Autograph Letters

The notable London firm of P. S. King & Son, 'Publishers, Parliamentary and General Booksellers, Bookbinders and Printers', was in existence for more than a hundred years, having been established, according to its own account, in Parliament Street in 1819, and still active until 1941, when it became P. S. King and Staples, under which name it traded for around six years. (An advertisement for the Staples Press Limited in The Times, 14 February 1946, lists, among incorporated companies: 'P. S.

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Salzman's book had been published by Heffers of Cambridge in the previous year, and Brown finds that its 'scraps make such excellent feeding'.

One page, 12mo, some marking, mainly good condition. "Mr Chirnside;'s pamphlet was published by Ridgway of Piccadilly. | Please let me have, as requested, Mr. Rossetto's accounts." Note: Chesson became secretary of the Aborigines' Protection Society. Andrew Chirnside had published in 1880 an exposé of the situation in Blantyre, Malawi ("The Blantyre missionaries, discreditable disclosures"), in which the Society took a great interest.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with slight wear to one corner. Signed 'H. Cernuschi'. He begins by stating that from King's 'première lettre' he had recognised his handwriting. He apologises for not being able to comply with a request of King's: 'Je possédais une importante collection d'autographes - mais elle m'a été volee toute entière'. He concludes by instructing King to send to Westminster '600 copies de Bimetalism in England aand Abroad et 50 copies de mon Speech a Paris 1889'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Not having had 'la facilté de profiter de la bonne recommendation de Miss Louisa Hardy', she writes a letter of recommendation for her son, who will be passing through London for a few days: 'c'est lui qui vous portera nos compliments et vous remercira des articles des journaux que vous m'avez fait parvenir et qu'il m'a traduit'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Tasteful letterhead including the firm's device within an oval, printed in sepia. In good condition: on aged and lightly-worn paper. King was the leading London parliamentary bookseller, and it is interesting to see him apparently offering a work of his own to other publishers. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | We beg to acknowledge with thanks your offer of a translation of Herculano's "O Monge de Cister," which we much regret our inability to accept - our hands being very full just now, & all our arrangements for some time to come made.

Both items in fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The second letter addressed by the secretary on the reverse, with four torn stamps and postmarks, to 'Mr. Lawrence Hodson | Bradbourne Hall | Ashbourne | Derbyshire'. The 'set of stations' referred to in the first letter is likely to have been based on those executed by Gill in stone in Westminster Cathedral, and completed in 1918. Letter One (3 November 1920): 1p., 12mo.

4pp., 12mo. 65 lines of text. Bifolium. In fair condition: on aged paper with one dogeared corner. He begins by apologising for not returning her manuscript sooner: 'what with my Doctorate exam: and other things, I have been specially busy'. Having been 'completely through the MSS' he lists those he likes best: 'the Rhapsodies (especially No. 1 - also No. 5 and No. 3 - especially the opening subject of No. 5).

The collection contains 31 items and is in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Hunt's eight typed letters (three signed 'John Hunt' and five signed 'John') total 4pp., 4to, and 4pp, 12mo; his two autograph letters (one 'John Hunt' and one 'John') total 3pp., 12mo.

TLS, The Studio, Carrigoona Cottage, Co. Wicklow; 15 May 1950, 2pp., 8vo. And Photograph.He recalls that SL was 'good enough to read a manuscript of mine several years ago, and since then, after re-reading it, I came to the conclusion that it was perfectly awful. I then on the advice of Sean O'Faolain, added a few more chapters re-wrote and altered the whole thing, and a few weeks ago I signed an agreement with Batsford, to publish it with the title, "An Irish Portrait".

Total 6pp., 4to. Headed "COPY" in red, from the papers of Mark Bonham-Carter. LETTER ONE: He is trying to persuade Lady Bonham-Carter that her views of the future of the Liberal Party are valid and should be aired, given her "unique position in British Liberalism". She should not fear dividing the Party because "[he has] come to the regrettable conclusion that there is nothing to divide", and it is necessary to "revive sopme life in Liberalism".He comments on the leadership and individuals (C. Davies, for example) and the low state to which the party has descended.

ALS, 5 Acacia Road, St John's Wood; 10 Sept. 1935. He writes regarding the plans for the publication of Dorothy Richardson's novel Clear Horizon.

ALS, on letterhead of 20 Bradmore Road, Oxford; 'Easter Sunday 1931', 2pp., 8vo. Mainly personal long letter thanking her for 'a splendid present - Thank Heavens someone has had the wisdom to give me books, and the bounty to give me a lot of books'. With typed copy (1 p, 4to) of text headed 'Love and the Revolutionaries'. Inscribed at head 'For Sigle, With love from Thomas Hodgkin | Christmas, 1970'.

ALS, Bury House, Bury, nr Pulborough, Sussex; 12 Nov. 1932, good condition. 'We have been wondering what those delightful little noises we've been hearing about the house, were.'

ALS, on letterhead of Leinster Corner, Lancaster Gate, London; 20 September 1929, in envelope, 2pp., 8vo, docketed by MG, with note stating that the writer was 'married to Sir Edward Hilton Young, (who broke Olive Heseltine's heart years before & whose nephew, George, broke Sheila's heart in 1930. Kathleen Young made a bust of R. Lynd. It is now in Belfast (in the Linen Hall or possibly Queen's)'.

2 ALsS, on letterhead of Cahirmoyle, Ardagh, County Limerick; 25 Feb. [1917?]; from Cahirmoyle; 24 March [1918], in envelope, total 4p., 4to.First: 'I am starting a League of Protest, a League to boost Nice Useless Things (I have a sort of suspicion I come under that head myself) and when everyone else is planting the cabbage where last year the wallflower flourished I am making two new gardens! [...] I've had great sorrow since I saw you, a brother I loved very much went to France, was a week in the trenches and then killed. It all seems so stupid and useless.

ALS, from 'Clooney Esq, Oldfield, Swanage, Dorset'; 9 Jan. 1935. He suspects SL is 'the fairy godmother who - partly at least - induced the Book Society to recommend The Seals [...] I want people to feel something of the tragic futility, the truly terrible ever present threat of the irrational in our consciousness, and how it threatens not merely us but our children. In this sense then the book is propoganda [sic] and deliberate propoganda [sic]"

6 ALsS, one ACS, one Autograph Poem and a signed photograph. 3 letters from 30 Chelmsford Road, Ranelagh, one from the Rugby Road, Ranelagh, and one from Marlborough Road, Sonnybrook; three of the letters dated between 2 Sept.1904 and 17 Nov. 1907. One letter without date or place, but written from Dublin, perhaps in 1904. Card postmarked 24 Nov. 1905. Card and two envelopes addressed to 'Miss Sylvia Dryhurst'. The letters total 7pp, 4to; 4pp, 12mo. An intimate correspondence, as the card indicates: 'My dear Miss Sylvie | I am leaving Oxford this morning. [...] I get to London Sat night.

ALS. 50 Upper Rathmines, Dublin; 10 Sept. 1904, in envelope addressed to 'Miss Sylvia Dryhurst / 11 Downshire Hill / Hampstead / London', 8pp., 12mo. Describing a visit to Donegal, beginning: 'We had a delightful time in the bogs of Termon. There was no town, or even village where we stayed, only a house which was half a shop, on the roadside, surrounded by dark blue purple mountain, and bogs covered with heather and bog myrtle.

3 ALsS, all on letterheads of Coombe Bissett, Salisbury; 27 April and 25 May 1947, and 11 Oct. 1949, total 5pp., 12mo and 8vo. The first letter begins 'My sister Dorothy has told me of your idea of having a drawing of your husband. I shall be pleased to undertake this, though I regard it as the most exacting branch of my trade.' Describes in detail what the process would entail. The second cancels a sitting, 'Owing to a muddle about the future to which I am especially liable'.

ALS, on letterhead of 22 Old Broad Street, EC, 2pp., 12mo. Recommending The Great Gatsby, 'the book of which I spoke in the course of your brief discussion of the younger American writers the other evening'.

ALS, on letterhead of 4 Whitehall Court, London; 'Tuesday' [1924], in envelope, 2pp., 8vo. 'You know all sorts of useful things - can you tell me of any way of getting in touch with Mary Ansell - Mary Barrie - Mary Cannan - Mary? here my knowledge stops. [...] Are you "sitting under" Bernard Shaw evening after evening - as I believe is said of preachers? I am going to begin my course on Friday.'

3 ALsS, 1 TLS and 2 ANsS, all signed 'AE', three from 41 Sussex Gardens, London; two from 84 Merrion Square, Dublin; and one on letterhead of the Irish Statesman, 84 Merrion Square, Dublin, four dated between 1904 and 1933, the other three undated., totalA letter tentatively dated to 1918 or 1919 by MG begins 'It is very good & generous of you & Robert in these hard times to pass on the money received for literary work to Mrs Connolly.

2 ALsS, 7 Porthmeor Studio, St Ives, Cornwall; 15 Feb. 1916, 4pp., 4to; Wharf Studio, St Ives; 11 Dec. 1917. 4pp., 12mo.First: Beginning by thanking SL 'for "The Chorus". I feel a wretch beyond redemption & there are not enough excuses in St. Ives to meet the case - I had to get those two big portraits finished & off to the Nat. Portrait Soc: & a nightmare of a time it was I thought - I would never pull them out of Hell's seventh Ditch and up to Bond St - but there they are it appears'.

ALS, on letterhead of 28 Mallord Street, Chelsea; 11 March 1923. Regarding an invitation, he cannot 'promise to come' as he is 'going to America very soon and in consequence my time is very crowded; - in addition, I am preparing for an exhibition at the end of the month'. With note by MG concerning the Lynd's home at 32 Queen's Gate.

ALS, on letterhead of Cuala Industries, Ltd, Churchtown, Dundrum, Co. Dublin; 23 November 1917, 2pp., 12mo. She asks SL to thank RL for working a notice of the book she is sending 'into column so well. Since that we have got a good many orders from quite fresh people. So it has already borne fruit - I am sending you our newest illuminated poem - I wish I could send it framed - but the difficulties of sending glass is [sic] great now - I am getting boxes'.

Eight typed letters, total nine pages, 4to, varying in length from 2 or 3 lines to a page and a half.

One page, 4to, creasing and sl. marked, text clear and complete: Thank you for your letter together with your writings. I don't give an opinion of other people's work, and I'll tell you why, in the past I have been wrong, and on pone occasion felt very responsible. | The best advice I can give you is to send it to a reputable publisher and ask him to get one of his professional readers to give you an honest opinion. These are the boys with the power to say 'yes' or 'no'. | I do hope you understand."

Irregular piece of paper c. 14 x 5 at most, good condions. Pencil note identifying signature

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, fold marks, ow good condition. "I cannot refrain from expressing to you my feelings on perusing your adnirable letter to our friend Gurney House on the painful subject of the window - It appears to me a most complete & satsifactory explanation of the part which you & he have taken in this matter & a most triumphant refutation of what has been urged on the other side against you.