Autograph Letters

All six items are good, on lightly aged paper, with pin holes to the top left-hand corners. Gloag's first letter (4to, 1 p, 13 lines) concerns a 'most unfortunate error, made by the Rotary Club of London in printing a paper which I recently gave on "Design in Industry,". The copy of Gloag's letter to Read (typed, 17 February 1950, 4to, 1 p) reveals this to have been the describing of Gloag 'on the luncheon menu as an "R.D.I." ' In the copy of Luckhurst's reply (12mo, 1 p, 16 lines) he comments that he has 'read enough press reports to know how unavoidable such things are'.

The first three items are 4to, with the first two of two pages and the last of one page, all with a brown border. The fourth item is 12mo, 1 p. The quarto items have some creasing and discoloration to the extremities, and a few closed tears. The 12mo item is good. Text of all four letters clear and entire. The correspondence concerns Crouch's application for membership. He gives the names of individuals who 'have signified their willingness to second' Crouch: Sir William Wayland, M.P.

12mo, 3 pp, 28 lines. Good, on lightly creased and aged paper. Difficult hand. References to a 'cher Docteur ' and a 'Mr. John '. Docketed in pencil, and with a biography of the archaeologist Léon de Laborde (1807-1869) in pencil in another hand on the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium.

All items 4to, 1 p. All on aged paper: the first and last good; the second lightly creased and with the ink having eaten away at a few words, and some chipping at foot, affecting signature (partially repaired with archival tape), but with text clear and entire. All three bearing the Society's stamp and the first two docketed. Concerning his desire to become a member of the Society. In the second (autograph) letter he inquires whether 'any one from Bombay may be nominated for Membership of your Society by the Council in case he has no friends of his who are Members of your Society'.

12mo, 1 p, 12 lines. Good, on lightly aged paper. Drawing the recipient's attention to 'une demande qui a été adressée a M. le Prefet de la Seine, par M. Burnet [an inhabitant of Neuilly], homme infiniment estimable qui sollicite un emploi dans l'administration des pompes funèbres'. Giraud knows Burnet very well, 'et je lui porte un interet particulier'.

12mo, 4 pp, 38 lines. He is sorry to have forgotten to return 'the works you most kindly lent me in respect to the early Brussels wood-engraving'. They had been 'taken into town' to be sent to Carpenter, but 'in the turning out of all my books from the counting house at the time of the alterations, these were with my other matters taken into a room in Lancaster Place'. He apologises for his 'apparent negligence', but until he puts his 'new room' in order he cannot 'get at these said Pamphlets'.

12mo, 1 p. Good. On grey laid-paper bifolium. Requesting an audience.

12mo, 1 p, 11 lines. Very good. He begins by giving R. J. Smith's Brompton address. He was 'delighted to hear of Lord Powis' and hopes 'there is no mistake about it'. 'Remember in printing his Title he is a Knight of the Garter. - On the back of our 2nd. No. I see Lord Southampton printed as "the Earl of Southampton"!' Asks the recipient's view of the previous day's 'Times': 'And look at the Morning Post to day.'

4to, 1 p, 22 lines. On aged paper, with chipping at extremities neatly repaired with archival tape. Text clear and entire. He thanks him for his 'interesting paper', commenting on the 'Lucretian passage'. Postgate's 're-arrangement [...] is undoubtedly more attractive & logical than the ordinary arrangment, and as such I welcome it: but must we suppose always that artists do as well instinctively as they might if they had taken counsel?' 'Ex silentio I judge that all is well with you, as far as anything can be well for any of us these terrible times.

Six of the letters are 4to, 1 p; the other is 12mo, 1 p. All good, on lightly aged paper. All bearing the Society's stamp and most docketed. On a variety of subjects: a proposed paper by 'Herr Frahm', the use by the Institution of the Royal Society's library for a council meeting, the delivery to the Society of a 'model tank that is coming from Germany' ('the reader of the paper is sending his representative over from Germany to superintend matters'), and a 'Proposed Memorial to the late Sir William White' ('with reference to Mr. Bailey Saunders and Mr. C. R. Graves.

12mo, 1 p, 10 lines. On worn, discoloured paper, with slight loss due to the breaking of two seals. Text clear and entire. The letter has been readdressed in another hand (hence the two seals) to 'Mr Price, Crease & Sons, Smithfield'. Harrison quotes his 'friend of the L. G. [i.e. the Literary Gazette]' as follows: 'Your D'Israeli paper may be useful as there is a new Edition. May I do as I like with its matter?' He asks for 'an answer as soon as possible'.

Two pages, 8vo, good condition. "I send you the Franks of the Dukes of Yorn a& Clarence - & beg your acceptance of the others enclosed if they are of any use to you ---| The value of a holograph [underlined] letter of [Pope Gregory 16 would be about £1 but if merely copied about one half." He apologises for the delay in replying and would be happy to send some franks on approval.

8vo, 1 p. On discoloured paper, worn at head and foot. The only merit of the material he is sending is that it has been inspired by 'des sentiments vrais'. He took it to 'S. A. le prince Lieutenant général du royaume', and part of it had 'du prix à ses yeux'.

The sepia photograph, 10 x 7 cm, shows Korff's head and torso. He is dressed in the costume of a flying ace, with leather coat, gloves, googles and scarf, and is striking a match while staring moodily at the viewer. It is mounted on a leaf of cream paper (24 x 20 cm) removed from an album. In very good condition and attractively mounted, with a piece of nicely-patterned paper (12 x 8.5 cm) beneath the photograph acting as a frame. Korff's large, bold signature runs across the page beneath the phtograph, reading 'Arnold Korff | Wien 25. Oct. 1923'.

12mo, 2 pp. On Drummond's embossed crested letterhead. Good: on lightly aged paper with corners a little dogeared and slight discoloration along one margin. Small glue stain from previous mounting at foot of reverse (not affecting text). Headed 'General Memo -'. Instructing Randolph 'to conduct all necessary evolutions relative to the exercise of guns, Sails, Boats - small arm | men landing, & Marines - on acting permission for the same from my Flag as he may find conducive to the instruction of the Ships of the Ships herein named of the squadron [five ships named at end of letter]'.

12mo, 2 pp, 23 lines. The second leaf of a bifolium. Good, on lightly aged paper, with three small tissue mounts still adhering to a margin. Commenting on a legal matter relating to the recipient: '[...] there is the further difficulty tht except where the family so desire and a special case is made for it, the County Chancery will not generally speaking allow any of its wards to be taken out of its jurisdiction. [...] I wd.

The first and second letters are both 12mo, 2 pp; the third is 12mo, 1 p. The first and third are good, on lightly aged paper; the second has some smoke staining to top and bottom outside corners. All text clear and entire. The letters concern Farquhar's efforts, as a 'friendly service' on Lockyer's behalf, to get a room in Harrogate. References to the Majestic and Prince of Wales hotels, and to 'Oliver' (perhaps J. A. W. Oliver?).

12mo, 1 p. Good, on aged paper with a couple of small stains to the left of the signature. Accepting a dinner invitation.

8vo, 2 pp. Good. Commercial letterhead spread over ten lines. The next time Martin visits Paris he and Fournier 'pourrions nous entretenir d'une affaire d'un intérêt common'. His approach to Martin is backed by 'M. Maurice Levert et du Captaine Hanoteau'.

Foolscap bifolium (leaf dimensions 30.5 x 19), 1 p. On aged and slightly damp-stained paper, with slight wear to extremities. Text clear and entire. The body of the letter (4 lines) reads: 'Honoble: Prs | This is to humbly to [sic] request of you yt ye Master of ye his name is Charles may be removed to be my Master.' Adressed on reverse of second leaf. The Pembroke (the third ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name) was a fourth rate of 60 guns built in 1694. She was captured by the French in 1709, was recaptured, and foundered in 1711.

One page, 12mo. Good, with blank second leaf of bifolium mounted on larger piece of card, which is docketed with biographical information. Right-hand side of leaf very slightly cropped, resulting in loss of last digit of year. Bold, clear signature. Reads 'Madam. | According to your request I beg to sign myself | Your obedt Servt | F. Cavendish'.

On piece of paper roughly 1.5 x 7.5 cm. Closely cropped underlined signature 'London=Derry:'.

Erskine, who died in 1806, was the grandson of the 27th Earl of Mar. 3 pages, 8vo. In very good condition. The letter, addressed to 'your Excellency', concerns 'The Honble. Captain Cunningham who had resigned a Troop of Dragoons on the Irish Establishment to go upon Service with the same rank in my unfortunate Regiment of Swiss Chasseurs'.

Irish peer (1903-75) and war correspondent. Two pages, octavo. On blue paper. Very good. Docketed and stamped and with staple holes to one corner. 'In reply to your letter of March 4th. I write to say that Art being one of my chief interests in life. I would appreciate very much being elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society.' Signed 'J. Donegall'. Postscript, on verso of second leaf of bifoliate, explains that the delay in replying is 'owing to absence in America' and ends 'Do you wish me to find any sponsors?'

16mo, 1 p, 5 lines. Gilt-edged bifolium, laid down by small strip of inner margin of verso of second leaf to square of paper cut from autograph album. The mount docketed in a contemporary hand. Good, with remains of red wax seal broken in two and adhering to verso of second leaf, which carries the address to 'Doctor Heffernan | &c &c' (franked 'P'). Reads 'Dear Sir | will you be so good as to call in here at any time this morning most convenient to you | Yours &c | [signed] Plunket'. Small ink smudge by Plunket in right margin.

Irish churchman and philosopher (1860-1927). Four pages, 12mo. Good, though grubby and a tad spotted, and with remains of previous mount adhering to lower-half of verso of second leaf of bifoliate (not affecting text). Begins 'My dear Brougham | I have read over the article in the Gazette on SPG, and have ascertained that Mr. White had nothing, directly or indirectly, to say to it. I think that the scope of the article precluded any mention of individual workers of recent years, as it was meant to give a general view.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good on lightly aged paper, and with the blank second leaf of the bifolium laid down on part of a leaf detached from an autograph album. Thanks him 'for the votes [of election to the Royal Academy?] which through your kindness I received to-day'. He is glad Field has been able to give Dr Armitage 'a hint that his assistance will be required as well as the assistance of others to insure the Election of young Lloyd'.

Mayor of Belfast, 1859-60, and founder of what was at one time the world's largest privately owned linen manufacturer (William Ewart & Son Ltd). Lanyon (1839-1900) was a surveyor, architect and engineer, partner in Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon. One page, 12mo. In good condition, with small closed tear at head not affecting text, and remains of mount adhering to blank verso. Reads 'Dear Mr Lanyon | It will give me pleasure to support the boy Arthur Knox in whom you are interested at the first Election for the St Anne's Society | But about the Form that I must sign.

Author and educationist. One page, 8vo, minoir defects, mainly good, text complete and clear. He describes the award of FRSL(?) (Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature?) as "much coveted" and says that membership might be a step towards it. One of his friends recommended by him has become a member. He describes Miss Eleanor Hull as "an outstanding Irishwoman of letters" - she has accepted membeship.

Irish poet (1788-1846). Two pages, 12mo, good except for inked out correspondent. "I have only this moment received your note. I am so very sorry, but most unluckily I have a dinner engagment for Wednesday the 17. . . .[signature, etc.][PS] Meeting the Gladstones at your house would have been very like the old times. I am quite put out at the accident that prevents it."