GWENT

The company opened canals from Newport to Pontypool and to Crumlin in 1796. It was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1875, and a passenger service from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff still runs. Three items with covering paper on which Sir J. E. Harington has written in ink: 'Sir J E Harington | Monmouthshire Ry & Canal Papers', with the following added in pencil: 'May 21 1849. | Asking my consent to take new shares - | No.' All items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Autograph Letter Signed from Grevile to Harington. Bristol; 13 June 1849. 2pp., 4to.

All items in good condition. The photographs range in size from 21.5 x 14.5 cm. to 18.5 x 16.5 cm., and show Knight at work on the sculpture, with her husband Mark Churchill present in one. Thuillier's text (1p., 12mo) reads: 'Geraldine Knight seen with her giant 10 ft. fibreglass and resin (GRP) Hinds Head which has been commissioned by Whitbreads for their new Brewery at Magor near Newport. The work has taken her a year to complete. She lives and works in a converted Bakery at Woodborough in Wiltshire where she has 4 large studios.

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 57 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Weekes is by far the most likely of the four Royal Academicians whose initials correspond to those of the recipient of this letter, the others being Henry Tamworth Wells (1828-1903); Henry Woods (1846-1921); Hubert Worthington (1886-1963). Well-written and entertaining letter, addressed to 'Dearest old Boy'. Begins with a discussions of the merits of 'Scilly as a sketching ground'.