writer

[‘I have got hold of a rascally bad pen’: Thomas Hughes, author of the Victorian children’s classic ‘Tom Brown’s Schooldays’.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Miss Stead’, responding to a request for an autograph.

Author: 
Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), author of the Victorian children's classic 'Tom Brown's Schooldays', Liberal MP and judge
Publication details: 
24 October 1871; on embossed letterhead of the Athenaeum club, London.
£80.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and folded twice for postage. One corner very slightly cropped. Signed ‘Tho. Hughes’. In response to a request for an autograph he writes: ‘My dear Madam / I have only just returned to town where I find your note, with the request contained in which I have much pleasure in complying & sending you my signature below, though it is not a good specimen as I have got hold of a rascally bad pen.’ See Image.

[H. E. Bates [Herbert Ernest Bates], English author, noted for his short stories.] Autograph Letter Signed to the Leicester bookseller Edgar Backus, buying a print, discussing his health, and looking forward to making Backus’s acquaintance.

Author: 
H. E. Bates [Herbert Ernest Bates] (1905-1974), English author, noted for his short stories [Edgar Backus, Leicester bookseller]
Publication details: 
9 January 1943; on letterhead of The Granary, Little Chart, Ashford, Kent.
£65.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. At the time of writing Bates was employed in writing short stories as propaganda for the Air Ministry. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Signed ‘H. E. Bates’.He begins by thanking him for sending a print, and is sorry he could not reply before: ‘like so many other people I have been ill & in bed’. He is keeping the print and enclosing five pounds. ‘Next time I come to Leicester I hope to have time to come in & make your acquaintance.’ He ends by asking him to look out for books on ‘collecting old silver’ for him.

[Compton Mackenzie, Anglo-Scottish writer.] Three Typed Letters Signed to Mr and Mrs Raymond [Raymont], with reference to Henry Irving, A. L. Rowse, Cornwall and the Seychelles.

Author: 
Compton Mackenzie [Sir Edward Montague Compton Mackenzie] (1883-1972), Anglo-Scottish writer
Publication details: 
23 November 1961; 6 February 1964; 6 September 1965. The first two on letterhead of 31 Drummond Place, Edinburgh 3; the last on letterhead of Pradelles, Les Arques, Par Cazals, Lot. France.
£120.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The three items are in good condition, each with his firm signature ‘Compton Mackenzie’. Each is 1p, 4to, in good condition, folded for postage.Despite being scored through, one can see that the first and last salutation are addressed to ‘Mrs Raymont’, and the second to ‘Mr Raymond’. ONE: 23 November 1961. He is pleased that she enjoyed his book ‘Mezzotint’: ‘The setting is really the Seychelles but of course I had to lay it in the South Atlantic instead of the Indian Ocean.’ He agrees with her ‘about these efforts at modernity by some of my contemporaries.

[‘‘F. Anstey’, pseudonym of the English humorist Thomas Anstey Guthrie.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Anstey Guthrie’) to J. G. Wilson, proprietor of the London booksellers J. & E. Bumpus.

Author: 
‘F. Anstey’, pseudonym of the English humorist Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934) [John Gideon Wilson (1876-1963), proprietor of the prestigious London booksellers J. & E. Bumpus.]
Publication details: 
31 October 1931. On letterhead of 24 Holland Park Road, Kensington, W. [London]
£80.00

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, on the first leaf of bifolium. (There are extensive pencil annotations in a later hand on the second leaf.) Very neatly written. Addressed to ‘J. G. Wilson Esqre.’ and signed ‘Anstey Guthrie’. He has ‘much pleasure’ in answering Wilson’s question. ‘‘Shut Out’ is a short story of mine which was published in Longmans Magazine about 1895 or 6, afterwards included in a volume of short stories under the title of “The Talking Horse”. I think published by Messrs. Smith & Elder - but now long out of print.

[Pat Lawlor, New Zealand journalist and book collector.] Two Typed Letters Signed, or signed carbon copies, to Malcolm Muggeridge, praising his biography of Hugh Kingsmill and discussing his own association with him.

Author: 
Pat Lawlor [Patrick Anthony Lawlor] (1893-1979), New Zealand Roman Catholic journalist, author and book collector [Malcolm Muggeridge; Hugh Kingsmill]
Publication details: 
12 September 1955 and 21 January 1956; both addressed from Box 965, Wellington, New Zealand. On the reverse of a letterhead of New Zealand Literary Fund Advisory Committee, Wellington.
£120.00

See his entry in the Encylopedia of New Zealand, and those of Muggeridge and Kingsmill in the Oxford DNB. Each item 1p, foolscap 8vo. Both addressed to ‘Dear Mr Muggeridge’. ONE (12 September 1955): In good condition, on air mail paper, lightly aged and creased. Signed in pencil with calligraphic squiggle. Begins: ‘I want to write something about Hugh Kingsmill. About 20 years ago we exchanged a few letters during a flare up in the Wilde-Douglas business at a time when Robert Sherard was busy fanning the flames and G. B. S.

[Lady Eastlake [Elizabeth, Lady Eastlake], author, wife of Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, President of the Royal Academy.] Autograph Letter Signed to the widow of the travel writer Richard Ford, offering a gift of 'early strawberries & grapes'.

Author: 
Lady Eastlake [Elizabeth, Lady Eastlake, née Rigby] (1809-1893), author, wife of painter Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, President of Royal Academy and first Director of the National Gallery [Richard Ford]
Publication details: 
'7 Fitzroy Sqr [London] / May 4. 1864.'
£45.00

A jaunty missive. Lady Eastlake and her husband have separate entries in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 16mo. Eighteen lines. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Addressed to 'Dear Mrs Ford' and signed 'Eliz Eastlake'. A 'kind friend in the country' is insisting on sending her 'early strawberries & grapes' and she asks Mrs Ford not to 'commit the extravagance of orderg any yourself, but trust to me to have the offering transferred to 123 Park Street'. She will be sending for the fruit at Euston Station around 2 o'clock on the Saturday, '& they shall be shortly after that with you'.

[Stanley J. Weyman, popular English novelist of the ?cloak and dagger school?.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Barron' [i.e. Rosemary Barron]

Author: 
Stanley J. Weyman [Stanley John Weyman] (1855-1928), popular English Victorian and Edwardian novelist of historical romance and the 'cloak and dagger school'
Publication details: 
7 March 1926. On letterhead of Plas Llanrhydd, Ruthin, North Wales.
£50.00

Weyman was, as his entry in the Oxford DNB states, ?one of the most popular and skilled of the historical romance novelists of the cloak and dagger school?. Oscar Wilde recommended (in all seriousness) Weyman's novels as reading for convicts. 1p, 16mo. In fair condition, lightly creased and worn. Folded for postage. From the collection of Rosemary Barron, autograph collector. Reads: 'Dear Miss Barron / I am sorry that your letter has remained unanswered so long but I have been laid aside by illness.

[R. E. Forrest [Robert Edward Treston Forrest], author and engineer in British India.] Autograph Letter Signed to James Payn, regarding the death of his mother and its effect on the writing of his latest book.

Author: 
R. E. Forrest [Robert Edward Treston Forrest] (1835-1914), author and engineer, son of Captain George Forrest of the East India Company, winner of Victoria Cross during Indian Mutiny [James Payn]
Publication details: 
?La Hutte / Dinan / France / 27 July 1887?.
£56.00

See the Oxford DNB entry of the recipient James Payn (1830-1898), at the time of this letter the editor of the Cornhill Magazine. More significantly, Payn had since 1874 been a reader for Smith, Elder, and the present letter stems from the firm?s interest in Forrest?s ?tale of the Indian Mutiny? which they would publish in 1891 under the title ?Eight Days?. 2pp, 16mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with short closed tear at edge of postage fold. Addressed to ?James Payn Esqr.? and signed ?R. E. Forrest?.

[Samuel Childs Clarke, Vicar of Thorverton, Devon, hymnologist and poet.] Autograph Letter Signed on copy of prospectus for his 'Festival Hymns', discussing the work.

Author: 
S. Childs Clarke [Rev. Samuel Childs Clarke] (1821-1903), Vicar of Thorverton, Devon, hymnologist and poet
Publication details: 
7 July 1896. On embossed letterhead of Thorverton Vicarage, Devon.
£80.00

1p, 8vo. On recto of first leaf of a bifolium. The reverse of the that leaf and recto of the second leaf carry the printed prospectus and order form for Clarke’s 1896 volume, ‘Festival Hymns, Including Three Offertory Hymns for Festival Use, Sung in S. Paul’s Cathedral, also in Exeter, Truro, and other Cathedrals, at Choral Festivals’, in which Clarke is described as ‘Vicar of Thorverton, Devon, Hon. Sec. Exeter Diocesan Board of Education’. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice for postage. Signed ‘S Childs Clarke’. The recipient is not named.

Harry de Windt [Captain Harry Willes Darell de Windt], explorer and travel writer.] Autograph Note Signed: a quotation with signature provided for an autograph hunter.

Author: 
Harry de Windt [Captain Harry Willes Darell de Windt (1856-1933)], explorer and travel writer, aide-de-camp to his brother-in-law Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak
de windt
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£50.00
de windt

See the entry for Sir Charles Brooke in the Oxford DNB. On one side of an 18 x 9 cm piece of paper, the upper part torn from a larger sheet, with neatly-torn bottom edge resulting in a little loss to the flourish beneath the signature and the tip of the downstroke of the ‘y’ in ‘Harry’. In fair condition, lightly aged, with a central vertical fold. The text, in a bold hand, reads: ‘ “Though obstacles beset you - struggle still!” / Even a worm may climb this highest hill! / Yrs Sly / Harry de Windt’ See Image.

[Sheila Shannon, poet, and wife of Patric Dickinson; personalised] Copy of her poetry collection 'The Lightning-Struck Tower, inscribed to her husband's mistress Sarah Hamilton, with two ALSs from her to Hamilton, and two printed keepsakes.

Author: 
Sheila Shannon [Sheila Dunbar Shannon] (1913-2002), poet, wife of Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
BOOK: London: Frederick Muller Ltd., 1947. AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED: 19 February 1965 and 16 June 1994.
£100.00

Sarah Shannon (married name Sarah Dickinson) was a fine poet in her own right (see the blurb quoted in Item One below), and it is unfortunate that she allowed herself to be eclipsed by her husband the self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Patric Dickinson. He occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud.

[Anthology by Patric Dickinson and his wife Sheila Shannon, inscribed by him to his mistress Sarah Hamilton.] 'Poets' Choice / An anthology of English Poetry from Spenser to the present day / Compiled by Patric Dickinson and Sheila Shannon'.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster; Sheila Shannon [Sheila Dunbar Shannon] (1913-2002), poet
Dickinson
Publication details: 
Evans Brothers Limited London. 1967.
£100.00
Dickinson

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Posthumous collection of poems by Patric Dickinson, inscribed by his wife Sheila Shannon to his mistress Sarah Hamilton: 'ave atque vale' / Poems by Patric Dickinson'. With Autograph Card Signed to Hamilton from Shannon.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster; Sheila Shannon [Sheila Dunbar Shannon] (1913-2002), poet
Publication details: 
Book privately printed in edition of 85 copies: 'Hand-set and printed by John Bell at the Backwater Press for Sheila Dickinson in an edition of eighty-five copies and bound by the Athene Bindery / 1998'. ACS: 17 July 1998; 38 Church Square, Rye.
£100.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Mandeville Press, Hitchin.] Poetry collection 'Mandeville's Travellers', featuring work by Seamus Heaney; Bernard Bergonzi; Charles Tomlinson; Patric Dickinson; George Szirtes and others.

Author: 
Seamus Heaney; Bernard Bergonzi; Charles Tomlinson; Patric Dickinson; George Szirtes; Mandeville Press, Hitchin
Publication details: 
1984. Edition of 300 copies, 'Printed and published by The Mandeville Press 2 Taylors Hill Hitchin Herts'.
£80.00

From the papers of Sarah Emmeline Hamilton, mistress of the poet Patric Dickinson. (His extraordinary correspondence with her, including 171 original and mostly-unpublished poems, 474 autograph letters and 349 post cards, is offered separately). See his obituary by John Mole’s in the Independent, 31 January 1994. The present item is 4to, and consists of 14 unpaginated pages over ten leaves. Stitched into brown wraps printed in black. Cover, title-page and colophon with illustrations from Sandys in brown, otherwise printed in black. Tastefully printed.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Autograph Poem ('Forgiveness') Signed ('P'), with note, addressed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, on reverse of mockup of dustwrapper design by her for his 1965 autobiography 'The Good Minute'.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster; Sarah Emmeline Hamilton
Dickinson
Publication details: 
The book was published in London by Gollancz in 1965. Printed on flap: 'Jacket by Sarah Hamilton & Partners / Printed by Direct Art Services'.
£100.00
Dickinson

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his poetry collection 'The World I See', inscribed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, and with autograph explanatory annotation throughout.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
London: Chatto and Windus / The Hogarth Press ('The Phoenix Living Poets'), 1960.
£150.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of printed order of service for memorial service of Patric Dickinson, including printed text of his last poem '80th'.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
'February 4th, 1994 Charing, Kent.'
£50.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his Mandeville Press poetry collection 'A Sun Dog'.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster [The Mandeville Press, Hitchin]
Publication details: 
1988. 'Printed & published by The Mandeville Press 2 Taylors Hill Hitchin'.
£45.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See his 1965 autobiography 'The Good Minute' and John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, and John Stanton Ward, artist.] Limited edition, signed by artist and poet: copy of 'Two Into One', 'Poems by Patric Dickinson / Drawings by John Ward'. With photographic print of study of Dickinson by Ward.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster; John Stanton Ward (1917-2007), artist
Publication details: 
'Printed and Published by Geerings of Ashford Limited. A limited edition of 750 copies. No 31'.
£100.00

John Stanton Ward was a noted portrait painter, who resigned his membership of the Royal Academy in protest at the ‘Sensation’ show of 1997. See his obituaries in the Telegraph, Times, Guardian and Indpendent. Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of 'Aristophanes Against War / The Acharnians / The Peace - Lysistrata / Translated by Patric Dickinson', inscribed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, with Autograph Card Signed to her.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
London: Oxford University Press, 1957.
£100.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his 'The Good Minute / An Autobiographical Study' ('Autobiography of a poet-golfer'), with printed keepsake poem 'The Unseen Kings' inscribed by him to his mistress Sarah Hamilton.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
Second impression August 1965. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd. Second impression August 1965.
£80.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his poetry collection 'The Cold Universe', inscribed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, with a few explanatory annotations and an Autograph Card Signed from him to her.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
London: Chatto and Windus / The Hogarth Press ('The Phoenix Living Poets'), 1964.
£100.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See his 1965 autobiography 'The Good Minute' and John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his poetry collection 'The Sailing Race and other Poems', inscribed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, and with autograph explanatory annotation throughout.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
London: Chatto and Windus, 1952.
£150.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his poetry collection 'The Scale of Things', filled with explanatory annotations by him for his mistress Sarah Hamilton.

Author: 
Patric Dickinson [Patric Thomas Dickinson] (1914-1994), poet, translator, BBC radio broadcaster
Publication details: 
London: Chatto and Windus, 1955.
£150.00

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See his 1965 autobiography 'The Good Minute' and John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton.

[Peter Cunningham, author and London topographer.] Autograph Letter in the third person to Lady Theresa Lewis, praising 'the Duchess of Newcastle's Life of her husband' and discussing some questions regarding English art.

Author: 
Peter Cunningham [Peter Nicholas Cunningham] (1816-1869), author and London topographer, son of the Scottish poet Allan Cunningham [Lady Theresa Lewis (1803-1865)]
Publication details: 
‘Victoria Road Kensington / 24th. September 1850.’
£90.00

2pp, 12mo. Nineteen lines. Closely written in a neat hand. In fair condition, lightly aged, with strip of dried adhesive from mount along one edge. Folded for postage. Begins: ‘Mr Cunningham presents his Compliments to Lady Theresa Lewis and forwards to Kent House [her Knightsbridge home] the Copy of the Duchess of Newcastle’s Life of her Husband. If lady Theresa derives half the pleasure from its perusal which Mr C.

[‘I used it because I meant it’: Nicolas Bentley, writer, illustrator and cartoonist.] Typed Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, defending his use of the phrase ‘I am afraid’.

Author: 
Nicolas Bentley [born Nicholas Clerihew Bentley] (1907-1978), writer, illustrator and cartoonist [Vere Henry Collins]
Publication details: 
10 October 1955. On letterhead of Andre Deutsch Limited, Publishers, 12-14 Carlisle Street, Soho Square, London W1.
£50.00

See his entry by Ruari Maclean in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. With Bentley’s distinctive stylized signature ‘Nicolas Bentley’. After thanking him for his letter he writes (apparently with reference to a newspaper article): ‘I am sorry if in using the phrase “I am afraid” I ruffled your grammatical sensibilities. I used it because I meant it.

[Barbara Cartland, ‘The Queen of Romance’, best-selling author of romantic fiction.] Typed Letter Signed to Philip Dosse, proprietor of ‘Books and Bookmen’, responding to his praise of a speech she has given.

Author: 
Barbara Cartland [Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland] (1901-2000), ‘The Queen of Romance’, best-selling author of more than 700 works of romantic fiction [Philip Dosse (1925-80); 'Books and Bookmen']
Publication details: 
‘From: Miss Barbara Cartland, D.ST.J.’ 1 October 1979; on letterhead of Camfield Place, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
£56.00

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse (often addressed, as in this letter, as ‘Dossé’) 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. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Large and ebullient signature in red felt-tip pen.

[André Siegfried of l’Académie Française, French geographer and political writer, Petainist collaborator as member of Vichy National Council.] Autograph Letter Signed in English to the wife of W. D. Ross [Sir David Ross].

Author: 
André Siegfried (1875-1959) of l'Académie Française, French geographer and political writer, Petainist collaborator as member of Vichy National Council [W. D. Ross [Sir David Ross]]
Publication details: 
'Paris. 82. de Courty / la 9 Dec. 31' [1931].
£45.00

2pp, 12mo. On the rectos of the two leaves of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Begins: ‘Dear Mrs Ross. / We had the pleasure of having your daughter for tea yesterday & I hasten to tell you our pleasure in making her acquaintance. She is indeed charming & intelligent & bright; I am sure she will make the most of her stay here.

[Hall Caine, Victorian author.] Signed Autograph Inscription, 'With much admiration', to fellow-novelist George Meredith.

Author: 
Hall Caine [Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine] (1853-1931), hugely-popular Victorian author from the Isle of Man [George Meredith, distinguished man of letters]
Caine
Publication details: 
23 September 1891; on letterhead fo Hawthorns, near Keswick.
£120.00
Caine

A nice item linking one of late Victorian England’s most popular novelists with its most critically admired. See the entries for Caine and Meredith in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Laid down on part of a leaf from the autograph album of Meredith’s daughter Marie Eveleen (Mariette; 1871-1933), wife of Henry Parkman Sturgis (1847-1929), American-born banker and Liberal politician. Reads: ‘To / George Meredith / With much admiration / Hall Caine / 23/Sept/91.’ See image.

[B. H. Draper, Baptist hymn writer.] Autograph Letter Signed proposing to the nonconformist bookseller Josiah Conder an edition of Philip Henry’s sermons, from manuscripts, with reference to Sir John Bickerton Williams and John William Cunningham.

Author: 
B. H. Draper [Bourne Hall Draper] (1775-1843), hymn writer and Baptist minister [Josiah Conder (1789-1855), nonconformist bookseller; John Bickerton Williams; John William Cunningham; Philip Henry]
Publication details: 
‘Coseley, nr Bilstone, Staffordshire. / Dec. 20. 1815.’
£70.00

See his entry in the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, and Conder’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. On the first leaf of a bifolium, the second addressed on the reverse, with postmark, to ‘Mr. Josh. Conder, / Bookseller, / Bucklersbury, / London.’ In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, spiked, folded for postage, and with damage and slight loss to the second leaf from the breaking of the wafer. Begins: ‘Learning lately from my friend Mr. Williams of Shrewsbury, [the future Sir John Bickerton Williams (1792-1855)] that you had engaged with him for his MS.

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