HURST

[British coastal defence in the Napoleonic Wars.] Manuscript document giving itemised daily and yearly expenditure at twelve coastal military establishments (forts and castles).

Author: 
[British coastal defence in the Napoleonic Wars] Landguard Fort; St. Maws; Pendennis Castle; Plymouth and St Nicholas Island; Portland Castle; Hull and the Blockhouse; Hurst Castle; Holy Island
British coastal defence
Publication details: 
Undated. Annotated in another hand ‘Winchelsea / 1805’.
£320.00
British coastal defence

An interesting document, neatly laid out in black with red underlining on both sides of 29 x 42 cm leaf. Painted in black lengthwise near one edge is ‘Winchelsea / 1805’, and 1805 would be a good year for the document’s composition, with Britain fighting the Napoleonic Wars and in the midst of invasion fears around the time of the Battle of Trafalgar. 2pp, large folio. On thick laid paper watermarked either ‘VI’ or ‘IV’ (depending on which side you look from). In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with closed tears and one nick (not affecting text) along central horizontal fold.

[Cardinal Wiseman, Archbishop of Westminster.] Autograph Note in the third person proposing a meeting with ‘Mr Blackett’ [bookseller Henry Blackett of London firm Hurst & Blackett].

Author: 
Cardinal Wiseman [Nicholas Patrick Stephen Wiseman] (1802-1865), Roman Catholic cleric, first Archbishop of Westminster on 1850 re-establishment of Catholic hierarchy in England [Henry Blackett]
Wiseman
Publication details: 
29 June 1857; Leyton. On his armorial letterhead with motto ‘Omnia pro Christo’.
£60.00
Wiseman

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient is the publisher Henry Blackett (1825-1871) of the leading London firm Hurst & Blackett, and the meeting was evidently to discuss terms, possibly for Wiseman’s ‘Recollections of the Last Four Popes’, which the firm published in 1859. 1p, 8vo. Laid down on another leaf. In fair condition, lightly aged, on thin paper, and with discoloration from the glue used in laying the item down. Small red armorial letterhead.

[Ármin Vámbéry [Hermann Wamberger; Árminius Vámbéry], Hungarian Jewish traveller and authority on the Ottoman Empire.] Autograph Note Signed ('Armin Vambery') to 'Mr Blacket', asking 'how many pages of print are in the first volume'.

Author: 
Ármin Vámbéry [born Hermann Wamberger; also Árminius Vámbéry; Armin Vambery] (1832-1913), Hungarian Jewish authority on Ottoman Empire, made Honorary Commander of Royal Victorian Order by Edward VII
Publication details: 
'Wedesday' [no date]. On monogram letterhead combining the letters C and A.
£220.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Reads: 'Dear Mr Blacket | I should wish to know in the course of the day how many pages of print are in the first volume.' Despite the spelling of the name, the recipient is presumably either Henry Blackett (1825-1871) of the publishers Hurst and Blackett, or one of the four of his sons to become publishers. There is no record of a book by Vámbéry being published by a Blacket or Blackett, but he may be referring to an essay or article published in a periodical or compilation, or an anonymous or pseudonymous work.

[Karl Johan Andersson [Charles John Andersson], Swedish explorer in Africa.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Chs. J. Andersson'), in English, suggesting that his London publisher 'Mr. Blackett' advertise that the Swedish king has given him a medal.

Author: 
Karl Johan Andersson [Charles John Andersson] (1827-1867), Swedish explorer in Africa, hunter, ornithologist, travel writer [Henry Blackett (1825-1871), London publisher (Hurst & Blackett)]
Publication details: 
14 Cecil Street, Strand [London]. 26 June 1856.
£250.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with fold lines. Annotated up one margin: 'Writer of Travels &c'. Andersson writes: 'Dear Mr. Blackett, - | I enclose a literal translation of a paragraph extracted from one of the best Swedish newspapers, by which you will see that the King has honoured me with a medal. If you think that this paragraph may be of any use to you when advertising the 2d. Edition of “Lake Ngami”, it is quite at your service. Of course you may put it any [sic] language you may think proper. | Yours faithfully | Chs. J.

[ Julia Kavanagh, Irish Victorian novelist. ] Autograph Signature on part of letter to London publisher Henry Blackett, regarding the sending of 'early copies' of a book to the United States ('that distracted country') and proofs to Baron Tauchnitz.

Author: 
Julia Kavanagh (1824-1877), Irish Victorian novelist, a devout Catholic most of whose work was set in France [ Henry Blackett (1825-1871), English publisher, partner in London firm Hurst & Blackett ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£130.00

On both sides of a piece of thin laid paper, roughly 10 x 12.5 cm, torn from a letter. Aged and worn, with chipping to extremities. The recto reads: '[…] work is to be published? I sh also be much obliged to you i you will give me any informat about America. Is anything done with that distracted countr in the way of early copies? I dare say it is time to sen Baron Tauchnitz the proofs through Williams & Norgate. I trust you will kindly see to that for m We shall be g to the coun […]'.

[ War Department contractors 1858 ]10 printed items] Schedule of Contract for Carpenters' [Bricklayers'; Slaters'; Plasterers'; Plumbers'; Painters'; Glaziers'; Smiths'; Cast-iron and Metal] Work for the Service of the War Department, [...]

Author: 
[Ten printed Schedules of Contract for work for the service of the War Department, in the South-West and Sussex District; W. H. Dudley; Robert Stratton; George Wheeler; Isle of Wight; Hurst Castle]
Publication details: 
All ten schedules: 'London: Printed by Harrison & Sons. 1858.'
£450.00

The collection is of great interest, providing a mass of information regarding the Victorian building trade. The owner of the volume, W. H. Dudley, would appear to be a War Office official, and, as described at the end of this entry, it contains manuscript details of two contracts. The ten printed schedules - totalling [34 + 17 + 14 + 10 + 12 + 13 + 12 + 10 + 16 + 11 =] 149 pp., folio - are uniform in design and format, bound together in a contemporary half-binding, with brown leather spine and corners, and marbled boards. All ten are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding.

[ Edmund Gwenn, Oscar-winning actor, and Jan Hurst, composer and conductor. ] Autograph Signatures, with five others.

Author: 
Edmund Gwenn [ Teddy Gwenn ] (1877-1959), Oscar-winning English actor; Jan Hurst (c.1890-1967), composer and conductor, and Musical Director to the Brighton Corporation
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Bedford Hotel, Brighton. Undated [between 1929 and 1934].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The seven signatures are on top of one another, with the fifth in pencil and the others in ink. They read: 'Teddy Gwenn | [ ditto ] Michael | Lawrence | Sevier | Tommy Shale | Jan Hurst. | Patersen Story'. From the papers of Herman Finck (1872-1939), with whom Jan Hurst was connected. According to one authority: 'In 1929 [Hurst] secured the all year round post of Musical Director to the Brighton Corporation and as such, he was in charge of their Municipal Orchestra.

[ Lord William Pitt Lennox. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Willm P. Lennox') to an unnamed recipient, regarding the sale of a copyright to the London publishers Hurst & Blackett.

Author: 
Lord William Pitt Lennox (1799-1881), British Army officer and author [ Hurst & Blackett, London publishers ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Hall Place, Tunbridge. 16 July 1863.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition. The subject of the letter is probably Lennox's Fifty Years' Biographical Reminiscences', published by Hurst and Blackett in 1863. Lennox is 'extremely flattered' at the contents of the recipient's letter, but has 'disposed of the copy right to Messrs Hurst and Blackett. 13. Gr. Marlborough St.', to whom he refers the recipient. 'Had I been in London I would have done myself the pleasure of expressing my thanks in person'.

[ Longmans, London publishers. ] Prospectus for Clarke Abel's 'Personal Observations, made during the Progress of the British Embassy through China', and list of Longmans books 'Published in the Course of August and September [1817]'.

Author: 
Clarke Abel, Physician and Naturalist to the Embassy [ Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, of Paternoster-row, London Booksellers; Longmans; East India Company ]
Publication details: 
Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-row. The prospectus is undated; the list of publications is dated 'Oct. 1817.'
£60.00

The two items are disbound, but attached to one another. On aged and worn paper. PROSPECTUS: 1p., 12mo. Reads: 'Mr. Abel's Account of the Embassy to China. | In the press, and immediately will be published, | In One Volume, Quarto, illustrated by Maps and other Engravings, of Landscape, Natural History, Geology, &c.

Corrected Typescript of lecture on 'Bygone Tortures and Punishments' by Claude Hurst Peter, Town Clerk of Launceston, Cornwall, with letters in response to request for assistance from Peter from 11 individuals including Achille Bazire and H. G. Conor

Author: 
Claude Hurst Peter (1852-1927), solicitor and Town Clerk of Launceston, Cornwall [Achille Bazire; Alfred F. Robbins; Robert Barnard; John William Gordon; George Penrose; Christopher L. Coulard]
Publication details: 
From London, Oxford and Launceston, Cornwall. 1906 and 1907.
£550.00

The twelve items (typescript of lecture and eleven letters) are in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Peter's lecture was given in aid of the Dunheved Standard Fund at Launceston Town Hall on 11 February 1907, 'Fully Illustrated by numerous Limelight Pictures'. The typescript, tied with pink ribbon, is 43pp., foolscap 8vo. With numerous emendations, deletions and additions in manuscript. The first page carries a 'Syllabus' of the two topics.

Autograph Letter Signed ('W. Harrison Ainsworth') from the English historical novelist William Harrison Ainsworth to the writer Stephen Watson Fullom, regarding a meeting at the London publishers Hurst & Blackett, and Fullom's 'future career'.

Author: 
W. Harrison Ainsworth [William Harrison Ainsworth] (1805-1882), English historical novelist [Stephen Watson Fullom (1818-1872), English author; Hurst & Blackett, London publishers]
Publication details: 
Kensal Manor Hourse, Harrow Road; 11 March 1846.
£80.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Ainsworth begins: 'My dear Mr. Fullom, I am happy to tell you that you are under a great mistake. Your manner, on the occasion you refer to, produced the most favourable impression upon me.' Fullom 'exhibited great delicacy and modesty', and Ainsworth 'stated as much to Mr. Hurst'. The omission was in fact on Ainsworth's own part, in neglecting to thank Fullom for his 'flattering proposal to dedicate your romance to me'.

[10 printed items] Schedule of Contract for Carpenters' [Bricklayers'; Slaters'; Plasterers'; Plumbers'; Painters'; Glaziers'; Smiths'; Cast-iron and Metal] Work for the Service of the War Department, at [blank] in the South-west and Sussex District.

Author: 
[Ten printed Schedules of Contract for work for the service of the War Department, in the South-West and Sussex District; W. H. Dudley; Robert Stratton; George Wheeler; Isle of Wight; Hurst Castle]
Publication details: 
All ten schedules: 'London: Printed by Harrison & Sons. 1858.'
£850.00

The collection is of great interest, providing a mass of information regarding the Victorian building trade. The owner of the volume, W. H. Dudley, would appear to be a War Office official, and, as described at the end of this entry, it contains manuscript details of two contracts. The ten printed schedules - totalling [34 + 17 + 14 + 10 + 12 + 13 + 12 + 10 + 16 + 11 =] 149 pp., folio - are uniform in design and format, bound together in a contemporary half-binding, with brown leather spine and corners, and marbled boards. All ten are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding.

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