Literature

Quo musa tendis?

Author: 
J[ames]. K[enneth]. Stephen [JACK THE RIPPER]
Publication details: 
Cambridge: Macmillan and Bowes. 1891.
£22.00

First edition. 12mo. Pages: 2 ('BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LAPSUS CALAMI.') + x + 84 + 4 pages of publishers' advertisements. Very good in original worn light-blue cloth with heavily-worn label on spine. Ownership inscription of Richard E. Benson (1892) on front free endpaper. Stephen was first put forward as Jack the Ripper in Michael Harrison's biography of Prince Albert Victor, 'Clarence' (1972).

Typed Letter Signed to [Morley Stuart, editor of the Cambridge Daily News].

Author: 
Rose Macaulay
Publication details: 
13 April 1934; on letterhead '7, LUXBOROUGH HOUSE, | NORTHUMBERLAND STREET, | W.1.'
£53.00

English novelist (1881-1958). One page, roughly six and a half inches by five. Good, but on high-acidity paper discoloured with age. Attached to folio page from cuttings album. She thanks him for 'the cutting from the Cambridge Daily News about your lecture on Cambridge novels, which interested me. I do not suppose I could have said anything useful if you had written to me, as I can never think of anything to say in letters. I was interested in your comparison of Oxford & Cambridge novels.

Secretarial letter for Macready to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins" and other books.

Author: 
William Macready.
Macready
Publication details: 
1839
£25.00
Macready

[William Macready (DNB)], actor-manager, declining a manuscript play. Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

Autograph Letter Signed to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins" and other books.

Author: 
Saunders & Otley
Publication details: 
1846
£45.00

Saunders & Otley, publishers (BBTI), declining to "undertake the work he mentions". Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

Autograph Letter Signed to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins" and other books.

Author: 
Frederick Yates
Publication details: 
1839
£45.00

Frederick Yates (DNB), actor-manager, making a suggestion to make something (a play) of his "sketch" (perhaps an episode later used in Peter Priggins?). Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

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

Author: 
Francis Brett Young [ADMIRALTY RESEARCH LABORATORY]
Publication details: 
29 October 1935; on letterhead of the 'Admiralty Research | Laboratory, | Teddington, Middlesex.'
£45.00

Novelist, short story writer and poet (1884-1954). Two pages, quarto. Very good, though dusty and with small staple holes to one corner. Docketed. Apologises for the late reply to the invitation to join the Society ('the oversight was due to the intervention of leave and other causes'). 'Though I am afraid that I shall not be able to avail myself to any great extent of the advantage offered by your Society, staff members of this Laboratory will doubtless be glad to attend your lectures as they have already done in the past.' Consequently he will offer himself for election. Signed 'F. B.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Edna Lyall (Ada Ellen Bayly)
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

English novelist (1857-1903). Paper dimensions roughly four and a quarter inches by two and a quarter inches. Very good, but grubby and with a few light glue stains. From autograph album and mounted on larger piece of light blue paper. Reads '[...] | it will save confidencce. | In gt. haste | Yrs. truly | A. E. Bayly.' Docketed '(Edna Lyall)' in pencil beneath signature.

Autographed Note Signed to unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Sir Hugh Walpole
Publication details: 
30 May 1924; no place.
£23.00

New Zealand-born English author (1884-1941), best know for his series of 'Herries Chronicles'. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by five inches. Folded once (not affecting signature). Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. From Autograph album. Reads 'With the best | wishes of | Hugh Walpole | May 30th. | 1924'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Jean Morison [Mrs Jean Morison Campbell]
Publication details: 
Without date; on embossed letterhead 'MORISON HOUSE. | HETLAND. | RUTHWELL.'
£20.00

Scottish author. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by one and a quarter. Very good, with some light glue staining. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] your welcome letter which | [...] | [...] your loving friend Jean M. C. Miller Morison'. Docketed in pencil 'Poet & Critic - "The Purpose of the Ages" etc'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Emily Taylor
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

Victorian novelist and hymn-writer (1795-1872), author of 'Tales of the Saxons'. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two. Very good though somewhat grubby. Folded once (not affecting signature). From autograph album. Mounted on piece of green paper. Reads '[...] I heard - remember me very kindly to him & to your sister & daughters. | I am, as ever, | faithfully yours | Emily Taylor.'

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Rosaline Masson
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

Biographer of Robert Louis Stevenson. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by one and a quarter. Very good. Taken from autograph album and mounted on larger piece of cream paper. Reads 'Yours very affectionately | Rosaline Masson.'

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Laura'.

Author: 
Frederic William Farrar, Dean of Canterbury
Publication details: 
3 February [no year]; on embossed letterhead of the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall.
£45.00

Archdeacon of Westminster and Dean of Canterbury (1831-1903). Two pages, 12mo. Good but grubby and with some staining from glue and with head of verso attached to larger sheet of green paper, some of which adheres to letter. He is 'very full of engagements in Lent; indeed I am more occupied in this way than is good at all for me or for others. I admire the resolute penitence of in preaching his year & no more. I alas! have about a hundred to preach, & many many other duites w[hic]h bring me nothing but hatred disparagement. So I know you will excuse me.' Signed 'F W Farrar'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter

Author: 
Eleanor Catharine Price [E. C. Price]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a half inches. Very good. Folded once (not affecting signature). From an autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] | It was a real pleasure | to see you again the other | day. | Yours afftely | E C Price -'. Docketed in pencil at foot.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugessen, 1st Baron Brabourne
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£28.00

Politician and children's writer (1829-1893). Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a half. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] himself, & the flatterers to whose advice he has listened rather than to those who have not feared to tell him the truth - | Vy truly | Brabourne'. Docketed in pencil.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
William Black
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£22.00

Scottish novelist (1841-98). Paper dimensions roughly four inches by one and a half. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. Reads 'Yours veryy faithfully | William Black.'

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Hall Caine
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£15.00

Manx novelist (1853-1931). Paper dimensions roughly three inches by one and a half. Very good. Reads 'Yours vy truly | Hall Caine'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Annie S. Swan [Annie Shepherd Swan Burnett-Smith]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£18.00

novelist (1859-1943). Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two inches. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of pink paper. Reads 'Yrs sincerely | Annie S. Swan.'

The christmas box or new year's gift.

Author: 
S. G. Green, intro. [The Religious Tract Society; Field & Tuer, The Leadenhall Press]
Publication details: 
London: Field & Tuer, The Leadenhall Press, E.C.
£45.00

Small 8vo. 80 pages. Numerous woodcuts. In original grey printed wraps, with cloth spine. Internally good, with some light spotting and discoloration. Binding worn and grubby; front fep splitting. Ownership inscription. Interesting and informative introduction discusses 'the advance made in less than seventy years in popular art and literature'. Publisher's note (p.xxviii), 'The letter-press of the present volume exactly reproduces that of the original Christmas Box.

Character.

Author: 
Samuel Smiles
Publication details: 
London: John Murray, 1885. New edition.
£60.00

Victorian writer and social reformer (DNB), famous for his book 'Self-Help (1859)'. Inscribed by Smiles on the half-title 'To Dear Georgie | from the Author | S Smiles. | Christmas 1886'. Later ownership inscription on front free endpaper. 8vo, xii + 388 pages, followed by sixteen-page catalogue of publisher's advertisements. Original maroon cloth, with blindstamped bevelled boards. Not in the best of condition: cloth worn, stained and rubbed; spine frayed and faded with long tear along hinge; binding loose; paper somewhat discoloured with some foxing.

The law the lawyers know about.

Author: 
H. D. C. Pepler [Eric Gill, David Jones, S. Dominic's Press]
Publication details: 
PRINTED AT S. DOMINIC'S PRESS, DITCHLING, SUSSEX' at foot of verso of last leaf; no date.
£50.00

4 leaves. 8 unpaginated pages. 16mo. 9 centimeters by 12 centimeters. Dusty but very good indeed. Evan Gill 272 describes the first edition of 1923 and a subsequent edition of 1929, but makes no mention of an undated issue. Wood engravings by Gill: lawyer's wig on cover-title; bird in cage on verso of third leaf; angel before tombstone on verso of last leaf. 'WITABEL WATLO' engraving [by David Jones?] on recto of third leaf. Prob. Taylor & Sewell 117c

Der Blütenzweig | Eine Auswahl aus den Gedichten von Herman Hesse.

Author: 
Herman Hesse
Publication details: 
Zürich: Fretz & Wasmuth Verlag Ag. 1945.
£22.00

80 pages. 16mo. In grubby decorated boards with white paper printed label on front. Corners bumped. Internally sound and tight, with a few pencil notes on front pastedown.

Libros y autores Cubanos.

Author: 
Antonio Iraizoz
Publication details: 
Santa Maria del Rosario, Cuba: Editorial Rosarena. [1956].
£45.00

178 pages, 8vo. Poor: foxed and stained in worn and damaged boards. INSCRIBED by Iraizoz ('22 Agosto 1964') to his 'amigo y companero' Jose de la Luz Leon. A few unobtrusive annotations.

Autograph Letter Signed to a would-be contributor to "Aunt Judy's Magazine".

Author: 
Margaret Gatty.
Publication details: 
Ecclesfield, 11 August 1866.
£85.00

Children's Author and Editor. Two pages, 8vo, attached to slightly larger card (a page from an autograph album), good consition. Text: "I am much obliged to you for the offer of your tale, but think it better to return it as I am fully supplied at preset with material for my Magazine. Will you allow me to say that it strikes me as being better adapted for such a puvblication as the "Monthly Packet" which is intended for rather older readres than mine." DNB entry: "In May 1866 Mrs. Gatty established a monthly periodical for young people called ‘Aunt Judy's Magazine.’"

Part of an autograph letter signed to an unnamed correspondent (editor or publisher?)

Author: 
H. Rider Haggard.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£85.00

Fragment of a letter, c.3.5" x 3", laid down on slightly larger card, surving text as follows: "I have no story suitable. Hope you had a pleasant trip. Very truly yours / H Rider Haggard".

Subscription of letter only,

Author: 
Bret Harte
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£33.00

Fragment of a letter, subscrption only, c.2.5" x 1", laid down on slightly larger card, cut from album, "Yours v[er]y tsinc[erel]y / Bret Harte"..

Typed Letter Signed to [Brian?] Mercer, [Secretary,?] Royal Society of Arts; together with a carbon of the Typed Letter to which it is a reply.

Author: 
Cecil Day-Lewis
Publication details: 
22 July [1961]; on letterhead '6 CROOMS HILL | GREENWICH | S. E. 10'; carbon of Mercer's letter dated 21 July 1961.
£65.00

British Poet Laureate (1904-72). Day-Lewis's letter, 1 page, 8vo. On grey paper. Good, but lightly creased and with a few staple holes. Thanks Mercer for the 'kind invitation'. 'I am afraid I could not manage to prepare the paper you suggest for January 24, since I have to be busy till near the end of this year on a play.' Suggests deferment to February or March. Signed 'C. Day Lewis'. Docketed by '' on 24 July 1961, 'We can offer other times, I think, in March.' and with 'Mar 21 | 2.30' beneath this in pencil.

Autograph Letter Signed "Taprell Dorling" to [Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Captain Taprell Dorling (" Taffrail ")
Publication details: 
Marlings, Woking, Surrey, 17 May 1937
£75.00

Author. One page, 8vo, fold mark, good condition. "in your letter of November 2nd last, you were kind enough to say that you would take the necessary steps for my election to the Royal Society of Arts if I decided to reconsider my original inability to accept your Council's invitation. / I should be pleased now to join in due course if you would put my name forward."

Signed Printed Memorandum of Agreement between Aldrich and Anthony Blond Limited for a book to be entitled 'Harlem Diary'.

Author: 
Nelson W[ilmarth]. Aldrich jr. [Anthony Blond Ltd].
Publication details: 
20 January 1964; London.
£100.00

4 pages, folio. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition overall. A standard Blond printed contract with manuscript additions and deletions. Signed 'Nelson W Aldrich /' and Anthony Blond'. The work does not appear to have been published.

Johnsonian studies including a bibliography of Johnsonian studies, 1950-1960 compiled by James L. Clifford & Donald J. Greene.

Author: 
Magdi Wahba, ed. [Samuel Johnson; James L. Clifford; Donald J. Greene]
Publication details: 
Cairo; 1962.
£55.00

351 pages, 8vo. Unbound: in original brown printed wraps. In good condition, but with wraps browning and creased. Ownership inscription on inside of front wrap. An important collection, with the bibliography accompanied by seventeen essays, including ones by J. D. Fleeman, Arthur Sherbo, Joyce Hemlow and Gwin J. Kolb.

Autograph Letters Signed.

Author: 
Elizabeth Palgrave [Sir Francis Palgrave, Dawson Turner]
Publication details: 
Without place or date, but after 1823, and with the draft reply dated 'Nov. 30'
£75.00

Three pages, 12mo. Good, but with a couple of closed tears on crease and with the remains of a brown-paper mount adhering to the blank verso of the second leaf of the bifoliate. The letter (2 pages) reads 'The coming coach drove my husband [Sir Francis Palgrave, 1788-1861, civil servant and antiquary] into London before he had well finished his note [see below].

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