ROCHDALE

[Admiral George Anson Byron, 7th Baron Byron of Rochdale, cousin and successor of the poet Lord Byron.] Autograph Signature ('Byron') on frank of letter to the Hon. Mrs Collingwood.

Author: 
George Anson Byron (1789-1868), 7th Baron Byron of Rochdale, Royal Navy admiral, and cousin of the poet Lord Byron, whom he succeeded to the title [Admiral Collingwood; Collingwood House, Kent]
Publication details: 
'Portsmouth December Seventh 1826', with frank of 8 December 1826.
£28.00

Frank on 7 x 13 cm panel cut from front of envelope. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on part of leaf from album, with the reverse carrying part of the frank to a letter from another unidentified individual, with free postmark from 1826. Byron's frank has the customary red-ink postmark at top right ('FREE | 8 DE 8 | 1826'), and is laid out by him in the customary fashion: 'Portsmouth December Seven | 1826 | The Honble. Mrs. Collingwood | Hawkhurst | Kent'. Byron's signature 'Byron.', at bottom left, is only underlined, and not enclosed within the two parallel lines as required.

[Isabella Petrie Mills, Manchester suffragist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Isabella Petrie-Mills') to 'Mr Matthews' of Rochdale, reminiscing about her family and discussing her health.

Author: 
Isabella Petrie Mills (b.c.1827; fl. 1916), suffragist, wife of the banker John Mills (1821-1896), President, Manchester Statistical Society; daughter of Rochdale engineer John Petrie (1792-1883)
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Coniston, Hale, Nr. Altrincham. 2 October 1916.
£120.00

In 1899 Mrs Mills published a biography of her husband, titled 'From Tinder Box to Larger Light'. See the references to her in Crawford, 'Women's Suffrage Movement' (2003), and Daley and Nolan, 'Suffrage and Beyond' (1994), the latter work containing a reference to a meeting with Frederick Douglass. Her father, as she states in this letter, was 'John Petrie of South St Rochdale' (Petrie (1792-1883) was a Belfast-born engineer). 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged.

[Lady Beatrice Rochdale and 'the Suffrage Cause'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Beatrice Rochdale') to 'Mr Armstrong' [radical journalist G. G. Armstrong] regarding the arrangements for a meeting he is giving on the question.

Author: 
Lady Beatrice Rochdale [Lady Beatrice Mary Kemp, Baroness Rochdale, née Egerton] (1871-1966), children's author and suffragist [George Gilbert Armstrong (1870-1945), radical journalist and politician]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Beechwood, Rochdale. 25 February [circa 1912].
£65.00

The wife of a Liberal MP and author of children's books, Lady Beatrice Rochdale 'spoke, helped at suffrage stalls, etc.; took part in processions' (see J. Vellacott, 'From Liberal to Labour with Women's Suffrage', 1993). 2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. She notes that Armstrong has 'kindly promised to speak at a meeting here on the 6th. of March for the Suffrage Cause', and invites him to 'a meal here either before or after meeting'. She wonders whether it might 'be a help if I sent you back in the Motor'. The letter ends: 'I am afraid we shall not have a very large meeting'.

[ Benjamin Brierley, Lancastrian poet and novelist. ] Home Memories, and Recollections of a Life. [ With 'In Memoriam Poems' by John L. Owen, William Charlton, Jennie Heywood, J. Gee and Charles C. Hall. ]

Author: 
Ben Brierley, Author of "Tales and Sketches of Lancashire Life," &c. [ Benjamin Brierley (1825-1896); John L. Owen, Bowdon; William Charlton, Hulme; Jennie Heywood, Rochdale; J. Gee, Manchester ]
Publication details: 
Manchester: Abel Heywood & Son, 56 & 58, Oldham Street, London; Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., Stationers' Hall Court. [ 1886 or 1887. ]
£50.00

Viii + 99 + [1]pp., 12mo. In Victorian half-binding, with dark-green calf spine and corners, and brown marbled boards. The original yellow card front cover has been bound in with the volume. It carries the price (one shilling), title, publication details, and a portrait of Brierley, and is headed 'AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH', The volume contains no library markings whatsoever, but the front pastedown carries a pink printed notice of the 'Rules of the Library' of the Bury District Co-operative Society Ltd.

[ Napoleon Bonaparte. ] Autograph Letter Signed from 'J Thompson | late Capt. 4th East York L[ocal]. M[ilitia].', presenting John Crossley of Scaitcliffe with 'Bonaparte's Star of the Legion of Honour'.

Author: 
Captain J. Thompson, 'late Capt. 4th East York L[ocal]. M[ilitia].' [ John Crossley of Scaitcliffe, near Rochdale, Lancashire; Napoleon Bonaparte ]
Publication details: 
Manchester. 12 December 1822.
£220.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The reverse of the second leaf, with seal in black wax, is addressed to 'Capt Crossley | &c &c &c | O L M', and the foot of the letter to 'John Crossley Esqre | Capt: Oldham L: M:' (Crossley, the commanding officer of the Oldham Regiment of Local Militia, built up a notable collection of military memorabilia, which was dispersed after his death.) The letter begins: 'With this you will receive the interesting little "Bijou" - Bonaparte's Star of the Legion of Honour for which I beg a place in your curious Collection.

[ The Crossley Collection. ] Autograph Letter Signed from 'Thos Hampson', presenting John Crossley of Rochdale with a snuff box made by 'the French prisoners confined in this country during the late war'.

Author: 
[ John Crossley of Scaitcliffe, near Rochdale, Lancashire, collector; Napoleonic Wars ] Thomas Hampson of Rochdale
Publication details: 
Drake Street, Rochdale. 14 October 1822.
£45.00

1p., folio. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged with strip from stub adhering to one edge. Addressed on reverse of second leaf 'To | John Crossley Esqr. | Rochdale.' Crossley, the commanding officer of the Oldham Regiment of Local Militia, built up a notable collection of military memorabilia, which was dispersed after his death.

[ Sir Ashton Lever, natural history collector. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Ashton Lever') to 'Mr. Harrop', regarding a plan to send 'a Cargo of Potatoes' to 'our brave friends at Gibraltar'.

Author: 
Sir Ashton Lever (1729-1788) of Alkrington Hall, Rochdale, Lancashire, natural history collector [ The Great Siege of Gibraltar, 1779-1783 ]
Publication details: 
'Alkrington' [ Alkrington Hall, Rochdale, Lancashire ]. 20 October 1782.
£200.00

1p., landscape 8vo. On aged and worn paper, with a couple of light ink stains. A small cutting carrying a biography of Lever is laid down at bottom left. His 'intention relative to sending a Cargo of Potatoes to our brave friends at Gibraltar' has not met with the support he expected, so he is forced to 'give up the plan, the Subscription being no way adequate to the expence that would attend'. He asks Harrop to insert the list of subscribers in his newspaper, and to 'return those Gentlemen their Subscription with my best Compliments'.

[ Printed item. ] The Directory of Second-hand Booksellers and List of Public Libraries, British and Foreign. Edited by James Clegg.

Author: 
James Clegg [ (b.1843) publisher, proprietor of the Aldine Press, Rochdale ]
Publication details: 
'Second Edition'.Rochdale: Printed and Published by James Clegg, Wet Rake. London:Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.C. [ also New York, Paris and Leipzig ] 1888.
£120.00

[3] + viii + 112 + 51pp., 4to. Internally fair, on lightly-aged paper, in binding with heavily-damaged leather spine and worn green cloth covers. The author states that the volume is the second edition in his preface, 'the First having been published by the late Arthur Gyles, in 1886'. The object 'is primarily to supply a work of convenient size for the use of Second-hand Booksellers, which may facilitate intercourse with their confreres in our own and other countries'. Three pages of advertisements at front, and a further fifty-one at rear.

[The Rochdale Canal Company.] Nine Letters to Ralph Shuttleworth, Rochdale attorney and company treasurer, and one printed form to his successor John Crossley. Including Autograph Letters Signed from Samuel Greg, John Bill and William Bilsbarrow.

Author: 
[The Rochdale Canal Company; John Bill, Farley Hall; William Bilsborrow, Haslingden; Samuel Greg, Rochdale; Thomas Marriott, Stockport; John Robert Ogden, Bradford; N. & F. Phillipps, Manchester]
Publication details: 
The nine letters to Shuttleworth, 1800-1802, from: Farley Hall, Staffordshire; Haslingden; Halifax; Bradford; Coventry; Rochdale; Great Fenton. The letter to Crossley from Manchester in 1813.
£250.00

The Rochdale Canal was conceived in 1776, and despite opposition from mill owners fearing a disruption to their water supply, began construction following the passing of an act of parliament in 1794. On completion (it was officially opened in 1804), and until the railway age, it constituted the main commercial route between Yorkshire and Lancashire. The present small collection provides an interesting sidelight into the legal and financial difficulties involved in the project, with several reference reflecting badly on Shuttleworth's professional capabilities.

[Pamphlet.] Decentralization and Local Education Authorities. An Address delivered at the Church Congress, Shrewsbury, October, 1896.

Author: 
The Ven. J. M. Wilson, M.A., Vicar of Rochdale; and Archdeacon of Manchester.
Publication details: 
Reprinted from the Official Report of the Church Congress by Bemrose and Sons, Limited, Derby; and London. [1896.]
£60.00

5pp., 12mo. Unbound. With stamp, shelfmark and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library, otherwise in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Scarce: no copy at the British Library or on COPAC.

Part of letter ('Ju: Milbank') from Lord Byron's mother-in-law the Hon. Lady Judith Milbanke, requesting the recipient's support for her husband in 'the approaching Election for the County of Durham'.

Publication details: 
Seaham. 27 October 1806.
£120.00

Lower part of letter with ruled border, laid down on part of leaf from autograph album. Dimensions: 7.5 x 18.5 cm. Lightly aged and ruckled. Reads: '<...> your support at the approaching Election for the County of Durham - having for so long possessed the confidence of this County, it is his utmost ambition to have it continued and should he be honoured with yours, it will be considered the highest obligation | I am Sir | Your faithful Servant | [signed] Ju: Milbank | Seaham | Octr: 27. 1806.' Contemporary ink note reads: '[Lady Milbanke afterwards Lady Noel Milbanke, mother of Lady Byron.]'

Holograph document by John Roby, consisting of a ballad from his 'forthcoming "Traditions of Lancashire"', beginning with the line 'Maiden, braid those tresses bright', preceded by an Autograph Note Signed ('Jn Roby') by Roby, for Mrs. Thelwall.

Author: 
John Roby (1793-1850), English banker, poet and author, best-known for his 'Traditions of Lancashire' (1829) [Henrietta Cecil Thelwall, wife of the noted radical John Thelwall (1764-1834)]
Publication details: 
The document dated 'Rochdale 11th. December 1828'.
£450.00

4pp., 4to. On two loose leaves of Whatman paper, each watermarked 1827. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The document begins with the following note, dated and signed by Roby: 'The following ballad from my forthcoming "Traditions of Lancashire," though not of much value in itself, may yet acquire some, from its connexion with, and introduction into Mrs. Thelwall's elegant volume of Scraps.' (The implication that the two leaves have been removed from Mrs Thelwall's album is supported by pagination from 12 to 15.) Sixty-four lines, divided into sixteen four-line stanzas.

Autograph Letter Signed, in French, to Monsieur Van Santen.

Author: 
William Roberts (1767-1849), editor of the 'British Review'
Publication details: 
Without date or place [but before 1811?].
£38.00

One page, 12mo. Very good. He presents his correspondent with 'deux petits ouvrages sortis de ma plume'. The first was mentioned by 'Mr. Burgess' and the second is 'un petit traite qui a eu le bonheur il y a quelques ans de remporter le prix annuel dans l'Universite d'Oxford'. Signed 'Willm. Roberts'. In a postscript asks to be recommended to any acquaintances Van Santen may have 'a Rotterdam Anvers ou Bruxelles'. Address, with broken wafer, on second leaf of bifolium. Roberts is perhaps best remembered for the controversy brought on by a passage in Byron's 'Don Juan'.

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