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Author, Title, Summary Price
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), celebrated Victorian novelist [Richard Ford (1796-1858), writer on Spain]

[William Makepeace Thackeray, Victorian novelist.] Autograph Note Signed ('W M Thackeray') [to the travel writer Richard Ford], humorously addressed to 'One Two Three Park Street Esqr', inviting him to 'a masculine dinner'.

On one side of 7 x 11 cm slip of paper, possibly cut down. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering. Reads: 'Have you any engagement on Tuesday 9th. (7/30) and will you come to a masculine dinner with | Yours always | W M Thackeray'. Addressed at bottom left to 'One Two...

£200.00
Sir William Orpen [Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen] (1878-1931), RA, Irish artist based in London [The Arts Club; The Artists' General Benevolent Institution]

[Sir William Orpen, Irish artist.] Autograph Signature ('William Orpen') to circular, in facsimile of his autograph, 'begging' for money, as steward of the Arts Club, with printed humorous self-portrait of Orpen sitting on the pavement begging.

1p, 4to. In good condition, folded twice. A printed facsimile letter by Orpen, including a reproduction of a humorous self-portrait, depicting him sitting on the pavement, with legs splayed and hat in right hand, begging in front of a floral portrait leaning on the wall behind him. Orpen's...

£300.00
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), English author and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature [Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (1858-1919), 26th President of the United States]

[Rudyard Kipling to President Roosevelt.] Autograph Card Signed, suggesting that he stay with the Kipling's and experience 'ordinary English country life in a small way', and teasing him for considering England America's 'hereditary enemy'.

On both sides of an 8.5 x 11.5 cm grey card. In fair condition, with crease to one corner. Thirty-one lines of neatly-written text, signed 'Rudyard Kipling.', beginning: 'Dear Mr Roosevelt. | Just back from the continent – after an automobile trip from one end of France to the other. I gathered...

£750.00
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), English author and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

[Rudyard Kipling to his secretary Janet Coates.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Rudyard Kipling'), from Switzerland, giving instructions regarding his home Bateman's, and describing his wife's indisposition.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, and folded twice. Small blot affecting two words on second page. Unpublished. According to Pinney, Coates had started work as Kipling's secretary in June 1909. Written in a hurried hand, in parts difficult to decipher. The letter begins 'Dear...

£375.00
Robert Baden-Powell [Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell] (1857-1941), founder of the Boy Scouts Association and Girl Guides

[Baden-Powell writes to Rudyard Kipling about his poem 'The Scout's Patrol Song'.] Typed Letter Signed ('R S S Baden Powell') to Kipling, regarding 'publishing the Patrol song with music'.

The Kipling Society explains the background to this letter, which relates to a poem which Kipling had published a fortnight before (16 September 1909) in the London Standard as 'A Patrol Song', reprinting it two days later in The Scout as 'The Scout's Patrol Song'. The letter is 1p, 4to. In fair...

£650.00
Prince Jamh O Deen, "Prince of Mysore", son of Tippoo Sahib.

[ Jamh O Deen; Tippoo Sahib; hostage ] Autograph Note, third person, to [Coutts and Co., Bankers] requesting "the account Book".

One page, 12mo, fold marks, residue of laying down on blank verso, good condition. Additions in another hand are in square brackets: "[ sent] 23 Jany/37 | [His Highness] Prince Jamh O Deen requests Messrs Coutts & Co to have the Goodness to send the account Book". Apparently he decided to...

£320.00
Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) of Etruria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, celebrated English potter; his clerk Thomas Byerley (1747-1810)

[Josiah Wedgwood, celebrated English potter.] Autograph Signature ('Jos. Wedgwood') to cheque, also signed by Thomas Byerley (later partner in the firm), William Frogatt and R. Symons.

7.5 x 19.5 cm slip of paper. In fair condition, lightly aged, with spike hole and stub from mount adhering. An interesting Wedgwood artefact, which also exemplifies the convoluted nature of banking and finance during the period of the industrial revolution. On one side of the slip is the cheque...

£850.00
John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), American artist who settled in Britain, the leading portraitist of the Edwardian period

[John Singer Sargent, American artist.] Autograph Note Signed ('John S. Sargent') to 'Cope', presumably Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope, who is the recipient of other letters in the source collection, accepting his 'last invitation'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with one fold. Written in a hurried painterly hand. Reads 'My dear Cope | Many thanks for your last invitation which I accept with pleasure – for Jan 21st at 8.15 | With best regards | Yours sincerely | John S. Sargent'.

 £120.00
H. Rider Haggard [Sir Henry Rider Haggard] (1856-1925), author of adventure novels including 'King Solomon's Mines' and 'She' [Caroline Starr Balestier Kipling (1862-1939), wife of Rudyard Kipling]

[Rider Haggard writes to Rudyard Kipling's wife.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H . Rider Haggard') to 'Mrs. Kipling', discussing in detail the flowers he has sent her.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, with one central vertical fold, and patch of small holes at head of second leaf. Interesting letterhead, with image of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Someone (probably Mrs Kipling) has written 'orchid' on the first page. The letter begins: 'Mr dear Mrs. Kipling...

£320.00
H. G. Wells [Herbert George Wells] (1866-1946), celebrated author of 'The War of the Worlds' and 'The Time Machine'

[H. G. Wells, author of 'The War of the Worlds' and 'The Time Machine'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H. G. Wells') to 'Mrs. Hind' [wife of Charles Lewis Hind], concerning 'C. C's particular resistance 'to all instructions & recommendations'.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and folded twice. The letter reads: 'Dear Mrs. Hind. | I would if I could but I have no power to do so. I know C. C (though our intimacy is much exaggerated) and he is particularly resistant to all instructions & recommendations. | All my good wishes...

£280.00
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