Autograph Letters

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Manuscript Copy by Prenderville of letter by Ross to William James Hall of Kingston, Jamaica, giving account of his conveyance of Napoleon to St Helena on HMS Northumberland, with covering Autograph Letter Signed by Woollett ('J. Sidney Woollett').

Author: 
Captain Charles B. H. Ross of HMS Northumberland; Joseph Sidney Woollett (d.1877), Roman Catholic Bishop of Jamaica [Napoleon Bonaparte; Major J. H. Prenderville of the St Helena Artillery]
Publication details: 
Prenderville's copy and Woollett's letter both 17 June 1877.
£85.00

Both items (previously pinned together) in good condition, with text clear and entire, on aged paper. Woollett's letter (one page, 12mo, 'Reading, Bay') places at Prenderville's disposal the letter 'which you have seen in the Library here from Captn. Ross of the Northumberland when conveying Napoleon to St. Helena [...] I have no objection to your sending the copy to any periodical for publication'. Prenderville has copied the letter onto five pages (each c. 32 x 20.5 cms) of around thirty lines each, spread over the rectos of three bifoliums.

Autograph Letter Signed "W E Frost" to F. S. Ellis, bookseller and author.

Author: 
William Edward Frost, artist
Publication details: 
8 Southampton Street, Fitzroy Square, London, 9 Nov. 1860.
£85.00

One page, 8vo, minor defects, text clear and complete, except were a spike-hole cuts out a letter. He enjoyed looking through Ellis's catalogue but "I regret the names of Stothard and Blake do not occur more frequently - I beg to enclose a list of a few works I am seeking and shall feel greatly obliged if by any means you could procure them for me." Note: He formed a large collection of engravings after the works of Thomas Stothard, R.A., and prepared, in conjunction with Mr.

Typed Letter Signed to Leslie Bloom of the Gallery First Nighters' Club.

Author: 
Ian Wallace (born 1919), English baritone singer connected with Flanders and Swann
Publication details: 
29 October 1956; on letterhead 27 Stormont Road, Highgate, London, N.6.
£18.00

Two pages, on letterhead of roughly 13.5 x 17.5 cms. He has sent a wire accepting the 'kind invitation'. '[A]s you can imagine we are rehearsing all day and every day at the present [...] The only thing thaht could stop me being with you is that we are, I understand, to record the "Fanny" music for a long-playing record on that Saturday'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('C. L. Eastlake') to Miss [?] Rogers.

Author: 
Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865), English painter and President of the Royal Academy
Publication details: 
15 May [year not stated]; 13 Upper Fitzroy Street [London].
£56.00

Two pages, 12mo. On gray paper. Good, though lightly ruckled and aged. He thanks her for the 'information about the silk', and accepts her invitation. He haad intended to call on her the day before, but was prevented by the weather.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos. Wright') to a female 'Christian friend'.

Author: 
Thomas Wright [Macdermid], Manchester prison philanthropist
Publication details: 
Sidney Street, C on M, Manchester; 25 June 1863.
£38.00

Three pages, 12mo. A tad aged, with some discoloration and a little glue from previous mounting to the blank verso of the second leaf of the bifolium. He was 'from home' when the note arrived, only returning on Tuesday. 'It will give me great pleasure to be with you on the day when the Foundation Stone will be your School. Sends 'every blessing' to the recipient and her 'Xcellent husband'. A life of Wright was published in 1873, with a preface by the Earl of Shaftesbury.

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed clergyman, on the back of a printed handbill.

Author: 
Sir Oswald Mosley (1848-1915), 4th Baronet [Victorian Temperance Movement; John Garrett, D.D.; Robert Whitworth]
Publication details: 
Letter: Rolleston Hall; 15 December 1866. Handbill: '43, Market Street, Manchester, December 12th, 1866.'
£45.00

On a leaf roughly 17 x 12 cms. A small strip is missing from the foot, but this does not appear to affect the texts. Aged and ruckled, with a little staining from previous mount at head and foot of printed side. In the Letter Moseley opines that 'the closing of Public Houses during the whole of Sundays would be attended with great inconvenience to the public, and I cannot therefore agree to the object of Promoters of that scheme'. Docketed in the top left-hand corner 'Mark name on list as unfavourable'. The handbill, signed in type by John Garrett, D.D.

Autograph Letter Signed to Mr [?] Martin.

Author: 
Robert Rae, Secretary, National Temperance League
Publication details: 
16 October 1866; on letterhead of the National Temperance League, 337, Strand, W.C. [London].
£38.00

Two pages, small octavo. Good, on slightly ruckled and aged paper. Some glue stains from previous mount adhering to verso of blank second leaf. He is arranging 'a Conference and Public Meeting on Monday 12th. Nov.' The League's committee 'wish you also to favour them with your help by giving a physiological speech'. Asks to be favoured with an early reply.

Autograph Letter Signed ('A. Mursell') to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Rev. Arthur Mursell (1831-1913), English preacher, voluminous author and explorer of 'Darkest England'.
Publication details: 
York Place; 13 June 1863.
£25.00

One page, 12mo. Black border. Good, on aged and ruckled paper, with small glue stain at head (not affecting text). Asks to be released from 'coming to Oldham Road' on 4 July, as 'Saturday is an evening wich I usually make a rule of keeping to myself for the purposes of preparation for the Sunday'. Docketed at head in contemporary hand, 'Revd Arthur Mursell, Manchester'. Mursell's most interesting work would appear to be 'Bright Beads on a Dark Thread; or visits to the haunts of vice, etc.' (London, 1873).

Autograph Letter Signed ('Walter L. Clay') to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Walter Lowe Clay, of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, Victorian social scientist
Publication details: 
1 November 1866; on letterhead of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, 1 Adam Street, Adelphi, W.C. [London].
£45.00

Two pages, small octavo. Good, on lightly aged paper and ruckled paper, with some staining to the verso of the blank second leaf of the bifolium. His correspondent's 'paper on the high death rate in Liverpool' was not returned to Clay after being read at Manchester, 'nor can the Secretary of the Department (Captain ) obtain any intelligence of it from the reporters'. One of the reporters has sent the Captain an abstract prepared by the author. Clay asks whether he has the manuscript in his possession, and if so, whether he will send it to him.

Autograph Signature on fragment of Autograph Letter.

Author: 
Anne Beale (1860-1900), Welsh writer
Publication details: 
68 Belsize Road, N.W. [London]; 22 January 1896.
£25.00

One page, 12mo. On grey paper. Very good, with two small labels from previous mounting adhering to edges. Beale's most notable work is perhaps 'Traits and Stories of the Welsh Peasantry' (1849). Reads '<...> Trusting you will forgive and forget my lack of Memory, believe me | Affectionately Yours | [signed] Anne Beale. | 68 Belsize Road. N.W. | January 22. 1896'. Beale died at this address in 1900.

Autograph Letter Signed ('F W Farrar') to [Herbert Armitage] James[, Headmaster of Rossall School].

Author: 
Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903), Dean of Canterbury and Master of Marlborough College, 1871-6 [Herbert Armitage James; Rossall School; Rugby School]
Publication details: 
21 September 1875; on letterhead of The Lodge, Marlborough College.
£100.00

Four pages, 12mo. Very good, on lightly aged paper, with minor traces of two mounts adhering to verso of second leaf of bifolium. Praises 'the excellent Sermon'. 'You will doubtless have a difficult work at Rossall, but every term will render it less difficult' [...] One can't ask for a greater blessing than difficult work when it is also - as yours is & will be - entirely hopeful & immensely useful.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
Ouida [pen name of Maria Louise Ramé (self-styled Marie Louise de la Ramée), 1839-1908]
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£23.00

Irregularly-cut piece of paper, roughly 2 x 9 cms. Good, strong signature on very good, lightly aged paper. In purple ink. Reads 'Every sympathe | =tically V. Ouida'. Minor traces of previous brown-paper mount on reverse.

Two Autographs Letter Signed ('George Goold' and 'George') to Paul Quinton, Classical Department, Blackwell's of Oxford; with inscribed offprint of Goold's lecture 'Richard Bentley, a Tercentenary Commemoration'.

Author: 
[YALE UNIVERSITY] George Patrick Goold (1922-2002), William Lampson Professor of Latin Language and Literature, Yale University [Richard Bentley; Blackwell's of Oxford; Loeb Classical Library]
Publication details: 
LETTERS: 30 September 1977 and 3 July 1979, both on letterhead of Yale University Department of Classics; OFFPRINT (from 'Harvard Studies in Classical Philology'): Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1963.
£200.00

Both letters two pages, quarto. LETTER ONE (annotated in ink with some ink marks in the blank space beneath Goold's signature): Written at the point at which Goold was relinquishing the University College Latin Chair to return to Yale. 'I told you I should be visiting Yale this autumn; and now I have to tell you that I shall be going on to Stanford after Christmas till March. Still, if I shan't have the pleasure of coming in occassionally to the bookshop, it probably means that I shall be ordering more books from you!' Orders a couple of copies of Austin's 'Aeneid'.

Autograph Note to Messrs Hodder & Stoughton, publishers.

Author: 
Charles Higham (1846-1920), London theological bookseller [Hodder & Stoughton]
Publication details: 
Undated [1890s]; on Higham's letterhead, 'FROM | CHARLES HIGHAM, | Second-hand-Book-Seller, | 27a FARRINGDON STREET, LONDON, E.C.'
£35.00

One page. Dimensions of slip roughly four inches by five and a quarter wide. Somewhat aged, but entirely legible. Reads 'British Quarterly Review | Can you tell me what was the last part of this issued, if it is possible to get a title-page and index to vol 83. My last part is 166 April 1886'. Docketed note of reply states that no title was published to the volume containing April 1886.

Autograph Note Signed to Saunders & Otley, publisher and bookseller (active 1826-1851; BBTI)

Author: 
[BOOKBINDING] A[rchibald] Leighton, bookbinder (prob. II, active 1801-1841; BBTI).
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£55.00

Piece of paper, bifoliate, c.5 x 4", good condition. "Gent. / These books belong to you - I will call & explain tomorrow / A. Leighton". Archibald Leighton II helped invent and develop 'book cloth binding' between 1820 and 1832. (BBTI).

Typed Letter Signed to Eimar O'Duffy, Irish author.

Author: 
Ben Abramson, American bookseller and publisher (1898-1955).
Publication details: 
The Argus Book Shop Incorporated, 333 South Dearborn Street, Chicago,6 Dec. 1933.
£60.00

One page, 4to, good condition. He gives belated thanks for writing to them "and sending us your contribution for our catalogue." They delayed so that thanks would accompany a copy of the catalogue. They have sent the catalogue under separate cover and "hope you will find it enertaining. Too, we hope that you will find our comments on your work not unworthy of your talents." See Donald C. Dickinson, "Dictionary, for discussion of the "rambunctious" bookseller, including his interaction with major literary figures.

Autograph Note Signed ('Geo Gregory') to 'Mr Hawley'.

Author: 
George Gregory, Bath bookseller
Publication details: 
4 June 1919; on firm's ornate letterhead.
£75.00

One page, on paper roughly seven inches by eight wide. Good, on lightly creased paper. Stamped with date. He thanks his correspondent for 'the typed list'. Headed 'Memorandum from | GEORGE GREGORY, Book Merchant, Library Buyer and Exporter, | The Imperial Book Store, | 5 and 5a ARGYLE STREET, BATH. | Out-of-Print and Rare, or Out-of-the-Way Books sought for and reported promptly, with option of purchase. Send me your List of Wants. | Licensed Valuer. Stock well classified in Thirty Rooms. Libraries Purchased. | Bankers: UNION OF LONDON & SMITHS BANK, LTD., BATH.

Twelve Typed Letters and one Autograph Letter relating to the printing of the 'Society of Arts Journal', addressed to Sir Henry Trueman Wood and George Kenneth Menzies, Secretaries, Royal Society of Arts, together with one printed circular.

Author: 
[PRINTING: FIRST WORLD WAR]William Archibald Clowes (1866-1937), Chairman, William Clowes & Sons Ltd, English printers
Publication details: 
10 August 1915 to 23 November 1917.
£500.00

Clowes is an eminent firm of English printers, founded in London in 1803, and still thriving in Suffolk. The twelve typed letters are each one page, quarto, on the firm's Duke Street letterhead. The autograph letter is one page, 12mo, with mourning border. The collection in good condition overall, with a few items aged and lightly creased. Most items docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. All items except the circular signed by 'W A Clowes', who (he informs Wood in his first letter) has taken over from his cousin, Captain W. C.

Letters from publishers to Smallwood and other material.

Author: 
[PUBLISHING; MUSIC] William Smallwood, prolific Victorian composer.
Publication details: 
1879-1897.
£300.00

Ten items, various formats, mainly 8vo. a. Copy statement i, 13 Jan. 1879, in which Smallwood agrees terms with the music publisher, Mary Ann Williams for his "musical composition entitled Winander-mere". b. Autograph Note Signed "Frederick Langbridge", 25 Jan. 1877, confirming that the sole copyright for two songs written by him ("A Song for the Land I Love" and "Freedom's Shrine") belongs to Smallwood. c. Statement by Lucy J. Mullen, "trading as B. Williams, 19 Saville Row EC", 6 Jan.

Autograph Letter Signed "B. Dobell" to [Walter] Jerrold, man of letters.

Author: 
Bertram Dobell, bookseller and man of letters (DNB).
Publication details: 
[Headed] Bertram Dobell, Bookseller and Publisher, 77 Charing Cross Road, Londn, W.C., 23 March 1904.
£50.00

Two pages, 8vo, vestiges of an album page on reverse, good condition. He sent a presentation copy of his "Rosemary & Pansies", somne of which "appeared in the privately printed ed[ition]" he gave him. He also sends a booklet "by one 'Lucian Lambert' - a gentleman who seems to have a good deal of gall in his composition, however much he may be wanting in the other qualities of a satirist. He has a signed copy of one of Jerrold's grandfather's books (Douglas) and some letters which his correspondent can view at the shop.

Autograph Letter Signed to the Rev. Henry Blunt, Pau, Pyrenees (DNB)

Author: 
Thomas Hatchard, bookseller, publisher (BBTI - 1856 ADD 1842), son of John Hatchard.
Publication details: 
London, 15 March 1842.
£200.00

Two pages, fol., fragile, sl. chipped, inch round hole in second page with some loss of text. Hatchard reports on the distribution of copies of his book ["A Family Exposition of the Pentateuch: Genesis" (J. Hatchard, 1841)] as "From the Author", giving a substantial list occupying the second page (c.80 names consisting of the great and the good, with excisions, corrections and additions, with six names ticked and three show multiple copies). He tells him how many copies have been printed of the first and second editions, the issuing of the second he expects to give the first "a lift".

Autograph Letter Signed to Roake & Varty, booksellers, printers, stationers (BBTI), York House, Strand, London.

Author: 
[Roake & Varty] A.B. Lechmere, Gent.
Publication details: 
The Rhyd, Worcester, 24 May 1832.
£75.00

ADD "York House" to BBTI. And "Publisher. And Worcester bookseller. Four pages, minor defects, text complete and clear. He requests his account for "Stationery & Consitutional Tracts" and asks how much "it would cost to purchase the whole of the Tracts published by you from the commencement of the Debates of the momentous Reform Question to the present hour, to place in one's Library for the inspection of posterity." He rails agaoinst the "wicked and unprincipled Ministry and the King who is "regardless of the complicate interests of this once great Empire-".

Two Autograph Notes Signed "P.J. Dobell" to C.J. Windle.

Author: 
Percy J. Dobell, bookseller.
Publication details: 
Dobell's Antiquarian Bookstore, 24 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells, 8 & 10 May 1939.
£50.00

4to, good condition. Dobell describes a defective "tract" ("A Precious Apple") and speculates on its authorship (Lady Eleanor Douglas). He will send it to be examined. Another hand (presumably Windle) has added pencil notes on the reference works which do not list the item and speculating "probably part of a larger work with different title."

Receipted Invoice Signed, account of "Dr Stewart / Spring Bank".

Author: 
[ABERDEEN BOOKSELLER] John Smith, bookseller and stationer, [bookbinder]
Publication details: 
Aberdeen, 50 Union Street, 19 May 1833.
£95.00

One page, c.16 x 6.5", good condition. The list includes history including military, geology, theology and other subjects. A list of volumes bound is appended. Note:A "Lewis Smith", wholesale stationers, printers and publishers, bookbinder and circulating library , occupied 50 Union Street, 1842+ No mention of a "John Smith" (SBTI).

Invoice, very substantial, for "Miss Fordyce", concluding with a statement of receipt signed by Philip.

Author: 
[ABERDEEN; BOOKBINDER] John Philip, bookbinder of Aberdeen (SBTI, d.1847)
Publication details: 
Aberdeen, April 1845, for binding Jan.-june 1846.
£95.00

Two pages, c7.5 x 19", folded, good condition. It comprises more than 80 tiles, some entries are multiple, mainly theological, but other subjects include history, memoirs, and poetry. Brief details of binding work given, and prices, total £4.1.6. Philip also charges for "advertising Scott's Bible" in the "banner" and "Journal". The list is substantial enough to represent a private library.

Typed Note Signed to Rev. E.J.F. Davies, autograph-hunter.

Author: 
Ian Hay.
Publication details: 
Berkeley Square, 27 Nov. 1926.
£20.00

Ian Hay Beith, novelist. One page, 8vo. He is sending his autograph "with great pleasure" and apologising for delaying.

Five Typed Notes Signed (all 'Fabian G Trollope') to G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Fabian George Trollope (1872-1960) of Trollope & Sons, 'Artists in Decoration since A.D. 1778. Branch of Trollope & Colls Ltd.' [London Architecture]
Publication details: 
20 March 1923, 4 November and 14 December 1927, and two of 18 June 1931; letter 1 on letterhead of Trollope & Colls, Ltd., letters 2 to 5 on letterhead of Trollope & Sons'.
£100.00

All items one page, quarto, and all very good. Two docketed and one bearing the Society's stamp. Letter 1: He will be pleased to attend a committee meeting. Letter 2: He has 'a long-standing engagement' and will be unable to attend 'the Architectural Decoration Committee'. Along with Godfrey Giles he has 'had a long discussion' with Mr. Grigsby 'with reference to the conditions of the Lewis Berger Scholarship'. Letter 3: He knows 'Professor Richardson very well, and this is just the information which I am requiring. I will send my man on to see the secretary as you suggest'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('D. Calcutta') to 'The Revd Dr Jones, Bedfont, Staines, Midd[lese]x', together with an 'Address to the Lord Bishop of Calcutta', taken from the London Record newspaper, 24 July 1845.

Author: 
Daniel Wilson (1778-1858), Bishop of Calcutta
Publication details: 
Letter dated 'Islington May 7 [1832]'.
£80.00

LETTER: Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Addressed on verso of second leaf of bifolium. Three postmarks (two in red and one in black ink) and red wax seal. Written after Wilson's appointment as Bishop, but before his departure from Islington, where he was Vicar of St Mary's. Addressing his 'dear friend' he excuses his silence, which is 'merely for the physical impossibility of answering a tenth part of the letters I receive'. His 'house has been over-full - IS now - I have not a bed free | At any time, however, I am to be found at Breakfast at 9 - & shall rejoice to see you'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('P. Sainton') in English to unnamed female correspondent.

Author: 
Prosper Philippe Catherine Sainton (1813-90), French violinist
Publication details: 
24 September 1877; on letterhead 'Conteville, pres Boulogne-sur-mer'.
£56.00

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. He was absent when the letter to his wife (the English contralto Charlotte Dolby) arrived. He has heard 'the little boy', and thinks that 'with proper care he may turn out a good Violinist, but he hs to undo every thing and to be guided in the right Way. He has undoubtedly great disposition. If he is persevering and hard Worker (the Violin being the most difficult instrument) I believe he can be one day a very good player'. It is however 'impossible for me to forsee in the future before he has a good start in his Studies.'

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. T. Calcutta.') to unnamed 'brother clergy[man] of the diocese'.

Author: 
John Thomas James (1786-1828), Bishop of Calcutta
Publication details: 
Calcutta. Feb. 14. 1828'.
£85.00

Two pages, quarto. Very good. 'It is great pleasure that I sit down to write to any one of my brother clergy of the diocese, as it seems an approach to that acquaintance with them which I hope before long to have an opportunity of making personally'. '[P]ressure of business' makes impossible 'any very specific answer' to the contents of his correspondent's letter, 'But they shall not be forgotten'. He will 'speak to the Military board as to the Bungalow appointed for public worship'. He laments that the 'situation with regard to the military' has not been adequately defined.

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