Autograph Letters

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One autograph postcard signed and two autograph letters signed to Clement Shorter

Author: 
Sir Sidney Low
Publication details: 
1904-1906
£75.00

Author. The letters total 5 pages, 8vo. He anticipates the publication of his "Governance of Britain", giving his view of the book. He thanks Shorter for as review (presumably in "The Sphere"), expresses admiration for Mrs Shorter's work (Dora Sigerson), discusses public reaction to his "Vision of India". He is thinking of writing a "Vision of Ireland". Three items,

Autograph letter signed to Mrs F[rederick W.] Hollams,

Author: 
Richard Everard Webster, Viscount Alverstone
Publication details: 
12 June 1902, Hornton Lodge, Kennington, with embossment of the Royal Courts of Justice.
£40.00

Lord Chief Justice of England (1842-1915). One page, 12mo. Marked "Confidential". "My sister told me of the letter. I have made some enquiries about the man who wrote to you and from what I hear I certainly think you ought not to engage him. You will of course treat this letter as strictly confidential."

Autograph note signed to Mr <Spielmann?>,

Author: 
Sir George Alexander (George Alexander Gibb Samson), Theatre Manager
Publication details: 
"Thursday" (no date), with letterhead 57 Pont Street.
£15.00

English actor-manager (1858-1918), knighted in 1911. One page, 12mo. "We will call for you at about 10.30 tomorrow morning. It is very good of you."

Autograph note signed to [Thomas Bass],

Author: 
Johnston Forbes-Robertson
Publication details: 
30 March 1905, Theatre Royal, Manchester.
£15.00

English actor-manager (1853-1937), knighted in 1913. One page, 12mo. "Dear young friend, / Thank you for your kind & interesting letter. I will try to get a souvenir for you, but I fear there are none left. With every good wish".

Autograph letter signed to the Rev. William Marshall of Harberton near Totness,

Author: 
John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon
Publication details: 
without date or place.
£50.00

Lord Chancellor of England (1751-1838). 2 pp, 12mo. An interesting sidelight into ecclesiastical preferment. "Sir / The Living in Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire is that, to which I propose to present you, if you are disposed to accept it. Its Value, I am informed, but a Chancellor's Information is seldom correct, is about 280l a year - / It will require much of Residence, as the Parish is populous, & contains very numerous Inhabitants. The Duty must, therefore, be considerable - After what my excellent deceased Friend, Dr Parsons, Bp.

Autograph letter signed to an unnamed reviewer,

Author: 
Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea
Publication details: 
23 May 1838, Wilton House, Salisbury.
£45.00

Politician (1810-61), friend and supporter of Florence Nightingale. 4 pp, 12mo. Difficult handwriting. "[...] I feel that I cannot undertake to do what you proposed to me; in such a manner as it ought to be done to do justice to the Review and to the subject. I must therefore ask you to cut me off at any rate for the next number. I hope this will not inconvenience you." Creased and grubby.

autograph letters signed (x 3) to Walter Jerrold, editor, etc.

Author: 
W.J. Locke
Publication details: 
1906-1911
£80.00

Novelist. Total 4pp., 8vo, in the most substantial of which he confesses to being "a most barren person . . . the very act of composition is one of exceeding pain & travail". He is considering a proposal to write something to help the Journalists Orphan Fund. One note concerns the Thackeray Charterhouse Dinner, the other conveys thanks for a fee and pleases that an Exhibition was successful. Three items,

Note signed to Blundell Maple,

Author: 
Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh
Publication details: 
July 1885, with letterhead 10 Downing Street, Whitehall.
£25.00

Conservative politician (1818-87). 2 pp, 12mo. In the handwriting of an amanuensis. "I have promised Mrs Moncrieff, the writer of the enclosed letter, to mention the name of Silas to you. / If you could see your way to meeting her wishes, I should feel grateful to you on her behalf. I am not personally acquainted with Mr. Silas." Signed "Iddesleigh". Creasing from paperclip, and with four pieces of gummed paper adhering to the recto of the blank second leaf.

Autograph note signed,

Author: 
Sir George Alexander (George Alexander Gibb Samson), Theatre Manager
Publication details: 
undated, on letterhead of the St James's Theatre, King Street, St James's.
£15.00

English actor-manager (1858-1918), knighted in 1911. One page, 12mo, evidently in response to a request for an autograph. "With pleasure / Yours truly / George Alexander". Negligible traces of previous mounting on reverse of blank second leaf.

Autograph note signed to Frank [?],

Author: 
Johnston Forbes-Robertson
Publication details: 
undated, with letterhead 22 Bedford Square.
£15.00

English actor-manager (1853-1937), knighted in 1913. One page, 12mo. "Dear Frank, / I am too busy to see you just now, but write me what the business is. - / Yours sincerely / J. Forbes-Robertson." Not in the best of condition: creased, torn and with evidence of previous mounting on blank reverse.

Typed letter signed to the playwright Richard Pryce,

Author: 
Nigel Playfair
Publication details: 
6 November 1922, on letterhead of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.
£45.00

English actor-manager and director (1874-1934), knighted in 1928. He thanks him for his letter about the play "The Immortal Hour" (1907) by Fiona Macleod (William Sharp). "I am delighted that you liked it so much, and I think that gradually the public is beginning to find it out. / It will amuse you to hear that the night before last I saw a performance, at my little boys' school, of "The Dumb Cake"; a pirated version revised from memory.

autograph letters signed (x 2) to [Thomas] Bass,

Author: 
Vernon Steel
Publication details: 
1911 and 1913.
£20.00

The first, 6 October 1911, New Theatre London, 4 pp, 12mo: "I was very pleased to have your letter, and was most interested to read in it something of the inner life of the Manchester working-classes, and to hear the views of one who is in them, but not of them. I think you are quite right to seek recreation in art, as I am sure it does more than anything else to brighten existence, and to relieve one's mind from the drudgery and monotony. It is a great pity there are not more who think like you." He encloses a photograph (not present).

Autograph note signed to [?] Silver,

Author: 
Sir William C. Sargeaunt, K.C.M.G.
Publication details: 
28 May 1887, 61 Montagu Square.
£25.00

Colonial administrator (died 1888). One page, 12mo, on mourning paper. "Pray accept my best thanks for the Botanic tickets you have so kindly sent me. -" With an obituary from "The Colonies and India" for 1 August 1888.

Autograph letter signed to Miss Lanyon,

Author: 
Sir Marshal James Clarke
Publication details: 
20 March 1896, The Residence, [?], Zululand.
£45.00

South African colonial administrator (1841-1909). 2 pp, 12mo. He and Lady Clarke would have been pleased had Mr and Mrs LanyonSigned "Marshall Clarke". "[...] had your stay allowed I would have made a point of going to Durban [...] Sir Owen Lanyon [Sir William Owen Lanyon, 1842-1887, colonial administrator] was my good and valued friend". With four pieces of gummed paper from previous mounting still adhering to the verso of the blank second leaf.

autograph letters signed (x 2) to Mr [?] Brailsford,

Author: 
William Aylmer Gowing ["Walter Gordon"]
Publication details: 
one undated, the other 1887.
£25.00

Playwright under the name Walter Gordon. The first, 4 pp, 12mo, on mourning paper, 24 August 1887, c/o Mrs H. E. Rose, Buxton on the Water, Glos. "I went to Town yesterday to attend the Funeral of my old friend [John] Palgrave Simpson [dramatist and novelist, 1807-1887, DNB], returning here again this morning. / Of course the death seemed sudden when it came although one had forseen it coming for some long time past.

Autograph letter signed to an unnamed correspondent

Author: 
Thomas Dyke Acland
Publication details: 
House of Commons, 25 April 1825
£35.00

Politician and philanthropist (1787-1871). His correspondent has asked him if he will interest himself in the general Turnpike Act during the present session. He says that no interest has been shown in such a thing in Parliament.

Autograph note signed,

Author: 
Squire Bancroft
Publication details: 
2 October 1879, with embossment of the Garrick Club.
£20.00

English actor-manager (1841-1926), knighted in 1897. " "I don't pretend to be a particularly good sort of fellow: nor a particularly bad sort of fellow" / Caste. act I. / Jo. / S. B. Bancroft" Bancroft gave one of his finest performances as Captain Hawtree in Caste (1867). Negligible traces of previous mounting on reverse of blank second leaf.

Autograph note signed to Miss Wheldon,

Author: 
Marius Goring
Publication details: 
24 November 1925, 55 Fitzroy Row, Regent's Park.
£20.00

English actor, manager, director (1912-1998). One page, 4to. "Thank you very much for your letter. I enclose three post-cards, hoping that they will be of some use." Miss Wheldon was organising a charity fete. In bad condition: creased and torn, with holes for a ring-binder and annotated with a large ink cross.

Autograph note signed to Sir John Cam Hobhouse (1786-1869, later Baron Broughton), President of the Board of Control,

Author: 
Sir Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Publication details: 
4 June 1847, Belgrave Square.
£50.00

General (1773-1865), who distinguished himself as commander of the allied cavalry in the Peninsular War. One page, 8vo. "Although Captn: Martin did not serve under my Command in India, I venture to forward to you his Memorial, and trust you will take an opportunity of bringing his claim under the gracious & favourable consideration of Her Majesty - I have the honor to be / Sir / Yr. most obt. Hble: Sert: / Combermere. Genl. / late commr: in Chief / in India". Paper ruckled, and with glue stains from previous mounting. With biographical cutting adhering to head of recto.

Autograph note signed,

Author: 
Sir George Alexander (George Alexander Gibb Samson), Theatre Manager
Publication details: 
without date, on letterhead of the St James's Theatre, King Street, St James's.
£15.00

English actor-manager (1858-1918), knighted in 1911. One page, 12mo. Evidently in response to a request for an autograph. "The Planet / Admirable of you / our friend / George Alexander". Traces of previous mounting on the reverse.

Autograph letter signed to "Revd Mr Hoare".

Author: 
Legh Richmond
Publication details: 
11 Nov. [n.y.]
£35.00

Divine and author (1772-1827). He discusses the timing of the next "clerical meeting" and suggests a friend who could take pupils, "a serious brother".

Autograph fragment signed to an unnamed correspondent,

Author: 
Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), Tory prime minister
Publication details: 
without date or place, but docketted in pencil "D[ownin]g. S[tree]t. 1812".
£25.00

A piece of laid paper, 4 inches by 2. "<...> humble Servant / Robert Peel". Grubby and with minor discoloration from previous mounting.

Autograph note signed to Mr [?] Wells,

Author: 
Wilson Barrett
Publication details: 
14 October 1899, no place.
£12.00

English actor and dramatist (1846-1904). "Thank you for the kind offer. I shall bear it in mind. Many congratulations on the success." Strip of brown discolouration in the right-hand margin and evidence of previous paper-clip attachment.

typed circular signed to [Frederick W.] Hollams,

Author: 
Walter George Frank Phillimore, 1st Baron Phillimore
Publication details: 
20 June 1898, 86 Eaton Place.
£35.00

Judge (1845-1929), ecclesiastical lawyer and international jurist. One page, 12mo. A quaint printed reply to letters of congratulation received on his elevation to the bench. He writes his "thanks to each generous holder of a sixty-fourth share (so very appropriate a number) in the silver ship, "Good Intent". He persists with the nautical metaphor for another two paragraphs. Signed "Ever yrs sincerely / Walter G. F. Phillimore".

Autograph note signed to Mr [?] Stewart,

Author: 
Johnston Forbes-Robertson
Publication details: 
no date, with embossment 22 Bedford Square.
£15.00

English actor-manager (1853-1937), knighted in 1913. One page, 12mo. "My dear Mr Stewart / I am so sorry, but I am engaged next Sunday. I wish it were otherwise. With very kind regards / Believe me to be / Sincerely / J. Forbes-Robertson." Traces of glue and mount on blank reverse.

Autograph letter signed to unknown (part of name torn off)

Author: 
Thomas Welsh
Publication details: 
07/02/24
£100.00

English actor, vocalist and composer (1781-1848). On epage, 4to, creased and chipped with loss only of part of correspondent's name (which ends "...uin"). A significant letter about the Argyll Rooms, the major musical venue of its time. Letter as follows: "If the Licence formerly held by Col. Greville can thus [?] the interest of his family be obtained for the purpose of acting French plays at the Argyle Rooms.

Autograph note signed to "Mr Masson

Author: 
Ignaz Moscheles
Publication details: 
140 Sloane Ct, 10 July 1861
£100.00

Bohemian musician and pianist. One page, 8vo, sl. batterd but the text is unaffected, and clear. "My dear Mr Masson/ Every bottle drawn by your beautiful corkscrew shall be emptied to your good health and that of your sister [presumably Elizabeth Masson, vocalist and teacher, see DNB], and you will both live in our recollection as highly valued and long tried friends. With best thanks . ..... I. Moscheles

Signature only

Author: 
Jenny Lind
Publication details: 
no date
£35.00

Bold signature on paper cut to 4" x 1", some staining marginally affecting clarity.

autograph signature,

Author: 
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor (1825-99), 1st Duke of Westminster
Publication details: 
on mourning paper, with the letterhead Grosvenor House, London. Undated.
£45.00

"Westminster" neatly written on a piece of 12mo paper. Beneath this, in another hand, "With Westminster's Compliments". The recto of the blank second leaf attached to a piece of paper torn from an autograph album.

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent ("Madam")

Author: 
Elizabeth M. Sewell
Publication details: 
Bonchurch, 25 March 1869
£100.00

Religious, devotional and educational writer (1815-1906). Three pages, 8vo, light foxing not affecting clarity of text, laid down. A good letter about her relatively new educational venture in which she clarifies the status of the prospective pupil. "[The school] has not been established for the children of an upper class". She claims that the groundwork is well-laid, repeats that classes are mixed, recalling her own education on the Isle of Wight - "I certainly never gained any harm from it". She describes St Bonifaces as it is ("in its infancy", few boarders, the need for a governess).

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