JOHN

34pp., 12mo. Drophead title, with subtitle: 'A Paper read before the Society of Arts, January 29th, 1873. Thos. Webster, Q.C., F.R.S., in the chair. For details of the discussion, &c., see Journal of the Society, No. 1054, Vol. xxi.' Disbound and without covers. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Inscription at head of first page reads: 'With kind regards to Mr Cooper, | from | John Yeats'. The only copy on COPAC at Oxford University, and now excessively scarce.

45 + [1]pp., 12mo. Stapled pamphlet. On aged and worn War Economy paper. Two-page preface by Hayward, preceded by the following note: 'The Exhibition has been arranged under the auspices of the Syndics of the University Library and the Catalogue made by MR JOHN HAYWARD who, in collaboration with MR HAROLD WILLIAMS, F.B.A., also made the selection of the Books and Manuscripts for the Exhibition.' Uncommon (apart from the Folcroft reprint): the only copy on OCLC WorldCat at the British Library.

The first two are addressed to Ross, 'of Rochester by Greenlaw', and the third to him 'of Shandwick by Parkhill | Rossshire'. Each letter with postmark in red ink. ONE: Letter of 6 November 1797. 3pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. A long letter, closely and neatly written, with a number of emendations suggesting that it is a draft. After a short reference to the Count's kindness to him and his friend Joseph Neave, he devotes the rest of the letter to 'the heavy trial thou has had to pass through', discussing the nature of loss with 'knowledge from my own experience, that the loss of a child is a grief into whose full depths no stranger can enter, and that words, even well-meant, when uttered at an unfit moment, pain instead of helping'.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged and spotted. Since she is going away, he considers it 'safer' to return the 'Oedipus', which has given him great pleasure. He hopes she will enjoy her 'Freshwater outing', and that 'we may remain above the horizon to welcome your return to town'. The Freshfields were a noted family of solicitors, with strong connections with the Bank of England.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with negligible traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse of the leaf. Addressed to 'Dr Clarke | Harper St.' After explaining that the Commissioners of the Public Records want lists of the new plates for the first volume of 'Foeder', and another list of 'the old ones necessary to be re engraved', reminds him that he promised the latter list 'in September last'.

Each letter 1p., 4to, Bickerstaffe-Drew's on reverse of Wood's. In fair condition, on aged leaf of paper with strip torn from head. The two letters cast an interesting light on English publishing practice in the late nineteenth century. Wood's letter, signed 'J. S. Wood', is written by a secretary, and addressed to 'The Right Rev Mgr Bickerstaff Drew'.

21pp., fourteen of them in 4to, and the other seven pages cut down. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Stapled together, with the first leaf detached. The article is complete but untitled. It is unattributed, but comes from the J. R. Gordon papers. A well-written and incisive piece, written from an insider's point of view. Gordon lays out his stall at the very start: 'Few people of our generation have influenced the life of it so profoundly as Lord Northcliffe. He was the incomparable journalist of our age.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with a 2.5 cm closed tear and slight loss at one edge causing damage to one word of text. The text is neatly written out in another hand over 14 lines. Allen's signature and other details in his hand are at the end: 'Wm. Allen | Stoke Newington near London | the 11th. of the 4th month (April) 1843'. Headed 'To my dear Friends on the Continent of Europe to whom these lines may come'.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged high-acidity paper. Headed: 'N.B. PLEASE use this leaflet to get a new member. On page 3 are particulars of the very important new "C" membership. | LEFT BOOK CLUB'. In double-column and small print. Headings: 'What Membership means', 'No subscription whatever' ('The Books are selected by Laski, Strachey, and Gollancz.'), 'But Membership is a Key . . .', 'Probable coming "Books of the Month"' ['Justice in England' by 'A Barrister', 'The Battle for Peace' by F. Elwyn Jones, 'A.R.P.' by Professor J. B. S.

On one side of a small rectangle of laid paper, with one corner snipped off. In fair condition, aged and worn, with spike hole not affecting text. Reads: 'Mr Lawless | Deliver Mr Nichols Ninety Popes omer 4 Vol. | S. Cadell'. Although clearly a member of the firm, the identity of the writer is unclear, the descriptions of Cadell & Davies material at the Huntingdon and Yale not yielding any information.

16 x 20 cm booklet, consisting of a bifolium stitched with black green thread into covers of thicker paper. In fair condition, aged and worn, with remains of clear plastic front covering. On the front cover is a heavily-inked art photograph superimposing an image of a musical score over the edges of an fanned-out signature. On the inside of the back cover is a facsimile of a calligraphic inscription in Latin, in Renaissance style. The inner contents consists of two facsimiles.

[2] + 170pp., 8vo. On 172 leaves, held together by a steel stud. In good condition, lightly aged, with discoloring to first leaf and the last seven leaves dogeared. The names of the crew are given on the first covering page, and the cast of characters (but not the names of the actors playing them) on the second. An interesting artefact, indicative of the continuing reassessment and reinterpretation of the works of one of Britain's great writers.

1p., 4to. In fair condtion, lightly aged and creased. With a few autograph corrections by Roberts. Having been unsuccessful in placing an individual with Wilson, Roberts writes: 'Of course forty years ago the advent of a bookshop like yours was a tremendous event, and we all flocked to it as something new and wonderful, as indeed it was.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The menu is written out in faint pencil on one side, beneath the letterhead. On the other side, and headed with the date 4 June 1919 is the following playful address: 'Dear Jerrold, | "Carry on"! | This has no reference to the food we have just eaten. | You Walter [pun on 'ought to'] be here because you're a Jerrold [pun on 'dear old'] fellow. | And so say all of us.' Beneath this are nine signatures, two of which are undeciphered.

Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: 22 September 1856. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Docketted: 'Revd J. E. Kempe about Annie's XG. & Tait, new Bp of London | Sep 1856'. After discussing arrangements for meeting he turns to Tait, about to be consecrated Bishop of London. 'You ask about our new Bishop. I have reason to think it an excellent appointment.

Printed on one side of a piece of wove paper, folded twice to make a card of 4pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly-aged and spotted. Low's 10 x 8.5 cm illustration is on the cover, and is rather uncharacteristic in its lightness of touch. Nor is the layout of the cover in the usual 'Sette' style, rather harking forwards to the 1940s. Cover states: 'His Oddshippe Sir Harry Trelawney Eve (Chaplain) in ye Chair'.

12pp., 8vo. Stapled. In green printed wraps. In good condition, on aged paper, with slight wear to one corner and a few light marks to cover.

Bound up on stubs in brown leather half-binding, grey cloth boards, with 'SOMERSET HERALD | S. TUCKER' on spine. Ownership inscription of Alex Thomson Grant, the Red House, Wemyss Castle, Fife, 1909. The contents in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, in heavily-worn binding. 81 items on stubs, mainly comprising 62 letters by Tucker, 16 as 'Rouge Croix', 1874-1880 (with additional receipt by him); and 46 as 'Somerset', 1880-1887. A few of Tucker's letters signed with his name (as 'Stephen Tucker | R. C.'), but most with his title only.

Totalling 10pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly aged paper. ONE: 14 September 1899. 4pp., 12mo. He was pleased to receive Hodson's letter from Southwold, and reports on the 'Abraham sale', and 'talk of a tram line being made to Mochras' ('all fudge & nonsense').

4pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Disbound. A frail survival, on aged paper, with chipping to gutter and extremities.

Taylor's collecting activities are described in his entry in the Oxford DNB. His collection was sold by his widow in 1912 for the massive sum of £358,500.3pp., folio. Bifolium. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Tastefully-printed billhead, as one might expect, in black and red, with royal crests, boasting that the firm are 'Printsellers by Appointment to her Majesty, | Their Royal Highnesses The Prince Consort, The Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Kent'. Also the text: 'Established 1760. | Half price allowed for packing cases if returned immediately'.

An attractive and unusual item, and extremely scarce: no copies recorded on either OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. Engraved print in shape 11 cm diameter circle, carrying text and numeration, attached to printed 8vo leaf and superimposed on matching circular print with months and further numeration, to make a calculation tool. At head of page, beneath title and above wheel: 'To find the SUNDAYS that depend on EASTER day.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Thanking him for 'the Photograph of Folkestone harbour, & the volumes you have sent on the subjects of Malta, & the Order of St. John. [by Major-General Whitworth Porter (1827-1892) of the Royal Engineers]'. Prince Albert had intended to buy the book, but will take pleasure in accepting the copy the recipient of the letter has 'had so handsomely bound'.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged and worn. Addressed to 'My dearest Bellows'. He has received the pamphlet at the Hotel Bristol, and 'earnestly' believes that 'it will make the right impression upon the powerful of the world'. His party starts the following week for Russia, '& I will take in hands [sic] our plans of delivery as soon as I get on the spot'. He ends with a pious sentiment. Bellows paid two visits to Russia, and counted Tolstoy among his friends.

1p., 12mo. In very good condition, lightly-aged, with parts of red wax wafer at each corner. Reads 'En route | Royal Hotel Cardiff | Sir | Here is my autograph according to your wish. | Yours faithfully | J. Sims Reeves | April 21st. 1876.' Good, strong signature, with a final flourish continuing in a circle, and enclosign the whole of it.

J. F. Austen was the son of John Austen VII. For his relation to the novelist see 'Jane Austen's Letters', ed. Le Faye (OUP, 2011). The present item is excessively scarce, with no copies traced on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat. 4to, 18pp. on ten leaves, paginated [1-2], 17-24, 57-63, 79. In original brown printed wraps. Aged and worn, with rusted staples.

The four letters all in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: 22 July 1902. 2pp., 12mo. Rearranging a meeting, following his absence 'at my cottage in Norfolk'. TWO: 6 August 1902. 3pp., 12mo. Regarding a drawing titled 'The little Chest', which 'Mr Macquarie' would like Slocombe to being at once. With postscript signed 'S. L.' THREE: 4 June 1904. 2pp., 12mo. He was 'on the point of writing', to ask when he could 'buy those delectable pipes', when Slocombe's 'most acceptable present' arrived. He ends by asking to be reminded to send him a 'soiree ticket'. FOUR: 1p., 12mo.

The prospectus is 4pp., folio. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper and creased paper, with slight damage to margins at foot of both leaves. Beneath the heading on the first page is a list of around 75 princes, dukes and lords, headed by 'His Most Gracious Majesty the King', under whose 'immediate patronage' the work is to be commenced.

19pp., 12mo. Stapled. In grey printed wraps. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; in wraps with stamp and label of the Education Department Library. Marginal headings include: 'Motives for following an Artistic Career', 'Primal Important of Facility of Hand', 'Triumph of Commercialism', 'The Worship of the Ugly', 'Art: Pictorial, Creative, Pot-boiling' and 'Decorum in Decoration'. Uncommon: only four copies recorded on OCLC WorldCat.