WILLIAM

[British Book Trade.] Manuscript list of material, made by collector 'Mr Abrahams', with an Autograph Letter Signed from W. H. Peet, who made use of Abraham's collection in compiling the bibliographical index to Mumby's 'Romance of Book Selling'.

Author: 
Abrahams; William Henry Peet [F. A. Mumby [Frank Arthur Mumby] (1872-1954), author of 'The Romance of Book Selling' (1910), later 'Publishing and Bookselling' (sixth edition, 1982)]
Publication details: 
Without place or date [circa 1910].
£500.00

The manuscript is closely-written over 80pp., 4to, in green cloth, and is interleaved with the twenty leaves of Peet's printed bibliography from the 1910 edition of Mumby's book (paginated 431-470), to which it does not correspond, with only a small amount of the information in the manuscript also in Peet's bibliography. It contains a mass of material not present in Peet's bibliography, and has the main list followed by entries under the following headings: 'Booksellers' Portraits', 'Tokens', 'Petitions & Memorials', 'Charities', 'Magazine Articles', 'Book Labels' and 'Copyright'.

[ Wine; merchant's account ] Itemised manuscript accounts of an early eighteenth-century Derbyshire wine merchant, for customers including William Cavendish of Dovebridge, Thomas Stanhope, William Sacheverell, Reginald Cynder.

Author: 
[Accounts of an 18th-century Derbyshire winemerchant; William Cavendish of Dovebridge; Brook Boothby; Thomas Stanhope; William Sacheverell; the wine trade; vintners]
Publication details: 
Derbyshire; between 12 July 1702 and 13 January 1711.
£750.00

15 pp, narrow folio (14.5 x 38 cm), in the remains of a volume which has been reused and cut up (see below). Although aged and dogeared, the eight pages carrying the accounts are in reasonable condition, with all texts clear and complete, although the last leaf of the eight has the lower third cut away. In remains of original vellum binding, with '17 Maij j683' on front board. The pages are variously paginated in a contemporary hand between 245 and 274.

Autograph notebook by the biographer and antiquary Thomas Wright of Olney, containing rough drafts of an apparently-unpublished story or novel ('My Little Lady. A Story without a Moral'), and of a lecture on Daniel Defoe and Stoke Newington.

Author: 
Thomas Wright ['Wright of Olney'] (1859-1936) of Olney, Buckinghamshire, biographer, editor and antiquary, founder of the Cowper, John Payne and Blake Societies
Publication details: 
[Edwardian. Olney, Buckinghamshire.]
£300.00

12mo, 134 pp each on one side of a ring-punched loose leaf, with the leaves attached by green thread within an original worn buckram binder with discoloured endpapers. The leaves themselves in good condition on lightly-aged paper; with those of the draft story ruled in red, and sometimes utilizing scrap paper (for example the blank reverses of prospectuses for Wright's books and scrap pages from Blake Society material).

Twenty-four original outline lithographic illustrations to Shakespeare: a series of twelve anonymous ones to 'The Tempest', published in London in 1825 by Charles Knight; and a series of twelve by Moritz Retzsch to 'Macbeth'.

Author: 
Charles Knight, London publisher; Friedrich August Moritz Retzsch (1779-1857), German painter, artist and draughtsman; William Shakespeare
Publication details: 
The 'Tempest' illustrations 'Published by C. Knight, Pall Mall East, April 1825'. Retzsch's 'Macbeth' illustrations undated [1833 or 1847.
£250.00

All twenty-four illustrations have been laid down on leaves removed from an album of prints. Both series are numbered to twelve, and each is complete. The plates in the Retzsch series appear to have had their margins cropped. All images clear and complete, on lightly-aged paper, with occasional light spotting and discoloration. Laid down at the head of the first illustration in the first series, and slightly (0.5 cm) encroaching onto it, is a printed label reading 'Illustrations to Shakespeare's | TEMPEST | in 12 plates'.

[ Printed item in publisher's cloth. ] Doctor Grattan. A Novel.

Author: 
William A. Hammond, Author of "Lal." [ William Alexander Hammond (1828-1900), Surgeon General of the United States Army during the American Civil War ]
Publication details: 
London: Richard Bentley & Son, New Burlington Street. 1885.
£50.00

417pp., 8vo. A fair copy, on lightly aged paper, a little loose in worn publisher's brown cloth binding, with gilt title on spine and decorative cross on front board, and green patterned endpapers. Blind stamp of the W. H. Smith Library, Strand, to front free endpaper. According to Hammond's biographer Bonnie Ellen Blustein, 'The complex plot of Doctor Grattan revolved around the relation of insanity to neurological impairment, and touched on the subjects of neuralgia, headache, kleptomania, and delusions.' This English edition of Hammond's book is now uncommon.

[ Printed item. ] Tales from "Bentley." Vol. I. [ Including contributions by Thomas Love Peacock; William Macginn; Mrs Trollope; Edward Mayhew ]

Author: 
Richard Bentley, London bookseller [ Thomas Love Peacock; William Macginn; Mrs Trollope; Edward Mayhew ]
Publication details: 
London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street. 1859. [ Winchester: Printed by Hugh Barclay, High Street. ]
£100.00

[4] + [288]pp. [paginated 1-96 three times]. In original brown cloth binding, with decorative design in black on front board. A fair copy, internally tight, on aged paper, in worn and faded binding. An initial 'Advertisement' reads: 'It is well known that stories by some of the most eminent writers have appeared from time to time in "Bentley's Miscellany." It is here proposed to republish the best of them in a collected form. | London, August, 1859.' Thirteen contributions in prose and verse, from, first, the named authors W. H. Maxwell (2), 'T. C.

Two numbers of 'Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine', containing 'Adventures in the North of Ireland: the demon of the mist', G. W. Hemans; 'Evils of the state of Ireland', William P. Alison; 'A glance at the state and prospects of Ireland', Macleod Wylie

Author: 
[ Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine; William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859), Scottish physician; George Willoughby Hemans (1814-1885), architect; MacLeod Wylie, hymnologist ]
Publication details: 
ONE: No. 252, October 1836. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh; and T. Cadell, London. TWO: No. 264, October 1837. 'Theodore Foster's Edition' and 'New American Edition'. New York: William Lewer, Publisher, Broadway, Corner of Pine-street.
£50.00

Both numbers are in the distinctive Blackwood's printed covers, with illustration of George Buchanan. Both are good tight copies, on lightly-aged paper, in worn and aged wraps. All articles are anonymous, and attributions are from the Wellesley Index. ONE: No. 252, October 1836. Unopened. Several advertisements bound in front and back. 144pp., 8vo, paginated [2] + 437-578. Hemans' piece, paginated 459-467, is the second in the volume, and Alison's, paginated 495-514, is fourth. The volume also contains work by George Croly, D. K. Sandford, John Wilson, John Eagles and Alfred Mallalieu.

Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Dummer Academy, Byfield, Mass. Instituted A.D. 1763.

Author: 
William Dummer Northend [The Dummer Academy; Governor Dummer Academy; The Governor's Academy]
Publication details: 
Massachusetts: Printed at the Salem Gazette Office. 1844.
£100.00

8vo: 53 pp. In modern green wraps with white paper label. Text clear and complete. On aged, stained paper with slight wear to extremities. Pencil addition of one name. One page 'Advertisement', dated August 1844, by 'W. D. N.' (i.e. William Dummer Northend), and four-page anonymous 'Preface', giving a history of the Academy. 22-line newspaper cutting loosely inserted, headed 'Dummer Academy', and with dates March and April 1845 on reverse. Excessively scarce. According to WorldCat no copy in America, and the only copy on COPAC at the British Library.

[ Printed pamphlet on the Crimean War. ] Speech of the Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P. for the University of Oxford, On the War and the Negotiations, in the House of Commons, On the 3rd of August, 1855. Revised and corrected by himself.

Author: 
The Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P. for the University of Oxford [ William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister; The Crimean War ]
Publication details: 
Published at the Empire Office, 145, Fleet Street; and sold by all booksellers. 1855. [ J. Clayton, Printer, Crane Court, Fleet Street. ]
£80.00

24pp., 12mo. Disbound stitched pamphlet. In fair condition, lightly aged, with central vertical fold. In manuscript at head of title-page: 'No 6'. Having been Chancellor of the Exchequer during the Crimean War, Gladstone had resigned with the other Peelites at the beginning of 1855. Seven copies on COPAC, but now scarce.

[ W. H. Smith, bookseller, newsagent and politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W H Smith') to 'Mr Perkins' regarding 'Crown rights for money advanced', with carte de visite (portrait photograph) and label for his firm's subscription library.

Author: 
W. H. Smith [ William Henry Smith (1825-1891) ], bookseller, newsagent and politician; First Lord of the Admiralty and the 'Sir Joseph Porter' of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'HMS Pinafore'
Publication details: 
Letter on House of Commons letterhead. 14 March [ no year ]. Undated carte de visite by the London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, 110 and 108 Regent Street and 54 Cheapside. Undated label of W. H. Smith & Son's Subscription Library, 186 Strand.
£50.00

LETTER: 2pp., 12mo. On lightly aged and worn paper. He summons him to a meeting, telling him to read a memo beforehand, before writing: 'I am not disposed to waive any Crown rights for money advanced | Lenders may have notice, but if P. W L C advance public money, the public must be protected against persons who are trading for profit'. CARTE DE VISITE: In fair condition, lightly aged, with 'W. H. SMITH, ESQ., M.P.' printed beneath the image, and the details of the London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company on the reverse.

[ William Ince, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('William Ince M.A. | Sub Rector & Tutor of Exeter College, and Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford'), a reference for Rev. Robert Hutchison.

Author: 
William Ince (1825-1910), Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University [ Rev. Robert Hutchison of Exeter College ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Exeter College, Oxford. 9 February 1878.
£50.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Begins: 'The Rev R .Hutchison, formerly Scholar of this College, took a First Class in Classical Moderations in Michaelmas Term 1866. He was a good and accurate Scholar both in translation & composition. Having had 'some experience in the tuition both of boys and undergraduates', Hutchinson is 'anxious to obtain definite educational work'. His ''religious views', Ince believes, are those of 'a sound and moderate churchman, and likely to exercise a wholesome & manly influence on his pupils'.

[ Thomas Wilkinson Wallis, wood carver ('the Grinling Gibbons of the 19th century'). ] Eight autograph items: six journal fragments, including eight pages on the 1851 Great Exhibition; description of his 'Trophies of Spring'; letter to his daughter.

Author: 
Thomas Wilkinson Wallis (1821-1903), wood carver ('the Grinling Gibbons of the 19th century'), sculptor and painter of Louth in Lincolnshire [ The Great Exhibition, 1851 ]
Publication details: 
The letter to his daughter dated from Louth [ Lincolnshire ], 18 October 1884. Description of carving from 1851. Fragments from journal dealing with events in 1837, 1851, 1862 and 1866.
£1,800.00

Thomas Wilkinson Wallis was the greatest wood carver of Victorian England. Born in impoverished circumstances in Hull, by 1844 he had established his own business in Louth Lincolnshire, and for the 1851 he submitted seven carvings, 'of which ‘Trophy of Spring’ was awarded a medal. It was his most intricate carving, it took him 8 months to complete and was considered to surpass the work of Grinling Gibbons.

[Inscribed by Berthold Wolpe; From Evelyn Philip Shirley's Ettington Manuscript Library.] Contemporary calligraphic copy, in ornate binding, of the 1655 Plantin 'Series Chronologica Imperatorum Romanorum, a C. Iulio Caesare ad Ferdinandum III. Avg.'

Author: 
[ Christophe Plantin; Berthold Wolpe; Evelyn Phillip Shirley (1812-1882); Ettington Manuscript Library; William Staunton of Longbridge, Warwickshire ]
Publication details: 
Undated manuscript of work from 'Officina Plantiniana excudebat M.DC.LV. [ 1655 ]'
£320.00

The text of the printed volume is neatly and skilfully copied over 61pp., 4to., and ruled in red. Interspersed with a number of pages carrying only the red ruling. Internally good and tight, in worn brown morocco binding with front hinge nearly detached, with heavily-worn spine with no label and singeing at head and foot. Gilt dentelles, both internal and external, and the following stamped within decorative border at centre of both covers: 'SERIES CHRONOLOGICA | IMPERATORUM | ROMANORUM | 1655'.

[ Sir Edward George Clarke, barrister who represented Oscar Wilde. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edward Clarke'), reminiscing about a trial at which he considers his client was wrongly convicted, and commenting on his son William Francis Clarke.

Author: 
Sir Edward Clarke [ Sir Edward George Clarke ] (1841-1931), Conservative Solicitor-General who represented Oscar Wilde against the Marquis of Queensbury [ William Francis Clarke (1883-1961) ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Peterhouse, Staines [ Middlesex ]. 22 December 1927.
£90.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He begins by expressing pleasure at having been asked to write his name in Tyrrell's copy of his book (probably 'Benjamin Disraeli', published in 1926). He also thanks him for 'the kind things said about me in your letter'. He has 'tried to be useful in various ways', and remembers 'the case you mention.

[ William Griffin, Secretary to the Board of Ordnance. ] 'Copy' circular letter, in secretarial hand, signed by him ('W: Griffin.'), to the 'Officer Commanding the Oldham Regiment of Local Militia', calling in their 'Arms and Accoutrements'.

Author: 
William Griffin (d.1827), Secretary to the Board of Ordnance, London [ John Crossley of Scaitcliffe, near Rochdale, Lancashire, collector; Napoleonic Wars ]
Publication details: 
Office of Ordnance [ London ]. 10 April 1816.
£220.00

1p., folio. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with some chipping and a few closed tears to edges. Addressed 'To | The Officer Commanding | the Oldham Regiment of Local Militia. | Oldham Lancashire' (i.e. John Crossley of Scaitcliffe near Rochdale, who built up a notable collection of military memorabilia, dispersed after his death). Attached to a leaf of paper with a note by the recipient concerning the permission he has been granted to retain a 'Musquet and Set of Accoutrements'.

[ Printed item. ] Circular for the First Edition Club, London, by 'A. J. A. Symons, Secretary', inviting publishers to submit books to be included in 'the Fifty Books of the Year', and giving the criteria.

Author: 
The First Edition Club, London, founded by A. J. A. Symons [ Alphonse James Albert Symons ] (1900-1941) [ Curwen Press? ] [ William Foyle ]
Publication details: 
The First Edition Club, 6 Little Russell Street, London. [ Printed by the Curwen Press? ] [ Between 1922 and 1931. ]
£28.00

1p., 4to. Nicely printed (by the Curwen Press?) on watermarked laid paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. A nice piece of First Edition Club ephemera. The year to which the circular relates is meant to be added in manuscript, but has not been. Begins: 'The Committee appointed to choose the Fifty Books of the Year for [blank] will be grateful if, at your early convenience, you will submit such of your publications as seem to you most likely to be selected. I may perhaps remind you that the criteria by which judgment is made are | 1. TYPOGRAPHICAL DESIGN | 2. PAPER | 3. BINDING | 4.

[ Admiral William Parry, Arctic explorer. ] Autograph Note Signed ('W E Parry') to 'Mrs. Martineau' ('Caro' = sister?), explaining why he cannot accept an invitation.

Author: 
William Parry [ Rear Admiral Sir William Edward Parry, RN, FRS ] (1790-1855), Arctic explorer
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£180.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight loss to one corner. Reads: 'My dear Caro | I cannot go, having an engagement at Greenwich - I will answer for you also. | In haste, | but ever yrs, | W E Parry'. Note: A letter from Parry to "Joseph Martineau, brother-in-law" appears in a Parry archive - perhaps Caro was his sister.

[ William Carruthers, Scottish botanist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm Carruthers') to 'Dr Miller', regarding paying a visit with 'our stones'.

Author: 
William Carruthers (1830-1922), Scottish botanist, Keeper of the Botanical Department at the Natural History Museum, London
Publication details: 
British Museum [ London ]. 5 July 1870.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He will have 'much pleasure in breaking our stones o'er again on Thursday', and will 'try & bring some sections with me - several specimens are in the lapidary's hands'. He ends by asking for confirmation of the hour at which he should call on him.

[ William Chambers, publisher and editor. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. Chambers') to unnamed individual, asking for information regarding a 'Polish periodical'.

Author: 
William Chambers (1800-1883) of Glenormiston, Scottish publisher and editor, and Lord Provost of Edinburgh [ W. & R. Chambers ]
Publication details: 
Edinburgh. 7 February 1843.
£120.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, with a couple of short closed tears along fold lines at foot. He is 'interested in the Polish periodical', and hopes to notice it in the magazine, and asks for information regarding six numbered points. 'If to the above could be added a translation of "A Scottish House" I think I could make an interesting article on the work.' He offers to 'give the use of any of our cuts with much pleasure'.

[ Sir William Henry Flower, anatomist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. H. Flower') to 'Miss Buchanan'

Author: 
Sir William Henry Flower (1831-1899), anatomist and surgeon, Director of the Natural History Museum, London
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London. 13 April 1896.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper, with traces of glue from mount at head of second page. Annotated at head in a contemporary hand. If mention of his name 'can in any way help you for the Welsh University or for any other post, by all means use it'. Regarding the 'next years cataloguing', plans are only in consideration, 'with the preparation of the estimates at end of the summer'. He explains that in the previous year these were 'framed by Dr. Smith', and that her application 'came just too late'.

[ George Rose, Tory politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('G Rose') to unnamed recipient [ H. S. Alves? ], commenting in detail on a naval tract he has sent him.

Author: 
George Rose (1744-1818), Scottish politician, reformer, anti-abolitionist, friend of William Pitt the Younger and Admiral Nelson [ Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount Melville; Henry Scott Alves ]
Publication details: 
'Wednesday Morng'. Without date or place.
£150.00

3pp., 4to. In good condition, each of the two leaves in neatly-trimmed remains of a windowpane mount. Headed 'Private' by Rose and 'Rec[eiv]ed' by the recipient, who has sent Rose a copy of a tract he has written on naval matters. (The reference in the letter to Lord Melville, who was Lord of the Admiralty from 1812 to 1827, may suggest Melville's secretary H. S.

[ Edward Falkener, architect and author. ] Autograph Letter Signed to fellow-architect William Tite

Author: 
Edward Falkener (1814-1896, pseud. 'E. F. O. Thurcastle'), architect and author [ Sir William Tite (1798-1873), architect and Member of Parliament; Sir John Soane's Museum ]
Publication details: 
10 Carlisle Parade, Hastings. 5 January 1861.
£150.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. On two occasions, despite the urgings of his friends, he has declined to apply for 'the Curatorship at Sir John Soanes', but he has since 'thought my friends might be right, and that the appointment would afford means of study and relaxation'. He has been 'over worked lately', and is 'suffering from boils and nervous headaches, which came on the very day I had intended to leave for Paris and Berlin'.

[ Eric W. MacLean, writing under pseudonym 'Eric Townsend'. ] Autograph directions to his agents in copy of 'The Fighting Cherub. A Fine Boxing Yarn. By Eric W. Townsend, Author of "Son o' the Wild," "The Red Fighter," etc., etc.'

Author: 
'Eric Townsend' [ pseudonym of Eric William MacLean (b.1901) ] [ Joe Louis, 'The Brown Bomber' (1914-1981), heavyweight boxing champion of the world; Altrincham, Manchester ]
Publication details: 
'No. 611. - "The Boys' Friend" 4d. Complete Library.' [ 1938 ]
£320.00

The printed volume is 64pp., 12mo. Bound by Townsend in patterned brown cloth, with the title 'The Fighting Cherub.' in gilt on front cover. In good condition, on browned newspaper stock, in lightly-worn binding. The story, in twenty-seven chapters, is printed in small print, in double column, with a drophead title and no illustrations. Townsend has written his address on the front pastedown: '4 Norman's Place. | Altrincham. | Via. Manchester.' Laid down across the pastedowns is a 12mo piece of paper, on which Townsend gives publication details, headed 'To Messrs Publishers' Agents. Ltd.

[ William Bowyer, London printer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Bowyer') to 'Mr. Redknap', regarding a threatening letter from a creditor. With engraving of Bowyer by James Basire.

Author: 
William Bowyer (1699-1777), eminent London printer [ James Basire (c.1730-1802), engraver ]
Publication details: 
Letter dated 1 September 1758. [ Engraving published in London in 1812. ]
£180.00

Both items are in fair condition, lightly aged, with the letter inserted in a windowpane mount, and the engraving laid down on the recto of the second leaf of the bifolium of which the mount forms the first leaf. The letter is 1p., 4to., and addressed on the reverse 'To Mr. Redknap'. Written in a difficult hand, it concerns a threatening letter Bowyer has received, stating that the sender (whose name is indecipherable) 'will hardly stay so long without Money', considering that 'Mr. Miller is going to Bath, & will not return probably within a Month'. Bowyer 'wd.

[ Sir William Tite, architect. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Tite') to an unnamed recipient, regarding the unfitness of a 'young Friend' for an appointment.

Author: 
Sir William Tite (1798-1873), architect of the Royal Exchange, London
Publication details: 
Place not decipherable, on inverted letterhead of 17 St. Helen's Place, E.C. [ London ] 'Friday' [ no date ].
£40.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. He does not think the recipient's 'young Friend' would stand much chance gaining 'the Appointment', but does not see why 'he should not try & make himself known'. He continues: 'We want an experienced Man up to all the workings of the Acts for compulsory Purchases & the Tricks of fradulent Claimants'. Tite is afrait that the 'young Friend has this unpleasant Part of his Profession yet to learn'. He concludes by stating that there is 'but little Chance of my being in London at the Election'.

[ Sir William Tite, architect. ] Autograph Note Signed ('William Tite') to J. Cole of Woodford.

Author: 
Sir William Tite (1798-1873), architect of the Royal Exchange, London
Publication details: 
London. 24 December 1845.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of mount still adhering to reverse. From the context a response to a request for an autograph. Reads. 'Sir / | I beg to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter & thus to answer it. | I am | Sir | Your obed Servant | William Tite'.

[ James Atlay, Bishop of Hereford. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Hereford') to 'Bateman', on the evils of 'excessive smoking', and giving a bon mot by Archbishop Magee.

Author: 
James Atlay (1817-1894), Bishop of Hereford [ William Connor Magee (1821-1891), Archbishop of York ]
Publication details: 
Oxton Hall, Tadcaster, on cancelled letterhead of The Palace, Hereford. 30 September 1892.
£45.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. He begins by stating that, as he takes the Eagle newspaper, he has 'seen your poem & Bowling's version', before continuing: 'The only comfort that I can find in the smoling - excessive smoking - of the present day is that the Tobacco is less disagreeable and (I hope) less noxious than the weed of my youth'. He is not himself a smoker, 'but my boys smoke, to excess I think'.

[ James Sheridan Knowles, Irish dramatist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Sheridan Knowles') to the Birmingham printing ink manufacturers Beilby & Co, regarding a debt (incurred through his association with the Glasgow newspaper 'The Free Press').

Author: 
James Sheridan Knowles (1784-1862), Irish dramatist and actor [ Beilby & Knotts, Birmingham; William Spencer Northhouse, editor, 'The Free Press', Glasgow newspaper ]
Publication details: 
'July 1828 | Port Bannatyne | near Rothsay | Island of Bute | N[orth]. B[ritain].' [ Scotland. ]
£180.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with some repair, and traces of stub from mount still adhering. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with postmarks, to 'Messrs Beilby & Co | Printing Ink Manufacturers | Birmingham'. On the same page, in another hand: 'Mr Reuben Sparks.' Knowles's entry in the Oxford DNB gives the context. In 1816 he 'moved to Glasgow, where he established and ran a school for nearly twelve years [...] In 1823 and 1824 he added to his income by conducting the literary department of the Free Press, a Glasgow paper which advocated liberal and social reform.

[ Eric W. MacLean, writing under pseudonym 'Eric Townsend'. ] Autograph Card Signed ('Eric W. Maclean') to Arthur Gray, with copy of his story 'One-Punch Chris!', and pages of autograph notes giving publication details and proposal for republication.

Author: 
'Eric Townsend' [ pseudonym of Eric William MacLean (b.1901) ], writer of adventure stories and juvenile fiction
Publication details: 
Card: C/o "Townsend's" | 41, George-street | ALTRINCHAM. | Via. Manchester'. Undated. Story: 'No. 128 - "The Boys' Friend" 4d. Complete Library'. Undated [ circa 1925 ].
£280.00

The card is 1p., 12mo., sending the 'Third book of proposed Series'. He hopes to 'call to collect agreed £1 on the date arranged', but if this is not possible asks for it to be sent to John Farquharson. The printed volume is 64pp., 12mo. Bound by Townsend in patterned brown cloth, with the title 'One-Punch Chris?' in gilt on front cover. In good condition, on browned newspaper stock, in lightly-worn binding. The story, by 'Eric W. Townsend', in thirty-four chapters, is printed in small print, in double column, with a drophead title and illustration of boxing scene above text on front page.

[ J. M. Synge's 'Playboy of the Western World'. ] Front-page article from 'The Gaelic American', carrying a report of 'New York's Protest against a Vile Play!', accompanied by a caricature of W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory.

Author: 
[ John Devoy (1842-1928), proprietor and editor of 'The Gaelic American', New York [ J. M. Sygne [ John Millington Synge ]; George Bernard Shaw; W. B. Yeats; Lady Gregory; The Abbey Theatre, Dublin ]
Publication details: 
New York. 2 December 1911. [ 'Vol. VIII, No. 48, Whole No. 429'. ]
£50.00

The front and back covers of the newspaper are present, forming a bifolium. A frail and scarce survival. Heavily-aged newsprint, chipped and worn, with the top and bottom halves of the front page separated along a horizontal fold line. The article on Synge's play covers the first two of the six columns on the front page, with a further quarter-column on the back page.

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