Travel and Topography

Fourteen pages, quarto. In letter book by Philpott & Collins (and with their label on front pastedown) On aged paper, with some chipping to extremities, but with text clear and entire, though faded in places. In heavily worn leather half-binding. The first five leaves carry Hale-Helps' dated oval despatch stamp, as Honorary Secretary of the 1896 Volunteers. In ONE (to Viscount Gladstone, 9 March 1914, two pages) Hale-Helps requests that his 'Rhodesian Medal for the 1896' is sent to him.

Pp.[vi].98, 8vo, frontis., plates, original green printed wraps, sunned at edges, wear to spine, contents good. Scarce.

12mo: [xii] + xxiv + 76 pp. In original red cloth boards, with 'FLORES POETARUM BRITANNICORUM.' stamped in gilt on front board. Lightly aged and foxed, in slightly grubby binding, but good and tight. A few marginal notes in a contemporary hand.

8vo: xxiv + 248 pp. At rear is 32-page 'Mr. Murray's General List of Works', dated 'Albemarle Street, London, August, 1896.' In original blue cloth, with illustration of a long ship stamped in gilt on front board. Good tight copy in lightly-worn binding. Inscribed on half-title 'Dufferin and Ava | Clandeboye, Ireland, Nov 22nd., 1897' and 'Lauchlan MacLean Watt | In Iceland with King of Denmark 1907'.

12mo, 3 pp. Good, with traces of previous brown-paper mount adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium. His 'time is too fully occupied' for him 'to attend the meeting of the Aborigines Protection Society'. Discusses the parliamentary prospects of 'Mr. Baines' motion relative to the emigration of certain inhabitants of the Eastern district of the Cape'. 'In the meantime however I hope Mr is aware that he is fully at liberty to call on Mr. <?> the Librarian of this Dept. who is authorized to submit to him Captain Stockenstrom's despatches on this subject'.

[viii].91pp., 8vo, beige printed wraps, worn, sl. sunned, marked, chipped corner at back, discreet repairs to spine and edges, contents good. Scarce.

One page, on back of printed postcard. Very good. Photograph of the Via Appia on reverse. Reads 'Dear Sir | In reply to your request I have pleasure in sending you this'.

One page, octavo. Very good, on lightly aged paper, with embossed blue ink monogram at head. 'Dear Sir | My Sister Isabella, just arrived, tells me you desire my autograph, I have great pleasure in complying with your flattering request. [...]' The blank second leaf of the bifolium is carefully attached to a larger piece of neatly-docketed paper, and has the two newspaper cuttings partially laid down on it. The short Times obituary, dated 17 March 1908, states that 'She must surely have been the last person alive to whom Charles Lamb addressed a poem'.

All items good, though on dusty and aged paper. Five items are addressed to sellers of manuscripts (probably the same individual). ONE (to H. Barker, 23 April 1885, on letterhead of 'The Antiquarian Magazine and Bibliographer', one page, octavo): Asks to be offered Wellesley autographs purchased at a recent Sotheby sale, of which he sent an account to 'The Times', which was 'crowded out'. TWO (to F. Barker, 25 April [1885], 'at T.

4to: 2 pp. Sixteen lines. Good, on lightly aged paper. Thanking Wood for his 'kindly notice of "Historic Jamaica"'. He hopes 'the good people of Jamaica will appreciate the book in time - I spoilt my 1914 holiday to produce it'. Wishes Wood could 'come out to Jamaica in these days of motor cars'. Cars 'make seeing the country very easy - the only drawback is that one goes too fast for seeing the country well'. The 'Examiner for the <?> Board' ('this year it is to be Dr Lloyd') is coming to the island the following month. 'I usually go with the Examiner, to keep him happy!

One page, 8vo, minor stains, good condition, text clear and complete. He explains the arrangement that was made for him to get a copy of a book ("la geographe de Mr. Mattebrun" on the account of M. Buisson). He asks for the volume to be consigned to the "porteur" with a second copy to which he has subscribed.

One page, 8vo, dulled but text clear and complete. Name and address of the bookseller on bifolium, missing a corner, not affecting text. "Ch. Michelot prie M. Aime Andre de lui envoyer le plutot possible [underlined] 1 [nouvel?] exemplaire du dictionnaire geographique Mac carthy".

8vo: 68 pp. In original printed wraps. Good, with light vertical crease to front wrap. Six copies on COPAC, but none at the British Library.

4to: 3 pp. Text clear and entire on creased, chipped airmail paper. A chatty, vivacious and entertaining letter, casting light on the state of mind of an English colonial wife. Thanks her for her 'kind remarks about my stories.

Octavo: 18 pp. Unbound: stabbed and unstitched. First leaf and leaves with pp. 15/16 and 17/18 loose. Leaves with pp.3/4 and 15/16 half-separated. Paper discoloured and chipping at edges. Extends to 918 lots. The odd number of leaves implies the loss of a final leaf, possibly bearing text. Stamp of the Public Library Ford Collection. Docketing in pencil notes a duplicate at the New York Public Library. No other copy traced.

Presumably secretary to his father, Linant Bey. One page, 8vo, good condition, text as follows: "Je viens d'apprendre votre nomination au grade de Bey; je vous prie d'agreer toutes mes felicitations les plus sinceres. Je suis heureux de voir le Gouvernement apprecier et recompenser les services qui lui sont rendus, c'est un encouragement pour nous tous. / Mon pere, a qui j'ai annonce votre nomination, me charge de vous adresser ses compliments."

Disbound, 27pp., cr. 8vo, plus one page of illustrations (four varieties of waterspouts (oceanic phenomenon like tornadoes), minor defects but mainly good condition. The text is mainly in Latin but one substantial footnote is a quotation from an English periodical, and the dedication and another substantial footnote are in Swedish. The footnotes reflect the paucity of material concerning this phenomenon, presumably not mentioning Benjamin Franklin's contribution to the study because it hadn't yet been published (?).

Seven pages. On four skins of vellum, each roughly eleven inches by nine wide. Attached with green ribbon, and with various stamps and two wax seals. Good: lightly aged and creased. The premises are at 77 and 79 North End, Croydon.

Paper dimensions roughly ten and a half inches by eleven and a half; print dimensions eight and a half inches by ten and a half. Aged and with three inch strip, roughly half an inch wide, torn away from surface of print in top left-hand corner. Depicts a crowded and rather grand hall, containing a long horseshoe-shaped table around which are crowded connoisseurs of both sexes contemplating engravings and illustrated books or engaged in discussion. Arti et Amicitiae is an Amsterdam society of artists and art lovers, founded in 1839.

One page, 8vo, good condition. A "Sederunt Book".

Dimensions roughly nine inches by three and a half wide. Creased and somewhat aged, with traces of previous blue paper mount on reverse. The cartoon, which occupies just under the top half, shows three hillbillies watching a fourth chalk crosses onto a farmyard wall, with the caption 'Somebody told him 'bout a old age pension . . . he's practicin' to sign up fer it.' Beneath this 'ATTENTION! | C. A. STONEHILL, Inc. | Rare Books and Manuscripts | IS NOW LOCATED AT | 198 1/2 YORK ST. | SECOND FLOOR | NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT | Come In and Browse'.

LETTER: Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Addressed on verso of second leaf of bifolium. Three postmarks (two in red and one in black ink) and red wax seal. Written after Wilson's appointment as Bishop, but before his departure from Islington, where he was Vicar of St Mary's. Addressing his 'dear friend' he excuses his silence, which is 'merely for the physical impossibility of answering a tenth part of the letters I receive'. His 'house has been over-full - IS now - I have not a bed free | At any time, however, I am to be found at Breakfast at 9 - & shall rejoice to see you'.

On India paper roughly three and a half inches by six and a half wide, mounted on a thick piece of wove paper ten inches by fourteen and a half. Cooke's name is engraved on the illustration, and printed on the mount are the title, Lewis's name and a double ruled border. Good clear impression. The mount is a tad grubby, with foxing to the extremities. Atmospheric representation of a populated pier snaking to the left, with a number of sailing ships and a row boat taking advantage of the low tide nearby. No reference found.

One page, quarto. On lightly creased, aged paper with a few closed tears. Rust marks from paperclip at head. Reads 'Il triangolo della perfezione arte scienza ad amore | [signed] F Matania'.

Author/translator of "La Muse ottomane ou chefs-d'oeuvre de la poésie turque" (Paris, 1853). Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He thanks his correspondent for a copy of "l'Anthologie arabe de M. Grangeret de Lagrange" [first published 1828]. He explains his great interest in the book and the excellent job done by the compiler. He praises his correspondent for enriching the book with Latin and notes which derive from their discussions.

Notebook, soft-covered, c.90pp., 12mo,covers almost detached, contents good. Contents as follows: Table columnised, 5pp., giving details of Dates, Proposed Itinerary, Result; List of things taken "Self" and "Ernest" from clothes to toothbrush to Baedeker to bovril malt (with comments on whether worn, lost, etc.).

Anglo-German engineer (1842-1927), who administered 'a portion of the conquered territory for the German Government' following the Franco-Prussian War, and who, following his naturalisation as a British citizen in 1876, 'invented practically the mono-rail, now known as the High Speed Mono-Rail System, and obtained two acts of Parliament for the construction of the Manchester and Liverpool Electric Express Railway in 1901 and 1902' ('Who was Who'). No items by this important figure are present in the British Library Department of Manuscripts.

Minister of Public Works, with a key role in the building of the Suez Canal. The document, numbered No.39 top left corner, is three pages, folio, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He reminds his correspondent that "Son Altesse le Khedive" has appointed him "ministere des travaux publics" four months previously. He discusses "le reglement" by which decisions were to be made and the situation he finds himself in, "ne sachant au juste sur quoi appuyer mes actes officielle, je ne puis plus longtemps rester dans la vague, qui empeche toute administration.

French adventurer (esp. in Madagascar). One page, 8vo, good condition. Text as follows: Je vais m'embarquer dans un moment. Je vous ecrirai longuement de Messina ou d'Alexandrie. Je ne passe pas par Malta - je vous [?] d'Aden ce que vous me demandez. / Mes hommages respetueux a les Dames . . . [postscript] J'ai laisse les choses dans la meme etat je n'ai pas fait faire de nouvelles procurations [Orobin?] . . .

Topographer and map-maker, author of "Atlas Universel de Geographie Ancienne et Moderne, precede d’un abrege de Geographie Physique et Historique" (author = Colonel au Corps Royal d’Etat-Major, Ancien Directeur du Cabinet Topographique du Roi, Chef de la Section Topographique du Ministere de la Guerre, Chevalier de Saint-Louis, Officier de la Legion-d’Honneur et Commandeur de L’Ordre Grec du Sauveur; et M. Lapie Fils, Captaine au Corps Royal d’Etat-Major, Ancien eleve de l’Ecole Polytechnique). Document, three pages, folio, some defects but clear and complete. In French.