SALE

[Dumas fils: Alexandre Dumas the younger, French novelist and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed [to a prospective agent?] with regard to the sale of paintings in his Paris house.

Author: 
Dumas fils: Alexandre Dumas the younger (1824-1895), French novelist and playwright, author of ‘La Dame aux Camélias’, on which Giuseppe Verdi based his opera ‘La traviata’
Publication details: 
[1883.] On letterhead of Salneuve par Montcresson (Loiret).
£250.00

An interesting item occupying the zone in which French connoisseurship and literature overlap. In 1880 - three years before the present item - Maurice Mauris (Marchese di Calenzano) described a visit to Dumas fils’s Paris house in Rue de Villers. ‘The walls above the library are enriched with a priceless collection of paintings, modern and antique. Diaz, Fortuny, Marchal, Vernet, Delacroix are there seen at their best. Dumas generally presents himself with a new painting after he has presented a new book to the public.

[Sir Walter Gibbons, theatre impressario who built the London Palladium.] Auction catalogue of his effects, with a bookseller’s bids in pencil: ‘A Catalogue of the Contents of Kensington House, Bayswater, W.2’

Author: 
Sir Walter Gibbons (1871-1933), theatre impressario, founder of the London Palladium and owner of around forty music halls [Kensington House, Bayswater; Knight, Frank & Rutley; auction catalogue]
Publication details: 
10 to 13 March 1931. Knight, Frank & Rutley, 20 Hanover Square, London, W.1. Printed by J. Davy & Sos, Ltd., 8-9 Frith Street, London.
£180.00

As the Great Depression hit Gibbons found himself over-extended, and was forced into bankruptcy. The present item is scarce. The only copy on JISC is at the Paul Mellon Centre Library. 68pp, 8vo. In grey printed wraps, and with purchase slip tipped in. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. At head of title-page: ‘By Direction of Lieut.-Col. SIR WALTER GIBBONS, K.B.E., D.L. Following the Sale of the Freehold, and the proposed conversion of the Property into high-class Residential Flats.’ ‘Conditions of Sale’ on reverse of title. 974 lots.

[Thomas Davies, bookseller; Boswell & Johnson; Thomas Cadell] Autograph Letter Signed Thos Davies to Unnamed correspondent (Thomas Cadell, publisher? see below), unwilling to participate in an auction including books in quires.

Author: 
Thomas Davies, bookseller (1713-1785}
Publication details: 
[1784?]
£450.00

One page, 12mo, laid down on l. larger stiff paper, some staining but text clear and complete. I would willingly be of service to Mrs Evans & attend the sale; but I wish not to buy books in quires - I am besides so very deaf that it is a pain to me to be in company - | Mrs Evans & you may depend upon my doing what little service is in my power when y[ou]r bound stock is sold [...] | P.S. I am delighted greatly with y[ou]r Travels ['Voyages' excised] of Mr. Coxe - He is a most accomplished Gentleman & I am sure has a most excellent heart..

[Lord Coleridge, jurist and Liberal politician.] Autograph Letter Signed, lamenting that the recipient ‘Dickenson’ is having to sell his library, discussing his own and the love of books, their friendship and his Devon home.

Author: 
Lord Coleridge [John Duke Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge] (1820-1894), jurist and Liberal politician; Solicitor General, Attorney General, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Chief Justice
Publication details: 
[?] 1886; 1 Sussex Square, on the letterhead of the Royal Courts of Justice.
£65.00

An evocative artefact of a bygone age of well-read men with substantial libraries. See Coleridge’s entry in the Oxford DNB (in addition to his achievements he was the great-nephew of the poet). 3pp, 12mo. On a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Signed ‘Coleridge’ and addressed to ‘My dear Dickenson’. Coleridge’s hand is not an easy one, and the following rendition is in parts tentative. He begins by stating that he is touched ‘not a little’ by Dickenson’s letter, not having forgotten ‘old days in Harley Street & [St George’s?] Square’. He grieves at ‘the necessity you mention [i.e.

[Arnold Henry Savage Landor, painter, explorer, writer, etc.] Autograph Letter Signed ('A H Savage Landor') to Stephen Wheeler, ed. of the poems of Walter Savage Landor.re 'the papers which are to be disposed of at the Browning's Sale'.

Author: 
Arnold Henry Savage Landor (1865-1924), painter, explorer, writer, and anthropologist, grandson of the poet Walter Savage Landor
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Savoy Hotel, London. 29 April 1913.
£75.00

2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. In envelope with stamps and postmarks, addressed by Landor to 'Stephen Wheeler Esq | Oriental Club | Hanover Square | W.' He begins by acknowledging his letter, adding: 'I am quite of your opinion regarding the papers which are to be disposed of at the Browning's [sic] Sale'. Landor will 'try to get some of the autographs', but suspects that they 'may go too high'. He would have great pleasure in seeing Wheeler should he be 'in this neighbourhood', and gives details of when he will be at home.

[ George Allen, London publisher and associate of John Ruskin. ] Sale catalogue of 'Books and Pictures from the Estate of the Late Mr. George Allen', containing a large number of books and pictures by Ruskin.

Author: 
[ George Allen (1832-1907), London publisher, craftsman and engraver associated with John Ruskin [ Allen and Unwin ]
Publication details: 
'For Sale | May be seen at 156, Charing Cross Road | London | December 1908'.
£400.00

12 pp., 8vo. Modern marbled bds. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. This interesting item is of significance to Ruskin scholars, containing a whole page describing 24 drawings and engravings by him, as well as a number of interesting books from the library of a close associate. The item was previously bound by Rossetti in a volume with two, unrelated, others. It then passed into the collection of the art historian Rose Sketchley, whose sister C. J. Sketchley presented it to Fulham Public Libraries in 1949. It is scarce: no copy has been traced on either OCLC WorldCat or COPAC.

[ Victorian house sale in Herefordshire. ] Poster doubling as auction catalogue: 'The Rectory, Stoke Lacy | Catalogue of Valuable and Modern Household Furniture [...] By Order of the Adminstratrix of the late Rev. Charles Harrington.

Author: 
Oakley & Son, auctioneers, and Henry E. Oakley, printer, both of Bromyard, Herefordshire [ Rev. Charles Harington (1837-1868), Rector of Stoke Lacy ]
Publication details: 
'On 24 September 1868. [ Henry E. Oakley, Printer, Market-Square, Bromyard. ]
£180.00

Rev. Charles Harington [sic] was grandson of Sir John Edward Harington (1760-1831) of Ridlington, 8th Baronet, and the item is from the Harington papers. The full title reads: 'The Rectory, Stoke Lacy | Catalogue of the Valuable and Modern Furniture | Including Iron Bedsteads, Blankets and Quilts, Chests of Drawers, Mahogany and Painted Wardrobes, Dairy & Kitchen Requisites, Bacon, Whitechapel Trap, Saddles, Casks, Hurdles, & numerous Effects,| To be sold by Auction, by Oakley & Son | On Thursday, 24th.

[ Sale catalogue, with pencil annotations. ] Catalogue of an Exhibition of a Unique Collection of Autograph Letters of Famous Painters.

Author: 
The Leicester Galleries, Leicester Square, London; Charles Whittingham & Co., The Chiswick Press, London
Publication details: 
Ernest Brown & Phillips, The Leicester Galleries, Leicester Square, London. March, 1912. Printed by Charles Whittingham and Co., The Chiswick Press, London.
£100.00

Medium-length unpaginated volume, 16mo. With ten fold-out plates (Perugino, Raphael, Giulio Clovio, Paolo Veronese, Rubens, Nicolas Poussin, Jean Marc Nattier, Thomas Gainsborough, Raeburn, Francois Millet). In printed wraps. On aged and worn paper, in heavily worn wraps. 118 items, well described, with prices.

[ Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Co., London printsellers. ] Itemised manuscript invoice to 'John Edward Taylor Esq', signed by 'J. W. Wood', including commission on 42 lots purchased for him at the 'Percy Sale'.

Author: 
Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Company, Printsellers by Appointment to her Majesty, London [ John Edward Taylor (1830-1905), owner of the Manchester Guardian and notable art collector ]
Publication details: 
Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Company, 14 Pall Mall East, 'S.W. next the College of Physicians', London. On the firm's engraved billhead. 'Midsr. [i.e. Midsummer] 1890'.
£180.00

Taylor's collecting activities are described in his entry in the Oxford DNB. His collection was sold by his widow in 1912 for the massive sum of £358,500.3pp., folio. Bifolium. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Tastefully-printed billhead, as one might expect, in black and red, with royal crests, boasting that the firm are 'Printsellers by Appointment to her Majesty, | Their Royal Highnesses The Prince Consort, The Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Kent'. Also the text: 'Established 1760. | Half price allowed for packing cases if returned immediately'.

[MS. Accounts; military papers] A Collection of c.50 MS. letters and other material relating mainly to the financial life of Captain John Williamson of the 25th Regiment

Author: 
Captain John Williamson, 25th Regiment, later of Dollar Mains, Alloa & Lawhill, Clackmannanshire.
Publication details: 
1783-1794.
£600.00

The collection contains the following:1. To John Williamson, 25th Regt: 5 Autograph Letters Signed "Alex[ander] Adair" Army Agent with 'extensive business' (of Pall Mall, London, and Flixton Hall; obit. Gent.Mag.

[J. & R. Edmiston,Glasgow Auctioneers and Valuators.] Manuscript results slip and Typed Letter Signed ('J. & R. Edmiston') to the Rev. W. C. Mitchell of East Mans, Larbert, regarding sales of his 'Tokens'.

Author: 
J. & R. Edmiston, Auctioneers and Valuators, 7 West Nile Street, Glasgow [Rev. W. C. Mitchell, East Manse, Larbert]
Publication details: 
Both items on letterheads of J. & R. Edmiston, Auctioneers and Valuators, 7 West Nile Street, Glasgow. Results slip dated 16 March 1914; letter dated 5 October 1916.
£120.00

ONE: Manuscript results slip, on the firm's letterhead, headed 'BRANCH AUCTION ROOMS - 16 DRURY STREET'. 1p., 12mo. On aged paper, with chipping to extremities and part torn away at foot (not affecting text). Recording that £22 13s 1d has been realised 'By Tokens as per priced Catalogue' and 'To Commission, Selling &c'. Against this are seven itemised 'Outlays' (including 'Advertising in Herald' and 'Likely buyers'), leaving a sum due of £18 4s 5d. TWO: Typed Letter Signed ('J. & R. Edmiston'). 1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper.

[Langridge & Freeman, auctioneers.] Interleaved Catalogue of the books in the Trottescliffe Rectory Sale, with Typed Letter from the auctioneers to Mrs Shepherd, explaining points relating to the coming sale.

Author: 
[Langridge & Freeman, land agents, surveyors & auctioneers, Tunbridge Wells; Trottescliffe Rectory Sale, Kent, 1920; Mrs Shepherd; Rev. Key; Mr Fremlin]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of Langridge & Freeman, Tunbridge Wells and 28 Great Queen St, Cheapside, London. 25 November 1920. Auction at Trottescliffe Rectory, Kent, on 30 November and 1 December 1920.
£220.00

Both letter and catalogue have suffered damp damage, resulting in some loss of text. Letter: Addressed to Mrs Freeman at Trottescliffe Rectory. 1p., 4to.

[Book auction catalogue.] "Rothbury," Blackheath Park, [...] Catalogue of the Valuable Library formed by the late J. Vavasseur, Esq., C.B. [Partially priced, and with manuscript list of booksellers attending.]

Author: 
[J. Vavasseur of 'Rothbury', Blackheath Park; Hampton & Sons, 2 & 3 Cockspur Street, London, SW]
Publication details: 
Hampton & Sons, 2 & 3, Cockspur Street, London, SW, and Wimbledon. 25 January 1909.
£220.00

20pp., 4to. Stapled. In original card wraps printed in black and red. 317 lots. Worn and aged and with central vertical crease to volume. Central bifolium loose. Advertisement for the auctioneers on inside front cover, and 'Time Table' on inside rear. A second day's sale, on the following day, is advertised as featuring 'The Furniture, Unique Collection of Japanese Works of Art, Bronzes, Old English and Continental Porcelain etc.' In margin of page with conditions of sale is pencil list of the booksellers, headed by 'Museum Book Store (Spencer's man)' and featuring E.

[George Robins, auctioneer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo Robins') to the editor of the Morning Chronicle James Black, pushing for an article to be inserted in the paper, to tie in with his sale of the contents of Horace Walpole's Strawberry Hill.

Author: 
George Robins [George Henry Robins] (1777-1847), celebrated London auctioneer [James Black (1783-1855), editor of the Morning Chronicle [Horace Walpole; Strawberry Hill]
Publication details: 
'Covent Garden [London] | Friday [1842]'.
£350.00

2pp., 12mo, bifolium. Very good, on lightly aged paper. The letter reads: 'Strawberry Hill is to the classic world much more important than the turmoil of everlasting Politics. It will be a little refreshing as a contrast to your readers to hear of Horace Walpole - the Inclosed is from Gallignani's Journal[.] in Paris they give a better attention to the Arts as well as the nuisance of everlasting Politics'. Postscript reads: 'Would you like to have a card to see'.

[Henry G. Bohn, bookseller and publisher.] Printed 'Catalogue of a Collection of Works on the Fine Arts, comprising Books of Prints, Picture Galleries, Treatises on Painting, Sculpture and Engraving, Lives of Artists, &c.'

Author: 
Henry G. Bohn [Henry George Bohn] (1796-1884), British bookseller and publisher [Christie's, London auctioneers]
Publication details: 
Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods, At their Great Rooms, 8 King Street, St. James's Square, London. [Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, Limited, Stamford Street and Charing Cross.] Sold on 30 March 1885 and following day.
£120.00

30pp., 8vo. Stitched and unbound. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper, with a few closed tears. Full title: 'Catalogue of a Collection of Works on the Fine Arts, comprising Books of Prints, Picture Galleries, Treatises on Painting, Sculpture and Engraving, Lives of Artists, &c. Forming a Portion of the Library of that well-known Amateur Henry G. Bohn, Esq., Deceased, Late of North End House, Twickenham'. 395 lots. A few items priced in pencil, some with name of purchaser.

Manuscript copy of letter from William Lock to Alexander Murray, complaining from Italy about the result of the sale of his books and prints, discussing his estate, and planning the sale by Sotheby of his own paintings and those of Henry Fuseli.

Author: 
William Lock (1767-1847), painter, son of the connoisseur William Lock [Locke] (1732-1810) of Norbury Park, Surrey [Henry Fuseli; Samuel Sotheby; Alexander Murray; John Julius Angerstein]
Publication details: 
2 June 1821. Florence, Casa Quaratesi, Piazza Ognissanti.
£150.00

1p., 4to. Neatly written out in a contemporary hand (presumably the recipient's), with 'Copy' at the head. In very good condition, on lightly-aged laid paper with watermark of 'W D WELLS'. Signature transcribed as 'Wm. Lock'. Lock has just received Murray's letter of 18 May, 'giving me an Account of the Sales of my Books and Prints which is so much below what I had reason to expect, that I must beg you to apply only One thousand to the Payment of my Debt to my Fathers Executors'.

Autograph Letter Signed from '<James?> Bell' of Hastings, written while dying, to James Wyld, member of Parliament for Bodmin, regarding a Parliamentary Bill on the sale of poisons.

Autograph Letter Signed from '<James?> Bell' of Hastings
Publication details: 
28 February 1859; Hastings.
£165.00
Autograph Letter Signed from '<James?> Bell' of Hastings

12mo, 4 pp. 64 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He was 'mistaken about the Marylebone Election - Having been a prisoner so much lately' he had 'not seen many electors & those whom I saw thought it was too late & regretted to see a split in the liberal party'. He 'did not influence a single vote being too unwell to take any part in it'. He 'left town to escape the excitement'. He has 'already troubled our new Representative with a little Parliamentary Business', and is sending Wyld 'some documents on the same subject by the Book post'.

Autograph Prices Current (Published Annually.) Being a Complete Alphabetical and Chronological Record of all Autograph Letters, Documents & Manuscripts, Sold by Auction in London, with the Date and Place of Sale, Name of Purchaser, and Price [...].

Author: 
Edward Hugh Courville (died 1920), A. J. Herbert, eds. A.G.E. Phillips, contrib. [Autograph Prices Current]
Publication details: 
Six vols [all published]: 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1922 [covering years 1914 to 1922]. First vol: London: E. H. Courville, 25 Rumsey Road, Brixton, S.W. [1916]. Sixth vol: London: A. J. Herbert, 1, Barton St., Westminster, S.W.1.[1922].
£200.00

The six vols are uniformly octavo, in original blue cloth gilt. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In worn, spotted binding, with gilt on spine dulled. Each volume opens with several leaves of advertisements for dealers (ranging from Maggs and Quaritch to James Tregaskis and Frank Hollings) and a preface by the editor (that of 1918 describing as the 'outstanding features of the past season [...] the two sales of the Alfred Morrison Collection and the two 'Red Cross' sales'). Still a valuable reference tool, with many of the entries including a precis of the item or quotation from it.

Autographs and Manuscripts. Catalogue of a Selection of Important Historical, Literary and other Autographs, being the Third Portion of a Collection for Sale.

Author: 
Holloway & Son (M. M. Holloway) [autographs; sale catalogues; Thomas Jefferson]
Publication details: 
London: Holloway & Son, 25 Bedford Street, Strand, W.C. 1864. [G. Norman, Printer, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.]
£60.00

Octavo: 53 pp. Stitched and unbound. Complete in itself, in alphabetical order, but lotted 554 to 846. Good, though grubby, and with the outer leaves somewhat creased. Includes letters and documents by Burns, Charles I and II, Maria Edgeworth, Frederick the Great, Garrick, Lady Hamilton, Handel, Dr Johnson, Southey, Wordsworth. The high spot is a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Earl of Buchan, described over one page.

Catalogue of the Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson Hogg (1792-1862), Consisting principally of Letters from Percy and Mary Shelley. Sold by Order of his Great-Nephew Major R. J. Jefferson Hogg, M.C. of Norton-on-Tees, Co. Durham.

Author: 
Thomas Jefferson Hogg [Sotheby & Co.; Percy Bysshe Shelley; autograph letters; auction catalogue]
Publication details: 
London: Messrs. Sotheby & Co., 34 and 35 New Bond Street, W.1.; 30 June 1948. [Printed by Kitchen & Barratt, Ltd., Park Royal Road, N.W.10.]
£80.00

Octavo: 21 pp. Leaf of prices and buyers' names loosely inserted. Stapled. In original yellow printed wraps. Somewhat creased and chipped, on aged, spotted paper. Two-page foreword. Maggs were the main buyers, but the three highest sellers among the 105 lots, all Shelley letters, went to other dealers: lot 13, 'quoting 36 lines of original verse', for £155 to Pickering; lot 55, 'describing the origins and method of his elopement with Mary Godwin', £175 to Quaritch; lot 65, 'dealing with many topics', £360 to W. H. Robinson.

Autograph Letter (signed 'Anon') to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Mrs. Manning [The Red Cross Sale at Christie's, 1916]
Publication details: 
26 February 1916; Tavistock, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
£28.00

One page, 4to. Good, but creased and with slight damage to reverse from caused by removal from mount. Despite signing 'Anon' the author has written her name and address at the head of the letter. 'Since sending you the two ancient Documents & two Autographs which you courteously acknowledged (816) I have found This Programme which was used by Queen Victoria on Feby 7th. 1891. It was given to me by a friend who was staying at The Old George Hotel, Salisbury & I enclose her letter which accompanied it.

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