Autograph Letters

2pp., 4to. In bifolium, the recto of the first leaf of which is addressed by Mary Lane to 'Doctor Robert Lane, Mobile Point, Alabama Territory'. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Mary Lane is semi-literate, but her letter is infused with anguish. 'Dear Brother | I have written to you Since I received your letter, but perhaps mine has never reach'd you almost every one of the family has wrote to you before this period no doubt you heard of the deaths of our father and Brother.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with short closed tear at head of second leaf. She begins: 'I was so disturbed and disappointed when I came in on Tuesday to find I had missed you. And I believe you had been kind enough to call when we ought to be, and almost invariably are in - after 4.

1p., foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with red ink postmark and broken black wax seal, to 'David Williamson Esqr | Advocate | George's Square | Edinh'. There is no indication in the letter that the two men are kinsmen. 'My Dear Sir, | I am happy to inform you that the ship called the Nevis Planter sails from Liverpool for St. Kitts on the 12th. Inst - with your approbation, I propose sailing with her - | Mr.

2pp., 4to. 59 neatly and closely written lines. In good condition, on lightly aged paper. Addressed to Blair at the head. From the start the tone of the letter must have rung alarm bells: 'Encouraged by one of my Dublin Correspondents, who has just very lately won a rather considerable prize in my office as General Agent to the Board of Management for the Frankfort Ready Money Lottery, I beg hereby to take the liberty of tendering you my services in the purchase or sale of public securities, recovery of Debts, &c &c.

1p., 12mo. On aged and marked paper. Addressed to Ababrelton at 1 Northumberlandn Avenue. He thanks him for the letter and its enclosure. 'We have received copies of the latter by the dozen and we shall probably be dealing with the matter either in this or next week's issue of "Truth."'

2pp., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper.

1p., 12mo. On bifolium, with the reverse of the second leaf docketted by the recipient. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with one small nick in spine causing minor loss. Reads: 'London March 18 1835 | My Dear Charles | I don't like to send an answer about the communication of your Letter without having it before me. I sent it to the King, and have not yet received it back; but I will look at it as soon as I shall receive it; and will let you know what I think | Ever Your's

Both items are uniform in appearance, each 3pp., foolscap 8vo, with the texts printed in copperplate from engraved plates. Both in fair condition, on aged paper, and with loss along the spine where the two have been disbound. The reason for the printing of the two documents, as is clear from the text, is for their circulation to various banks. Baring's Letter: Facsimile signature reads '(signed) F. T. Baring', and is uniform with the copperplate text. The reason for the printing of the letter is for copies to be enclosed with Wickham's.

2pp., foolscap 8vo. On aged and worn paper, with slight loss to one edge from disbinding. On mourning paper (for King William IV).

Both 1p., foolscap 8vo, and disbound. Both in good condition, on aged paper, with loss at edge from disbinding, causing slight loss of text in second letter. Letter One: Docketed on reverse of second leaf 'James Smith | July 25 1837 | Report on City Improvements.' The document begins: 'Having carefully examined the state No. IV. made up by the Improvement Commissioners, and submitted to the Bank of Scotland &c, and also, inspected the works with Mr Geo. Smith Architect for the Commissioners, I take leave to submit the following observations thereon'.

1p., 4to. 26 lines, closely and neatly written. Good, on disbound leaf of aged and worn paper.

1p., foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'John Watson Esquire | Manager of the Gass [sic] Light Coy | New Street | Edinburgh', and docketed '1820 | Davd. Budge & Co | Johns Coffee house | Edinburgh 27 Novr | containing a Statt. of their Burners & hours of burning'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with four postmarks, on reverse of second leaf, 'To | Messrs. Scott & Rymer | Solicitors at Law | Edinburgh'. After the preliminary courtesies Henderson writes: 'William and Andrew Wilson joined the "York" Convict Ship at Woolwich from the Justitia hulk on the 1st. April 1829, under rather a bad character, having made themselves obnoxious to the Superintendent of that Hulk'. He discusses their improved conduct, and how they were 'both landed at Hobart Town in "Tasmania" - or "Van Diemens Land" on the 8th. Septr.

One page, 8vo, fold marks and rust where pin had been used to hold all together, mainly good condition. He thanks her for a letter and an invitation to dine at the South Africa Club. "I enclose a copy of hte itinerary of my visit to South Africa [described below], from which you will see that I do not arive back in England until 23rd February 1962." He accepts the invitation and offers his best date.With: A.

66pp., 12mo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, each of the letters kept together with rusty staples. All the letters are signed 'David' and addressed to 'My Dear All'. Accompanying them is an envelope addressed in another hand to S. W. J. Tennant, Beechcote, Brands Hill Avenue, High Wycombe, and this may provide a clue to the identity of the recipients, to whom 'David' makes it clear on a couple of occasions that he is not related, signing off one letter 'from your muddle-headed friend'.

All three items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Third letter in its envelope, addressed to Hodson at Bradbourne Hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. ONE: Despite the letterhead written from Italy, as the text shows. 4pp., 12mo. Typed. The 'stress of the election' has delayed his response. 'I am writing now in the train from Naples to Rome and everything I have seen since has helped to convince me that you are right. Mussoline [sic] in this country would be a man after your own heart.

gb3pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks her for the 'kind idea': 'My own dear girl is a talented & modest student: and some day may have to turn this to account. She is full of Music, and tho only 18 is the most reliable critic I know: always comes to a true & high conclusion.' He asks her to lend the girl her collection of sheet music, 'and then allow me to pass it on to some one else, when I meet with a fit recipient.' He was 'sorry to "lose" you in my lectures. I have a tolerable Cl I & a very good Cl II -'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. An excellent letter, filled with content. Mahon has received Badcock's letter and is 'glad to find that you have had the company of Lord & Lady Buckingham at Portsmouth'. Following 'the disasters that have taken place in Holland' (the Six Days' Campaign) he expected 'that the Militia Battalion would have been sent thither, & indeed there seems to have been some hesitation upon the subject of their destination, as their departure has been delayed long after they were embarked'.

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Raglan signs and addresses Bickerstaff at the foot of the letter, otherwise it is in a secretarial hand. It reads: 'Horse Guards | 18 November 1846 | Sir, | I am directed by The Commander in Chief [the Duke of Wellington] to acquaint you, that, on your lodging the Sum of £250 - in the hands of Messrs. Cox & Co of Craigs Court His Grace will submit your name to Her Majesty for the purchase of a Lieutenancy in the 64th Foot - | I have the honor to be, | Sir, | Your humble Servant, | Fitzroy Somerset | Ensign Bickerstaff | 64th Foot'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 'It was indeed a great happiness to see those young choristers finding part of their Christmas happiness in ministering to the invalid little ones.

1p., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Reads 'My Dear Mrs. Buchanan, | Many thanks for kindest New Year's greetings: - | A Happy New Year to you and yours | Faithfully yours | Erasmus Wilson'.

Four pages, 12mo, fairly closely-written. "Mon cher ami, | Vous avez profondement [raison?]! Voici ce que j'ai ecrit a Ld H. | " I am most grateful for the great interest you are so kind as to take in the execution of my statue of R.C. de L. I certainly will do every thing I can to make your exertions fruitful. The subscriptions [...] are so highly flattering to me that I would do any sacrifice to perpetuate such a generous instance, so much to their honour and p[raise.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The recipient presumably held a living near Leigh's Warwickshire mansion Stoneleigh Abbey (said to be the model for Sotherton Court in his cousin Jane Austen's 'Mansfield Park'). Leigh apologises troubling Brodie 'with the enclosed rather singular letter which I have received from one of your Parishioners'.

Both letters signed 'Allan Cunningham'. ONE: Addressed to 'Mrs. Twining'. 1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper. He is 'well enough to accept' her invitation, and will pay his respects 'in Bedford Place at the time mentioned. I am glad that my excellent friend Mrs. Hughes is to be with you.' TWO: Addressed to 'Rd. Twining Esqr.' 1p., 12mo. On aged and worn paper, with nicking and creasing along edges. He thanks him for his 'obliging note' and has 'desired Mr. Hopkins to wait on you.

The material is loosely inserted in a copy of 'Passionate Nomad. The Life of Freya Stark' by Jane Fletcher Geniesse (New York: Random House, 1999). xxvi + 402 + [2]pp., 8vo. Very good, in like price-clipped dustwrapper, and inscribed to Drower by her daughter. Drower is described on p.296 as 'daughter of Freya's old Baghdad friend Lady Drower, [who] followed Pam Hore-Ruthven as her assistant and spent two years trying to get repaid for the cost, not to mention the enormous effort, of packing up Freya's belongings and sending them to Asolo after the war'.

2pp., 12mo. In very good condition: lightly-aged and creased. Writing to 'My dear Blumenfeld', Gough begins with a few lines on 'your correspondent, Muir' (with reference to Blumenfeld's 'Yankee' origins -which also included strong anti-Communist sentiment), before giving a general analysis. 'This is a most complex situation out here, as there are so many interests pulling different ways - it is not always easy to see one's way clear.

Totalling 14pp., 12mo, and 7pp., 16mo. On seven bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. The Kinrara letter, the only one addressed to Sir Edward Kerrison, has as letterhead a vignette captioned 'BOULOGNE | Laitières Milkwomen'; the Stoke Park letter on cream paper, the others on grey paper, with Landseer's letterhead, with antler motif, printed in red. The seven letters in an envelope with contemporary inscription: 'Letters from Sir Edwin Landseer'.

2pp., foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. A fair copy of a twenty-eight line poem, arranged in seven four-line stanzas. Signed at end 'P. L. | December 1960.' The first stanza reads 'Rain-threaded gull-wheeling bell-clamorous air, | by wind shifted, by smoke lightly weighted, | in which sirens beautifully despair, | no monumnet crumbles uncelebrated,'. The poem ends with a simile of 'Adam when he woke: | stood for a moment as if he had been blind, | and bent suddenly over Eve, and spoke.' There is no indication that the poem has been published.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He thanks him 'for the valuable additions to our theatrical wardrobe which you have been so kind as to send us this morning', adding that he can assure Guy 'that we shall make good use of them and will remember with gratitude the source from which they came, for Madame Albani was one of the best beloved friends of the College since its earliest days'.

Both items in good condition, on aged paper with a slight bloom. Both on bifoliums, each with the reverse of the second leaf carrying the address, including two postmarks (one apiece from Bideford). Both docketted by Campbell. ONE: 12 June 1823. 1p., 4to. With red wax seal of a face in profile.