Autograph Letters

Victorian cartoonist and illustrator (DNB), connected with the magazine Punch. The fragment is around two inches by four, creased and discoloured. It reads 'With compliments | very truly yours. | Linley Sambourne' The signature is underlined. The reverse, one edge of which is attached to a piece of card, carries part of a list of various numbers of the magazine 'Types of British Army' in Sambourne's possession.

British Whig Prime Minister (DNB). Rectangular piece of paper approximately two inches by five, lightly creased and discoloured. Signed 'Melbourne' beneath the words 'By His Majesty's Command.' in another hand. In the same hand on the reverse are fragments of eight lines apparently relating to the retention in 'strict Custody' of one France <?> in the thirty-ninth year of the Reign of King George III. Docketted in ink and pencil beneath Melbourne's signature 'Melbourne'.

English professor of botany, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (DNB). One page, 8vo, creased, slightly discoloured and with a few closed tears. 'I failed, as I think I told you, to get any light on the Chancellors Eulogium from Oxford! I thought it only fair to send to Sir Herbert Warren, the President, Magdalen, what Cheltenham yielded as solicitor. | You may like to see the enclosed as an interesting aspect of Curzons many-sidedness. | I should like to have it again. | I am writing this with some difficulty as the house is full of work people'.

Poet and biographer (La Jeunesse de Swinburne, 1837-1867. [With a bibliography.]) Four pages, 8vo, good condition. A very detailed defence of his work on Swinburne. For example, "[I] want first to assure you that there is here some misunderstanding: in my opinion, you have no real justification for speaking of" the unfair treatment I have meted out to your Father". If I have had to quote contemporary documents in which unfavourable comments are made, it's always clear that I do not profess to share those views". He has in fact suppressed material in Swinburne's correspondence with W.M.

Publisher. (TNS) One page, 4to, about the next Thackeray dinner. He has lost his "papers about the Titmarsh Club" and adds an apology in his hand. (ALS) Two pages, 8vo. He praises Ianthe Jerrold's latest poems effusively and at length, concluding that "I think we may expect her to take her place, and that no equivocal one, among the women-poets of her country." He goes on to how badly the Daily Telegraph has treated "us - you worse than me, of course, because I have still my office. He thinks they should rather have lost money in wartime than throw over loyal employees. Two items,

Scholar and collector (1909-1996). Total 3pp., 8vo, good condition. (1931) "many thanks for your note enclosing cheque for "Farrago" [?]. I wish all my debtors were as prompt." Wilson or a member of his staff has put a pencilled line diagonally through the page. ([1932]) He asks to see "the Lewis Carroll catalogue and exhibits on Monday, with a view to reporting the exhibition in next weeks' [Times] Literary / Supplement . . . ". Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235). Two items,

One page, 4to, spike-hole, fold and other marks, text cleaar and complete. "Sir,/ Some months back, you informed me that "The Monastic Ruins of Yorkshire would be shortly ready, and you engaged to send me a copy to my Town Agent, (Jas. [underlined] Gilbert, 49 Paternoster Row) as soon as the new Edition appeared. I trust that it is now ready; and I will thank you to send me two [underlined] copies (instead of one) of the cheapest [underlined] edition, as I have no doubt I shall get a second subscriber as soon as the work can be seen . . . [signature] . . . P.S.

Publisher, philanthropist and author (1798-1886). Two pages, 8vo, bifoliate, good condition. "Dear Mr. Tupper,/ I hope to send you a proof tomorrow./ I am afraid we shall have to throw Foley over altogether, as we shall probably begin a new series next year in place of the "English Artists"./ I almost think we are full for the next three numbers, but if there should be space for the short articles you mention [page 2] I will let you know . . ."

One page, 4to, small tears, small piece missing, dulled, fold marks, spike hole, but text readable. "If you will go to Cockburn & Cos branch at Whitehall they will pay you £5.8- I am sorry it escaped my memory. I enclose you a list of the contents of 5 vols of Old Plays which I am offered - & I wish you would tell me what they are worth./ There is also here a book dedicated to Lord with the following title Page of which I wish you would tell me the probable value[.] Englands Improvements by Sea & Land &c. By Andrew Yarranton Printed by R.

Publisher (see Mumby, 1956 ed., p.305). Two pages, 8vo, bifoliate, good condition. Nash recalls their first meeting ("at Mc Geachy's in Glasgow") - "and I felt then that you would get to the top of your calling, because you were obviously a born bookseller wit a knowledge of literature and a splendid memory. / I am delighted to have your good wishes, and will think over your suggestion that I should write some reminiscences of the book trade".( Nash's autobiography was published in 1941.) Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235).

Publisher. Both letters one page, 4to, good condition. (1931) He asks if an American scholar whose stay in London and studies of Coleridge have been affected by illness can have a look at a relevant book belonging to Murrays, but in a Bumpus Exhibition. He thinks the Exhibition successful and adds in ms. "The Times gives us a nice notice today".

Publisher (1902?-1970). One page each, 4to. In one he discusses someone's sighting of ghosts (about which O'Donnell has written and the possibility of reprinting O'Donnell's work on werewolves in Penguin. In the other he briefly gives information about his family and anticipates an announcement with regard to the Bodley Head "in the New Year". The letter has the stamp of the "Receiver", so the announcement may well refer to the company's financial difficulties (see W.E. Williams, "Allen Lane", p.41 "bankruptcy" of Bodley Head).

Publisher and editor (formerly Hogarth Press). Total 5pp. /sides, 8vo and 12mo (the card). The eqarlier items (TNS and APCS) thanks Sewell Stokes for a piece for "The London Magazine" about George Moore on which he comments ("I'm sure it's an improvement"0 wondering if the effect of an anecdote is diluted by "the part about Ford". In the latter he asks Daniel George, writer and publisher's reader, for suggetions who should get a "Travelling Scholarship" beyond Vernon Watkins ("favoured by the anonymous donor") and Maurice Cranston ("not particularly well off"). Three items,

Publisher. One page, 8vo, bery good condition. "Dear Mr Wilson, / You were indeed kind to give me so much of your valuable Time today, and to take so much Trouble over our projected list. I learnt a great deal on how to write 'copy' for books, and advice from you with your store of experience is immensely valuable to a young beginner like myself, I am indeed grateful . . ." This must have been in the publishing company's early days. They later learned enough to reject "Animal Farm"(!) Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235).

Publisher and author. Two pages, 8vo, laid down on stained paper, sl. chipped with minor loss, text clear. Hotten firmly setsa out the terms on which he will "come to an agreement" with Ross. He numbers his points 1 - 6, but on turning a page he jumps from 3 to 5, omitting 4. Point 1 "You will find literary composition, illustrations, & engraving." Hotten (point 2) will find paper and printing. "[Mr.

Irish-American writer of boys' stories (1818-1883). Two pages, 8vo, in a bold though smudged hand, text just legible. "My dear Mr Blackett / May I beg you will let me have one more copy of The Hero in spite of himself -- s[?] I only had two [underlined], and six [underlined] is the allowance usually given me. I have like all authors one or two friends who will not buy, and yet who expect to read my books."

Miscellaneous writer and inventor (1810-1889). Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He asks for his authorial allowance of copies to be sent to his brother's at the Palace. He nominates other people he wants copies sent to, and adds "(The United States ought to take a few copies, as I have thousands of friends there, - & the 1/4 dollar reprints wont satisfy them: a good English book is a luxury well appreciated in the land of cottonpaper & indifferent print.)" He asks for a copy to be sent to Edward Walford of "The Times" - "possibly he may give it a [worldwide?] notice.

Man of Letters (1844-1912). One page, 8vo. He asks Nutt to make an effort to find a book he wants and expresses the wish that someone "would write 'The Heathen Year' out of Ovid and other sources".

d.1852 (Burke). Maria Benyon m. 4th Viscount Midleton 13 June 1797 (second wife). One page, 8vo, some marking and chipping but text clear and complete. "Lady Midleton wishes to know whether Mr. Jeffery [sic] has any number of the Quarterly Review published since <"that" excised> Janry. 1815 as she has not received any - the 24th. Number completes the volume---"

Of Longmans, Green & Co. Ltd, publishers. Two pages, 4to, responding to Wilson's comments on prospectuses, discussing both Wilson's and Longmans' idea of who one should send them to, or how many.

One page plus address page conjoint, 8vo, grubby, spike-hole, small portion torn off with opening of seal not affecting text, text clear and complete. "Lady Anne Culling Smith begs Mr. Carpenter will send her down by the stage to:morrow Eveng Mrs. Riche's Nocturnal visit together with her Maid of the Hamlet & Vicar of Lansdown." Note on address page by bookseller "Lady A. Smith/ 1800".

Journalist and miniature painter (1776-1842).

Susan Euphemia Beckford ("one of the handsomest women of her time" (quoted in DNB), 7 m. Marquis of Douglas in 1810. Two pages, somewhat grubby but text clear and complete. "The 5 Vols: of Grimms[sic] Correspondence which Mr. Clarke sent to Gros[veno]r Place for the Marchioness of Douglas are just arrived at Hamilton Palace in a Case wh.

French writer (1805-1851). Three pages, 8vo, bifoliate, good condition. "Sir,/ I have the honor to forward you the enclosed prospectus of the "Encyclopedie du XIXe Siecle" in which the high approbation given to this work by his Holiness, and also that of the R.R.

One page, 4to, fold marks, text clear and complete.

Miscellaneous writer (1800-1880). One page, 8vo, edges discoloured, text clear and complete. "Upon arriving at Cambridge, Mr Digby finds that only the ist volume of Kant's Works had been sent to Will's Coffee House [when did it close?]. He writes to request that Mr Bohte will forward the renmaining three to him at Trin. Coll. Cambridge."

(See Boase, Adams b. 1775 d. 1862, confidential secretary to William Pitt [for whom Lady Hester Stanhope kept house for a time], May 1804-Feb.[Note] 1806). One page, 4.5 x 10", damaged and stained but text readable, most clear. As follows: "Lady Hester Stanhope has desired me to order the Morning Post [underlined] to be sent to her at Dawlish near Teignmouth Devonshire/ Have you done anything about the Port Folios[both words underlined] which I sent for some days ago?" Byfield appears in Brown's London Publishers.

Two pages, 7.5 x 4.5, page trimmed without obvious loss, spike-hole, text clear. "Instead of the Repository[underlined] of Arts[underlined] for November/ which is the Magazine which the Baroness Howe has taken from its first publication/ Mr Akerman [sic] has sent her a Magazine & a Bill for others of the same sort, which she has never had. She desires therefore that he will instead send her The Repository [underlined] of Arts [underlined] for November [underlined].

"Mr Burne/ 20 King Street/ Covent Garden".Two pages, c.10 x 7", chipped, part torn off, small hole, text clear.

Antiquary, topographer and architectural writer (DNB).Two ANSs to Smith, 23 April 1849 and 21 June 1853, 12mo and 8vo. (1849) He returns "Mr. Halliwell's vol". (Smith published a good number of books by J.O. Halliwell[-Phillipps], some in 1849.) (1853) He proves that he is making progress with his Autobiography by sending a second instalment. (The Autobiography of John Britton was published in 1849/1850. I have found no reference to an edition published c.1853 but NSTC lists an imprint dated "1850[57?]" - whatever that means.)