LANGUAGE

An interesting letter, in which Johnson discusses her writing practice. See her entry and that of her husband in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. 2pp, 12mo. 27 lines of text. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight rust spotting from a paperclip. Folded twice for postage. On the topic of ‘Madame de Charlus’, one of the ‘Six Proust Reconstructions’ - plays by Johnson inspired by the work of Marcel Proust - just broadcast on the BBC Third Programme, she thanks him for his ‘most kind & pleasing letter’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Signed ‘Randoph S. Churchill. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. After apologising for the delayed response he administers an effective put-down: ‘I do not pretend to be an expert in these mattes, but I have never heard the word EQUALITARIAN used in ordinary talk. EGALITARIAN, on the other hand, I have heard used by a wide variety of people who speak good English, including Sir Winston Churchill.

See his entry by Ruari Maclean in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. With Bentley’s distinctive stylized signature ‘Nicolas Bentley’. After thanking him for his letter he writes (apparently with reference to a newspaper article): ‘I am sorry if in using the phrase “I am afraid” I ruffled your grammatical sensibilities. I used it because I meant it.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with a crease, dogeared corner and small nick. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘Michael Sadleir’. He is grateful to Collins ‘for pointing out the careless grammatical mistake of mine in the SUNDAY TIMES review. It is only too easy to slip into a conversational style (for I think that what I meant was perfectly clear) when writing rapid condensations for a newspaper.

The third letter gives an excellent indication of Birkett’s pride in his use of language. See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. All three signed ‘Norman Birkett’. In fair condition, lightly aged and little grubby. The first letter with a small hole to one corner, and the two leaves of the last letter held together with a pin. ONE: ALS, 9 July 1953. 1pp, 4to. He is adding Collins’s book to his ‘select library on “words”’.

See his long entry in the Oxford DNB. On one side of a 12.5 x 6.5 cm piece of laid paper, embossed with a tax stamp. In fair condition, lightly aged and discoloured. Very neatly written and set out: ‘Jan 31 . 1794 / No. 370. / Received of Wm. Phillips / fourteen shillings for the third volume of / EPEA PTEROENTA, or, The Diversions / of Purley. John Horne Tooke / £2. 2. 0’. See Image,

20pp., 4to. Stapled into card wraps printed in blue and red. In fair condition, aged and worn, with vertical crease and rusted staples. The front inside wrap carries an 'Introductory Note' (including the claim: 'Half-an-hour's daily practice will produce material results in a very short time.') Labels and stamp of the Board of Education Library. The cover is illustrated with an engraving of two hands emerging from mountains and icebergs and shaking across the waters, above which are the Union Flag and two ensigns (Australia and Canada?), captioned 'Semper Fidelis'.

1p., 12mo. Aged and grubby. A convincing facsimile, sent with 'a copy of the title page, the authors preface, a few explanatory remarks and a list of chief subscribers', in the hope that the recipient 'may be induced to become a subscriber' and mention the work 'to any one likely to take an interest in the subject'. No other copy traced.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, somewhat aged and worn. The letter reads: 'My dear friend | On examining your plates of symbols I find no perceptible [corrected from 'practicable'] difference between Nos 154 & 155; although the former is described as a dog and the latter as a hairy shaggy dog. Is the fact so? Excuse the freedom of yours | very sincerely | Thos. Fisher'. Fisher's letter may be connected with Robert Morrison's 'Dictionary of the Chinese Language' (1815-1823), which has a symbol for 'A hairy, shaggy dog.'

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.

[Tite continued] Papers read at the Meeting of the Simplified Spelling Society at the Conference of Educationla Asociations 3rd January 1925]. Pamphlet, 24p., 8vo, printed paper wraps, dulled/sunned, stapled sl. rusted, ow good condition. Chairman Reginald Macan, input from various people inc. Percy Simpson. Two copies recorded (at Leeds and Birmingham).

'La Vagabondo' (The Tramp) was the organ of 'La Esperantista Vagabonda Klubo', founded and edited by the artist Caroline Oxenford. Having previously been named 'La Vagabonda Monatajo' (January to March 1908) and 'La Vagabondisto' (April to July 1908), it became 'La Vagabondo' from September 1908. The First World War put an end to both club and magazine. The four issues are in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Uniform in design, and each 12pp., 4to. (although the last number is slightly taller), in printed wraps carrying advertisements. The three numbers from '2-a Serio' (all by 'W. G.

Two good tight copies, on lightly aged paper, in worn original bindings with gilt decorations on front covers, with engravings on browning paper because of high acidity content. Both volumes with bookplate of Alan Angele and manuscript library shelf label. ONE: 'The Comic Latin Grammar'. 163 + [3]pp., 8vo. Eight engravings and numerous illustrations in text (the first engraving is positioned as frontispiece rather than at p.23 as specified).

The three items in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Booklet: [2] + iv + 29 + [2]pp., 8vo. With fold-out table at front. Nicely printed in green paper wraps with white label printed in red and black. According to the colophon 'The type is 14 point Monotype Bembo 270 augmented by 7 newly designd characters engraved by Ludlow Ltd Hertford | About 100 copies impressed on Archive Text paper in September 1989'.

16pp., 8vo. Including full-page facsimile 'Specimen of Impromptu Conversation' and of 'the plan, recommended by George Dalgarno, of writing the alphabet upon a glove'. In grey card wraps. In good condition, on aged paper, with label and stamp of the Science & Art Department of the Educational Library on the front cover. In tasteful modern grey paper wraps with white printed label on front. No copies of this third edition on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat (but a total of fourteen copies of the first edition).

32pp., 8vo. Includes seven full-page charts. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, in worn and aged light-brown printed wraps. With shelfmarks, stamp and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. A total of eight copies located on OCLC WorldCat and COPAC, with the only copy in British libraries at the British Library.

68pp., 12mo. In grey printed wraps. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with shelfmark, stamp and labels of the Education Department Reference Library, London. Scarce.

36pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with historic repairs to last leaf, and slight damage to spine from disbinding. Printed grey front wrap only. With stamp and label of the Educational Library, Science & Art Department, London. An attractive production, with numerous illustrations including several sign-language alphabets. Scarce: no copy on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

[2] + 16 + [2] pp., 12mo. Stitched, in pink printed wraps. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With stamp, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. Three lines deleted on p.14. Uncommon: a total of six copies found on COPAC and OCLC WorldCat, none of them in North America.

[1] + 4pp., 12mo. In yellow printed wraps. In good condition, lightly-aged. With stamp, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. Full subtitle: 'Extracts from a letter to a parent requesting information relative to the prevailing methods of teaching the English language to Deaf-Mutes in America, by Joseph C. Gordon, M.A., Ph.D., Superintendent of the Illinois Institution for the Education of the Deaf. Author of "Education of the Deaf," "Hints to Parents," etc.' Uncommon.

Both items are excessively scarce: with no copy of either in the British Library, on COPAC or WorldCat. Both of the present copies carry the stamps, labels and shelfmarks of the Board of Education Library. ONE: Drophead title: 'The Welsh Language in Relation to Education in Wales. | A paper read at the London Church Congress, on Oct. 11th, 1899, by S. PRYCE, M.A., Dean of St. Asaph, and examining Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of St. David's; (formerly one of H.M. Inspectors of Schools).' 8pp., 12mo. In manuscript at head of first page: 'With the Dean of St Asaph's compliments'. Stitched.

The six items are in excellent condition, on lightly-aged paper. None of the forms have been filled in. From the Board of Education Reference Library, but with no indications of the fact. ONE: An 'enlarged copy of the front of the Occupier's Schedule' (so described in Item Five below), headed 'CENSUS OF ENGLAND AND WALES, 1911.' Printed in March 1911 by Eyre & Spottiswoode ('3/11. E. & S.'), on one side of a piece of 68 x 86 cm. paper.

Offprint, "Transactions of the American Philosophical Society", vol.iv, New Series, brown paper wraps, 48pp., 4to, two one-word corrections in Hodgson's hand, some foxing, marginal chipping of page edges, fair. INSCRIBED "To President Adams | With the hommage | of W B Hodgson". Note: Hodgson served in the State Department through the influence of Henry Clay who, when secretary of state in Adams's administration, "assigned Hodgson to the Barbary States . . ."

12mo, 16 pp. Unpaginated. Unbound and unstitched. Stabbed as issued. Fair, on lightly aged and worn paper. Extensive descriptions of 62 items, from 'The Mother's Manual; or Illustrations of Matrimonial Economy' to 'History of Russia, and of Peter the Great. By General Count Philip de Segur'. Five items 'In the Press' on the last page. Scarce: no copy in the British Library or on COPAC.

Letter: 12mo, 1 p. On bifolium. Text clear and complete. On aged and ruckled paper. Slight damage to second leaf caused by breaking open of wafer. Addressed to 'Illustrissimo Signore'. Having 'un affare di qualche importanza alle nove', he would like to give Twining his lesson (presumably in Italian) the following morning at 8 o'clock. He hopes that coming half an hour early does not cause any inconvence. Receipt: on one side of a slip of paper, 7 x 19.5 cm. Headed 'Memorandum del Signor Twining'. For '18 Lezioni la prima delle quali fa data li 15 Novembee', and signed 'Galignani'.

4to: 48 + [3] pp of letterpress, with additional leaf after title of 'Errata of Letter Press' and 'Errata in Plates'. Twenty numbered plates (the first two transposed), including one fold-out, and a final seventeen full-page unnumbered plates ('Examples'). Apparently complete. In original brown quarter binding, with cloth spine and paper boards. Ownership inscription of 'Lady Rolle' (1796-1885, born Louisa Barbara Trefusis) on front board. Text clear and complete. On aged and lightly-spotted paper, with wear to extremities and wraps, and cloth spine torn and worn.

12mo: [xii] + xxiv + 76 pp. In original red cloth boards, with 'FLORES POETARUM BRITANNICORUM.' stamped in gilt on front board. Lightly aged and foxed, in slightly grubby binding, but good and tight. A few marginal notes in a contemporary hand.

Both letters two pages, quarto. LETTER ONE (annotated in ink with some ink marks in the blank space beneath Goold's signature): Written at the point at which Goold was relinquishing the University College Latin Chair to return to Yale. 'I told you I should be visiting Yale this autumn; and now I have to tell you that I shall be going on to Stanford after Christmas till March. Still, if I shan't have the pleasure of coming in occassionally to the bookshop, it probably means that I shall be ordering more books from you!' Orders a couple of copies of Austin's 'Aeneid'.

(1864-1947). Chemist, Director of the International Institute Examinations Enquiry, and first Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka. One page, folio. Very good. Marked 'Personal' and bearing the Society's stamp. He is sorry Menzies has been ill and hopes 'the cure is radical and that you will soon be quite all right again.