[T. H. S. Escott [Thomas Hay Sweet Escott], journalist, newspaper editor (‘The Fortnightly Review’) and biographer of Anthony Trollope.] Six Autograph Letters Signed, mainly concerning autographs for the unnamed recipient’s collection.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The six items - written in the semi-retirement that followed Escott's breakdown in 1885 (Joseph Chamberlain and Lord Randolph Churchill took up a subscription for him) - are in good condition, on lightly aged paper. A total of 12pp, 12mo. Closely written in a well-nigh illegible hand. All six letters are addressed to ‘My dear Sir’ and signed ‘T H S Escott’. Considering the execrable nature of the handwriting, it is ironic that the main topic would appear to be the supplying by Escott of autographs for the recipient’s collection. Names that can be made out are: ‘Miss Helen Henniker’ (‘a very active “Society organizer[”] in London’), the ‘vizier to Ismail’ and ‘Sir John Mowbray MP for Oxford (University)’. A letter of 8 July 1898 begins in unusually readable fashion: ‘Perhaps the autograph of the present head of the Rothschilds may be of interest. It is a curiosity of caligraphy [sic] at least.’ Another legible passage, on 12 July 1898: ‘Lady Stanhope is the great Conservative hostess just now. I add her autograph. & also that of Frederic Harrison’. Also included is an envelope (presumably one of the autographs referred to above) with penny stamp and London postmark, addressed to ‘T. H. Escott. Esq. / 33. Sackville Road. / Hove. / Brighton.’ Also a cutting of a longish article on ‘BYGONE BRIGHTON. / BY T. H. S. ESCOTT.’