[James Glaisher, aeronaut and meteorologist.] Two Unsigned Autograph Drafts: the first of Letter to ‘Mrs Wallis’ on ‘English legislation against Sunday trading’; the second with reference to the Fabian Society.

See Glaisher’s entry in the Oxford DNB. The story of Glaisher’s balloon flights is travestied in the 2019 film ‘The Aeronaut’, with his co-pilot Henry Tracey Coxwell being replaced by the fictional female character ‘Amelia Wren’. The object of the ascents, made on behalf of the British Association between 1862 and 1866, was to carry out scientific observations in such matters as the variation in temperature and humidity of the atmosphere at high elevations. On 5 September 1862 the coal-gas-filled balloonof Glaisher and Coxwell broke the world flight altitude record, reaching 30,000 to 36,000 ft (9,000 to 11,000 m). The present items are unsigned autograph drafts from Glaisher’s papers, both with deletions and emendations. ONE: Unsigned Autograph Draft of letter to ‘Mrs. Wallis’ from the offices of the Photographic Society of Great Britain, of which Glaisher was President, dated 18 May 1900. 4pp, 12mo. On bifolium. In very good condition, lightly aged. In answer to her letter, he begins with a review of ‘English legislation against Sunday trading’, beginning with a reference to a statute of 1443. A bill being put before Parliament has ‘no chance of passing and will probably be withdrawn’, and ‘of course is a renewed attempt to introduce Sunday labor - which should be opposed tooth and nail’. TWO: Part of Unsigned Autograph Draft to unnamed recipient, and without date or place. An intriguing fragment beginning: ‘So much for me. / Now for yourself. I am disappointed. You started out so splendidly. I want you to grow; to take the position which you ought if we are to get the best out of you.’ He urges the recipient to ‘get help: don’t rely on yourself quite so much’. Later he writes: ‘The Fabian Society has “principles” or it couldn’t hold together. You have “principles” - It is only a matter of expression’.