Literature

[The Caxton Publishing Company, London.] Publisher's sample and subscription book for the Melrose Edition of the Waverley Novels of Sir Walter Scott, with examples of cloth and leather bindings, illustrations, title-pages, and subscription lists.

Author: 
The Caxton Publishing Company, London; Sir Walter Scott
Publication details: 
[London: The Caxton Publishing Company, Clun House, Surrey Street, W.C. 1890s?
£180.00

8vo, in worn and damaged black cloth. Three sample spines in green cloth are laid down on the front free endpaper, and three sample brown leather spines gilt on the rear pastedown.

[Inscribed copy.] Trial of a Judge. A tragedy in five acts.

Author: 
Stephen Spender
Publication details: 
London: Faber and Faber Limited. 1938.
£80.00

115pp., 8vo. In red cloth binding. No dustwrapper. Aged, with back hinge sprung and one bumped corner at the back. Excellent inscription by Spender on the front free endpaper, in which he describes the history of the composition of the play: 'To And | with love from | Stephen. | March 16 1938. | This play begun January 1933, at Barcelona, partly written in January 1937 in Madrid & Albacete, and finished January 1938 in London, is almost a record of our friendships through five years.'

[Charles Lever, London solicitor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Chas: Lever.') [to Thomas Wright?], subscribing to the newly-formed Camden Society, and making suggestions regarding 'the proposed undertaking'.

Author: 
Charles Lever, London solicitor [Thomas Wright (1810-1877), antiquary, Secretary of the Camden Society]
Publication details: 
10 King's Road, Bedford Row [London]. 2 April 1838.
£145.00

1p., 4to. 22 lines of text. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of mount on reverse.

[Inscribed copy.] Acis & Galataea, or The Beau ! the Belle !! and the Blacksmith !!! A Piece of Oxford Extravagance. Written for the Annual Dramatic Performance at the Victoria Theatre, Oxford, December, 1869, in aid of the Radcliffe Infirmary.

Author: 
[Thomas Forder Plowman (1844-1919)]
Publication details: 
Oxford: Slatter & Rose, High Street. 1869. [Oxford: Printed by E. W. Morris, Jun.]
£120.00

[4] + 43pp., 12mo. Stabbed as issued. An attractive and elegantly-printed little book. Internally very good, on lightly-aged paper, loose in worn light-brown calf binding, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, back hinge sprung. Stamped in gilt on the front cover: 'ACIS & GALATAEA | A PIECE OF OXFORD EXTRAVAGANCE | BY | T. F. PLOWMAN'. Inscribed on fly-leaf: 'H. W. Chapman, Esq. | with the author's sincerest regards. | 1869.' A scarce item: only three copies on COPAC, at Oxford, Cambridge and the British Library, all three of which attribute this anonymous work to Plowman.

[John Evelyn, diarist and author.] Manuscript transcription [by his descendant W. F. Evelyn?], of the unpublished manuscript 'Testamentum in Procinctu', addressed to his son as he was about to go to Ireland.

Author: 
John Evelyn (1620-1706), diarist and author [William John Evelyn (1822-1908) of Sayes Court]
Publication details: 
Evelyn's original dated 10 August 1692; this transcript c. 1880.
£950.00

85pp., foolscap 8vo, on the rectos of 85 leaves. On laid paper with Stowford Mills watermark dated 1874. In a notebook with contemporary brown calf half-binding, with marbled boards and endpapers. Pencil notes regarding provenance precede the text: 'Evelyn MSS. Unpublished (?) | Copy by W. J. Evelyn (?) | Ex Joanna Booth | Ex Christies Evelyn Sale. | pencil MS Note verso p.32 in W. J. E.'s ordinary hand | See note | Transcript of unpublished Evelyn mss. c 1880.' Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding.

[Desmond Flower.] Three Autograph Catalogues of his book collections: first, 'MSS., autograph letters, first & early editions by & relating to François Marie Arouet de Voltaire'; second and third, 'French Literature in first and early editions'.

Author: 
Desmond Flower [Desmond John Newman Flower] (1907-1997), director of London publishers Cassell & Co, 1931-1971, and book collector [Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) (1694-1778)]
Publication details: 
Neither catalogue with place or date. [London, from the 1940s?]
£420.00

All three items in very good condition, in superior bindings. ONE (Voltaire catalogue): Written out by Flower in his neat, calligraphic hand, on the rectos only of 102 leaves, 8vo, with some blanks. In very good condition, in a lightly-wrn red morocco quarter binding, with grey boards and gilt title on spine. Entries are short and businesslike, as the following two examples indicate: 'Commentaire sur le livre des Délits et des Peines, s.l., 1766. Bengesco 1724. pp. viii + 120. A pretty copy in contemporary scarlet morocco. Ex libris Mortimer L. Schiff. | Ditto, s.l., 1766. pp. 104 + iii.

[In illustrated wraps.] Medley! By Cuthbert Bede, B.A. Author of "Motley;" "Verdant Green;" &c &c.

Author: 
Edward Bradley (1827-1889), humorist under the pseudonym 'Cuthbert Bede'
Publication details: 
London: James Blackwood, Paternoster Row. 1856.
£280.00

114pp., 12mo. In wraps printed in green and red, with striking illustration of jester bursting through the front cover, and advertisements on the rear. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn wraps. Frontispiece, engraved title, and numerous illustrations in text. A collection of nineteen pieces in prose and verse, with such titles as 'A Chat concerning a Couple of Chairs' and 'Mephistophiles at Malvern'. Scarce: the only copies on COPAC at the British Library and Durham.

[Rev. William Parr Greswell, bibliographer.] Autograph Note in the third person, informing the Manchester bookseller William Ford of the 'imperfections he observed' in Musgrave's edition of Euripides. With Autograph Note Signed ('W. F.') by Ford.

Author: 
Rev. William Parr Greswell (c.1765-1854), bibliographer; William Ford (1771-1832), Manchester bookseller and print dealer
Publication details: 
Neither the Greswell nor the Ford with place or date.
£95.00

Greswell's letter is 1p., landscape 12mo; with Ford's note on one side of reverse. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with small central spike hole made by recipient. Greswell's letter is written in a neat, attractive hand, and begins: 'Mr. W. P. Greswell requested J. G. to compare the Glasgow Copy of Euripides with Musgrave's Edition after which it is printed & to let Mr.

[George Chalmers, Scottish antiquary; and Rev. Samuel Harper, Under-Librarian at the British Museum.] Autograph memorandum by Chalmers of 'Notes of Documents', on reverse of Autograph third person Note from Harper to him, regarding the Reading Room.

Author: 
Rev. Samuel Harper (1732-1803), FRS, Under-Librarian of Printed Books at the British Museum; George Chalmers (1742-1825), Scottish antiquary, Chief Clerk in the Plantation Office of the Privy Council
Publication details: 
Harper's note dated 'British Museum | Wednesd. May 1. [no year]'. Chalmer's memorandum without place or date.
£90.00

Harper's note is on the recto of the first leaf of a 4to bifolium, addressed by him to 'George Chalmers Esqr' on the reverse of the second leaf, which is docketted by Chalmers 'Notes of Documents from - 1760/67'.. Chalmer's memorandum is written lengthwise and upwards on the reverse of the first leaf. In good condition, on aged paper. Harper's note reads: 'Mr. Harper presents his Respects to Mr. Chalmers with many Thanks for the kind Notice with which he is pleased to honour him. | The Reading Room will be open to Mr. Chalmers whenever he finds it agreeable to avail himself of it'.

[Presentation copy from the author to his daughter.] A Vision of England and other Poems.

Author: 
John Rickards Mozley [J. R. Mozley] of King's College, Cambridge, nephew of John Henry Newman
Publication details: 
London: Richard Bentley and Son, Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen. 1898.
£120.00

[9] + 142 pp., 8vo. In original green cloth, gilt. A good copy, on aged paper, in lightly-worn binding. Inscribed on the front free endpaper: 'E. Mozley | from her father J. R. Mozley | Feb 19. 1898'.

[Two 'Répertoire Lecombe' French First World War lyrics, printed on one handbill.] 'Verdun on ne passe pas! Marche populaire.' and 'Ce sont les Yeux'.

Author: 
[Jules Cazol; Eugène Joullot; René Mercier; Lecombe; the Battle of Verdun, 1916]
Publication details: 
'Imp. F. LAMBERT, Marché-au-Charbon, 12, Brux' [Brussels, Belgium; circa 1917.
£120.00

2pp., 4to. On a single leaf, both sides of which are headed 'Répertoire Lecombe'. Printer's slug at foot of 'Verdun on ne passe pas!' Both lyrics printed in two columns (no score to either). In good condition, on aged and worn high-acidity paper. 'Ce sont les Yeux' begins: 'Chacun dans la vie cherche son idéal.' The 'Dernier Refrain' reads: 'Et bien des yeux de mère, | Sont tournés vers la frontière | Où là-bas leurs chers petits enfants | Pour sauver la France donnent leur sang.

[Rev. R. H. Barham's autograph antiquarian notes in William Courthope's book:] Synopsis of the Extinct Baronetage of England; Containing the Date of the Creation, with the Succession of Baronets, and their respective Marriages and Time of Death.

Author: 
William Courthope; Rev. R. H. Barham [Rev. Richard Harris Barham, 'Thomas Ingoldsby'] (1788-1845) [William Hardy]
Publication details: 
Book published by J., G., and F. Rivington, St. Paul's Church Yard, and Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London. 1835.
£220.00

xii + 256 pp. Autograph inscription on title-page: 'William Hardy | Nov. 5. 1850 - | N.B. the corrections are by the hand of the Revd. R. H. Barham | The extinct Peerage at the end is not part of this Synopsis'. (Bound in at the end of the volume is a sixteen-page printed list of 'The Dormand and Extinct Peerages of England'.) Barham is listed (p.vii) among the subscribers to the work. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn red leather library half-binding, with front hinge sprung and front free endpaper and half-title detached.

[Periodical, abortive; John Clare] The English Journal: A Miscellany of Literature, Science, and the Fine Arts

Author: 
Cyrus Redding, Editor and Contributor
Publication details: 
Vol.I (all published), nos. 1-26, January to June 1841: London: How and Parsons, 132, Fleet Street, 1841.
£1,500.00

Title, ii [Index], 412pp., cr. 8vo, hf-cf, sp. gt, marbled boads, raised bands, leather scuffed, top of spine damaged, hinge strain inside front cover, contents good. Bookplate of John Ribton Garstin (see note below). This short-lived periodical is notable for its distinguished contributors (Miss Mitford, Horace Smith, Douglas Jerrold, George Hogarth, Mrs S.C. Hall Redding himself "Etc. Etc".

[William Sibbald, MD, Deputy Assistant-Inspector to Ceylon [Sri Lanka].] Manuscript of folk tale titled 'The History of Santirakasem | a free translation from the Tamal [sic]'.

Author: 
[William Sibbald (1789-1853), Scottish British army physician [in the Peninsular, at New Orleans, Mauritius, and Maidstone, Kent] and Deputy Assistant-Inspector to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [Circa 1844?]
£400.00

30pp., 4to. On seven bifoliums and one single leaf, the bioliums stitched to one another. With several watermarks of J. Whatman, Turkey Mill, all dated to 1844. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Sibbald is not named, but the item is from his papers, and in his hand. Sibbald was in Ceylon between 1818 and 1833. There is no indication that this item has been published.

[Dickens first edition, in original binding.] Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by "Boz." With illustrations by George Cruikshank. In two volumes.

Author: 
"Boz" [Charles Dickens], ed.; Joseph Grimaldi; Richard Bentley
Publication details: 
London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street. 1838. [London: Printed by Samuel Bentley, Dorset Street, Fleet Street.]
£500.00

2 vols: xix + [1] + 288; ix + 263. With frontispieces to both volumes (both with tissue guards) and the eleven other plates called for. First edition, first issue, with the plate facing p.238 of vol.2 in its first state (without the 'grotesque' border), and the 36-page undated publisher's catalogue bound-in at the end of vol.2. In primary binding of pink cloth with floral pattern, and the gilt titles on the spine held up by an image of a clown.

[Roger Ingpen of the London publishers Ingpen & Grant.] Typed Letter Signed ('Roger Ingpen') to John G. Wilson of the London booksellers Messrs Bumpus, regarding E. H. W. Meyerstein's 'Life of Chatterton'.

Author: 
Roger Ingpen [Roger Edric Ingpen] (1867-1936) of publishers Ingpen & Grant [John G. Wilson (1876-1963) of booksellers J. & E. Bumpus Ltd; E. H. W. Meyerstein (1889-1952), scholar and poet]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Ingpen & Grant, Publishers, 37 Museum Street, London WC1. 14 October 1930.
£60.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. He announces the publication of 'a book of outstanding literary importance, namely Meyerstein's "Life of Chatterton". Meyerstein is undoubtedly the greatest living authority on this subject, and his book, the result of nine years original research, contains much unpublished material. I believe it will be recognised as the standard work on Chatterton for many years to come.' He states that he has 'put a great deal of money and time into this book', and asks Wilson to help him 'make it a success'.

[John Gere, Keeper of Prints and Drawings, British Museum.] Autograph transcriptions of 16 communications from E. H. W. Meyerstein, with unpublished poem by Gere on his death and other matter. With a copy of Watson's selection of Meyerstein's letters

Author: 
John Gere (1921-1995), Keeper, Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum; E. H. W. Meyerstein [Edward Harry William Meyerstein] (1889-1952), scholar and poet; Rowland Watson
Publication details: 
Watson's book: London: Neville Spearman, 1959. The other material dating from the 1940s and 1950s.
£180.00

One: Holograph poem by Gere in red ink on slip of paper. Apparently unpublished, it reads: 'I.M. E.HWM | buried Hampstead 18. 9. '52 | Grave scholar of a Grays Inn cell, | Gay naturalist of Norfolk fen, | Divion [sic, corrected in pencil to 'Division'] now ordains farewell. | I shall not see your like again. | JG'. Items Two to Seventeen: Sixteen transcriptions of letters and notes from Meyerstein to John Gere (as 'J G'). Each on a separate piece or slip of paper, and all written out in red ink.

[Printed volume, with autograph poem from Meyerstein presenting the volume to Mrs Margaret Scott-Snell.] Wade's Boat. By E. H. W. Meyerstein.

Author: 
E. H. W. Meyerstein [Edward Harry William Meyerstein] (1889-1952), scholar and poet [Mrs. Margaret Scott-Snell, mother of the author and illustrator Edward Scott-Snell (latterly Edward Godwin)]
Publication details: 
London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, W. [London] 1921. ['Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury, England.']
£120.00

[2] + 77pp., small 4to. A good tight copy, on lightly-aged paper, with foxing to pp.40-41. In original lightly-worn grey paper boards, with white printed labels on cover and spine. Autograph correction by Meyerstein on p.72. Meyerstein's autograph presentation poem is on the front free endpaper, and is dated by him, in decorative style, to 1949.

[Printed book.] Seraphine. By E. H. W. Meyerstein | Author of "Terence Duke".

Author: 
E. H. W. Meyerstein [Edward Harry William Meyerstein] (1889-1952), scholar and poet
Publication details: 
London: Richards [The Richards Press Limited], 10 Paternoster Square, EC4. 1936.
£20.00

362 + [1]pp., 8vo. Advertisement on final page for Meyerstein's 'Terence Duke'. A fair copy, on lightly-aged paper, in worn original orange cloth binding, and lacking the dustwrapper.

[Presentation copy by E. H. W. Meyerstein.] The Boy. A Modern Poem. [With pencil note by Meyerstein: 'One of thirteen copies printed by mistake on large paper, and uncut.']

Author: 
E. H. W. Meyerstein [Edward Harry William Meyerstein] (1889-1952), scholar and poet
Publication details: 
London: Ingpen & Grant, 12 Bury Street, London WC1. 1928.
£120.00

62pp., 8vo. In good condition, on aged paper, in dulled black cloth binding with chipped printed label. Presentation inscription by Meyerstein on front free endpaper: 'J. A Petheridge | with the writer's kind regards. | Aug. 13. 1928'. Pencil note (probably also by Meyerstein) on front pastedown: 'One of thirteen copies printed by mistake on large paper, and uncut.'

[Printed periodical, in original illustrated wraps.] The Month. A View of passing Subjects and Manners, Home and Foreign, Social and General. By Albert Smith & John Leech. [Issues I, II, III and V.]

Author: 
Albert Smith [Albert Richard Smith] (1816-1860), editor; John Leech (1817-1864), illustrator [Bradbury & Evans, Printers, Whitefriars]
Publication details: 
Published at the Office of 'The Month,' No. 3, Whitefriars Street. [Bradbury & Evans, Printers, Whitefriars.] [Issues I, II, III and V, dated July, August, September and November 1851.]
£180.00

16mo, with the first three issues continuously paginated to 240, and issue V paginated 321-400. Each volume with a frontispiece by Leech, and numerous illustrations by him in text. Three of the four issues (I, III and V) with an initial four-pages of advertisements, and more advertisements on the wraps. The four volumes in fair condition, on aged paper, in worn wraps, with the first volume lacking its spine. Each with the small and neat ownership inscription of 'L Jackson' in the top right-hand corner of its front wrap.

[R. A. Austen-Leigh.] ALS and TLS to P. C. Vellacott, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, regarding historical queries; TLS from Austen-Leigh to C. H. K. Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton, with Marten's ALS reply on reverse. With draft of Vellacott letter

Author: 
R. A. Austen-Leigh [Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh] (1872-1961), Jane Austen scholar and relative [P. C. Vellacott, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge; Sir Henry Marten (1872-1948), Provost of Eton College]
Publication details: 
One (ALS to Vellacott): As from D2 Albany, Piccadilly W1. 3 May 1942. Two (TLS to Vellacott): on letterhead of 1 New-street Square, London, EC4. 10 June 1942. Three (TLS to Marten): same as Two. Four (Marten to Austen-Leigh): Eton. 11 August 1942.
£120.00

Austen-Leigh's three letters are all signed 'R A Austen Leigh'. ONE: ALS to Vellacott. 3 May 1942; 'as from | D2 Albany | Piccadilly W.1'. 2pp., 12mo. He asks if Vellacott can 'enlighten me on the following point - I am editing some letters of Dr. Goodall, who was Provost of Eton 1809 to 1840. There follows a sixteen-line transcript of a letter written in May 1838 from Goodall to his brother, regarding which he writes: 'Who would Mr.

[The Market Street Workhouse, Brighton, Sussex.] Manuscript titled 'A prayer for the poor in the poor House at Brighton'. With note by the author written 38 years later, lamenting the lack of improvement in conditions.

Author: 
[The Market Street Workhouse, Brighton, Sussex]
Publication details: 
Place not stated. February 1801.
£120.00

2pp., 8vo. The prayer is 39 lines long. In fair condition, on aged and worn laid paper with 'GATER' watermark. The prayer begins: 'O. Lord - O.

[Booklet; Ballantyne Press] Edinburgh Exhibitiuon 1886 | Printing as in the Olden Time at the Ballantyne Press Olde Streete | CATALOGUE

Author: 
[Ballantyne Press; Walter Scott]
Publication details: 
The Ballantyne Press | Ballantyne & Hanson, Edinburgh London, [1886]
£95.00

Booklet, [16pp., 16mo, inc. paper covers. foxing, mainly good condition. Two copies listed on COPAC, Edinburgh and the National Library of Scotland.

[Observations made at the Philosophical Society of London in 1815] Autograph Letter Signed "Thos Tucker" to Thos Winkworth (from address panel)

Author: 
Thomas Tucker, council member of the Philosophical Society of London in Coleridge's day.
Publication details: 
115 Chancery Lane, [London], 23 Sept. 1815 [the auctioneers, Hodgson's later occupied these premises, but perhaps the addres indicates Tucker was a lawyer]
£200.00

Three pages, 4to, fold marks, some chipping and closed tears, mainly discreetly repaired, but text complete and clear. He is responding to Winkworth's request for "an outline of the observations I had the honour to address to the PSL [Philosophical Society of London] on thursday last but fear [...]" Points made as follows. "Ist All philosophers agree that man is characterized as an improveable being [...] 2nd THere is no science that is not capabale of additions no Art that [...] 3rd.

[Printed Play] The Garrulous Lady

Author: 
K.M. Briggs [Katharine Mary Briggs] Folklorist.
Publication details: 
The Golden Vista Press, Fetter House, Fetter Lane, London, EC4, 1931.
£120.00

29pp., 16mo, paper wraps (covered in tissue), very good condition. Three copies on COPAC (copyright libraries) and three on WorldCat (USA). Scarce.

[The Royal Visit to Reading, 1870.] Printed handbill poem headed 'New Version to an Old Nursery Rhyme', and beginning 'Sing a song of Thousand Guineas', an attack on the mayor Peter Spokes, on the foundation of the new Grammar School.

Author: 
[Royal Visit to Reading, 1870; Queen Victoria; Sir Peter Spokes (1830-1910) of Redlands, Mayor of Reading]
Reading
Publication details: 
Without place or date [Reading, Berkshire; 1870].
£120.00
Reading

1p., 12mo. On trimmed wove paper. Aged and worn, with traces of mount on reverse. 24 lines, arranged in six four-line stanzas, beneath the title 'New Version to an Old Nursery Rhyme.' The poem - based on 'Sing a song of sixpence' - begins: 'Sing a song of Thousand Guineas, | Pockets full of brass; | Rate-payer's money's nought to me, | I'll squander it like an ass. | Sing a song of Royal Visit, | Ain't I a man of sense | To shake hands and sit with Royalty, | At Rate-payers expence.

[Horatio/Horace Smith] Autograph Note Signed to Lady Stepney accepting an invitation to dinner.

Author: 
Horace Smith] Horatio Smith, poet.
Publication details: 
12 Cavendish Place [London], Monday [no date].
£45.00

One page, 12mo, crupled but text clear and complete: "I shall have very great pleasure in diding with your Ladyship on Monday next - & some of the Ladies will be most happy to follow me in the evening. [...]" Note: joint author of 'Rejected Addresses'.

[Geologist] Autograph Letter Signed "John Carrick Moore" to Lady Eastlake, born Elizabeth Rigby, author, art critic and art historian, on W.E. Gladstone's scholarship [Prime Minister].

Author: 
John Carrick Moore (1805-98), geologist
Publication details: 
113 Eaton Square, Saturday [no date given].
£80.00

Four pages, 12mo, closely written, good condition. "Your approval of my criticism on the '[?] of Hector' has greatly gratified me. Gladstone is twenty fold a better Grecian than S.C.M., but he is crochetty, and a crochetty man sees what no one else sees, and refuses to see the palpable. I have not seen his colour blindness paper: but ifd he says there is no 'blue' in the Iliad he is distinctly wrong.

[Eden Philpotts] Two Autograph Postcards signed "E.P." to Lewis Wynne, Welsh poet.

Author: 
Eden Philpotts (1862-1960), English novelist, author of many works about Dartmoor and his native Devon [Helen Allingham]
Publication details: 
Torquay, 9 and 19 Feb. 1929.
£60.00

Postcards, c.11 x 9cm, some smudging but mainly good condition, text clear and complete. Postcard One: "Dear Mr Wynne, | Very best thanks for your valued gift: a fine & distinguished poem."; Postcard 2: "[...] | The books can be got separately & there are cheap editions of those two books any bookseller can secure for you for 2/- & 2/6 each. | I'm afraid London has had enough of my plays. My daughter's paly is not about [?] folk." Two items,

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