AYLMER

See his entry, and that of Ross, in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo, on first leaf of bifolium. Aged and worn, with small sections torn away at top corners, damaging the first letter of the text. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to ?Captn. Ross.? Neatly written in an elegant hand with a good firm signature. Unusually punctuated. The letter presumably relates to botanical illustrations made during Ross?s Antarctic explorations, from 1839 onwards. Reads: ?My Dear Sir / There are some friends of mine Lord Mountnorris & his Sister & The King & Queen of New Zealand.

15pp., folio. Stapled. In light-green printed wraps. With black and white photographic frontispiece illustration of 'West Dereham Abbey'; and coloured 50 x 76 cm. fold-out 'Plan of Estates at West Dereham, Norfolk, for Sale by Auction by Salter, Simpson & Sons in comnjunction with Messrs. Bidwell 1894', by 'Alger & Son, Litho. Diss'. Aged, worn and creased, with rusted staples, and map with closed tear and fraying to its outer edge. Containing descriptions of the twenty-five lots into which the estate is divided for the purposes of the sale ('The Estate, containing 1170a. 2r.

8pp., 8vo. Stapled pamphlet. Aged, worn and creased. Photograph (by 'Swaine') of author in uniform on front cover, and 'Introductory Note' on p.2, beginning: 'General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, K.C.B., D.S.O., was elected Member of Parliament for North Ayrshire last year, and he delivered his maiden speech in the debate on the Military Service Bill (Man-Power) in the House of Commons on January 24th, 1918.

The certificate is 1p., 4to, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium. It reads: 'I hereby Certify that on the twenty-first day of April, One Thousand Eight hundred & sixty five, Walter Stevenson Davidson of No. 16 St. James's Street, Esquire, is a registered Proprietor in the Books of the Peel River Land & Mineral Company Limited of Sixty five thousand pounds (£65,000) Consolidated Stock. | C. A. Aylmer. | Secy.' The recto of the second leaf carries the following: '21st. Apl 1865 | Memo. | Mr.

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of mount on reverse. Copperplate letterhead reading: 'Bought of Willm. Wood, | (Successor to Mr. Floyer.) | Bookseller, 428, Strand.' The receipt is headed by Wood '- Aylmer Esqr:' and reads: '1816 | Novr: 5 Turtons Linnaeus 7 Vol: £5 - - | Packing Case 0 3s 0 | [total] £5 3s 0d | Settled Novr: 4. W. Wood'. On reverse, in another hand: 'Paid for Sir R. Kennedy | £5 ..0 .. 0'. BBTI has no record of a William Wood at this address, but does list one later in Tavistock Street, Covent Garden.

The three items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE. Autograph Letter Signed from Haldane to Potter. Head Quarters, VI Corp; 11 August 1916. 1p., 4to. In a difficult hand. He apologises for having to 'depart so hurriedly'. 'I want to thank you for the very loyal way you helped me when I was in command of the 3 Division and express my thanks through you to Buchanan and Prideaux and of your staff.

12mo, 3 pp. 30 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and creased paper. He sends a 'list of pieces' which he considers 'suitable for a Short Company'. The first piece named is 'The Silver Lining (the St James's Comedy)', in which he says there are 'only 4 Men & 3 women exclusive of Helen Maltravers'.

Octavo. 224 pages. Very good, with light spotting to top edge, front endpapers and prelims. In worn, torn dustwrapper with some loss. INSCRIBED COPY 'To Alan | 'at his own request' | with friendly greetings from | Henry Gifford | 7th November 1950'.