BRITISH

Founded in 1818, the Ipswich firm of W. S. Cowell Ltd ('The Press in the Butter Market') grew into one of the leading British printers, known for its high-quality catalogue work. The firm's papers are in the Suffolk Record Office at Ipswich, whose catalogue entry provides a good summary of its history.

30 + [1]pp., foolscap 8vo. Stitched. In fair condition, with shelfmarks, stamp and label of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. The full title reads: 'School-Houses (Scotland).

The six issues, loose. Each with its printed wraps (the first two years light brown, the other four green). Ranging in size from 40pp., 12mo (1908) to 76pp., 12mo (1912). Last three issues with frontispiece drawing of the Association's building in Great Portland Street. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Each issue with stamp, shelfmark and label of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. All with material relating to the Braille Alphabet (and in some cases the Braille Musical Alphabet) at rear. Scarce: no copies of any of the Association's reports on COPAC.

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Stamp and label of the Education Department Reference Library, London. ONE: Pamphlet titled 'A Reformed Alphabet'. 10pp., 12mo. Stapled in grey printed wraps. The first four pages carry 'Phonetic Notation. The Reformed Alphabet. For teaching purposes only. Devised by R. W. Leftwich, M.D.' The last six pages carry an essay by Leftwich, beginning: 'The art of learning to read English, instead of being so easy as to form a stepping-stone to higher accomplishments, is really a very difficult task.

[4] + 172pp., 8vo. Attractively typed up with the greatest skill and care in black, with underlining in red, on 176 leaves, interleaved and bound in an attractive red morocco leather half-binding, with cloth boards and marbled endpapers, spine in six compartments tooled in gilt with title 'THE VERLING JOURNAL', and red ribbon bookmark. In very good condition, lightly-aged in binding with the slightest wear and fading to the cloth. The text is preceded by a typed title page, a one-page 'Note' and a two-page introduction by 'Mr.

48pp., 8vo. In light-green printed wraps. On lightly-aged paper, in worn and chipped wraps. Stamp, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library. Scarce.

iii + 71pp., 8vo. Stapled. In pink printed wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Numerous sections under three main headings: Discussion of Skill; Vocational Psychology; Psychological Tests of Skill and Manual Dexterity. Five copies on COPAC, but uncommon nevertheless.

The collection in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. With labels, stamps and shelfmarks of the Board of Education Reference Library. A broken run of twenty issues from 1919-1920 to 1930-1931 (12 issues), issue for 1931-1932 lacking, and from 1932-1933 to 1938-1939 (7 issues), and finally the issue for 1945-1948. Octavo, in uniform cream wraps, and ranging in length from 104pp. (first in series, 1919-1920) to 283pp. (last in series, 1945-1948).

16pp., foolscap 8vo. With four plates, each carrying a map of the County of London (two of them preceding the title) and 2pp of tables on a fold-out leaf. In poor condition, on aged and worn paper, with closed tears, and lacking orange wraps (which presumably carry the full title-page), traces of which are still present. Stamp and shelfmark of the Board of Education Library, London. No copy traced on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

Edward John Long Scott (1840-1918), Keeper of Manuscripts and Egerton Librarian, British Museum, 1888-1891; Keeper of Muniments at Westminster Abbey (1891 to his death). Educated at Marlborough and Lincoln College, Oxford. Classical Scholar, 1859; Senior Exhibitioner, Goldsmiths Company, 1861; Boden Sanskrit Scholar, 1862; in College eight and eleven; BA in 1862; MA in 1866; D. Litt. in 1902. Among his works is an edition of Eikon Basilike (Elliot Stock, 1880), and an English translation of the Eclogues of Virgil (Kegan Paul, 1884).A collection of material from Scott's personal papers.

2pp., 8vo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She apologises for not being able to be 'helpful on any of your questions'. She does not even possess a copy of her own 'Designing and Making Stage Costume'. 'I have no Motley designs at all, as every one which was in my possession has been sold to the University of Illinois, who have taken the whole collection of about 3000 swatches.' She is glad to hear that he has some of them, 'as it means that there are a few still in this country'.

The last eight leaves only of a printed catalogue (no. 260 in M. V. de Chantilly's 'Robert Harding Evans of Pall Mall | auction catalogues 1812-1846 | a provisional list' (2002)). Stitched and unbound. On aged and worn paper, with slight damp staining to margins. Paginated 23-37 + [1], with the final page (i.e. the verso of the last leaf) carrying the advertisement: 'Preparing for Sale by MR. EVANS. | THE VALUABLE LIBRARY of an | EMINENT COLLECTOR.' (in manuscript: 'Mr Rennie'). Slug at foot of p.37: 'London: Printed by W. Nicol, | Cleveland-row, St.

Printed on both sides of a piece of wove paper, 30.5 x 22.5. Text clear and complete, on aged paper with slight wear and a few short closed tears to extremities. The reverse consists of a list of prices for seven types of wine ('Selected from W & A Gilbey's List of 183 varieties.') and six types of spirit ('Selected from W & A Gilbey's List of 72 varieties.'). On the front, beneath the firm's heading (with tiny illustration of the 'Pantheon A.D. 1722') and Mead's details, are the five 'views', ranging in size from 4.5 x 18 cm to 4.5 x 5.6 cm.

On piece of 6 x 10 cm paper. Laid down on 8.5 x 20.5 cm strip of paper cut from album. In fair condition, aged and worn, with a cross in light red ink through text. Bold signature, with date, and titles of two books above. Reads: 'Howells Londonopilis [sic] | Monumenta Vetusta | Thos Allen | Nov 10/24'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'Dear George, | The idea contained in your letter is very interesting, and I am honoured to be thought of in connection with it. I am now reading Stevenson's letters, (admirable they are,) and I know from his dealings with American magazines and publishers that the terms offered by the Review are extremely handsome. But I am very late in the day, - in my day, - to be a writing a history; [i.e.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He has heard that King is 'to preside at the dinner tomorrow' and so is writing to him 'what I wrote to Smith that I am very sorry I can not "support the Chair", as I had a previous inviitation - our friends gave me this time only a few day's notice'. In any case, he has 'such a miserable cold' and is 'so incapable' that he will be 'no loss to your party'. It is with difficulty that he has 'got through my numerous mail duties'.

1p., 12mo. In poor condition, aged and worn, with rust marks to margin and corners. 'My dear Sir | If you could conveniently look in upon me tomorrow (Wednesday) about 2 OC'K I should be glad to have some talk with you'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper. Addressed to 'Walter F. Stocks Esq'. He begins by pointing out that his daughter is not to blame for the late reply: 'it is my own fault my correspondence being somewhat in arrears'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of glue from mount on the blank reverse. Reads: 'The Secretary presents his compliments to Miss Kerr and begs leave to inform her the Composition fee of £35 has been duly paid to Drummond & Co'.

1p., 4to. On creased and lightly-aged paper, with wear and chipping to edges. She thanks him for his letter 'and for your offer of original potrait drawings by yourself', in which she was 'greatly interested'. She explains that there is a limitation of space, 'and as a general rule we are exhibiting portraits only when we can associate with them some other relic or possession of the writer concerned'. In response to 'our appeal' she has received 'souvenirs of past writers, and I am concentrating on these. This being so, I feel I must very reluctantly decline your interesting offer'.

5pp., 12mo. The letter proper is three pages long, on a bifolium, and is accompanied by a two-page 'list of times & places' on a separate leaf. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. With 18 x 23 cm letterhead, on the cover of which Thornton has written 'To | Sir Robert Head. Bart. | III | Zimmer Strasse 97 | Hier.', with his signature 'C. Thornton' in the bottom left-hand corner.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper. The note reads: 'Ld Liverpool encloses a draft value 57 .. 12. 2 to Mr Broster he begs Mr Browster will acknowledge the receipt of this by a letter addressed as above'.

15pp., landscape 12mo. With four additional pages of photographic plates ('Exterior facing south', 'The lounge', 'The dining room', 'A bedroom'). Stitched into grey printed wraps. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The booklet includes a list of trustees and other officers, a descriptive text, the 'Regulations relating to the home', 'Form of application' (with two pages of 'rules', including 'CASES NOT ADMITTED') and 'Medical Report'. The descriptive text begins: 'The Home has been built and generously endowed by Mr. F. W.

11pp., 12mo. Duplicated. Stapled. In card wraps printed in black and red, with the motto 'Finis Coronat Opus' within a shield on the cover. In fair condition, on aged paper, with slight staining at head of gutter, and rusted staples. Features include: a full-page poem titled 'Continental Dirge' by 'Mrs. Laurence East | Trainee'; 'Chit Chat | London Wall Reception Centre' by Hall; 'Trunk Training Centre (Throgmorton Avenue)' by Temme; 'Temple Bar Training Centre' by Harrop; 'Kensington Training Centre' by Hulbert; 'Cornwall House Training Centre' by Pickett; 'Govt. P.B.X. and D.Q.

4pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Printed in small type. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with short closed tears at edges of folds. An interesting perspective on the British aviation industry, from what Dr T. R. Bromund of Yale University has described as 'the industrial wing of the Empire lobby'. The opening paragraph reads: 'Owing to the recent resignation of the entire Board, with one exception, of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, the public has become dimly aware that British Air Transport is facing a crisis, but as yet has little or no idea of the magnitude of the issues involved.

50pp., 12mo. In light-blue boards, with white label on front board carrying title and illustration of sickle with sheaves of lavender. Internally good, on lightly-aged paper, in worn and aged boards. Uncommon: only three copies on COPAC (British Library, Oxford and National Library of Scotland), with a further four in American institutions on WorldCat. Farmar's only other book appears to have been 'Castles in Spain' (1907). She also produced the lyrics to a song titled 'Bluebell-time', with music by Ruby Holland.

The lecture, which is unpublished, is an interesting personal statement by a neglected Victorian painter who died tragically young. (A rather impressive example of his work, in Turneresque style, titled 'The Heart of the Hills', is in the Maidstone Museum.) The lecture is 30pp., 8vo, in a ruled notebook with embossed black wraps. In good condition, on aged paper with some wear and discoloration. Ownership inscription of 'W. G. Shrubsole | Bangor Decr. 1886' inside the front wrap. The first page is headed 'The Ideal in Art. | by W. G. Shrubsole Dec.

1p., 8vo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'Dear Madam | As I only landed in England yesterday your two letters of May 31st: and June 9th. have only just reached me.' He thanks her for forwarding photographs, which he is returning, and informs her 'that the Isle of Wight is at present not considered a suitable climate for my wife'.

Both items 1p., 16mo, and both in good codition, on lightly-aged paper. The first note reads: 'Mr. Charles Hallé presents his respectful compliments to Lady Blanche Drummond and would feel greatly obliged if she would kindly take his lesson to-morrow at 4 o'clock instead of half past three.' The second confirms the time for a second lesson.

Neatly written out in a contemporary hand on the verso of a foolscap 8vo leaf of laid paper, with 'T TAYLOR' watermark, torn from the letter book of a financial institution. In very good condition, lightly-aged. The names of the four signatories to the original document are given at the foot. The recto of the leaf carries the transcription, in the same hand, of a letter by 'W: Stiles | Secry', with a list of twelve 'Writs dated 6th: Decr: 1787'.