POSTMASTER

[ Maurice O'Connell, Irish politician. ] Two Autograph Letters, the first signed and the second in the third person, to the Postmaster General the Earl of Lichfield, recommending individuals for employment in the Post Office.

Author: 
Maurice O'Connell (c.1801-1853), Irish politician, Member of Parliament for Tralee 1832-1837 and 1838-1853, son of Daniel O'Connell ('The Liberator') [ Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield (1795-1854)]
Publication details: 
Both from 16 Pall Mall, London. June 1838 and June 1840.
£100.00

The two letters are in fair condition, lightly aged and soiled. ONE: 'Friday' (docketed date June 1838). 2pp., 12mo. Applying for 'the Post of Guard to Any of the Roads', on behalf of 'James Poyntz of Tralee'. On the reverse Lichfield has written 'sorry cannot'. TWO: 'Friday' (docketed date 19 June 1840). 2pp., 12mo. 'Mr Maurice O'Connell presents his Compliments to Lord Lichfield and begs to recommend bearer John Keating for employment as a Letter Carrier - Mr M O'C will feel much obliged by Keating's appointment'. Docketed by Lichfield on reverse: 'a test - but negligible chance'.

[ Morgan John O'Connell, Member of Parliament for Kerry. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('M. J: O'Connell') to the Postmaster General the Earl of Lichfield

Author: 
Morgan John O'Connell (1811-1875), Irish politician, Member of Parliament for Kerry, 1835-1852, half-brother of Daniel O'Connell ('The Liberator') [ Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield (1795-1854) ]
Publication details: 
14 Manchester Buildings, Westminster. 15 May 1840.
£50.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Recommending for employment in the Post Office 'Mr. Paul Scollard, who is a young man of most respectable connexions, but whose circumstances are such as to render a very humble situation an object to him - If a vacancy should soon occur in the Letter Carrying Department, I would respectfully solicit the appointment from Your Lordship for him'.

[ Sir Andrew Halliday, Scottish physician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Andrew Halliday') to the Postmaster General the Duke of Manchester, giving details of his investigation into 'some system of individual plunder' involving franks.

Author: 
Sir Andrew Halliday (1782-1839), Scottish physician [ William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (1771-1843), Governor of Jamaica, Postmaster General; Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour (1791-1851) ]
Publication details: 
Hampton Court. 27 June 1829.
£220.00

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Docketed crosswise across the valediction, including the signature, but not in an overly-obtrusive fashion. An interesting letter, casting light on the franking system and fraud within the pre-Hill Post Office.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Dungannon') from Arthur Hill-Trevor, 2nd Viscount Dungannon, to an unnamed individual [his agent?], directing him to arrange for the forwarding of letters from Oxford to London.

Author: 
Arthur Hill-Trevor, 2nd Viscount Dungannon (1763-1837) [Post Office; postal history]
Publication details: 
7 Hertford Street, London. 4 December 1827.
£40.00

On one side of piece of paper trimmed down to roughly 15 x 18 cm. On aged paper, with wear and loss to corners and extremities caused by removal from a mount. He writes: 'Sir, | I should feel extremely obliged if you cou'd take out of the Post Office two Letters, directed to me at Oxford, as I unexpectedly arrived today in town - | I remain | Sir | Sincly. Yrs. | [signed] Dungannon | 7. Hertford St | 4th. Decbr. 1827'. The signature is complete, but being placed in a corner, is close to an area of wear. Docketed on the reverse in an unknown hand: 'recd.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Nathl.. Greene') from the American newspaper editor Nathaniel Greene to W. Chamberlain junior, with reference to the Swedish Consul Claudius Edward Habicht. With engraved portrait.

Author: 
Nathaniel Greene (1797-1877), journalist and editor associated with Concord Gazette, New Hampshire Gazette, Haverhill Gazette, Essex Patriot, and Statesman [W. Chamberlain; Claudius Edward Habicht]
Publication details: 
Boston; 17 November 1840.
£90.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Greene writes that he is returning Chamberlain's 'Copenhagen letter, together with a translation from the pen of C. E. Hablicht Esq. Swedish Consul at this port', to whom he 'applied for the purpose'. He has 'every disposition to be useful on all similar occasions'. The engraving of Greene, beneath which is a facsimile of his signature, and the words 'Postmaster Boston Mass.', is in good condition, lightly and neatly attached onto a paper mount. Greene was himself also a translator, from German, Italian and French.

Five items relating to Horton's application for permission to operate a wireless telegraph, including his 'Licence to establish wireless telegraphy station for experiments in wireless telegraphy'.

Author: 
John Laurence Horton (1915-1997), British analytical chemist and radio ham [Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1904-1926; Post Office Telegrams; Postmaster General; General Post Office]
Publication details: 
All 1939.
£120.00

All five items in good condition, with a little rust spotting from a staple. A little wear to the edge of item two, not affecting text. Four of the five stamped with Horton's call sign '2AHN'. Item One: a printed leaflet (4to, 2 pp), dated GENERAL POST OFFICE, | London | March, 1939.', headed 'B | EXPERIMENTS IN WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY | [...] | AUTHORITY FOR SENDING AND RECEIVING | SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS OF ISSUE | NOTE. - All sending stations must also be equipped for reception'. Item Two: Typewritten copy of Horton's 'Application for Experimental Licence 25th.

Autograph Letter Signed to Dr [?] Dewar.

Author: 
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair
Publication details: 
17 November 1873; on blue blindstamped letterhead of the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, S.W.
£75.00

Victorian chemist and politician who presided over a government enquiry into the working of the civil service known as the Playfair Scheme. 2 pages, 8vo, in good condition though creased, and with remains of blank conjugate leaf adhering to large sheet of blank paper. 'My dear Dr Dewar | Many thanks for your kind congratulations. I am not yet in Office [of Postmaster General, to which he was elected in this year] - not I believe for ten days more, so I am unable to do more than send your letter to the Secy. The former P[ost]. M[aster]. G[eneral]. still rules.'

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