Autograph Letters

Liberal politician (1873-1954). Both letters written while the Right Hon. Sir John Simon. Both letters dusty but in good condition. Letter to Hobman, 1 page, 4to. Thanks him 'for commissioning Mr Landa to come round with me on my Western Tour. He was a most excellent companion and we both enjoyed it. Since then I have been to Manchester and Colne Valley and Holderness, [& Bradford,] and everywhere I find Liberals in high [^ Spirits,] and thirsting for the fight.' Letter to Landa, 1 page, 16mo. He is writing for Lady Simon.

Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (1889-1965), daughter of the Earl of Minto and wife of newspaper proprietor John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever. 1 page, 8vo. Large coffee stain to one corner not affecting signature. She thanks her correspondent for a 'nice letter with regard to my year of office as President of the Women's Journalist Association', regretting that she was, 'in reality, so inactive a President.

Darwin and Huxley's 'soapy Sam' (1805-73). 1 page, 16mo. Dusty and discoloured, with remains of stub adhering to one edge. A hurried note, almost illegible. | My dear | Can <?> to <?> & <?> from 26 Pall at 25 to 11 | Yours affly | S Oxon'.?>

Lord Chief Justice of England (1820-94). 2 pages, 16mo. In poor condition. Stained, creased, discoloured and with damage to blank second leaf of bifoliate. Difficult handwriting. 'My dear - | The Broomfield is for Monday at 9.30. I go down to Winchester again for it tomorrow (Sunday) night & if you will come to my lodgings Westgate House near the Monument just before 9.30 I dare say I can get you in by myself a clerk. | In haste | Ever affectionately yours | J D Coleridge'.

English actor and playwright (1780?-1829). 1 page, 16mo, on bifoliate with address ('J. Winston Esqr | 3 Church Street | Cov Garden') on reverse of second leaf. Paper discoloured, otherwise in good condition. 'Dear Winston | Will you be kind enough to give the bearer an order for Two to the H Mkt [Haymarket] for the Evening. I am Dr Sir | Yrs very truly | Danl Terry'. Wrapped in 4to piece of paper on which are transcribed in a neat contemporary hand two quotations regarding Terry from the European Magazine.

English divine, scholar and schoolmaster (1821-1903), Dean of Westminster. 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition except for rust stains from a paper clip. 'I am quite right am I not in <?> that I had better not trouble the Speaker about a <?> for the young Hasted Taylor? I think I gathered from you that I had better not. One word will be ample - so very much obliged to you for all the trouble which you took in writing so fully.'

Theologian (1824-79; DNB) and biographer of Samuel Wilberforce, successively Bishop of Oxford and Winchester. 4 pages, 16mo. In good condition though grubby. The envelope is addressed to 'John Evans Esqre. | 17 Brazenose Street. | Manchester'. He says the 'only suggestion I can offer is that probably W. H. Smith, or Mudie, may have second hand copies to part with at a reduced price. They usually publish catalogues of their second hand Library Books with a page devoted to periodicals.

English Liberal politician (1870-1963). Both letters are 1 page, 8vo. Both are dusty but otherwise in good condition. In the first letter he says he has 'only now had time to read the proofs of your book on Palestine, and have read them with interest and pleasure.' He says he will be 'glad to write an introduction, as you were kind enough to ask me to do; no doubt you will not desire it to be more than a quite brief one.

Politician and sportsman (1766-1842). 4 pages, 16mo. In good condition, with minor traces of mount along one edge of verso of second leaf of bifoliate. 'I received safely by the Coach the two books which you were kind enough to send me, and which I shall equally prize from their intrinsic interest as from the memorial which they afford me of the author'. He has also received Sharp's letter, but is 'unable at present to avail myself of your profitable invitation and proposals, in order by your guidance to give myself a more intimate acquaintance with North Durham than I possess'.

English actor (1843-96) under the name 'Arthur Cecil'. 1 page, dimensions 3 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches. In good condition though dusty. He thanks him for his kind note, and says that if he 'may keep my little contribution in reserve for a bit' he 'will certainly bear it in mind & shall hope to turn you out something before very long'. Signed 'Arthur C Blunt'.

English novelist, playwright, biographer and critic (1896-1967). Prestamped postcard with postmark. Grubby and creased. Reads '54 Lonsdale Road | Oxford | Monday. | Thank you very much for your letter & enclosed plan. I hope to be with you by 7.30 on the 19th. | Margaret Kennedy'.

Notable Oxford bookseller (1889-1984). 1 page, 16mo. In good condition though dusty. He thanks Wilson for sending 'The Yellow Dwarf', 'which shall be duly submitted to the editor of 'The Merry-Go-Round'. Thank you for thinking of it.' Signed 'B Blackwell'.

The letter of 2 pages, 4to. Discoloured, dusty and frayed. Dr Carl P. Russell has asked him to reply to Epps's letter regarding 'the preservation of outdoor Geological Sections'. Discusses this matter over two paragraphs. Says he is sending a copy of his 'Field Manual for Museums' and refers Epps to two illustrations. 'I am personally as well as professionally interested in all problems related to the preservation of natural and historical objects and will be pleased to learn of any methods you have found to be satisfactory.' The note of 1 page, 16mo.

British Liberal politician (1864-1932; DNB). 1 page, 4to. In good condition though dusty. 'My dear Landa, | Thank you very much for your kind note, which I greatly appreciate. [manuscript interpolation: '^ It was a difficult Parliamentary job.'] I also appreciate the [kind] note about the speech in your papers.' The reference may be to what the DNB calls Maclean's success in soothing the teachers, 'at that time furious at the cuts in their salaries'. He died of a heart attack brought on by overwork a few months later.

English Conservative politician (1799-1880). 4 pages, 16mo. Creased and somewhat grubby, with minor damage at head of one leaf caused by previous mounting, but in good condition overall. He has received his correspondent's note and will 'be glad to aid the objects of the conference in any manner in my power'. He cannot however 'comply with the request of the Committee that I will preside over Section B. on Tuesday next'. He has to 'present the prizes at the Society of Arts on that morning'. There is also 'important evidence in a Committee of the H. of Coms.

Uncle (1773-1843) of Queen Victoria, notable book collector. Paper dimensions approximately 1 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. In good condition. Florid signature 'Augustus Frederick' above printed word '(Rank)' beside 'Lieutt. Coll. Com.' in manuscript, which in turn is above printed word '(Corps)' beside 'Loyal North Britons' in manuscript.

Politician (1776-1858; DNB), later Speaker of the Commons, later 1st Baron Dunfermline. The Committee investigated the riot which took place behind Cold Bath Fields Prison in London on 15 May 1833, during which three policemen were stabbed, one of them fatally. 1 page, 8vo. Not in the best of condition: grubby, worn and creased with several closed tears. Rear repaired with archival tape. Reads 'House of Commons. | Select Committee on Cold Bath Fields Meeting | Veneris, 26o die Julij, 1833. | Right Honble Jas. Abercromby in the Chair | Ordered, | That Mr.

British geologist (1792-1871). Paper dimensions approximately 1 1/4 inches by 4 inches, somewhat discoloured by glue from mounting. Reads ' | Rod I Muchison'. Docketed on reverse.

Maternal grandfather of Queen Mary (1774-1850). In very good condition. Paper dimensions approximately 1 1/2 inches by 4 inches. Reads 'Adolphus Frederick. | Lt: Genl: & Col. in Chief.'

Last of the cursitor Barons of the Exchequer (1788-1856). 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition though grubby. 'As I am afraid my former letter may not have reached you, I venture again most earnestly to request your support being convinced that the fate of the contest may probably be determined by a small number of votes, & that consequently the personal attendance of every friend to the cause of which I am an humble advocate becomes of the most serious importance under these circumstances you will I trust excuse the earnest manner in which I urge my present applications.'

English architect (1856-1942). Slip cut from letter, dimensions approximately 1 1/4 inches by 4 1/4. In good condition. Reads 'Yrs sincy | Reginald Blomfield'. Docketed in pencil '1935' and with tidy strip with 'SIR REGINALD BLOMFIELD, M.A., R.A.', neatly stuck down beneath signature.

Author and positivist (1831-1923). 1 page, 16mo. In poor condition: grubby, creased and worn. Having returned to London 'after an absence of many months' he has found at the Athenaeum Club his correspondent's two letters. He is sorry for the delay: 'The Club has been closed for repairs & the letters were mislaid. It is quite out of my power to visit Bristol durinng the ensuing session.'

Humourist, actress and radio comedienne, originator of the Buggins Family. All three letters are 8vo, and in good condition, but all have damage to one corner caused by rusting paperclip. In the first letter she thanks her correspondent for 'the little books [...] I am a great lover of poetry, and like learning verse by heart. I used to do it in the early days of war to keep myself from worrying too much'. She has visited Stationers' Hall. Letter 2 is a note declining an invitation to a party.

English politician and wit (1691-1762). Some minor staining but in very good condition overall. Dimensions approximately 2 1/2 inches by 7 1/2. Signed 'Geo: Dodington' beneath, in another hand, 'Recd.

Scottish animal painter and cartoonist (1864-1949), for many years connected with Punch. In good condition, with the printed cartoon approximately 6 inches by 5, on 8vo piece of paper with two neat holes for ring binder. One of Armour's cartoons ('PLAYS FOR THE HUNTING-FIELD. | "HONOURS EASY."), has been cut from Punch, and stuck to the piece of paper, to which Armour has added his signature, 'G. Denholm Armour | 14 - 3 - 30'. Above the signature, in another hand, is ' "Punch" 5 - 3 - 30.'

Margery Lilian Edith Turner Fisher (1913-92), English novelist. 1 page, 8vo. With two folds but in good condition overall. She is enclosing 'a rather assorted MS. of my husband's paper for the <?>' and hopes 'the delay has not been too frightful for you. | He would be grateful if you could let him have 3 proofs of the galleys as soon as they are available. | If the figure is unsatisfactory, he will get it re-drawn, but he thinks it should do all right.'

English judge and Tory politician (1816-88; DNB). Both letters 3 pages, 16mo, and both in good condition. Interesting letters giving his views on an important matter.

Aristocratic Tory politician (1780-1855). Frank on front of envelope, dimensions approximately 3 inches by 5 inches. In good condition with remains of blue paper mounts on blank reverse. No postmarks. Reads 'To | The Lord Downes. K.C.B. | &c &c &c | Ordnance Office | Pall Mall. | Strangford'.

English sculptor (1788-1867)(DNB), responsible for the Nelson on Nelson's Column. Both letters are discoloured by age, but otherwise in good condition. The first letter is 1 page, 16mo, cropped and mounted on a larger piece of paper. 'My Dear Sir Martin | Absence from Town will I hope be a sufficient apology for my not sooner acknowledging the receipt of your card of invitation for Wednesday next - and to state that I shall have great pleasure dining with you that day.' The second letter is 2 pages, 16mo, heavily discoloured and with remains of four wax mounts in corners and elsewhere.

English essayist and biographer of Charles Lamb (1868-1938). 1 page, dimensions approximately 4 inches by 6 inches. Somewhat grubby and creased. Reads 'Feb 26| 1919 | with E V Lucas's | compliments'.