[ Stephen Isaacson Tucker. ] Bound volume with 62 Autograph Letters Signed by Tucker (as 'Rouge Croix' and 'Somerset') and 9 Autograph Letters Signed by Charles Bridger, all to the genealogist John A. C. Vincent, on matters of genealogical interest.

Bound up on stubs in brown leather half-binding, grey cloth boards, with 'SOMERSET HERALD | S. TUCKER' on spine. Ownership inscription of Alex Thomson Grant, the Red House, Wemyss Castle, Fife, 1909. The contents in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, in heavily-worn binding. 81 items on stubs, mainly comprising 62 letters by Tucker, 16 as 'Rouge Croix', 1874-1880 (with additional receipt by him); and 46 as 'Somerset', 1880-1887. A few of Tucker's letters signed with his name (as 'Stephen Tucker | R. C.'), but most with his title only. A few of Tucker's later letters written by secretaries, and signed by him. Also present are 9 letters from Charles Bridger, 14 Regent Square, WC [London], 1874-1878, and one letter apiece, both from 1887, from Joseph Bain of Fulham, and Ernest Arthur Ebblewhite (1867-1947) of the Heralds College. Bain's letter (7 January 1887) informs Vincent of Tucker's death and the circumstances surrounding it, adding 'Mr Tucker will be a loss in the official heraldic world & in Society too. For he had the gift of impressing people who on first acquaintance were disposed to take exception to his style. My acquaintance with him has been more or less frequent for 15 or 20 years, arising out of meetings at the Archaeological Institute.' Written out on one letter from Tucker is a transcription by Vincent of a letter from Lady Constance Russell, 15 January 1885, regarding 'the ownership of Swallowfield Park' (a subject about which she would write a book). The remaining handful of items are genealogical notes. Bridger and Vincent were both authors of several genealogical works, with Vincent a contributor to 'The Genealogist'. An interesting correspondence, with Bridger and Tucker giving information and requesting assistance in researches, for which Vincent was paid by Tucker, who occasionally expresses exasperation at Vincent's slowness. On 23 February 1884 he writes: 'Dear Mr. Vincent | I know that to those who, like yourself, are Almighty - a thousand years are but as one day - nevertheless ordinary mortals do pester for a completion of their work - and I am driven to disturb the sitting Hen and to ask you when you can think of my behests and your promise'. And on 18 April 1884: 'I need not say that I shall be only too glad if you will finish my Grey Inquisitions for I had made up my mind that we should both become grey ourselves before their finality was reached.' Topics, as noted by Vincent and Tucker at the head of letters, include 'Grey Inquisitions', 'Green', 'Leete', 'Franklyn', 'Primrose', 'Kelland', 'Primrose & Yea', 'Trevilian', 'Bulkeley', 'Grosvenor | Cholmeley', 'as to Burrell, Rowley and others', 'Tucker', 'Backhouse', 'Penicoke', 'Swallowfield', 'Rowley - Brassey | Durham - Hughes', 'Rouland Gravener', 'Brophy Peerage'.