SPY

[Sir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart, diplomat, author, secret agent.] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. H. Bruce Lockhart.') to Lloyd Humberstone, describing his book 'Your England' as a tribute to the 'broad-minded, tolerant, and humane' English.

Author: 
R. H. Bruce Lockhart [Sir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart] (1887-1970), diplomat, author and secret agent [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone, Secretary, University of London]
Publication details: 
16 August 1935. On letterhead of 30 Douglas Crescent, Edinburgh, 12.
£45.00

1p, landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for his letter containing 'kind words about my book, Your England'. He did not expect anyone to agree with all he wrote in it. His aim in writing was 'to pay a tribute to the English who are the most broad-minded, tolerant, and humane of all the numerous peoples among whom I have lived.'

[Sir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart, diplomat, author, secret agent.] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. H. Bruce Lockhart.') to Lloyd Humberstone, describing his book 'Your England' as a tribute to the 'broad-minded, tolerant, and humane' English.

Author: 
R. H. Bruce Lockhart [Sir Robert Hamilton Bruce Lockhart] (1887-1970), diplomat, author and secret agent [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone, Secretary, University of London]
Publication details: 
16 August 1935. On letterhead of 30 Douglas Crescent, Edinburgh, 12.
£45.00

1p, landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for his letter containing 'kind words about my book, Your England'. He did not expect anyone to agree with all he wrote in it. His aim in writing was 'to pay a tribute to the English who are the most broad-minded, tolerant, and humane of all the numerous peoples among whom I have lived.'

[Jane Cornwell, second wife of spy writer 'f John le Carré' (David Cornwell).] Two Autograph Cards Signed ('Jane Cornwell.' and 'Jane C.') to Ian McPherson, regarding getting her husband to inscribe one of his books for him.

Author: 
Jane Cornwell [born Valérie Jane Eustace], second wife of John le Carré, pen name of David Cornwell (born 1931), spy writer
Publication details: 
Both cards with letterhead 'From Mrs. David Cornwell', at their London address. 25 April and 25 May 1983.
£40.00

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'.

[ The Gouzenko Affair, Canada, 1945; start of Cold War ] Typed contemporary document titled 'The Story of Igor Gouzenko', with covering note referring to 'Mr. Birdwood'.

Author: 
The Gouzenko Affair, Canada, 1945, and The Kellock–Taschereau Commission, 1946 [ Christopher Bromhead Birdwood (1899-1962), 2nd Baron Birdwood? ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [ London? Circa 1947. ]
£450.00

[2] + 17pp, 8vo. Lacking the conclusion (one page). On seventeen leaves of paper stapled together, with covering typed note on slip, reading 'PLEASE RETURN TO MR. BIRDWOOD'. The covering leaf carries two sets of initials, one in pencil and one in ink, both ticked through. This may suggest official distribution, but the tone of the document makes it more likely to have been a personal statement, presumably by Birdwood. Aged and worn, with rusting to staples.

[ Thomas Noon Talfourd, judge and author. ] Autograph draft of part of his opening speech to the jury on behalf of the defendants in the Court of Exchequer libel case 'Richmond versus Marshall and Miles'.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd (1795-1854), English judge and author, friend of Charles Dickens [ Alexander Baillie Richmond ('Richmond the Spy'); Tait's Edinburgh Magazine; Simpkin and Marshall ]
Publication details: 
[ Court of Exchequer, London. December 1834. ]
£600.00

The background to this document is ably explained in an article in the Spectator, 27 December 1834, 'The Spy System: Richmond versus Marshall and Miles', which begins: 'The Court of Exchequer was occupied the whole of Saturday and Monday last with the trial of an action of libel, brought by Alexander Baillie Richmond, the individual for many years known in Scotland by the title of "Richmond the Spy," against Messrs. Simpkin and Marshall, the London publishers of Tait's Edinburgh Magazine.

[ William Powell Frith, English painter. ] Printed 'Vanity Fair' 'Spy' cartoon by Leslie Ward, of W. P. Firth ('No. 236. Men of the Day, No. 63. | "The Derby Day."'), with Autograph Note Signed by Firth ('W. P. Frith') to 'The Misses Savage'.

Author: 
William Powell Frith (1819-1909) [ Sir Leslie Ward [ Sir Leslie Matthew Ward ] (1851-1922), English cartoonist for 'Vanity Fair', under the name 'Spy'
Publication details: 
'Spy' cartoon from 'Vanity Fair' (London), 10 May 1873. Autograph Note Signed on letterhead of 114 Clifton Hill, [ London ] NW. 12 May 1887.
£90.00

ONE: Printed 'Spy' cartoon. 35.5 x 23 cm. Coloured. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. A placid Firth is shown before an easel, with brush in one hand and pallette in another. TWO: ANS. 2p., 12mo. With mourning border. 'Dear young ladies | I have pleasure in complying with your request for an autograph. | Faithfully yours | W. P. Firth. | To | The Misses Savage'.

[ Eric Ambler, thriller writer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eric Ambler') to military historian Barrie Pitt, regarding the award of an OBE and the gift of a book. With copies of two letters by Pitt to Ambler.

Author: 
Eric Ambler [ Eric Clifford Ambler ] (1909-1998), British writer of crime and espionage novels [ Barrie Pitt ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Av. Eugene Rambert 20, 1815 Clarens, Suisse [ Switzerland ]. 1 May 1981.
£150.00

1p. 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. With envelope addressed by Ambler to Pitt at Kennister in Somerset. Also present are copies of two letters to Ambler from Pitt, dated 2 January and 20 February 1980. In the first Pitt congratulates Ambler on the receipt of an OBE, reminds him of their previous correspondence through Peter Janson-Smith, and sends 'Part I of my trilogy on the North African campaign' ('If it gives you one tenth of the enjoyment I get from every one of your books, it will have been worth writing.').

[ Belfrage; Soviet spies ] Typed Note Signed "Cedric" to "Adrian".

Author: 
Cedric Belfrage, Film Critic, journalist, writer, political activist, MI6 Agent, alleged Soviet spy.
Publication details: 
[Typed heading] Cedric Belfrage, 49 Hallam Street, London W1, 13 July [c.1944].
£56.00

One page, 8vo, fold marks, good condition. I've been hoping for an opening so as to make that excursion to Gerrards Cross, but alas it has not opened. Now I am completely involved in a Shaef [SHAEF = Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force] press job and hope to be over the water very soon - so such delights fade from view. || It's a disappointment - it would have been fun to dish the dirt with you - but there's always after the war and by that time they'll be more dirt."BBC website headline: "Cedric Belfrage, the WW2 spy Britain was embarrassed to pursue"

Keywords:

[ Belfrage; Soviet spies ] Typed Note Signed "Cedric" to "Adrian".

Author: 
Cedric Belfrage, Film Critic, journalist, writer, political activist, MI6 Agent, alleged Soviet spy.
Publication details: 
[Typed heading] Cedric Belfrage, 49 Hallam Street, London W1, 13 July [c.1944].
£56.00

One page, 8vo, fold marks, good condition. I've been hoping for an opening so as to make that excursion to Gerrards Cross, but alas it has not opened. Now I am completely involved in a Shaef [SHAEF = Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force] press job and hope to be over the water very soon - so such delights fade from view. || It's a disappointment - it would have been fun to dish the dirt with you - but there's always after the war and by that time they'll be more dirt."BBC website headline: "Cedric Belfrage, the WW2 spy Britain was embarrassed to pursue"

Keywords:

[Printed Act of Parliament, 9 October 1722.] [Drophead title:] Anno Nono Georgii Regis. An Act to inflict Pains and Penalties on John Plunket.

Author: 
[British Act of Parliament passed in 1722 against the Jacobite spy John Plunket (1664-1738)]
Publication details: 
London, Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, And by the Assigns of Thomas Newcomb, and Henry Hills, deceas'd. 1723.
£160.00

ESTC N50263. [1] + 2pp., folio, paginated 503-504. On bifiolium. The recto of the first leaf carries, with the royal crest and printers' details, the title: 'Anno Regni Georgii Regis Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, Nono. At the Parliament Begun and Holden at Westminster, the Ninth Day of October, Anno Dom. 1722. In the Ninth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Her Royal Highness; A Romance of the Chancelleries of Europe.

Author: 
William Le Queux
Publication details: 
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914.
£56.00

Octavo: 190 pp. In original red cloth binding. First edition. Lacks rear free endpaper. On aged paper and in heavily worn binding. INSCRIBED by author on creased front free endpaper 'Much that is contained in this book is founded on fact | [signed] William Le Queux | Oct 1916'.

Autograph Letter in the third person to Messrs A. & C. Black, 4 Soho Square, London [publishers of 'Who's Who'].

Author: 
Freiherr Adolph von Deichmann (1831-1907) [Baron Deichmann], German banker and anglophile 'four-in-hand' coaching enthusiast
Publication details: 
8 October 1900; on letterhead of Schloss Bendeleben [Germany].
£38.00

8vo: 2 pp. Good, on lightly-aged laid paper with slight chipping and glue stain at head (not affecting text). A formal letter written in English in the third person. He asks them to send 'another form [for him to write his entry in 'Who's Who'] to be filled up [...] The first one sent was mislaid on leaving London'. Deichman was the subject of a 'Spy' cartoon ('Vanity Fair', 14 May 1903: 'He wears curious hats'), in which he is shown driving a coach.

Lithographic caricature of Panizzi by 'Ape' ['Men of the Day. No 77'], with letterpress.

Author: 
Ape' [Carlo Pellegrini (1838-89)], Victorian caricaturist; Sir Anthony Panizzi (1797-1879), Chief Librarian at the British Museum
Panizzi
Publication details: 
[London]: published in 'Vanity Fair', 17 January 1874.
£80.00
Panizzi

Paper dimensions roughly fifteen inches by ten and a half wide; print dimensions twelve inches by seven and a quarter wide. Good clear image with border a little dusty and aged. Full-length image of a dour Panizzi standing at a desk holding a book. Page of letterpress on separate leaf of same dimensions, containing spirited account ['he sought refuge in Switzerland, but he was expelled discreditably from that country, [...] Keeper of the Printed Books [...] the man in all Europe most competent to fill it.

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