Autograph Letters

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 57 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Weekes is by far the most likely of the four Royal Academicians whose initials correspond to those of the recipient of this letter, the others being Henry Tamworth Wells (1828-1903); Henry Woods (1846-1921); Hubert Worthington (1886-1963). Well-written and entertaining letter, addressed to 'Dearest old Boy'. Begins with a discussions of the merits of 'Scilly as a sketching ground'.

ONE. Birket Foster's letter to John Abraham: 12mo, 2 pp. 26 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on aged paper, with one dog-eared corner. Docketed 'Birket Foster re Sketches'. A letter of Abraham's has been forwarded to him 'relating to the illustrations which I did for the late Wm. Benson (to illustrate the Memoirs of the Fell family I believe)'. He suggests that they be put into Evans's hands to engrave: 'he is a thoroughly conscientious man, and will do the best he can for the price you like to name'.

Three pages, 8vo, bifiolium, final page laid down on card, as is the envelope addressed in his hand, text legible and complete: "Your protégé & Mr Cowen's has not tracked me iinto the wilds of Oxfordshire where I am staying for ten days or so on a visit to Jowett [Master of Balliol] - and as Watts [-Dunton, companion] & I are going to the seaside the week after next I date say I may escape the jaws of the Garibaldian [?] - which a rather mixed lot (as Yanks say) they is [sic] and will be.

Two pages, 4to, fold marks, some marking, good condition, text clear and complete, as follows: "Permit me to thank you for one of the most acceptable gifts I have ever received, the 'Histoire Morale des Femmes", and for the aimable [underlined] note that accompanied it. Let me thank you also in the name of my Sex for the great service you have rendered us by the admirable Exposé [underlined] of our wrongs, and generous advocacy of our Virtues.

12mo, 4 pp. 40 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'My dear Spencer'. He is sorry to have missed Childers: 'I came back early on Sat: morning fairly driven home by the weather.' Reports that 'Better reviews of the book are now appearing Athenaeum - evidently by Dilke: Tablet: Pall Mall &c.' Thinks 'Clarke will use his influence with the Times', the idea that 'King' has done so being 'entirely out of the question'.

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 36 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. He is sending a 'leaf of the Leeds Mercury containing a review of your Life of your father, which is good & appreciative', along with a copy of one of his sermons (neither enclosure present). Not having yet seen the book, he asks if he 'put in the extraordinary prophecy which your father made in March or April 1892 of the numbers of members who were to be elected in the July of that year?' He has 'the letter he wrote to Fanny with the exact number', and wishes he had reminded him of that fact before.

All three items good, on lightly-aged paper. All bifoliums. Letter One (1 July 1901): 12mo, 4 pp. 42 lines. He is pleased to have received Childers' life of his father (published that year). 'I knew your Father well, [...] I was in the House in the Parliaments of 68 & 80 when he had his most serious work'. Praises his 'amazing pluck in going out as he did to Australia [Childers was first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne] & in his conduct there in the early days & during the gold discoveries time, the story of which in his letters is very curious'.

One page, folio, some staining with minor obscuring of words (at base), main text clear and complete. "In consequence of the alarming State of the Island I have deemed it necessary to request the Committee of Health to keep all Prizes and detained Vessels by H.M. Ships in strict Quarantine - and communications with the Prize Master can easily be accomplished thro' the [Pratique?] Office. You will please to make this known to the Agent." Note added in margin: "Sent Hunter & Woodhead 3rd June". Note: This "Plague" is well documented.

12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. Aged, and with fraying to extremities, causing minor loss to one word of text, and date of letter. Returning 'the volumes of Lowndes' Manual'. The firm has 'not yet been able to make use of your notes, as we received the volume too late for the new edition, which is moreover little more than a reprint of Mr. Bohn's with a few corrections'. They have, however, 'copied the notes, which will be useful when we bring out as we hope to do, a completely revised edition'. Apprarently signed, on behalf of the firm, with the initials 'PEB'.

On piece of blotting-paper, 14 x 13 cm; folded horizontally to make two rectangular leaves, each 7 x 13 cm, with the signature presented in the centre of the first leaf, and with the back leaf laid down neatly on a piece of cream card, 14.5 x 17 cm, with caption at foot of card: 'ORIGINAL BLOTTING-PAPER IMPRESSION OF SIGNATURE OF EDWARD VII.' Being the result of blotting, the impression is a mirror image of the original, with the firm signature 6 cm long, with a 7.5 cm underlining.

12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. 47 lines. Text clear and complete. On aged paper, wear and fraying to extremities. The cutting which Lawler leant him 'has helped me to trace one stage further in the wanderings of more than one vagabond Caxton'. Refers to John Winter Jones's discovery of a copy in the British Museum of the 'Quatre Derrenieres Choses', 'now more than 50 years ago [...] it has remained absolutely unique until our old friend at 15 Piccadilly [Bernard Quaritch] came upon a 2nd copy'.

On piece of blotting-paper, 13.5 cm square; folded horizontally to make a two rectangles, with the signature centred on the front leaf, and with the back leaf laid down neatly on a piece of cream card, 15 x 18 cm, with caption in ink at foot: 'ORIGINAL BLOTTING-PAPER IMPRESSION OF SIGNATURE OF GEORGE V DATED 14 . 12. 1910.' Being the result of blotting, the impression is a mirror image of the original, with the firm signature 4.5 cm long, with 6.5 cm underlining. On aged paper, with neat vertical fold line in centre, crossing the underlining half a centimetre from the right.

4to, 1 p. 18 lines of text. Clear and complete. Fair, on aged and lightly-stained paper. Neatly laid down on a leaf removed from an album. Lightly marked-up in red pencil by the recipient. After professing respect for Nichols's 'literary character' and his 'valuable miscellany', Glasse offers his services 'as corrector of your press for any quantity of Greek you may incidentally have occasion to publish'.

12mo, 1 p. On mourning paper. Ten lines of text, followed by initialed signature 'GS.' Clear and complete. Good, on aged paper. Scharf states that his last meeting with Stanhope was at Chevening on 20 November 1875, and that he had 'almost up to the last moment been reading to him "Advice to Julia" by Henry Lutterell illigitimate [sic] son of Lord Carhampton, publd by Murray. 1820'. Stanhope, he concludes, 'enjoyed it very much'.

4to, 2 pp. Seventeen lines. On worn aged paper, with the cropping of one margin resulting in minor loss to a few words of text. Requesting inclusion in 'any arrangement which may be made' regarding 'a move from Halifax [Nova Scotia]' as a result of a 'late vacancy at the Navy Board'. He is writing despite having 'neither claim or pretension' to Spencer's 'goodness', but 'having received an answer not sufficient to banish hope, in an application about 3 years ago', he is induced to try again.

60+ items of correspondence, including a few carbons of Strong's letters and some postcards. Correspondents (mainly in Poultry industry)sometimes multiple); H.R. Hunter (Specialist breeder); Y. Watanabé; Jack Wrennell; Camp Unami for Boys, R. & E. Charteris Ltd, Gerald Gill; Poultry World; bird insurance; railway use; W.M. Golden; Major H. Whaley; National Poultry Council; The Accredited Poultry Breeders Federation; Charles Allsop (manufacturers of rings); G.H. Kidner; The Framer & Stock Breeder; Dr. A.

Total 5pp., 12mo, minimal marking, good condition. [Letter One, 22nd] He discusses his correspondent's offer of a gift through the [National Art Collection] Fund three Chinese ridge-tiles of the Ming Dynasty. He says that they would like to examine the tiles before formal acceptance and would send a packer from Marlow. He suggests a time. [Letter Two, 29] He apologises for not having understood the nature of the tiles (blaming the Secretary of the Fund), and anticipates their being brought in as suggested. Two items.

Four pages, 4to, fold marks, closed tear, mainly good. He's taking advantage of a trip by one of his parishioners to deliver a letter thanking in fulsome and inventive terms Mrs Foster for sending Professor Sedgwick's Discourse. He says of it, Of the talent and temper of the orator only one opinion can be formed. For the Studies of the University [A Discourse on the Studies of the University] he is not responsible, but for his representation of them the University owes him thanks.

Total 12pp., 8vo, remnants of laying down obscuring some letters, mainly clear and legible. Subjects: [1874] Gratitude to correspondent and a woman; two bad falls; Lady Newry setting fire to herself; compliments on his sketches; their fruit continues to abound; notes on happinesss then a cause for gloom; [Undated] Lady K. ruminating on present for Williams' birthday - he decides himself, the original of [his] sketch; illness in the family; about to distribute the annual gift to our poor (1200 pounds of beef); [1878] Discusses Williams' philosophical remarks and account of P.H.

12mo, 1 p. Fifteen lines. Text clear and complete. Very good on lightly-aged paper. The valediction ('Yours sincerely | C. Bradlaugh') in Bradlaugh's hand, the rest in a secretary's. Addressed to 'F. Harris Esq'. Docketed by Harris: '18 or 20th of Feb. or March. Length unlimited: but more valuable short.' Bradlaugh is working on the article, but 'must not send it' before the report is presented to parliament, which Lord Derby assures him 'will be within fourteen days of the Reopening of the House'. He asks about length and deadline.

4to, 3 pp. 106 lines. On aged paper, and with slight loss to a handful of words of text resulting from wear and closed tears to most of the letter's folds. Competently and unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. On the reverse of the second leaf Rocke's original address ('at Mr. M. Lewis's [...]') is scored through, and replaced in another hand by 'at Thos Elsted Esqre [...]'.

12mo, 3 pp. 44 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, and with the reverse of the second leaf tipped in onto a leaf removed from an autograph album, with manuscript caption reading 'Sir George Cox to Miss Cobbe | given me June 1902.' The letter itself docketed at foot of third page in a contemporary hand. Cox's hand is crabbed and difficult. He thanks her for sending 'Mr Wright's sermon', but can make little use of it: 'The historical portions I must leave on one side.

Photographs: All black and white prints. The first (21 x 15 cm) a portrait of Waller (reproduced in Baxendale, p. 26, below). The second (23 x 17 cm) a family photograph of six Edwardian individuals, three younger ones (including a woman and with Waller at centre) standing, and three older men seated. The other six (all 14 x 8.5 cm and taken at the same time) showing Waller and family outdoors: one of him rowing, and one with a smiling woman (presumably his wife). Overall condition of the photographs is fair. They are lightly-aged, with a little creasing here and there.

12mo, 3 pp. 30 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged and creased paper. He sends a 'list of pieces' which he considers 'suitable for a Short Company'. The first piece named is 'The Silver Lining (the St James's Comedy)', in which he says there are 'only 4 Men & 3 women exclusive of Helen Maltravers'.

12mo, 3 pp. On bifolium, with the printed playbill for the 'Benefit of Mr. Chas. Calvert' at the Theatre-Royal, Newcastle, on the recto of the first page (including a performance of Much Ado About Nothing, with Calvert as Benedick and Miss Fanny Alexander as Beatrice. The letter is 42 lines long. She feels that, 'with but one rehearsal', the 'Merchante's Storye will scarcely go', and suggests performing 'Nine Points, The Household Fairy, and Head of the Family' instead, considering it 'a good bill' and 'lighter works for all the company'.

Both good, on aged paper. Both docketed and with the Society's stamp. ONE: 14 October 1915. Folio, 1 p. Regarding a 'special examination in English, for Belgian refugees'. TWO: 21 October 1915. 4to, 1 p. Headed 'Examination for Belgians in the English Language'.

Both items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter ('Tuesday Mo[rnin]g'): 12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. Slight trace of previous mount on blank reverse of second leaf. She wanted to offer her 'a box for the Opera of "L'Elixir" this evening, but as we are not to give it I shall postpone sending to you 'till Thursday when we perform the "Trovatore" hoping you will do me the favour to come out and listen to my first attempt in that Opera'. Mentions 'His Excellency The Admiral' and the news of 'poor Mrs. Clay's child'.

4to, 1 p. Thirteen lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on aged and lightly-creased paper. The letterhead features an engraving of Chaucer with a lion and eagle. Stating that 'the Pilgrims Society has no funds available' to pay for the sending of 'a representative to the Conference that you are holding with the object of preserving the Old Cottages of England', although 'individual Pilgrims might be willing to subscribe' and the Society is 'in full sympathy with your object'.

4to, 5 pp. Text clear and complete. Good, on aged and folded paper. An highly interesting and significant letter, responding thoughtfully and in detail to questions posed by Gilbert (author, according to Allan, of the 'special study, "Children and Reading"'). Begins by responding to the question 'Why do I write for children?' Considers that children's books 'are at least a minor form of art [...] I am a professional author. I have published more than eighty books, all but one for young people. But every book I have written has been written because I wanted to write it, for myself.

12mo, 3 pp. In bifolium. Forty lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He cannot get her 'a good berth in the middle of he ship', but he recommends that she take a 'good side one near the Ladies Saloon which is aft'. He draws a diagram of the position of this berth, which is 'under offer' to her. He gives the number and price to Colon, Panama, and on to Valparaiso, Chile. He has written her letters of introduction, and offers his further services.