TURKEY

[Sir Stratford Canning, Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr Lelane’ (sic, i.e J. T. Delane, editor of The Times), regarding the ‘hot water’ the ‘Sultan’ of Turkey finds himself in.

Author: 
Sir Stratford Canning [Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe] (1786-1880), diplomat, Envoy to the United States, Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire [John Thadeus Delane (1817-1879), editor of The Times]
Publication details: 
‘Grosvenor Square [London] / Friday Aug 19.’ No year, but seemingly written after his retirement in 1858.
£120.00

See his entry, and that of Delane, in the Oxford DNB. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with neat remains of a windowpane mount adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr Lelane’ (sic) and signed ‘Stratford de R.’ Having heard that Delane was in town he writes to say that he was ‘gratified by the complimentary terms in which I was mentioned in the Times two or three days ago.

[Henry Lytton Bulwer; Lady Blessington Circle] Autograph Note Signed Hy LB to Lady Blessington [Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (née Power;1789 – 1849), Irish novelist, journalist, and literary hostess], accepting an invitation.

Author: 
Henry Lytton Bulwer [(William) Henry Lytton Earle Bulwer, 1st Baron Dalling and Bulwer (1801 – 1872), Liberal politician, diplomat and writer.]
Publication details: 
No place or date. Address panel gives just The Countess of Blessington, so perhaps delivered by hand. See image
£45.00

One page, bifiloium crdudely repaired at margin, fold marks, wear and tear at edges, but text clear: My dear Lady Blessington | I shall have great pleasure in accepting your very kind invitation.

[Ármin Vámbéry [Hermann Wamberger; Árminius Vámbéry], Hungarian Jewish traveller and authority on the Ottoman Empire.] Autograph Note Signed ('Armin Vambery') to 'Mr Blacket', asking 'how many pages of print are in the first volume'.

Author: 
Ármin Vámbéry [born Hermann Wamberger; also Árminius Vámbéry; Armin Vambery] (1832-1913), Hungarian Jewish authority on Ottoman Empire, made Honorary Commander of Royal Victorian Order by Edward VII
Publication details: 
'Wedesday' [no date]. On monogram letterhead combining the letters C and A.
£220.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Reads: 'Dear Mr Blacket | I should wish to know in the course of the day how many pages of print are in the first volume.' Despite the spelling of the name, the recipient is presumably either Henry Blackett (1825-1871) of the publishers Hurst and Blackett, or one of the four of his sons to become publishers. There is no record of a book by Vámbéry being published by a Blacket or Blackett, but he may be referring to an essay or article published in a periodical or compilation, or an anonymous or pseudonymous work.

[Lord Salisbury's Foreign Office and 1897 insurrection in Crete.] Five Autograph Items by Sir Martin Gosselin of British Embassy in Paris, including drafts of private despatches to Salisbury on meetings with French Foreign Minister Gabriel Hanotaux.

Author: 
Sir Martin Gosselin, diplomat [Cretan insurrection of 1897; Lord Salisbury; Crete; Ottoman Empire; Gabriel Hanotaux; International Squadron; Admirals' Council; Great Powers; Greece]
Publication details: 
The five items written by Gosselin between April and November 1897, from the British Embassy in Paris.
£650.00

In January 1897 an insurrection by the Greeks in Crete led to the Ottoman Empire, of which it was still part, declaring war on Greece. The following month, as Turkish rule over the island crumbled, six 'Great Powers', including Britain, France, Russia and the Germans, despatched an 'International Squadron' of their ships to Cretan waters.

[ Bernard Gilliat-Smith (1883-1973), Romany scholar. ] Autograph Letter Signed (in full and as 'B G S') from Constantinople, including references to the hanging of the 'head eunuch', 'the new Selamlik' and 'prisoner solders' at the Seraskerat.

Author: 
Bernard Gilliat-Smith (1883-1973), Romany scholar and linguist [ Gypsy Lore Society ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Club de Constantinople, Pera [ Turkey ]. 30 April 1909.
£550.00

4pp., 12mo. Aged and worn with closed tears along fold lines. At the time BGS was in the consular service in Istanbul. The recipient (perhaps R. A. Scott Mafie) is not named, and the salutation is in Romany. The letter begins: 'I am about to feast the eve of tomorrow which is the eve of the next day by imbibing a large quantity of Whisky and Soda, first to see how much will be required to produce the desired effect. I am also streaming with a cold in the head due to a hammam last night. The Kurdish youth has left for his country: - many Kurds have been arrested & shot since you left.

[ Lady Strangford. ] Manuscript letter to her, in French, signed by the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire [ Mahmud Nedim Pasha ], with Autograph copies in English and French of her reply.

Author: 
Lady Strangford [ Emily Anne Smyth (née Beaufort), Viscountess Strangford ] (c.1826-1887), military nurse and founder of hospitals [ Mahmud Nedim Pasha (c.1818-1883), Grand Vizier ]
Publication details: 
The letter from the Grand Vizier on letterhead of the Grand-Vézirat of the Sublime Porte, 14 October 1875. Strangford's draft and copy both undated.
£950.00

All in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The Grand Vizier's letter, addressed to 'The Lady Strangford' and written in a secretarial hand, is 1p., 8vo, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium; the autograph copy of Strangford's reply is on both sides of the second leaf of the same bifolium. The English copy of her reply is 2pp., 8vo, on a separate leaf.

[ Mehmed Fuad Pacha, statesman in the Ottoman Empire. ] Autograph Signature ('Mehmed Pacha').

Author: 
Mehmed Pacha [ Mehmed Fuad Pacha (Pasha) ] (1814-1869), statesman in the Ottoman Empire
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£100.00

On irregular strip of paper, roughly 1.5 x 4 cm. in dimensions. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The son of a noted poet, Pacha began his career as a translator, before serving as a diplomat. He was instrumental in reforming the Tanzimat, and was an ardent Anglophile.

[ Great Game; Russia; Turkey ] Shall Russian Treachery Win the Day? An Appeal to Englishmen. With a diagram showing the advance of Russia upon Constantinople.

Author: 
James Samuelson
Publication details: 
London: Trubner & Co., 1886
£90.00

14pp., 8vo, disbound, sl. marked, remains of bound volume on spine, mainly good.

Keywords:

[ Turkey and Bulgaria, bibliography. ] Copy of 'The Hampstead Public Libraries | Readers' Guide and Students' Review', featuring 'Special Lists on Turkey and Bulgaria'.

Author: 
The Hampstead Public Libraries (North London), 'Special Lists on Turkey and Bulgaria'
Publication details: 
Vol. I. No. 6. Autumn Number, 1908. Published at the Central Public Library, Finchley Road, NW. [ London ].
£100.00

56pp., 12mo. Stapled. In original printed wraps. Paginated 195-227 and c-cxx, with two pages including an index. In fair condition, aged and worn with rusted staples. Stamped on front cover 'COMPLIMENTARY COPY'. Four-page article on 'The Revolution in Turkey; and the Bulgarian Crisis', pp.195-198, and four-page 'List of Books relating to Turkey and the Young Turks', pp.224-227.

[Northwick; Crimea] Autograph Letter Signed "Northwick", art collector, to the Rev. A. Boyd, offering support for his "most humane & Patriotic views".

Author: 
John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick (1770–1859), peer, landowner and collector of art works.
Publication details: 
Northwick P[ark], 20 Oct. 1854.
£56.00

Four pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. He's jsu reeive notification of a meeting held recently "for the purpose of raisinhg a Subscription for the indigent Families of the Soldiers & Sailors whose lives have been sacrificed for their countries [sic] Glory in the disastrous Warfare in the East & of which you were the revered Chairman [...]" He is in concurrence, and has instructed his bank to pay him £100 "in aid of your most humane & Patriotic Views."

[Maj.-Gen. Charles V.F. Townsend; Kut] Autograph Leytter Signed "Charles V.F. Townsend" to a "Mr Townshend", an "Irish Townshend", discussing his career among other things.

Author: 
Charles V.F. Townshend [Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend KCB, DSO], (1861
Publication details: 
[Printed heading "Brooke's" crossed out] 11 Queen Street, Mayfair, W [London], 27 June 1919.
£135.00

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, fold mark, good condition. "[...] I have long past felt a great interest with [sic] the history of the Irish Townshends ['''] and your leter is most interesting." He is glad that his correspondent's son had an "unexciting time" in Mesopotamia, and is none the worse for it. "As you can imagein my time is taken up with the question of rewards and honours for those who served under me.

[Lord Palmerston.] Secretarial Letter Signed ('Palmerston'), informing the Turkish chargé d'affairs Edib Effendi that he has taken over as Foreign Secretary from the Earl of Aberdeen, and giving a time for a meeting to discuss 'any business'.

Author: 
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston [Lord Palmerston] (1784-1865), Liberal Prime Minister [Edib Effendi, Turkish chargé d'affairs]
Publication details: 
Foreign Office [Whitehall]. 6 July 1846.
£150.00

2pp., foolscap. In fair condition, on aged paper. The letter, no doubt sent to all the diplomatic missions, begins: 'I have the honour to acquaint you that The Queen has been pleased to accept of the Earl of Aberdeen's resignation of the Office of Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and to confide to me the Seals of that Department.' He names a day and time when he wil be 'happy to receive' him, 'in order to confide with you on any business upon which you may have received Instructions from your Court'.

Autograph Letter Signed from Lieut. George Thorp to his brother Robert, written while serving on board HMS Aigle off Smyrna, describing two visits by 'Captain Pacha' [presumably Cenaze Hasan Pasha, sometime Grand Vizier]

Author: 
Lieutenant George Thorp (1777-1797) of HMS Aigle or L'Aigle, son of Robert Thorp, Archdeacon of Northumberland [Cezayirli Gazi Hasan Pasha (1713-1790) of Algiers, Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Empire]
Publication details: 
'L'Aigle Smyrna Sept 5th [1795]'.
£750.00

3pp., 4to. 59 lines of text. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with two postmarks and a manuscript note by forwarding agents the Frères Smitmer of Vienna, to 'Robert Thorp Esqr | Alnwick | Northumberland | England'. Addressing his letter to 'My Dear Brother', Thorp begins by congratulating him on his wedding: 'Sailors are bad hands at Complements [sic] but I cannot avoid expressing the satisfaction I had in hearing who my new Sister was'.

Circular letter, in a secretarial hand, on behalf of the Committee of the Eastern Question Association, London, signed and completed by A. R. Dryhurst, and addressed by him to Thomas Redfern, regarding the publication of speeches by W. E. Gladstone.

Author: 
Alfred Robert ('Roy') Dryhurst (1859-1949), Secretary, The Eastern Question Association, King Street, Westminster [Thomas Redfern; William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Eastern Question Association (Appointed by the National Conference), Committee Rooms, 27 and 28, Canada Building, King Street, Westminster. 26 May 1877.
£65.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Signed 'A R. Dryhurst'. The document begins: 'I am desired by the Committee to inform you that they have resolved to print the speeches revised by himself, which Mr. Gladstone delivered at the beginning and end of the debate on the Eastern Question.' The terms are then given, 'With the view of securing for them, the widest possible circulation'.

Signature ('J. F. Burgoyne | Lt Genl.') on part of letter to Stratford Canning.

Author: 
Field Marshal Sir John Fox Burgoyne (1782-1871), English army officer [Stratford Canning (1786-1880), 1st Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe; Crimean War]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On the lower part of a letter, cut to form a rectangle, 11.5 x 18 cm. In good condition, with traces of stub from mounting along one edge, and a thin strip of paper, with Burgoyne's name in manuscript neatly laid down beneath the signature. Reads 'I have the honor to be | Your Excellency's | Most Obedient | Humble Servant | [signed] J. F.

Two Autograph Letters Signed "Augte Viquesnel" to an unnamed correspondent. In French [En Francais]

Author: 
[TURKEY] Auguste Viquesnel (1803-1867), author of "Voyage dans la Turquie d'Europe"
Publication details: 
Paris, 7 June 1847 and Seaux, 14 August [1854?].
£120.00

One page each, 8vo, minor stains and creasing, good condition. (1847) He describes a colleague, a "M. de La Roquette", for some years Secretary to the "Societe de geographie". whom he understands to be working on Turkey. "Je me [?] de lui indiquer un ouvrage Special sur Constantinople, son historie, ses monuments . . . " He wishes to avail himself of his correspondent's knowledge of "bibliographie" to help his colleague.

Photographic portrait by Letzer of Vienna, with Autograph Signature ('Raoul M. Aslan:') and quotation.

Author: 
Raoul Aslan [Raoul Maria Aslan-Zumpart] (1886-1958), Austro-German actor of Turkish extraction
Publication details: 
Wien, Oktober 1923. -' [Photograph stamped at foot: 'Letzer | WIEN | VII. HOFSTALLSTR. 5.']
£120.00

The sepia photograph, 10 x 7 cm, is a head and shoulders shot of Aslan staring at the viewer in the character of Hamlet holding Yorick's skull. It is neatly mounted on a leaf of cream paper (24 x 20 cm) removed from an album. The whole attractive and in good condition. In a firm, bold hand Aslan has written, across the page beneath the photograph: '"Zu was für schnöden Bestimmungen | wir doch kommen, Horatio"! - | (Hamlet) | Ein Erinnerung | [signed] Raoul M. Aslan: | Wien, Oktober 1923. -'

Autograph Letter Signed to James Finn.

Author: 
Stratford Canning
Publication details: 
25 September 1867; Westbrook.
£85.00

Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, British diplomat (1786-1880; DNB), for many years Ambassador to the Sublime Porte. The recipient, James Finn (died 1872), was British consul at Jerusalem from 1849–1858. 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition. He has sent his correspondent's 'memorandum respecting Abyssinia' to Lord Stanley, 'who is a better judge than I can presume to be of any advantage which might result from putting into practice the suggestions it contains'. He has 'a due sense of the confidence you have shewn me'. Signed 'Stratford de R.'

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dr Scott'.

Author: 
Walter Baring
Publication details: 
18 January 1874; Constantinople.
£50.00

Diplomat (1844-1915) and scion of the banking house. 4 pages, 8vo. Paper discoloured and grubby, but in good condition generally. He says he 'was on the other side of the Bosphorous' the day before, and so 'was unable to answer your letter by Austrian mail as I should otherwise have done'. He is sorry that Scott 'should have had any trouble about the cheque': he omitted to go through his account. He presents another cheque (not enclosed) for £4 18s 6d as he is going to ask Scott to make another payment.

Autograph Letter Signed to George Glenny, horticultural writer and editor (DNB).

Author: 
Julia Pardoe.
Publication details: 
Friday, no date.
£150.00

Travel-writer and novelist (DNB). One page, 8vo, sl. marked, trimmed but text complete and clear, with partially detached conjugate leaf, verso of which has name "For George Glenny Esqre". "I have extracted all critiques on the Bouquet and R.L.M. [Royal Lady's Magazine and St. James's Archive] from the papers you sent me, and herewith enclose them. If you can send me any more by the bearer, I shall be obliged. / Papa, I am sorry to say, has not left his bed today . . ." Note: "The Bouquet" ([1835]) with contributions by eminent authors, Pardoe's role formerly unknown.

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