HISTORY

[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?).

[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'.

[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.

[Marshal d'Albret, French soldier and court gallant during the reign of Louis XIV.] Autograph Signature ('Le Ma[resch]al d'Albret') on part of document.

Author: 
Marshal d'Albret [César Phoebus d'Albret, comte de Miossens] (1614-1676), French soldier, a Marshal of France under Louis XIV, and court gallant
Publication details: 
Dated 1671.
£90.00

2.5 x 11.5 cm slip of paper, laid down on part of leaf from album, with d'Albret's autograph dating ('i67i') on 1.5 x 6 cm slip laid down below it. In good condition, lightly aged. The valediction of a letter, written in an undisciplined hand.

[General Sir Kenneth Anderson, commander of British First Army during Operation Torch.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Kenneth Anderson'), discussing Kenya, the 'severe crisis' in Britain, conscription. With ANS from recipient Brigadier H. H. Dempsey

Author: 
General Sir Kenneth Anderson [General Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson, KCB, MC] (1891-1959), commander of British First Army during Operation Torch [Brigadier Harry Hamilton Dempsey CBE (1895-1973)]
Publication details: 
Dun Eaglais, Kippen, Stirlingshire [Scotland]. 14 February 1947. Dempsey's note dated 10 August 1960.
£400.00

Dempsey's obituary in The Times, explains how 'In April, 1945, he was appointed Brigadier I/C Administration, East Africa Command', holding the position into the following year, and retiring in December 1947 on account of ill health. For a full account of Dempsey's military career, see his entry in Catholic Who's Who, vol.35 (1952). In an eight-line Autograph Note Signed at the end of Anderson's letter, Dempsey states that Anderson 'had been my personal & immediate superior as G.O.C. in C., East Africa Command, when I was his Brigadier I/C Administration.

[George Augustus Sala: 1881 Christmas Day menu by 'Sala & Co | Refreshment Contractors'.] Hand-written menu on decorative card.

Author: 
George Augustus Sala (1828-1895), journalist, author and bon viveur, associated with the Illustrated London News (as G. A. S.) and the Daily Telegraph, founder of the Savage Club,
Publication details: 
'Sala & Co | Refreshment Contractors | 46 Mecklenburgh Sq. | W.C.' 1881.
£100.00

An attractive item, neatly written out in black ink on one side of a 13 x 8.5 cm piece of shiny card, with printed decorative border of flowers in gold and blue. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with traces of mount adhering to reverse. As a joke, at the foot, in block capitals, the menu is attributed to 'Sala & Co | Refreshment Contractors', at Sala's address. An interesting artefact of the Victorian Christmas. The menu reads:'[fleuron] Menu. | CHRISTMAS DAY | 1881 | oysters on the half shell.

[Westland Aircraft Limited, British aircraft manufacturers.] A duplicated typed official company history headed 'A Brief Westland History'.

Author: 
Westland Aircraft Limited, Yeovil, Somerset
Publication details: 
'With the compliments of Westland Aircraft Limited, Yeovil, Somerset.' Dated 'November 1971'.
£120.00

9pp., 8vo. On nine stapled leaves. At end: 'With the compliments of | Westland Aircraft Limited, | Yeovil, Somerset. | Tel: Yeovil (0935) 5222 | November 1971'. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The start of the document gives an indication of the businesslike style of the narrative: 'In 1915 the Directors of Petters Limited, the long-established Somerset heavy oil-engine manufacturers, offered their services to help the war effort. | As a result, the Company was asked to make aircraft and given instructions to proceed with the construction of 12 Short 184 seaplanes.

[Westland Aircraft Limited, British aircraft manufacturers.] A duplicated typed official company history headed 'A Brief Westland History'.

Author: 
Westland Aircraft Limited, Yeovil, Somerset
Publication details: 
'With the compliments of Westland Aircraft Limited, Yeovil, Somerset.' Dated 'November 1971'.
£120.00

9pp., 8vo. On nine stapled leaves. At end: 'With the compliments of | Westland Aircraft Limited, | Yeovil, Somerset. | Tel: Yeovil (0935) 5222 | November 1971'. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The start of the document gives an indication of the businesslike style of the narrative: 'In 1915 the Directors of Petters Limited, the long-established Somerset heavy oil-engine manufacturers, offered their services to help the war effort. | As a result, the Company was asked to make aircraft and given instructions to proceed with the construction of 12 Short 184 seaplanes.

[Titus Oates and the Popish Plot, 1678-1681.] Long list in a contemporary hand of tracts relating to the Popish Plot.

Author: 
[Titus Oates and the Popish Plot, 1678-1681]
Publication details: 
Without place or date [late seventeenth or early eighteenth century].
£320.00

2pp., foolscap 8vo. On watermarked laid paper, and plainly intended as an index to a volume of bound tracts. Aged and worn, with chipped edges, and a small part of the bottom outer corner of the leaf torn away, resulting in the loss of two numbers from the pagination. The document is headed 'The Contents of the 2. Volume', and is closely written in a clerk's hand. Both pages divided into two columns.

[ Will Owen, illustrator of W. W. Jacobs. ] Two unpublished autograph volumes by Owen, the first and last of a three-volume work described by him as 'a more or less humorous account of a ramble round the Kentish Coast by two men'.

Author: 
Will Owen (1859-1957), English book illustrator associated with W. W. Jacobs, cartoonist, caricaturist and commercial artist making posters for London Underground, creator of the 'Bisto Kids'
Publication details: 
'A Corner of Kent | by Will Owen | Flat 90. Charterhouse Square | E.C.1 [ London ]'. Undated [ late 1940s? ].
£850.00

The two volumes constitute the first and last volumes (the middle volume is missing) of a three-volume work described by its author as 'a more or less humorous account of a ramble round the Kentish Coast by two men'. This unpublished work constitutes a topographical and social narrative, written by the well-known artist and illustrator when in his eighties. Stylistically indebted to Jerome K.

[ Victorian matchmaking: 'consult me personally & see cartes of 500 Ladies'. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Editor | M N') and printed agreement from the editor of Matrimonial News to J. Russell Gubbins of Limerick, who is in search of a wife.

Author: 
Matrimonial News, London periodical (Frederick Farrah, proprietor) [ John Russell Gubbins [ John Russell Legh ] of Bruree House, Limerick ]
Publication details: 
The two letters from the Matrimonial News Office, 282 Strand, London. 11 and 13 February 1874.
£150.00

A marvellous slice of Victorian social history. The entry for 'Matrimonial News' in 'Frederick May's London Press Dictionary and Advertiser's Handbook, 1871' runs as follows: 'MATRIMONIAL NEWS AND SPECIAL ADVERTISER – 2d. F. Farrah, 282, Strand, W.C.

[ Edward Morrison, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. ] Autograph Signature ('Edw: Morrison Lt: Govr | Commr of the Forces at Jamaica <?>', on part of official letter concerning the court martial of Lieutenant Robert Irvine.

Author: 
Edward Morrison, Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica, 1811-1813
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [ Jamaica, 1811. ]
£45.00

On both sides of a 13 x 20 cm piece of paper cut from an official letter. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The recto reads: '[…] Having received the enclosed Papers since I wrote to you on the 27th inst transmitting the Proceedings of a General Court Martial on the Trial of Lieutt Irwine of the 55th Regt. I think it right to transmit them to you as they are documents relating to […]'. Reverse reads: 'I have the honour to be Sir | Your most obedient humble | Servant | Edw: Morrison Lt: Govr | Commr of the Forces at Jamaica <?>'.

[ Richard Bentley the younger, London publisher: author's own copy. ] A Brief Note upon the Battles of Saintes and Mauron 1351 and 1352.

Author: 
[ Richard Bentley the younger (1854-1936), London publisher and antiquary ]
Publication details: 
Edition limited to 100 copies. Printed at Guildford in 1918. [ Billing and Sons, Ltd., Printers, Guildford, England. ]
£120.00

Bentley is without a doubt the author of this anonymous work, and the present copy comes from the Bentley Archives. viii + 67 + [1]pp., 8vo. In attractive paper-vellum quarter-binding, with red cloth boards on the cover of which the title is stamped in gilt. In good condition, lightly aged. Attractively printed, with title-page in black and red. Divided into six parts: 'Events in the Reign of Edward III', 'English Governors of Brittany'; 'Introductory: The Attack on Vannes', 'The Battle of Saintes', 'The Battle of Mauron' and 'After Mauron'.

[ Edward Carpenter, poet, socialist and homosexual activist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Ed. Carpenter'), praising a portrait, disparaging 'the people', and stating that 'something is being built up, wh. cannot be consumed'.

Author: 
Edward Carpenter (1844-1929), poet and author, socialist and homosexual activist, friend of Rabindranath Tagore, and a friend of Walt
Publication details: 
Place not stated. 17 November 1905.
£250.00

2pp., landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient is not named or addressed, the letter starting abruptly after the date: 'I like your portrait much. Thanks for sending it. Yes, the people are [last word underlined] fools, and the mills of God grind slowly. Nevertheless the work is not lost, and its outcome is sure. It is no good bothering about special results. They must take their own way (generally to the Crematorium!) but all the while something is being built up, wh.

[ Sir Eric A. Carpenter, Chairman, Williams Deacon's Bank, Manchester. ] Six items from his papers, including two typed corrected speeches by him on the opening of the bank's new headquarters, also letter to him from Bill Lyth of Sheffield Telegraph.

Author: 
Williams Deacon's Bank Ltd, founded in Manchester in 1836 [ Sir Eric A. Carpenter [ Sir Eric Ashton Carpenter ] (1896-1973); Williams & Glyn; Royal Bank of Scotland ]
Publication details: 
Williams Deacon's Bank, Manchester, 1953, 1959 and 1963.
£130.00

Williams Deacon's Bank Ltd, which was founded in Manchester in 1836 and subsequently headquartered in London, had a large network of branches in the north-west of England. It was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1930. In 1970 it was merged with Glyn, Mills & Co and The National Bank to form Williams & Glyn's Bank. Carpenter was a director of the bank for 21 years, serving as chairman for 12 years.

[ Alfred Waterhouse, Victorian Gothic Revival architect. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('A Waterhouse') to the physician W. H. Allchin, asking him to call to see his son, 'who has a swelled face'.

Author: 
Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905), RA, Victorian Gothic Revival architect who designed Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum, London [ Sir William Henry Allchin (1846-1912), physician ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 20 New Cavendish Street, Portland Place, W. [ London ] 5 May 1889.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to Allchin at 5 Chandos Street, W. He asks him whether it would be 'convenient to you to come across today to see my Son who has a swelled face, & whose mother thinks he is not in a condition to go outside the house'.

[ Sir Eric Ashton Carpenter, President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. ] Corrected Typescript of a paper titled: 'The Organisation and Functions of British Chambers of Commerce', with separate section titled 'Joint Chambers of Commerce'.

Author: 
Sir Eric A. Carpenter [ Sir Eric Ashton Carpenter ] (1896-1973), President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, banker and industrialist [ Association of British Chambers of Commerce ]
Publication details: 
[ Manchester (for the Association of British Chambers of Commerce?), 1950s. ]
£150.00

Totalling 17pp., foolscap 8vo. The main paper, 'The Organisation and Functions of British Chambers of Commerce', 14pp; the supplementary paper (separately paginated), titled 'Joint Chambers of Commerce', 3pp. Separating the two papers is a leaf carrying a faded duplicated image of a plan copied from The Chambers of Commerce Manual 1954-5'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with rusty staple and paperclip, and slight creasing to the last three leaves of the main paper. Minor pencil emendations throughout the main paper by Carpenter.

[ Field Marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt. ] Autograph Signature ('Harcourt') to a secretarial letter to 'Mr Simpson', soliciting his vote for Captain Sir Murray Maxwell's candidacy in the Westminster election.

Author: 
Field Marshal William Harcourt (1743-1830), 3rd Earl Harcourt, army officer, Master of the Horse to Queen Charlotte, Colonel of the 16th Regiment of Light Dragoons [ Captain Sir Murray Maxwell ]
Publication details: 
St. Leonard's. 10 June 1818.
£45.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed with postmarks, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Mr. Simpson, | Clothiere, | St. Martin's Lane | London.' In fair condition, on aged paper. Docketted with Harcourt's dates. The letter reads: 'Sir, | Captain Sir Murray Maxwell having signified his intention of offering himself as a Candidate for Westminster at the ensuing Election; I shall be much obliged to you if you will give him Your Vote upon that occasion.' In the 1818 general election Maxwell (1775-1831) was defeated by less than 400 votes, losing to Sir Samuel Romilly and Sir Francis Burdett.

[ Port of Manchester. ] Pamphlet with eighteen-ship 'itinerary' of vessels present at a 'visit', accompanied by five maps [ 'Principal oil docks and installations with their road connections', 'Hinterland', 'Dockside Area' ], three of them fold-outs.

Author: 
[ Port of Manchester ] [ George Falkner & Sons Limited; Dunlop, Heywood & Co. ]
Publication details: 
[ Port of Manchester. ] George Falkner & Sons Limited, Manchester. With section dated 16 July 1959.
£180.00

Five maps, four of them fold-outs, together with duplicated text on two leaves, stapled into 8vo pamphlet of buff printed wraps with 'PORT OF MANCHESTER' and logo on the front, and printers' slug on back. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The five maps include three fold-outs: the first, coloured in blue and light and dark green, titled 'Principal oil docks and installations with their road connections' ('For particulars of sites on the Company's Estate application should be made to the Company's Land Agents | Dunlop, Heywood & Co.

[ Ministry of Munitions, First World War: Banbury factory. ] Two post cards, each with printed poem: 'An Appreciation' (of women workers), 'Composed by G. Gilbert, Munition Worker' and 'An Answer to "An Appreciation." By One on “The Other Shift.”'

Author: 
'Mr. G. Gilbert, Munition Worker' and 'One on "The Other Shift"'[ Ministry of Munitions National Filling Factory No. 9, Banbury, Oxfordshire, in the First World War; The Banbury Advertiser ]
Publication details: 
Both dating from the First World War. The 'Answer' published from '"Advertiser" Office, Banbury.' [ Oxfordshire ]
£150.00

Two First World War postcards, with the poems printed in black lengthwise on one side, and 'POST CARD' and the usual arrangement printed on the other side. Neither item with any manuscript text or other additions. Both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Valuable artefacts, filled with information about the workings of a munitions factory, and reflecting the tensions between the male and female workers. No other copies traced, either in the Imperial War Museum, on OCLC WorldCat, or on COPAC. ONE: Headed 'An Appreciation. | (Copyright.)' At foot: 'Composed by Mr. G.

[ Albert Howe Lybyer, presentation copy of offprint. ] Constantinople as Capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Author: 
Albert Howe Lybyer, Professor of History in the University of Illinois [ Rev. Robert Frew ]
Publication details: 
Washington: Government Printing Office, 1919. [ 'Reprinted from the Annual Report of the American Historical Association for 1916, Volum I, pages 371-388.' ]
£120.00

[4] + [18 pages paginated 371-388], 8vo. Stitched, in grey printed wraps. Aged and worn, with some light damp staining. Faded ink inscription at head of front cover: 'Rev. Robert Frew | with compliments | Alb. Lybyer'. Scarce.

[ John Harraden of the Post Office. ] Autograph Letter Signed to the Earl of Chesterfield, complaining of the 'hardships' of his case, and requesting his intervention, with reference to William Hayley of Earlham, John Palmer, George White Thomas.

Author: 
John Harraden of the Post Office [ Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield (1755-1815), Postmaster General; William Hayley (1745-1820); George White Thomas (c.1750-1821); John Palmer (1742-1818) ]
Publication details: 
No. 26 Compton Street, Soho. 10 November 1808.
£220.00

The recipient of the letter, the 5th Earl of Chesterfield, was Postmaster General between 1790 and 1798. The 'Mr. Palmer' mentioned in the text is John Palmer (1742-1818), MP for Bath, who was Comptroller General of the Post Office between 1786 and 1792. Harraden appears to have been regarded by his superiors as a whistle-blower and trouble-maker.

[ Privately printed for internal distribution, with fifteen colour illustrations of regimental colours and company badges, in dustwrapper. ] First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards. Review of the Regiment by His Majesty The King.

Author: 
[ First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards ] [ Buckingham Palace, London; the British Army ]
Publication details: 
[ Privately printed, London. ] 'Buckingham Palace, 29th June, 1910.'
£100.00

39pp., 12mo, with an additional fifteen plates. In boards of white shiny paper, with the royal crest of King George V stamped in blue and gilt on the front cover, and with all edges (including the boards) gilt. White dustwrapper with the following printed on the front: 'Extra Copies of this Book may be had on application to the Regimental Orderly Room.' Inscribed three times (reverse of title and last leaf, and on back of a plate) by 'Col. Sergt C. Riches | 3d: Battn. Grenr Gds'.

[ Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Longford') to the music critic R. A. Streatfeild regarding the suitability as a groom or chauffeur of his 'fellow countryman' Leonard, for whom he has a 'sneaking liking'.

Author: 
Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford [ Lord Silchester to 1887 ] (1864-1915), Irish politician and soldier [ R. A. Streatfeild [ Richard Alexander Streatfeild ] (1866-1919), music critic ]
Publication details: 
On letterheads of 44 Byranston Square, W. [ London ] 11 and 12 May 1911.
£60.00

The two letters in good condition, on lightly aged paper. ONE: 2pp., 12mo. He begins by stating that he 'knew Leonard pretty well in the 2nd Life G[uar]ds., he was a good fellow, but rough and wild - he came from Mullingar, my local capital, a good man with a horn but too heavy for a groom'. He could not give Leonard 'a better character than the regiment has done', and if 'his knee is too bad for him to soldier it probably would prevent him being a groom anywhere [...] he occasionally came before me for punishment - and as a fellow countryman I took an interest in him'.

[Henri Hoener [Haener]; Printing History] Letter (secretarial?) Signed "H Haener" to "Née de la Rochelle, libraire" [bookseller](Wikipedia

Author: 
Henri Haener [Hoener ], Imprimeur du Roi, Nancy, France [Printer to the King]
Haener printer
Haener printer
Publication details: 
Nancy, le 22 7bre 1787 (date corner chipped but year found within the letter).
£450.00
Haener printer
Haener printer

Four pages including address panel, 4to, bifolium, edges dulled, a little foxing. He outlines what he has done (sending things?), in a one page letter, and, on the other two pages, given a detailed account of what he has done for the bookseller from December 1787 to May 1788, including "brochures" (pamphlets). The recipient has noted when he replied. See images on my website.

[[ Professor A. Marshall Elliott of Johns Hopkins University; George Francis Scott-Elliot, botanist; and David Douglas, Edinburgh publisher] Correspondence relating to Scott-Elliot's 'The Border Elliots'.

Author: 
Aaron Marshall Elliott (1844-1910) of Johns Hopkins University, language scholar, helped found Modern Language Association; David Douglas (1823-1916), Edinburgh publisher; George Francis Scott Elliot
Publication details: 
Douglas's letter: On letterhead of 9 Castle Street, Edinburgh; 2 October 1900. Villa Reale, Bad Ems; 6 September 1900. Marshall Elliott's letter headed British Museum Library, 11 July, 1900.
£250.00

Four items, aged and somewhat creased. Scott-Elliot's book was privately printed by Douglas in 1897. Aaron Marshall Elliott was founder of the Modern Language Association and founding professor of Romance Languages at Johns Hopkins University. ONE: ALS from Aaron Marshall Hall to David Douglas, 2pp., 8vo, asking him if he could supply a copy of G.F.S. Elliott's "The Border Elliotts", giving publishing history and mentioning his work on American Elliotts which he hopes to publish.

[ British Army: Edwardian physical training booklet. ] Table Card containing Tables of Exercises for the Physical Training of Recruits, and the Physical Exercise of Trained Soldiers

Author: 
British Army: Edwardian physical training booklet [ H.M.S.O.; Harrison and Sons, London ]
Publication details: 
'Army Form A 2025', dated 'March, 1908.' [ 150,000 copies printed by 'H & S' (i.e. Harrison & Sons, London) in '5/08' (i.e. May 1908). ]
£120.00

Printed on both sides of a 15 x 135 cm strip of paper, concertina-folded to make 30pp., with each page on a 15 x 9 cm panel. A scarce survival, on aged and worn paper. No illustrations, but detailed entries in small print. One side carries 10pp of 'Cavalry and Artillery Recruits' Physical Training Tables', 4pp of 'Trained Solders' Physical Exercise Tables' and the title.

[ John Percy, metallurgist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Captain Donnelly', regarding 'warm work' at the House of Commons, and the preparation of the third volume of his 'Treatise on Metallurgy'.

Author: 
John Percy (1817-1889), metallurgist and Superintendent of Ventilation of the Houses of Parliament [ Captain Donnelly; Playfair ]
Publication details: 
1 Gloucester Crescent, Paddington [ London ]. 1 May 1868.
£100.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, tipped-in onto part of a page from an album. He begins by stating that he is returning a 'paper altered and corrected'. He goes on: 'We have had some warm work at the H[ouse]: of Commons of late'. (Percy had been appointed Superintendent of Ventilation of the Houses of Parliament in 1865. Percy is 'working very hard at my 3d volume, a large portion of which is in type'.

[ William Roscoe of Liverpool, historian, art collector and abolitionist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W: Roscoe.'), giving various instructions to an unnamed London bookseller.

Author: 
William Roscoe (1753–1831) of Liverpool, historian, patron of the arts, and leading abolitionist
Publication details: 
Liverpool. 17 September 1808.
£300.00

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper with spike hole. The recipient is unidentified. He asks him to 'forward the few books which Mr. Clark & I laid out when we had the pleasure of calling on you in London, with my Account including Mr. Clarkes, when I will remit you the balance -'. He asks him to send 'to Mr. Lunn's in Oxford St. for a Copy of D<?>'s Lexicon which I bot. there, & paid for, & which you'l [sic] please to include with the rest of your parcels'. The letter ends: 'I have concluded for the present to keep my own Copy of the Edns;,

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