historian

[ George Bancroft, American historian. ] Autograph signature ('G Bancroft').

Author: 
George Bancroft (1800-1891), American historian and Democratic Party statesman, 17th United States Secretary of the Navy
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£30.00

On 4.5 x 13 cm piece of paper, cut from a letter. In fair condition, on aged paper, with slight damage (not affecting signature) at outer edges caused by removal from album. Reads: 'Yrs truly | G Bancroft'.

[David Diringer, book historian ] Autograph Letter Signed "David (DIRINGER)" ro "Mr [Marcus prob.] Adams, Royal and children's photographers.

Author: 
David Diringer, book historian, linguist, "alphabetologist", palaeographer and writer, wartime "enemy alien".
Publication details: 
[Headed Notepaper, heading with line through it] University Combination Room, The Old Schools, Cambridge {added] "as from 50 St Barnabas's Road, Cambridge, Dec. 1957.
£100.00

Two pages, 8vo, fold mark (stained), mainly good, text clear and complete. "My dear Mr. Adams, | Once more I hoped to be able to present to you as my Christmas present my forthcoming book (The Illuminated Book [underlined]). Unfortunately, its pubication has been postponed till Febr. 1958. | Hence, I cannot but send to you my warmest greeetings & my best wishes of A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY 1958. | I do hope to be able to meet you somewhere in London.

[ P. G. Wodehouse, humorist. ] Two typewritten drafts, each with autograph emendations, of 'The Day I met the Master', Barrie Pitt's account of his encounter with Wodehouse in Tost internment camp. With printed version the article, and other material

Author: 
[ P. G. Wodehouse [ Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse ] (1881-1975), English humorist ] Barrie Pitt (1918-2006), military historian, editor of 'Purnell's History of the Second World War'
Publication details: 
1992 and 1993.
£180.00

All items in good condition, with minor signs of age. The drafts are both printed on yellow paper. Each is 4pp., 4to. The two appear the same textually, but one has two slips of paper with amended text attached, and the autograph emendations to the two are different from one another. Also present is a leaf from 'Lifewise' magazine, November 1993, with one page carrying Pitt's memoir, accompanied by a photograph of Wodehouse being interviewed at Tost by Angus Thuermer. The piece begins: 'I first saw P. G.

[ Jean-Henri Merle d'Aubigné, Swiss historian of the Reformation.] Autograph Letter Signed, in French, regarding a prospectus by 'La Commission de la Bibliothèque'. With contemporary original photograph of d'Aubigné.

Author: 
Jean-Henri Merle d'Aubigné (1794-1872), Swiss Protestant minister and historian of the Reformation
Publication details: 
7 February 1869.
£250.00

2pp., 8vo. On bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Written in a difficult hand. Dated 'M<?> 7 Fevr 69'. Addressed to 'Monsieur & Mes colleguès'. He writes regarding the 'Commission de la Bibliothèque', and their direction that he send copies of their prospectus to 'M le <?> Hofman à Berlin', with reference to 'Mr B'. The sepia portrait photograph of d'Aubigné is 9 x 5.5 cm and appears to have been cut down, but is otherwise in good condition.

Autograph list by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, naming pictures he has contributed to thirteen international exhibitions between 1862 and 1898, proposed in autograph queries by the art historian William Roberts.

Author: 
Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), Dutch-born English painter of the 'Victorian Olympus' period [William Roberts (1862-1940), art historian]
Alma-Tadema
Publication details: 
Address in bottom left-hand corner of 'W. Roberts 47, Lansdowne Gardens, Clapham, S.W.' [Circa 1898.]
£500.00
Alma-Tadema

1p., folio. Good, on a lightly-aged piece of ruled paper. In two columns, with the left-hand column, written out by Roberts with his address at the foot, headed 'Name of Exhibition', and listing twelve international exhibitions between 1862 (Amsterdam) and 1898 (Brussels). The right-hand column, headed 'Picture Exhibition', carries Alma-Tadema's responses, some of which are written in darker ink than others, indicating that they were added at more than one point. Alongside 'Paris (EU) 1867' he writes '13 pictures amongst them.

[Sir James Mackintosh, Scottish author and Whig politician.] Fragment of Autograph Letter, with signature ('J Mackintosh')

Author: 
Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1832) of Kyllachy, Scottish author and Whig politician
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£35.00

On both sides of a 9 x 11 cm piece of paper. Very good, with a piece of mount adhering to one corner. Recto reads: 'Neither Fanny nor I can resist the great kindness of your note. If what you write be so consolatory it is natural to expect still more gratification from seeing you. I cannot go till Monday after Lectures. But unless I should be prevented by a relapse which I hope is not probable [...]'. Verso reads: '[...] Afftly | J Mackintosh'.

[Sir John William Kaye, military historian and civil servant.] Autograph Note Signed ('J. W. Kaye') to an unnamed recipient, inviting him to 'have some talk'.

Author: 
Sir John William Kaye (1814-1876), British soldier, military historian and civil servant
Publication details: 
On India Office letterhead. 22 March 1870.
£25.00

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'.

[Sir George Otto Trevelyan, Liberal politician and author.] Autograph Letter Signed ('G O Trevelyan') to 'Dear George' [George Harvey], declining to contribute a piece to the North American Review, as he must concentrate on 'writing a history'.

Author: 
Sir George Otto Trevelyan (1838-1928), Liberal politician and historian, nephew of Thomas Babington Macaulay [George Harvey (1864-1928), proprietor and editor of the North American Review]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. 15 December 1899.
£56.00

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.

[Sir John William Kaye, military historian and civil servant.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. W. Kaye') to 'Mr. King'.

Author: 
Sir John William Kaye (1814-1876), British soldier, military historian and civil servant
Publication details: 
On India Office letterhead. 3 July 1863.
£25.00

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'.

[Sir Arthur Bryant.] Typed Note Signed ('Arthur Bryant') to Philip Dossé, editor of Books and Bookmen, regarding a review of 'two Seymour books'.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Bryant [Sir Arthur Wynne Morgan Bryant] (1899-1985), English historian and biographer of Samuel Pepys [Philip Dossé (d.1980), editor of Books and Bookmen]
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, Myles Place, The Close, Salisbury. 26 April 1976.
£35.00

1p., foolscap 8vo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his letter. 'The two Seymour books have no arrived and I will let you have the review as soon as I can get round to it.'

[Adolphe Thiers, French statesman.] Autograph Letter Signed ('A. Thiers'), in French, to a general [Dembinski?], regarding the plight of Polish exiles (including Lelewel and Ostrowski) following the November 1830 Uprising against the Russians.

Author: 
Adolphe Thiers [Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers] (1797-1877), French statesman and historian [General Henryk Dembinski; Joachim Lelewel; Leon Chodsko; J. B. Ostrowski; Poland; Polish]
Adolphe Thiers
Publication details: 
[Paris.] 24 October 1832.
£550.00
Adolphe Thiers

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Accompanying the document is an undated and unsigned twentieth-century English translation, on letterhead of Lincoln House, Beauchamp Road, East Molesey, Surrey, headed 'A very free translation - guessing at illegible words'. At the time of writing Thiers was in government, in the Ministry of the Interior.

[Sir Charles Oman, military historian.] Autograph Letter Signed ('C. W. C. Oman') [to H. E. Wortham], offering to act as guide to 'King Edward's very archaic Oxford abode'.

Author: 
Sir Charles Oman [Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman] (1860-1946), military historian [Hugh Evelyn Wortham (1884-1959), biographer]
Publication details: 
'As from Frewin Hall, Oxford', and on letterhead of the House of Commons Library. 3 October 1931.
£38.00

1p., 12mo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 'If you would ever care to look round King Edward's very archaic Oxford abode, I can shew you it, with engravings of its details in his day - coloured and otherwise. It is a nice old house - half Elizabethan, half Queen Anne.' He concludes by explaining that he is 'at Westminster all the middle days of the week, save in the recess', and so requires notice. From the H. E. Wortham papers.

[Arthur West Haddan, ecclesiastical historian.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Arthur W. Haddan'), to '<Cassam?>', asking for information regarding 'Mr. Burnett Stuart of Wesley [Vicarage]', which will help him place 'a lad'

Author: 
Arthur West Haddan (1816-1873), Church of England clergyman and ecclesiastical historian, co-editor with William Stubbs of 'Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents relating to Great Britain and Ireland'
Publication details: 
Barton Rectory, Moreton in Marsh. 18 January 1866.
£40.00

3pp., 12mo. 35 lines of text. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper. Written in a difficult hand. He begins by asking: 'Can you tell me anything about Mr. Bennett Stuart of Wesley? This is <...> servants asking for their master's characters. But I have a lad to place out & he is offered a place at Mr. Stuart - Wesley Vicarage - & I am rather disgusted at having already made an abortive attempt with another Clergyman, to me previously unknown, who wanted as it turned out a groom, coachman, valet, &

[Esmé Cecil Wingfield-Stratford, historian.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Esmé Wingfield-Stratford') to an unnamed recipient, giving a positive assessment of Archbishiop Laud.

Author: 
Esmé Cecil Wingfield-Stratford (1882-1971), historian [William Laud (1573-1645), Archbishop of Canterbury]
Publication details: 
No place. 10 December 1947.
£56.00

2pp., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper.

[Paul Heyse] Printed card inscribed by Paul Heyse

Author: 
Paul Heyse [Paul Johann Ludwig von Heyse] (1830–1914), German writer and translator
Publication details: 
Munchen, Nov. 1910.
£56.00

Card, 11 x 9cm. very good condition. Printed text as follows: "Herzlichen Dank fur den freundlichen Gluckwunsch* [by his hand], der mich sehr erfreut hat. | Munchen | Nov. 1910." Written by him: "Paul Heyse *und das schone schone [Gedrint?]!"

Finla part only of Autograph Letter Signed "Eliz. Eastlake", unknown correspondent (musical?).

Author: 
[Elizabeth Eastlake] Elizabeth, Lady Eastlake, author, art critic and art historian.
Publication details: 
No place or date preserved.
£28.00

Part of page, 10 x 7cm, edges a little ragged, mainly good condition. Full text preserved: We have thought & spoken much of you music & of your kindness. | Your's obliged | Eliz. Eastlake".

Two Autograph Letters from the historian Thomas Lionel Hodgkin, one (signed 'Thomas') to the poet Sylvia Lynd, the other (unsigned) to her daughter Sigle Lynd, both written in the most effusive terms.

Author: 
Thomas Lionel Hodgkin (1910-1982), Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, British Marxist historian of Africa [Sylvia Lynd (1888-1952), poet; Sigle ('Sheila') Lynd [later Wheeler] (1910-1976)]
Publication details: 
Both letters on letterhead of 20 Bradmore Road, Oxford. Letter to Sylvia Lynd: 16 December 1930. Letter to Sigle Lynd: 19 July 1930.
£120.00

Both items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Both letters are written in an excited, gushing style, and have the margins filled with extra text. Letter to Sylvia Lynd: 2pp., 4to. Addressed to 'Dear Mrs Lynd'.

Autograph Translations by Robert Proud of Pennsylvania, of 'On Gardens, From the Latin of Lord Bacons Essays &c' and the 'Laus Mortuli' of Virgil. With printings of Proud's 'Autobiography' and Charles West Thomson's 'Notices'.

Author: 
Robert Proud (1728-1813), English-born American loyalist, author of 'The History of Pennsylvania in North America' [Charles West Thomson]
Publication details: 
The autograph of 'On Gardens': 'Translation by R. P. Anno. 1802.' Thomson's 'Notices': 'Read before the Council, August 16, 1826.' The 'Autobiography' from the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, January 1890.
£350.00

ONE: Autograph translations by Proud. 14pp., 12mo. Unbound, stitched into a booklet of laid watermarked paper, with deckled edges. In very good condition, neatly and closely written on lightly-aged paper. Upwards along the inner margin of the first page Proud has written: 'Translation by R. P. Anno. 1802.' The translation of 'On Gardens, | From the Latin of Lord Bacon's Essays &c' covers the first 12pp., paginated 1-12; the 'Laus Mortuli. Translated at Hackney near London from a Lat. Epigram of Virgil, abt. the year 1752. by R. P.' covers the last two pages, and is unpaginated.

Eleven Autograph Letters Signed from the historian of France Professor Douglas Johnson to Alan S. Baxendale, mainly about their joint article 'Uganda and Great Britain'. With typescript of the article, memorial pamphlet on Johnson, and other matter.

Author: 
Professor Douglas Johnson (1925-2005) of the University of Birmingham, Scottish historian of France [Alan S. Baxendale, historian and civil servant; Uganda]
Publication details: 
Mostly on letterheads of the School of History, University of Birmingham. Dated items from 1963, apart from one from 2004.
£280.00

Nineteen items, in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, arranged in the following description into seven sections: ONE. Nine Autograph Letters Signed (two more are in sections Two and Three below) from DJ to ASB. Totalling 3pp., 4to; 15pp., 12mo (12 of them landscape); 5pp., 16mo. Four dating from 1963, one from 2004, and the other four undated (but apparently also from 1963). One signed 'Douglas', another 'D. J.', and the other seven signed in full. All but one, which is addressed to 'Alan', addressed to 'Baxendale'. Eight on letterheads of the School of History, Birmingham University.

Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Jn Summerson') from architectural historian Sir John Summerson, Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum, to Peter Rhodes and his wife Felicity, regarding Soane's Piercefield Hall, Shotesham Hall and Hay Castle.

Author: 
Sir John Summerson [Sir John Newenham Summerson] (1904-1992), architectural historian, Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum, 1945-1984
Publication details: 
Both on letterheads of Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. 2 May 1972 and 1 August 1974.
£120.00

Both letters in very good condition, and each in a stamped, postmarked envelope, and each addressed by Summerson to Cuddesdon Manor, Oxon. Letter One (2 May 1972): To Peter Rhodes. 2pp., 12mo. He is 'rather surprised' to find that the ruins of Soane's Piercefield House are 'still there!' The best he can do is 'to warn the National Monuments Record of the approaching dissolution'. They are 'seriously overworked but they might have a photographer in the area who would improve on Miss Stroud's snap-shots'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Jn Summerson') from architectural historian Sir John Summerson, Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum, to Peter Rhodes and his wife Felicity, regarding Soane's Piercefield Hall, Shotesham Hall and Hay Castle.

Author: 
Sir John Summerson [Sir John Newenham Summerson] (1904-1992), architectural historian, Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum, 1945-1984
Publication details: 
Both on letterheads of Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. 2 May 1972 and 1 August 1974.
£120.00

Both letters in very good condition, and each in a stamped, postmarked envelope, and each addressed by Summerson to Cuddesdon Manor, Oxon. Letter One (2 May 1972): To Peter Rhodes. 2pp., 12mo. He is 'rather surprised' to find that the ruins of Soane's Piercefield House are 'still there!' The best he can do is 'to warn the National Monuments Record of the approaching dissolution'. They are 'seriously overworked but they might have a photographer in the area who would improve on Miss Stroud's snap-shots'.

Typed Letter Signed ('Alistair') from the historian of France Alistair Horne to the Sandhurst lecturer Antony Brett-James, regarding the trouble he has put him to over 'the Macmillan speech'.

Author: 
Sir Alistair Horne [Sir Alistair Allan Horne] (b.1925), British historian of modern France [Major Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), lecturer at Sandhurst]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 24 Lansdowne Road, London W11. 21 September 1979.
£40.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightl-aged paper. A short letter, in which he thanks Brett-James for writing to him 'about the Macmillan speech': 'I really feel badly at having put you obviously to so much trouble'. He suggests that Brett-James sends him 'the tape' and lets him 'have it transcribed here, by my secretary'.

Typed Letter Signed ('S. W. Roskill') from the naval historian Captain Stephen Wentworth Roskill to the Sandhurst lecturer Major Antony Brett-James, proposing two subjects for a lecture to the Napier Society.

Author: 
Captain Stephen Wentworth Roskill [Captain S. W. Roskill, Royal Navy] (1903-1982), British naval officer and historian [Major Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), lecturer at Sandhurst]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Blounce, South Warnsborough, Basingstoke, Hertfordshire. 12 January 1966.
£80.00

1p., 4to. He is honoured to be asked to talk to the Napier Society (a military history society at Sandhurst), but is 'right in the middle of the Cambridge term', as a Fellow of Churchill College, and so must 'propose a subject which I have already talked about.' He suggests two topics: 'Trade Defence in World War II' and 'Some Reasons for Official History', in the last of which he tries 'to answer criticisms of that form of history and describe the sources I had used and the way I had worked when writing The War at Sea 1939-45'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('M: A: Lower') from the Sussex antiquary Mark Anthony Lower to Lord Londesborough

Author: 
Mark Antony Lower (1814-1876), F.S.A. M.A., Sussex historian who founded the Sussex Archaeological Society [Albert Denison Denison (1805-1860), 1st Baron Londesborough]
Publication details: 
Lewes [Sussex]. 23 May 1851.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Written in a bold, attractive hand. The letter begins: 'It was with much regret that I was compelled to forgo the honour of attending your Lordship's Conversazione on Wednesday.' He was called to Hastings that day by '[u]navoidable business', but hopes to have 'during the continuance of the Exhibition, an opportunity of waiting on your Lordship'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('A W Kinglake.') from the historian and travel writer Alexander William Kinglake [A. W. Kinglake] to an unnamed recipient.

Author: 
Alexander William Kinglake (1809-1891), historian and travel writer, author of 'Eothen' and 'The Invasion of the Crimea', Liberal Member of Parliament for Bridgwater.
Publication details: 
On House of Commons letterhead. 16 March 1864.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. 8 lines. On aged paper with a small hole (not affecting text) and pin marks. He thanks him for his 'kind thought' in sending 'the Danish Images', adding: 'I assure you the present was a very welcome one to me.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. H. Rose') from the English historian John Holland Rose, writing, while on active service in France with the British Expeditionary Force, to Alfred Tresidder Sheppard to commend his latest novel.

Author: 
J. H. Rose [John Holland Rose] (1855-1942), English historian best-known for his biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, Reader in Modern History, Cambridge University [Alfred Tresidder Sheppard (1871-1947)]
Publication details: 
On Y.M.C.A. letterhead, 'On Active Service | With the British Expeditionary Force', 15 September 1917.
£65.00

2pp., 4to. 53 lines. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of previous mounting at head, and a light and unobtrusive water stain. The letter is headed by Rose 'Y.M.C.A. B.A.P.O.2 B.E.F. France'. Regarding Sheppard's recently-published 'Quest of Ledgar Dunstan', Rose writes: 'You have a wonderfully keen mental eye which sees everything with extraordinary sharpness, & you have a literary hand which etches with just & delicate touch. The book is also one of singular intensity of feeling which carries the reader along fascinated & thrilled.

Autograph Letter Signed ('C Merivale') from the historian Charles Merivale, Dean of Ely Cathedral, to Rev. A. Williams.

Author: 
Charles Merivale (1808-1893), Dean of Ely Cathedral, author of 'A History of the Romans under the Empire' (1850-1862)
Publication details: 
Dawlish. 15 July 1885.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. 15 lines. In very good condition. He begins by apologising for not being able to assist Williams. 'I do not know of any book on the subject of the Teachers of the Apostolical age - of course very little indeed can be known about them. The ecclesiastical historians such as and of course a hundred others would I suppose give you all the references that would be of use to you.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('W H D Longstaffe') from the Darlington historian and numismatist William Hylton Dyer Longstaffe to 'Dear Appleton' [the New England numismatist William Sumner Appleton], concerning Walter Hilton's 'Scale of Perfection'.

Author: 
William Hylton Dyer Longstaffe (1826-98), FSA, Darlington historian and numismatist [William Sumner Appleton (1840-1903), New England numismatist] [Walter Hilton; Scale of Perfection; Wynkyn de Worde]
Publication details: 
'Gd. 21 June 1875'.
£120.00

1p., 8vo. 23 lines. On discoloured aged paper. He thanks him for 'Cleveland': 'a decided improvement on the Tweddell press, as it sometimes has been'. He would not 'give any extravagant price' for the 'dull performance' of Walter Hilton [one of Wynkyn de Worde's editions of Hilton's 'Scale of Perfection'], 'but he is interesting, as I believe him to have been a Northern man. Walter de Helton was concerned in Appleby lands in 36 Edw. III. and Walter de Hilton was Rector of Moreby in 1369, and had a brother Wm.

Autograph Letter Signed from the American historian John Bach McMaster to the military historian John Codman Ropes of Boston, regarding a list of works relating to the Duc d'Enghien.

Author: 
John Bach McMaster (1852-1932), American historian, Professor of American History at the University of Pennsylvania [John Codman Ropes (1836-1899), American military historian]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The College, University of Pennsylvania. 12 January 1896.
£56.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of previous mounting on reverse. He acknowledges with 'great pleasure' the 'duplicate list of books relating to the execution of the Duc d'Enghien'. 'The pains you have taken to prepare it are very fully appreciated.'

Autograph Letter Signed from the herald painter for the College of Arms Gerald Cobb to the architectural historian Peter Reid, regarding a staircase in Bishopswood and his new book.

Author: 
Gerald Cobb (1899-1986), Queen Elizabeth II's herald painter for the College of Arms at the time of her coronation, and authority on ecclesiastical architecture [Peter Reid, architectural historian]
Publication details: 
College of Arms, London EC4. 7 June 1979.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. Seventeen lines of neatly-written text. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He apologises for the delay in replying to Reid's letter, and knows 'nothing about the staircase you mention as coming from a house in Holborn, & now in a house in Bishopswood.' He 'looked it up in R[oyal]. C[ommision]. H[istorical]. M[onumments]., (Vol. II) Hertfordshire (par. of Walford-on-Wye) but Bishopswood is only mentioned re some romann remains.' He hopes Reid is 'enjoying the Herefordshire countryside', and is himself finding life 'rather hectic'.

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