LENDING

4pp, 16mo. Bifolium of grey paper, with letterhead printed in red. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded three times. The recipient is undoubtedly Elizabeth Missing Sewell or a member of her family, and the letter begins: 'My dear Miss Sewell, | I wish you could have accomplished giving us a day, hoping you might have found me in more lively and sensible trim than when you were here, when I had a headache just enough to make me stupid.' She is going to post her Roscoe's 'William I', which she got 'from the L[ending] Library'.

Two pages, 12mo, sl. soiled, mainly good condition. "If you ever require an immediate loan from a genuine private service will you favor me with a call or letter? | The capital can remain as long as interest at £5 per cent per an[nu]m is paid. Temporary advances in a few hours - No preliminary fees or charges of any sort." Note: The names "Edgar Francis" and "Edgar Francis Rutter" are both listed (in separate directories published 1893) at the above address.

"Privately Printed for Distribution". Pamphlet, xiii.110pp., 8vo, with detached folding plan (described below), disbound, library marks and some foxing on title page, good condition. Label on verso of title "Presented by James Hibbert Alderman of the Borough of Preston"; Preface (the origins and purpose of the pamphlet); Contents; Report to the Free Library Committee of a scheme for the foundation of a free public library [...]"; Corrections.

Four pages, 4to, unbound as issued, closed tears along fold marks, some foxing, text clear and complete. Form, "Proposal for Advance", partly filled in by Samuel John Smith, Gordon Cottages Cifton [sic] Road St Albans Herts", "Signalman on the Midland Railway". Other questions to answer include Amount required, For How Long and How proposed to be paid (the answer to this has been excised). Fee of £1.1.0 with application. Terms stated (eg regularity of payments).

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper. The heading reads (with manuscript additions in square brackets): 'No. [358] | LUTTERWORTH | New Book Society, | 1839-40. | To be kept [7] Days. | Ordered by [Mr G. Bottrill] | Price [6/-].' Three columns follow, headed 'When sent', 'To whom sent' and 'When returned'. The middle column contains the printed names of 31 male individuals, from 'Mr. C. Burdett' to 'Mr. Stiles', with the addition of one manuscript name. Dates are written in manuscript in the first and third column. At foot of leaf: 'N.B.

12mo, 48 pp. Disbound. Incomplete, ending at foot of page 48 with 'Wilson's (H. C.) Pastorals of the Season, 8vo. [1]834', and lacking the 'Regulations of the Library [...] printed at the end of the Catalogue', advertised on p.3. On lightly aged paper, with the only fault a small hole through the title leaf removing the first five letters of the word 'Belgrave' on the recto, and the 'atal' in 'Catalogue' on the verso. Scarce: no copy in the British Library or on COPAC or WorldCat.

12mo, 10 + 67 pp. In original purple morroco binding, with 'PRESENTED TO | T. E. HARRISON, ESQ., | VICE-PRESIDENT.' stamped on the front cover in gilt. A tight copy, in fair condition, on aged paper, with front endpapers sprung, and in a worn binding. Vignette woodcut on title-page, showing man working beside track as locomotive goes past.

The subscription Liverpool Library within the Lyceum, founded in 1757, is believed to have been the first circulating or lending library in Europe, and the first two of these items provide a valuable insight into its status at the time when the advent of the public library system was undermining its position.

12mo, 12 pp. In original light-blue printed wraps. Stapled. Text clear and complete. On aged paper with slight damage from rusting of staple, and a little wear and loss to the corners of the wraps. 202 titles, nicely printed. Excessively scarce: no copy in the British Library or on COPAC.

Two pages, on the versos of a 4to bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Concerning the proposed 'establishment of a Club' within the Library, and concluding 'Generally we are of opinion that the above scheme is the best that can be suggested for upholding both institutions - the Library and the Club. The proposed agreement (i) may appear at first sight to entail a loss on the Library, but the loss it would suffer from the establishment of a Club outside would probably be far heavier, [...]'. Signed in type by Major-General F. Carrington; W. H. Rathborne; Stephen H.

Gatty's annotations are of interest, considering his legal standing in Gibraltar, and his position as one of the Library's committee members. One: 'Report'. Two pages on the versos of a 4to bifolium. Very good on lightly-aged paper. Concerning the proposed 'establishment of a Club' within the Library, and concluding 'Generally we are of opinion that the above scheme is the best that can be suggested for upholding both institutions - the Library and the Club.

12mo, 1 p. In a bifolium, addressed and docketed on the reverse of the second leaf, to which the red wax seal adheres, in good condition with a clear impression of Agar-Ellis's monogram. Fair, on aged and grubby paper. If Jerdan has 'quite done' with Agar-Ellis's copy of 'G<?>'s improvements of London' asks if he will allow Agar-Ellis's 'messanger' to return it. 'If however you still wish to keep it, pray do.' Agar-Ellis has 'promised to lend it to Sir H Halford'.

WITH: "The Rate for the Reading. An Appeal to Parliament from Authors and Publishers Prepared by A.P. Herbert". Pamphlet, 60pp., 8vo, illus. wraps, very good condition. ENCLOSED: Pamphlet, 8pp., 8vo, "The Arts Council and Public Lending Right" (Jan. 1968), folded but good condition AND, a brief TLS from A.P. Herbert, "Alan", to Stephen Tumin, 26 Feb. 1968, saying "I meant to show you this before. This is at least a visible fruit of old scire facias." A.P. Herbert was the most prominent and active of campaigners for Public Lending Right.