipient prints the address. A pencil postscript at the foot of the leaf has been neatly torn away, except for the following, up the right-hand margin: '<...> I have pencilled might be omitted. She can judge'.

[Inscribed by Berthold Wolpe; From Evelyn Philip Shirley's Ettington Manuscript Library.] Contemporary calligraphic copy, in ornate binding, of the 1655 Plantin 'Series Chronologica Imperatorum Romanorum, a C. Iulio Caesare ad Ferdinandum III. Avg.'

Author: 
[ Christophe Plantin; Berthold Wolpe; Evelyn Phillip Shirley (1812-1882); Ettington Manuscript Library; William Staunton of Longbridge, Warwickshire ]
Publication details: 
Undated manuscript of work from 'Officina Plantiniana excudebat M.DC.LV. [ 1655 ]'
£320.00

The text of the printed volume is neatly and skilfully copied over 61pp., 4to., and ruled in red. Interspersed with a number of pages carrying only the red ruling. Internally good and tight, in worn brown morocco binding with front hinge nearly detached, with heavily-worn spine with no label and singeing at head and foot. Gilt dentelles, both internal and external, and the following stamped within decorative border at centre of both covers: 'SERIES CHRONOLOGICA | IMPERATORUM | ROMANORUM | 1655'.

[ Sir Francis Bernard Dicksee, Victorian artist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Frank Dicksee') to Shirley Slocombe, thanking him for his congratulations on his appointment as President of the Royal Academy.

Author: 
Sir Frank Dicksee [ Sir Francis Bernard Dicksee ] (1853-1928), Victorian painter and illustrator, President of the Royal Academy [ Charles Llewellyn Shirley Slocombe (1872-1935), portrait painter ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Greville House, 3 Greville Place, Maida Vale [London]. 3 January 1924.
£33.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition. In stamped envelope addressed by Dicksee to 'Shirley Slocombe Esq. | 27 Warwick Gardens | Kensington | W.14'. He apologises for his late reply to Slocombe's 'kind congratulations', explaining that he is 'faced by over 500 letters all needing answers'. Dicksee was knighted the following year.

[ John Seymour Lucas, RA. ] Four Autograph Letters Signed (all 'Seymour Lucas') to 'Mr Slocombe' [ the artist Shirley Slocombe ], written in a light-heared and affectionate tone.

Author: 
John Seymour Lucas (1849-1923), English artist and Royal Academician [ Shirley Slocombe (c.1873-1906) ]
Publication details: 
All on letterhead of New Place, Woodchurch Road, West Hampstead. 1902 (2), 1904 and 1908.
£120.00

The four letters all in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: 22 July 1902. 2pp., 12mo. Rearranging a meeting, following his absence 'at my cottage in Norfolk'. TWO: 6 August 1902. 3pp., 12mo. Regarding a drawing titled 'The little Chest', which 'Mr Macquarie' would like Slocombe to being at once. With postscript signed 'S. L.' THREE: 4 June 1904. 2pp., 12mo. He was 'on the point of writing', to ask when he could 'buy those delectable pipes', when Slocombe's 'most acceptable present' arrived. He ends by asking to be reminded to send him a 'soiree ticket'. FOUR: 1p., 12mo.

[Lawrence Dundas, 1st Marquess of Zetland.] Thirty-three Autograph Letters Signed (all 'Zetland') to the portrait painter Shirley Slocombe. With eight letters from Lady Zetland, and drafts of two of Slocombe's letters and two accounts by him.

Author: 
Lawrence Dundas (1844-1929), 1st Marquess of Zetland, of Aske Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire, British Conservative politician [Charles Llewellyn Shirley Slocombe (1872-1935), portrait painter]
Publication details: 
Twenty-two on letterhead of Aske, Richmond, Yorkshire; eight on letterhead of 10 Arlington St, London SW. The other eleven from various addresses. Between 1897 and 1911.
£450.00

The collection is in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Zetland's letters total 26pp., 8vo; 19pp., 12mo; 1p., 16mo. The theme is the painting and engraving of a portrait of Zetland by Slocombe, and the correspondence casts an interesting light on the relations between patron and artist in late nineteenth-century England, with the drafts of Slocombe's two letters, and his accounts for painting and engraving, adding to its value.

[Shirley Brooks, editor of Punch.] Autograph Letter Signed to William Glen, commending his 'friend's verses', which have 'an echo of Keats in them'.

Author: 
Shirley Brooks [Charles William Shirley Brooks] (1816-1874), journalist and novelist, editor of Punch, 1870-1874 [William Glen; the Literary Gazette]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Literary Gazette Office, 4 Bouverie Street, EC [London]. 5 October [circa 1858].
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Brooks (who conducted the Literary Gazette between 1858 and 1859) writes that he has read Glen's 'friend's verses carefully, and with much pleasure. There is an echo of Keats in them, but no mere invitation.

[Shirley Brooks, editor of Punch.] Autograph Letter Signed to Leitch Ritchie, regarding contributions to Chambers's Journal. With the first part ONLY of Brooks's 'Sooner or Later', and note from G. E. S. Chambers describing its 'extreme rarity'.

Author: 
Charles William Shirley Brooks (1816-1874), journalist, editor of Punch, 1870-1874 [Leitch Richie (1800-1875), Scottish novelist; G. E. S. Chambers of the publishers W. & R. Chambers, Ltd, Edinburgh]
Publication details: 
Brooks's letter to Leitch Ritchie from Marlborough Chambers, Pall Mall, London. 7 August [1849]. 'Sonner or Later', No. 1: London, Bradbury, Evans, and Co., 11 Bouverie Street, EC. 1866. Notes by Chambers on letterhead of W. & R. Chambers, Edinburgh.
£300.00

ONE: Brooks's letter to Leitch Ritchie: 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his 'kind and courteous communication', and is pleased that 'the article I sent seems to you adapted to the purpose'. Brooks has, he explains, 'availed myself of your suggestions in reference to the additions'. He continues with references to Vauxhall and 'The Highland Lamp'.

Autograph Letter Signed from the satirist Percival Leigh to 'My dear Brooks' [fellow 'Punch' contributor Shirley Brooks], regarding his writing, the nature of the joke, the unsuitability of his Hampshire surroundings to literature, and other matters.

Author: 
Percival Leigh (1813–1889), satirist, the first writer to carve his name into the 'Punch' table [Charles William Shirley Brooks (1816-1874), editor of 'Punch' from 1870 to his death]
Publication details: 
Shirley Warren, near Southampton. 28 July 1865.
£120.00

4pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He considers the cut excellent, and is grateful to Brooks for having 'managed so well' with his article. 'Many such an article of mine has been sacrificed, though absolutely a pretty good one, and comparatively to that which stood in its place, superexcellent. But such is my luck. By the by, don't measure the quantity of all that I do by what appeareth.' He reports that 'Fred is much amused with the verses on the Queen's first baby. I said that there are two men here besides himself who understand a joke.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Frank O. Salisbury') to Mrs Shirley Slocombe.

Author: 
Frank O. Salisbury (1874-1962), English portrait painter [Francis Owen Salisbury; Shirley Slocombe (c.1873-1906)]
Publication details: 
17 May 1936; on letterhead of Sarum Close, West Heath Road, Hampstead, London, N.W.3.
£56.00

8vo, 1 p, 14 lines. On lightly aged paper, with 9 cm closed tear (affecting a few words, but not the signature) neatly repaired on reverse with archival tape. A letter of condolence on the death of Mrs Slocombe's husband, 'after his long illness'. Salisbury is 'sure he must have had a very courageous spirit to the end - I remember it so well at the Academy Schools'. He suggests a firm that might be willing to buy 'the canvases etc you mention'. The letter links two artists who studied together at the Royal Academy Schools, and also establishes the date of Slocombe's death as 1906.

Autograph accounts of 'Money Received in 1905 [to 1910]'.

Author: 
`Shirley Slocombe (fl. 1887-1916), English portrait painter
Publication details: 
[1905-10].
£56.00

Three pages, on quarto leaf folded vertically to make narrow bifolium. Very good, with minor aging and creasing. Under each of the six years details are given of the date, amount and individual from whom the sum is received. Includes £18.15.0 from John Sampson of York for 'Signing 150 proofs Lord ', £28.0.0 of 'Ellis (Bookdealer of Bond St., for 4 old books)', £29.8.0 of Mr. Garnett-Orme, 'For picture of Auck Lodge', and £75.0.0 and 'Mr. Savill (for 9 Engravings by Bartolozzi)'. Other names include Lawrence & Bullen Ltd, Mr Partingdon (picture restorer), Captain Frank Forester, H. P.

Autograph Letter Signed ('G. S. Layard') to Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Gaskell.

Author: 
George Somes Layard (1857-1925), English biographical author; Shirley Brooks (1816-74), editor of 'Punch'
Publication details: 
9 August 1906; on letterhead 'BULLS CLIFF, FELIXSTOWE.'
£100.00

Four pages, 12mo. Very good on lightly aged paper. Docketed by Gaskell at head of first page 'This letter is written to myself in reply to my offer of the loan of 91 Shirley Brooks' letters. | J. B. Gaskell'. Acknowledges the receipt of the letters which Gaskell has 'so generously' placed at his disposal, and assures him that they will be 'treated with the greatest care' and returned as soon as possible, together with the photograph of 'Epicurus Rotundus' (Brooks's pen name), 'which is new to me'. Asks for 'any reminiscences, hearsay or otherwise of S. B.

Autograph Letter Signed to [the artist Shirley] Slocombe.

Author: 
John Seymour Lucas
Publication details: 
14 June 1903; on letterhead 'New Place, Woodchurch Road, West Hampstead.'
£38.00

English artist (1849-1923). Four pages, 12mo. Folded once. With mourning border. Good, if somewhat grubby and on discoloured paper. Difficult hand. He is very grateful for the 'kind thought in sending the pipes, they are beauties, and should last one a life time'. He also thanks Slocombe for his subscription 'to the Restoration of Blythburgh Chancel Porch'. He hopes he has enjoyed his 'work in Scotland'. 'I shall be only to [sic] proud to let you take Photographs of anything I have in my house - | Do you know that the Son of Charles Robinson F.S.A.

8 Autograph Letters Signed by [two different?] J. B. Fraser[s?] to the artist Shirley Slocombe.

Author: 
R. D. & J. B. Fraser, of Ipswich, Felixstowe & Dieppe. [ANTIQUES, FURNITURE]
Publication details: 
1899-1907.
£50.00

The firm, apparently antique dealers (although it also bought and sold false teeth), was established in 1833. All items are addressed to Slocombe, with whom the family (to whom he was perhaps related by marriage?) were clearly on intimate terms. Grubby, dusty, creased, dogeared and with several closed tears. The first six letters are from J. B. Fraser, the first four being on the letterhead of 'R. D. & J. B. FRASER, LIMITED.' ('ESTABLISHED IN THE REIGN OF WILLIAM IV.') Letter 1 (Ipswich, 4 Jan 1899, 4 pages, 8vo), from J. B. Fraser, concerns 'Edith', who is recovering from illness.

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