VICTORIAN

[German and English Victorian wood engraving.] Album containing 'Geo. F. Tabram's Specimens of Wood Engraving 1842-8', including grotesque figures and chivalric scenes, with an original drawing and two German specimens loosely inserted.

Author: 
[German and English Victorian wood engraving.] George Frederick Tabram (1825-1891) of Gloucestershire
Publication details: 
[German and English engravings, collected in Gloucestershire, between 1842 and 1848.]
£150.00

An attractive collection of 76 engravings, laid down over 34pp, on the first seventeen brown-paper leaves of a 22.5 x 29 cm landscape album. Also laid down, on the rear pastedown, is a nice original drawing (by Tabram himself?) of two girls, one in a bonnet and the other (her daughter or sister?) with ringlets. Loosely inserted are two German engravings, each laid down on a piece of coloured paper and each with caption on reverse.

[James Robertson Anderson, Scottish actor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J R Anderson') to 'Lloyds', explaining that he can no longer pay for his son's 'Board & lodging', suggesting that they live apart, getting the boy's sister 'to reason with him'.

Author: 
James Robertson Anderson (1811-1895), Scottish actor and dramatist [F. Lloyds of the Liverpool Theatre?]
Publication details: 
18 April 1871. 9 Clements Inn, Strand [London]. With his armorial letterhead.
£35.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice. The letter begins: 'My dear Lloyds, | However I may grieve at any misunderstanding between you and James - I cannot interfere.

[Sir Edward German, composer.] Autograph Signature ('Edward German :') to secretarial letter to Mrs Russell, apologising for not writing 'personally'.

Author: 
Sir Edward German (1862-1936), composer of incidental music and comic opera, best remembered for 'Merrie England'
Publication details: 
5 January 1928. On letterhead of 5 Biddulph Road, Elgin Avenue, W.9.
£25.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Only the salutation ('Dear Mrs. Russell,') and the valediction ('Yours very sincerely | Edward German :' are in German's hand; the rest is by a secretary. He writes that he would 'have liked to write you [sic] personally, but it is a little more than I can manage at present'. Nevertheless he assures her that he is 'most grateful' for her 'very kind message'.

[P. C. Wren, novelist, author of 'Beau Geste'.] Typed Letter Signed ('P C Wren') to 'Miss Mills', explaining that he is sending her his autograph 'on one of my own private book-plates'.

Author: 
P. C. Wren [Percival Christopher Wren] (1875-1941), writer of adventure fiction, best remembered for his novel 'Beau Geste'
Publication details: 
3 January 1928. On letterhead of the Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth.
£32.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded once. Her letter has been forwarded to him and he has 'much pleasure in sending you my autograph. In order to make it a little more personal, I am sending it on one of my own private book-plates.'

[James Robertson Anderson, Scottish actor and dramatist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J R Anderson') to Charles Perkins, Bath stage manager, sending news of the actress Helena Faucit, and giving 'a list of plays to select from' (half by Shakespeare).

Author: 
James Robertson Anderson (1811-1895), Scottish actor and dramatist [Charles Perkins [Christopher John Perkins], 'comedian', of the English Opera House, stage manager in Bath; Helena Faucit, actress]
Publication details: 
6 August 1843. Elm Cottage, Wellington Road, Bristol Road, Birmingham.
£80.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 12mo bifolium, with the two-page letter on both sides the first leaf, and the list of plays on recto of second leaf. In fair condition, aged and worn, with closed tear. Folded three times. Addressed: 'To/ | Chas. Perkins Esqr. | 2 North Place | Hampstead.' The letter begins: 'My dear Perkins, | I have not been able to reply to your last earlier - having been confined to my bed-room ever since the 31st. of July by a most severe attack of inflammation.' He has been obliged to postpone his 'Cork engagement on account of this unseen misfortune'.

[Jeffery Farnol, novelist of Regency romantic fiction.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jeffery Farnol.') to 'Mr. Wynn', stating that he has reread a previous letter from him 'with great pleasure'.

Author: 
Jeffery Farnol (1878-1952), prolific author of romance and swashbuckler novels, creator with Georgette Heyer of the genre of Regency romantic fiction
Publication details: 
12 December 1918. On letterhead of 71 Eltham Road, Lee, S.E. [London]
£35.00

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded three times. After thanking Wynn for his letter he continues: 'It is a curious coincidence that in looking through a file of old correspondence yesterday I came across your letter of the 20th November 1915, which I read again with great pleasure'. Postscript: 'With good wishes to you & yours. J F.'

[Oxford Circuit in the 1880s.] 27 sketches and caricatures by Lauriston Leonard Batten of barristers (including Lord Loveburn; C. J. Darling), judges and others, including several court scenes; for fellow barrister the future Sir Richard Harington.

Author: 
Lauriston Leonard Batten (1863-1934) [the Oxford Circuit in the late nineteenth century; Sir Richard Harington (1861-1931), Puisne Judge in the High Court of Justice at Fort William in Bengal]
Legal sketches
Publication details: 
The Oxford Circuit [Gloucester, Reading, Shrewsbury Assizes; Birmingham Assizes]. A few items dated to 1887, 1888, 1891, 1894.
£950.00
Legal sketches

Lauriston Leonard Batten studied at Trinity College, Cambridge (see his entry in Alum. Cantab.). He was admitted at the Inner Temple in 1882 and called to the bar four years later. KC, 1905. Bencher, 1914. The present collection is from the papers of his colleague on the Oxford Circuit, Sir Richard Harington (1861-1931), 12th baronet, who was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Called to the Bar in 1886, he practised on the Oxford Circuit before taking up an appointment as a Puisne Judge in the High Court of Justice at Fort William in Bengal in 1899.

[Father Tom Maguire, Dean of Kilmore, Irish Roman Catholic priest, celebrated orator.] Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Maguire') to Richard Montgomery of Coolehill, regarding his gift of a five-year-old pup, 'coursing in Goulan', and 'a great Auction'.

Author: 
Father Tom Maguire [Thomas Maguire] (1792-1847), Dean of Kilmore, Irish Roman Catholic priest, orator, polemicist, controversialist and nationalist [Richard Montgomery of Coolehill]
Publication details: 
19 April 1844. No place, but with one of the postmarks from Ballinamore [Co. Leitrim, Ireland].
£140.00

Maguire was, his entry in the Oxford DNB states, 'one of the most popular orators of his age, and from 1829 until 1843 he addressed huge crowds and packed congregations in churches and at venues throughout England and Ireland'.

[Frances Power Cobbe, Irish social reformer, anti-vivisectionist and campaigner for women's suffrage.] Autograph Signature ('Frances P Cobbe') to part of letter.

Author: 
Frances Cobbe [Frances Power Cobbe] (1822-1904), Irish author, social reformer, anti-vivisectionist, and campaigner for women's suffrage
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£23.00

On 4 x 11 cm slip of paper. Reads: '[...] them. | With many thanks for yr kindness believe me | very truly yrs | Frances P Cobbe'. On reverse: '[...] information. | Have you ever seen a very curious French book [...]'.

[William Black, Scottish novelist and journalist.] Autograph Note Signed to 'Williams', enquiring about his Christmas movements.

Author: 
William Black (1841-1898), Scottish novelist and journalist
Publication details: 
18 December [no year]. On letterhead of Paston House, Paston Place, Brighton.
£25.00

1p, 12mo. On aged and creased paper. Folded twice. Written in purple ink. Firm signature, underlined with diagonal downstroke. Reads: 'Decr. 18 | My dear Williams, | What are you doing this Christmas? Will you come down here? | Your always | William Black'. The reverse carries pencil notes of Italian and French musical compositions in another hand.

[William Black; Shakespeare's daughter] Part of Autograph Manuscript Draft of his novel 'Judith Shakespeare, A Romance' (concerning William Shakespeare's daughter). With emendations, and variations from published version.

Author: 
William Black (1841-1898), Scottish novelist and journalist [William Shakespeare and his daughter Judith]
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but part of the manuscript of a book published in London in 1884.
£250.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and worn. Folded twice. 68 lines of text, written in a minute, neat hand. Folded twice. Black has numbered the page at top right '206'. The text begins: '[...] seemly and maidenly thing [...]', and ends 'she seemed to know beforehand what he had to say.' Black's entry in the Oxford DNB describes his 1884 novel 'Judith Shakespeare: A Romance' (published in America with the subtitle 'Her Love Affairs and Other Adventures') as 'a romance about the dramatist's daughter'.

[Ben Brierley of Failsworth, writer in Lancashire dialect.] Autograph Note Signed ('B Brierley'), offering some of his poems for a reading.

Author: 
Ben Brierley [Benjamin Brierley] (1825-1896) of Failsworth, writer in Lancashire dialect and weaver
Publication details: 
'The 16th March' [no year, but after 1886].
£45.00

1p, on the reverse of an advertisement, with engraving, for his 1886 book 'Tales and Sketches of Lancashire Life', cut down to 16 x 13 cm. On aged paper, with horizontal cut repaired with archival tape. Reads: '[Sent?] me very well. | The poems I propose reading will be | "The New Shirt." | and "The Gravelgate Flood." | You can take your choice betwixt "The New Shirt," and "The Bradley's Visit to Thisle Ho." Please send me a programme as soon as printed.'

[Robert Gibb, Scottish painter.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Robert Gibb') to the publisher of 'Black and White Budget', W. J. P. Monckton, re. 'the incident depicted in "Saving the Colours" ["Saving the Colours: The Guards at the Battle of Inkerman"]

Author: 
Robert Gibb (1845-1932), Scottish painter; Keeper of the National Gallery of Scotland and Painter and Limner to the King [W. J. P. Monckton, publisher of the London magazine 'Black & White Budget']
Publication details: 
8 May 1901. On letterhead of 2 Bruntsfield Crescent, Edinburgh.
£45.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Addressed: 'To W. J. P. Monckton Esq. | Publisher | "Black & White," | London'. He has just received Monckton's letter, and is enclosing a 'little pamphlet', which will give him 'a full account of the incident depicted in "Saving the Colours"'. If all is well Gibb hopes to be in London on the Monday or Tuesday of the following week, and will 'have the pleasure of calling upon you as promised'. His address will be the Thackeray Hotel, Great Russell Street.

[James Wyatt, geologist and editor of the Bedford Times.] Autograph Letter Signed ('James Wyatt') [to the geologist/antiquary Samuel Sharpe], regarding geology, James Hervey, the qualities of a schoolmaster moved from Bedford to Northamptonshire.

Author: 
James Wyatt (1816-1878), geologist and editor and proprietor of the Bedford Times [Samuel Sharp (1814-1882), geologist and antiquary]
Publication details: 
3 April 1872. Bedford.
£56.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from tipping-in affecting the lower part and underlining of Wyatt's expansive signature. Folded twice. 71 lines of text. Note in pencil at head of first page states that the letter was 'sent to Saml. Sharpe of Northampton author of The Moabite Stone', but the writer of the note has confused the Egyptologist Samuel Sharpe (1799-1881) with the real recipient, the geologist and antiquary Samuel Sharp (1814-1882), for both of whom see the Oxford DNB.

[Cecil Wilson, Bishop of Melanesia.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Cecil Wilson, | Bishop'), for publication, 'to the Editor of the Tonbridgian', concerning 'our work in Melanesia'.

Author: 
Cecil Wilson (1860-1941), Anglican cleric and county cricketer (Kent), third Bishop of Melanesia and second Bishop of Bunbury, Western Australia
Publication details: 
3 October 1899; Norfolk Island [Melanesia].
£450.00

5pp, 8vo. On bifolium and single leaf of thin ruled paper. In fair condition, on lightly aged and discoloured paper. Closely written, in a not-entirely legible hand, with the first page having the underlined heading: 'to the Editor of the Tonbridgian'. (The Tonbridgian was the magazine of Tonbridge School, where Wilson was educated, and the letter was presumably published as intended.) The letter begins: 'Dear Sir, | I promised when in England last year that I would send a letter sometimes about our work in Melanesia.

[Lord Salsibury, Conservative Prime Minister.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Mr. Macirone', regarding 'Canon Fremantle's letter'.

Author: 
Lord Salisbury [Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil (1830-1903), 3rd Marquess of Salisbury], Conservative Prime Minister on three occasions [William Henry Fremantle, Dean of Ripon; Maeirone]
Publication details: 
19 November 1894. On letterhead of Hatfield House, Hatfield, Herts.
£35.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and lightly stained. Folded once. Headed by Salisbury 'Private'. The letter begins: 'Lord Salisbury presents his compliments to Mr. Macirone, & is much obliged to him for his letter, & for the very apposite quotations to which he calls Lord Salisbury's attention.' Salisbury does not consider 'Canon Fremantle's letter' worth answering, 'especially as the Bishop of London appears to entertain a similar opinion'.

[Sir Francis Palgrave [born Francis Ephraim Cohen], archivist and historian.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Francis Palgrave'), regarding a statement which the recipient may wish to make to 'the Speaker' [of the House of Commons].

Author: 
Sir Francis Palgrave [born Francis Ephraim Cohen] (1788-1861), archivist and historian, Deputy Keeper of the Public Record Office from its foundation in 1838 to his death
Publication details: 
[Commission for Historic Manuscripts, London.] No date [on paper with watermarked date 1832].
£50.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. From the celebrated manuscript collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton). The recipient is not named. Reads: 'My dear Sir/ | I have no doubt but that any statement which you may make to the Speaker will be in strict accordance with the facts; and I shall be always ready to bear testimony to your services during your connection with me - but for that very reason, I should not wish to impute [last word underlined three times] any document which you may have to present to him. Yrs ever faithfully | Francis Palgrave'.

[Catharine Tait, philanthropist.] Printed facsimile of Autograph Letter Signed ('Catharine Tait'), with one addition in her genuine autograph: a circular regarding 'the election of Harriet Amelia Johnson to St Ann's School Brixton'.

Author: 
Catharine Tait (1819-1878), philanthropist [St Ann's School, Brixton; Harriet Amelia Johnson]
Publication details: 
June 1864. Fulham Palace S.W. [London].
£45.00

For information on Tait, see her entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. Aged, worn and lightly stained. The fact that Tait was able to produce a lithographed circular for such a minor purpose indicates her resources. The only words in the document in Tait's genuine autograph are the interpolated 'now & in Jan'. The circular reads: 'My dear Sir | I am very anxious to secure the election of Harriet Amelia Johnson to St Ann's School Brixton. Her father who was well known to us died this year leaving a widow and three children unprovided for.

[Poem on 'Captain Gardiner's Patagonian Mission'.] Printed brochure with poem titled 'The Last Hour: A Scene in Patagonia.'

Author: 
'[delta]', pseudonym [Allen Francis Gardiner (1794-1851), Royal Navy officer and missionary to Patagonia; the Christian Times, London]
Publication details: 
'(From the Christian Times.)' [London] Dated 10 May 1852.
£120.00

For the context see Gardiner's entry in the Oxford DNB. Gardiner's disastrous last mission to Patagonia ended with his death on 6 September 1851, as the last of the seven missionaries to starve to death on Picton Island. No other copy of the present item has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. 4pp, 16mo. Bifolium. Well printed. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and folded several times.

[Rudyard Kipling: 'Edition de Luxe in facsimile', printed on silk and satin.] 'The Absent-Minded Beggar by Rudyard Kipling': 'Souvenir [...] presented by Mrs. Langtry on the occasion of the 100th Performance of the "Degenerates" at the Garrick'.

Author: 
Rudyard Kipling; R. Caton Woodville [Daily Mail; Lillie Langtry; Garrick Theatre, London]
Publication details: 
'Copyright in England and the United States by the Daily Mail Publishing Co., 1899.' ['Eyre Spottiswoode Printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty'.
£200.00

An attractive and unusual item, tastefully printed in green and red on both sides of a 30.5 x 60 cm strip, entirely covered in cream satin, and edged in silk ribbon, folding into a triptych each panel of which is 30.5 x 20 cm. In extremely good condition, all the more remarkable considering the ephemeral nature of the item. As folded into itself, the item has a front cover carrying the title in green ink, with a photograph of Kipling printed in red; and the back cover carries the royal crest of the Queen's printers Eyre and Spottiswoode.

[Lord Stanhope [Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope], historian and politician.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mahon') to Richard Monckton Milnes, regarding writing about Walpole and Queen Caroline, supposedly by the Earl of Chesterfield.

Author: 
Lord Stanhope [Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope] (1805-1875) [styled Viscount Mahon between 1816 and 1855], historian and politician [Richard Monckton Milnes, later Lord Houghton]
Publication details: 
'Grosvenor Place [London] | Friday morning.' No date, but on paper with watermarked year 1852.
£75.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering to reverse of blank second leaf of bifolium. The subject is an item acquired by Milnes for his celebrated collection of manuscripts, which Milnes considered the present letter worthy of joining. The letter begins: 'My dear Milnes | Of the paper you have sent me, the first paragraph about Queen Caroline & the last about Sir Robert Walpole have already appeared, & you will find them in my Edition.

[Stanley J. Weyman, novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Stanley J. Weyman') to 'Mr. Balfour', regarding an article he is writing for him, with relation to 'the Church' and 'Seaman'.

Author: 
Stanley J. Weyman [Stanley John Weyman] (1855-1928), popular novelist of historical romance
Publication details: 
22 November 1923. On letterhead of Plâs Llanrhydd, Ruthin, N. Wales.
£45.00

Weyman is largely forgotten now, but he was admired by Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde, and Graham Greene singled him out for regular re-reading among the authors of 'the key books in my life'. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, with pin holes to one corner. Folded twice. He is 'relieved' that Balfour thinks 'it will do. Yes, if you will kindly send it me I will look it over again & get it typed.' He has 'not seen the Church for some years', and will be grateful if Balfour will note any inaccuracy. He supposes that if the work is received within a fortnight 'it will do'.

[William Hurrell Mallock, novelist and economist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. H. Mallock.') to 'L[ad]y Virginia', praising her novel, which he 'did not willingly put [...] down for an instant'.

Author: 
W. H. Mallock [William Hurrell Mallock] (1849-1923), novelist and conservative economist
Publication details: 
7 May 1887. On letterhead of Bornhill, Bramford Speke, Exeter.
£45.00

2pp, 12mo. On grey paper with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. The indentity of the recipient is unclear. The letter begins: 'Dear Ly Virginia | The other day I bought your novel, & the first comfortable leisure moment I had, I began to read it.

[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.

[Charles Buller Heberden, Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford.] Three Autograph Letters Signed (all 'C B Heberden') to Sir Richard Harington, concerning the replacement of a college stained glass window, Harington taking the old one.

Author: 
Charles Buller Heberden (1849-1921), classical scholar and Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford [Sir Richard Harington (1835-1911), 11th Baronet, of Ridlington and Whitbourne Court]
Publication details: 
2, 4 and 14 January 1897. All three on letterhead of Brasenose College, Oxford.
£150.00

The three letters total 7pp, 12mo. All three in good condition, on lightly aged paper. From the papers of Sir Richard Harington (1835-1911), 11th Baronet, whose father Rev. Dr Richard Harington (1800-1853), had been Principal from 1842 to his death. All three endorsed by Harington with date of receipt. The subject is the replacement of a stained glass window in the college, with Harington receiving the old window, which he put up at his Worcestershire country house, Whitbourne Court.

[Count d'Orsay, French painter and dandy.] Individual etched portraits of Prince Talleyrand and Comte Montrond, on the same leaf, each with caption stating 'Sketched by D'Orsay'.

Author: 
Count d'Orsay [Alfred Guillaume Gabriel Grimod d'Orsay, comte d'Orsay] (1801-1852), French painter and dandy, linked with Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789-1849); Talleyrand; Montrond
Publication details: 
[London? Circa 1831?]
£280.00

Two etchings in black ink, printed side by side on a 23.5 x 18 cm piece of wove paper, with a thin printed line dividing them. Possibly proofs of two plates on conjoined leaves in a book. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with a tiny nick at foot and dog-eared corners. Each of the sketches is full-length, and has a caption at foot, in a facsimile of D'Orsay's hand.

[Francisco Martínez de la Rosa, Prime Minister of Spain.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. Martinez de la Rosa'), in French, to unnamed (English?) minister, on a piece of writing he has sent, the news of his marriage, and a list of embassy staff.

Author: 
Francisco Martínez de la Rosa [Francisco de Paula Martínez de la Rosa y Cornejo] (1787-1862), Prime Minister of Spain, the first to be styled President of the Council of Ministers, and dramatistt
Publication details: 
12 October [no year]. Place not stated.
£280.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with white paper stub from mount still adhering. From the distinguished autograph collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Lord Houghton). The letter begins: 'Mon cher Ministre, | J'ai lu avec un vif interêt l'écrit que vous avez eu la bonté de me communiquer'. He had told him, the other day, that it was 'une belle question à traiter', and he was certain that the recipient would deal with it 'supérieurement'.

[Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Austen Chamberlain.') to his neighbour 'Mr Kynnersley', declining to part with 'a piece of the meadow', suggesting that his tenant acquire an allotment instead.

Author: 
Austen Chamberlain [Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain] (1863-1937), Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer [Thomas Clement Sneyd Kynnersley (1803-1892) of Moor Green, Moseley, Birmingham]
Publication details: 
6 November 1889. On letterhead of Highbury, Moor Green, Birmingham.
£56.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice. The letter, which deals with domestic matters, but has some interest considering the writer's father's views on land reform, is written a year after Chamberlain's return from his studies in Germany, where he had been alarmed by the rise in Prussian militarism, and with him on the verge of his entry into politics in the footsteps of his father Joseph Chamberlain. (He was also the older half-brother of the future Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.) It begins: 'Dear Mr.

[Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol College, Oxford.] Autograph Letters Signed ('B. Jowett'), appealing to former college member E. M. Sneyd-Kynnersley for a subscription towards the establishment of a cricket ground.

Author: 
Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893), Master of Balliol College, Oxford, influential tutor and administrator at the University [Edmund MacKenzie Sneyd-Kynnersley, Inspector of Schools]
Publication details: 
24 February 1890. Balliol College [Oxford].
£80.00

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. Addressing his letter to 'Edward [sic] M. S Kynnersley Esq', he asks him to 'kindly read the accompanying circular? It relates to a project which I believe to be very important to the College & useful in many other ways, as well as - the [promise?] of a Cricket Ground'.

[William Archibald Spooner, Warden of New College, Oxford, who gave his name to the 'spoonerism'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. A. Spooner -'), regarding arrangements re accommodation for exams.

Author: 
William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), Warden of New College, Oxford, who gave his name to the 'spoonerism'
Publication details: 
5 November 1913. On letterhead of New College, Oxford.
£80.00

2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded twice. In a letter sadly lacking in spoonerisms, Spooner writes that he is sending the unnamed recipient 'a form of Entrance for our Scholarships', advising him 'to come up as early in the day as possible', as the examination is held in term time, and 'I fear you may have some difficulty in finding lodgings'. He continues, regarding lodgings: 'If we can hear of any we can recommend notice of they will be sent to the Porter's Lodge, and you should make enquiries there'.

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