History

Two Autograph Letters Signed to [Thomas Francis Dillon Croker].

Author: 
Thomas Wright
Publication details: 
2 and [7] March, [1856]; both from 14, Sydney Street, Brompton.
£95.00

English antiquary and archaeologist (1810-77). The recipient (1831-1912), son of Thomas Crofton Croker, was an Irish antiquary. Both letters one page, 12mo. Both grubby, discoloured and stained. The first with closed tear to one corner. LETTER ONE (dated from postmark on accompanying envelope addressed to Croker, with Penny Red stamp): He has 'Fairholt's letter safe, and, though I cannot put my hand on it this moment, I will take care of it for you.

Autograph Letter to George Hammond of Spring Gardens.

Author: 
Robert Plumer Ward
Publication details: 
Abingdon St. Monday.' [no date, but before 1827].
£56.00

English novelist and politician (1765-1846). The recipient (1763-1853) was a diplomat, and joint-editor of the 'Anti-Jacobin'. Three pages, 12mo. On discoloured, lightly-stained paper, with one corner of second leaf of bifoliate (with two words of text) broken off in breaking open letter, and still adhering to wafer. Had Hammond given 'a days notice' of his 'intention to come up', he might have been spared 'some hours of unnecessary Solitude'.

Autograph Letter Signed to [Sir William Henry] Maule.

Author: 
Charles Bathurst [Lidney; Lydney Park, Gloucestershire]
Publication details: 
Lidney | 7 April 1847'.
£23.00

Bathurst (1790-1863), an alumnus of Christ Church, Oxford, was Lord of the Manor of Lidney. One page, 12mo. Good, on creased, grubby and discoloured paper, with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Begins 'I send you a Pamphlet, which I dare say began in my brain in the cotyledonous or radicle state as early as when we bothered at Usk Sessions, one day or other you will perhaps read it'. Ends 'I am glad to find you are better than at the beginning of the Circuit'. There is no record of Bathurst's pamphlet in the BL.

Autograph Letter Signed to Major General Sir John Murray.

Author: 
Charles Arbuthnot
Publication details: 
Docketed '25th Septr 1811'.
£95.00

Arbuthnot (1767-1850) was a diplomat and statesman; Murray (c.1768-1827) was a soldier. Three pages, quarto. Good, but creased and grubby on discoloured paper. Rust stain from paperclip and traces of previous mount on blank verso of second leaf of bifoliate. He has received Murray's letter.

Draft of Autograph Letter Signed to the Earl of Derby.

Author: 
Sir James Robert George Graham
Publication details: 
Whitehall 27th Jan 1842'; marked 'Private'.
£88.00

British statesman (1792-1861), Home Secretary under Sir Robert Peel. Three pages, octavo. Good, though on lightly-creased, discoloured paper. An interesting sidelight into the relations between two important nineteenth-century politicians.

Autograph Letter Signed to J. Cotterell.

Author: 
Sir William Tite
Publication details: 
No date [but between 1855 and 1868]: 'House of Commons | Wednesday' on embossed House of Commons letterhead.
£36.00

British architect and politician (1798-1873), Member of Parliament for Bath, 1855-73. Three pages, 12mo. Very good, but with two stubs from previous mounting adhering to inner margin of verso of second leaf of bifoliate.

Typed Letter Signed to the Hon. William Sulzer, 115 Broadway, New York City.

Author: 
Samuel Seabury [NEW YORK CITY; TAMMANY HALL]
Publication details: 
4 January 1934; on letterhead '40 WALL STREET | NEW YORK'.
£36.00

American lawyer (1873-1958), who in 1930 headed the investigation into political corruption in New York City which brought about the decline of Tammany Hall. Sulzer (1863-1941) had been elected Democratic Governor of New York in 1913 with Tammany support, but had been removed from office following an internal dispute. One page, quarto. Very good. His reply to Sulzer's letter has been delayed due to 'pressure of other matters and my absence from the City'. He thanks Sulzer for the 'recent note conveying your good wishes.

Eleven (11) Autograph Letters Signed to Swan Sonnenschein, publishers.

Author: 
Charles Duke Yonge.
Publication details: 
1882-1883.
£600.00

Historian (DNB). Total thirty (30) pages, 8vo (10) and 4to (1). The subject is his book "Our Great Naval Commanders" published by his correspondents, Swan Sonnenschein, in 1884, from its inception to the proof stage. He begins (16 Dec. 1882) "It is not quite easy to decide whom it would be best to include in such a volume as you propose - Nelson of course stands at the head of all sailors. Next to him, I think, comes Rodney . . . but there are no materials to be procured for a sketch of Hawke . .

Letter, prob. secretarial, Signed "Pratap Singh", to [Sir Henry Brackenbury, Resident, Ordnance Committee].

Author: 
Major General Sir Pratap Singh
Publication details: 
[Embossed address, embossed stamp] The Palace, Jammu, 19 Dec. 1901.
£56.00

Maharajah of Jammu and Kashmir. One page, 8vo, sl. soiled but mainly good. "My dear Friend / I have much pleasure in offering you my hearty congratulations for the Xmas and warm greetings for the happy new years day with best wishes for man a happy and prosperous return of the same . . . " He gives his several titles incl. "Col: 37 Dogras". Note: Brackenbury was a general and writer on military subjects (see DNB).

Manuscript document headed "Bristol Memorandum".[Americana]

Author: 
[ Thomas Bowen, Justice of the Peace ]
Publication details: 
8 April 1721 (seventh year of the reign of George II)
£250.00

Manuscript, one page, folio, chipped and other minor defects, text clear and complete. "That on the Eight day of April on ye Seenth . . . . . .

The Liverpool Congress (Speech delivered by John Burns).

Author: 
John Burns [Michael Davitt]
Publication details: 
London: Green, McAllan & Feilden, Limited, 1890.
£45.00

32pp., 8vo, original wraps, soiled, in workmanlike buckram binding. Michael Davitt had the chair and introduced the speaker. Enclosed: autograph note signed by John Burns to "Mr Lane", Battersea, 6 August 1937, on epage, chipped, fold marks, text clear. He declines an invitation.

Autograph Letter Signed "George W. Cox" to "Miss Goddard".

Author: 
Sir George W. Cox.
Publication details: 
Scrayingham Rectory, York, 11 December 1894.
£36.00

Historical writer (see DNB). Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He says that he has read her "Wonderful Norse Tales" to his children with great pleasure. He is grateful for her remebering him and apologises for the effects of a paralysed right arm. "The work of writing, which was one of my greatest pleasures has now become a difficult & irksome {and] a painful task". He enjoys her success in their mutual "good cause".

Autograph Letter Signed "RPWard" to an unnamed correspondent [publisher, John Murray?].

Author: 
Robert Plumer Ward.
Publication details: 
Gilston Park, Tuesday, no date [1838].
£95.00

Novelist and historian (see DNB). One page, 8vo, minor defects, brief annotation by another hand ("author of Tremaine"). He is discussing his progress with "An historical essay on the real character and amount of precedent of the revolution of 1688 / in which the opinions of Mackintosh, Price, Hallam, Mr. Fox, Lord John Russell, Blackstone, Burke, and Locke, the trial of Lord Russell, and the merits of Sidney, are critically considered" (Lodnon, 1838). He says "I avail myself of Mr.

Autograph letter, incomplete, to Josiah Taylor, bookseller (Maxted, Brown).

Author: 
Unknown.
Publication details: 
01/10/26
£75.00

Two pages, 4to, corner torn off with seal (must have been delivered by hand), text clear. Do errors and changes indicate a draft? - but sealed? "Sr. / I am but just now returned from a long tour in the North of England Scotland &c which has prevented me seeing & replying to your very kind communication of the late Mr Rivetts Letters [two words underlined] from Athens &c.

Autograph Note Signed to "Mr Wilkinson" (Robert? see Maxted).

Author: 
Duchess of Rutland.
Publication details: 
Sackville Street, 8 Oct. 1801.
£50.00

See also her letter to Triphook (#2031). One page, 4to, spike-hole reaired, usual condition, text clear and complete: "The Dss of Rutland desires Mr. Wilkinson will be so good to send her a Print of herself, from Sir Joshua Reynolds's Picture the full length, & to bring it to her House No. 28 Sackville St. in the course of this [excision] day, as she is going out of Town,[.] when the Print comes the Dss desires the Person will make a Bill of it & wait for the money -"

Receipt, signed "Grimston" (later 4th Earl of Verulam)

Author: 
(Charles Greville, diarist and clerk to the Privy Council)
Publication details: 
12/02/96
£25.00

For half year's rent of "his house in Benton Street" by Charles Greville.

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent [Triphook].

Author: 
Thomas Pindar Pantin
Publication details: 
Lutterworth, 4 Sept. 1828.
£80.00

Theological writer (1792-1866). Two pages, 4to, chipping and discoloration slightly affecting text, mainly good. "Sir/ I am obliged to you for affording me a sight of Bede. I should be glad however to know the price [small excision "t"] you intend to set it down at- because looking at your list No 66 the copy there is said to be neat [underlined] 3.13.6. which I suppose cannot be the one now sent as the binding is in a very indifferent state, & the leaf (pages) 33[3?]-334 - is torn almost in two.

Autograph Letter Signed to John Russell Smith, publisher.

Author: 
Morris Charles Jones.
Publication details: 
18 Dec. [1858?].
£45.00

Officer of Archaeologia Cambrensis. Two pages, 8vo, Carnarvon, 18 Dec. <[18]58?>, text clear and complete, if illegible at times. "I am desirous of procuring the following Books [prob. separate sheet - lost]: - and of negociating with you for them: on the footing that I should have credit for them, you charging me your usual commission, or interest, upon this account over and above what you would charge for cash. / could procure them for me at your leisure <??> you might find pretty satisfactory opportunities: - [page 2] but the sooner I could get them I should say the better.

Autograph Frank with address to R. Byham.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Nicholas Redington
Publication details: 
Undated, but with dated 6 and 7 December 1846 on postmarks.
£18.00

Irish administrator and Member of Parliament (1815-62). Consists of the front of the envelope, the dimensions of which are roughly five inches by three. Addressed to 'R. Byham Esq. | Ordnance Office | Pall Mall | London', and signed 'Th Redington'. Two postmarks in red ink: the first, in a circle, appears to read 'PAID | NW | 6 DE | 1846'; the second, in a circle topped with a crown, appears to read 'PAID | DE 7 | 1846'.

Autograph Letter Signed [to the editor of the North American Review].

Author: 
William Edward Hartpole Lecky
Publication details: 
16 February 1891; on letterhead '38, Onslow Gardens, S.W.'
£36.00

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Thanks his correspondent for 'your kind letter & for the hospitality you have given me in the North American Review. I hope you will be able to bring out my article in the March Number as the political Kaleidoscope changes so quickly that some part may appear belated if it is long delayed.' Asks for a change to be made if it is not possible to bring the piece out in the March issue. Signed 'W E H Lecky'.

Three Autograph Letters Signed to Mark [Bonham-Carter].

Author: 
George Malcolm Young
G.M. Young
Publication details: 
14 July 1945, 1 December 1946, 8 May 1947; all on letterhead 'THE OLD OXYARD, | OARE, | MARLBOROUGH, | WILTS.'
£120.00
G.M. Young

English historian (1882-1959). All three items, two pages, quarto. All good, though grubby and lightly creased. Three intimate and revealing letters. ITEM ONE apparently sent to Bonham-Carter in America. 'You will soon be back, I think. Are you now occupied in assembling and correlating your observations? [...] I should guess it was quite impossible to think when a Presidential election is going on. | I have been spending a fortnight in Oxford and I asked some of the early-middle-aged dons what the undergraduates were thinking.

Autograph Note, Third Person, to Sir William Curtis, Lord Mayor of London.

Author: 
Edward Law, Lord Ellenborough
Publication details: 
St James's Square, 29 May 1815.
£56.00

Trimmed note laid down on card with added margin with Ellenborough's details (name and rand as Lord Chief Justice). "Lord Ellenborough presents his Comps. to Sir Wm Curtis & the Gentlemen of the Committee of the Corporation of London, & shall be very happy to have the honor of attending them at the opening of His Majesty's Statue at Guildhall on Saturday the 3d of June & afterwards at dinner, if his engagements of public business shall allow of his doing so." Text followed by place and date as above.

Two typed Letters Signed, successively to G[eorge]. K[enneth]. Menzies and W. Perry, Secretaries, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Alfred Charles Bossom, 1st Baronet [British Art in Industry Exhibition, 1935; Royal Society of Arts; Royal Academy]
Publication details: 
22 June and 1 October 1935; both on House of Commons embossed letterheads, and from 5, Carlton Gardens, S.W.1.
£100.00

English politician (1881-1965) and architect, much of whose work was done in the United States. Both letters two pages, quarto. Both letters docketed (the first heavily so), bearing the Society's stamp, and with pin and staple holes in top left-hand corner. Second letter good, first lightly creased and grubby. Revealing documents relating to the Royal Society's 'British Art in Industry' exhibition, held at the Royal Academy in 1935. The Society's website describes this as a 'resounding success', but as these letters show, the matter was not so clear cut.

Two Typed Letters Signed to W. Perry, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Captain Sir Harold George Campbell
Publication details: 
29 November and 4 December 1933; both on letterhead '11, GROSVENOR CRESCENT, S.W.1.'
£32.00

British soldier and courtier (1888-1969), Equerry and Groom of the Robes to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Both letters written in capacity as Private Secretary to the Duke of York. Both very good, though grubby, docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. LETTER ONE (one page, 12mo): 'Further to your letter of September 20th., which the Duke of York has had under his consideration, His Royal Highness desires me to tell you that he will be very pelased to be present at the Meeting at which Mr. Robert Hyde will read a paper, on February 7th. 1934.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Joseph Jackson Howard
Publication details: 
Dartmouth Row | Blackheath | Kent | May 30. 1883'.
£75.00

Genealogist (1827-1902) and Maltravers Herald Extraordinary. Three pages, 12mo. Good, but with some glue stains at head of verso of first leaf and recto of second leaf of bifoliate. Bottom corner of second leaf cut away (not affecting text). He is grateful for the 'account of Chipchase' and is sending 'this months part of the Miscellanea Genealogica' 'per Book post'. Asks for 'notes from Registers, or monumental inscriptions &c.' as contributions. Signed 'J. J. Howard'. Postscript reads 'Are you interested in armorial Bookplates.

Autograph Letter Signed to B. Nice Esq'.

Author: 
Sir William Laird Clowes
Publication details: 
26 January 1904; on letterhead 'VILLA JULIUS | DAVOS | SWITZERLAND'.
£30.00

English naval historian (1856-1905). One page, 12mo. Poor: grubby and stained and with a small hole (not affecting text). Written in failing health the year before his death. Reads 'Dear Nice; | I answered this at the time of its reception. | Perhaps you may see your way to adopting the suggestion, which has my very cordial support. | I am a poor worm, almost unable to work, but hoping to benefit from warmer weather when it comes. | Yrs sincerely | Wm Laird Clowes'.

Thirty-four Autograph Letters Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Vice-Admiral Sir (Henry) Percy Douglas
Publication details: 
1935-8; on letterheads including 18 Dealtry Road, Putney, and 34 Waterloo Mansions, Dover.
£180.00

British sailor (1876-1939), hydrographer of the Royal Navy (1924-32), inventor of the Douglas Protractor and the Douglas-Appleyard Arcless Sextant. Various formats from 12mo to octavo. Very good, some docketed and/or bearing the Society's stamp. Relating to the business of the Society, and in particular to a lecture by Douglas involving film of the Manchester Ship Canal.

The reformers of the Anglican Church, and Mr. Macaulay's History of England. A postscript.

Author: 
E. C. Harington, Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Exeter. [Thomas Babington Macaulay]
Publication details: 
London: Francis & John Rivington. [...] 1849. 'PLYMOUTH | PRINTED BY LIDSTONE AND BRENDON, | George Lane.'
£75.00

Octavo. 16 pages. Disbound pamphlet from the Churchill Babington collection, and with his ownership inscription (slightly cropped at head) dated June 1849. Very good on slightly discoloured paper, and with first and last pages somewhat grubby. Babington and Macaulay were related.

The Queen v. Palmer. Verbatim Report of the Trial of William Palmer . . . 1856.

Author: 
William Palmer.
Publication details: 
London: J. Allen; Cockshaw & Yates, 1856.
£100.00

326pp., 8vo, half lea. worn and bumped, marbled boards, some damage to spine, contents mainly good but some foxing.

Typed letter signed by Gibson, together with printed copy of the League's thirty-sixth annual report, and unsigned carbon copies of reply from the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
THE LEAGUE OF REMEMBRANCE [Mrs E. H. Gibson (Myra Macindoe Gibson)]
Publication details: 
Gibson's letter, 31 May 1957, on League of Remembrance letterhead; carbon of reply, 3 June 1957. Report printed by 'THE GARDEN CITY PRESS LTD., LETCHWORTH, HERTS.'
£45.00

Mrs Gibson, whose husband was Vice-Chairman of the League, died in 1966. Her letter (one page, quarto, very good apart from rust stain from paperclip) explains that the League is 'at present in temporary premises' and 'without accommodation for its Annual General Meeting' in November ('Her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort is to preside.'), and asks if 'your Society of its kindness, could find it possible to lend a room for the Meeting'. Points out that 'this organisation is over 40 years old', and asks for details of hiring fee. Signed 'Myra Gibson'.

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