all three 16mo: first in pencil, 3pp, on British Museum letterhead, Mayfield, 1 November 1908; second, 2pp, Mayfield, Sussex, Xmas 1910; third, 1p, Mayfield, Sx. 29 December 1912
£45.00
Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum (DNB). The first on dusty discoloured paper with closed tears to edges. Thanks Slocombe for having 'thought of me' and apologises for writing in pencil. Has been 'knocked over by a rather severe attack from which I am only slowly recovering'. The second and third letters are both replies to the Slocombes for seasonal expressions of goodwill and both are docketed in pencil by Slocombe. Three items,
2pp, 32mo, on mourning paper, without place or date
£25.00
Victorian novelist (Mrs Henry Reeves). Docketed 'Authoress of "Coming thro' the Rye"'. Signed 'Helen Reeves' and docketed 'nee Mathers'. Closing two lines of letter above signature, and on reverse five lines (referring to "the dreadful time of yours", partly covered by glued-on piece of paper. Creased and discoloured.
1p, 16mo, 19 November [no year], on blind-embossed letterhead Talgarth Hall, Pennal (telegram), Machynlleth
£25.00
Victorian novelist and satirist of the Raj. 'Dear Madam | I regret that I shall be away from England all winter | Yours truly | F. A. Steel." Creased, disoloured and docketed in pencil. Writing offset by folding of letter.
Mrs Humphry Ward [Mary Augusta Ward] (DNB), novelist
Publication details:
27 June 1894, on letterhead "25 Grosvenor Place, S.W."
£25.00
Asks whether he is able to dine with them on 6 July. Neat square stamp in purple ink at head filled in in another hand with details of when received and answered. Small paper and glue mark at centre of otherwise-blank reverse.
Historian (1796-1874), whose most famous work was "The Lives of the Queens of England". One page, 12mo, on blue paper. "Believe me to be, dear Miss Georgina Jones very truly / Agnes Strickland / Octr. 21 1858". Unobtrusive numbering in one corner.