Three Autograph Letters Signed from the antiquary Samuel Lysons to Canon John Edward Jackson, with Jackson's copy of Lysons' 'The Model Merchant of the Middle Ages, exemplified in the Story of Whittington and his Cat', with extra material inserted.

The three letters are in excellent condition, on lightly-aged paper, with all texts clear and complete. ONE: 6 September 1866. 12mo, 4 pp. Jackson's letter has been forwarded to him in Scotland, 'but not your copy of the M.S.' 'What an interesting fund of entertainment you have at Longleat! I could not expect the original M.S to be sent to me, but I do hope some time or other that you may be able to procure for me a sight of the old Glorshire M.S.S. in which I shall feel a deep interest, as also those of Glastonbury.' He thanks him for 'the Memoranda with regard to John Lysons', and his relationship with his family. Discusses John Horner and quotes the celebrated nursery rhyme. He has written to his 'bookseller at Gloucester' to send Jackson a copy of his 'little work on Whittington': 'The sculptured stone you saw at my house was discovered subsequent to the publication of that volume.' He hopes Jackson will accept the book in recognition of his debt to him 'for your kind trouble in sending me the M.S relating to Gloucester'. Warns Jackson that there are 'several typical errors especially in dates which occurred after the press had been corrected'. TWO: 18 September 1866. 12mo, 4 pp. He is pleased Jackson likes the book, but is 'perfectly aware of several inaccuracies of type which occurred after my correction of the press an evil consequent upon my having had it printed in the country' (by 'A. LEA, PRINTER, GLOUCESTER'). As far as 'the granite pavement' of London Bridge is concerned, he is 'not a geologist', and only knows it 'by sight'. If Jackson happens to be passing, asks him to ascertain 'the nature of the paving stone'. The latter part of the letter responds to Jackson's 'notes' on the book. THREE: 26 September 1866. 12mo, 3 pp. Thanks him for taking the trouble to send 'extracts from the Valuable Longleat M.SS. Those relating to Richd Whittington are a valuable addition to my collections relative to that great & good man.' As regards the letter he has received from Jackson's brother, he is 'far from under valuing the efforts of the men of this generation', and he rejoices 'in all that is done for the bettering the conditions of the poor'. His 'great object' in publishing his book 'was to rescue the memory of so great a man not only from oblivion but from the absolute state of myth into which the history was fast falling', and to 'place the deeds of the so called dark ages in contrast with the light of modern days'. BOOK: 8vo, 95 + [1] pp. With frontispiece, table, two engravings and fold-out 'Pedigree of the Family of Whittington' at rear. Binders ticket of Bone & Son, Fleet Street. Text clear and complete. On aged paper. In worn original embossed brown cloth binding, gilt. Laid down on the front endpapers are seven catalogue cuttings and one cutting from a magazine, as well as a manuscript note on 'Cat. Whittington'. The front pastedown also carries two pencil notes, and there are a few more notes in pen on the rear pastedown. Loosely inserted are four manuscript notes (by Jackson?) relating to Whittington, including a transcript (8vo, 2 pp) of a Latin poem 'Vittintonus', 'By the late Revd. Francis Kilvert. M.A. of Bath - From his Remains in Prose & Verse. 1866'. Also two long cuttings from the same unnamed newspaper: the first, dated 8 March 1878, titled 'A Cat Tax', and the second, 18 November 1878, 'Concerning Cats'. With three other small cuttings.~365~AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPTS REVEREND SAMUEL LYSONS CANON JOHN EDWARD JACKSON SIR RICHARD WHITTINGTON DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT ANTIQUARIAN NINETEENTH CENTURY VICTORIAN ANTIQUARY LORD MAYOR OF LONDON~~0~below burke's~~~0~~ 10869~07/11/2011~False~Tom Stoppard, playwright~Autograph Letter Signed Tom Stoppard to Lord Richardson.~[printed heading] [an address in Chelsea withheld], 25 July 2000.~Two pages, 8vo, , punch-holes, fold marks, good condition. It was thoughtful of you to send me the I.B. [Isaiah Berlin] pieces - I looked for you, to give you my address, and hardly deserve your kindness after my disappearing act. Thank you so much. I remember now reading the TLS, nearly two years ago, but I was glad to re-read - especially now - and to have the pages in my Isaiah collection. | Yes. I had a thoroughly enjoyable time at Cambridge and felt definitely honoured. Did you notice who (hon.) went to sleep on the dais behind the Chancellor? Clue: the richest. | I suppose Isaiah knwe himself enough to know whether he was anxious to please - I didn't know him with enough, but from certain things he wrote (or rather, the same thing in two or three places) I think he was dazzled by the 'tribe' he found himself [?], and was never disenchanted. It was 'intellectual gaity' he found.