AUTOGRAPH

Two pages, 4to, corrections and additions in his hand, fold marks, staining, some heavy, but text clear and complete. "I am not a good subject for a humorous article, because I am supposed to be a humorist myself. Now you may confidently make it a rule never to touch subjects that are already considered funny. You will find it easy to write an amusing imaginary interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury; but I defy you to make anyone laugh at an interview with Mark Twain. Mark made his reputation as a humorist with a description of a visit to the Holy Land.

2pp., 12mo. 42 lines. Bifolium. Fair, on aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'I. P. Cory Esq'. The letter begins: 'A friend of mine Mr. Jackson having told Mr. Rowbotham [Ruskin's tutor John Rowbotham] that I had discovered a method of trisecting an angle that gentleman said he had done it himself, which I believe he has, upon the proposition you showed me - he says it was originally published by Professor Leslie'. Inglis considers that 'Mr. R. seems to have hit upon something he does not quite comprehend'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged grey paper. Fildes explains that he has just returned from Paris to find his correspondents' letter of 19 May, inviting him 'to hear Mr Du Maurier's discourse to-morrow night'. He cannot avail himself of the 'great pleasure', and of their' 'courtesy', as he has 'an engagement which cannot possibly be put off'. He ends by apologising for not answering sooner. On 25 May 1892 The Times reports a lecture that day at 'Prince's Hall: Mr. Du Maurier on "Social Pictorial Satire," Mr. Alma-Tadema, R.A., in the chair, 9.'

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In original stamped and postmarked envelope, addressed by Smiles. The 'last photographic likeness' of Smiles 'was taken by Mr S. A. Walker, 230 Regent Street W'. Smiles has 'no doubt' that Walker will let Bacon 'have a copy' (i.e. Bacon will not be getting a free copy from Smiles). Smiles's book 'Physical Education' was 'published by me no less than 44 years ago. It had a small sale, and is now quite out of print. Though pretty good at the time, there are now far better works on the subject.'

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She has delayed writing 'till she could send the seal of the late Bishop (which she would like returned at Mr. Johnson's convenience)'. As it is 'the original, and therefore recorded', she thinks 'it would be as well to adhere to it'. She does not have ' a coloured sketch, so cannot answer the questions but doubtless all information would be given by the College of Heralds'. She concludes by stating that she is 'very pleased that a memorial will be raised to her old friend Dr. Hill, in the Parish where he worked so long and so well.'

1p., 12mo. On aged and creased paper, with the second leaf of the bifolium (the lower part of which is torn away) carrying the address 'A Monsr | Monsieur. Mermet'. Reads: 'My Dear Mermet | I trust this will find you sufficiently well to enable you to come over here immediately on receipt of this from your's [sic] | [signed] Gorman Mahon | Monday Morg | 10 oClock A M. | April 23, 1832. | Hotel D<?>'.

One page, 12mo, good condition, except rust mark from paperclip (not present).. With regard to your enquiry about my husband's smoking, it is quite true that he has practically given it up now. The only thing he has now is an occasional pipe, but this is getting less and less frequent. | I have it very much on my mind that your enquiry regarding the late W.T. Stead was never answered. Do you still want my husband to help you in this matter? If so, I will see whether he could do so. | It was nice to hear from you again after all these years.

Sent by Niven to his literary agent J. B. Pinker, whose date stamp is on the first of Secker's letters. All four items in fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Secker's first letter: 1p., 4to. He begins by praising 'Denny's display' [a window display of Niven's work in Denny's bookshop in the Strand]: 'I am wondering whether you managed to get the photograph into any of the papers. Shall I send it to the Bookman?' He continues: 'The sales [of Niven's novel The Porcelain Lady] up to date amount to 434 in England.

Scored on two facing pages, on two 25 x 34 cm leaves of music paper attached to one another along one edge with a thin strip of glue. Good, on lightly-aged paper, in red card folder with white label. Scored for voice and piano, with the two verses of libretto by Tom Taylor. Signed at end 'Frederic Clay. / Tenor Ballad from "Court & Cottage".', with ownership inscription alongside: 'Henry Wodehouse / 24 Upp. Brook St.' (According to the Survey of London, Hon.

1p., 4to. A fair copy, on a piece of aged high-acidity paper, with chipping and loss to edges (not affecting text). Signed at foot. The poem begins: 'Heart of a hero in a poet's frame, / Soul of a soldier in a body frail, - / Thine was the courage clear that did not quail / Before the giant champions of shame'. Gilder is praised as a 'poet, patriot, friend', the poem concluding: 'Thou leavest two great gifts that will not die, - / Amid the city's noise, thy lyric cry!

2pp., 4to. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Wm. Hamilton Esq'. Streatfeild has received directions from 'Mr. Secretary Bruce' granting Hamilton 'the Dignity of a Knight Bachelor of the United Kingdom'. Hamilton is to place £96 14s 6d in Streatfeild's account at Drummond's Bank in Charing Cross, 'being the Account & the Expenses attending the passing of the Patent under the Great Seal'. Streatfeild will 'proceed with the Patent as soon as you inform me whether the enclosed is your proper description'.

1p., 4to. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with unobtrusive closed tears along crease lines. 'Mr. Ben Fack [Falk?], the photographer, will, I am sure, give you such a photograph of me as you may select from the assortment he has, if you inform him of your business.' She asks him to send her a sample, if 'the tumblers prove a success, as far as my likeness is concerned [...] If I like it I will possibly order a quantity.'

1p., 12mo. 12 lines. Good on lightly-aged paper. She is requesting 'an alteration to be made in the Contents of Chapr 9. to the necessity of which I had not adverted till I saw that Chapr. in Print'. After correcting the chapter she 'desired a Revise', but 'foolishly forgot to Revise the Contents of the Chapr.' 'It cannot however be too late & must be done, as the Chapr: ends with Mr Fox'. The work referred to is clearly Miss Berry's 'Comparative View', published by Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green in 1828, the ninth and last chapter of which does indeed end with Charles James Fox.

4pp., 12mo. 75 lines. On bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The entire document is in Mary Berry's autograph. The letter proper, of 57 lines, is signed 'Devonshire Cottage / a true Copy / M Berry', the joke, such as it is, being that Mary Berry has copied out a document written by Devonshire Cottage itself to its owner, the Hon. Mrs George Lamb (Caroline, or 'Caro George' Lamb, from whom the Berry sister's were leasing it).

2pp., 12mo. Fifteen lines. On bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. The male recipient is not named. She apologies that 'the crowd of Christmas engagements' has meant that his letter has gone unanswered until now. 'With regard to the question you ask, my feeling is that where an artist and an author can contrive to work well together illustrations are a decided improvement to novels. But it is most trying to an author to see his characters presented to the public in a way utterly unlike his own conception of them.' In her view it is 'clear gain' if a book can be 'well illustrated'.

2pp, 4to. Very good on lightly-aged paper. Docketed by Luke at head of first page. Having received Luke's letter of 5 October, Wilkinson reports that 'Mrs. [Freya] Stark is at present on a tour of south-western Anatolia, visiting places like Halicarnassus, Cnidus, Loryma, Telmissus, Xanthus and so forth.

1p., 12mo. On one side of a piece of 18 x 10 cm paper, laid down on leaf removed from commonplace book, with a clue to provenance on the reverse, provided by the part of a family tree of James Carmichael laid down there, including 'Carmichael of Balmedy', 'Tho. Graeme of Balyowan' and 'Mr Ja. Smyth of Aitherny'. Fair, on aged paper. A delightful poem, apparently unpublished, and a valuable piece of social history, containing a couple of manuscript emendations.

2pp., 16mo. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. After presenting his respects, Lane states that he'regrets that he is so engaged for three or four months that he must not undertake any more - / He has found the copying miniatures so injurious to his eyes and the drawings so unsatisfactory in the printing that he is at all times unwilling to engage in very small Drawings -'. He concludes by thanking her for 'her most kind & gratifying note'.

2pp., 12mo. 30 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She begins by explaining that it was 'by an entire mistake' that Mrs Lamb's money (presumably the rent for Devonshire Lodge, owned by Mrs Lamb) was not paid, and that the mistake is 'now cleared up, & the money is to be paid this very morning by Coutt's into your Banker's'. Her sister Mary is not able to pass on this information herself, as 'she has been for above a fortnight so very unwell as not to be able to write, or occupy herself in any way - a severe fit of & Influenza has confined her, & kept me in great agony about her'.?>

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by Elton, on reverse of second leaf, to 'John Taylor Esq.' (Taylor had assumed the editorship of the London Magazine on the death by duel of John Scott in February 1821.) Elton begins by informing Taylor that he has 'not been able yet to manage the Batrachomyomachia to my mind'. (Elton's translation of 'The Battle of the Frogs and Mice' would appear anonymously in the issue of October 1821, as the second of a series named 'Leisure Hours'.) He has instead 'sent some chit-chat to serve as an introduction'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. As she 'cut the string' of the parcel, she 'wondered what could possibly come to me from St Andrews', '& lo! these beautiful thoughts in their lovely garb appeared to my delight'. It was wonderful of Miss Grae to 'think of it', and of 'the little girls to make such a beautiful book', the binding of which her husband finds 'admirable & excellent'. She will 'read the charming pages on foggy days such as these'. She wishes that 'these last 3 blacknesses had been spent at St Andrews by all of us'.

2pp., 12mo. Aged and creased, on Seymour's monogrammed letterhead. The letter, on the recto of the first leaf, is addressed to 'Gentlemen' (possibly Stamfords, the London firm of map-sellers). It reads: 'I shall be much obliged to you to send me the three Maps marked overleaf, mounted on <?> in a small parcel to be left at the Foreign Office to the care of F. B. Alston Th Esqre who will have the kindness to pay for the same. / The parcel to be directed to Sir Hamilton Seymour G.C.B. H.M. Minster, St Petersburg'.

The book is in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn and chipped dustwrapper, the inner flap of which bears the presentation inscription: 'Sarah Harvey, / 39, Maids Causeway, / Cambridge. / from Bertha Roeder, her cousin, - / 1962.' The first letter (11 January 1930), is 2pp., 12mo, on a bifolium with the blank reverse of the second leaf tipped in onto the front pastedown. In very good condition. The things 'Frau Roeder' has to tell him 'will be a real help', and since she tells him that she thinks that her sister 'Mrs.

Landscape 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dear Dan; / You're one of the birds I just love to be praised by! / As ever / [signed] Will Irwin'.

1p., 12mo. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In original stamped and postmarked envelope, initialed by Hardwick. In the letter Hardwick informs Baron that his 'History' (published in 1851) is out of print: 'The few remainders were sold about four years ago.' He recently saw a copy 'in one of hte Manchester second hand booksellers' catalogues on sale for 17/6'. He gives the names of two booksellers to approach ('Gray, 25, Cathedral Yard, or Sutton, Portland-st. Oxford st.') and is forwarding 'a circular respecting my forthcoming work' (not present).

4pp., 12mo. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The four sides of the bifolium having been filled, the valediction and signature are written upwards across the first page. She thanks the recipient for 'the interesting page of extracts', and for 'the flattering manner in which you allude to my father's mother, Flora McDonald'. Having previously seen the text in an articles she is forwarding, she considers that the lady author has 'taken an unwarrantable liberty by reflecting severely on Flora's descendants for neglecting to keep her grave in good order'.

The letters provide a fascinating insight into the development of the transatlantic publishing industry. They are closely typed with single spacing, and both centre around Walton's employment situation and his complaints about the sending over from America of 'Mr. Russell', about whose 'absolute worthlessness to the business' he complains. Adair's letter: 2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper.

2pp., 8vo. On both sides of a leaf of scored 29.5 x 23 cm paper. Aged and folded. The first page is numbered 330 in the top left-hand corner, and headed "I love to hear the Story"'. The first page carries the first and third verses of Miller's hymn, scored for piano, signed at foot 'Frederic Clay.' On the reverse, with no heading, is the score of the second verse: 'I'm glad my blessed Saviour was once a child like me / To show how pure and holy His Little ones might be'.

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, some staining but text clear and complete, as folows: "Sir | In answer to your letter of the 2d. I beg to state I am quite certain that Lord Randolph would not entertain for a moment the suggestion you make..."

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his letter, stating that it will be 'a great pleasure to look forward to staying at the Abbey House', and hopes that, 'in spite of the malignant perversity of trains', he will 'get to Tewkesbury at 4.16'.