UNIONIST

[Jesse Collings, Liberal politician, advocate of free education and land reform.] Five Autograph Letters Signed to Bernard Piffard, regarding opposition to Lords of the Manor over enclosures, and 'Allotments and Small Holdings Associations'.

Author: 
Jesse Collings (1831-1920) of Birmingham, Liberal and Liberal Unionist politician, advocate of free education and land reform [Bernard Piffard (1833-1916), entomologist]
Publication details: 
Between 27 July 1885 and 22 March 1886. All from Edgbaston, Birmingham (the second a letterhead).
£150.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the Piffard papers. A total of 9pp, 12mo. The recipient is 'B. Piffard Esq.' and the letters are all signed 'Jesse Collings'. ONE: 27 July 1885. 2pp, 12mo. He apologises for the delay in replying: 'I have been so over-pressed with Parliamentary and other work.' He will go into the matter of Piffard's letter at the 'Committee meeting of our Allotments & Small Holdings Association' that very day.

[J. H. Thomas, Welsh trade unionist and Labour politician.] Typed Note Signed, as General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, to the future Sir W. D. Ross, written on the eve of the 1919 national rail strike.

Author: 
J. H. Thomas [James Henry Thomas] (1874-1949), Welsh trade unionist and Labour politician, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen during the 1919 nation rail strike [Sir W. D. Ross]
J. H. Thomas,
Publication details: 
22 September 1919. On ornate letterhead of The National Union of Railwaymen, Unity House, Euston Road, London, N.W.1.
£56.00
J. H. Thomas,

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased cartridge paper. Folded three times. The letterhead is quite an impressive affair, with an engraving of ‘Unity House’ and lettering in a variety of styles. The letter is addressed to ‘W. D. Ross, Esq., / Oriel College, / Oxford.’ The ink on the ribbon appears to have been running out, as the latter part of the note is faded.

[Enoch Powell, Conservative and Unionist politician, controversial after his 1968 'Rivers of Blood' speech.] 14 Typed Letters Signed, with one in Autograph and five other items, to Philip Dosse, regarding his reviewing for ‘Books and Bookmen’.

Author: 
Enoch Powell [John Enoch Powell] (1912-1998), Conservative and Unionist politician, a controversial figure after his 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech on immigration [Philip Dosse (c.1924-1980)]
Powell
Publication details: 
Of Powell's fifteen letters: 2 from 1973, 10 from 1974, 1 from 1975, and 2 (including one in autograph) from 1976. On letterheads of House of Commons and 33 South Eaton Place, London, S.W.1.
£450.00
Powell

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the archives of Philip Dosse, proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of the ‘Seven Arts’ group of magazines, including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. The twenty items are in good condition, lightly aged. Of Powell’s fifteen letters (all signed ‘J. Enoch Powell’) five on House of Commons letterheads, four on his Eaton Place letterhead, and the others with the latter address typed.

[‘The greatest force in British politics between the decline of Gladstone and the rise of Lloyd George’: Sir Joseph Chamberlain, father of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.] Autograph Note Signed to Leopold Maxse, regarding a ‘seat’.

Author: 
Sir Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), British politician, by turns Radical, Liberal Unionist and Conservative; father of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain [Leopold Maxse (1864-1932), editor of the Nati
Publication details: 
25 January 1881. On letterhead of 72 Prince’s Gate, S.W. [London]
£50.00

According to A. J. P. Taylor, Chamberlain was ‘the greatest force in British politics between the decline of Gladstone and the rise of Lloyd George. See his lengthy entry, and that of Maxse, in the Oxford DNB’. 1p, 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. With one central vertical fold from postage. Reads: ‘My dear Maxse / I have been away but will try & get a seat for Thursday & write to you again / Yours sincerely / J. Chamberlain’. Postscript at head of page: ‘Can you dine with me here on Friday at 8 p.m?’

[Sir Donald Currie, Scottish shipowner.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to James F. Hutton, regarding a meeting with the Dutch king and the appointment of a deputation to wait on him regarding the modifying of conditions.

Author: 
Sir Donald Currie (1825-1909), Scottish shipowner and Liberal politician, proprietor of the Castle Line [James Frederick Hutton (1826-1890), Manchester shipper and Conservative politician]
Publication details: 
17 and 29 March 1879; both on letterhead of 3 & 4 Fenchurch Street, London, E.C.
£90.00

See Currie’s entry in the Oxford DNB. Both he and the recipient Hutton had South African interests. Both items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and each with pinholes at head from being attached, and folded for postage. Each is signed ‘Donald Currie’. ONE: 17 March 1879. 1p, 12mo. Addressed to ‘James E [sic] Hutton Esqr.’ He received Hutton’s ‘kind message’ and ‘called on the King. To-day I met the Duke of Sutherland.’ He will write to him again ‘in a day or two’. ‘Are you to be in town soon?’ TWO: 29 March 1879. 2pp, 12mo. Headed ‘Private’, and addressed to ‘J. F. Hutton Esqre.

[Duke of Devonshire [Spencer Compton Cavendish (1833-1908), 8th Duke of Devonshire].] Autograph Letter Signed regarding prizegiving at Derby Grammar School

Author: 
Duke of Devonshire [Spencer Compton Cavendish (1833-1908), 8th Duke of Devonshire, styled Marquis of Hartington between 1858 and 1891, aristocrat and statesman [Derby Grammar School]
Publication details: 
15 June 1901; on letterhead of Chatsworth House, Chesterfield.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. Outer sides somewhat grubby, otherwise in good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Addressed ‘Dear Sir’ and signed ‘Devonshire’.

[Burslem Conservative and Unionist Club, Limited.] Printed booklet of ‘Rules and Bye-Laws’, with printed ‘Member’s Ticket, 1929’ made out to H. H. Rose and signed and dated by Bailey.

Author: 
Burslem Conservative and Unionist Club, Limited, T. L. Bailey, Secretary [H. H. Rose; Staffordshire; the Potteries]
Publication details: 
Booklet printed: ‘BURSLEM / Warwick Savage, Printer and Lithographer, Wedgwood Place. / 1920’. Ticket dated by Bailey to 9 January 1929.
£80.00

Two nice pieces of Potteries ephemera. No other copies have been traced. ONE: Booklet. In fair condition, on aged paper, in lightly worn and creased wraps. 36pp, 12mo, stitched into red wraps with title repeated on cover in black. Slips with printed emendations have been laid down over text on pp.8, 9 and 32 (the last slip, carrying rule 84, ‘Hours for Consumption’, is amended in manuscript). Eighty-four rules on the first 32pp, with fifteen bye-laws on pp.33-34. TWO: ‘MEMBERS TICKET, 1929.’ A nice item on card, roughly 7 x 9 cm, with central horizontal crease folding it down to 4 1/2 x 7 cm.

[Enoch Powell, controversial politician whose 1968 'rivers of blood' speech led to his dismissal from the Conservative shadow cabinet.] Typed Letter Signed to H. V. Shooter, sending the text of an address.

Author: 
Enoch Powell [John Enoch Powell] (1912-1998), politician dismissed from the Conservative shadow cabinet following his 1968 ‘rivers of blood’ speech, subsequently Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament
Publication details: 
11 November 1971; on House of Commons letterhead.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded twice for postage. Elegant signature: 'J Enoch Powell.' He thanks him for his letter, and explains that, as '[t]he reprint or reproduction of the St Lawrence Jewry addresses is hanging fire’, he is enclosing ‘a photocopy of the first, which I think is the one you have in mind’. He hopes it will reach him ‘in time’. The recipient’s address at the foot of the letter reads: ‘H. V. Shooter, Esq. / 225 Makepeace Mansions, / Makepeace Ave, / N.6.’ At the head of the letter, presumably by the recipient: ‘From: The Rt.

[Ben Purse [Benjamin Ormond Purse], trade unionist and campaigner for the rights of blind people.] Typed Letter with cyclostyled signature, to Carmichael Thomas, describing his ‘interests’ while asking for help in joining the Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Ben Purse [Benjamin Ormond Purse] (1874-1950), British trade unionist, social worker and campaigner with the National Institute for the Blind [Carmichael Thomas; Royal Society of Arts]
Publication details: 
21 April 1921; on letterhead of the National Institute for the Blind, London.
£60.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and with two creases from folding for postage. Addressed to ‘Carmichael Thomas, Esq., / Mount Cottage, / Borough Green, / Kent.’ Cyclostyled signature of ‘Ben Purser.’ Begins: ‘For some time I have been desirous of becoming a member of the Royal Society of Arts. Mentioning this matter to your daughter a few days ago, Miss Thomas thought that if I wrote you in this connection you might possibly be able to arrange this matter for me.

[H. Montgomery Hyde, authority on Oscar Wilde and Ulster Unionist MP.] Autograph Letter Signed to Philip Dosse, publisher of ‘Books and Bookmen’, regarding a review by Lord O’Neill of his book on Carson, a trip to North America, and money owed.

Author: 
H. Montgomery Hyde [Harford Montgomery Hyde] (1907-1989), writer, Ulster Unionist politician and authority on Oscar Wilde [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), publisher of ‘Books and Bookmen’]
Publication details: 
30 September 1974; on letterhead of Westwell House, Tenterden, Kent.
£120.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. The present item is 2pp, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, and folded once for postage. Thirty-one lines of text. Signed ‘H.

[A. V. Dicey (Albert Venn Dicey), distinguished jurist, Vinerian Professor of English Law at Oxford.] Autograph Signature to Secretarial Letter to Archibald A. Prankerd, regarding a dissertation and Henry Goudy, Regius Professor of Civil Law.

Author: 
A. V. Dicey [Albert Venn Dicey (1835-1922)], distinguished jurist and Liberal Unionist, Vinerian Professor of English Law at Oxford [Arthur Archibald Prankerd; Henry Goudy]
Publication details: 
19 February 1896. All Souls College, University of Oxford.
£45.00

See Richard A. Cosgrove’s laudatory entry on him in the Oxford DNB, as well as that on Henry Goudy (1848-1921), Regius Professor of Civil Law (like Dicey, of All Souls). The recipient, Archibald Arthur Prankerd (1851-1926), of Worcester College, was also in the law faculty at Oxford. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Folded once for postage. Signed and underlined at foot in pencil ‘A V Dicey’. The letter, in a secretarial hand, reads: ‘Dear Prankerd, / This Dissertation will I think suffice. Please look it through & send it back to Goudy.

[‘It was a monstrous thing to make poverty a crime’: Jesse Collings, Liberal politician.] Autograph Letter Signed, attacking the government over a bill which was meant to be ‘of no use to the people whom it affected’.

Author: 
Jesse Collings (1831-1920), Liberal and Liberal Unionist politician, advocate of free education and land reform
Publication details: 
5 August 1888. Edgbaston, Birmingham.
£38.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. Lightly aged and worn. Folded four times. Signed ‘Jesse Collings’. Addressed to ‘Messrs Smith & Kitching / Hon. Secs. Political Committee / Chelsea / London’. Minuted in pencil on reverse of second leaf: ‘Acknowledgment of Copy of our Resolution’. He has been ‘so much over-pressed with correspondence and other work’, hence the delay in replying. He asks them to ‘convey my best thanks to your Committee for the Resolution they have passed, and copy of which you enclosed’.

[Thomas Mann, trade unionist and communist.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both ‘Tom Mann’), as Secretary of London Reform Union, one endorsing a ‘scheme’ which will reduce the death rate; the other about ‘Douglas’ and a meeting of the Stepney Branch

Author: 
Tom Mann [Thomas Mann] (1856-1941), trade unionist, socialist and communist [A. G. L. Rogers]
Publication details: 
12 and 30 May 1993; both on letterhead of London Reform Union, Granville House, 3 Arundel Street, W.C. [London].
£90.00

See the entry for Thomas Mann in the Oxford DNB. From the papers of Arthur George Liddon Rogers (1864-1944), son and editor of the economist Thorold Rogers [James Edwin Thorold Rogers] (1823-1890), for information regarding whom see his entry in the Oxford DNB. The second letter in good condition, lightly aged and folded once; the first in fair condition, folded three times with a number of short closed tears along creases. Mann is writing in his capacity as Secretary of the London Reform Union (for whose ‘Object’ see the end of this entry). ONE: 12 May 1893. 2pp, 4to.

[ Sir Joseph Chamberlain, Liberal statesman. ] Autographh Letter Signed ('J. Chamberlain') to 'Sir Robert'

Author: 
Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), English politician, first a Liberal, then a Liberal Unionist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Highbury, Moor Green, Birmingham. 26 December 1903.
£50.00

Although never Prime Minister, Chamberlain was described by Churchill as the man 'who made the weather' in the House of Commons, and was leader of the Liberal opposition for a few months in 1906. 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged and ruckled paper. He thanks the recipient for accepting his invitation, and considers that his 'assistance will greatly strengthen the commission'.

[ Emilia, Lady Dilke. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Emilia F. S. Dilke') to 'Mrs Lewis', on topics including an article in 'The World', 'Mr Whitmore', 'Mrs Jay' and the Dilkes' 'island'.

Author: 
Emilia, Lady Dilke [ born Emily Francis Strong ] (1840-1904), feminist and trades unionist, wife, first of Oxford academic Mark Pattison (1813-84), and then of Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke (1843-1911)
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Dockett Eddy, by Shepperton, Middlesex. 26 June 1890.
£90.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She begins with criticism of an article 'which has also appeared in the "World", which she is sure 'will vex Mr Whitmore'. She assures Mrs Lewis that no-one will suspect her of involvement, and thanks her for having 'secured the valuable services of Mrs Jay for Park Walk [...] Her playing has been invaluable to us [...] I want to ask her to come on our sub-committee'. She would like Mrs Lewis and her daughter to 'come down & dine & sleep on our island!', the Thames running under the house's verandah.

[ Printed pamphlet. ] The Liberal Party and Mr. Chamberlain.

Author: 
W. T. Marriott, Q.C., M.P. [ Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), English Liberal Party politician ]
Publication details: 
Seventeenth Thousand. With Preface. London: Chapman and Hall, Limited. 11, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C. [ Printed by J. S. Virtue and Co., Limited, City Road, London. ] [ Preface dated 11 January 1884. ]
£56.00

32pp., 8vo. Disbound without wrappers. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The 'Preface to the Seventeenth Thousand' covers pp.3 and 4, and is dated 'January 11th, 1884.' The preface begins: 'Since the publication of this pamphlet, not three weeks ago, Mr. George has reappeared upon the scene, and has held up the class to which Mr. Chamberlain himself belongs to the envy and execration of the artisans of the metropolis.

Irish Orange Order political handbill poem, ostensibly by 'Robert Todd, Comber', ridiculing Liberal candidate in North Down John Shaw Brown on his defeat in the General Election of 1885, titled 'The Burial of the Radical Cause in the Glassmoss'.

Author: 
'Robert Todd, Comber' and 'M'Cullough's Mule, Coroner, Glassmoss' [John Shaw Brown of Edenderry and Tordeevra, linen manufacturer; County Down, Northern Ireland]
Publication details: 
[Glassmoss, County Down, Ireland. 1885.]
£250.00

1p., 12mo. Cheaply printed in small print. A frail survival: aged and worn. In the 1885 General Election Brown was soundly defeated in the North Down constituency by the Conservative candidate Thomas Waring. The present item is headed 'The Burial of the Radical Cause in the Glassmoss. (By Robert Todd, Comber.)' The poem is 32 lines long, divided into eight four-line stanzas.

[Second World War pamphlet in support of the Conservative and Unionist Party.] Politics in War Time. What the Opposition Leaders are Working for To-day.

Author: 
[Sir Douglas Hacking, Chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party; Neville Chamberlain, British Prime Minister]
Publication details: 
Printed and Published by Deverell, Gibson & Hoare, Ltd., 5, Lavington Street, London, S.E.1' [1939]
£45.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. An interesting survival (no copies traced on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat), indicating that British party politics was not entirely suspended during the 'Phoney War'. The pamphlet gives no indication that it is directly issued by the Conservative and Unionist Party, but see the quotation from Chamberlain below. The front cover reads: 'Politics in War Time.

[Printed item.] National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations. Speakers' Competition, 1936. Notes for Competitors & Judges.

Author: 
[National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, Speakers' Competition, 1936]
Publication details: 
National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations. [Great Britain.] Dated 'December 1935.' [for 1936]
£90.00

[1] + 6pp., 12mo. On six leaves, stapled together in one corner. In good condition, on lightly aged paper. Main headings: 'General Conditions', 'Special Notes' [sub headings for Chairman (Elocution and Manner; Subject Matter; Procedure; Manner of Handling Meeting); Speaker; Proposer and Seconder; Team Work], 'The National Anthem', 'Marking Sheets' and 'Declaring Result'. Scarce: no copy traced on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

Handbill headed 'UNIONIST SONGS. FOR POLITICAL MEETINGS. To be sung to Popular Airs. WORDS BY "VAN." '

Author: 
Van' [Ulster Unionism; Unionist; Conservative Party]
Publication details: 
March 1892; Published by the Conservative Publication Department, St. Stephen's Chambers, Westminster, S.". [Printed by the "Birmingham Daily Gazette" Co., Limited.]
£100.00

12mo (leaf dimensions 22 x 14.5 cm), 4 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and complete. On lightly-worn and aged paper. Excessively scarce: no copy in the British Library, on COPAC, or on WorldCat. Five songs: 'The Union Jack. Air "Nancy Lee." ', 'The Shamrock, Thistle, & Rose. Air "The British Grenadiers." ', 'The Unionists' song. Air "The Mermaid." ', 'Here's To Our Cause. Air "Drink, Puppy, Drink." ' and 'Loud Roars The Gladstone Thunder. Air "Bay Of Biscay." '

Scrapbook, assembled and annotated by Pymm, containing newspaper cuttings, letters and other material relating to his wife's involvement in the 'Liberal Unionist Tea Party Scandal' of 1893.

Author: 
Henry Pymm [The Liberal Unionist Tea Party Scandal, Lambeth, 1893; Henry Morton Stanley]
Publication details: 
1893; London.
£225.00

The nature of this somewhat Pooterish 'scandal' is explained in one of the cuttings in the scrapbook: '[...] the Unionists of North Lambeth are making secret but strenuous efforts to insure the return of Mr. H. M. Stanley at the next election.

Autograph Signatures on fragment of legal document.

Author: 
Joseph Chamberlain [Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain] (1863-1937), Liberal Unionist politician; Edward Montagu Primrose of the Admiralty, Whitehall; A. Whitehouse, Paymaster, Royal Navy; Henry Crane
Publication details: 
13/06/73
£35.00

On a piece of paper roughly 8.5 x 19 cm. Heavily aged, creased and with wear to extremities. Signatures clear and entire. Some loss to bottom left-hand corner. Printed text (involving a transfer) with manuscript insertions. Two red wafers. Signed 'A Whitehall | Admiralty | Paymaster R.N.'; 'E. M. Primrose'; 'Henry Crane | 14 Broad St | Clerk'; 'Joseph Chamberlain'. Chamberlain left Southbourne in Edgbaston in 1880.

Seven Typed Letters Signed and one Autograph Letter Signed to G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir James Fortescue Flannery, 1st Baronet
Publication details: 
1924-5; typed letters on letterhead of Flannery, Baggallay & Johnson, Ltd., consulting engineers; autograph letter on letterhead of the Grand Hotel, Harrowgate.
£150.00

Ulster unionist politician and civil engineer (1851-1943). The collection is in very good condition. The seven typed letters are quarto and the autograph letter 12mo. All signed 'J. Fortescue Flannery', mostly docketed and carrying the Society's stamp. Mainly concerns the delivery and publication of a 'Paper on Diesel Engines'. 2 February 1925: 'I note with great interest that you expect a large and influential attendance on the 11th inst.' 5 February 1925: 'it occurs to me that the name of the Rt. Hon. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu K.C.I.E.

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