ERIC

[ Eric Ambler, thriller writer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eric Ambler') to military historian Barrie Pitt, regarding the award of an OBE and the gift of a book. With copies of two letters by Pitt to Ambler.

Author: 
Eric Ambler [ Eric Clifford Ambler ] (1909-1998), British writer of crime and espionage novels [ Barrie Pitt ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Av. Eugene Rambert 20, 1815 Clarens, Suisse [ Switzerland ]. 1 May 1981.
£450.00

1p. 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. With envelope addressed by Ambler to Pitt at Kennister in Somerset. Also present are copies of two letters to Ambler from Pitt, dated 2 January and 20 February 1980. In the first Pitt congratulates Ambler on the receipt of an OBE, reminds him of their previous correspondence through Peter Janson-Smith, and sends 'Part I of my trilogy on the North African campaign' ('If it gives you one tenth of the enjoyment I get from every one of your books, it will have been worth writing.').

[ Lady Carmichael-Anstruther and the Polish Children Rescue Fund. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. C. Anstruther') to 'Mr Blake', discussing the activities of the organisation.

Author: 
Lady Fay Carmichael-Anstruther [née Fay Sibyl Marie Rechnitzer], wife of Sir Windham Eric Francis Carmichael-Anstruther (1900-80) [ Polish Children Rescue Fund, London; Second World War Poland ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Polish Children Rescue Fund (British Committee for Polish Welfare), 1 Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London. 21 February 1945.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. Written in a small close and neat hand. In good condition, on lightly aged paper.

[ The World Passport. ] Two Typed Letters Signed from Garry Davis to Michael Korn [the bookseller Eric Korn], regarding 'World Government and World Citizenship', together with Korn's 'World Citizen' 'Identity Card'.

Author: 
[ Garry Davis [Sol Gareth Davis] (1921-2013), international peace activist and creator of the World Passport; Eric Korn [ Michael Eric Korn ] (1933-2014), antiquarian bookseller ]
Publication details: 
One letter dated 5 March 1949 (no place); the other undated, from 17 rue Notre-Dame des Champs, Paris. The identity card without place or date.
£200.00

IDENTITY CARD: Bifolium. 12 x 8 cm. Printed in black and grey on outer covers and in black over green inside. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Cover headed 'IDENTITY CARD' with 'WORLD CITIZEN' in a variety of scripts around a circular logo of human figure. Internal statement: 'This card certifies that the holder is registered as a world-citizen. He will try to recognise his responsibilities as a member of the World Community.' Korn is 'No 12030'. Filled-in in ink for Michael Korn of 62 Aberdare Gardens, Hampstead, London.

[Eric Gill.] Compliments slip of the bookseller George Sims, featuring a woodcut illustration by Eric Gill, with typewritten inscription by Gill to 'Tony & Jean', stating that the item has been given to them 'just before it was remaindered'.

Author: 
Eric Gill (1882-1940), artist [George Sims (1923-199), English bookseller]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£40.00

Printed in black ink on 8 x 12 cm piece of thick watermarked laid paper. In very good condition. Sims acquired the Gill archive from the artist's widow, and it seems likely that he had the illustration made from one of the artist's blocks. The illustration shows a bearded man in loincloth, trailing a sword along the ground as he runs from a tree. Printed beneath the illustration: 'With the compliments of | George Sims'. Above the illustration is typed 'for Tony & Jean', and below the printed text 'just before it was remaindered'.

The Immanent Goddess

Author: 
George Sims, bookseller and author (poetry and detective stories).
Publication details: 
The Fortune Press, [1947]
£120.00

First edition. 8vo, 32pp., original mottled blue cloth, gilt titling to spine, bumped, dustwrapper, browned at edges. Small bump to front board, good copy in good dustwrapper. Enclosed more by accident than design: George Sims' Compliments slip, 11.5 x 7.5, light blue, edges browned, featuring a design by Eric Gill (whose archive Sims rescued) of an athleticllly poised swordsman. Sims has typed on the verso, "for the Rota Foundation - this good piece of printing - these [the Gill engraving presumably] passed through my hands 25 years ago!".

[John Boynton Priestley.] Typed Letter Signed ('J. B. Priestley') to Eric Crozier of the Performing Right Society Ltd, declining to write a piece on Alan Herbert [Sir Alan Patrick Herbert].

Author: 
J. B. Priestley [John Boynton Priestley] (1894-1984), author [Eric Crozier (1914-1994), writer, librettist and producer; Sir Alan Patrick Herbert (1890-1971), politician and theatre producer]
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, Kissing Tree House, Alveston, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire. 15 November 1965.
£45.00

1p., 8vo. Priestley's agents have forwarded an invitation from Crozier 'to write a piece on Alan Herbert for a special issue you are planning'. Although Priestley has 'a high regard' for Herbert, he is 'particularly anxious just now not to accept commissions of this kind, and so must reluctantly refuse'.

[Martin Hardie, art historian and curator.] Two Typed Letters Signed to the artist and critic Eric Hesketh Hubbard, discussing the loan and delivery of drawings.

Author: 
Martin Hardie (1875-1952), art historian and Victoria and curator at the Albert Museum [Eric Hesketh Hubbard (1892-1957), artist and critic]
Publication details: 
First letter: on letterhead of Rodbourne, Tonbridge, Kent. 3 October 1943. Second letter: from Rodbourne. 10 October 1943.
£70.00

The two items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 1p., 4to. Regarding the loan by him to Hubbard of drawings, and delivery options for them. TWO: 1p., 12mo. 'You vanished very suddenly after our Meeting and I did not have the chance of discussing arrangements with you. Will you please let me know what time it passes through Tonbridge on the following Monday.' He hopes to bring two more pictures 'straight to Albany from Charing Cross, arriving about mid-day? If you are not to be there I will take them to the Royal Academy and deliver them in the afternoon.'

[Martin Hardie, art historian and curator.] Two Typed Letters Signed to the artist and critic Eric Hesketh Hubbard, discussing the loan and delivery of drawings.

Author: 
Martin Hardie (1875-1952), art historian and Victoria and curator at the Albert Museum [Eric Hesketh Hubbard (1892-1957), artist and critic]
Publication details: 
First letter: on letterhead of Rodbourne, Tonbridge, Kent. 3 October 1943. Second letter: from Rodbourne. 10 October 1943.
£70.00

The two items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 1p., 4to. Regarding the loan by him to Hubbard of drawings, and delivery options for them. TWO: 1p., 12mo. 'You vanished very suddenly after our Meeting and I did not have the chance of discussing arrangements with you. Will you please let me know what time it passes through Tonbridge on the following Monday.' He hopes to bring two more pictures 'straight to Albany from Charing Cross, arriving about mid-day? If you are not to be there I will take them to the Royal Academy and deliver them in the afternoon.'

[Peter Levi, S.J., English poet.] Autograph Card Signed to the bookseller Eric Korn, with copies of his 'Three Poems' and the Jesuit bulletin 'To our friends', the latter with signed autograph note: 'This I did write & hideous [...] it is'.

Author: 
Peter Levi [Peter Chad Tigar Levi] (1931-2000), Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford and Jesuit priest
Publication details: 
Card postmarked from Campion Hall, Oxford, and with postmarked date 21 November 1971. Three Poems: Sycamore Press, 4 Benson Place Oxford; Spring 1970. 'To our friends': No. 33, April 1962; with note on letterhead of Heythrop College, Chipping Norton.
£200.00

The three items in good condition, with light age and wear. CARD: He has been told about Korn by 'Barbara and Cyril Connolly': 'Maybe we might meet, though I shall now be leaving England for a time. Do you ever have a catalogue? If so please put me on your list. I chiefly want classics & archaeology & (old) travels in Greece & Central Asia, but sometimes modern poetry. I am always at or c/o this address. Peter Levi.' THREE POEMS: Landscape 8vo, folded twice to make three panels. Printed in blue. The first poem is titled 'Riddle' and the other two are untitled.

[Eric Gill, sculptor and typographer] Two Signed Letters (one 'Eric Gill' and the other 'Eric Gill osd') to Lawrence Hodson, both in the same secretarial hand, regarding a woodcut 'set of stations'.

Author: 
Eric Gill [Arthur Eric Rowton Gill] (1882-1940), British sculptor, artist and typographer [Lawrence William Hodson (1865-1934), art connoisseur; Father Bernard Delaney (1890-1959), OP]
Publication details: 
On letterheads of Ditchling Common, Sussex. 3 November 1920 and 10 March 1921.
£250.00

Both items in fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The second letter addressed by the secretary on the reverse, with four torn stamps and postmarks, to 'Mr. Lawrence Hodson | Bradbourne Hall | Ashbourne | Derbyshire'. The 'set of stations' referred to in the first letter is likely to have been based on those executed by Gill in stone in Westminster Cathedral, and completed in 1918. Letter One (3 November 1920): 1p., 12mo.

Autograph Letter Signed "Douglas" [Cleverdon, broadcaster, publisher] to "Eddie" [Edward Marsh, translator (of Anouilh, Cocteau et al), schoolmaster.

Author: 
Douglas Cleverdon, broadcaster, bookseller, publisher [Eric Gill; Dylan Thomas]
Publication details: 
[Headed] Douglas Cleverdon | Publisher | 27 Barnsbury Square | London N1 England ..., 23 July 1976.
£95.00

One page, cr. 8vo, good condition, giving a brief c.v. of his son, Lewis Cleverdon from Primary School to William Ellis [Marsh's school], Dartington to work experience (dry-stone walling, carpenter's mate, training with wheelwright. He asks Marsh to send a reference toi the Clerk of the Skinners Company, giving address.

Three Autograph Letter Signed (all 'Eric') from Sir Eric de la Rue, 3rd Baronet, one to his father and two to his sister Diana, written during the Second World War as a Captain in the Notts Yeomanry, Middle East Forces (Egypt and Benghazi).

Author: 
Sir Eric de la Rue [Sir Eric Vincent de la Rue] (1906-1989), 3rd Baronet, son of Sir Evelyn Andros de la Rue (1879-1950) [Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry; British Army, Middle East Forces]
Publication details: 
Letter to his father: 17 March [1944]; 'H.Q. 215 Town Mayor M.E.F.' Letters to his sister: 4 May [1944] and 4 October [1944]. Both addressed from the MEF.
£220.00

All three are air mail letter cards. Each with 'Field Post Office' postmark and censor's stamp. The three in fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Letter One: To his father, 17 March [1944]. Addressed to 'My dear Father', with the envelope addressed to 'Sir E. de la Rue Bart. | The Sol | Cookham | Berkshire | England.' 1p, 4to, and 1p., 12mo. A light-hearted letter, in which he jokes about his father's inability to read the word 'Aviv' ('I suppose a series of "i"s and "v"s is rather difficult even if printed') and find the place on the map ('it is much larger than Bournemouth').

Collection of material relating to the designers and typographers Banks and Miles [Colin Banks; John Miles], assembled by Montague Shaw for his monograph on the firm.

Author: 
Banks and Miles, designers and typographers [Colin Banks (1932-2002); John Miles; Monty Shaw [Montague Shaw; the Post Office; British Telecom; London Underground]
Publication details: 
Dating from between 1988 to 1991.
£450.00

Monty Shaw's 'Banks and Miles: Thirty Years of Design Evolution' was supposedly published by Lund Humphries (London) in February 1993 but no copy can be found on the internet (one listed on WorldCat appears to be a ghost).. This collection, in a buff card folder, contains material relating to Shaw's monograph, grouped as follows: ONE.

Collection of 25 items relating to the letter-cutter and typographer David Kindersley, collected by his biographer Montague Shaw, including pamphlets, keepsakes, brochure (some Eric Gill items), Autograph Letters Signed from Kindersley and his wife.

Author: 
David Kindersley [David Guy Barnabas Kindersley] (1915-1995), letter cutter and alphabet designer; his third wife Lida Kindersley (b. 1955) [Cardozo Kindersley; Montague Shaw; Helen Annis; Eric Gill]
Publication details: 
1985-1997; most items sent from 152 Victoria Road, Cambridge [David Kindersley's Workshop; Cambridge Supervision; Cardozo Kindersley Editions].
£450.00

An interesting assemblage of twenty-six items relating to a leading figure in twentieth-century British typography and design. David Kindersley's best-known work (in conjunction with his third wife Lida) is the iconic gates to the British Library at Euston. The collection is in very good condition. Among the items are three booklets, four keepsakes, one brochure, and ten letters and cards. ONE. Copy of David Kindersley's book 'Eric Gill, Further Thoughts by an Apprentice (London: The Wynkyn de Worde Society, 1982). 12mo, xii + [iv] + 24. Finely printed in green printed wraps. Very good.

Manuscript Minute Book of the Oxford Ornithological Society, with signatures, covering the period between 1943 and 1948, and with a number of attractive handbills and other items of ephemera (printed at the Oxford University Press) tipped in.

Author: 
[Oxford Ornithological Society; Fraser Darling; Ludwig Koch; Eric Ennion; Seton Gordon; Tinbergen; Landsborough Thomson]
Publication details: 
[Oxford.] Michaelmas Term, 1943 - Michaelmas Term 1948.
£650.00

4to, 180 pp. In original 'Emberlin & Son' ledger, with red leather half-binding, black cloth, marbled endpapers. Text clear and complete. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn binding. Minutes signed by G. H. Spray, B. W. Tucker, W. B. Alexander, J. B. E. Say, William G. Dyson, Alan Newton. Numerous programmes (with lists of officers) tipped-in, along with one set of rules and a poster with large engraving of bird (a smaller version of which features on the programmes), printed by the Holywell Press.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear Mr Taylor'.

Author: 
Barry Pain [Barry Eric Odell Pain] (1864-1928), English humorist and contributor to Punch magazine [Sir Hubert von Herkomer (1849-1914)]
Publication details: 
13 April 1905; on letterhead of Hogarth House, Bushey, Herts.
£38.00

12mo, 1 p. Thirteen lines. Text clear and complete. On aged and foxed paper with some fraying to edges (not affecting text). He would like to show Taylor 'something of interest with reference to Sir Herbert Taylor [sometime soldier and Private Secretary to teh KIng]' and suggests meeting that night. 'It seems rather late, but I shall be at von Herkomer's till then'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Eric A. Walker') to Bower.

Author: 
Eric A. Walker [Eric Anderson Walker] (1886-1976), first holder of the King George V Chair in History at the University of Cape Town, South Africa [Sir Graham John Bower]
Publication details: 
30 June 1927; on University of Cape Town letterhead.
£150.00

4to, 2 pp. Thirty-nine lines of text. Clear and complete. Neatly and closely written. Begins by discussing two books recommended by Bower: Otto Hammann's 'World Policy of Germany' and a work by Sir Francis Younghusband. Hammann's book 'confirms what Sir Sidney Lee writes about the Kaiser's telegram'; he is pleased that Younghusband's, which he has not yet read, contradicts the story that 'Lord Ripon was prepared for such drastic measures'. He has been 'correcting the proofs of the 600-page history of South Africa which I undertook to write for Longmans Green five or six years ago'.

Engraving ('ACTS XXVII XXXV') by Eric Gill from a drawing by David Jones; with long typewritten transcript from a letter from Jones to Evan Gill.

Author: 
David Jones; Eric Gill; Evan Gill
Publication details: 
The engraving dated by Jones (in the letter) to around 1935. The letter dated 22 November 1957.
£400.00

The engraving illustrates the biblical passage describing an incident during the wreck off Crete of a ship carrying Saint Paul. Acts 27:35: 'And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.' Printed on one side of a piece of paper, 28 x 19 cm, with one rough edge. A striking image, irregularly shaped, with white lines against a black background, showing centurions and others on the deck of a ship on a stormy sea, with land in the distance.

Three Autograph Letters Signed (two 'Eric Broad. | Frederic E Wright.' and one 'Frederic E Wright | Eric Broad.') to W. Kineton Parkes (1865-1938), assistant editor of the journal of the Ruskin Reading Guild, 'Igdrasil'

Author: 
Eric Broad' (Frederic E. Wright), English poet [W. Kineton Parkes; John Ruskin; William Marwick; the Ruskin Reading Guild]
Publication details: 
20 and 22 January and 3 March 1890; all from Scarsdale, Great Malvern.
£100.00

All three items in very good condition. Interesting series of letters by an obscure 1890s poet. Letter One (12mo, 7 pp): Although he realises that some are 'rather poor', he is sending, through his brother (possibly the artist Alan Wright, 1864-1959), 'all the lyrics I have by me': 'I have not had time to "weed" yet, being veryy busily engaged writing lyrics for a Comedy-Opera ['Ethelinda, or a Philanthropic Fad' (1890), on which he collaborated with Hamilton O. Wylde] - & a libretto for Operetta; also been trying my hand at very sensational prose'.

The Eric Gill Workshops.

Author: 
Denis Tegetmeier; Laurence Cribb [Eric Gill]
Publication details: 
Pigotts, North Dean, High Wycombe'; 'December 5 | 1940'.
£125.00

Leaflet. Two pages, 12mo. Tasteful bifolium on cream wove paper. Unbound. Good, though a tad grubby. Gill woodcut (roughly two inches by one and a half) on front: two hands around the front of a large 'V' with rest of word 'Veritas' on stem and cross at head. Apparently numbered in pencil bottom-right of woodcut 579.

Libellus lapidum.

Author: 
Hilary Pepler and David Jones [S. Dominic's Press]
Publication details: 
Printed & published by the Author at | Ditchling Sussex | & at 350, Oxford Street. London, W. I. | A. MCMXXIV. D.' [1924]
£150.00

Small 8vo. Pages: viii + 24 + [4 blanks]. Original cream paper wraps: title and price in red and engraving in green on front. Wraps discoloured, rubbed and stained, with covers loosening and loss at foot of spine. Internally sound and tight, but quite heavily foxed. Dated ownership inscription on flyleaf. Titlepage vignette and 15 engravings. Collection of whimsical poems about places like Hampstead Garden Suburb and people like G. K. Chesterton and Bernard Shaw. Taylor & Sewell A125b.

The law the lawyers know about.

Author: 
H. D. C. Pepler [Eric Gill, David Jones, S. Dominic's Press]
Publication details: 
PRINTED AT S. DOMINIC'S PRESS, DITCHLING, SUSSEX' at foot of verso of last leaf; no date.
£50.00

4 leaves. 8 unpaginated pages. 16mo. 9 centimeters by 12 centimeters. Dusty but very good indeed. Evan Gill 272 describes the first edition of 1923 and a subsequent edition of 1929, but makes no mention of an undated issue. Wood engravings by Gill: lawyer's wig on cover-title; bird in cage on verso of third leaf; angel before tombstone on verso of last leaf. 'WITABEL WATLO' engraving [by David Jones?] on recto of third leaf. Prob. Taylor & Sewell 117c

Coloured advertisement for Swan Vesta matches, in the form of a pastiche of a London Underground sign.

Author: 
Advertising artwork [ LONDON UNDERGROUND; SWAN VESTA; TOBACCO; SMOKING]
Publication details: 
Without date or place [1920s or 30s?].
£75.00

Attractive illustration, in red, green, yellow and black, on piece of white card roughly nine and three-quarter inches by six and a quarter, neatly mounted on piece of black card roughly ten and a quarter inches by seven and three-quarters. At head a parody of the London Underground black rectangle over red circle, roughly six and a half inches by three and a quarter, bearing the notice 'ALIGHT HERE' in white letters. Beneath this the words 'FOR EVERY SMOKER.', with a red arrow at foot pointing to a box of Swan Vesta matches. Very good, though lightly foxed.

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