JOURNALIST

[ William Pett Ridge, novelist and humorist. ] Autograph Card Signed ('W. Pett Ridge'), apologising for being unable to attend a meeting.

Author: 
W. Pett Ridge [ William Pett Ridge ] (1859-1930), English novelist and humorous journalist with the St James Gazette
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Garrick Club, London. 'Wednesday' [no date].
£25.00

On both sides of a card. In good condition, with light aging. He hopes she will have 'a very succcessful meeting', but cannot give 'a promise to attend', as other matters are 'engaging, just now, all the attention I have to spare'.

[ Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol, French journalist and essayist. ] First page of Autograph Letter, giving details of a lecture he proposes to give.

Author: 
Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol (1829-1870), French journalist and essayist
Publication details: 
Paris. 23 April [ 1869 ].
£80.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and worn paper. Docketted on reverse: 'Letter Lectures | Prevost Peradol | 23 April 1869'. Reads: 'Sir | I accept the honourable invitation which is transmitted to me through your kind letter from the Directors of the philosophical institution of Edinburgh. The subject will be the social and political condition of France in two lectures.'

[ Francis Guest Tomlins, journalist, dramatist and founder of the Shakespeare Society. ] Autograph Signature ('F. G. Tomlins').

Author: 
F. G. Tomlins [ Frederick Guest Tomlins ] (1802-1867), journalist, dramatist and founder of the Shakespeare Society
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 1.5 x 6 cm. slip of paper. In good condition,, with light signs of age. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

[ William Maginn, Irish journalist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W M.') to the editor of a journal, regarding 'a poem by a friend of mine' (said to be 'Lockharts Greek Bubble').

Author: 
William Maginn [ 'Dr. Maginn' ] (1794-1842), Irish Tory journalist, a noted contributor to Blackwood's Magazine and Bentley's Miscellany
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [ London? Circa 1826? ]
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Another hand - presumably that of the recipient - has written the word 'Printer' at the head of the page, and docketted the reverse 'Maginn | with Lockharts Greek Bubble' (the anonymous poem 'The Greek Bubble', published in 1826, is in fact said to be the work of J. Thompson). The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | Inclosed is a review of a poem by a friend of mine, who I believe is an acquaintance of yours. If you could make room for it tomorrow, you would much oblige me. Arrange the review yr. own way.

[ William Black, Scottish novelist. ] Autograph Note Signed, asking Scottish painter Thomas Faed to second his application for membership of the Athenaeum.

Author: 
William Black (1841-1898), Scottish journalist and novelist [ Thomas Faed (1826-1900), RA, Scottish artist ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, S.W. [ London ] 26 July [no year].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly-aged, and laid down on a piece of card. Reads: 'July 26 | My dear Faed, | Would you mind seconding me at the Athenaeum? I believe Tom Hughes has put down my name. | Yours faithfully | William Black.' According to Black's entry in the Oxford DNB, he 'studied landscape painting for a short time in the Glasgow School of Art, but, becoming connected with the Glasgow Citizen, gradually exchanged art for journalism'.

[ Sir Archibald Spicer Hurd, naval authority. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('A S H.') to 'Mr Service' (of the publishers Seeley & Co.), complaining about the severity of a proposed contract for a series of articles.

Author: 
Sir Archibald Spicer Hurd (1869-1959) [ Seeley, Service and Co., London publishers ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 6 Stafford Terrace, Plymouth.
£65.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written in pencil. A long and interesting complaint, casting an interesting light on the journalistic practices of the period. Hurd begins without preamble, pointing out, with reference to a previous letter, that he 'never promised 35000 words', and stating that the publisher 'would doubtless be able to put in a few extra illustrations to fill it out'.

[ Louis Heren, foreign correspondent with The Times of London. ] Typed Letter Signed to Lady de Freitas, regarding two books he has borrowed from her for research for a book he is writing.

Author: 
Louis Heren (1919-1995), foreign correspondent with The Times of London
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Fleet House, Vale of Health, London, NW3. 23 February 1992.
£35.00

1p., small 4to. He refers to 'lunch with the Bells' and 'Tattie', and apologizes for keeping the books for so long: 'They were a great help, especially Rory Fitzpatrick's God's Frontiersmen'. He ends with the news that he is revising his manuscript, 'and would like to send you a copy when it is eventually published'. The book Heren was working on does not appear to have been published.

[ 'Mrs. Cecil Chesterton' on her brother-in-law G. K. Chesterton. ] Typescript of an article ('sketch') titled 'G. K. C. IN FLEET STREET. | by | Mrs. Cecil Chesterton.'

Author: 
'Mrs. Cecil Chesterton' [ Ada Elizabeth Chesterton, née Ada Eliza Jones ] (1869-1962), journalist and sister-in-law of the writer G. K. Chesterton [ Gilbert Keith Chesterton ] (1874-1936)
Publication details: 
Without place or date, but after the demise of the 'New Witness' in 1923, and before G. K. Chesterton's death in 1936.
£80.00

3pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged, worn and browned paper. Ada Chesterton worked with her brother-in-law while assistant editor of the 'New Witness'. Her admiration for his talents was fully reciprocated, G. K. Chesterton describing his sister-in-law as 'brilliant'. It begins: 'Very much has been written and said of G. K. C. the poet, the pamphleteer, the genius of paradox, who holds the attention of his listeners by his dazzling sleight of words. I am going to write of him from a different angle - G. K. C. the journalist as he is known and gauged in Fleet Street.

[Gerald Gould] Two Autograph Letters Signed and Two Typed Letters Signed to Robert Lynd, author.

Author: 
Gerald Gould (1885-1936), journalist.
Publication details: 
1918-1926.
£100.00

Two ALsS and two TLsS, total 4pp., 4to, fair-good condition.. The last three on letterheads of 1 Hamilton Terrace, NW8; and the first from 54 St Mary's Mansions, Paddington; 11 August 1918, 27 December 1925 and 17 and 26 March 1926.

Keywords:

Five Letters, most signed "C.S." [Clifford Sharp, editor,, New Statesman] to Robert Lynd, essayist.

Author: 
Clifford Sharp, (1883-1935), editor of the New Statesman.
Publication details: 
1923-1933.
£180.00

3 ALsS, ANS and TNS, three on New Statesman letterheads, one on letterhead of 127 Willifield Way, Golders Green; 27 July 1923, 19 June 1924, and 5 January and 23 March 1933, 8pp., 8vo and 12mo.An undated note, on New Statesman letterhead, reads 'These fruits of abstinence are not for me. If you got in that bottle of whiskey you spoke of for God's sake drink it.' (MG notes that this was written 'evidently on one of his cures for alcoholism'.

[Frederic Villiers] Autograph Note Signed 'Frederic Villiers' to an unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Frederic Villiers, war artist and war correspondent
Publication details: 
[Headed notepaper] Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough, 15 Jan. 1899.
£38.00

One page, 12mo, edges sunned, some spotting and darkening, text clear and complete. "Thanks for the 'Hermit' which I hope to peruse at my leisure. If possible, I may hand you a small subject in return but am now very busy indeed."

[Horace Voules, de facto editor of Henry Labouchère's satirical magazine 'Truth'.] Autograph Letter Signed to Robert Ababrelton

Author: 
Horace Voules, de facto editor of the satirical magazine 'Truth' [Henry Labouchère [Henry Du Pré Labouchère] (1831-1912), Conservative politician and writer
Publication details: 
On letterhead of "Truth" Buildings, Carteret Street, Queen Anne's Gate, London. 25 May 1897.
£40.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and marked paper. Addressed to Ababrelton at 1 Northumberlandn Avenue. He thanks him for the letter and its enclosure. 'We have received copies of the latter by the dozen and we shall probably be dealing with the matter either in this or next week's issue of "Truth."'

Autograph Letter Signed from the journalist and author Peter Bayne to an unnamed recipient, stating that he cannot try his hand 'on Byron or Browning [...] without more chance of continuous work'.

Author: 
Peter Bayne [pseud. Ellis Brandt] (1830-1896), English journalist and author
Publication details: 
33 St. Julian's Road, Kilburn, London N.W. 30 November 1881.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'My Dear Sir, | I ought to have thanked you sooner for your kind note of the 21st., but I have been much occupied. It would be pleasant for me to try my hand on Byron or Browining, but I could not dare do so without more chance of continuous work than I can hope for at present.'

Autograph Letter Signed "Poultney Bigelow" to an unnamed correspondent, about recent activities and his books.

Author: 
Poultney Bigelow, American journalist and author, school friend of Prince Wilhelm (Wilhelm II).
Publication details: 
[Headed] Reform Club, no date.
£75.00

Two pages, 12mo, good condition. "Since our talk I have been in America; returned - have been to Berlin on a diplomtic mission & only just touched at my club before sailing once more for New York on Wednesday - All my books, &c. are in storage at this moment & I must therefore wait until I onc emore return here for settlement - which will be soon I hope. | I hope you will not be angry at me because of what must have been strange silence on the part of [...]"

Typed Letter Signed and Manuscript Letter by secretary with Autograph Signature from Arthur Mee to 'Miss Neale', declining an article for his 'Children's Newspaper' and giving his opinion of 'agencies for assisting people to write for publication'.

Author: 
Arthur Mee [Arthur Henry Mee] (1875-1943), British writer and journalist, editor of 'The Children's Encyclopaedia' and 'The King's England'
Publication details: 
Both on letterheads of 'The Children's Newspaper', The Fleetway House, Farringdon St, London, EC4. 5 and 11 August 1924.
£40.00

Both items signed 'Arthur Mee'. Typed Letter Signed: 5 August 1924. 1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. It would be a 'great pleasure' to him to be able to make use of the article she has sent him, 'but my papers are almost entirely in the hands of a staff of regular contributors', and he has 'very little opportunity of using outside contributions'. In a postscript he expresses pleasure at the fact that his 'papers come your way', and sends his regards to 'Patricia and David'. Manuscript Letter: 11 August 1924. Written by a secretary and signed by Mee. 1p., 12mo.

Five Letters, most signed "C.S." [Clifford Sharp, editor,, New Statesman] to Robert Lynd, essayist.

Author: 
Clifford Sharp, (1883-1935), editor of the New Statesman.
Publication details: 
1923-1933.
£180.00

3 ALsS, ANS and TNS, three on New Statesman letterheads, one on letterhead of 127 Willifield Way, Golders Green; 27 July 1923, 19 June 1924, and 5 January and 23 March 1933, 8pp., 8vo and 12mo.An undated note, on New Statesman letterhead, reads 'These fruits of abstinence are not for me. If you got in that bottle of whiskey you spoke of for God's sake drink it.' (MG notes that this was written 'evidently on one of his cures for alcoholism'.

Autograph Signature ('Teignmouth Shore') of the journalist and author W. Teignmouth Shore, cut away from a typed letter.

Author: 
W. Teignmouth Shore [William Teignmouth Shore] (1865-1932), British journalist and author
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£23.00

On 8 x 20.5 cm. rectangle, cut from the base of a 4to leaf. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, laid down on piece of cream card. Reads: 'With all Good Wishes, | Yours sincerely, | [signed] Teignmouth Shore | W. Teignmouth Shore Esq.'

Autograph Letter Signed from American journalist Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer to 'Mr Kennedy', regarding a portrait of quaker classicist Robert Proud in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, with appended note on the painting, presumably by Kennedy.

Author: 
Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer (1868-1936), American journalist, biographer and historical writer [Robert Proud (1728-1813), American quaker classicist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Franklin Inn Club, 1218 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia. 20 August 1907.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Kennedy is 'quite right' in his 'supposition regarding the picture. It is Proud's - indeed the only one familiar to me.' He thinks 'the original is at the rooms of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania'. He concludes with thanks for Kennedy's 'kind words about the Literary History'. The eight-line note at the end of the letter, presumably by Kennedy, attributes the picture to William Cogswell, 'from a pencil sketch (contemporaneous) but the Historical Society's affairs are now in much disorder because of rebuilding operations.'

Autograph Leytter Signed L.F. Salzman, economist, to Robert Lynd, essayist and Irish Nationalist.

Author: 
Louis Francis Salzman (1878-1971), British economic historian.
Publication details: 
14 Brookside, Cambridge; 19 August [1928
£200.00

ALS, 14 Brookside, Cambridge; 19 August [1928], 2pp., 12mo. Written on returning the proofs of two articles. 'I see you have cut out my proof of the early intrusion of the Friar Tuck element into the Robin Hood cycle: - the only piece of information in the article which a student could not easily find elsewhere! However, I don't suppose any students will bother about any part of these articles except the Bibliographies, so it probably doesn't matter.' He continues with a few scholarly points.

Autograph Note Signed ('Will Irwin') from the American 'muckraker' journalist William Henry Irwin.

Author: 
Will Irwin [William Henry Irwin] (1873-1948), American author and 'muckraker' journalist
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, 240 West 11th Street, New York City. No date.
£56.00

Landscape 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dear Dan; / You're one of the birds I just love to be praised by! / As ever / [signed] Will Irwin'.

Autograph Letter Signed from the journalist and literary biographer George Barnett Smith to J. T. Baron of Blackburn

Author: 
George Barnett Smith (1841-1909), English author, journalist and literary biographer
Publication details: 
Cuba Villa, Bickerton Road, Highgate, N. 6 March 1882.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium.Good, on lightly-aged paper. In stamped envelope, with London and Blackburn postmarks, addressed by Smith to 'J. T. Baron, Esq. / 18, Griffin Street, / Witton, / Blackburn.' He is only able to reply to Baron's not now, having been 'ill & confined to bed'. He thanks him 'for the kind expressions you use respecting my Life of Gladstone, which I am glad you like so much. I suppose you are aware that I have recently published (through Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton) a companion work, the Life of Mr.

Autograph Manuscript by the British parliamentary sketch-writer Sir Henry Lucy, titled 'Her Majesty's Ministers as Wage Earners. [originally 'Work & Wage in Downing St.'] By Henry W Lucy'.

Author: 
Henry W. Lucy [Sir Henry Lucy; Sir William Henry Lucy] (1842-1924), English journalist, parliamentary sketch-writer acknowledged as the first great lobby correspondent
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [Published in 'Youth's Companion', vol.73, London, 1899.]
£90.00

1p., 4to. The beginning of the article only: 21 lines of text, ending abruptly. Torn from notebook. Very good, on aged paper. A corrected draft, with the deleted original title reading 'Work & Wage in Downing St'. An interesting item, casting light on the working practices of a pioneer of parliamentary journalism. Begins: 'The keeness of competition for ministl office in Great Britain is certainly not inspired by sordid motive.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('John Foster Fraser') from the English travel writer Sir John Foster Fraser to H. W. Massingham of the Daily Chronicle, describing his career and qualifications while applying for journalistic work.

Author: 
Sir John Foster Fraser (1868-1936), English travel writer [Henry William Massingham (1860-1924), editor of 'The Nation', 1907-1923]
Sir John Foster Fraser
Publication details: 
3 January 1896; The Author's Club, 3 Whitehall Court, SW, London.
£180.00
Sir John Foster Fraser

12mo, 4 pp. 61 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. An impressive letter applying for work. He does not expect Massingham (addressed as 'W. H. Massingham') to remember their meeting 'in the Lobby' when he was 'chief reporter on The Sun', while at the same time holding 'a Parliamentary engagement on the staff of the C. N.' Gives details of his subsequent employment, including joining the editorial staff of the 'Manchester Guardian' ('principally to look after their weekly paper which was in a sad way.

Autograph Letter Signed and Typed Letter Signed (both 'Geo. R. Sims') from the journalist and playwright George R. Sims to Lillie Ross-Clyne of Manchester.

Author: 
George R. Sims [George Ross Sims] (1847-1922), journalist, dramatist, novelist and poet [Lillie Ross-Clyne]
George R. Sims [George Ross Sims]
Publication details: 
Autograph Letter: 27 September 1911. Typed Letter: 12 February 1915. Both on letterhead of 12 Clarence Terrace, Regent's Park, London.
£56.00
George R. Sims [George Ross Sims]

Both 4to, 1 p. Texts clear and complete. Both on aged and worn paper. Autograph Letter: He apologises for not acknowledging her letter ('I have been so busy and away a great deal') and regrets that he does not 'for the moment remember anything which would be of service to you'. Typed Letter: He regrets that 'the present is rather a bad time for what we call the free lance in literature'. He is not himself 'very much in Fleet Street and the neighbourhood', the 'bulk' of his work being done 'far from the madding crowd'.

Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs [Cecilia] Perkins.

Author: 
Edmund Yates
Publication details: 
23 July [no year]; on letterhead of Moorhurst, Holmwood, Surrey.
£28.00

12mo, 1 p. The purple ink of the letter has bled, otherwise in good condition. He does not 'think it likely that we shall soon see this neighbourhood again'. They have had 'frequent bad weather, constant illness, & general discomfort'. The Yateses 'hope to meet you at Hamburg, where we expect to arrive on Wednesday 5th. August. So be it!' Mrs Perkins was the wife of the wealthy brewer Augustus Frederick Perkins.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Mortimer Wheeler') to Fred Behrens, editor of the Bradford Observer.

Author: 
Robert Mortimer Wheeler (d.1936), journalist, father of Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1890-1976), English archaeologist [Sir Jacob Behrens; Fred Behrens; Bradford Observer; Yorkshire Observer]
Publication details: 
7 June 1900; on letterhead of the Bradford Observer.
£23.00

12mo: 1 p. Twenty-one lines. Clear and complete. Fair: on lightly-aged and ruckled paper. He 'turned up at the Executive this afternoon rather in the hope of seeing you than in the expectation of being useful'. He had 'intended amongst other things supporting a meeting of the Committee sometime next week'. He is 'only just emerging from the influenza you gave me last time, which proved of a rather virulent order!' He has 'a visitor in the house & must consult the home arrangements'. 'The absence of Fred Byles (on holiday) ties me somwhat more closely than usual.

Autograph Letter Signed to [H. Beresford] Hope, diplomat (Washington etc).

Author: 
A. Willert, Foreign Editor of The Times.
Publication details: 
Headington Hill, Oxford, 25 May 1909.
£35.00

Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He telss Hope that "when you come over you will be expected to notify me at the Foreign Dept The Times Printing House Square, London E.C." The birth of his "son and heir" has led to his going home for a few days ("the fatigue of producing that Empire Supplement" contributed). He reveals that he earns well from "cynical productions concerning British affairs, signed A.W. in the New York Evening Post". He is moving to Camden Hill and expects to be in the London Office for some years.

Autograph Letter Signed to John William Stuart, on the occasion of his brother Benjamin Whitworth's death.

Author: 
Robert Whitworth, philanthropist [Benjamin Whitworth (1816-1893), Liberal M.P. for Drogheda, Manchester cotton merchant; Whitby Lifeboat; temperance; Sunday observance]
Publication details: 
2 October 1893. 14 Brown Street, Manchester.
£95.00

8vo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Sixty-eight lines of text. Complete and legible, but damaged: grubby and creased, with short closed tears and small hole at gutter. Interesting and informative letter. Stuart's message of condolence on Benjamin Whitworth's death is one of many which 'have been very acceptable more especially to his widow who has been laid aside so long with bad health, his daughters have been quite worn out'. Describes how his brother's health 'began to break down after a slight attack of paralysis some two or three years ago when at John Brown & Co Ld.

Autograph Card Signed ('Joseph Hatton') to Edward Draper of Vincent Square.

Author: 
Joseph Hatton [Joseph Paul Christopher Hatton] (1841-1907), English novelist and journalist
Publication details: 
On the <Maille?>' [postmarked Nijmegen, 17 August 1895].
£35.00

Fourteen lines on the back of two-tone Dutch postcard, the front being tined light blue. Addressed to 'Edw Draper Esq, 3 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, England'. Aged and grubby, with two creases and slight traces of previous mount on front. Hatton's hand is difficult, but the note, addressed to 'My dear Friend', defending his use in a story of the following version of the celebrated quotation: 'When Greeks joined Greeks". Concludes 'You are right about the tinder box of course.'

Autograph Letter Signed (with accent: 'Hugh de Sélincourt') to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Hugh de Sélincourt [Hugh de Selincourt] (1878-1951), English journalist and author
Publication details: 
3 December [1916]; 12 Hill Road, St. John's Wood, N.W.
£35.00

4to: 1 p. Fourteen lines of text. Aged and worn, with closed tears along the fold lines, but with text clear and complete. He thanks his correspondent for the letter ('It is always a great delight to me to know that people like my work.') and gives details of where the 'little book I published on "Pride of Body" ' can be purchased. Ends with the details of his 'new novel "A Soldier of Life" ': 'I mention it, as you say it is difficult for you to get hold of books and I should like you to read it.'

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