SIR

Printed invitation to the 'opening of the Cosmo Melvill Herbarium'.

Author: 
Sir James Cosmo Melvill [THE MANCHESTER MUSEUM, OWENS COLLEGE]
Publication details: 
31 October 1904; printed by Cuthbertson & Black of Manchester.
£35.00

Melvill was a noted English botanist (1845-1929). 8vo bifoliate. Four unpaginated pages. In very good condition, with some discolouration from age and remains of stub from previous mounting adhering to verso of second leaf. Decorative vignettes on all four sides. Engraving of Museum on recto of first leaf. 'PROGRAMME' (reception; tea and coffee; address by Sir William Turner Thiselton Dyer; inspection) on verso of first leaf. Description of 'AN EXHIBITION | of | A SERIES OF SPECIMENS | from the Herbarium' on both sides of second leaf.

Autograph Signature as front of franked envelope addressed to Sir James Kempt.

Author: 
John Thomas Townshend, 2nd Viscount Sydney
Publication details: 
[1830].
£35.00

Lords of the Admiralty, the Treasury and of the Bedchamber under George III (1764-1831). On front of envelope, cut down to roughly 11 centimeters by 7 1/2 centimeters. Very good, if slightly grubby, and with traces of mount adhering to blank reverse. Kempt (1764-1854) was Governor-General of Canada. Address reads 'Lieut General | Sir James Kempt. | &c &c &c | Ordnance Office'. Signed 'Sydney.' Neatly docketed at head '1830. a Lord of the Treasury in 1800'.

Three Typed Letters Signed and one Autograph Letter Signed (all four to Mrs Cecil Roscoe), and one printed menu signed for a dinner at the House of Commons.

Author: 
Sir Henry (Harry) Ernest Brittain
Publication details: 
1921-45.
£50.00

British journalist and Conservative politician (1873-1974). The typed text is entirely legible, but the collection is in extremely poor condition - badly damp-damaged and frayed, and with much of the menu consumed by insects. ITEM ONE: TLS, 4 May 1944, 'KIRKLANDS, | HEADLEY, HANTS.', on letterhead of the Incorporated Sales Managers' Association, one page, 4to. Green-ink signature severely faded by damp. He has returned 'after a very successful three weeks' mission with Western Command'.

Signed Letter in secretarial hand to Francis B[roxholme]. G[rey]. Jenkinson[, House of Commons Clerk].

Author: 
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke [CHILD LABOUR; COAL MINING]
Publication details: 
19 April 1900; on letterhead '76, Sloane Street, S.W.'
£80.00

Second baronet (1843-1911), politician and author. Three pages, 12mo. In good condition although grubby and with a few stains. 'My Coal Mines Prevention of Child Labour Underground Bill grew out of the Eight Hours debate and a challenge to the Coal Owners, so I did not put metalliferous mines in, and excluded them by any title. There are very few boys under 13 in them, but the principle might be the same'. He has been consulted on the matter by the Home Office, and has spoken to Lord Grey about it.

Autograph Signatures on fragment of letter.

Author: 
William Behnes and Sir William Charles Ross
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£25.00

Behnes (died 1864) was a sculptor of high renown. Ross (1794-1860) was a miniature painter whose work includes portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Paper dimensions roughly 4 1/2 inches by 2 inches. In good condition. Reads 'William Behnes | W. C. Ross'. On verso 'my Apartments, should <...> | to the utmost of my hop <...> | be inadequate to extricat <...>'.

Anonymous printed petition to one of the Houses of Parliament.

Author: 
Sir Robert Peel [restoration of the Gold Standard, 1821]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£50.00

4 pages, 8vo. Pagination: [1] 2-3 [4]. A frail survival: paper grubby, discoloured and dogeared, with a few closed tears and some fraying to extremities, but the text clear and legible. A space at the beginning of the document for the insertion of the petitioner's name in manuscript has been left blank. Begins: 'The Petition of and all other Owners of Land subject to Mortgages, and other pecuniary payments charged on it before its depreciation in consequence of the return to the present Gold Currency, by which the value of every denomination of Money is so much increased'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
George Payne Rainsford James [G.P.R. James]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

English novelist (1799-1860). On fragment of paper approximately 4 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches. In poor condition: creased and discoloured from previous mounting. Reads 'Your most faithful Servant, | G. P. R James'. Docketed on reverse 'March | - | Ap 28 | a 2 May'.

Printed circular relating to Dugdale's visitation of Yorkshire in 1666.

Author: 
Sir George John Armytage, 6th Baronet Armytage [Yorkshire]
Publication details: 
CLIFTON, BRIGHOUSE, | YORKSHIRE. | -------- 1872.' 'Septer 26th' inserted in manuscript.
£45.00

Antiquary (1842-1918). 2 pages. Paper dimensions: roughly 8 inches by 5 inches. Folded, creased and somewhat grubby. He is planning to print an index of all the names in Dugdale, 'for the purpose of devoting the proceeds to a fund for building a school in this village, in which fund we are £250 short of builders' expenses'. Gives details of prices and enquires whether he 'may put your name on my list'. Apologises for sending a printed circular: 'I have so many to send, and so much to do in compiling the Index, I should not be able to write to every one whom I think it may interest'.

Manuscript bill presented to him by Edward Green, and bearing Green's signature.

Author: 
Sir Kenrick Clayton
Publication details: 
Dated 7 April 1746; no place.
£45.00

Clayton (c.1713-1769) was MP for Bletchingley. 1 page, dimensions roughly 6 inches by 7 inches. In poor condition: creased, discoloured and with several closed tears. 12 items - mainly bushells of malt and hops - amounting to £31 12s 3d. Beneath this the receipt in another hand, signed in the same hand as the bill 'Edward Green'. Docketed on reverse: 'Edwd. Greens Bill for Malt'. Typewritten on reverse 'GREEN, Edward, 1747.' and 'CLAYTON MSS.'

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
John Baring
Publication details: 
48 Charles Str - | Berkeley Square - | Monday morning', but docketed '20 April 1801'.
£50.00

The elder brother of Charles and Sir Francis Baring, John Baring was a leading Exeter citizen and an MP from 1776. While in reality a sleeping partner, he was also the nominal head of John and Francis Baring & Co. of London, and John and Charles Baring & Co. of Exeter. 1 page, 8vo. In good condition. Apparently to his solicitors, concerning the drafting of his will. 'As my wish is to keep my home &c at perfectly distinct from my other property - be pleased on failure of Mr Shorts Children to let it go to my generally'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of printed document.

Author: 
George Bubb Dodington [Baron Melcombe of Melcombe Regis], Sir George Oxenden, Sir William Yonge
Publication details: 
19 [month?] 1734.
£45.00

Dodington (1691-1762); Oxenden (1694-1775) and Yonge (1693-1755) were Whig politicians and allies of Sir Robert Walpole. The document would appear to relate to their positions as Commissioners of the Treasury. Dimensions 3 1/2 inches by 4 inches. Somewhat discoloured with age, but in good condition and with good clear signatures: 'Geo: Dodington | Geo Oxenden | Wia: Yonge'. The printed fragment to the left of the signatures reads: '<...>ceipt of His | <...> said [in manuscript] 34.

Autograph Note Signed to [Walter Sydney] Sichel.

Author: 
Arthur Cecil Blunt, actor
Publication details: 
4 December 1888; on card with letterhead of the Beefsteak Club, King William Street, Strand, W.C.
£25.00

English actor (1843-96) under the name 'Arthur Cecil'. 1 page, dimensions 3 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches. In good condition though dusty. He thanks him for his kind note, and says that if he 'may keep my little contribution in reserve for a bit' he 'will certainly bear it in mind & shall hope to turn you out something before very long'. Signed 'Arthur C Blunt'.

STATEMENT BY The Educational Endowments Committee of the Free Presbytery of Edinburgh of their objections to the Draft Scheme for the administration of the Fettes Endowment [...]

Author: 
[FETTES SCHOOL] James Stuart Macdonald, Moderator, on behalf of the Educational Endowments Committee of the Free Church Presbytery of Edinburgh
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but circa 1870.
£25.00

4to bifoliate pamphlet; four paginated pages. Creasing to corners and with recto of first leaf grubby and with some wear not affecting text, otherwise in good condition. Sir William Fettes died in 1836, and the school endowed by him opened in 1870. 'The Committee are decidedly of opinion that the Trustees have disregarded "the spirit of the Founder's intention" to an extent which has perhaps no parallel in the educational history of Scotland, and that the funds entrusted to their care have been misapplied, by the erection of buildings so costly.'

one autograph letter signed,

Author: 
Sir William Whitla
Publication details: 
4 March 1891, with letterhead 8 College Square North, Belfast.
£30.00

Physician (1851-1933). One page, 12mo. "Dear Mr President / I enclose list with a few names added You will find that you had included in your list a large number of the Committee - / Sincy yrs / W. Whitla" With gummed paper from previous mounting adhering to the blank verso.

Autograph fragment signed to an unnamed correspondent,

Author: 
Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), Tory prime minister
Publication details: 
without date or place, but docketted in pencil "D[ownin]g. S[tree]t. 1812".
£25.00

A piece of laid paper, 4 inches by 2. "<...> humble Servant / Robert Peel". Grubby and with minor discoloration from previous mounting.

Autograph fragment signed to an unnamed correspondent,

Author: 
Sir Robert Peel, 3rd Baronet
Publication details: 
31 October 1862, Drayton Manor.
£40.00

Politician (1822-95), son of the Tory prime minister Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850). A biofoliate letter which has been cut into an irregular shape by an autograph collector. The first leaf, 1½ inches by 4½: recto, "Drayton Manor / Oct. 31. 1862 <...>"; verso, "<...> to the stopping of his <...>. Second leaf, 4 inches by 4½: recto, "<...> by great convenience to me & I am extremely obliged. / I am yours most truly / Robert Peel". Paper ruckled, and with glue stains from mounting to the verso of the second leaf, which is docketted.

one autograph letter signed to Joshua Sharpe of Lincoln's Inn,

Author: 
George Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford (died 1791), prime minister Sir Robert Walpole's grandson and Horace Walpole's nephew
Publication details: 
1 November 1781, <Prince?>.
£100.00

One page, 4to. Difficult handwriting. "Sir / On my return to this Cottage from Houghton I had the favor of your letters. I enclose a letter to Ld. Sandwich [...] I also enclose a letter to Sr. Horace Man [...]" Sir Horace Mann (1701-86) was British envoy at Florence. Docketted on verso of second leaf, "Ld. Orford, inclosing one to Ld. Sandwich wch was imediatly [sic] delivd. [...] Ensign Commis at Patna." Creased, and with loss to second leaf from removal of a seal.

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