Autograph Letters

Printer and antiquary. The item, 2pp., 4to, trimmed, some staining, chipped corner, hole in middle losing day from the date, comprises a note in the third person from Wakeling and some unrelated antiquarian notes in J.B. Nichols' hand. Wakeling, perhaps a funeral director as well as an upholsterer (although Wakelings appear in the British Book Trades Index) , formally informs Nichols that "a funeral Carriage will be provided for his conveyance".

Publishers. Total five pages, 4to, one torn without loss of text, fold marks, creasing, otherwise good condition. (8 June) "I should be pleased to lend you the blocks from Mr. Pennell's 'Lithography', of which you left a list for a fee of 5/- each. The frontispiece of Mr. Pennell by Whistler is a lithograph, but I have a similar half tone block which I could lend you2. He has to charge. (11 June) They have ordered the blocks to go to Messrs Clowes from two firms. (13 July) One firm failed to send a block and they return money. They request return now they are finished with.

British stage designer (died 1971), painter, writer and lecturer. Both items one page, octavo, and very good, though lightly creased. Both signed 'Maxwell Armfield'. LETTER ONE (docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp): He has read the lecture by 'Mr. Davis', 'with great interest [...] our opinions on the subject seem to be identical! I should like to meet him some time if he is an accessible sort of person. [...] a series of such lectures issued as pamphlets with attractive titles would do a great deal towards a better understanding of the problem'.

English politician (1649?-1717); Secretary to Sir William Temple at the Hague, 1668; on diplomatic missions to Rome, Stockholm and Copenhagen; Secretary of State to William III; Member of Parliament. One page. Dimensions of paper roughly seven inches by eleven. Poor: paper discoloured and with some loss to edges (affecting three words of text) and a closed tear. Recently repaired with archival tape and at an earlier period backed with paper. Verso attached to smaller leaf of blank paper. Fourteen lines of text.

Artist and astronomer (1802-1866). One page, bottom edge curled but text clear and complete. He is sending two "tableaux which Charadam had seen at his house. He would like him to display them that evening "ayant l'intention de les envoyer a un exposition [?] a Amsterdam . . .".

French financier (1758-1850). Offical letter, two pages, folio, text in secretarial hand, signed by Mollien, some defects but mainly good condition. "Monsieur le Courte, je prie Votre Exc ellence de vouloir bien presente le plus promptement possible a Sa Majeste, le Budget Speculatif de recetter et de depenser de la caisse des Invalides pendant l'annee 18 . / Ce budget doit etre le premier element de la Comptabilite du Tresorier que Sa Majeste a etablie pour ce Service par Son Decret du 13. Aout dernier. / Le premier Article de ce budget me parois dernier presenter a [lu recette?] ce qui .

American educator and philosopher (1921-2002), one of the key figures during the reorganization of the University of Chicago’s undergraduate college in the 1960s and 70s. All ten items quarto: five items one page in length and five two pages in length. Text legible throughout, but all items creased and some on paper discoloured with age. With occasional fraying to edges and a few closed tears. Several with pencil notes by Bonham-Carter on reverse.

Note trimmed with the loss of a few letters, c.7" x 6", some staining but text clear, as follows: "These are to Certify the Principa[l] officers & Commissioners of His Majestys Navy that Mr Thomas Muir served as Lieutenant onboard His Majesty's Ship Juste under my command from the 15th day of June 1801 to the date hereof during which time he complied with the General Printed Instructions & was not absent Six Weeks at any one time./ Given under my hand onboar[d] the Juste this 10th day of [in another hand] April 1802." Note added in another hand - information about Nagle.

Of the Bibliotheque Imperiale (Bibliotheque du roi). In French. Total 6 pages, text from verso shows through on recto, but both letters clear and complete. ITEM ONE (1813) He is looking forward to seeing Smith in Paris. General Macaulay has givcen "l'agreable asssurance". Progress made in beautifying Paris. He mentions a female author (Indecipherable to me), "celebre en France" to whom he recommends him particularly, eulogising her. Regards to wife and daughters. ITEM TWO (1814) Thanks for a letter. Smith's "sejour a Paris", happy memories and a wish for a future visit.

British naval historian (1856-1905), author of a standard history of the Royal Navy (7 vols, 1897-1903). One page, on piece of stiff paper, roughly four and a half inches by three and a half. In poor condition, discoloured and stained, and with one small hole and some fraying to extremities. Reads 'Thanks for yours of the 8th. | I am afraid that I can only express the hope that you will, in this case, keep the price as low as possible, - as I do not know the business aspects of the question.

Bookseller and publisher (1862-1933). One page, 12mo. Very good, docketed with the Society's stamp. 'In reply to your circular letter, I beg to apply for admission as a Fellow of your Society and herewith forward my application together with my cheque value 2 guineas, which in the event of not being elected, please return to | Yours faithfully | George H. Whitaker'.

British scientist (1864-1930); patented the Ferranti alternator, 1882; chief electrician to the London Electric Supply Corporation. Both items one page, quarto. Both very good, though dusty; one with small pinholes in one corner. Both bearing the R.S.A. stamp, and one docketed. ITEM ONE: He has received Menzies letter of 11 January, 'from which I note that you are sending me one dozen copies of Mr.

Liberator of Greece (see DNB). Three pages (one cross-written making essentially four pages), 4to, sl. damage with obscuring of a word or two, mainly good condition, apparently missing the first leaf.

French archaeologist (1740-1818). In French. Total two pages, 8vo, one foxed, other stained but text clear and complete. (1815) "Je ne me suis appercu qu'hier soir en [?] moi de la mweprise que j'ai faite en vous [?] brouillons de la note [cy . . . ?] que je vous destinais. / Je vous prie de la substituer a celle que j'avais faire d'abord trop longue ou trop embarrassee de choses inutiles. / Je crois que celle cy [est?] trop longue et meme superflue, au reste ce n'est qu'avec vous que je crois . . . [can't read it] de communications ulterieuses. il me suffisait . . .".

Dramatist and novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. In a difficult hand, he says that he has heard from [M. Rey?] that he hasn't concluded his engagement in Brussels and has no interest in the role mapped out except in a few days. He goes on to talk of the work involved in corrections which has prevented him from sending a "manuscript exact". Note: The place and date are written in another hand on the reverse.

Artist and etcher. See new DNB for substantial entry. Twelve autograph letters and notes signed, all 8vo, total 35+ pages, good condition. Contents: (undated letter) asking Lane to get a "Miss Hester Frow" work as illustrator with a weekly or monthly periodical (19 May 1903) He tells Lane to expect a letter from a Miss White concerning "an interesting matter" which she had already put before another London publisher, but Cameron thought Lane "the real man for the subject". He thinks the projected book would have a large circulation and she is "well known" as is her father, J.

English civil servant (1808-82), postal reformer, and archivist. Instrumental in the creation of the Victorian and Albert Museum and prominent in organizing the Great Exhibition. Two pages, octavo. Good, but on discoloured, foxed paper. An important letter, showing the chaos out of which the Public Record Office was formed.

Motorcycle, motorboat and motorcar racer (1868-1940), leading figure in the motor business, 'in farming established the largest pedigree pig-breeding business in the United Kingdom [...] winner of many classic cycle races, the only British winner of the Gordon Bennett race, the International Harmsworth Motor Boat Trophy and the Championship of the Sea at Monaco [...] holder for over 17 years of 24 hours' motor-car record of 1581 miles' continuous driving, in this country, and then beaten by his own car' (Who's Who). Both items one page, quarto.

Novelist and playwright, author of the "flawed masterpiece" "Hunger and Love". Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition, one ms. correction. A substantial letter dated 30 Oct. 1956, in which he reports on a letter from "Miss Black of Curtis Brown Ltd" (literary agents) in which she reports that Miss Farjeon does not want to sign a second agreement for "The Impossible Guest" (novel by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon published in 1949 which Britton presumably adapted for the stage).

Directeur de "La Bibliotheque Universelle et Revue suisse". Two pages, 8vo, good condition. Most of the letter consists of information about and praise of a hotel in the Alps.

Historian of aviation (1909-81) at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Eight items, various formats. Very good. LETTER ONE (two pages, octavo, 14 January 1949, on V & A letterhead): 'As a very new fellow of the Society I hesitate to burden you with reading the enclosed [an article on 'Father Gusmao: the first practical pioneer in aeronautics', not present], but I thought there might be some chance of its appearing in the Journal. It is too historical for the Roy. Aeronautical Society's Journal and too aeronautical for the others, so I am stuck!

Architectural historian and one of the editors of 'Country Life' (1876-1930). The thirteen items are in good condition, although grubby and with occasional creasing. Two items have minor rust staining from paperclips to corners. All but one item one page, quarto. Often docketed or bearing the R.S.A. stamp. Primarily concerned with lectures at the R.S.A. by Weaver, and their proofs in the Society's journal.

Miscellaneous author. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He asks politely for two pieces of information. Firstly, they have a book with engravings about Liberia "fondee par les Americains". He wonders if Liberia has a charge d'affaires in Paris or London. Secondly, he'd like to publish an article on "votre Bibliotheque americaine" and hopes they'll provide documentation.

Later chaplain-general of the forces, author (DNB). One page, 4to, slight remnants of laying down process, fold marks but letter in good condition. "I heard today that Allan Breck [pubd by Bentley in 1834] was in circulation in several book clubs in this neighbourhood. If it be so, your people have forgotten to send me any copies. Be so good as let me have five, that I may give them to the Editors of two of our local newspapers, & get them favorably noticed there. / Don't forget the last I sent you . . .".

Journalist and musical critic (1806-79), Paris newspaper correspondent, 1839-44, who sent dispatches by pigeon. One page, 12mo. In poor condition: grubby and heavily stained. 'Dear Sir | I have been abroad or I would have replied to your note ere this. I will be at home until Noon next Monday. | Yours faithfully | [signed] | C J Gruneisen'.

Editor (1857-1921) of the manuscript newspaper 'Congo Mirror', who 'drew attention to irregularities in Congo Free State, 1886; [...] and accused Congo officials of murders and atrocities; with help he carried on the agitation until the Congo Reform Association was formed; in a series of letters to the African Mail entitled the Lower Congo he pointed out the injustice of the French rule and the concessionnaire system in Congo Francais' (Who's Who). Three pages, 12mo. On grey paper. Very good. Docketed in pen and green pencil.

French Hellenist. In French. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He returnsd a letter his correspondent had sent to their colleague, Viennet "pour l'Academie" to which he adds something of Labitte "pur la Collectio Pizarrensis [Pisaurensis?]. He benefits from the offer of ""votre nouveau substitut" Jacqumets [?]. He has seen Beuchot. He has corrected the first proof of "The Odyssey" ("j'ai corrige la premiere epreuve de L'Odyssee"). He has hopes of finishing "le grand oeuvre des poesies homeriques". He wonders what he will devote himself to afterwrds.

Noé, Amédée-Charles-Henry de (1818-1879). French cartoonist.. - caricaturist. One page, 8vo, laid down, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He says that Madame de Noe [avec accent] is fully recovered from illness and wonders if his correspondent can dine next sunday. "Un mot de reponse s.v.p." He concludes with formal best wishes. The conjoint blank leaf is laid down - on the recto of this blank is a draft acceptance signed [Paggi?].

Rowton edited a celebrated anthology of British female poets. One page, 12mo. Poor: grubby and with remains of stub from previous mounting adhering to edge of bifoliate. 'It will give me great pleasure to deliver my Lecture on Charles Dickens at the Southwark Institution during the next Season. - My terms will be eight Guineas for the Three. - | I may perhaps be allowed to say that I am now delivering these Lectures (the Second comes on tomorrow night) at this Institution, with very great success, to crowded audiences.

Admiral (see DNB). A difficult hand. Two pages, 8vo, residue of laying down on verso, torn in two which only marginally affects the text, as follows: "My Dear Gordon, / I have had this sketch [?] copied. Many thanks for it and for the paper containing the general's visit to Abyssinia. I have given the [?] to Lord North[?] to read. I look upon . . . [???] the [?] of the Nile as impracticable for an army but I sh[oul]d like to send a small force across the [?] almost at the same time as the [Troops?] go from Suakin to Berber."