GUNS

[World War One: ‘The Guns of August’, 1914.] Silver gelatin negative photostatic print of typed British Government ‘Aide Mémoire’ on the German Army and Belgian neutrality, including copy of note by German Foreign Minister Gottlieb von Jagow.

Author: 
[World War One: 'The Guns of August', 1914] Sir Edward Goschen (1847-1924), British Ambassador in Berlin [Gottlieb von Jagow (1863-1935), German Foreign Minister]
Aide Mémoire
Publication details: 
A photographic copy (made in the 1920s or contemporary?) of: ONE: Goschen's 'Aide Mémoire' dated 'BERLIN, August 4, 1914.' TWO: Von Jagow's manuscript note, 'Berlin, den 5. 8 1914.' [5 August 1914]
£450.00
Aide Mémoire

Silver gelatin negative photostatic print of two documents: 3pp, 4to (i.e. each of the three pages on 19.5 x 24 cm. leaf). The first page of Goschen’s two-page ‘Aide Mémoire’ on a separate leaf, and the second page and von Jagow’s note on different leaves of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. N.B. The entire item is a photostatic copy. Reproduced at the head and down the left margin of the first page of Goschen’s text are manuscript notes in German (including at top left: A15930 pr. 4. August 1914 pm. / Von Sir E.

[ Goldschmidt v Meadows: Victorian justice and 1600 guns. ] Autograph Corrected Manuscript 'Draft Award' by arbitrator Richard Harington, 'In the matter of a reference between Bernard Goldschmidt & John Meadows'. ]

Author: 
Sir Richard Harington of Ridlington, 11th Baronet (1835-1911) [ John Meadows, Birmingham gunsmith; Bernard Goldschmidt, merchant ]
Publication details: 
[ Lincoln's Inn, London. ] 'Dated the [ blank ] June 1871'.
£150.00

11pp., folio. On eleven leaves of wove paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, the leaves attched with a rusty pin. An unsigned draft, with deletions and emendations throughout, and the date left incomplete at the end. The document begins: 'To all to whom these presents may come I Richard Harington of Lincoln's Inn in the County of Middlesex Esq. Barrister at law send greeting'.

[William Ford, Birmingham gun maker.] Manuscript letter from the firm to F. Gardner, giving the cost of improving the shooting of his 'little .410'. On letterhead with much text as advertisement.

Author: 
William Ford, Gun Maker, "Eclipse" Works, 15, St. Mary's Row, Birmingham
Publication details: 
Letterhead of William Ford, Gun Maker, "Eclipse" Works, 15, St. Mary's Row, Birmingham. 21 February 1907.
£56.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged paper with wear to extremities. Addressed to 'F. Gardner Esq | Little Coggeshall | Essex'. The letter is signed 'Wm Ford | Per Pro' and reads: 'Dear Sir | In reply to your kind enquiry the cost to improve the shooting of your little .410 would be about 10/- if a double gun as near as I can tell without seeing it. | Trusting to be favoured with your kind command'. The letterhead contains a mass of text at the head and filling the left-hand margin.

[Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, London.] Illustrated handbill advertisement for 'Colt's New Lightning Magazine Rifle. .22 inch calibre.'

Author: 
Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, 14, Pall Mall, London, S.W. [J. Blanch & Son, 29, Gracechurch St., London, Gun Makers; Samuel Colt (1814-1862)]
Colt
Publication details: 
Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, 14, Pall Mall, London, S.W. January, 1888. [With stamp of 'J. Blanch & Son, 29, Gracechurch St., London, Gun Makers'.]
£150.00
Colt

Printed on both sides of a 4to (28 x 22.5cm) leaf of semi-opaque paper. Both sides with oval purple stamp of 'J. Blanch & Son, 29, Gracechurch St., London, Gun Makers'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with one dog-eared corner, folded three times. An attractively-produced item, with specifications, and text printed in small type. Engraving of a bullet in top right-hand corner of first page, with the Colt prancing horse at top left, also a small engraving of the rifle, with a larger one, by R. M. Smart, showing how 'To Charge the Magazine'.

[John Henry Batchelor, illustrator.] Autograph Letter Signed ('John H. Batchelor') to an unnamed recipient, discussing his work and terms.

Author: 
John Henry Batchelor (born 1936), MBE, English artist and 'arguably the world's foremost technical illustrator' and 'the world's premier stamp illustrator'
Publication details: 
15 St Johns Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with water staining to a couple of words. Written in a stylish, calligraphic hand. He begins by thanking the recipient for a letter and postal order, before continuing: 'In case you are interested, I also do paintings of antique weapons. An example of my work can be seen in the August 1962 issue of "Guns Review".' He explains that such illustrations can be in either black and white or full colour, and concludes: 'If you have a particular favourite I shall be pleased to quote.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('P-N. Bonaparte.. | Repr. du Peuple'), in French, from Pierre-Napoleon Bonaparte to Lieutenant-Colonel Lherbette, requesting that Samuel Colt be admitted 'aux expériences de tir des carabines à tige des chapeurs à pied'.

Author: 
Pierre-Napoléon Bonaparte (1815-1881), son of Lucien Bonaparte, deputy for Corsica to the Constituent Assembly of 1849 [Samuel Colt (1814-1862), inventor and manufacturer of the celebrated revolver]
Pierre-Napoléon Bonaparte (1815-1881), son of Lucien Bonaparte, deputy for Corsi
Publication details: 
2 September 1849; Paris.
£180.00
Pierre-Napoléon Bonaparte (1815-1881), son of Lucien Bonaparte, deputy for Corsi

12mo, 3 pp. Thirty-six lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by Bonaparte, with stamp, red wax seal and postmarks, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Monsieur le Lieutenant-Colonel Lherbette Adt. au comm. de l'artillerie dans la 1re. division militaire | Vincennes'. Were he not leaving for the country, he would have presented in person 'Mr. Colt, citoyen des Etats-Unis, inventeur d'un ingénieux système d'armes à feu à plusieurs coups'.

[Mimeographed] Report on visit to Czechoslovakia 16th November to 9th December, 1945

Author: 
Col. R.V. Shepherd, Armament Design Department
Publication details: 
[1945]
£450.00

Mimeographed or similar, 74pp., 4to, simple card binding, title label faded, Copy no. [10]. marked SECRET on title. DUP pencilled on title also. [Forewrd] This report is a record of information on German armament activity in Czechoslovakia. The Czech Ministry of Defence has helped in the preparation. Appendix 6 is an alphabetical record of the principal personnel mentioned in the report... Full of infomation about people (inc. Germans) involved durting the War, with a report on Skoda (appendix I, pp.14-22, and an experimental station, pp.29-32, etc.

Promotional booklet in English, with photographic illustrations: 'From Industrial Sweden. Aktiebolaget Bofors. Bofors, Sweden.

Author: 
Bofors Steel Works, Gothenburg, Sweden [Bofors anti-aircraft gun; armaments; warfare; military]
Publication details: 
Gothenburg: 1923. ['Wald. Zachrissons Boktr. A.-B., Göteborg 1923'.]
£100.00

4to (28.5 x 21.5 cm): 8 pp. In original buff printed wraps. Printed on shiny art paper. Text complete and clear. Lightly spotted, with central vertical fold, grubby wraps, rusted staples. Twelve photographs, ranging in size from half- to quarter-page: 'General View of the Bofors Works', 'Erecting shop', 'Fitting shop', '15 cm. Guns', 'Hardening tower', '15 cm. (6 inch.) double gun-carriage M/12', 'Rolling Mill housing, weight 33 tons', 'Runner for water turbine', 'Ore Crusher', 'Exterior of the Bofors Steel Works', 'Screw Automatics' and 'Details'.

Invoice and receipt signed in the hand of Thomas Jackson, eminent gunmaker of London, made out to H[enry] Byrne, soldier serving in India..

Author: 
Thomas Jackson [ Gunmaker ]
Publication details: 
No place [ London ] 10 Feb. 1838 (both items)
£65.00

The invoice, one page, 4to, good condition, lists 16 items, total amount £14.2.0, from "a second hand single gun" for £10 to powder flask (5s 6d), powder, crest on stock etc. The receipt acknowledges payment and is in the hand of Jackson and signed by him.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
[BIG GAME HUNTING] Sir Edmund Lechmere, 4th Baronet
Publication details: 
No date (but docketed 'Letter of Mch 30' [1928]); on blindstamped letterhead 'Flat 2, | 45, Braham Gardens, | S. W. 5.'
£30.00

2 pages, 16mo. Somewhat grubby and creased, and obtrusively docketed in ink, with the phrase 'Sent off | 10th 28' written across the text on the recto. Reads 'Dear Sir, | You hoped to return my book (album) last week but no doubt the holidays interfered. I am just sending a line to say I am leaving Town for the Country for the summer early on Monday next so hope it may be returned this week | Yours sincy | E Lechmere'.

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