HISTORY

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Alexander William Kinglake
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

English historian of the Crimean War (1809-91). On piece of paper roughly 4 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches. In very good condition. Remains of mounts adhering to blank verso. Reads '<...> be of use in making the collection. | I have the honour to be | Sirs | faithfully yours | A W Kinglake.'

Autograph Letter Signed to William Upcott.

Author: 
Francis C. Laird [ William Upcott ]
Publication details: 
No date, but postmarked from Fleet St, 14 July 1821.
£125.00

Laird (presumably the 'Francis Laird of Peterborough Court Fleet Street' whose will was proved in May 1825) was the author of 'A topographical and historical description of the County of Rutland' (1815) and 'A topographical and historical description of the County of Worcester' (1818). Upcott (1779-1845) was a noted aniquary and collector of autographs. One page, quarto. In poor condition, grubby and creased, with fraying to extremities and traces of mount and some loss to one edge (affecting one word of text). Repaired loss of triangular fragment from breaking open wafer.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Sir James Robert George Graham [ Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Great Eastern ]
Publication details: 
Grosvenor Place | 13. June 1857.'
£35.00

Liberal statesman (1792-1861). One page, 12mo. In good condition despite slight discoloration and traces from previous mounting on reverse. Folded twice. Marked 'Private'. Reads 'I accept with much pleasure and many thanks your obliging Present of the Photograph of the Great Ship. I shall not cease to take the most lively Interest in the success of this stupendous Enterprize. [sic]' Signed 'J R G Graham'. Brunel designed the Great Eastern steamship between 1852 and 1858.

Autograph Signature on front of franked envelope.

Author: 
John Thomas Townshend, 2nd Viscount Sydney
Publication details: 
27 January 1823; place indecipherable.
£20.00

Lords of the Admiralty, the Treasury and of the Bedchamber under George III (1764-1831). On front of envelope, cut down to roughly 4 1/2 inches by 3 inches. Good only: ruckled and with one closed tear not affecting signature. Blank reverse docketed in pencil and with remains of paper from previous mounting. Difficult handwriting. Reads '<?> Twenty Seventh of January | 1823 | Richd <?> Esq | Queen Street | May Fair | London | Sydney'. 'FREE | 28JA28 | 1823' stamped in red ink in circle cropped at head.

Autograph Note Signed to Mrs Christie Miller.

Author: 
Sir Christopher Heath
Publication details: 
25 January 1891; on letterhead 36 Cavendish Square, W.
£50.00

President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (DNB). 1 page, 8vo, in good condition with remains of stub adhering to blank verso. Doctor's handwriting. 'I am quite sure theh bleeding is of no consequence. Please let Geoffrey batter two fingers with the old <?> lotion & put a little bit of cotton wool <?> in the lotion in the end of the finger- - | Yours truly | C. Heath'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed to [F. J.] Epps[, F.G.S.]

Author: 
Sir Philip Manson-Bahr
Publication details: 
The first, 24 May 1951, on letterhead 'THE OLD COTTAGE, | POOTINGS, | NR. EDENBRIDGE, | KENT.'; the second, 3 January 1952, on letterhead '149, HARLEY STREET, W.1. | (MARYLEBONE ROAD END)'.
£80.00

English physician specialising in tropical medicine (1881-1966). Both 1 page, 16mo. Both dusty but in good condition. The first on blue paper the second on light green. In the first letter he says he is 'glad to be able to report that my paper has been written & is now being typed out. It has taken me many hours to do so in order to make it interesting & attractive to the non-medical reader. Whether I have succeeded in doing so I must leave to you to decide.' He says the paper 'should be in your hands by Monday next.

8 Autograph Letters Signed by [two different?] J. B. Fraser[s?] to the artist Shirley Slocombe.

Author: 
R. D. & J. B. Fraser, of Ipswich, Felixstowe & Dieppe. [ANTIQUES, FURNITURE]
Publication details: 
1899-1907.
£50.00

The firm, apparently antique dealers (although it also bought and sold false teeth), was established in 1833. All items are addressed to Slocombe, with whom the family (to whom he was perhaps related by marriage?) were clearly on intimate terms. Grubby, dusty, creased, dogeared and with several closed tears. The first six letters are from J. B. Fraser, the first four being on the letterhead of 'R. D. & J. B. FRASER, LIMITED.' ('ESTABLISHED IN THE REIGN OF WILLIAM IV.') Letter 1 (Ipswich, 4 Jan 1899, 4 pages, 8vo), from J. B. Fraser, concerns 'Edith', who is recovering from illness.

Victorian studio photograph.

Author: 
William John Thoms
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£35.00

Antiquary (1803-85), first editor of Notes and Queries. Sepia. Dimensions roughly 2 1/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches. Faded image of a bespectacled Thoms knees upward, seated in profile at a table examining a small book on top of another book and leaning against a pile of six others. The oval is in a frame beneath which, in copper-plate letters (in the photograph and not manuscript), 'William J Thoms'. Stuck to a piece of card on the reverse of which is a grubby, foxed, nineteenth-century plate of William Cowper the poet.

Fragment of Autograph with Signature; and bookplate.

Author: 
William Cowper, Clerk of the Parliaments [BOOKPLATES]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£100.00

Cousin (1690-1740) of the poet of the same name. Both fragment and bookplate are pasted to a piece of thin, discoloured card. The fragment, which is roughly 5 inches by 2 inches, is grubby annd rubbed. It reads, in Cowper's hand '13th July Exhibited to us under the Commission agt. Thomas Park | Wm Cowper'. Beneath this the signatures of 'Fr. Rookes' and 'Rd Maddock'. The bookplate (roughly 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2, in good condition although somewhat grubby) is armorial, with the motto beneath reading 'FAX . MENTIS. HONESTAE. GLORIA | William Cowper Esqr.

On the observations made with a rigid specteoscope, by Captain Mayne and Mr. Connor, on a voyage to the Straits of Magellan.

Author: 
J. P. Gassiot, F.R.S.
Publication details: 
London: presentation copy to John Tyndall of the Royal Institution of offprint from the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society', No. 94, 1867.
£45.00

8 leaves, 8vo, paginated [5-6] 7-19 [1]. Stitched: in contemporary brown plain wraps. In good condition, though folded in half lengthwise and with wraps rather grubby. Inscription reads 'Dr Tyndall FRS &c &c | from J P G'.

Anonymous printed petition to one of the Houses of Parliament.

Author: 
Sir Robert Peel [restoration of the Gold Standard, 1821]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£50.00

4 pages, 8vo. Pagination: [1] 2-3 [4]. A frail survival: paper grubby, discoloured and dogeared, with a few closed tears and some fraying to extremities, but the text clear and legible. A space at the beginning of the document for the insertion of the petitioner's name in manuscript has been left blank. Begins: 'The Petition of and all other Owners of Land subject to Mortgages, and other pecuniary payments charged on it before its depreciation in consequence of the return to the present Gold Currency, by which the value of every denomination of Money is so much increased'.

Autograph Letter Signed to [?] Slade (perhaps Frederic William Slade (1801-63), son of Sir John Slade).

Author: 
Count Guglielmo Di Ludolf
Publication details: 
Gloucester Place | December 5th. 1831'.
£150.00

Neapolitan Minister in London (died 1839). 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition, although creased and grubby. Crabbed handwriting. Formal letter, written in the third person. States that he received from Slade, in 1826, 'Two hundred and odd Pounds sterling as part of Prize money for the capture of in 1806, allowed to the Crews of Two Sicilian gallys the Vespa, the , and a gun Boat No. 12. who acted in conjunction with the British forces'. Complains that 'Mr. Slade did not send to C.

Printed document with manuscript addition.

Author: 
Francis Baring & Co [Sir Thomas Baring]
Publication details: 
17 May 1802, with printed address 'Devonshire-Square, Bishopsgate Street'.
£100.00

1 page, on paper approximately 8 inches by 10. Grubby, creased and frayed, with several closed tears. Some loss at head caused by breaking of seal. Informs George Stuart that 'a Remittance for Interest on American Stock' has been received from the Bank of the United States, and that 'we are ready to pay to you any Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday, betwixt the Hours of Ten and One'. Signed (according to pencil note at head of letter) by Thomas Baring 'Fran Baring & Co'. Six lines of manuscript calculations at foot of page, giving interest of £141 12s 1d.

Stamped frank with Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Thomas Baring
Publication details: 
01/09/23
£20.00

Banker and politician (1799-1873). 1 page. On piece of paper roughly 9 inches by 7 inches. Grubby and creased, with one edge damaged by breaking open of wafer. Reads '<?> first September | 1823. | Edw. Lawford Esqe | Drapers Hall | T<?> Baring London'. Circular stamp topped with crown reading 'FREE | 2 SE 2 | 1823'. Docketed in pencil 'Sir Thomas Baring'. Creased for postage, and with cover unmarked, but with surrounding sections filled with calculations and lists in another hand (other hands?) in pencil and red and black ink.

Offprint from the 'Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Institute' entitled The critical position of British trade with oriental countries.

Author: 
T. H. Whitehead (member of the Legislative Council, Hong Kong)
Publication details: 
London: Spottiswoode and Co.; no date, but 'READ BEFORE THE ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE FEB. 12, 1895'.
£85.00

8vo. 42 pages, in original grey printed wraps. Grubby, and with staining to front wrap and first leaf. On verso of front wrap: '(With the Author's Compliments).

Life of Thomas Wrightson 1839-1921.

Author: 
Jocelyn B. Wrightson, ed.
Publication details: 
[152 Kensington Church Street, London:] Privately printed at the Favil Press. [1939]
£150.00

4to. [vi] + 131 pages. In original yellow binding, grubby and stained, gilt on spine faded. Handsome production on fine paper. Frontispiece, 18 illustrations and pedigree. PRESENTATION COPY from the editor (the subject's son) to his mother-in-law, with accompanying letter (1 page, 16mo, 29 December 1939, on letterhead 'NEASHAM HALL, NR. DARLINGTON.').

Handbill resolution.

Author: 
Arthur Nicholson, Chairman of Meeting of Silk Manufacturers and Representatives, Leek, Staffordshire
Publication details: 
1902; 'THOMAS GRACE, PRINTER AND STATIONER, LEEK.'
£25.00

One page. Roughly 13 inches by 8 inches. In good condition, although slightly discoloured, creased from folding and with one very small closed tear. Reports the resolution of a meeting held at the Town Hall in Leek on 30 December 1901, that beginning on 1 January 1902 'the operatives shall give up the five minutes grace now allowed on entering Mills at 6.30 and after dinner'. Also states the working hours for week-days and Saturdays.

Manuscript receipt Signed.

Author: 
Isle of Man [ Thomas Smyth ]
Publication details: 
Douglas, 1 April 1853.
£20.00

Presumably the Thomas Smyth (b. c. 1799) whose Roman Catholic marriage to Margaret McAleagh took place on the Isle of Man on 27 April 1839. Dimensions roughly 4 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches. Creased and discoloured, with a number of spike holes at foot, not affecting text. Reads: 'Douglas Isle of Man | April 1/53 | Mr. John Whittle | To Thomas Smith | To a Horse & Gig 4 days 1 . 4. 0 | [signed] Thomas Smyth'.

Printed notice, signed 'AMBROSE MOORE' regarding 'Children in Silk Mills', together with covering manuscript letter, signed 'Grout & Co.', and envelope, addressed to William Wilshere, M.P.

Author: 
The Victorian Silk Trade [Child Labour, Factories' Act].
Publication details: 
The notice: 'LONDON, Milk Street, | 8th March, 1844.'; the letter: 'Silk Mills | Gt.. Yarmouth | 9th.. March 1844'.
£95.00

Wilshere (1804-67) was M.P. for Great Yarmouth William, MP for Great Yarmouth between 1837 and 1846). The notice: 2 pages, 4to. In very good condition despite minor spotting and two closed tears caused by folding. The letter: 1 page, 8vo. In very good condition. The envelope (addressed to 'W. Wilshere Esqr. M. P. | 12 Stratton Street | Piccadilly | London') in very good condition with red wax lion seal and postmarks. Postage stamps removed. The letter urges Wilshere to 'support the view of the Case of of [sic] the Silk trade taken by the writer Mr Ambrose Moore'.

Telegram to [Charles?] Tarleton.

Author: 
Charles William de la Poer Beresford, Baron Beresford
Publication details: 
Handed in at Portsmouth B', and bearing stamp from Uxbridge, Harefield, 26 November 1909.
£35.00

Naval officer and Conservative politician (1846-1919), nicknamed 'the member for the navy'. Dimensions roughly 5 1/2 inches by 9 inches. In poor condition: browning and with several closed tears. Reads: 'From the older Charlie to the younger Charlie may all good luck attend you fighting for tariff reform national defence and relief of the unemployed Beresford'.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Edward Charles Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke
Publication details: 
20 December 1887; on letterhead 'Membland, | Plympton, | South Devon.'
£25.00

Merchant banker (1828-1897). 1 page, 16mo. Grubby but in good condition overall. 'Dear Sir. | I enclose £10 for the boy Evans - The Calls of all sorts on me increase daily & it is quite out of the question to comply with half of them | Yours truly | Revelstoke'. Docketed in pencil at head.

Printed petition 'To the Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council for Trade and Plantations', calling for the repeal of all duties on goods arriving in the Port of London, and for an extension of 'the Warehousing System'.[

Author: 
M. L. F. Merac [ANGLO-AMERICAN WAR OF 1812]
Publication details: 
Cooke, Printer, Dunstan's Hill,'; dated '76, Cornhill, | 9 March 1814.'
£150.00

2 pages, 4to, on the rectos of both leaves of a bifoliate. Folded for self-mailing, and addressed on the verso of the second leaf to 'Mr: F Huth | 1 South Street | Finsbury Square'. This page, which has 'URGENT; - | On Warehousing System' printed on it, also carries two oval postmarks, one of which, in black ink, reads 'TwoPyPost. | Unpaid | Lombard St'. Docketed '1814 | M. L. P. Merac | London 9 March'.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
John Baring
Publication details: 
48 Charles Str - | Berkeley Square - | Monday morning', but docketed '20 April 1801'.
£50.00

The elder brother of Charles and Sir Francis Baring, John Baring was a leading Exeter citizen and an MP from 1776. While in reality a sleeping partner, he was also the nominal head of John and Francis Baring & Co. of London, and John and Charles Baring & Co. of Exeter. 1 page, 8vo. In good condition. Apparently to his solicitors, concerning the drafting of his will. 'As my wish is to keep my home &c at perfectly distinct from my other property - be pleased on failure of Mr Shorts Children to let it go to my generally'.

Autograph Signature, address and seal on fragment of envelope.

Author: 
John Robert Townshend, 3rd Viscount Sydney
Publication details: 
Postmark 'FOOTSCRAY | DE 14 | 1840'.
£35.00

Sydney (1805-1890) became 1st Earl Sydney in 1874. The front part of an envelope, dimensions roughly 3 inches by 8 inches. In good condition, but with traces of previous mounting on otherwise-blank reverse. Circular crested seal in red wax, roughly 1/2 inch in diameter. Reads 'H M S. | The Secretary to the Board of Ordnance | Pall Mall | London | Sydney'.

Autograph Letter Signed to <?> Scott.

Author: 
Walter Baring
Publication details: 
2 October 1873; Athens.
£35.00

Diplomat (1844-1915), Secretary of the British Legation at Athens, and scion of the noted banking house. 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition. Presumably written on Scott's appointment as chaplain to the Legation. As Mr Stuart was absent from Athens, Scott's letter of 28 September was opened by Baring. 'It was the first intimation received here of your appointment, though I had heard from Mr Stuart that there was a possibility of your coming out, & the letter which I forward strengthened this opinion.

Autograph Signature on fragment of receipt.

Author: 
Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope, as Lord Mahon
Publication details: 
24/06/46
£45.00

Stanhope (1805-1875) was styled Lord Mahon until his father's death in 1855. Signed 'Mahon' on fragment of document (dimensions 3 inches by 4 inches). Ruckled and discoloured as a result of previous mounting. Until 1846 Mahon was Secretary of the Board of Control for India, and the document would appear to be a fragment of a receipt for his salary.

Autograph Letter Signed to A. D. Snow, Lawnhurst, St Botolph's Road, Worthing.

Author: 
Rev. John Sharp [BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY]
Publication details: 
15 November 1897; on the Society's letterhead.
£50.00

According to the letterhead Sharp was one of the Society's two Secretaries. 2 pages, 16mo. Creased, worn and discoloured, and with minor repair to head of first page, but in good condition overall. Closely written, this letter provides an interesting sidelight into the state of the Society at this time. He apologises for not responding to the 'enquiry about the circulation of the Revised Version' sooner. 'We are very short-handed at present at the Bible House. Since April death has taken from us the Rev. G. Wilson & Mr Chas. Finch, and the Rev. J. Austen-Binns has retired.

3 documents, 2 printed and 1 in manuscript, relating to the foundation of the Association.

Author: 
Ross on Wye, Herefordshire: Landowners' Protection Association
Publication details: 
All dated 1910.
£125.00

All 3 items are in very good condition. Item 1 is an Autograph Letter Signed of 7 October 1910, 1 page, 8vo, from George Okell, solicitor of Ross, on his letterhead, to 'F. R. James Esq | Hereford'. He is enclosing 'circulars relating to a Landowners Society, which several Landowners in this district wish to form in the County. The main object is to assist members financially in disputes with public authorities in cases, where a principle is involved, which affects all the members'. The idea was suggested by 'Mr.

Autograph Signature

Author: 
Tom Mix
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but docketed '1925'.
£45.00

Movie cowboy (1880-1940) whose real name was Thomas Hezekiah Mix. Dimensions approximately 2 inches by 3 inches, with the signature 'Tom Mix,' in blue ink and approximately 1 1/2 inches long. In good condition although the 'om' of 'Tom' slightly smudged, and with a small brown stain above the tip of the 'T'. Mounted on an irregularly-shaped piece of blue card, docketed '93 | Famous Cinema Star | noted particularly for His wonderful riding and His famous horse Tony'.

Letter in secretary's hand, signed in autograph.

Author: 
Sir Francis Thornhill Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook, as Paymaster General
Publication details: 
7 March 1837; Treasury Chambers.
£100.00

1 page. 4to. In good condition. Concerning three accounts forwarded to the Board of the Treasury from the Accountant General of the Navy ('Two for Subsistence of Seamen belonging to Revenue Cruizers in the Naval Hospitals in Christmas Quarter last, and the other for their maintainence in Sick Quarters'), the Treasury Commissioners 'have authorized the Board of Customs to ay the Sum of £405. 10. 5. in discharge thereof to your account at the Bank of England, or at the Pay Office Whitehall, and I am to desire you will carry the amount to the Credit of Navy Services'. Signed 'F T Baring'.

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