LITERATURE

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent (a contributor to a periodical).

Author: 
William Beattie.
Publication details: 
13 Upper Berkeley St, Portman Square, Wednesday 7pm [no date].
£85.00

Writer and M.D. (DNB) Two pages, 12mo, good condition. "I return the proofs herwith. It is much improved by the Editorial Notes and will [?] in this moment in the M. & N. Gaz [ Naval & Military Gazette?] It was very kind of you to admit it so promptly - & I feel assured it will be much read in Paris. A note from the author (Paris 17th) says - "Several officers here in the main agreed with me (in conversation) & others have sincerely thanked me for opening their eyes.

Autograph Letter Signed to J. Marshall, Hull.

Author: 
Charles Mackay.
Publication details: 
64 Lincolns Inn Fields, 29 Jan. 1859.
£125.00

Poet and Journalist (DNB). Three pages, 8vo, evidence of having been laid down, minor damage not affecting text, ow good condition. "My terms for a [?] Lecture at Hull would be Ten guineas and my travelling expenses". He suggests an approximate date, and outlines the subjects of his lectures on offer: "1. Poetry and Song: - and the influence of songs upon the character & fortunes of nations. 2. The popular & national Songs of England 3. The popular & national Songs of Scotland." He gives reasons for advising the first.

Autograph Letter Signed to "J. Maclehose", publisher.

Author: 
Robert Buchanan.
Publication details: 
Chatsworth House, Great Malvern, 30 March 1874.
£60.00

Robert Williams Buchanan, Author (see Dictionary of National Biography). One page, 8vo, good condition, thanking his correspondent for a letter and a book (to come) which he will check, adding "Macmillan's edition was full of atrocious 'misprints', but I presume Mr Bell and Mr Nichol had read the proofs this time carefully?" In the Postscript he asks for "local help" for an edition of his collected poems just issued by King & Co.

Autograph Letter Signed to [Clement] Shorter.

Author: 
Arthur Anthony Baumann
Publication details: 
16 October 1918; on letterhead '44, HYDE PARK SQUARE. W.2.'
£30.00

English author (1856-1936). 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition. As Shorter has sent his letter to Baumann's home instead of to 'the office of the paper' it will be too late to insert it that week, 'as the paper was practically made up when I left this afternoon'. There are three letters dealing with Shorter's first letter in that week's issue. As Shorter may want to reply to them he is returning the letter, 'which otherwise will be published next week'. 'A letter should reach the office (10 King St. Covent Garden) not later than noon on Wednesday.' Signed 'Arthur A. Baumann'.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr Wilson'.

Author: 
George Ernest Manwaring
Publication details: 
18 November 1931; London Library, St. James's Square, S.W.1.
£30.00

1 page, 8vo. Grubby but in good condition. 'In case you have not already seen it, I beg to enclose you a leaflet relating to my new book. | I shall be grateful for any help that you can give it.' Signed 'G. E. Manwaring'. The book was 'My Friend the Admiral. The life, letters, and journals of Rear-Admiral James Burney' (Routledge, 1931).

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Pollock'

Author: 
Henry Thomas Mackenzie Bell
Publication details: 
12 May 1906; on letterhead 33 Carlton Road, Putney, S.W., deleted and repaced in manuscript by 11 Buckingham Gate S.W.
£35.00

Scottish writer (1856-1930), biographer of Christina Rossetti. 2 pages, 16mo. Somewhat grubby and stained, and with minor glue damage. He thanks her for her letter 'which indeed I appreciate. | I have just come to the above address - now my permanent one - after a year's residence in Madeira; and, just at present, am much occupied, but later, I shall hope to come to see your treasures, telling you beforehand.'

Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Edward Verrall Lucas
Publication details: 
26 February 1919; on compliments slip with letterhead '176, VICTORIA STREET. S.W.'
£20.00

English essayist and biographer of Charles Lamb (1868-1938). 1 page, dimensions approximately 4 inches by 6 inches. Somewhat grubby and creased. Reads 'Feb 26| 1919 | with E V Lucas's | compliments'.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Sewell'.

Author: 
Ronald Harwood
Publication details: 
21 June 1974; on letterhead of the Midland Hotel, Peter Street, Manchester.
£30.00

English playwright (born 1934). 1 page, 8vo. In good condition. He thanks his correspondent for 'your sweet first night telegram which was so much appreciated and so very welcome. | We have had our problems and crises but all seems now to be under control (touching wood, or any other object that protects the rash!) Please come and see it in London.' Signed 'R Harwood'.

Autograph Letter Signed by O'Conor to Mrs [J. M.] Patterson, Secretary to The Royal Society of Literature, regarding a reading of John Masefield's poems.

Author: 
Joseph O'Conor [John Masefield, Royals Society of Literature]
Publication details: 
No date (but post 1963?); 18 Melville Road, Barnes, S.W.13.
£65.00

Irish actor (1916-2001). 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition though creased along one edge. Accompanying this item are a typescript (1 page, 8vo, in good condition, annotated in ink) headed 'MASEFIELD READINGS', listing 13 items alternatively allocated to 'O'Conor' and 'Day Lewis', and two typewritten slips of paper listing some of the officers of the Royal Society of Literature, one of which has corrected details of the Don Carlos Coloma Memorial Lecture on the reverse. In the letter O'Conor complains that [Masefield's Collected Poems 'seem riddled with misprints'.

Typescript, with illustrations, of a children's tale entitled 'A story by patch'.

Author: 
Evaline May Brierly
Publication details: 
[circa 1949]; no place
£100.00

Typed on one side of 86 quarto leaves, the latter leaves paginated and ending with 86. In printed wraps neatly tied with blue ribbon. Somewhat dusty but in good condition overall. According to the British Library catalogue the story was published by Unity Products in 1949. Patch is a dog, and the first few leaves contain eleven charming illustrations his friends, including Scragg, Tatters and Madame Sing-Hi.

Typed Note Signed to Herbert M. Adler.

Author: 
Israel Zangwill.
Publication details: 
Far End, East Preston, Sussex, 12 July 1911.
£100.00

One page, 4to, sl. dusty and dulled, fold marks, but text clear and complete, as follows: "Dear Adler, I cannot remember whether "Lord of the World" was published for the first time in "Blind Children" or not, but at any rate it would be impossible for the pirates to know any more than I do. It is very probable also that I asked Funk and Wagnall's permission."

Autograph letter signed to an [W.H. Harrison, poet, editor of "Friendship's Offering", literary advisor to Ruskin]

Author: 
Thomas Miller.:
Publication details: 
31 Elliott's Row, St George's Road, Southwark, 22 May 1837
£250.00

Poet and novelist, basketmaker and bookseller (1807-1874). One page, 4to, one nick not affecting text, fold marks and signs of having been laid down, mainly good. He has made "few alterations in the Poem, which if you think an improvement, may be adopted. I am afraid that so much practise in writing prose is creeping into and tinging my poetry. I do not truly like this 'Desolate Hall' and yet I can do nothing better at present". He has had no review in the "Literary Gazette" as yet, and comments on the "mass of new books that every corner of the columns have been crowded . . . Mr.

autograph signature

Author: 
Winthrop Mackworth Praed
Publication details: 
two fragments of letter, both half an inch by three inches, Southampton, 6 November 1837
£20.00

English poet and essayist. On the first slip: 'Winthrop M. Praed'; on the second: 'Southampton November Six | 1837'. Both slips are discoloured from pasting in autograph album.

ALS, 1p, 16mo, to "My dear Harry"

Author: 
Captain George John Whyte-Melville (DNB), novelist and poet
Publication details: 
Shrove Tuesday [no year], <Roughton?>
£35.00

"No Bye day!" He saw Charles Payne the day before. "It is freezing here with Arctic severity & I tremble for Friday and Saturday". Signed "J W Melville". Mounted on a piece of card.

ANS, 1p, 16mo, to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
George Manville Fenn (DNB), Victorian novelist
Publication details: 
10 March 1900, Isleworth
£25.00

Difficult handwriting. "Dear Sir | I wish <?> good government and Peace [last word underlined three times] | Faithfully Yours | Geo Manville Fenn"

16mo fragment, in two pieces, of ALS to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
Alfred Noyes (DNB), English poet
Publication details: 
11 May 1932, Southwell St Lawrence
£20.00

The two pieces are attached on the reverse by gummed paper. The first is the head of the letter, giving place and date, and the second the conclusion, with Noyes' signature.

2 ANS to unnamed correspondents and one autograph address, "H. Cholmondeley <Parnell?> Esq. | The Admiralty"

Author: 
Charles Hamilton Aidé [Charles Hamilton Aide] (DNB), author and musician
Publication details: 
10 June 1889, Queen Anne's Mansion, and 1 July [no year], 68 Jermyn Street
£50.00

The 1889 note: "Let me know whether you care to publish poetry - I can send you 3 stanzas". The other note: "I regret much that I am already engaged to dinner on Tuesday. If it were probable that yr party sat late into the night I would gladly join you in the coffee state of yr festivities". Two items,

ANS, 1p, 8vo, to "- Phillips Esq."

Author: 
James Sheridan Knowles (DNB), dramatist
Publication details: 
No date, Rushy Green, Lewisham, Kent
£25.00

Asks correspondent to give the trunk to the bearer ("the Lewisham carrier") if it has arrived, "and I shall take the first opportunity of calling to settle the expense". Grubby and creased, with glue and paper from mounting on reverse of otherwise-blank second leaf.

Autograph Letter Signed to H.C. Bowen, American publisher and editor.

Author: 
Edward Clodd
Publication details: 
Tufnell Park, 6 June1878.
£45.00

Banker and writer (1840-1930). 2pp., 8vo, good. He is asking friends to his home for “chat and supper”, including Bowen.He gives minute directions how to get to his house in Tufnell Park.

Autograph phrases signed "William Sharp"

Author: 
William Sharp ("Fiona Macleod")
Publication details: 
n.d.
£100.00

n the 4to page (12 September, Sharp's birthday) extracted from "A Birthday Book designed by her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice" (1881). Sharp has written six Gaelic phrases with English translations E.g. "Mar a bha As it was/ Mar a tha As it is .......". . The book comprises one day to every page.The book has the bookplate of N. Hardy Wallis (see BLC).

Autograph letter not signed to The Editor of the Quarterly Review (Lockhart).

Author: 
Rev. Arthur Hudleston.
Publication details: 
11/02/33
£45.00

Two pages, 8vo, good condition. With a note identifying the writer who simply describes himself in his letter as "The Author of the accompanying volume of sermons" of which he asks the Editor to give an early notice. He offers the "accustomed remuneration [!] for this trouble through his publishers." He asks for the book to be returned to his publishers (Rivington) if no review is contemplated. N.B. Rivington published Hudleston's "Discourses on Religion and Morality".

Two manuscript poems about Fairies

Author: 
Rose Fyleman,
Publication details: 
01/07/17
£400.00

Children's writer. One page, sm. fol. Vestiges of hinges. Signed and dated by Fyleman. The Poems written in Fyleman's hand are: "I stood against the window" (2 verses, total 16 lines; and "Have you watched the Fairies?", 3 verses, total 9 lines.

Autograph letter signed to undeciphered addressee.

Author: 
Allan Cunningham
Publication details: 
16/06/27
£45.00

Scottish author (1784-1842). One page, 12mo, remnants of laying down, chipped, without loss of text. He is having to return a book which he had intended to review in an "Oxford Literary Journal" which "died a <> death some days ago".

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