Literature

Tennyson forgery: manuscript document presenting itself as a letter from Alfred Lord Tennyson to the wife of William Ewart Gladstone, agreeing to a visit as long as he can smoke his pipe.

Author: 
Tennyson forgery: Alfred Lord Tennyson, one of the greatest of English poets, Poet Laureate to Queen Victoria
Tennyson forgery
Publication details: 
Stated to have been sent from 'Aldworth / Oct 25 - 76'. [25 October 1876]
£180.00
Tennyson forgery

An apparent forgery of a letter the text of which is quoted in Hallam Tennyson’s 1897 memoir of his father. 1p, 12mo. On discoloured wove paper. Aged, and with repair with archival tape at extremities on reverse. Folded twice for postage. Reads: ‘Aldworth / Oct 25 - 76 / My dear Mrs Gladstone / On Monday then - if all be well. As you are good enough to say that you will manage everything rather than lose my visit - you must manage that I may have my pipe in my own room whenever I like? / Yours ever / A Tennyson/’.

[Nancy Mitford, novelist] Autograph Postcard Signed N M to Le Comte Antonini [presumably Giacomo Antonini ( 18 September 1901 ? 1983 ), Italian literary critic and secret agent .

Author: 
Nancy Mitford, novelist
Mitford
Publication details: 
[Embossed] 7 Rue Monsieur VII | Suffren 7665, postmark '14-5 | 1952'.
£300.00
Mitford

Postcard, 13.5 x 8.5cm, good conditiuon. Text: You asked me to let you know when any English writers are here - Anthony Powell & his wife are at the Hotel d'Angleterre, [word not deciphered] Jacob. | I'm too busy with my party etc to organize anything at the moment, but I'm sure you would enjoy a chat with him & so would he. If not [word undeciphered] do ring him up [de ma part?]. See you I hope on Wednesday & Madame Antonini - it will be the world & his wife!

[Somerset Maugham] Three Autograph Letters Signed Willie, two with their envelopes, to Mme Jan Boissevin [Charlotte Boissevin, n?e Ives, sometime actress. See Wikipedia]. See Note below]}.

Author: 
Somerset Maugham [William Somerset Maugham (1874 ? 1965) writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories.]
Maugham
Publication details: 
Two from Villa Mauresque, St Jean Cap Ferrat | A.M., the other [embossed] 5 Portland place. No years given but postmarks (one virtually illegible) suggest 1934-5 (with a possible exception. See below).
£850.00
Maugham

Letter One: [No envelope; undated] One page, 8vo, good condition. Text: Forgive me for not having written before to thank you for your very kind letter, but I have had something like five hundred letters & telegrams of congratulation & they have been a job to deal with. It was very kind of you to write. I am just off to England to receive the insignia. [Maugham was made a Companion of Honour in 1954 if that indicates the date of the letter(?)]; Letter Two: Postmark 24 Oct. 1934 and dated Oct. 34 (though the '3' looks like a '2'), Two pages, 8vo, good condition.

[H.G. Wells] Two Autograph Notes AND Two Autograph [Post]cards] Signed H.G. one of which is incomplete, three items to Charlotte [Boissevain]. one to both Charlotte & Jan [Boissevain]. With 2 photos of Wells and the Boissevains. See Notes below.

Author: 
H.G. Wells [Herbert George Wells (1866 – 1946), author].
H.G. Wells
H.G.Wells2
Publication details: 
[Printed address] Lou Pidou | Saint Mathieu | Grasse A.M., 9 March 1931; [Printed address] 47 Chiltern Court, Clarence Gate, NW1, 28 April 1931; Other postcard - address page missing; Columbia University Club, 12 Dec. 1949
£2,250.00
H.G. Wells
H.G.Wells2

Letter 1 (9 March 1931): one page, 4to. fold marks, small hole with loss of two letters), good condition. Text: Dear Charlotte | Odette is still in bed, weak as a rat & [she?] had flu & I got [me?] it. I'm being an Angel to her, but its very quiet between whiles. Would you like to lunch with me & bring your Jan one day next week? If so telephone me one fine morning. The Casino at Juan les Pains - I mean the place on the beach - used to be bright & it seems a convenient half way house between us.

[Lord Byron; pamphlet; presentation copy] Byron's Tomb and other Poems.

Author: 
William Simpson
Publication details: 
No date but authorial inscription dated October 1949 and [1949] bottom of fr. cover.
£250.00

Pamphlet, 16pp., 8vo, sl. grubby, inside cover, sl. strained, with a number 'R30668' at bottom. Only one copy recorded on WorldCat (none on COPAC) with inaccurate publishing data (Print Book, English, [1953?]Publisher: [Notts. Newspapers], [Hucknall, Notts.], [1953?]). See Images of front cover of pamphlet.

[Anonymous; Lord Byron] Manuscript entitled LORD BYRON LIVES!, giving insights into Byron and his life in his own words from his letters and poems.~Not dated.~Thirty (30) pages (some material on the verso also), 8vo, good+ condition, an attractive handwri

Author: 
Anonymous [Lord Byron]
Byron
£380.00
Byron

Thirty (30) pages (some material on the verso also), 8vo, good+ condition, an attractive handwriting. The first nine page are paginated; the last 21 not. [[P.18] announces "INTERVAL" after a few lines, and [P.19] commences "PART TWO. It comprises substantial and attractive transcriptions (quotations from) of Byron's letters and poems, reflecting Byron's life and relationships in his own words. I.e. autobiographical.  I would theorise that, given the length of the work, it was a lecture/performance to/for dedicated students of Byron, perhaps even The Byron Society.

[Street Ballads: ‘T. BROOKS, Song Publisher’ of Bath.] Handbill with three street ballads (the first two with crude woodcut vignettes): ‘Could you lend my Mother a Saucepan. / Silver Threads among the Gold / Death of Nelson.’

Author: 
Street Ballads: ‘T. BROOKS, Song Publisher’ of Bath, nineteenth-century seller of handbills [Eben Eugene Rexford and Herbert Peas Danks]
Street Ballads
Publication details: 
No date [1870s or 1880s]. ‘T. BROOKS, Song Publisher, 4, Kingsmead Square, Bath.’
£90.00
Street Ballads

The second of these ballads, 'Silver Threads Among the Gold', by the American Eben Eugene Rextord (1848-1916), was immensely popular on its release in 1873 with music by Hart Peas Danks (1834-1903). The earliest reference to the first ballad, 'Could you lend my mother a saucepan?' is in an 1885 number of 'All the Year Round'. The song is an absolute hoot, but its text is not to be found anywhere on the internet.

[Philip James Bailey, Victorian ‘spasmodic’ poet.] Autograph Document Signed, giving a ten-line extract from his celebrated poem, ‘Festus’.

Author: 
Philip James Bailey (1816-1902), Victorian poet, author of ‘Festus’ and considered the father of the ‘spasmodic’ school of verse
FESTUS
Publication details: 
‘Blackheath / May 14th. 1888.’
£220.00
FESTUS

Bailey’s entry in the Oxford DNB describes the ‘remarkable popularity’ of the second edition of Festus in America: ‘seventeen ‘editions’ of a version pirated in Boston were called for in the first nine years, and it was also reprinted numerous times in Philadelphia, Louisville, and New York. Bailey became something of a 'lion' for visiting Americans of the transcendental stamp’, with Hawthorne visiting in the 1850s. 1p, 8vo. On brittle woodpulp paper, now discoloured with chipping to edges (resulting in loss to the word ‘Festus’ at the head) and with closed tears to the two folds.

Thomas Crofton Croker, Irish antiquary.] The long first part of an Autograph Letter to ‘Mr. Croker’ [unidentified], regarding the life of the poet Thomas Moore, whom he claims exhibits a ‘love for falsification upon all matters’.

Author: 
[Thomas Crofton Croker (1798-1854), Irish antiquary] [Thomas Moore (1779-1852), Irish poet and friend of Lord Byron]
Croker
Publication details: 
‘3 Gloucester road / Old Brompton / Thursday’. Pencil note states ‘2 June’ [1853].
£280.00
Croker

An interesting letter regarding the man who was regarded as Ireland's national poet before the appearance of William Butler Yeats. See Croker’s entry, and that of Thomas Moore, in the Oxford DNB. The former contains a paragraph discussing the association between the two men, the conclusion of which explains the context of the present item: ‘At the end of his life Croker (by his own account) was working on a biography of Moore, whom he termed 'an actor—a hypocrite—a swindler—a sensualist and a habitual liar' (Irish Book Lover, 50).

[Alfred Perceval Graves, Anglo-Irish poet, father of Robert Graves.] Autograph Letter Signed to Tom Taylor, with news of parliament, an Irish humorous story, a 'treble anagram' and in hopes of meeting with Shirley Brooks, editor of Punch.

Author: 
Alfred Perceval Graves (1846-1931), Anglo-Irish poet, songwriter and folklorist, father of poet and critic Robert Graves [Tom Taylor (1817-1880), playwright, editor of Punch; Shirley Brooks]
Graves
Publication details: 
10 July [1872?]. Home Office, Whitehall. On letterhead of the Secretary of State, Home Department.
£180.00
Graves

See his entry, those of his sons Philip and Robert, and that of Taylor, in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on discoloured and lightly-worn paper. Addressed to ‘My Dear Mr Taylor’ and signed ‘Alfred P. Graves’. He begins by enquiring after the state of the recipient’s health, before giving details of when Parliament ‘will probably be up’: ‘Otherwise I have no political news to interest you.

Morton Cohen (1921-2017), Pre-eminent Lewis Carroll Scholar:] Miscellaneous Papers, 1972-2006, the vast majority implicating Lewis Carroll..

Author: 
Morton Cohen (1921-2017), Pre-eminent Lewis Carroll Scholar:
Carroll
Publication details: 
1972-2006
£4,500.00
Carroll

Full decription on application or on my website. ABE inventory omits substantial end section. A small (ish) archive of material from MNC's London residence (he divided his time between America, England and Puerto Rico), mostly relating to Lewis Carroll (hereafter LC), beginning with a tiny fragment in the hand of the author of 'Alice in Wonderland', and including typescripts, proofs and offprints of his own work (including the edition of LC's letters), incoming correspondence, ephemera, copies of professional papers, illustrations.

[The Abdication Crisis, 1936: Sir Osbert Sitwell.] Mimeographed copy, marked ‘Private’, of the unexpurgated version of the satirical poem ‘RAT WEEK. / by Osbert Sitwell’, the cause of a legal action with ‘Cavalcade’.

Author: 
The Abdication Crisis, 1936: Sir Osbert Sitwell [Sir Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell, 5th Baronet] (1892-1969) [King Edward VIII and Mrs Wallis Simpson; Abdication, 1936; Cavalcade]
Sitwell
Publication details: 
Undated, but circa 1936. On paper watermarked 'BELFAST BOND / MADE IN CANADA'.
£180.00
Sitwell

See Sitwell’s entry in the Oxford DNB. In his 1999 biography Philip Ziegler describes how the ‘doggerel polemic Rat Week’ ‘excoriated’ the supporters of the Edward VII and Mrs Simpson: ‘Osbert realised that this diatribe, if published, might land him in a flurry of libel actions, but he could not resist having a few copies made and distributed to his closer cronies; Mrs. Greville, Lady Aberconway, Lady Cholmondeley and Philip Frere among them.

[Conan Doyle; Oscar Slater] Autograph Sentiment and signature Oscar Slater, with image seemingly extracted from a newspaper.

Author: 
Oscar Slater, victim of miscarriage of justice, supported by Conan Doyle among others.
Oscar Slater
Publication details: 
Dated '23/4.27' ("1927 saw the publication of The Truth about Oscar Slater by William Park."
£450.00
Oscar Slater

Sentiment Thanks for your good wishes | Sincerely yours | Oscar Slater | 23/4.27. Image (= portrait) appears to be a drawing extracted from a newspaper or periodical. Backing paper, 8 x 11.5, portrait and text (slightly overflowing) on laid down pink paper, c.9.5 x 6cm. SEE IMAGE. Note: a. Oscar Joseph Slater (8 January 1872 – 31 January 1948) was the victim of a notorious miscarriage of justice in Scotland.

[Tom Chetwynd, author on spirituality.] Typescript (of the second part of his dystopian first novel ‘The Copper Cow’?) titled ‘The GHOSTLY and the BEASTLY. Part II.’

Author: 
Tom Chetwynd [Tom Wentworth Guy Chetwynd] (1938-2012), author of many works on spirituality [dystopian science fiction]
Chetwynd
Chetwynd
Publication details: 
No date (circa 1962?). On title-page: ‘Tom Chetwynd, / 12 Mornington Terrace, / N.W.1. / 387-7709.’
£250.00
Chetwynd
Chetwynd

Apparently an earlier version of the concluding part of Chetwynd’s dystopian first book, ‘The Copper Cow’, published in London by Anthony Blond in 1962 which gives a surrealistic description of a Britain of the near future. Duplicated typescript, double-spaced and printed on rectos of leaves only, all attached with metal stud. Paginated 115-210, preceded by title page and section title. In good condition, lightly aged. With deletions and manuscript corrections duplicated, but no actual manuscript emendations.

[Croquet in the Raj.] Anonymous nineteenth-century manuscript poem titled ‘Lines on a picture of “Croquet at Materan” [Matheran hill station] by a Cynic.’ With cartoon of bewhiskered man behind mask of comedy.

Author: 
Croquet in the Raj [Matheran hill station; British India; Edward Lear (1812-1888)]
Croquet in the Raj
Croquet in the Raj
Publication details: 
No date (mid-Victorian). On ‘J WHATMAN’ laid paper.
£180.00
Croquet in the Raj
Croquet in the Raj

Although there is no clear connection, the present unpublished poem dates from around the same time as Edward Lear was drawing watercolours in the place referred to in it. Vidya Dehejia’s‘Impossible Picturesqueness / Edward Lear’s Indian Watercolours, 1873-1875’ (1989) describes how Lear visited ‘The two small hill-stations of Matheran and Mahabaleshwar near Bombay’. Of the former Lear wrote: ‘Matheran by the bye, has most probably been the original Eden - I don’t mean the first Lord Auckland, - but Paradise -’.

[Andrea Maffei, Italian poet and librettist for Verdi and Mascagni.] Autograph Manuscript of his poem ‘Il tramonto’ (put to music for voice and piano by Verdi), signed ‘Andrea Maffei.

Author: 
Andrea Maffei (1798-1885), Italian poet, librettist for Giuseppe Verdi
Andrea Maffei
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£280.00
Andrea Maffei

Holograph of sixteen-line poem in four four-line stanzas, headed ‘Il tramonto’ and signed at bottom right ‘Andrea Maffei’. 1p, 16mo. Text entirely clear and complete, on discoloured laid paper with chipping and slight loss at right-hand margin. Begins: ‘Amo l’ova del girono che muore / Quando il sole già stanco declina,’. No variations from the version printed in the 1864 Florence edition of Maffei’s works, apart from ‘Una età’ beginning l.6 here, as opposed to ‘Un' età’ there.

[Allan Cunningham, Scottish poet associated with the London Magazine, secretary to sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey.]

Author: 
Allan Cunningham (1784-1842), Scottish poet and author associated with the London Magazine, superintendant and secretary to the sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey (1781-1841)
Allan Cunningham
Publication details: 
19 December 1835; 30 Belgrave Place [London].
£50.00
Allan Cunningham

See his entry and Chantrey's in the Oxford DNB. On one side of a trimmed-down piece of paper, roughly 11 cm square. Discoloured, and with damage to the corners (affecting one word at top right) from removal from mount. With postage folds, and evidence on otherwise-blank reverse that Cunningham was re-using an envelope: part of address in another hand to 'Mrs Pa[...]'. Reads: 'Mr. Allan Cunninghams respects to Mr. Tindal and begs to inform him that Sir Francis Chantrey is at Holkham at present and will not likely be back till after Christmas: should he come sooner Mr A. C.

[Sean O'Casey] Autograph Letter Signed 'Sean O'Casey' to Miss Sheila Lynd, daughter of Robert Lynd, essayist, his letter of condolence

Author: 
Sean O'Casey, playwright
O'Casey
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Tingrith, Station Road, Totnes, Devon, 9 Dec. 1949.
£500.00
O'Casey

Two pages, oblong 12mo, pencil markings, grubby in parts, text clear and complete.Down with a touch of Influenza, busy with letters & work, I'd no time to answer you. I hadn't time to think of any article. I've written Peace messages to Moscow, New Yor, Paris, Plymouth & Melbourne; so, you see, I've not been standing idle in the market place. | I was very, very sorry to hear of your father's (Bob) death. All in all, he was a grand generous lad. Too fond of Ulster, maybe, but none the worse of that same. | My sympathy to you, dear lass.

[Alaric Watts [Alaric Alexander Watts], poet and journalist, editor of the ‘Literary Souvenir’.] Autograph Signature on envelope elegantly addressed by him to ‘the Honble. Spencer Ponsonby’.

Author: 
Alaric Watts [Alaric Alexander Watts] (1797-1864), poet and journalist, editor of the ‘Literary Souvenir’ [Sir Spencer Cecil Brabazon Ponsonby-Fane (1824-1915), cricketer and civil servant]
Alaric
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£35.00
Alaric

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On the front cover of a 12 x 7 cm envelope, from which the seal has been torn away on the reverse. Otherwise in very good condition. A pleasing piece of calligraphy, with the word ‘Private’ centred and underlined at the head, and the address to ‘The Honble. Spencer Ponsonby. / Foreign Office’ across the central band, with the signature at bottom left: ‘Alaric Watts.’ See Image.

[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.

[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.

[Wilfrid Pippet, member of noted Solihull family of ecclesiastical artists and designers.] Eleven signed original illustrations for Thomas Wright of Olney’s ‘Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire Ballads’ (including 'The Three Men of Yardley Chase').

Author: 
Wilfrid Pippet (1873?-1946?), illustrator and designer, member of Solihull family that worked with Gothic Revival firm Hardman & Co. [Thomas Wright (1859-1936) of Olney]
Pippet
Publication details: 
Three editions, Olney, [1924? and] 1925.
£450.00
Pippet

The Pippets of Solihull were a Roman Catholic family that worked closely on ecclesiastical designs with the Gothic Revival firm Hardman & Co (whose archives are held by the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery). Wilfrid also collaborated with J. B. Trinick on the striking illustrations to A. E. Waite’s rosicrucian ‘Album of the Great Symbols of the Paths’ (1917-21; copy in the British Museum Department of Prints and Drawings). Eleven attractive illustrations in black ink (over pencil draft).

[Lawrence Sail, British poet.] Small archive of twenty-seven items, including seventeen printed poetry keepsakes, copies of three of his collections (two with signature of the poet Patric Dickinson), an Autograph Letter Signed, Autograph Cards Signed

Author: 
Lawrence Sail (b. 1942), contemporary British Poet [Patric Dickinson (1914-1994), poet, and his mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton]
Sail
Publication details: 
Between 1984 and 2018. Several from Devon (Tiverton and Exeter).
£1,500.00
Sail

From the papers of Sarah Emmeline Hamilton, whose extensive collection of letters from her lover the poet Patric Hamilton is offered separately. Sail is a widely-respected poet. He has presented the BBC Radio 3 programme 'Poetry Now' and 'Time for Verse' on BBC Radio 4.

[W. Harrison Ainsworth] Autograph Note Signed W.Harrison Ainsworth to Smith, offering a share of a box of woodcocks he's been given.

Author: 
W. Harrison Ainsworth [William Harrison Ainsworth (1805 ? 1882), historical novelist ]
Publication details: 
Conservative [Club]. | Wednesday morning
£38.00

One page, 12mo, bifolium (separating), some staining not obscuring text, text clear and complete. I have just received a box of woodcocks from my friend Coll. Levinge from Knockdrin Castle - And I beg your acceptance of a couple. [Line interpolated later: They are sent by parcel delivery].

[ Book; A. E. Housman; John Carter; Housman-iana ] The Exhaustive Concordance to the Poems of A.E. Housman WITH other related material (enclosed in the book by Carter).

Author: 
[ A.E. Housman ] Yutaka Takeuchi, compiler and editor.
Publication details: 
Shohakusha Publishing Co., Ltd, Tokyo, 1971.
£350.00

Pp.[VII][158], 4to, 1/4 lea, green boards, spine rubbed, contents good. Scarce. Ownership signature front free endpaper. John Carter | August 28, 1972. in red ink and with corrective annotations by Carter of the three page Preface , also in red ink. WITH related enclosed ALS, TLS, four pamphlets, and a brochure. A. Autograph Letter Signed Takata Takeuchi, author of the above, 2pp., 4to, to John Carter, 27 May 1972, asking after Carter's health, and explaining the delay in responding to Carter's letters.

[Mary Russell Mitford] Holograph Manuscript [Draft Letter?] to Sir William Elford, banker, politician, and amateur artist.

Author: 
Mary Russell Mitford, author.
Mitford
Publication details: 
[Bertram House, Decr Ist 1810]
£250.00
Mitford

Novelist. One page manuscript, c.6 x 8, presumably from Miss Mitford's letter book (numbered p.247), poor condition but the text is clear apart from two or three words. The page comprises the conclusion of one draft letter with her full signature, all with a line through, and the first fourteen lines of a draft letter to Sir William Elford, banker, politician, and amateur artist, 1 Dec. 1810, thanking him for his flattering comments and obviously responding to his idea that her poetry has caused illness in him.

[William Harrison Ainsworth, Victorian historical novelist and close friend of Charles Dickens.] Autograph Signature to valediction to letter.

Author: 
W. Harrison Ainsworth [William Harrison Ainsworth] (1805-1882), Victorian historical novelist and close friend of Charles Dickens
William Harrison Ainsworth
Publication details: 
'Kensal Manor House, / Harrow Road. / March Four. 1843.'
£30.00
William Harrison Ainsworth

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On one side of 9 x 6 cm piece section from a letter and laid down on slightly larger and thicker piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: '[...] / to subscribe myself / Your faithful Servant / W. Harrison Ainsworth. / Kensal Manor House, / Harrow Road. / March Four. 1843.' See IMage

[William Harrison Ainsworth, Victorian historical novelist and close friend of Charles Dickens.] Autograph Letter Signed, as editor of the New Monthly Magazine [to Alexander William Kinglake], discussing a manuscript article on a 'Russian Tour'.

Author: 
W. Harrison Ainsworth [William Harrison Ainsworth] (1805-1882), Victorian historical novelist and close friend of Charles Dickens [Alexander William Kinglake (1809-1891), author of 'Eothen']
William Harrison Ainsworth
Publication details: 
'Kensal Manor House / Harrow Road. / May 19th. 1846.'
£180.00
William Harrison Ainsworth

The subject of this article is discussed by William M. Johnston, in his article ‘William Kinglake’s “A Summer in Russia”: A Neglected Memoir of Saint Petersburgh in 1845’ (TSLL, Spring 1967). The memoir was published anonymously by Ainsworth in the New Monthly Magazine, of which he was editor and proprietor, in three parts, but a German translation in the same year revealed Kinglake’s identity. See the entries for Ainsworth and Kinglake in the Oxford DNB. An interesting letter, casting light on Victorian journalistic practices. 4pp, 12mo. Forty lines of text. On a bifolium.

[Sir John Betjeman, Poet Laureate, broadcaster and public figure.] Autograph Note begun in type to the proprietor of Books and Bookmen Philip Dosse.

Author: 
Sir John Betjeman (1906-1984), Poet Laureate and popular broadcaster and public figure [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of arts magazines including Books and Bookmen]
Sir John Betjeman
Publication details: 
No date or place [1970s]. On his compliments slip.
£56.00
Sir John Betjeman

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the papers of Philip Dosse, 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; and Michael Barber, 'What was Books and Bookmen?', Literary Review blog, 18 August 2023. On one side of a 14 x 10 cm compliments slip in red ink, which has 'Sir JOHN BETJEMAN' at top left, and 'With Compliments' centred.

[J. G. Cochrane [John George Cochrane], Scottish editor and first librarian of the London Library.] Autograph Note Signed to the Earl of Clarendon, with list of books not returned to the Library by the Earl's brother-in-law Thomas Henry Lister.

Author: 
J. G. Cochrane [John George Cochrane] (1781-1852), Scottish editor, bibliographer, first librarian of the London Library [George William Frederick Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon; Thomas Henry Lister]
J. G. Cochrane
Publication details: 
‘London Library / June 21st.' [1842]
£100.00
J. G. Cochrane

See his entry, and those of Clarendon and Lister, in the Oxford DNB. From the papers of the Earl’s sister Lady Theresa Lewis (1803-1865), who was married to Lister. (See their entries in the Oxford DNB.) 1p, 12mo. Cochrane’s note is on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium, with the list of books on the recto of the second. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to ‘Rt Hon The Earl of Clarendon’. Adopting a diplomatic approach, Cochrane writes: ‘My Lord, / Annexed is a list of the books had from the Library by Mr Lister, which have not been returned.

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