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Author, Title, Summary Price
Arthur Severn (1842-1931), English watercolour painter, son of Joseph Severn and brother of Walter Severn and Mary Newton [John Fulleylove (1845-1908), painter]

[Arthur Severn, English watercolour painter.] Autograph Letter Signed to John Fulleylove, discussing a dinner invitation.

A successful member of an English artistic family. See the Oxford DNB entries on his father Joseph Severn, brother Walter Severn and sister Mary Newton. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium on grey wove paper. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of paper from mount adhering to the blank verso of the...

£56.00
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909), prominent English poet of the Victorian period [John Henry Ingram (1842-1916), English biographer of Edgar Allen Poe]

[Algernon Charles Swinburne, prominent English poet of the Victorian period.] Envelope Addressed by Swinburne to John H. Ingram, with Signed Note by Ingram confirming that the handwriting is Swinburne's.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Ingram's biography of Poe was responsible for his reabilitation, and his extensive collection of material relating to the writer is now in the University of Virginia. Entire small envelope (roughly 12 x 7 cm), self-printed with stamp. In good condition, lightly...

£50.00
[Florence Nightingale and her charity the Nightingale Fund, established in 1855.] S. C. Hall [Samuel Carter Hall] (1800-1889), editor of Art Journal; Lord Herbert of Lea [Sidney Herbert] (1810-1861)]

[Florence Nightingale and her charity the Nightingale Fund, established in 1855.] Printed Circular of facsimile of an ALS by Samuel Carter Hall, on the proposed dissolution of the Fund, with manuscript letter announcing a meeting of the trustees.

See the entries on Nightingale, Hall and Herbert in the Oxford DNB. The Nightingale Fund was established in the Crimea on 29 November 1855, to raise money for the training of nurses. As a result of discussions held at the time of this circular the money from the Fund was used to set up the first...

£120.00
Lady Diana Cooper [née Lady Diana Olivia Winifred Maud Manners] (1892-1986) Viscountess Norwich, actress and memoirist, wife of Duff Cooper, [Admiral Sir William Milbourne James (1881-1973), RN]

[‘I feel a survivor: Winston should be dead’: Lady Diana Cooper, society beauty, actress and memoirist.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘My dear admiral’ (Sir William Milbourne James), regarding their books, people and the past.

Written with the charm for which she was renowned. See her entry and his in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to, on two leaves of cartridge paper. In good condition lightly aged. Folded twice for postage. Mostly written in pencil, with good firm signature (‘Yrs / Diana Cooper’) and last few lines in red...

£65.00
Robert Graves [Robert von Ranke Graves], poet and author, noted for his war memoir ‘Goodbye to All That’ and his historical novel ‘I Claudius’

[Robert Graves [Robert von Ranke Graves], poet and author of ‘I Claudius’ and ‘Goodbye to All That’.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr Scarr’, declining to give any further talks, ‘not being an extemporizer’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice for postage. Reads: ‘Dear Mr Scarr: / I’m sorry but I have already engaged myself for three talks besides my offical three and, not being an extemporizer, can’t undertake any more. / Yours sincerely / Robert...

£380.00
Hugh Walpole [Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole] (1884-1941), popular English novelist, born in New Zealand [Elliott & Fry, London photographic studio]

[Hugh Walpole [Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole], popular English novelist, born in New Zealand.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr. Patterson Webb’ regarding a ‘carol’ he sent him. With double-signed photograph by Elliott & Fry.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The two items were previously held together by a small dab of glue at the head of the letter. They are now separated, and traces of the glue remain, not affecting any text. Otherwise they are in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: ALS, 30 December 1932. 1p, 12mo....

£120.00
John Masefield (1878-1967), Poet Laureate and children's writer

[John Masefield, Poet Laureate and children's writer.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Miss McConnell’ and Signed inscription to ‘Jeannie McConnell’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Both items are somewhat sunned, but in good overall condition. ONE: ALS. 1p, 4to. Folded three times for postage. Signed ‘John Masefield’. After thanking her for her kind letter he continues: ‘It is for me to thank you, not the other way about, for you are good...

£80.00
H. E. Bates [Herbert Ernest Bates] (1905-1974), English author, noted for his short stories [Edgar Backus, Leicester bookseller]

[H. E. Bates [Herbert Ernest Bates], English author, noted for his short stories.] Autograph Letter Signed to the Leicester bookseller Edgar Backus, buying a print, discussing his health, and looking forward to making Backus’s acquaintance.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. At the time of writing Bates was employed in writing short stories as propaganda for the Air Ministry. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Signed ‘H. E. Bates’.He begins by thanking him for sending a print, and is sorry he could not reply...

£65.00
Frank Richards, pseudonym of Charles Hamilton (1876-1961), children's author, creator of Billy Bunter and Greyfriars School

[Frank Richards, pseudonym of the children’s author Charles Hamilton, creator of Billy Bunter and Greyfriars School.] Autograph Signature 'Frank Richards' to Typescript of his Latin translation of ‘Won’t you come home, Bill Bailey?’

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Hamilton was a keen Latinist, even translating one of his Greyfriars stories into the language. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with two corners dogeared. Folded for postage. Good firm signature at bottom left: ‘Frank Richards’. The typed poem...

£65.00
Francis Turner Palgrave (1824-1897), compiler, with his friend Alfred Tennyson, of the celebrated poetry anthology ‘The Golden Treasury’ (1861) [Jean Ingelow (1820-1897), poet]

‘The Golden Treasury’: compiler Francis Turner Palgrave discusses his reasons for omitting living poets from the anthology, and discusses the possibility of a ‘Silver Treasury’, in an Autograph Letter Signed to the poet Jean Ingelow.

An excellent letter, casting light on one of the milestones of the English poetic canon. See his entry, and hers, in the Oxford DNB. ‘The Golden Treasury of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language’ appeared in 1861, and it remains, as J. W. Mackail wrote in the original DNB, '...

£450.00
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