Autograph Letters

Widow of Frank Harris. One page, 8vo, good condition. She reminds him that she signed a contarct for the publication of an abridged version of her "husband's "Book". "Life & Loves". She has yet to receive proofss for her approval, arguing that the book is not yet published. She asks when he will do so.

Novelist, essayist and dramatist, both in French, signed "Montherlant. ALS, in original envelope, 2pp., 4to. In the letter, he is sorry to have missed him and includes him among the few people he does want to see again. "Je pense rester en Afrique jusque vers mai". A "Mr Bradley left for New York. "Il devait, pendant son sejour las-bas, s'occuper du lancement des Bullfighters et m'ecrire pour me servir au courant. . .". He thanks him for his article ("intelligent et sympathique") asking if he knows anything of the author.

Traveller in Spain and elsewhere, and author. 2-4pp., 8vo. He discusses extensively his work on "a Handbook on Russia & Great Britain in Central Asia", giving a resume of chapters and asking for copies to be sent to various places. "No question is more important at present". FOUR ITEMS,

Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society, etc. (significant in Ceylon) (1775-1849). "Mr Vigne {traveller, incl. Tibet] who has just returned from a seven year tour which he has made through Thibet Cachmere (sic) Cabul & Candahar . . ." has given Lady Johnston (his wife) permission to see his drawings at the Asiatic Society. He also is going and invites his correspondent and Mrs Stanhope to join them.

Pickersgill (1782-1875) and Uwins (1782-1857) were both English artists who exhibited at the Royal Academy. Very good, on a piece of grey paper roughly two inches by four. From a collection of Autograph Signatures cut from petitions to the Artists' General Benevolent Fund. Blank reverse.

Pianist and composer (1847-1925). She has sent her correspondent a card (invitation) to a concert she is organising on behalf of the Church of St Augustine. She says she has made every effort to make it a success, and has persuaded all the artistes to give their services (free).

Cardinal Wiseman (1802-1865). Two pages, 8vo, some foxing, good condition. "Ever since I saw you last, I have been from home, with little or no interruption; and at the present moment I am quite exhausted. A week or two will restore me & then I will forward to you a considerable amount of copy, so as to get forward with the press." For what it's worth, this letter derives from a collection including letters to publishers Hurst & Blackett. Wiseman published several books in 1857-8.

Printed address, headed notepaper. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. Russell Flint is responding to a letter from Mackenzie (attached, copy Typed Letter, one page, 4to, 26 April 1949- saying that he (Mackenzie) has circularised friends in the Press asking them to urge readers to buy water-colours as "a jolly good investment". Mackenzie also comments on the neglect of the teaching of water-colour painting in the schools, and its consequences. Russell Flint approves and has wanted to meet up but been busy with the RA Private View et al.

Private pressman and monk. 2pp., 4to. She is still in time to get a copy of his and Cecil Woolf's "Corvo", he thinks, but will check with Woolf. They have been awaiitng an introduction from Pamela Hansford Johnson. Their press cannot help her with her bit of printing ("our press here is closing this week and the staff --one laybrother and one employee transferring to our'commercial' press at Faversham"). He discusses a portrasit of George Anne Bellamy and the "Memoir of Montague Summers ("going round the publishers"), anticipating criticism and a later limited edition.

Artist and illustrator (1878-1957). (Complete letter, 1919) Three pages, 4to, fold marks, sl. damage but text complete and clear. A detailed letter giving information about Wood's post-war activities and "busyness"), current projects, his toy manufactory, etc. He received this letter from a prospective collaborator via his agents, Messrs Francis <& Hills?>. He asks if he has left "Valley"[?].

Wood-engraver, illustrator, painter. Two pages, 4to, with woodcut of house in heading. He has just returned from a caravan "where I have been painting. April showers may bring forth May flowers but the watercolour painter must be very wary. He had heard that he had two paintings at the RA but had missed the varnishing day "on which artists have the opportunity to meet. Several of our R.W.S. numbers are well-represented. Your letter to Mr Carter has already I am glad to hear borne fruit in the 'Daily Mail'.

Four pages, 8vo. She declines to translate "White Fang" because the similarity of its "most important scenes" to those in "The Call of the Wild" ("leading" Paris editors agree with her) would jeopardise sales, suggesting that compression into one third of the original length would be necessary. She remits eight guineas to be forwarded to Jack London, and makes a play for the rights to translate a new Robert Hichens novel. WITH: typed note signed, 8vo, in German, from the publishers, Ferdinand Schoningh, to A.P. Watt, 20 Nov.

Naturalist and miscellaneous writer. One page, 8vo. He says that he is about to leave for the Sudan and apologises for his discourtesy in not replying sooner. With: holograph list, 2pp., 8vo, of works by Robinson and key dates, events, and positions in his life, including a professorship in India, work for newspapers, authorship of a fishing brochure. His adventurous life was thought to have ended in the bush on Cuba where he was to have reported on the Spanish-American War.

Two pages, quarto. On a discoloured piece of brittle, thin wove paper, with some fraying, several closed tears and a little loss (affecting three words). A long, able and closely-written defence of the discipline. '[...] | X appears decidedly opposed to an alarmed at the science, and feels himself awfully degraded with the comparisons drawn by Phrenologists between the human species and the lower animals - that they should exist, breathe, and partake of, in a limited degree, corresponding qualities with the human race.

Miscellaneous writer on subjects such as angling, ports and harbours, tobacco, wood-engraving - and playing cards (see below(DNB):Three ALs, signed (1) and initialled (2) to Smith, [1848], total 4pp., various formats, one in poor condition with minor loss of text.(March) Chatto asks Smith for specific books.

Noyes is in a printed list of 8 Harvard Library staff members at the top of this letter commencing "William C. Lane, Librarian". He appears as "Editor Quinquennial Catalogue". Letter, one page, 8vo, good condition. He ask Bellows for four things: i.details of the degrees he has received from other institutions; 2. memberships of learned societies etc.; 3. "professorial appointments" with details; 4. orders or decorations. Perhaps Bellows is looking for a job.

Violinist and composer (1822-1901). One page, 12mo, apparently a cutting from a book of autographs, reading "Alfredo Piatti / Bristol 8:bre October 1844, Bristol. 1844". Also present are the signatures of "Mary S Steele / Bristol Oct 1844" and "". According to the DNB Piatti went on a provincial tour following his English debut at Mrs Anderson's concert in London in May 1844.

Playwright (1855-1934), knighted in 1909. One page, 8vo. "19th May, 1900. / Dear Mr Burton, / Many thanks. / Yours very truly / Arthur W. Pinero". In bad condition, with tear through signature and paper and glue from mount stuck to reverse.

Wife (1799-1888) of the English poet Bryan Waller Procter ('Barry Cornwall', 1787-1874), and stepdaughter of the noted jurist Basil Montagu. One page, 12mo. Very good on slightly paper, and with closed tear to blank second leaf of bifoliate. Written on behalf of her husband during his final illness. 'Mr Procter desires me to say that you have his ready permission to print The Old Arm Chair | I regret to say that my husband is now too feeble to write to you.' Signed 'Anne B. Procter'.

Novelist and miscellaneous writer (1822-98). Dimensions roughly five inches by three. Grubby and with minor fraying, loss and closed tears to edges (not affecting text). Printed halfpenny stamp and two postmarks in black ink. Addressed to 'Mrs. Black | 5 Hazlitt Road | W. Kensington | W.' 'I have not received ye Ladies Pictorial, but fine - all very well done with great sympathy & tenderness & so well written - I have begun by informal LSaturdays - & shall be very glad to see you if you could come'. Signed 'E: Lynn Linton'.

French authority on English literature, and in particular on the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne. The recipient (1878-1959) was editor of the 'London Mercury' at the time of writing. One page, quarto. In poor condition, with fraying and closed tears to edges. 'I herewith return revised proofs of my French Novelists. | May I remind you that I should be glad to have some galley proofs if it can be easily arranged?' Signed 'Georges Lafourcade'.

English author (1838-1902). The recipient was later Baroness Rockley. Both items are very good. They can be dated from the reference to the Noel's mother (nee Susan trotter, died 1885) and the mourning border. ITEM ONE (three pages, 12mo): 'I send you a very rough little story, for the Children's Hospital book. I do not know whether it will suit your purpose, but I must just let it go as it is.

English jurist (1843-1914), Warden of All Souls college, Oxford. Two pages, 12mo. On discoloured, grubby, creased paper, with a small closed tear and some bleeding due to damp on the verso. Extensive damp damage to blank second leaf of bifoliate. Docketed as 'To Pinkham'. Before leaving Oxford the previous week he 'ordered a somewhat miscellaneous collection of books' to be sent to his correspondent's library. 'It was a small collection - a few biographies, some college histories and one or two books which chanced to be in the booksellers catalogue & which looked interesting.

Editor and journalist (1785-1870). The recipient (1784?-1874) was a writer on military matters, and editor of the United Services Journal. Two pages, 12mo. Good, though grubby, and with docketing, rust from paperclip and biographical details typed in line at head. A formal letter, unsigned and in the third person. 'Mr Redding presents his Compts. to Sir J. Phillepart with but scanty recollections for it is many years since they met and wishes to remind him of an article sent to the U[nited]. S[ervices]. J[ournal]. thro' Mr Hunt.

Upper middle-class English writer (1916-74), editor of the 'Spectator' magazine 1947-9, biographer of Queen Mary, beaten to death by gay lover. The recipient (1912-82) was a writer under the pseudonym Alice Acland. Born Anne Acland-Troyte. Her first husband was Robert Egerton Grosvenor, 5th Baron Ebury, and her fourth Anthony Freire Marreco, the last survivor of the seven-strong British prosecuting team at Nuremberg, with whom she lived in Ireland. A series of camp, gossippy and revealing letters to a close friend.

Groom in Waiting and Equerry to Queen Victoria (d.1897). Gardiner says that Currie's arrangments for the King of the Belgians cannot be bettered. He will order the carriages for 11 and meet at Westminster Bridge. Currie has added a list of names, English and Belgian, presumably of people involved in the visit.

English psychologist (1842-1923). Three pages, 12mo. Good, on slightly discoloured paper with a little light spotting. He apologises for the 'shockingly long time' it has taken him to glance at the 'Harleian books' she has lent him. 'The fact is that my eyes have been weak and I have only been able to read much of them under particularly favourable conditions of light not easily to be realized in England at this season.' He has enjoyed his 'excursion across the pages - both those of the prose writers and those of the poets.

English ecclesiastic (1778-1858). Two pages, octavo. Creased, and with one edge of verso adhering to leaf from autograph album. 'I hope you will excuse the great liberty I take in asking you to help me a little in finishing the Marbling, Enclosing, Ventilating &c of the Cathedral | I have been robbed of 20,000 by the Union Bank, so that I am compelled to solicit aid from the Congregation & kind friends in my extremity'. Signed 'D Calcutta'.

Linguist, writer and traveller (1792-1872). One page, octavo. Lightly creased and with a few closed tears. Reverse adhering to page from autograph album. Reads 'My dear Sir | Herewith the promised letters - | Yours most truly | John Bowring'. Docketed on reverse.

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1811-85). Two pages, octavo. Good, on slightly discoloured paper, with some staining to corners from previous mounting. An amusing example of its type, casting a glimmer of light on the Abercorn papers now in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. 'My dear Hardwicke | This is to introduce George Knox to you, who is this moment summon'd from the Priory to Dublin to resist very active & insidious machinations against his next Election to the College. | I recommend him to you as a perfectly amiable & kind hearted Man.