CENTURY

[Cinderella: William Brough, author and dramatist.] Autograph Letter Signed, asking the theatre critic Charles Lamb Kenney to give a notice to his brother Lionel Brough, ?in a new comic and musical Entertainment - subject ?Cinderella.??

Author: 
William Brough (1826-1870), author and dramatist, brother of actor and comedian Lionel ?Lal? Brough (1836-1909) [Charles Lamb Kenney (1821-1881), playwright and theatre critic; Cinderella, pantomime]
Publication details: 
?Lea Place / Tottenham / 1 March 1863?.
£30.00

See the entries in the Oxford DNB for his brothers Robert Barnabas Brough and the subject of this letter Lionel Brough, as well as that of C. L. Kenney. 1p, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight discoloration in one margin from the wax seal, and evidence of mount on blank second leaf. Folded for postage. Addressed to ?Chas Kenney Esq / &c &c? and signed ?William Brough?.

[?The Shakespeare feeling is wider than we any of us thought?: William Hepworth Dixon, editor of the Athenaeum.] Autograph Letter Signed, as member of the National Shakespeare Committee, discussing the ?fitting form of memorial?.

Author: 
William Hepworth Dixon (1821-1879), journalist, editor of the Athenaeum, a Deputy Commissioner of the Great Exhibition of 1851 [National Shakespeare Committee]
Publication details: 
25 February 1864. On letterhead of the National Shakespeare Committee, 120 Pall Mall, S.W. [London]
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with small nick at foot of gutter, and glue from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf showing through very slightly. Folded for postage. The recipient is not named. Signed ?W. H. Dixon?. Begins: ?Dear Sir / Many thanks for your note.

[William Moy Thomas, theatre critic, and associate of Charles Dickens.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Will Williams Esq'.

Author: 
William Moy Thomas (1828?1910), journalist, theatre critic, novelist and associate of Charles Dickens
Publication details: 
'Garden House, Clement's Inn, W.C. [London] / July 27, 1875.'
£35.00

Thomas was for upwards of twenty-five years the theatrical critic of the London papers Daily News and the Graphic. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with evidence of mount adhering to the blank second leaf. Folded for postage. Addressed to ?Will Williams Esq? and signed ?Moy Thomas?. He would have answered Williams?s note sooner, but he has been ?on the Continent for a few days?.

[The funeral of Robert Stephenson, locomotive engineer.] Autograph Letter Signed from Richard Chenevix Trench, Dean of Westminster Abbey (later Archbishop of Dublin) to Stephenson?s cousin G. R. Stephenson, agreeing to officiate.

Author: 
Richard Chenevix Trench (1807-1886), Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of All Ireland [Robert Stephenson (1803-1859) and his cousin George Robert Stephenson (1819-1905), locomotive engineers]
Publication details: 
'Westminster / Oct 15/59 [1859]'.
£56.00

See his entry, and those of the Stephenson?s, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the blank second leaf carrying traces of mount. Folded for postage. Addressed to ?George Robt. Stephenson Esqr.? and signed ?R. C. Trench?. Reads: ?Dear Sir / May I express to you, as the first of those who have signed a communication which I have just received, the pleasure that it will give me to comply with the request therein contained; and I shall look forward to performing the part which you have desired in the funeral of the late Mr.

[Sir Frederick Pollock, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.] Autograph Letter Signed to Dr William Sharpey, Secretary of the Royal Society, regarding the writing of an ?abstract?.

Author: 
Sir Frederick Pollock [Sir Jonathan Frederick Pollock] (1783-1870), Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer [William Sharpey (1802-1880), Scottish anatomist and physiologist, Secretary of the Royal Society]
Publication details: 
?Hatton / Hounslow / W. [London] / Thursday / 15th. Decr. / 1864?.
£35.00

See his entry, and Sharpey?s, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of tape from mount adhering to blank second leaf. Folded for postage. Addressed to ?Dr. Sharpey Secy F S.? and signed ?Fred Pollock?. Begins: ?My dear Dr. Sharpey / I have nearly completed the abstract - I intend to dine at the Club & be present at the meeting to day & I shall ask you when you require the abstract?? He explains that he is ?presiding in the nisi prius C[our]t.?, and that he would like to have ?the leisure of a Sunday to finish it?.

[Sir Henry Ellis, Principal Librarian at the British Museum.] Autograph Letter Signed to William James Smith, thanking him for a set of the 'Historical and Literary Curiosities' by his brother the engraver Charles James Smith.

Author: 
Sir Henry Ellis (1777-1869), Principal Librarian at the British Museum [Charles John Smith FSA (1803-1838), engraver]
Publication details: 
'British Museum [London] / 14th Oct. 1840'.
£35.00

See the entries for Ellis and the recipient?s brother Charles James Smith in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, with negligible traces of mount on reverse. Folded for postage. In Ellis?s disciplined and attractive hand. Addressed to ?William James Smith Esqr / &c &c &c? and signed ?Henry Ellis.? He begins by apologising for the delayed response, then writes: ?Pray accept my kind and sincere Thanks for the two beautiful and splendid Numbers of the ?Historical and Literary Curiosities?: I only wish that your poor brother had lived himself to have sent them to me.? (C. J.

[Sir William Bovill, English judge.] Autograph Letter Signed to his wife, regarding temporary living arrangements for the family [at the time of the Duke of Wellington?s funeral?].

Author: 
Sir William Bovill (1814-1873), English judge, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas [The Duke of Wellingtons Funeral, 1852]
Publication details: 
?Westmr [Westminster, London] / Wednesday morg.? [No date, but 1852?].
£30.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded for postage. Docketted in pencil in a contemporary hand: ?1853 [sic] / Duke of Wellingtons funeral? (on 18 November 1852). Signed ?W: Bovill?. Begins with reference to the family business (corn factors) in Milford Lane, City of London: ?My dearest Wife. / I have just seen George & find that there is the large bed room at the top of the house in Milford Lane unoccupied & we can have it - they can arrange something for the two boys & I dare say Mr.

[The man who brought Gilbert and Sullivan together: John Hollingshead, theatrical impressario.] Autograph Letter Signed to theatre critic A. M. Broadley, thanking him for a notice in The World, and discussing his Corinthian Club.

Author: 
John Hollingshead (1827-1904), theatrical impressario who brought Gilbert and Sullivan together, and founded the Corinthian Club, London [A. M. Broadley [Alexander Meyrick Broadley] (1847-1916)]
Publication details: 
8 February 1889; on letterhead of The Corinthian Club, 8A, St James?s Square [London].
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient (?Broadley Pasha?) was a renowned autograph collector and shady social figure, as well as the de facto editor of Edmund Yates?s ?World?. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, in trimmed windowpane mount, with traces of grey paper adhering to the blank reverse. Folded for postage. Addressed to ?Dear Broadley?, and signed ?John Hollingshead?. He begins by thanking him for ?the very valuable notice in the World?.

[John Oxenford, dramatist, critic and translator.] Autograph Letter Signed to ?William?, ?about ?Cologne Singers.??

Author: 
John Oxenford (1812-1877), dramatist, critic and translator
Publication details: 
[18 April 1857.] No place.
£25.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with strip of tape from mount adhering to the blank second leaf. Folded for postage. Undated, but docketted ?18 April / 1857 / About ?Cologne Singers.?? Reads: ?Dear William. - All the songs are clear, and if you send they will be given to the musicians. If it is not convenient to send, drop me a line, and I will send to you. / Very tly yrs / J. Oxenford?. Oxenford provided a number of translations of German works for musical accompaniment.

[James Payn, Victorian novelist, journalist and magazine editor.] Autograph Letter Signed, providing an autograph whilst pointing out that his name 'is not generally spelt with an e'.

Author: 
James Payn (1830-1898), Victorian novelist and journalist, editor of Chambers's Journal in Edinburgh and the Cornhill Magazine in London
Publication details: 
'Decr 1st [no year]'. On letterhead of 'THE CORNHILL MAGAZINE / SMITH ELDER & CO.', London.
£30.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with postage folds. In trimmed windowpane mount. Reads: 'Madam. / My name is not generally spelt with an e, but I [confide?] it is ['really' deleted here] my [last word underlined] autograph which you desire. / Truly / James Payn'.

[John Baldwin Buckstone, comic actor and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to Charles Manby, regarding the arrangements surrounding a bill and an insurance policy for ?300.

Author: 
John Baldwin Buckstone (1802-1879), dramatist and actor-manager of the Haymarket Theatre, London [Charles Manby (1804-84), Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers]
Publication details: 
'T[heatre]. R[oyal]. Haymarket, [London] / 10 February 1854'.
£30.00

See his entry, and Manby?s, in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, on first leaf of bifolium, with the blank second leaf carrying traces of tape from the mount. Neatly folded for postage. Addressed to ?My dear Manby? and signed ?Jno. B Buckstone?. In addition to his work as an engineer Manby was for many years involved in the management of the Adelphi and Haymarket theatres.

[Genevi?ve Ward [Dame Lucy Genevi?ve Teresa Ward; Countess de Guerbel], Anglo-American soprano singer and actress.] Autograph Letter Signed, offering A. M. Broadley a ticket to come and see her ?as Stephanie? in the play ?Forget Me Not?.

Author: 
Genevieve Ward [Dame Lucy Genevi?ve Teresa Ward; Countess de Guerbel] (1837-1922), Anglo-American soprano singer and actress [A. M. Broadley [Alexander Meyrick Broadley] (1847-1916)]
Publication details: 
?May 8th [1889]?. On her letterhead (with facsimile initials), 10 Cavendish Road, Regent?s Park, N. W. [London]?.
£32.00

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient (?Broadley Pasha?) was a renowned autograph collector and shady social figure, as well as the de facto editor of Edmund Yates?s ?World?. 3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight sunning to first page, and traces of mount on blank final page. Folded once. Signed ?Genevi?ve Ward? (note the accent). The letter relates to the 1889 revival at the London Opera Comique of the role which made her famous, Stephanie, Marquise de Mohrivar, in Merivale and Grove?s 1879 play ?Forget Me Not?.

[George Hudson, ?the Railway King?.] Autograph Note Signed [to Charles Manby, Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers]

Author: 
George Hudson (1800-1871), ?the Railway King? [Charles Manby (1804-84), Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers]
Publication details: 
26 July 1846; York.
£50.00

The recipient is not named, but the item is from Manby's papers. See his entry, and Hudson's, in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with slightly-discoloured indentation of the royal crest, and thin strip of tape from mount adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf. The recto of that leaf is docketted 'July 26 1846 / Geo Hudson Esq / York'. Folded for postage. Reads: 'Sir / being unable to give my attention to the Society of which you solicite [sic] my name I beg to [?] becoming a Provisional Director / I am / Your obt. St. / Geo Hudson'.

[J. Comyns Carr [Joseph William Comyns Carr], drama and art critic, theatre and gallery director.] Autograph Letter Signed, asking the dramatist Henry Herman for a box for his play ?The Silver King?.

Author: 
J. Comyns Carr [Joseph William Comyns Carr] (1849-1916), drama and art critic, theatre and gallery director [Henry Herman [Henry Heydrac D?Arco] (1832-1894), dramatist and novelist]
Publication details: 
18 February 1883; on letterhead of 19 Blandford Square, N.W. [London]
£30.00

See his entry, and Herman?s, in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium, with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged, with strip of tape from mount adhering to blank second leaf. Folded once. Addressed to ?Dear Mr. Herman? and signed ?Jos Comyns Carr?. With reference to Herman?s play ?The Silver King? (co-written with H. A. Jones), which proved a huge success from its opening at the Princess?s Theatre in 1882. He begins by reminding him that he ?kindly said? he would send Carr ?a box for the Silver King when I was able to go?.

[J. L. Toole [John Lawrence Toole], comic actor, proprietor of Toole?s Theatre.] Autograph Letter Signed to ?Edmonston? in Edinburgh, asking him to procure a book, and sending regards to ?friends in Auld Reekie?.

Author: 
J. L. Toole [John Lawrence Toole] (1830-1906), comic actor, a farceur championed by Charles Dickens, proprietor of Toole?s Theatre, Charing Cross, London
Publication details: 
21 April 1877; on embossed letterhead of the Garrick Club [London].
£30.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Thin strip of mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded for postage. Begins: ?Dear Edmonston - / Will you kindly get me Dr. Sydie? book of ballads with music. It is I think published in Edinburgh.? He asks for the book to be sent to him at the Gaiety Theatre and he will pay the cost. Ends: ?I hope you are jolly & well / Kind regards to yourself & all friends in Auld Reekie?. Signed ?J. W. Toole?. Postscript: ?Did you read the ?World? this week? There is something about me in it.?

[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: James Robertson Anderson, Scottish actor and playwright, lessee and manager.] Autograph Letter Signed, thanking Peter Whelan for his sympathy, and assuring him that he will adopt his advice.

Author: 
James Anderson [James Robertson Anderson] (1811-1895), Scottish actor and playwright, lessee and manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane [Peter Whelan]
Publication details: 
9 February 1850; on letterhead of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane [London].
£30.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. He had taken on the management of Drury Lane in 1849, and had hoped to profit from the Great Exhibition, but retired from it in 1851, having incurred substantial losses. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, on the first leaf of a bifolium, with the reverse of the second leaf bearing minor traces of mount, as well as the following annotation in a contemporary hand: ?Jas: Anderson Esqre / Lessee Drury Lane / Theatre / T Bateman Esqre. / a P. Whelan?. Anderson addresses to ?Peter Whelan Esqr.? and gives an untidy signature ?James Anderson?.

[?Poor old Oscar?: Edmund Yates [Edmund Hodgson Yates], Scottish journalist and author.] Autograph Letter Signed (?E Y.?) to his de facto editor at The World, with apparent reference to Oscar Wilde, and to Randolph Stewart (Earl of Galloway).

Author: 
Edmund Yates [Edmund Hodgson Yates] (1831-1894), Scottish journalist and author, friend of Charles Dickens [Alexander Meyrick Broadley (1847-1916); Oscar Wilde]
Publication details: 
?Sep 10 [1891]?. No place.
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient (?Broadley Pasha?) was a renowned autograph collector and shady social figure, as well as the de facto editor of Yates?s ?World?, until the Cleveland Street scandal drove him into exile in 1890. Broadley was a prominent figure in freemasonry, and the present item appears to link two individuals who were members of Oxford?s Apollo University Lodge: Oscar Wilde (whose proclivities Broadley shared) and Randolph Stewart (later Earl of Galloway). 1p, 16mo. On first leaf of bifolium, with second leaf tipped-in onto a page from one of Broadley?s albums.

[Edmund Yates, journalist and author, friend of Dickens, proprietor of The World newspaper.] Auttograph Signature and conclusion of letter, with autograph not by his de facto editor A. M. Broadley.

Author: 
Edmund Yates [Edmund Hodgson Yates] (1831-1894), Scottish journalist and author, friend of Charles Dickens, proprietor of The World newspape
Publication details: 
Dated by Broadley to 1890.
£15.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient (?Broadley Pasha?) was a renowned autograph collector and shady social figure, as well as the de facto editor of Yates?s ?World?, until the Cleveland Street scandal drove him into exile in 1890 (the year of this item with its reference to 'going away'). A 9 x 5 cm piece of paper, cut from the end of a letter, and laid down on a 13 x 7.5 cm piece, which has been neatly annotated by Broadley: 'Signature of Edmund Yates 1890'. In good condition, lightly aged, with one postage fold. Reads, with good firm stylized signature: '[...] of going away?

[G?n?ral Fleury [General Baron Hubert Rohault de Fleury], French soldier in the Napoleonic Wars.] Autograph Note Signed, accepting an invitation from ?Madame la Bne: de Seebach?.

Author: 
G?n?ral Fleury [General Baron Hubert Rohault de Fleury] (1779-1866), French soldier who distinguished himself in the Napoleonic Wars, and later superintended the fortification of Lyon
Publication details: 
?Paris. 2 Mai 1856.?
£35.00

See his entry in Encyclopaedia Britannica. Not to be confused with Fleury (1815-1884), whose handwriting is markedly different. 1p, 12mo. On grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Neatly folded twice. Reads: ?Le G?n?ral Fleury se rendra avec le plus grand plaisir a l?invitation que Madame la Bne: de Seebach lui a fait l?honneur de lui adresser. / Paris. 2 Mai 1856.? The recipient is presumably the mother of the Alsatian artist Baron Lothar von Seebach (1853-1930).

['one of the Two Best Read Men in England': Abraham Hayward, author and translator.] Autograph Letter Signed with reference to a 'long review' of his book in the Morning Post.

Author: 
Abraham Hayward (1801-1884), Victorian man of letters and lawyer, whose translation of Goethe?s Faust was praised by Carlyle
Publication details: 
'8 St. James St. [London] / March 11 [no year]'. On embossed letterhead of the Athenaeum Club.
£30.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, and Antony Chessell?s 2009 biography of Hayward (subtitled ?one of the Two Best Read Men in England? - the other was Macaulay). 1p, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. The recipient is not named. Reads: ?It is now nearly three weeks since I heard from you. What is the cause. / I send you the Morning Post with a long review of my book. / All goes well with me. / Ever yours / A Hayward?.

[?A stupendous artist?: Adelina Patti, Italian opera singer.] Autograph Letter Signed to ?Mr Hart?, asking him to arrange for her to have ?the Saloon carriage? for a journey up to London for a concert.

Author: 
Adelina Patti [born Adela Juana Maria Patti; latterly Baroness Cederstr?m] (1843-1919), Italian opera singer described by Verdi as ?a stupendous artist?
Publication details: 
24 May 1900; on her monogrammed letterhead. No place.
£40.00

See her entries in Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. On patterned grey paper, with the first page with a thin white border. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor evidence of mount on blank reverse of second leaf. Folded for postage. Signed ?Adelina Patti Cederstr?m?.

[Augustus Mayhew, author, editor of the Comic Almanac.] Autograph Letter Signed to C. L. Kenney [?Charlie?], giving the legal position with regard to Kenney?s desire to get his hands on his infant son?s legacy.

Author: 
Augustus Mayhew [Augustus Septimus Mayhew] (1826-1875), author, brother of Henry Mayhew, editor of the Comic Almanac [Charles Lamb Kenney (1821-1881), author and playwright]
Publication details: 
?31st Octr. 1873 / Twickenham?.
£40.00

See his entry, and those of his brother and Kenney, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Twenty-two lines of text, addressed to ?C. L. Kenney Esq? and signed ?Aug: Mayhew?. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of glue from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Begins: ?Dear Charlie/ Of course, we have to act under legal guidance.

[The ?political economy? of the Royal Academy: Charles Landseer RA, historical painter, elder brother of Sir Edwin Landseer.] Autograph Letter signed, regretting that he cannot provide Charles Manby?s wife with a ticket to a private view.

Author: 
Charles Landseer RA (1799-1879), historical painter, elder brother of Sir Edwin Landseer [Charles Manby (1804-84), Secretary of the Institution of Civil Engineers]
Publication details: 
?Royal Academy WC [London] / 30th April [no year]?.
£40.00

See his entry, with those of his brother and of Manby, in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 16mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with strip of tape from mount adhering to the blank second leaf. Good signature with attractive flourish: ?Chas Landseer?. Begins: ?My dear Manby / I don?t know what Knight means by saying C. L is rich, but I do know that if I had a ticket for the private view left, I would have given it to Mrs. Manby with the greatest pleasure.? He is sure there is ?something wrong in the political economy of the R.

[Clement Scott, theatre critic for the Daily Telegraph.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to A. M. Broadley of The World, one about ?that impertinent idiot Mr James Runciman?, the other about a scene at a dinner in Liverpool Street.

Author: 
Clement Scott [Clement William Scott] (1841-1904), influential theatre critic, mainly for the Daily Telegraph, who feuded with Bernard Shaw [A. M. Broadley [Alexander Meyrick Broadley] (1847-1916)]
Publication details: 
ONE: ?Wednesday? [March 1887]; on letterhead of 52 Lincoln?s Inn Fields, W.C. [London] TWO: 2 October 1901; on letterhead of 15 Woburn Square, W.C. [London]
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In addition to being the de facto editor of Edmund Yates?s ?World?, the recipient (?Broadley Pasha?) was a renowned autograph collector and shady social figure. Scott?s handwriting is not entirely legible. ONE: ?Wednesday?, dated by Broadly ?March 1887.? 1p, 12mo. In good condition, with glue from mount adhering to the blank reverse. Folded once. Signed ?Clement Scott?. On the question of ?the letter from the impertinent idiot Mr James Runciman? he comments: ?He thinks that calling a man ?Tommy Rot? is a complaint! I conclude that he must be a madman?.

[Cholera epidemic in Madeira, 1856.] Autograph Letter Signed from Tom Taylor, Secretary of the Board of Health (and future editor of Punch), to his former school fellow Rev. A. J. D. D’Orsey, arranging for medical publications to be sent him.

Author: 
Tom Taylor (1817-1880), editor of ‘Punch’, journalist, author and civil servant [Rev. Alexander James Donald D’Orsey (1812-1894); cholera epidemic in Madeira, 1856]
Publication details: 
‘Azerley Hall / nr. Ripon / Wednesday Oct 1. [1856]’
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. D’Orsey was Professor of Elocution at University College, London. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. On aged, brittle paper, with slight wear and discoloration, a few closed tears along folds and traces of stub adhering to second leaf, but with entire text clear and intact. A long untidy letter, with writing up the margin on outer two pages. Addressed to ‘The Revd. A J D’Orsey’ and signed ‘Tom Taylor’. The topic is an outbreak of cholera at Madeira, about which D’Orsey has clearly launched an appeal.

[Sir Wentworth Dilke [Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 1st Baronet], Whig politician.] Autograph Letter Signed asking the recipient to resend references to Lord Campbell and the ‘Carlton Pamphlets’.

Author: 
Sir Wentworth Dilke [Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke, 1st Baronet] (1810-1869), Whig politician, Leading Commissioner of the Great Exhibition of 1851
Publication details: 
‘Sloane St. [London] 3 Jany [no year]’.
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. Signed ‘W Dilke’. Embossed armorial letterhead of a falcon. The recipient is not named. In good condition, lightly aged, neatly inserted in trimmed windowpane mount. Twice folded for postage. Thirteen lines of text in his distinctive close backwards-leaning hand. The hand is not entirely straightforward, and what follows is a tentative reading.

[Sir Henry Halford, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Physician Extraordinary to four monarchs.] Autograph Letter Signed regarding his ‘trifles’, a copy of which he is giving to the recipient.

Author: 
Sir Henry Halford (1766-1844), physician extraordinary to George III, George IV, William IV and the young Victoria, and President of the Royal College of Physicians
Publication details: 
‘Curzon St [London] / May 14 1839’.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. Lightly worn, with blank second leaf carrying traces of mount. The recipient is not named, and the letter is signed ‘Henry Halford’. The subject is probably Halford’s ‘Nugae Metricae’, privately printed in the same year.

[‘I’m afraid the veteran farce writer’s “little game” is nearly up!’: John Maddison Morton, playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to the actor-manager Benjamin Nottingham Webster, negotiating terms and discussing his present penury.

Author: 
John M. Morton [John Maddison Morton] (1811-1891), English playwright specialising in one-act farces, the most famous of which was ‘Box and Cox’ [Benjamin Nottingham Webster, actor-manager]
Publication details: 
‘Chertsey March 8th. [c. 1865]'..
£50.00

The phrase ‘Box and Cox’ has entered the English language. See the OED, and the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, landscape 12mo. Neatly inserted in a trimmed windowpane mount. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Signed ‘John M Morton’. Begins: ‘Dear Webster. / As Mr Anson informs me that you are “on the forward course to regenerated health” I hope I need not apologise for writing again.

[Albert Abraham Wolff, French author.] Autograph Letter Signed, in French, regarding a promise made by the recipient over dinner to assist the son of his friends.

Author: 
Albert Wolff [Albert Abraham Wolff] (1825-1891), French writer, dramatist, journalist and art critic, of German Jewish extraction
Publication details: 
Without date [on paper watermarked 1867] or place [Paris].
£45.00

Eleven lines of closely-written text. 1p, 16mo. On recto of first leaf of bifolium, the verso of the second addressed in another hand to ‘F Chapuy / 6 Bis. Rue Rodier’. In good condition, lightly aged, with strip of tape from mount adhering to the second leaf. Folded once. Attractive vignette letterhead of illustration based around the letter W. Signed ‘Albert Wolff’. It will render him ‘un bien grand service’ if the recipient will act on his promise made when they dined together to place ‘un très brave et très digne garçon de mes amis’, as ‘il a besoin pour vivre’.

[Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate.] Autograph Signature with Autograph Note disavowing poems. On printed acknowledgement of ‘Kind Congratulations’ (at his appointment).

Author: 
Alfred Austin (1835-1913), Poet Laureate
Publication details: 
9 January 1895. With printed letterhead ‘Swinford Old Manor, / Ashford, Kent.’
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Wilfred Scawen Blunt’s assessment was brutal: ‘It is strange his poetry should be such poor stuff, and stranger still that he should imagine it immortal.’ And it is ironic that Austin may not have even written the lines for which he is now principally remembered, on the illness of the Prince of Wales: ‘Flashed from his bed the electric message came | He is not better, he is much the same’. 1p, 12mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium of good watermarked wove paper.

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