HISTORY

[John Philip Kemble, actor and manager of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.] Autograph Memorandum, signed 'J. Kemble.', regarding the 'Caducean Trident' of Albion, with an ink drawing of the same (a dragon with intertwining serpents).

Author: 
John Philip Kemble (1757-1823), distinguished actor and manager of the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, brother of Sarah Siddons and Charles Kemble
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£180.00

The text is on one side of a 13 x 16 cm piece of laid watermarked paper. The signature 'J. Kemble' is at bottom left, in slightly-darker ink than the fifteen lines of text. Lightly aged and with short closed tears at edges of two folds. Slight traces of brown-paper mount at top corners on reverse, which carries a capable ink drawing of 'the Caducean Trident' mentioned in the text: a dragon with two sets of wings, body stiff as a rod, encircled by two snakes.

[General Sir James Simpson, Commander of British troops in Crimea after Lord Raglan's death.] Autograph Letter Signed ('James Simpson') to Lady Ann Cullum, making plans for dinner party, with reference to 'two Miss Lockharts', other guests, his dogs.

Author: 
General Sir James Simpson (1792-1868), commander of British forces in Crimea after Lord Raglan's death [Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), wife of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855) of Hardwick House]
Publication details: 
27 April [no year]; on letterhead of Horringer, Bury St Edmunds.
£56.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. From the Cullum papers, Simpson being a neighbour of the family. Having 'just come in from a longish walk', he is sorry to have missed Lady Cullum.

[Francis Wharton, American educationalist and professor of criminal law.] Autograph Letter Signed to John N. Purviance, Auditor General, Harrisburg,

Author: 
Francis Wharton (1820-1889) of Philadelphia, American legal writer, historian, educationalist and professor of criminal law [General John Nelson Purviance (1810-1885), Auditor General, Harrisburg]
Publication details: 
[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.] 11 July 1850.
£120.00

1p, 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with fold lines and small hole made by breaking of the wafer. Addressed by Wharton on reverse to 'Hon. Jno. N. Purviance | Auditor Gen. | Harrisburg.' Endorsed: 'Francis Whatron, Esq. | Phila. | Ansd. 12 July 1850.' Wharton writes in a neat hand: 'Dear Sir | I enclose a note I have just received from Messrs Thomas and Rumsey - which please return. | Truly yrs | Francis Wharton'. Postscript reads: 'Let us know from you at your early convenience, as we are unable to advance a step till we know your views'.

[Sir Richard Owen, palaeontologist.] Autograph Letter Signed to Lady Cullum, enclosing a long translation by Samuel Birch of inscriptions on an Egyptian statue in the British Museum, annotated by Owen and with transcription of letter to him by Birch.

Author: 
Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892), palaeontologist, first Director of Natural History Museum, opponent of the theory of evolution [Samuel Birch (1813-1885), Egyptologist; Lady Ann Cullum of Hardwick House]
Publication details: 
Owen's letter to Lady Cullum dated from Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, 5 May 1867. Transcription of Birch's letter to Owen dated from British Museum [London], 9 July 1860.
£850.00

An interesting item in the field of Victorian Egyptology. The subject is what Owen describes here as 'one of the oldest Statues of an Egyptian Notable in the British Museum'. Its current Museum Number is EA103, and it has been in the Museum since 1835, but the details of its acquisition are unclear. In his translation Birch calls the sitter 'the Royal Scribe, Amenhelp', but the current BM description begins: 'Scribal statue of Amenhotep son of Hapu: of black grano-diorite. Hieroglyphic texts are inscribed on the papyrus unrolled on his lap and on the statue plinth.

[A late-Victorian mock-heroic poem set in Staines, Middlesex.] Printed pamphlet: 'The Battle of Black Boy Lane. A Panegyrical, Satirical, Serio-Comical, Dramatical Poem. By John Hall'.

Author: 
John Hall, author of a mock-heroic poem set in Staines, Middlesex [C. Oswald, Staines printer]
Publication details: 
No date [late Victorian]. 'Oswald, Typ., Staines.'
£120.00

This unusual item is scarce: no copy has been located on OCLC WorldCat, and no reference to the poem has been discovered. Not dated, but the printer was active at the end of the nineteenth century: two other items at least were printed by 'C. Oswald' in Staines, one in 1887 and the other in 1898. Its subject is now obscure, but perhaps may be illuminated by the local historian. 8pp, 12mo. Stapled. Aged, worn and creased, with closed tear at foot of fold to outer bifolium.

[Filippo Marchetti, composer, and Pasquale Villari, historian.] Marchetti's Autograph Signature ('F Marchetti') with a few bars in autograph from the prelude of 'Ruy Blas'. On same leaf as an Autograph quotation, signed 'Pasquale Villari'.

Author: 
Filippo Marchetti (1831-1902), Italian composer of the opera 'Ruy Blas'; Pasquale Villari (1827-1917), Italian historian, politician and Dante scholar
Publication details: 
Marchetti's autograph on letterhead of the R. Accademia di S. Cecilia ('Liceo Musicale'). Rome, 14 September 1892. Villari's autograph on reverse of leaf, dated from Florence, 2 November 1892.
£350.00

1p, 12mo. Leaf of lightly-browned and creased aged paper, with closed tears to one edge. The two men are clearly writing in response to requests for autographs. Marchetti has written out four bars – slightly affected at end by closed tear – from what he states is 'Ruy Blas Preludio'. Beneath this he signs, in a firm attractive hand, 'F Marchetti'. At the head he dates: 'Roma 14 9bre 92'.

[Charles Waterton, naturalist.] Three Autograph Letters Signed to Lady Cullum, regarding: his approach to natural history, shipwreck, indisposition, temperance campaigner Father Mathew in Wakefield, lions and lion cubs, 'little roman owls'.

Author: 
Charles Waterton (1782-1865), naturalist and explorer [Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), wife of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855), 8th Baronet of Hardwick House]
Publication details: 
12 July 1842; 17 July 1843; 17 April 1853. All three addressed from Walton Hall [Wakefield, Yorkshire].
£1,200.00

Three excellent and characteristic long letters, neatly and closely written, in the first of which he describes 'the little tide of misfortune' which has befallen him, including shipwreck and indisposition; in the second he gives a vivid account of a visit to Wakefield by the temperance campaigner Father Mathew; and in the last he explains is reluctance to dissect the body of a bird she has sent him, exclaiming: 'I never do things by halves in Natural History'. Along the way there are references to 'my little roman owls' and 'my lions and my lion cubs'.

[Edmund Thomas Parris, Victorian history and panorama painter.] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. T.. Parris'), informing 'J: [Duffane?] Esqre', that he is sending an account of his 'apparatus' for restoring Thornhill's paintings in St Paul's Cathedral.

Author: 
Edmund Thomas Parris (1793-1873), history and panorama painter, History Painter to Queen Adelaide [St Paul's Cathedral; Thornhill; Samuel Carter Hall (S. C. Hall), editor of Art Journal]
Publication details: 
12 April 1853. 5 Aubrey Villas, Notting Hill [London].
£280.00

See Parris's entry in the Oxford DNB. The subject of the letter is his work 'restoring' James Thornhill's paintings inside the dome of St Paul's Cathedral. Beginning in 1853 and ending three years later, Parris worked on scaffolding he had designed for the purpose thirty years before. His efforts were not well received: he was accused of completely repainting Thornhill's work, to its detriment. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and creased, with minor traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse. Folded twice.

[Dominican and Franciscan Friars in England during the reign of Henry III.] Unpublished historical study in typescript, titled 'The Friars in England. An Essay'.

Author: 
Elizabeth E. Smith, B.A. [Dominican and Franciscan Friars in England during the reign of Henry III.]
Publication details: 
Birmingham, 1908.
£320.00

Title-page: 'The Friars in England. | An Essay | by | Elizabeth E. Smith, B.A. | Birmingham – 1908.' Duplicated typescript, printed on versos only. [1] + x + [1] + 209pp, 4to. With hand-drawn plans on two leaves at rear (the first, 'Site of the Blackfriars of Leicester'; the second, 'Carmelite Friary at Hulne' and 'Dominican Friary at Norwich'. In half binding of black leather spine and corners, with purple cloth boards, title in gilt on front cover, floral printed endpapers. Tightly copy, in good condition, on lightly aged paper, in lightly worn binding with slight discoloration to cloth.

[William Buckler, painter and entomologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('William Buckler') informing 'Miss C. Fox' that the girl model he intended for her has not arrived.

Author: 
William Buckler (1814-1884), painter and entomologist
Publication details: 
'Wednesday afternoon' [no place or date].
£56.00

1p, 12mo. Bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Miss C. Fox'. In fair condition, on aged paper. Folded twice. From the context it would seem that Buckler was acting as the recipient's painting master. Begins: 'Madam | The little Girl which I intended as a Model for you this afternoon has not arrived (on account of the weather no doubt).' As a consequence he asks her to 'excuse my attendance today'. He will 'call and fix another day as soon as I have seen her'.

[Sir William Jardine, Scottish naturalist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm Jardine'), regarding his need to travel to Edinburgh because of 'the Dangerous illness of Mr Maule'.

Author: 
Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet of Applegarth (1800-1874), Scottish naturalist, editor of 'The Naturalist's Library' [Maule, Edinburgh]
Publication details: 
Jardine Hall [near Lockerbie, Scotland]. 27 March 1845.
£65.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice. Endorsed by the unnamed recipient on the reverse of the second leaf. The subject of the letter, 'Mr Maule', was presumably a relation of Jardine's, whose mother's maiden name was Maule. Begins: 'Dear Sir, I received your parcel this morning & was prepared to start Tomorrow (Friday) when the Evening Mail brought me the intelligence of the Dangerous illness of Mr.

[Florence Montgomery, Victorian novelist and children's author.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Florence Montgomery') to her cousin Lilian Levi (née Yorke), regarding the death and funeral of their relative 'Coutie' [Ormond?].

Author: 
Florence Montgomery (1843-1923), novelist and children's author
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Cadogan Place, SW [London] 4 January [1921].
£35.00

Florence Montgomery's 1869 novel 'Misunderstood' was admired by Henry James, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson and George Du Maurier, and was childhood reading of Vladimir Nabokov. It has been adapted for cinema twice (in Italy in 1966, in Hollywood in 1984). The present item is 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In envelope addressed to 'Mrs. William Levi | Woughton Hall | Bletchley'. (The recipient Lilian Maud Levi was the granddaughter of Sir Henry Cunningham Montgomery, and the daughter of the Dean of Worcester Grantham Munton Yorke.) The postmark gives the year as 1921.

[Elie Halevy, French historian.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Elie Halévy'), in English, responding to 'objections' of 'professor Davis', giving his assessment of 'the Edwardian years', and contrasting his 'spirit' with that of Lytton Strachey.

Author: 
Élie Halévy [Elie Halevy] (1870-1937), French historian, author of an influential history of nineteenth-century Britain
Publication details: 
On letterhead of La Maison Blanche, Sucy-en-Brie; 13 November 1927.
£220.00

8pp, 12mo. On two attached bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight damage to margin of first leaf. Folded once. A long letter, closely and neatly written in English, responding to 'objections' to his 'Épilogue 1. Les impérialistes au pouvoir: 1895-1914' (1926), giving his evaluation of 'the Edwardian years' in English history, and contrasting his 'spirit' in the study Victorian England with that of Lytton Strachey.

[Christopher Fry, playwright.] Fry's own copy of his book 'Can You Find Me: A Family History', with autograph notes, containing correspondence from relatives, photographs, and a typed transcript of a radio interview, with autograph additions by Fry.

Author: 
Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright [Oxford University Press]
Publication details: 
Book: Oxford University Press, 1978. Correspondence between 1982 and 1987. Interview [1979].
£750.00

The book is 272pp, 8vo. A good copy, lightly aged, with binding sunned along top, in worn dustwrapper. The volume contains – along with autograph corrections of incidentals – a couple of autograph notes in pencil, one of a minor nature and the other reading: 'Daisy & Charles attended the funeral – March 26 – as recorded in Archibald Marshall's diary'; also one minor emendation in ink. The material inserted in the volume is described below. Accompanying the volume is a long typewritten radio script of an interview between Fry and 'Leslie', with autograph additions in pencil by Fry.

[ Jamestow; inc. French text ] Exposition de Jamestown a Hampton Roads pres Norfolk (Virginia)

Author: 
[ Jamestown Foundation Celebrations ]
Publication details: 
Ouverture le 26 Avril 1907 | Cloture le 30 Novembre 1907, Printing Offices (Imprimerie Nouvelle) 16 Lisle Street London W C
£100.00

Pamphlet, 15pp., 12mo, illustrated wraps (inc. "Bird's Eye View of the Exposition"). Contents include a "Proclamation du President des Etats-Unis d'Amerique" (Theodore Roosevelt; presumably he didn't say it in French as here); Programme de l'Exposition; etc. With: [English text} Pamphlet "The Jamestown Exposition", 12pp., 16mo, printed wraps, sl dusted, anticipating the Exposition of 1907, with the same biird's eye view as above, printed by Iredale-Brown & Sons, 48 Frith Street, London, W. No other copy traced.

[Sir Henry Hallett Dale (1875-1968), Nobel Prize winning pharmacologist and physiologist.] Typed Letter Signed ('H. H. Dale') to historian of medicine Richard A. Hunter, with signed photograph as chairman of Wellcome Trustees.

Author: 
Sir Henry Hallett Dale (1875-1968), pharmacologist and physiologist, joint winner of 1936 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine [Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), physician and historian of medicine]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of the Wellcome Trust, 24 Harley Street, London, W1. 10 July 1956.
£450.00

For his study of acetylcholine as agent in the chemical transmission of nerve impulses (neurotransmission) Dale shared the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Otto Loewi. For more information on letter's recipient Richard A. Hunter see Munk's Roll. Both items in good condition, lightly aged, the letter having a few unobtrusive pinholes to the top inner corner. ONE: TLS to Hunter, signed 'H. H. Dale'. 1p, 12mo. The letterhead, in addition to naming the five trustees, states that the 'Scientific Secretary of the Wellcome Trust is 'Dr. F. H. K.

[Sir William Adams (from 1825 Sir William Rawson), oculist.] Autograph Note in the third person to 'Mr Bartley', stating 'his fee for operating upon his Eyes & attendance'.

Author: 
Sir William Adams [from 1825 Sir William Rawson] (1783-1827), oculist
Publication details: 
26 Albemarle Street [London]; 17 December [1819].
£180.00

1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and creased, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is addressed, with seal in red wax and postmarks, 'To | Mr Bartley | 8. Shacklewell End | Nr. Kingsland Turnpike'. The note reads: 'Sir W Adams presents his Compts to Mr Bartley & informs him that his fee for operating upon his Eyes & attendance is sixty Guineas. -' From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library.

[Sir Arthur Bryant defends himself against an attack by fellow Pepys scholar Edwin Chappell.] Eight Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed (all 'Arthur Bryant') to Chappell, on questions of Pepys scholarship.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Bryant [Sir Arthur Wynne Morgan Bryant] (1899-1985), historian and biographer of Samuel Pepys [Edwin Chappell (1883-1938), Pepys scholar and maritime historian; Samuel Pepys]
Publication details: 
From: The White House, East Claydon, Bucks (3); 97 Swan Court, Manor Street, London (3); Portmeirion and Madeira. Between 6 January 1932 and 22 November 1933.
£350.00

Nine letters (eight ALsS and one TLS) totalling 16pp, 12mo, in close and neat autograph; and 2pp, 4to, typed. One from 1932 and the other eight from 1933. All signed 'Arthur Bryant'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight rust-staining from paperclips to a couple of the letters. An interesting correspondence, in which Bryant gives an assessment of Pepys, and describes his approach to writing his biography. In one long letter (5 May 1933) Bryant describes his wider approach to the writing of history.

[Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, son George III, brother of George IV and father of Queen Victoria.] Secretarial Letter, Signed ('Edward'), requesting Sir Francis Freeling to take particular pains in sending a letter to Germany.

Author: 
Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (1767-1820), fourth son of George III, brother of George IV, father of Queen Victoria [Sir Francis Freeling (1764-1836), Secretary, General Post Office]
Publication details: 
'Castle hill Lodge [Ealing] | 30th. June 1803'.
£250.00

3pp, 4to. Bifolium. Signature ('Edward') in the prince's hand, the rest of the letter by a secretary. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight damage to one corner of first leaf, and thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is franked 'Kent & Strathearn', with postmark, and addressed to 'Francis Freeling Esquire | &c &c &c | Genl. Post Office | Lombard Street | London'. Folded four times.

[ Medical pamphlet ] Tentamen Physico-Anatomicum Inaugurale, quaedam de Hominis Aetate Infantile et Pubertate; INSCRIBED by author [Concerning the Infant State and Puberty of Man]

Author: 
Gulielmus Gordon, chirurgus [William Gordon, surgeon ]
Publication details: 
Edinburgh, "excudebant Neill et Socii", 1818.
£120.00

[viii].55, 8vo, disbound, with vestiges of binding at spine, from volume of similar pamphlets "Pro Gradu Doctoris" at the Medical School of the University of Edinburgh. With errata slip. INSCRIBED by the Author, "For | Charles Hastings Esq. with best regards of his Sincere Friend the | Author. - | 9 Great King Street | July 30th 1818." Hastings, a contemporary of Gordon's at the Medical School, was later to have a distinguished medical career and to help found the British Medical Association.

[The Old Poor Law in the late Nineteenth Century.] Anonymous Manuscript Document, calling in forthright terms for the amending of 'The Plan of the Poor Laws of England', to weed out 'the loose Profligate and those who do not like work'.

Author: 
[The Old Poor Law; English Poor Laws; eighteenth-century poor relief]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [English, late eighteenth century.]
£450.00

2pp, foolscap 8vo. On the rectos of the leaves of a bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. On laid paper with indistinct watermark. The context of the document, with the capitalisation and spelling ('mechanick', 'shou'd', 'Publick', 'tyed down', 'lookt', 'Profitt'), points to a late eighteenth-century origin (certainly before the Speenhamland System and Michael Nolan's 1805 'Treatise of the Laws for the Relief and Settlement of the Poor'). No title or heading. A forthright document, whose rhetorical tone suggests that it was intended for public delivery.

[Diane Ackerman, poet, to the playwright Christopher Fry, with a presentation copy of her first book.] Typed Letter Signed praising his work, accompanying an inscribed copy of her poetry collection 'The Planets | A Cosmic Pastoral'.

Author: 
Diane Ackerman (born 1948), American poet, essayist, and naturalist [Christopher Fry (1907-2005), English playwright]
Publication details: 
Letter from 126 Texas Lane, Ithaca, NY, USA. 20 September 1976. Book published in New York by William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1976.
£650.00

ONE: TLS. Ithaca, NY; 20 September 1976. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter begins: 'Dear Christopher Fry, | I so relish climbing the castellations of your wit, to where I feel energized and deliriously long-sighted, or running higgledy-piggledy with your thoughts, at times as if with the bulls of Pamplona, I simply cannot resist telling you so any longer.' According to her 'internal calculations' she owes him 'at least a galaxy for the delight your plays have given me; perhaps you'd accept these few planets instead'.

[John Lindley, eminent botanist.] Autograph Letter in the third person, informing 'Major Abby' that the birds he 'enquires for' are not present in the Garden of the Horticultural Society.

Author: 
John Lindley (1799-1865), eminent botanist, Assistant Secretary of the Horticultural Society of London, Professor of Botany at University College, London
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Horticultural Society of London, 21 Regent Street. 17 April 1841.
£120.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with a two fold lines. Ornamented engraved letterhead. Reads: 'Dr Lindley presents his Compts to Major Abby & begs to inform him that there are no such birds as he enquires for in the Garden of the Horticultural Society, nor has there ever been. There is only a couple of gulls & a duck, which were presented by the Zoological Society'.

[C. L. F. de P. Barentin, Keeper of the Seals to Louis XVI of France.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Barentin'), in French, (to the Procureur Général?), regarding an appeal for clemency which Barentin intends to make to the king.

Author: 
Charles Louis François de Paule de Barentin (1738-1819), French statesman, Keeper of the Seals of France to Louis XVI at the time of the Revolution
Publication details: 
Dated from Versailles. [1789]
£250.00

2pp, 4to. On leaf tipped-in onto a piece of light-green card from an album, at head of which is attached a printed slip: 'BARENTIN C. L. F. de P. | Born 1738. Died 1819. | KEEPER OF THE SEALS TO LOUIS XVI.' The letter is undated, but the year '1789' has been added in pencil in a nineteenth-century hand. (That same year, following the Storming of the Bastille, Barentin was dismissed by the king.) Nineteen lines of closely-written text. Addressed at bottom left of first leaf to 'M le P Gl' (Monsieur le Procureur général?).

[Sir David Brewster, Scottish scientist and inventor.] Autograph Signature ('D Brewster') on slip of paper.

Author: 
Sir David Brewster (1781-1868), Scottish scientist, inventor and historian of science
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£23.00

On 1.75 x 6.25 cm slip of paper, laid down on part of leaf removed from album. In fair condition, lightly aged. Simply reads 'D Brewster'.

[The Fall of Fort Bowyer to the British, following the Battle of New Orleans, 1815.] Contemporary Manuscript Copy of Autograph Despatch from Major John Lambert to Earl Bathurst, describing the action.

Author: 
Sir John Lambert (1772-1847), British Army general in the Napoleonic Wars [Henry Bathurst (1762-1834), 3rd Earl Bathurst; Battle of New Orleans and Fall of Fort Bowyer, 1815]
Publication details: 
'Head Quarters Isle Dauphine | February 14th. 1815.' [On paper with Golding & Snelgrove watermark dated 1811.]
£750.00

3pp, foolscap 8vo. On laid paper with watermark: 'GOLDING | & | SNELGROVE | 1811'. Aged and worn, with closed tears along folds, but with text complete and clear. The document includes two passages written in red ink which has faded but is still legible. The background to the present letter is given in Lambert's entry in the Oxford DNB: 'On 4 June 1813 Lambert was promoted major-general, and was appointed to a brigade of the 6th division. […] Having been sent to America, he joined the army under Sir Edward Pakenham below New Orleans on 6 January 1815, with the 7th and 43rd foot regiments.

[James Anthony Froude, historian and editor of Fraser's Magazine.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J A Froude') to 'Sellers', discussing the 'State of Spain' ('the reductio ad asbsurdum of the nonsense about the rights of man').

Author: 
J. A. Froude [James Anthony Froude] (1818-1894), Victorian historian, editor of Fraser's Magazine, disciple and biographer of Thomas Carlyle
Publication details: 
Glenlyn, Lynmouth [North Devon], on letterhead of 5 Onslow Gardens, S.W. [London] 30 July [1871].
£90.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, the blank reverse of the second leaf laid down on a leaf removed from an album. Written in a hurried hand, with the meaning unclear in parts. The letter would appear to discuss the republican and Carlist insurrections against Amadeo I, the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy, who replaced the deposed Isabella II in 1870, and reigned until 1873. Froude begins by explaining that his silence has been due to the fact that he has been 'out of town for the Summer'.

[Rider Haggard writes to Rudyard Kipling's wife.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H . Rider Haggard') to 'Mrs. Kipling', discussing in detail the flowers he has sent her.

Author: 
H. Rider Haggard [Sir Henry Rider Haggard] (1856-1925), author of adventure novels including 'King Solomon's Mines' and 'She' [Caroline Starr Balestier Kipling (1862-1939), wife of Rudyard Kipling]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Ditchingham House, Norfolk. 13 December 1909.
£320.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, with one central vertical fold, and patch of small holes at head of second leaf. Interesting letterhead, with image of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Someone (probably Mrs Kipling) has written 'orchid' on the first page. The letter begins: 'Mr dear Mrs. Kipling, | I sent you a few flowers today by post, also (by rail to Etchingham) a Cypripedium Insigne, a Blush Rambler & a Lady Gay rose. The Cyp: Insig: is very fairly hardy but I should not stand it in too violent a draught.

[Sir William Gifford, Governor of Greenwich Hospital.] Conclusion of Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm: Gifford'), regarding a petition to the Queen from 'the Commissrs: and Directors of the Royal Hospital', and raising of funds for the 'House and Park'

Author: 
Sir William Gifford (c.1649-1724), Royal Navy officer, Member of Parliament, and Governor of Greenwich Hospital, 1708-1714
Gifford
Gifford2
Publication details: 
Without place or date [prior to 1708].
£750.00
Gifford
Gifford2

On one side of a piece of laid paper, top half torn off and missing, leaving the conclusion of the letter. Roughly 11 x 17.5 cm. Thirteen full lines of text, with two partial lines along the tear at the top edge. A frail item, in fair condition, aged and worn. See Gifford's entry in the History of Parliament. The letter, apparently addressed to an individual at the Admiralty or the Treasury, concerns a part of the tortuous process of raising finances for the conversion of the Queen's House into the hospital.

[Henry Hallam, historian, responds indignantly to Dr Thomas Arnold's claim that he has made 'false quotations'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Hallam') [to Dr Thomas Arnold], defending himself against an allegation made in a lecture at Oxford.

Author: 
Henry Hallam (1777-1859), English Whig historian [Dr Thomas Arnold (1795-1842), headmaster of Rugby School, and Regius Professor of History at Oxford]
Publication details: 
24 Wilton Crescent [London]. 28 February 1842.
£180.00

4pp., 4to. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, lightly aged, with short closed tears at edges of some folds. An excellent letter, indignantly countering what must be the most serious accusation one historian can level against another, that of making 'false quotations'. The recipient is not named, but from the context is undoubtedly the Headmaster of Rugby School, Thomas Arnold, who since the previous year had held the Regius Professorship of History at Oxford, and would die four months later, on 12 June 1842.

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