WITT

[‘I don’t care where I get to if I am only inside the gate’: Thomas De Witt Talmage, prominent American preacher.] Autograph Letter Signed to an English preacher (‘brother’), describing his hard work preaching and converting.

Author: 
Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832-1902), prominent American Presbyterian, one of the most popular preachers of his day
Publication details: 
16 December 1893; on letterhead of ‘The Christian at Work’, 102 Chambers Street, New York.
£50.00

In his 1902 biography L. A. Banks quotes Dr David Gregg of Brooklyn: ‘There is but one man in the American pulpit that can draw, and hold, and thrill, twice every Sabbath the year round, an audience of 8,000. There is but one man on the globe that preaches the Gospel every week through the press to 25,000,000.’ 3pp, 8vo. Bifolium, with the final page written lengthwise on the reverse of the first leaf. In good condition, on discoloured paper, with remains of stub adhering to blank reverse of second leaf, which also carries a pin hole to one corner. The recipient is unidentified.

[Sir Robert Witt, art historian and collector, co-founder of the Courtauld Institute in London.] Typed Card Signed (‘R. W.’) ordering item from catalogue of bookseller J. A. Neuhuys.

Author: 
Sir Robert Witt [Sir Robert Clermont Witt], art historian and collector, co-founder of the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and National Art Collections Funds, Trustee of the National Gallery
Publication details: 
31 December 1923. On his letterhead, 32 Portman Square, W1 [London].
£35.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. In fair condition, lightly aged and with slight wear at base. Typed address to ‘Mr. J. A. Neuhuys, / 37, Dean Road, / Willesden Green, / N. W. 2’. Reads: ‘Will you please send me on approval No. 582a, from your catalogue No. 29. / R. W.’ Recipt marked with red date stamp of 1 January 1924, and message lightly crossed out in pencil.

[Sir Robert Witt, art historian and co-founder of the Courtauld Institute.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Robert C. Witt') regarding the approach to be taken 'for the purchase of the Velasquez', i.e. the Rokeby Venus, now in the National Gallery.

Author: 
Sir Robert Witt [Sir Robert Clermont Witt] (1872-1952), art historian, co-founder of the Courtauld Institute of Art, London [Diego Velasquez; Rokeby Venus; National Gallery]
Publication details: 
19 November 1905. 27 Connaught Square, Hyde Park, [London] W. On letterhead of the Union Society, Oxford.
£250.00

For information on the campaign to save the Rokeby Venus for the nation, see Charles Saumarez Smith, 'The Battle for Venus', Spectator, 10 November 2003. 4pp, 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. With one fold.

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