[Professor James Richard Ainsworth Davis.] 'Application for the Biological Chair of the "University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire."' [by Banbury printers Cheney & Sons], with two leaves of 'Testimonials', including one by T. H. Huxley.

Three pieces of Victorian educational and scientific ephemera, and nice pieces of provincial printing. All three items nearly fine. ONE: 'APPLICATION for the Biological Chair of the "University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire."' Dated from Calthorpe Road on 17 August 1883, and addressed to 'IVOR JAMES, Esq. | Registrar, | University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire.' 1p., 4to. On bifolium. Describing his qualifications and background, and including the following: 'I graduated in First Class Honours at the University of Cambridge last June, on the Second part of the National Sciences Tripos, my principal subject being Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, my secondary, Geology. The Examiners in both subjects saw fit to commend my work. I had previously (June, 1882) obtained First Class in the First part of the Natural Sciences Tripos, my subjects being - Zoology and Comparative Anatomy; Geology; Physiology; Botany; and Chemistry.' TWO: 'Testimonials of James R. Davis, B.A. (Camb.) | First Class Honourman in Zoology and Comparative Anatomy. Foundation Sizar in Natural Science, and Prizeman of Trinity College.' 4pp., 4to. On bifolium. Initial note: 'The first three Testimonials [by F. M. Balfour; T. H. Huxley and Michael Foster, all written in 1880] were received when intending to compete for a Grocers' Exhibition, but my application was necessarily withdrawn as I gained a Clothworkers; Exhibition in the Interim.' Other testimonials (all from 1883) by J. W. Judd; Michael Foster (a second); Rev. Coutts Trotter; G. A. Hewett; William Hartley. THREE: 'Additional Testimonials of James R. Davis, B.A. (Camb.)' Dated 'August 20th, 1883.' 1p., 8vo. Carrying testimonials by Rev. T. Julius Henderson and J. J. Lister. Having been produced for a specific occasion, all three items are excessively scarce, with no copies traced, either on COPAC or WorldCat. The printers' details are not given, but the three items come from the archive of Cheney & Sons, 'General, Commercial & Artistic Printers, Banbury'. For more about the firm see 'John Cheney and his descendants, printers in Banbury since 1767' (1936) and the Victoria County History volume for the County of Oxford, Banbury Hundred.