Search the catalogue

Search results

Author, Title, Summary	Subject	Price
Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984), Poet Laureate and popular broadcaster and public figure [Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate.] Autograph Signature on scrap of paper torn from typewritten letter. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged. Good firm attractive signature ‘John Betjeman.’On irregularly-shaped corner (approximately 9 x 7 cm) torn from a letter on cartridge paper. Reads ‘[...] pho[...] / [...]ed to se[...] / [...] author in this [...] / never be too...		£25.00
Charles Reade (1814-1884), popular Victorian novelist and playwright [Magdalen College, Oxford] [Charles Reade, popular Victorian novelist and playwright.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Alderman Spiers', regretting that he 'cannot dine out of College', but stating that he will 'look in'. Reade was a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1836 to his death. According to his entry in the Oxford DNB: ‘in the years of his fame, and particularly in the early 1860s, he did much of his writing in his rooms at Magdalen, using them as a retreat. His tenure of the fellowship was...		£50.00
William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), Warden of New College, Oxford, who gave his name to the 'spoonerism' [Eponym of the 'Spoonerism': William Archibald Spooner, Warden of New College, Oxford.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear old Lee' See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Addressed to 'Dear old Lee' and signed 'W A Spooner -'. He explains that he and his colleagues thought Lee's 'testimonials & references very good, as you may gather from our having put you on...		£56.00
Sydney Smith (1771-1845), ‘The Smith of Smiths’, English cleric, author and celebrated wit ['four thousand Years of amusement': Sydney Smith, ‘The Smith of Smiths’, cleric, author and celebrated wit.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs. William Smith', itemising the pleasures that some persons might be punished with hereafter for their sins. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On recto of first leaf of bifolium, the verso of the second leaf addressed, with two postmarks, to 'Mrs. William Smith / Park Street / Westminster'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Annotations in pencil in a modern hand. He begins by...		£85.00
The Duke of Wellington [Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington] (1769-1852), conqueror of the French in the Peninsular War, and of Napoleon Bonaparte at Waterloo; two-time Tory Prime Minister [The Great Duke of Wellington, conqueror of Napoleon at Waterloo, and two-time Tory Prime Minister.] Manuscript Letter in the third person, apparently written by a secretary. One of the great figures in world history. See his entries in Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Oxford DNB. On one side of piece of laid paper rougly 11 cm squarer, with partial watermark ‘J G’. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with traces of mount on blank reverse. Folded twice....	History	£80.00
Sydney Smirke (1797-1877), RA, architect of the British Museum Reading Room [E. W. Cooke [Edward William Cooke] (1811-80), RA, marine painter; Vernon Heath (c.1819-95), photographer] [Sydney Smirke, RA, architect of the British Museum Reading Room.] Autograph Letter Signed to fellow Royal Academician Edward William Cooke, regarding a photograph by Vernon Heath. See Smirke’s entry, and those of Cooke and Heath, in the Oxford DNB. His most celebrated design is the Reading Room of the British Museum. 2pp, 12mo. With monogram and mourning border. On first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Begins: ‘My dear Sir, /...		£50.00
William Windham (1750-1810) of Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, Whig statesman noted for his oratory [William Windham of Felbrigg Hall, Whig statesman.] Autograph Signature to secretarial letter, regarding 'the Ballot for the Norfolk Petition'. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Although Windham was elected as member for the county of Norfolk in the general election of 1806, the election was declared void on petition. In fair condition, lightly aged, attached to neatly-trimmed border of windowpane mount. With creases from folding. Reads...		£50.00
Winston Graham [Winston Mawdsley Graham, born Grime] (1908-2003), English novelist, author of the hugely-popular ‘Poldark’ series of Cornish historical novels [Inscribed book; Winston Graham, author of the ‘Poldark’ series of Cornish historical novels.] Long Autograph Inscription Signed, for Arthur Lyne (author re. Truro), to his book 'The Tumbled House'. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Book: 351 + [1]pp, 8vo. In original green boards, with lettering on spine and monogram 'WG' on cover in silver. No dustwrapper. Worn copy, with foxed and grubby pages. However the front free endpaper, carrying the inscription is clean, and the inscription reads...		£90.00
Sir Samuel Morton Peto (1809-1889), civil engineer, railway contractor and Radical Liberal Member of Parliament, George Borrow’s ‘Mr Flamson’ [The man Brunel called the largest railway contractor in the world: Sir Samuel Morton Peto, civil engineer, railway contractor and MP.] Autograph Letter in the third person to Lady Hooker, regarding ‘the next Election of the Idiot Asylum'. See his entry in the Oxford DNB: ‘In the 1840s Peto had thirty-three railway contracts worth £20 million, the largest number held in the kingdom; according to Brunel he was the largest contractor in the world.’ 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. Begins: ‘Sir Morton...		£75.00
Solly Sachs [Emil Solomon Sachs] (1900-1976), South African trade unionist and anti-apartheid campaigner, exiled in England from 1953 [Philip Dosse of Hansom Books, publisher of 'Books and Bookmen'] [Israel; Solly Sachs [Emil Solomon Sachs], South African anti-apartheid campaigner, exiled in England.] Typed Letter Signed, thanking Philip Dosse of ‘Books and Bookmen’ for his offer to publish ‘our “Open Letter” to the Prime Minister of Israel’. 27 February 1975. On letterhead of the Committee for Peace in the Middle East. From the papers of Philip Dosse (1925-1980), proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally...		£120.00