History

[ Sir Anthony Morgan, English army officer and Commonwealth politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Ant: Morgan') to Sir John Maynard, regarding the petition of 'Capt Ed: Lister & Joan his wife'.

Author: 
Sir Anthony Morgan (1621-1668), English army officer and Commonwealth politician, confidante of Oliver Cromwell, with interest in Irish affairs [ Sir John Maynard (1604-1690), lawyer and politician ]
Publication details: 
'At ye Comttee of Pt sitting in ye Inner Court of Wards this 24th 10r 1656'.
£250.00

1p., 8vo. Bifolium. Addressed, on reverse of second leaf, with seal in red wax, 'for Serieant Maynard | at his Chamber at ye Temple or elswhere'. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with outer cover somewhat discoloured. He states that, as Maynard is 'a party concernd in ye Petn of Capt Ed: Lister & Joan his wife', he is desired by the committee to 'meet them in ye Inner Court of Wards' on the following Friday, 'to ye end you may not be concluded unheard'.

[ Abraham Newland, Chief Cashier of the Bank of England. ] Autograph Signature ('A Newland') on an Exchequer receipt.

Author: 
Abraham Newland (c.1730-1807), Chief Cashier at the Bank of England, 1782-1807, whose name was slang for a bank note
Publication details: 
[ His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, London. ] 27 July 1789.
£100.00

On 17.5 x 16 cm. piece of paper. Good firm signature, undamaged, on aged, worn and repaired piece of paper. Laid out in the customary fashion, with printed text completed in manuscript. Recording payment of £20 to 'Abrah. Newland Cashier appointed by the Court of Chancery to receive an Acct. of Thos Walker Esqr Acct General of the said Court Assee'. Signature at foot of witness 'R Ettie'.

[ Sir John Werden, 2nd Baronet. ] Printed Exchequer receipt, completed in manuscript, signed by 'John Werden.' and witnessed by 'R: Thornycroft'.

Author: 
Sir John Werden (1683-1758), 2nd Baronet, son of Sir John Werden [ Worden ] (1640-1715), judge, politician and diplomat [ R. Thornycroft;
Publication details: 
[ The Receipt of His Majesty's Exchequer, London. ] 5 September 1739.
£60.00

Customary printed Exchequer receipt, completed in manuscript, headed (manuscript text in square brackets): Record' [the 20th August 1739] | The [th5] Day of [Septr] 173[9] | Received by me Sr John Werden Assignee of Sir. John Werden]'. Calculations in right-hand margin and clerical sign and docketing on reverse. Recording the receipt of £9 13s 4d, from Thomas Townshend. The printed text states that the money was raised 'upon an Act of Parliament, (Entituled, An Act for granting to Their Majestes certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, &c.

[ American War of Independence. ] Manuscript British Treasury order and receipt signed 'M Rowe', for money 'To be by him paid over to sundry persons who have been sufferers during the Disturbances in America on account of their Fidelity & Attachment'

Author: 
Milward Rowe (1717-1792) of Kensington Palace, Chief Clerk of the Treasury and Commissioner of the Salt Duties; Thomas Gibbons [ The American War of Independence ]
Publication details: 
[ His Majesty's Exchequer, London. 4 November 1779. ]
£320.00

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. On single leaf, with first page with light diagonal clerical mark. Reads: 'Milward Rowe | Esqr. | Order is taken this 4th. Day of Novr 1779 By Virtue of his Majesty's General Letters of Privy Seal bearing date the 5th. Of Novr. 1760. And in pursuance of a Warrant under his Royal Sign Manual dated the 4 day of Novr. 1779. That You deliver and pay of such his Majesty's Treasure as remains in your charg Unto Milward Rowe Esqr.

[ 'The Need of a National Party', 1890-1920. ] Material from the papers of J. Cuming Walters, editor of Manchester City News, regarding the formation of a national party, including drafts of autograph letctures by him, pamphlet, cuttings, proofs.

Author: 
[ National Party, United Kingdom, 1890-1921 [ John Cuming Walters (1863-1933), editor of the Manchester City News, 1906-1932, journalist and author; Winston Churchill ]
Publication details: 
Manchester and London. Between 1890 and 1920.
£220.00

A useful background guide is Geoffrey Russell Searle's 'Country before Party: Coalition and the Idea of "National Government' in Modern Britain, 1885-1987' (London, 1995). As the manuscripts in this collection indicate, Cuming Walters cherished the idea of a national party from the 1890s, and he was able to re-use material from that period on the formation of the National Party in 1920 (not to be confused with the party of the same name, a pamphlet relating to which is present, dating from 1917).

[ Thomas Carte, historian. ] Autograph Signature ('Tho: Carte') on an Autograph Receipt for the loan of four named manuscripts.

Author: 
Thomas Carte (1686-1754), historian whose collection of English manuscripts now forms part of the Bodleian Library [ The Carte Papers ]
Carte
Publication details: 
17 January 1744 / 1745. Place not stated.
£450.00
Carte

On one side of 11 x 15 cm slip of paper. On aged paper, heavily worn at head and at one edge, with some loss of text. The damage has been skilfully repaired. Reads: 'Jan. 17. 1744/5 eived then of <...>ackin Nilliam <...>ynn Bannet the following MS viz. Dares Phrygius & Tyssillons History of the Britions in Welsh, Chronica Britonum in Welsh, & the chartulary of the Abbey de Bello in Latin | which I promise to restore on demand. Witness my hand | Tho: Carte'.

[ Scotland & Military1719 ] Document Signed by the Lords Justices and other parties.

Author: 
The Lords Justices.
Publication details: 
The Cockpit, 30 July 1719.
£550.00

Two pages, folio, minor defects including soiling, small holes and tears, but text complete and legible. Signatories at the top are: [Thomas] Parker, Henry Grey, Duke of Kent ("Kent C.P.S.), John Ker, Ist Duke of Roxburghe, James Craggs the Younger ("J Craggs"). "We do hereby direct, that out of such Moneys as are or shall come to your hands for the following Uses you lay unto William Burroughs Esqre late Commissary Generall of his Majesty's Stores, Provisions and fforage in North Britain the respective summs following Viz" Balance due ......

[ Australia; Dampier ]Collection of typed and manuscript material relating to Australia, including the Rev. Charles Powell's unpublished life of Captain William Dampier

Author: 
[Rev. Charles Powell, East Coker; Captain Dampier]
Publication details: 
c.1920
£950.00

An informative collection of material, mainly relating to Australia, assembled in the years immediately following the First World War. The collection consists of fifty items: twenty-one typescripts (1-21), twenty-eight manuscripts (22-49), and one printed (50). Dated items range from 1919 to 1924, with the others appearing to date from around the same time. All items clearly legible, and all except item 2 complete. All but item 50 on loose leaves of paper.

[ Patrick Leigh Fermor ]Manuscript letter, in Greek, from 'Haris' in Heraklion, informing Fermor of allegations that he ordered the execution of 'Apolorona and Hania' and others, and that he is organizing the military occupation of Crete by the British.

Author: 
[Patrick Leigh Fermor (1915-2011), British soldier and travel writer; 'Haris' of Heraklion, Cretan opponent of Communism; Cretan resistance; SOE; Major 'Xan' Fielding (1918-1991)]
Publication details: 
Heraklion [Crete, Greece]. 12 January 1947.
£450.00

4pp., 8vo. 96 lines of text. On paper ruled for accounts. On lightly-aged paper, with loss to corners and at central edge, affecting a few lines of text. Accompanying the letter is a translation (2pp., 8vo) by Colin Jordan, with the assistance of Dr Loukas Christodloulos. The letter is of great interest, casting light on Leigh Fermor's activities in Crete in the period following the Second World War.

[ Lady Strangford. ] Manuscript letter to her, in French, signed by the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire [ Mahmud Nedim Pasha ], with Autograph copies in English and French of her reply.

Author: 
Lady Strangford [ Emily Anne Smyth (née Beaufort), Viscountess Strangford ] (c.1826-1887), military nurse and founder of hospitals [ Mahmud Nedim Pasha (c.1818-1883), Grand Vizier ]
Publication details: 
The letter from the Grand Vizier on letterhead of the Grand-Vézirat of the Sublime Porte, 14 October 1875. Strangford's draft and copy both undated.
£450.00

All in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The Grand Vizier's letter, addressed to 'The Lady Strangford' and written in a secretarial hand, is 1p., 8vo, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium; the autograph copy of Strangford's reply is on both sides of the second leaf of the same bifolium. The English copy of her reply is 2pp., 8vo, on a separate leaf.

[ Northcote-Trevelyan Report, 1854. ] Six items: long letter from Herries to Northcote in defence of the civil service; Northcote's reply; Herries' rejoinder; letter from Frederick Goulburn to Herries; two printed papers by George Arbuthnot.

Author: 
Northcote-Trevelyan Report, 1854 [ Sir Charles John Herries; Sir Stafford Northcote [ Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh ]; George Arbuthnot; Frederick Goulburn; Civil Service reform ]
Publication details: 
The six items from 1854. Northcote's letter from the Pynes, Exeter; Herries from the 'I[nland]. R[evenue].' and 114 Piccadilly; Goulburn from the Board of Customs [ London ]; and one of Arbuthnot's papers 'Printed at the Foreign Office'.
£500.00

Lord Hennessy has characterised the subject of these items, the Northcote-Trevelyan Report of 1854, as 'the greatest single governing gift of the nineteenth to the twentieth century: a politically disinterested and permanent Civil Service with core values of integrity, propriety, objectivity and appointment on merit, able to transfer its loyalty and expertise from one elected government to the next'.

[ Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, Whig statesman. ] Document with Autograph Signature ('Shaftesbury') to Sir Robert Long, regarding the payment of an annuity to David Walter, Groom of the Bedchamber.

Author: 
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621-1683), Whig statesman [ Sir Robert Long (1600-1673) ]
Publication details: 
Whitehall. 22 November 1672.
£280.00

1p., small 4to. Irregular shaped leaf of paper, aged and worn, laid down on a piece of paper 21 cm. square. Fourteen lines of text in a secretarial hand, regarding the payment of an annuity of £500 to 'David Walter - Esqr. one of the Groomes of his Mats. Bedchambr.' Signed at bottom right by Shaftesbury, and addressed at bottom left by the secretary 'To oure loving freind Sr. Robt. Long Bart. Audr. of the Receipt of ye. Excheqr.'

[ Alfred Emmott, 1st Baron Emmott. ] Autograph Card Signed ('Alfred Emmott') to 'Holdsworth', undertaking to present a petition to the House of Commons.

Author: 
Alfred Emmott (1858-1926), 1st Baron Emmott, Oldham cotton magnate and Liberal politician
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Horton, Chipping Sodbury. 9 April 1904.
£28.00

In good condition, with slight crease to one corner. Informing him that he will be 'very glad to present your petition when the House re-opens'.

Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, 1921. ] Printed 'Report to the Governor [ of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Michael S. Dukakis ] in the Matter of Sacco and Vanzetti', with letter from the Governor's Press Office and photostat of pardon.

Author: 
[ Daniel A. Taylor, Chief Legal Counsel, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; the 1921 Trial of Sacco and Vanzetti; Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Italian-American anarchists ]
Publication details: 
Introduction by Daniel A. Taylor, Chief Legal Counsel, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Department, State House, Boston, dated 13 July 1977.
£135.00

[1] + 38pp., 4to. Stapled in brown printed wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. In his introduction Taylor explains: 'The accompanying Report has been prepared under the auspices of the Office of the Governor's Legal Counsel in response to your questions: first, as to whether there are substantial grounds for believing - at least in light of the criminal justice standards of today - that Sacco and Vanzetti were unfairly convicted and executed, and, second, if so, what action can now appropriately be taken.

[ Steamship in Greek War of Independence. ] Autograph Letter Signed by Nicholas Robilliard, and Autograph Note Signed by Thomas Whitmore, concerning the Karteria: 'the Man of War Steam-ship (supposed to be built & fitting for the Greek Committee)'.

Author: 
Nicholas Robilliard; Thomas Whitmore [ London Greek Committee; Greek War of Independence ]
Publication details: 
Both Letters dated 8 December 1825. Robilliard's letter without place; Whitmore's note from the Custom House [ London ].
£220.00

The subject is clearly the Karteria, the first steam-powered warship to see active service. The Karteria was built in 1825 for the Greek insurgentsd by Daniel Brent Shipwrights in the Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe, London. It was financed mainly from the proceeds of the 2nd Greek Loan raised by the London Philhellenic Committee, but also from the private funds of Captain Frank Abney Hastings. Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: Robilliard to 'Thos Whitmore Esq | Secretary &c &c &c'. 1p., 4to. Headed 'Confidential'. Signed 'Nis Robilliard'.

[ The British Empire Union, Incorporating the Anti-German Union. ] Printed handbill advertising a 'Competition for Poster Design.', and including a transcript of a letter on war memorials by sculptor Sir George Frampton.

Author: 
The British Empire Union, Incorporating the Anti-German Union, London [ Sir George Frampton (1860-1928), English sculptor; Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (The Proms) ]
Publication details: 
The British Empire Union, 346 Strand, London, WC2. [ 1917. ]
£60.00

1p., folio. On aged and worn paper. A jingoistic wartime outfit, with the letterhead proclaiming 'THE BRITISH EMPIRE FOR BRITISH SUBJECTS' and 'NO GERMAN INFLUENCE. | NO GERMAN LABOUR. | NO GERMAN GOODS | That compete with British.' The organisations chairman is named as Lord Leith of Fyvie, and the chairman Lieut-Col. Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller. The long text begins: 'The British Empire Union offers a Prize of £2 2s.

[ Sir John Jeremie, Governor of Sierra Leone. ] Autograph Note in the third person, inviting '- Payne Esqr.' to dinner.

Author: 
Sir John Jeremie (1795-1841), British judge and diplomat, Chief Justice of Saint Lucia and Governor of Sierra Leone, whose writings contributed to the abolition of slavery.
Publication details: 
Government House, Freetown [ Sierra Leone ]. 10 January 1841.
£25.00

1p., 12mo. On a bifolium, part of the second leaf of which has been torn away, but with address by Jeremie to 'Payne Esqr. | Commanding the G

'. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Reads: 'Sir John Jeremie presents his compliments to Mr. Payne & begs he will do him the favor of dining with him on Tuesday at half past six o'clock.'

[ Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart, Liberal politican and husband of Princess Christine Bonaparte. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Dudley Coutts Stuart'), undertaking to visit the pianist Charles Salaman.

Author: 
Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart (1803-1854), Liberal politician, husband of Lucien Bonaparte's daughter Princess Christine Bonaparte, supporter of Polish independence [ Charles Salaman (1814-1901), pianist]
Publication details: 
34 St James's Place [ London ]. 17 July 1848.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and lightly-worn paper. It will give him great pleasure to wait upon Salaman and his sister, and he will certainly do so 'unless absolutely prevented' by the House of Commons, which he hopes will not be the case. The word 'Lord' has been added in a contemporary hand before Stuart's signature.

[ General Sir Dighton Probyn. ] Autograph Letter in the third person, as 'Comptroller & Treasurer of the Prince of Wales' Household', inviting Sir Robert Herbert to visit the Prince and his wife at Sandringham, and giving transport details.

Author: 
General Sir Dighton Probyn [ General Sir Dighton Macnaghten Probyn ] (1833-1924), British army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross [Sir Robert Herbert; King Edward VIII; Sandringham, Norfolk ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Sandringham, Norfolk. 15 November 1884.
£75.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and a little smudged. He 'writes by direction of The Prince and Princess of Wales to invite him to pay their Royal Highnesses a visit at Sandringham from Saturday next the 22nd. Inst. to remain till Monday the 24th. He gives details of the best train to catch to 'Wolferton (the Station for Sandringham)', where there will be 'conveyances to take Sir Robert and the other Guests travelling by the same Train, from the Station to the House'.

[ William Burdett-Coutts, MP and philanthropist. ] Autograph Signature ('W Burdett-Coutts') on part of letter.

Author: 
William Burdett-Coutts [ William Lehman Ashmead Bartlett Burdett-Coutts ] (1851-1921), MP and philanthropist, husband of Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906)
Publication details: 
'Holly Lodge | Aug 10. 94 [1894]'.
£20.00

On 5 x 11 cm piece of paper, cut from the head of a letter addressed to 'Dear Moon'. In good condition, lightly aged. Written crosswise above the salutation is: 'I cant get them in time | Yrs very truly | W Burdett-Coutts'.

[ Sylvain Van de Weyer, Belgian diplomat and book collector. ] Autograph Signature ('S. Van De Weyer').

Author: 
Sylvain Van de Weyer [Jean-Sylvain Van de Weyer ] (1802-1874), Belgian minister and ambassador to London, a noted book collector
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£25.00

On 1.5 x 4.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Cut from letter with mourning border.

[ Sir Albert Spicer, Liberal Party politician. ] Typed Letter Signed ('Albert Spicer') to A. D. Snow, responding to congratulations on his receiving his baronetcy.

Author: 
Sir Albert Spicer (1847-1934), industrialist and Liberal Party politician, successively Member of Parliament for Monmouth Boroughs and Hackney Central
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 10 Lancaster Gate, W. [ London ] 9 July 1906.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for his congratulations on 'the honour His Majesty has conferred upon me', adding 'The kind and generous way in which the announcement has been received by our friends has been most gratifying to my Wife and myself.'

[ Mehmed Fuad Pacha, statesman in the Ottoman Empire. ] Autograph Signature ('Mehmed Pacha').

Author: 
Mehmed Pacha [ Mehmed Fuad Pacha (Pasha) ] (1814-1869), statesman in the Ottoman Empire
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£100.00

On irregular strip of paper, roughly 1.5 x 4 cm. in dimensions. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The son of a noted poet, Pacha began his career as a translator, before serving as a diplomat. He was instrumental in reforming the Tanzimat, and was an ardent Anglophile.

[ Fabrizio Ruffo, Prince of Castelcicala, Neapolitan ambassador to London. ] Autograph Signature ('Castelcicala').

Author: 
Fabrizio Ruffo, Prince of Castelcicala [ Fabrizio Ruffo di Bagnara, principe di Castelcicala ] (1763-1832), Neapolitan ambassador to London
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 2 x 12 cm. strip of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Cut from the end of a letter.

[ Baron August von Cetto, Bavarian diplomat. ] Autograph Signature ('Cetto').

Author: 
Baron August von Cetto [ August Freiherr von Cetto ] Bavarian diplomat
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 1.5 x 5 cm strip of paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. Cut from letter.

[ Abbott Laurence, American ambassador to London. ] Autograph Signature ('Abbott Laurence').

Author: 
Abbott Laurence (1792-1855), American politician and philanthropist, congressman and ambassador to London, 1849-1852
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£22.00

On 1 x 5 cm. piece of paper. In fair condition, lightly aged. Cut from a letter.

[ Émilie Broisat, actress with the Comédie-Française. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Monsieur Laval', declining an invitation.

Author: 
Émilie Broisat (1846-1929), French actress with the Comédie-Française
Publication details: 
'Dimanche soir' [ no place or date ].
£30.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Gracefully declining an invitation.

[ Prince Constantin Czartoryski, Polish patriot. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Pce. Constantin Czartoryski'), in French, requesting that a letter be forwarded to his brother who is en route to Italy.

Author: 
Prince Constantin Czartoryski [ Konstanty Adam Czartoryski ] (1777-1866), Polish patriot who served under Napoleon, raising a regiment at his own expence
Publication details: 
Paris, 26 September 1819.
£250.00

For more information on Czartoryski, see his entry in the Annual Register for 1860, p.407. 1p., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The recipient is not named, but is an Italian-speaker, as the letter is docketted 'Parigi 1819 | 26 Sett. | Princp. Cost. Czartoryski'. Fifteen lines of text, requesting, in florid tones, that a letter be forwarded to his brother, 'qui doit être dans ce moment ci à Livourne pour y faire prendre des bains'.

[ Sir Hamilton Seymour, diplomat. ] Calling Card, carrying an Autograph Note to 'Baron Ward' on seating arrangements.

Author: 
Sir Hamilton Seymour [ Sir George Hamilton Seymour ] (1797-1880), British diplomat
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£30.00

For more on Seymour, who held diplomatic posts in Italy, Portugal, Belgium and Russia, see his entry in the Oxford DNB. The 4.5 x 7.5 cm card carries the words 'Sir Hamilton Seymour | Ministre d'Angleterre' in copperplate. Above this Seymour has written, in a difficult hand, what appears to be: 'My dear Baron Ward | I want you to shew your finess [sic] in your placing Machen & Mr Caird. | Yrs.'

[ William Ewart Gladstone, British Prime Minister. ] Autograph Signature ('W E Gladstone') from franked letter.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), British Liberal Party politician, four-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Gladstone
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated. [ 1859? ]
£25.00
Gladstone

On 2.5 x 11.5 cm. piece of paper, cut from front panel of envelope. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Lower part of address present, reading 'Gt Grimsby | Grantham'. Circular frank in red ink over this, reading 'FREE | 8 JY 8 | 18<5?>9'. Good firm signature underlined at bottom left: 'W E Gladstone'.

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