THE

[W. H. Hudson [William Henry Hudson; Guillermo Enrique Hudson], American-Argentine author, naturalist and ornithologist, who settled in England.] Autograph Signature and inscription.

Author: 
W. H. Hudson [William Henry Hudson; Guillermo Enrique Hudson] (1841-1922), American-Argentine author, naturalist and ornithologist, who settled in England
Publication details: 
27 June 1920. No place.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On a 17.5 x 12 cm piece of ruled paper, laid down on a piece of card. The high-acidity paper is browned, otherwise in good condition, with small nick to one edge. The signature ‘W. H. Hudson / June 27. ’20’ is beneath two lines written in a foreign language, a tentative reading of which is ‘Te semiron mulei moy / To dariau tis viden’. See Image.

[Eponym of the 'Spoonerism': William Archibald Spooner, Warden of New College, Oxford.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear old Lee'

Author: 
William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), Warden of New College, Oxford, who gave his name to the 'spoonerism'
Publication details: 
'New College / Dec 1922', on letterhead of New College, Oxford.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Addressed to 'Dear old Lee' and signed 'W A Spooner -'. He explains that he and his colleagues thought Lee's 'testimonials & references very good, as you may gather from our having put you on our list of selected candidates, but you did not quite reach the very highest place in our judgment'.

['four thousand Years of amusement': Sydney Smith, ‘The Smith of Smiths’, cleric, author and celebrated wit.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs. William Smith', itemising the pleasures that some persons might be punished with hereafter for their sins.

Author: 
Sydney Smith (1771-1845), ‘The Smith of Smiths’, English cleric, author and celebrated wit
Publication details: 
No date. Postmark of 28 May [1817]. On wove paper with watermark 'RUSE & TURNERS / 1814'.
£85.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On recto of first leaf of bifolium, the verso of the second leaf addressed, with two postmarks, to 'Mrs. William Smith / Park Street / Westminster'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Annotations in pencil in a modern hand. He begins by apologising for not being able to 'come to your party on Monday', as he was 'forced to go to Bed[.] I always knock up the 2d or 3d Week of London - There is nothing in this World so fatiguing, and horrible as pleasure -'.

[Sydney Smith, ‘The Smith of Smiths’, cleric, author and celebrated wit.] Autograph Note Signed, conveying thanks.

Author: 
Sydney Smith (1771-1845), ‘The Smith of Smiths’, English cleric, author and celebrated wit
Publication details: 
11 May 1844. No place.
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On 9 x 11 cm piece of Whatman wove paper. Somewhat worn and creased, with a small nick to one edge, and slight damage from erasure of note on reverse. Folded. Reads ‘Dear Sr / many thanks / yours truly / Sydney Smith / May 11 1844.’

[Thomas Gambier Parry, artist, art collector and benefactor of the Courtauld Institute of Art.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘A. [?]. King’, regarding ‘the Pamphlet on Spirit Fresco’ and ‘Complete printing’.

Author: 
Thomas Gambier Parry (1816-1888), artist and art collector whose Italian works went to the Courtauld Institute of Art, father of the composer Hubert Parry
Publication details: 
14 May [no year]. On letterhead of Highnam Court, Gloucester.
£56.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Addressed to ‘A. [?]. King Esqr.’ and signed ‘Gambier Parry’. After thanking him for his note he assures him that he ‘had no thought one way or other about the immediate pub[licatio]n: or delay of the Pamphlet or Spirit Fresco.’ He thinks ‘it might be well to give one last look at it before it is actually published -’ (last two words both underlined twice).

[Sir Robert Smirke, RA, architect of the British Museum.] Autograph Note Signed to Charles Fowler, a vice-president of the Artiists' General Benevolent Institution, enclosing a cheque.

Author: 
Sir Robert Smirke (1780-1867), RA, architect of the British Museum
Publication details: 
'Stanmore / April 20. 1843'.
£45.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, torn along the inner edge on removal from mount. Addressed to ‘Chas. Fowler Esqr:’ (a vice-president of the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution) and signed ‘Rob. Smirke.’ Reads: ‘Dear Sir / May I request you will have the goodness to add the amount of the enclosed cheque for me to the collection recently made for the Artists Genl. Benevolent Institution.’

[‘The most distinguished marine artist of his day’: W. L. Wyllie [William Lionel Wyllie].] Autograph Letter Signed to S. W. Luard, declining a dinner invitation from the Salters’ Company, as he is starting for Norway at the end of the month.

Author: 
W. L. Wyllie [William Lionel Wyllie] (1851-1931), ‘the most distinguished marine artist of his day’ [S. W. Luard; the Salters' Company, City of London]
Publication details: 
1 June 1910; on embossed letterhead of Tower House, Tower Street, Portsmouth.
£60.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Signed ‘W. L. Wyllie.’ He is sorry that he will be unable to avail himself of ‘the kind invitation to dinner sent me by the Master of the Salters Company’. He is starting for Norway on the last day of the month, and will not return until the end of July.

[Sir David Wilkie, Scottish genre painter.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'the Director Waagen' [Gustav Friedrich Waagen], arranging a visit to 'the house of the Duke of Wellington.

Author: 
Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841), Scottish painter noted for genre pieces such as 'The Chelsea Pensioners' [Gustav Friedrich Waagen (1797-1868), Director of the Berlin Gemäldegalerie; Duke of Wellington]
Publication details: 
'7 Terrace Kensington / July 19th 1835'.
£120.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Wilkie was in a good position to assist Waagen, who was touring England making notes on significant art collections, for use in his ‘Kunstwerke und Künstler in England und Paris’ (3 vols, Berlin, 1837–39), which formed the basis for his influential ‘The Treasures of Art in Great Britain’ (translated by Lady Eastlake, 4 vols, London, 1854 and 1857). Wilkie had strong connections with Wellington. His 1822 painting ‘The Chelsea Pensioners reading the Waterloo Dispatch’ had been commissioned by the Duke, and was sold to him for the unheard-of sum of 1,200 guineas.

[Norman Mailer [Nachem Malech Mailer], American novelist and journalist.] Typed Letter Signed to Rosalyn Sacks of the Mishkan Israel-Linas Hazedek, Jamaica, New York, with unsigned black and white publicity photograph by Molly Malone Cook.

Author: 
Norman Mailer [Norman Kingsley Mailer, pen-name of Nachem Malech Mailer (1923-2007)], American novelist and journalist [Molly Malone Cook, Provincetown photographer]
Publication details: 
Letter dated 29 July 1975; no place. Photograph by Molly Malone Cook, Provincetown, copyrighted 1973.
£150.00

See his entry in Encyclopaedia Britannica. Both items are in good condition, lightly aged. TLS: 1p, 4to. Addressed to 'Rosalyn Sacks / YMHA - YWHA / Congregation of Mishkan Israel-Linas Hazedek of Jamaica, Inc. / 153-14 90th Avenue / Jamaica, New York 11432'. Signed 'Norman Mailer'. Reads: 'Dear Rosalyn Sacks, / I don't have any pictures at the moment, but I'll try to get ahold of one and autograph it and send it to you and the members of the Congregation of Mishkan Israel-Linas Hazedek in Jamaica.

[Peter Blake, English pop artist who did the cover of the Beatles' 'Sergeant Pepper' album.] Autograph Name and Address, with pre-1990 phone number, on leaf torn from an address book or diary.

Author: 
Peter Blake (b. 1932), much-loved English pop artist, responsible for the cover of the Beatles' album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
Publication details: 
Without date or place. The telephone number dates from before the introduction in 1990 of the 071 and 081 prefixes.
£85.00

See his entry in the Oxford Dictionary of Art. 1p, 16mo. On a leaf, with curved corners, extracted neatly from an address book or diary. In good condition. A n oddly attractive item. Apart from the word 'MEMO' printed at the head of the page above a thick-thin rule, the only writing on the leaf is the name 'PETER BLAKE', with his address and phone number (both withheld), written in black ink a neat and childlike hand. See Image (onitting address and phone number).

[Mary Russell Mitford, author of 'Our Village'.] Autograph Letter in the third person to the bookseller William Baynes, expressing pleasure at sending contributions for his 'intended publication'. With reference to her publisher G. B. Whittaker.

Author: 
Mary Russell Mitford (1787-1855), author and playwright, best known for her collection of sketches, ‘Our Village’ [William Baynes & Son; George Byrom Whittaker (1793-1847), London publisher]
Publication details: 
'Three Mile Cross, near Reading / June 10th. 1825.'
£95.00

See her entry, and that of Whittaker, in the Oxford DNB. 1p, landscape 12mo. A corner of the letter carrying a few words of text has been torn away on opening; it is still attached, beneath a red wax seal, so that the entire document is present in two parts. Otherwise in fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed by Mitford 'To / Messrs. Baynes & Son / 23 Paternoster Row'. Begins: 'Miss Mitford presents her Compts. to Mr.

[Iris Murdoch [Dame Jean Iris Murdoch], Anglo-Irish novelist and philospher.] Autograph Inscription Signed (‘Iris !’), to ‘Hardy’ (the couturier Sir Hardy Amies).

Author: 
Iris Murdoch [Dame Jean Iris Murdoch] (1919-1999), Anglo-Irish novelist and philosopher [Sir Hardy Amies (1909-2003), English couturier]
Publication details: 
No place or date [1992?].
£50.00

See her entry, and his, in the Oxford DNB. On the reverse of a colour postcard of the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford from the Old Bodleian. In fair condition, lightly aged and with slight creasing to one corner and at the head (not affecting text). To the right, in the section reserved for the address, she writes: ‘Hardy / with all very / best wishes & love / from / Iris !’. Beneath this is a pencil note identifying Amies as the recipient. At top left, in another hand (her husband John Bayley’s?) is written ‘Born before all time: / a dispute over Christ’s origin / Karl Joseph Kuschel’.

[British Army during the Seven Years’ War.] Manuscript ‘Return of the Men of the Royl. Regiment of Artillery Horses & Drivers under the Command of Lieutent. Davd. Scott’, signed by Scott.

Author: 
Lieutenant David Scott, Royal Artillery [British Army during the Seven Years’ War]
Publication details: 
‘at the Camp near Winchester - June 28th 1762’.
£150.00

1p, foolscap 8vo. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of laid watermarked paper. Docketted on reverse of second leaf. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice into a packet. Neatly written out by a secretary, and signed by Scott (‘Dad. Scott Lieut. / Artillery.’). Headed ‘Return of the Men of the Royl. Regiment of Artillery Horses & Drivers under the Command of Lieutent. Davd. Scott at the Camp near Winchester - June 28th 1762.’ Begins with numbers of ‘Mattross’s’, ‘Drivers the Conductor included’, ‘Horses’.

[Robert Graves [Robert von Ranke Graves], poet and author of ‘I Claudius’ and ‘Goodbye to All That’.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr Scarr’, declining to give any further talks, ‘not being an extemporizer’.

Author: 
Robert Graves [Robert von Ranke Graves], poet and author, noted for his war memoir ‘Goodbye to All That’ and his historical novel ‘I Claudius’
Publication details: 
25 July 1962; on letterhead of Canellun, Deya, Mallorca, Spain.
£380.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice for postage. Reads: ‘Dear Mr Scarr: / I’m sorry but I have already engaged myself for three talks besides my offical three and, not being an extemporizer, can’t undertake any more. / Yours sincerely / Robert Graves’. See Image.

[The Peace with Ireland Council (London), 1921.] Printed handbill titled ‘The Voice of the Churches on Ireland’.

Author: 
The Peace with Ireland Council, London, founded by Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, with Basil Williams as treasurer and Margaret Buckmaster as honorary secretary
Publication details: 
[1921.] Published by the Peace with Ireland Council, 30a Queen Anne’s Chambers, Westminster, S.W.1 and printed by the Caledonian Press Ltd., 74 Swinton Street, Gray’s Inn Road, W.C.1.
£80.00

The Peace with Ireland Council was founded in November 1920 by Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, following a meeting at the House of Commons by a group concerned at the deteriorating situation in Ireland following the introduction of the Black and Tans, and spurred on by the treatment of former MP Annan Bryce and his wife Violet. Among those involved were the historian Basil Williams, who acted as treasurer, and the suffragette Margaret Buckmaster (daughter of Lord Buckmaster) who served as honorary secretary. From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd papers.

[The Peace with Ireland Council (London) and the Black and Tans, 1921.] Printed handbill titled ‘Irish Reprisals / Auxiliary Divisions Record / Indictment by Sir John Simon / To the Editor of The Times’.

Author: 
Sir John Simon; The Peace with Ireland Council, London, founded by Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, with Basil Williams as treasurer and Margaret Buckmaster as honorary secretary [The Black and Tans]
Publication details: 
[1921.] Published by the Peace with Ireland Council, 30 Queen Anne’s Chambers, S.W.1; and printed by the Caledonian Press Ltd. (T. U.) 74 Swinton Street, London, W.C.1.
£80.00

The Peace with Ireland Council was founded in November 1920 by Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, following a meeting at the House of Commons by a group concerned at the deteriorating situation in Ireland following the introduction of the Black and Tans, and spurred on by the treatment of former MP Annan Bryce and his wife Violet. Among those involved were the historian Basil Williams, who acted as treasurer, and the suffragette Margaret Buckmaster (daughter of Lord Buckmaster) who served as honorary secretary. From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd papers.

[USA President; Ireland: Conscription Crisis of 1918.] Two printed items by O’Neill, Lord Mayor of Dublin, as Chairman of the Mansion House Conference, protesting British actions, one to the American President, the other to the American Ambassador.

Author: 
Laurence O’Neill (1864-1943), Lord Mayor of Dublin, Chairman of the Mansion House Conference, 1918; Irish Independent, Dublin; J. R. N. MacPhail [James Robert Nicolson MacPhail] (1858-1933)
Publication details: 
Both items dated from the Mansion House, Dublin, the first (to the president) on 11 June 1918, and the second (to the US ambassador) on 18 June 1918. [Irish Independent, Dublin.]
£450.00

Although large numbers of Irishmen had willingly signed up to fight for the British cause in the First World War, by April 1918 a shortage of troops moved the British government to propose conscription in Ireland. This was violently opposed by republicans, and O’Neill convened an Irish Anti-Conscription Committee which met at the Mansion House in Dublin. Strikes and protests followed, and although a law was passed, conscription was never implemented in Ireland. These two items are now extremely scarce.

[Irish-language drama in London, 1906.] Printed programme for ‘Trí drámanna’ at the South Hampstead Club: ‘An Deoraide’ by Lorcán Ua Tuathail [Laurence O’Toole], with ‘The Saxon Shilling’ by Padraic Colm and ‘The Twisting of the Rope’ by Douglas Hyde

Author: 
Lorcán Ua Tuathail [Laurence O’Toole]; Padraic Colm; Douglas Hyde; The South Hampstead Club, London
Publication details: 
On Saturday 23 June 1906, at the South Hampstead Club, 17 Fleet Road, N.W. [London (‘Lonndain’)]
£80.00

From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd papers, and presumably connected to her mother the nationalist Nannie Dryhurst (1856-1930), who like the Lynds lived in Hampstead. Scarce: no other copy traced. 4 pp, 12mo. Bifolium on thickish light-green paper. In fair condition, lightly aged, and with central horizontal fold. Cover headed by three lines in Gaelic. Reverse of cover carries a cast list. Recto of second leaf has a long synopsis, concluding: ‘The play ends with a powerful exhortation against emigration’.

[Northern Ireland: Special Powers Acts.] Two printed items: ‘Report of a Commission of Inquiry appointed to examine the Purpose and Effect of the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Acts (Northern Ireland) 1922 & 1933.’ and handbill with reviews.

Author: 
Northern Ireland, Special Powers Acts of 1922 and 1933; The National Council for Civil Liberties, London [Robert Lynd; H. G. Wells]
Publication details: 
Report: London, 1936. Published by The National Council for Civil Liberties, 99a Charing Cross Road, WC2.
£120.00

Two items from the Robert and Sylvia Lynd papers. The first item is well represented in academic libraries, no copy of the second has been found. Item Two below asserts that ‘Under these Acts the Home Minister of Northern Ireland is furnished with what are practically dictatorship powers’, which are ‘now a permanent part of Northern Irish law’. (Robert Lynd’s interest in the matter was no doubt heightened by the fact that he was himself an Ulsterman.) ONE: Printed pamphlet.

[Private Press: ‘The first (and only) title set, printed and published by the Janus Press at Bickley in Kent.] Printed play by Charles Duff: ‘An Irish Idyll’ (previously broadcast on the Home Service of the BBC).

Author: 
Charles Duff [Charles St Lawrence Duff] (1894-1966); The Janus Press, Bickley, Kent [British Broadcasting Corporation]
Publication details: 
‘THE FIRST BOOKLET set, printed and published by the Janus Press at Bickley in Kent 1933’. [The Janus Press, Albyfield, Bickley, Kent, England.
£120.00

See his entry in the Dictionary of National Biography. From the papers of Sylvia and Robert Lynd. Scarce: only three copies on JISC (Oxford, NLS and BL). 24pp, 12mo. Stapled. In blue printed wraps with flaps. Colophon on first page, with small indistinguishable device: ‘THE FIRST BOOKLET / set, printed and published by the / Janus Press at Bickley in Kent / 1933’. Title-page: ‘AN IRISH IDYLL / CHARLES DUFF / [crude vignette of shamrock] / Janus Press’. Information on reverse of title includes: ‘An Irish Idyll was first used by / The British Broadcasting Corporation / on the 12th.

[Gaelic League of London [London Branch of the Gaelic League].] Printed periodical: number of ‘Inis Fa´il’ [Inisfa´il; Inis Fail], ‘A Magazine for the Irish in London’.

Author: 
Gaelic League of London [London Branch of the Gaelic League]: Inis Fa´il [Inisfa´il; Inis Fail], ‘A Magazine for the Irish in London’ [Michael Davitt]
Publication details: 
Iúl [July] 1906 number. Gaelic League of London [no address].
£120.00

From the papers of Sylvia and Robert Lynd. Scarce: this number is lacking from the run in the National Library of Ireland. The title as one word ‘INISFÁIL’ on cover, but as the two words ‘INIS FÁIL’ on first page. 12 pp, 4to. Stapled in light-green printed wraps. In good condition, lightly aged, on high-acidity paper, in lightly-worn wraps carrying advertisements.

[The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 1914.] Printed programme for the first production of 'The Prodigal' by Walter Riddall, produced by A. Patrick Wilson, with orchestra conducted by John F. Larchet.

Author: 
Abbey Theatre, Dublin, founded by W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn; Walter Riddall; A. Patrick Wilson; John F. Larchet
Publication details: 
Production between 30 September and 3 October 1914. Abbey Theatre, Lower Abbey Street and Marlborough Street, Dublin, Ireland.
£120.00

From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd papers. A scarce piece of Abbey Theatre ephemera: the National Library of Ireland has a copies of the programmes for later revivals of the play in the Joseph Holloway collection (1918-1920), but does not have this one. ‘The Prodigal’ was Riddall’s only play. It ran for five performances between 30 September and 3 October, Riddall having died earlier in the year. It was revived in 1916, 1919 and 1923. 4pp, 12mo. Stapled into grey Abbey Theatre wraps. In fair condition, aged and worn, with one vertical fold.

[Home Rule, 1912: ‘The Voice of the Empire is on the Side of Ireland.’] Printed pamphlet: ‘The Empire and Home Rule / Special Messages to “The Daily Chronicle” from Premiers, Ministers, Representative Public Men, and Editors in the Oversea dominions’

Author: 
[Home Rule for Ireland, 1912] The Daily Chronicle, London newspaper [Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of Australia]
Publication details: 
[1912.] Published by: The Daily Chronicle, 31, Whitefriars Street, London, E.C.
£120.00

From the papers of Sylvia and Robert Lynd. Scarce: the only copy on JISC at Bristol University. Not in NLI or BL. 16pp, 12mo. Stapled. In green printed wraps. Heavily worn, with lightly-rusted staples, and with the back wrap separated. The centre pages carry a map of ‘The Real Position in Ulster’, with explanatory note. Begins with ‘Facsimile of Message from the Hon. A. Fisher, Premier of the Australian Commonwealth.’, dated 16 February 1912. Quotations (some with portraits) from individuals from South Africa, Canada, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand.

[Home Rule for Ireland, 1911.] Printed item: ‘3rd Edition. / The Daily News 1d. Series. No. 16. / 50 Points for Home Rule.’

Author: 
[Home Rule for Ireland, 1911] The Daily News, Liberal newspaper, London and Manchester
Publication details: 
Third edition. [1911 or 1912.] Published by The Daily News, London and Manchester.
£75.00

From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd Papers. Scarce: one copy on JISC (Bristol University), and at the NLI, but no copy in the BL. The Lynd copies of the first edition of this title, and of the response by T. S. Frank Battersby, ‘60 Points against Home Rule’ (answering point by point many of those made here), are offered separately. [4] + 52pp, 16mo. Stapled. In green printed wraps. In fair condition, on aged paper, with dogeared corners, staples slightly rusted, in worn wraps. Preceded by index and preface, of two pages apiece.

[Home Rule for Ireland, 1911.] Printed item: ‘The Daily News 1d. Series. No. 16. / 50 Points for Home Rule.’

Author: 
[Home Rule for Ireland, 1911] The Daily News, Liberal newspaper, London and Manchester
Publication details: 
[1911.] Published by The Daily News, London and Manchester.
£120.00

From the Sylvia and Robert Lynd Papers. Scarce: five copies on JISC, and at the NLI, but no copy in the BL. The Lynd copies of the third edition of this title, and of the response by T. S. Frank Battersby, ‘60 Points against Home Rule’ (answering point by point many of those made here), are offered separately. [4] + 52pp, 16mo. Stapled. In green printed wraps. In fair condition internally, on browned newspaper stock, with dogeared corners, staples slightly rusted, in brittle and chipped wraps, with some damage repaired with archival tape.

[Sir Michael Redgrave, distinguished English actor.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Mr. Macdermid’, giving his reason for not wanting to join his club (not wanting to join those who are ‘known as cranks’).

Author: 
Sir Michael Redgrave [Sir Michael Scudamore] (1908-1985), English actor and head of theatrical family dynasty
Publication details: 
25 March [1944]. Garrick Theatre W.C.2. [London]. On his letterhead.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. Eighteen lines, closely written. On creased grey paper, with short closed tear at edge of central crease. The year 1944 has been added in another hand. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Macdermid’ and signed ‘Michael Redgrave’. He is grateful to him for the suggestion that he ‘should be an Hon. Associate Member of your Club, to which I wish every success’, but feels ‘rather strongly that I must not put my name to anything more than I can actively take part in - even if activity is confined to letter writing etc.

[Milton Sills [Milton George Gustavus Sills], American actor, star of stage and screen, Hollywood matinee idol.] Autograph Inscription Signed.

Author: 
Milton Sills [Milton George Gustavus Sills] (1882-1930), American actor, star of stage and screen, Hollywood matinee idol
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£20.00

On a 12 x 6.5 cm piece of paper. In fair condition, lightly discoloured and spotted, with traces of paper from mount on reverse. Central vertical crease. A neat, tight inscription, clearly in response to a request for an autograph, reading, ‘Sincerely / Milton Sills’. Image on request.

[China exploration; Sir Clement Markham, geographer and explorer, President of the Royal Geographical Society.] Autograph Letter Signed re author of an account of a journey in Chih-l (china)..

Author: 
Sir Clements Markham [Sir Clements Robert Markham] (1830-1916), English geographer, explorer and writer, President of the Royal Geographical Society who organised Scott’s Antarctic expedition
Publication details: 
18 April 1905; 21 Eccleston Square S.W. [London]
£150.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded twice, with spots of discoloration around the creases and slight nick at head of leaf. On monogram (Order of the Bath?) letterhead with motto ‘Tria juncta in uno’. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Townshend’ and signed ‘Clements R Markham’. Acknowledging receipt ‘of a paper by your brother-in-law Mr.

[Charles Reade, popular Victorian novelist and playwright.] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Alderman Spiers', regretting that he 'cannot dine out of College', but stating that he will 'look in'.

Author: 
Charles Reade (1814-1884), popular Victorian novelist and playwright [Magdalen College, Oxford]
Publication details: 
'Magd Coll [Magdalen College, Oxford] / Sunday. Feb 14 [1862].'
£50.00

Reade was a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1836 to his death. According to his entry in the Oxford DNB: ‘in the years of his fame, and particularly in the early 1860s, he did much of his writing in his rooms at Magdalen, using them as a retreat. His tenure of the fellowship was contingent on his remaining unmarried, a stipulation he complained of bitterly but continued to put up with, even when he was earning thousands a year as a writer’. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly discoloured, on thin wove paper. Folded once.

[Sydney Smirke, RA, architect of the British Museum Reading Room.] Autograph Letter Signed to fellow Royal Academician Edward William Cooke, regarding a photograph by Vernon Heath.

Author: 
Sydney Smirke (1797-1877), RA, architect of the British Museum Reading Room [E. W. Cooke [Edward William Cooke] (1811-80), RA, marine painter; Vernon Heath (c.1819-95), photographer]
Publication details: 
'The Hollies / Tunbridge Wells / Aug: 7 [no year]'.
£50.00

See Smirke’s entry, and those of Cooke and Heath, in the Oxford DNB. His most celebrated design is the Reading Room of the British Museum. 2pp, 12mo. With monogram and mourning border. On first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. Begins: ‘My dear Sir, / Vernon Heath, of Piccadilly, has made me a photograph of our new front, which is I think fairly satisfactory.’ He has told Heath to deliver a copy ‘addressed to you at the R. Academy’. As it is ‘rather large’, he did not like to send it ‘by post or Parcel’, as it ‘might get crushed on its way to you.

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