History

Twelve Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, [Secretary,] Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir William James Ashley
Publication details: 
5 August 1913 to 9 September 1916; mainly on '3, YATELEY ROAD, | EDGBASTON' and University of Birmingham letterheads.
£400.00

British economic historian (1860-1927), a disciple of Arnold Toynbee, and proponent of the historical method pioneered in Germany by such scholars as Roscher, Hildebrand and Knies. The manuscript items are all 12mo, the typed item quarto. All twelve docketed and bearing the Society's stamp, and signed 'W. T. Ashley'. The collection is in very good condition, though grubby in parts and with one or two creased corners. An interesting and characteristic correspondence. ITEM ONE (3 pages, 12mo, 5 August 1913): Declines proposal to act as examiner.

Autograph Noted Signed.

Author: 
Edmund Nagle.
Publication details: 
No place, [April 1802].
£100.00

Note trimmed with the loss of a few letters, c.7" x 6", some staining but text clear, as follows: "These are to Certify the Principa[l] officers & Commissioners of His Majestys Navy that Mr Thomas Muir served as Lieutenant onboard His Majesty's Ship Juste under my command from the 15th day of June 1801 to the date hereof during which time he complied with the General Printed Instructions & was not absent Six Weeks at any one time./ Given under my hand onboar[d] the Juste this 10th day of [in another hand] April 1802." Note added in another hand - information about Nagle.

Autograph Letter Signed "T. Belsham", to Robert Philips, Esq.

Author: 
Thomas Belsham.
Publication details: 
Essex Street, 15 Dec. 1822.
£156.00

Unitarian Divine (see DNB). Two pages, 4to, blank leaf conjoint crudely trimmed with no loss, mainly good condition. He thanks himn for a present of game and discusses health and weather. He then talks about rumours of war and Wellington saying that, as a Spanish grandee, any nation attacking Spain would find him at the head of Spanish troops.

Two autograph letters signed to William Smith, anti-slavery M.P.

Author: 
Louis-Matthieu Langles.
Publication details: 
Bibliotheque Royal, 8 April 1813 and Bibliotheque du Roi, 17 April 1814.
£120.00

Of the Bibliotheque Imperiale (Bibliotheque du roi). In French. Total 6 pages, text from verso shows through on recto, but both letters clear and complete. ITEM ONE (1813) He is looking forward to seeing Smith in Paris. General Macaulay has givcen "l'agreable asssurance". Progress made in beautifying Paris. He mentions a female author (Indecipherable to me), "celebre en France" to whom he recommends him particularly, eulogising her. Regards to wife and daughters. ITEM TWO (1814) Thanks for a letter. Smith's "sejour a Paris", happy memories and a wish for a future visit.

Letter Signed (poss.. copy) to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
William Blathwayt
Publication details: 
Hague the 8th. Novr. 1701.'
£250.00

English politician (1649?-1717); Secretary to Sir William Temple at the Hague, 1668; on diplomatic missions to Rome, Stockholm and Copenhagen; Secretary of State to William III; Member of Parliament. One page. Dimensions of paper roughly seven inches by eleven. Poor: paper discoloured and with some loss to edges (affecting three words of text) and a closed tear. Recently repaired with archival tape and at an earlier period backed with paper. Verso attached to smaller leaf of blank paper. Fourteen lines of text.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'G Remington Esq'.

Author: 
Charles Lewis Gruneisen
Publication details: 
27 September 1873; on letterhead '16, Surrey Street, | Strand. W.C. | London.'
£23.00

Journalist and musical critic (1806-79), Paris newspaper correspondent, 1839-44, who sent dispatches by pigeon. One page, 12mo. In poor condition: grubby and heavily stained. 'Dear Sir | I have been abroad or I would have replied to your note ere this. I will be at home until Noon next Monday. | Yours faithfully | [signed] | C J Gruneisen'.

Part of autograph letter signed.

Author: 
Didier Thirion [prob.].
Publication details: 
No place or date
£400.00

French revolutionary (1763-1816).

Document (secretarial) Signed "Gassendi", addressed to "Monsieur le Comte". En francais.

Author: 
Comte J.J.B. Gassendi
Publication details: 
[Printed heading: Ministere de la Guerre] 6e. Division / Bureau de l'artillerie / Poudres & Saltpetres, Paris, Le 27 Juillet 1811.
£200.00

General (1748-1828)(biography on net). One page, sm. folio, good condition.. He acknowledges a letter in which he was asked about the "plans & . . . construction du nouveau magazin des poudres [de debit?] a Paris. Le devise & le plan de ce magasin ont ete renvoyes dans le temps a Me . . . administrateurs generaux . . . Il est essential de ne pas arreter les Tarvaux de Construction de ce magasin, afin qu'ils doient terminer pendant la belle saison."

Abbreviated signature ("A.Ky") with date.

Author: 
Alexander Kerensky.
Publication details: 
26/07/21
£150.00

Sometime Russian Head of Government. Bold abbreviated signature on page, 8vo

Autograph Letter Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Richard Edward Dennett [CONGO FREE STATE]
Publication details: 
20 May 1916; on letterhead '3 PARLIAMENT HILL MANSIONS, | HIGHGATE ROAD, N.W.'
£56.00

Editor (1857-1921) of the manuscript newspaper 'Congo Mirror', who 'drew attention to irregularities in Congo Free State, 1886; [...] and accused Congo officials of murders and atrocities; with help he carried on the agitation until the Congo Reform Association was formed; in a series of letters to the African Mail entitled the Lower Congo he pointed out the injustice of the French rule and the concessionnaire system in Congo Francais' (Who's Who). Three pages, 12mo. On grey paper. Very good. Docketed in pen and green pencil.

Yr American; yn Cynwys Nodau ar Daith O Ddyffryn Ohio i Gymru golwg ar Dalaeth Ohio, Hanes Sefydliadau Cymreig yn America . . .

Author: 
B.W. Chidlaw, A.M.
Publication details: 
Llanrwst: Argraffwyd, Gan John Jones, 1840.
£800.00

48pp., 12mo, unopened save title, original green wrappers, chipped, good condition"Yr Ail Argraffiad" (Second edition - no record found of a "First"). The author, in a "Notice" (the only English in the work), says "I have disposed of my Book called "The American," to Mr. J. Jones Printer, Llanrwst, and grant to him all the right and Claim to the same. / B.W. Chidlaw, A.M. / Paddy's Run, Ohio. / Llanrwst Decr. 25, 1839. The purpose of the pamphlet is to encourage Welsh emigration to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois at an interesting time.

Autograph Letter Signed "[Seigneur?] Laffitte" to M. de Rayneval, Directeur du Chancelleries[?] aux affaires Etrangeres a Paris.

Author: 
Jacques Laffitte
Publication details: 
Paris 16 Dec. 1815.
£100.00

Banker and Politician. In French. One page, 4to, good condition. If a consul to Guernsey has not yet been appointed, he recommends David Macculloch who has a good reputation and has commercial knowledge. He would be helpful to French ships there and his nomination would suit the Governor, Sir John Doyle, who had long since requested it of their Ambassador in London. {de Reyneval prob. the diplomat in Biog. Univ.]

Autograph Letter Signed to the Baron Bignon, membre de la Chambre de Deputes.

Author: 
Jacques Laffitte.
Publication details: 
Paris, 18 May 1820.
£100.00

Banker and Politician. In French. One page, 4to, fold marks, good. He says that Bignon has reached the limits which he suggested in a letter, and they have sold "en bourse" "[F?] 2025 de Rentes a 74 t produisent ......F29,9709= . . ." He adds the figures for commission and "Courtage". He adds that the Baron has been debited a certain sum, paid to the "porteur de votre [nom?]".

Etched portrait, by W (?) Burton

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone [W. Burton]
Publication details: 
[1889].
£20.00

A clean copy, on good thick paper, of an engraving, three versions of which are in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG D8332, NPG D8333, NPG D8334), where they are dated 1889, and described as being etched 'after a photograph originally published in the Pall Mall Gazette 'Grand Old Man' extra'. Dimensions of paper roughly nine inches by six, dimensions of image roughly five inches by four. Burton's signature is faintly etched at the foot of plate, and the print is docketed in pencil 'W E G' at the foot of the paper, with 'Burton 1/-' on reverse.

The Medical Guide; containing plain and simple directions for the treatment of the more common diseases.

Author: 
An Experienced Physician.
Publication details: 
Glasgow: Printed for the Booksellers, 1850.
£15.00

Disbound, 24 pages, 12mo, partly unopened, sl. damaged but no loss of text. Penny chapbook.

Autograph Postcard Signed to 'Mrs. Black'.

Author: 
Eliza Lynn Linton
Publication details: 
Postmarked 8 January 1891; 'Queen Annes Mansions. St James's Park SW.'
£56.00

Novelist and miscellaneous writer (1822-98). Dimensions roughly five inches by three. Grubby and with minor fraying, loss and closed tears to edges (not affecting text). Printed halfpenny stamp and two postmarks in black ink. Addressed to 'Mrs. Black | 5 Hazlitt Road | W. Kensington | W.' 'I have not received ye Ladies Pictorial, but fine - all very well done with great sympathy & tenderness & so well written - I have begun by informal LSaturdays - & shall be very glad to see you if you could come'. Signed 'E: Lynn Linton'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed to [Thomas Francis Dillon Croker].

Author: 
Thomas Wright
Publication details: 
2 and [7] March, [1856]; both from 14, Sydney Street, Brompton.
£95.00

English antiquary and archaeologist (1810-77). The recipient (1831-1912), son of Thomas Crofton Croker, was an Irish antiquary. Both letters one page, 12mo. Both grubby, discoloured and stained. The first with closed tear to one corner. LETTER ONE (dated from postmark on accompanying envelope addressed to Croker, with Penny Red stamp): He has 'Fairholt's letter safe, and, though I cannot put my hand on it this moment, I will take care of it for you.

Autograph Letter to George Hammond of Spring Gardens.

Author: 
Robert Plumer Ward
Publication details: 
Abingdon St. Monday.' [no date, but before 1827].
£56.00

English novelist and politician (1765-1846). The recipient (1763-1853) was a diplomat, and joint-editor of the 'Anti-Jacobin'. Three pages, 12mo. On discoloured, lightly-stained paper, with one corner of second leaf of bifoliate (with two words of text) broken off in breaking open letter, and still adhering to wafer. Had Hammond given 'a days notice' of his 'intention to come up', he might have been spared 'some hours of unnecessary Solitude'.

Autograph Letter Signed to [Sir William Henry] Maule.

Author: 
Charles Bathurst [Lidney; Lydney Park, Gloucestershire]
Publication details: 
Lidney | 7 April 1847'.
£23.00

Bathurst (1790-1863), an alumnus of Christ Church, Oxford, was Lord of the Manor of Lidney. One page, 12mo. Good, on creased, grubby and discoloured paper, with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Begins 'I send you a Pamphlet, which I dare say began in my brain in the cotyledonous or radicle state as early as when we bothered at Usk Sessions, one day or other you will perhaps read it'. Ends 'I am glad to find you are better than at the beginning of the Circuit'. There is no record of Bathurst's pamphlet in the BL.

Autograph Letter Signed to Major General Sir John Murray.

Author: 
Charles Arbuthnot
Publication details: 
Docketed '25th Septr 1811'.
£95.00

Arbuthnot (1767-1850) was a diplomat and statesman; Murray (c.1768-1827) was a soldier. Three pages, quarto. Good, but creased and grubby on discoloured paper. Rust stain from paperclip and traces of previous mount on blank verso of second leaf of bifoliate. He has received Murray's letter.

Draft of Autograph Letter Signed to the Earl of Derby.

Author: 
Sir James Robert George Graham
Publication details: 
Whitehall 27th Jan 1842'; marked 'Private'.
£88.00

British statesman (1792-1861), Home Secretary under Sir Robert Peel. Three pages, octavo. Good, though on lightly-creased, discoloured paper. An interesting sidelight into the relations between two important nineteenth-century politicians.

Autograph Letter Signed to J. Cotterell.

Author: 
Sir William Tite
Publication details: 
No date [but between 1855 and 1868]: 'House of Commons | Wednesday' on embossed House of Commons letterhead.
£36.00

British architect and politician (1798-1873), Member of Parliament for Bath, 1855-73. Three pages, 12mo. Very good, but with two stubs from previous mounting adhering to inner margin of verso of second leaf of bifoliate.

Typed Letter Signed to the Hon. William Sulzer, 115 Broadway, New York City.

Author: 
Samuel Seabury [NEW YORK CITY; TAMMANY HALL]
Publication details: 
4 January 1934; on letterhead '40 WALL STREET | NEW YORK'.
£36.00

American lawyer (1873-1958), who in 1930 headed the investigation into political corruption in New York City which brought about the decline of Tammany Hall. Sulzer (1863-1941) had been elected Democratic Governor of New York in 1913 with Tammany support, but had been removed from office following an internal dispute. One page, quarto. Very good. His reply to Sulzer's letter has been delayed due to 'pressure of other matters and my absence from the City'. He thanks Sulzer for the 'recent note conveying your good wishes.

Eleven (11) Autograph Letters Signed to Swan Sonnenschein, publishers.

Author: 
Charles Duke Yonge.
Publication details: 
1882-1883.
£600.00

Historian (DNB). Total thirty (30) pages, 8vo (10) and 4to (1). The subject is his book "Our Great Naval Commanders" published by his correspondents, Swan Sonnenschein, in 1884, from its inception to the proof stage. He begins (16 Dec. 1882) "It is not quite easy to decide whom it would be best to include in such a volume as you propose - Nelson of course stands at the head of all sailors. Next to him, I think, comes Rodney . . . but there are no materials to be procured for a sketch of Hawke . .

Letter, prob. secretarial, Signed "Pratap Singh", to [Sir Henry Brackenbury, Resident, Ordnance Committee].

Author: 
Major General Sir Pratap Singh
Publication details: 
[Embossed address, embossed stamp] The Palace, Jammu, 19 Dec. 1901.
£56.00

Maharajah of Jammu and Kashmir. One page, 8vo, sl. soiled but mainly good. "My dear Friend / I have much pleasure in offering you my hearty congratulations for the Xmas and warm greetings for the happy new years day with best wishes for man a happy and prosperous return of the same . . . " He gives his several titles incl. "Col: 37 Dogras". Note: Brackenbury was a general and writer on military subjects (see DNB).

Manuscript document headed "Bristol Memorandum".[Americana]

Author: 
[ Thomas Bowen, Justice of the Peace ]
Publication details: 
8 April 1721 (seventh year of the reign of George II)
£250.00

Manuscript, one page, folio, chipped and other minor defects, text clear and complete. "That on the Eight day of April on ye Seenth . . . . . .

The Liverpool Congress (Speech delivered by John Burns).

Author: 
John Burns [Michael Davitt]
Publication details: 
London: Green, McAllan & Feilden, Limited, 1890.
£45.00

32pp., 8vo, original wraps, soiled, in workmanlike buckram binding. Michael Davitt had the chair and introduced the speaker. Enclosed: autograph note signed by John Burns to "Mr Lane", Battersea, 6 August 1937, on epage, chipped, fold marks, text clear. He declines an invitation.

Autograph Letter Signed "George W. Cox" to "Miss Goddard".

Author: 
Sir George W. Cox.
Publication details: 
Scrayingham Rectory, York, 11 December 1894.
£36.00

Historical writer (see DNB). Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He says that he has read her "Wonderful Norse Tales" to his children with great pleasure. He is grateful for her remebering him and apologises for the effects of a paralysed right arm. "The work of writing, which was one of my greatest pleasures has now become a difficult & irksome {and] a painful task". He enjoys her success in their mutual "good cause".

Autograph Letter Signed "RPWard" to an unnamed correspondent [publisher, John Murray?].

Author: 
Robert Plumer Ward.
Publication details: 
Gilston Park, Tuesday, no date [1838].
£95.00

Novelist and historian (see DNB). One page, 8vo, minor defects, brief annotation by another hand ("author of Tremaine"). He is discussing his progress with "An historical essay on the real character and amount of precedent of the revolution of 1688 / in which the opinions of Mackintosh, Price, Hallam, Mr. Fox, Lord John Russell, Blackstone, Burke, and Locke, the trial of Lord Russell, and the merits of Sidney, are critically considered" (Lodnon, 1838). He says "I avail myself of Mr.

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