AUTOGRAPH

An short account of Cator's career is to be found in the Gentleman's Magazine for June 1866. This collection of nine items is of particular importance, considering the fact that - remarkably for such a distinguished figure - he was not accorded a Times obituary, and has no entry in the Dictionary of National Biography. The absence of biographical material may be due to the contemporary criticism of Cator's department for its handling of the provision of supplies during the Crimean War. All items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with texts clear and complete.

12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. Sixteen lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper, folded twice. He would have consiered 'Mr. Gatty's application [...] together with those of others', but he had 'already made other arrangements for filling up this appointment'. He regrets that he is 'unable to meet his wishes'. Postscript concerning Gatty's divorce.

12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf. Fair, on aged paper. He does not think he received 'Part II of Collectanea Topog. & Geneal.' 'As I believe that receipts are taken on delivery of that Work be so good as to send me any memorandum of the fact - if you do not possess it perhaps the Part may not have been left at my House'. Docketed, with details of the receipt, at head of first page.

On piece of paper cut from letter, 4.5 x 10.5. With both sides lightly-sprinkled with ink dots. Reads 'Believe me | Yours | John P Gassiot'. Reverse, with printed letterhead, gives the beginning of the letter: 'Sir | I was informed Yday Evg. that <...>'. Docketed by Webster 'Sent List | 28/2/57'. From Webster's autograph collection.

12mo, 1 p. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of mount on blank reverse. He only has 'time for a single line before Post'. He is adopting the recipient's 'suggestion of putting my name among the Vicars | "47. John Raine. Presented November 1834', and is sending copy. The note concerns an entry on Raine in the following: 'Reports and Papers Read at the Meetings of the Architectural Societies of the Counties of Lincoln and Nottingham, County of York, Archdeaconries of Northampton and Oakham, County of Bedford, Diocese of Worcester, and County of Leicester', Vol. 15 (1879).

4to, 2 pp. Twenty lines. Text clear and complete. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of mount adhering at head of reverse. He has been on an 'interesting and agreeable' tour. 'If my name is worthy of standing amongst the Patrons of the Splendid Work forthcoming under your auspices I shall be proud to enroll myself with them; and shall be ready to obey the call of your publisher whenever you direct him to me.' He praises Dibdin's 'Tour in France and Germany' (1821), and thanks him for selecting 'so fine a copy'.

4to, 1 p. In bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf with circular 'RUSHYFORD' postmark in black ink. On aged and creased paper, with traces of mount adhering on second leaf. Giving details of the 'allowance to the Trade', which he admits is 'small', for volumes in large and small paper. 'Only 500 Copies being printed it is not worth my while to push the sale by a large allowance'.

On rectangle cut from letter, 3.5 x 11 cm. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with neat vertical crease at one edge (away from signature) and minor traces of previous mounting on reverse. Reads '<...> to his Admission. | Believe me very faithfully Yours, | Henry Ellis', with reverse reading '<...> now with my Successor, Antonio Panizzi Esq | James C. Webster Esq'. From Webster's autograph collection.

On piece of laid paper, 5.5 x 8 cm. Clear signature on lightly-aged and spotted paper. From the collection of James C. Webster, Secretary, Athenaeum Club, London, who has written, above the signature, 'Royal Society of L<...>', and beneath it, 'Sir Philip Francis | author of "Junius"'.

16mo, 1 p. Bifolium, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr Rodd | Little Newport St.' Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of mount adhering at head of reverse of second leaf. He is returning the books as he already possesses two of them, '& the other he is not anxious to have'.

Folio, 1 p. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Removed from an album, and with docketing on second leaf slightly obsucred by thin strip of paper in margin. Written while Huskisson was Secretary to the Treasury, and requiring Sweetland to provide to the Lords Commissioners 'an account of the Revenues of Gibraltar for the last three Years distinguishing the amount under each head of Revenue and also a Statement fo all Payments charged upon the said Revenue'. Despite his achievements, Huskisson is now best-remembered as the first railway fatality.

On piece of card, 4 x 7 cm. Aged and spotted. Reads 'Sir Chas Napier | Merchistoun', with the words centred as usual. Drawing or floor plan in pencil on reverse. From the Paterson papers.

12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium, with the reverse of the second leaf carrying the address ('J. Sykes Esqr: | 22 Arundel Street | Strand', with two postmarks and docketing by Sykes. Nineteen lines. Text clear and complete. On aged paper, with wear to second leaf. Sykes 'will not be surprized to hear' that on the previous day 'Poor Georgina [...] paid the Great Debt'. Colpoys has arranged for her funeral to be 'conducted - in a Decent Private manner', and for her to be buried 'in the Parish of Kensington where she Died - Mr.

On rectangle cut from letter, 7 x 11 cm. On dusty paper. Laid down on page removed from autograph album. Reads 'Wishing you the joys & compliments of the Season, believe me | Your's faithfully, | W. H. Smyth. -' Docketed by Webster at foot: '24/12/56. Admiral Smyth Vice President Royal Society a learned Pundit.' From Webster's autograph collection.

12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. 28 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with a trace of the mount adhering to the reverse of the second leaf, which is docketed by the recipient. The letter concerns her 'favourite old Clock', about which she expresses anxiety: 'the Man you now send to wind up the Clock is, I dare say, very clever in his Business, but as he almost constantly leaves it with somethig not right in Motion, striking &c I must therefore think that he is not accustomed to direct all the movements of such a Clock'.

Letter: 8vo, 1 p. Twelve lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with slight damage at foot of page, and strip from previous mount adhering to blank reverse. Addressed to 'Dear Sir'. As she does not hold her correspondent responsible for the 'accident' no compensation is necessary, and she cannot accept 'the valuable volume [...] under any such principle'.

12mo, 1 p. 15 lines. Text clear and complete. Closely written in a difficult hand. Mention is made towards the beginning of the letter of 'l'Excellent G'. The recipient is going on a voyage, and Frederica hopes to see them at Oatlands on their return.

4to, 1 p. Eleven lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for having 'appriz'd' him 'of the proposed enclosure of Tooting Common, to which I am equally hostile with the Rector, & the other principal Gentlemen who have express'd their determination to oppose the Measure'. Lady Coventry joins him in sending 'kind remembrances' to Mrs Harrison and her family. The franked envelope is a sheet of folded paper, bearing Coventry's red wax armorial seal in good condition, and postmark. It is addressed 'Pershore Octr. Seventeen | 1817 | Thomas Harrison Esqr.

4to, 2 pp. Bifolium. Eighteen lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Having been presented with a copy of the first volumes of Lyttelton's 'History of the Life of Henry the Second', he has 'read the first Edition with the greatest Pleasure'. He praises the way in which Lyttelton is 'conducting the Narration with the Dignity so peculiarly necessary in that Species of Composition', as well as the 'Classical Elegance of Stile [sic]'. After more praise states 'Mrs Montagu's inoculation was an attempt worthy her Spirit & good Sense.

12mo, 2 pp, the autograph being on one side and Rickman's on the other. Fair, on aged paper, with traces of previous mounting on one side. Large bold signature 'J: Wolcot' with biographical note on one side, and the note, signed 'Clio Rickman', on the other: Written by the celebrated Peter Pindar, when entirely blind, on my calling on him the 3d of July 1809 my boy with me'.

4to, 2 pp. Bifolium, with letter on both sides of first leaf, and frank ('For Mrs Montagu at Mr Purdies in Orange Court, Bath'), with red wax seal (bust of a man), on reverse of second. 42 lines of text. Clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with strip of mount adhering to second leaf. Begins by describing her state of health, complaining of 'a Constant pain in my Head & Opression [sic] at my breast', for which she has been 'blooded'.

12mo, 1 p. Six lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Suggests a couple of alternative days on which he 'will be at liberty to give Sir W. J. Newton a sitting'.

4to, 1 p. Nine lines. Text clear and complete. Good, with minor traces of previous mount on reverse. He is returning 'the Franks that you sent to me last night', with the assurance that he is ready 'at all times to be of service' to him. He is sorry that he will not be able to see him before his 'Tour', and hopes to see him 'in good Health' on his return.

12mo, 1 p. Eight lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Begins 'The Queen has signed the Warrants, but things [sic] there is a mistake, as Duncan's Salary is but 80 L.' If her page's salary is £200, 'another Warrant must be made out [...] Mr. Rowland will do well to inquire about it.' The Queen's entry in the Oxford DNB stresses that she was never 'able to manage her money'.

12mo, 1 p. Ten lines, written lengthwise. Text clear and complete. Addressed on reverse to 'Mr. Cadell, Bookseller, Stran[d]'. Clearly relating to Hallifax's 'Sermon preached before the Lords spiritual and temporal', published by Cadell in 1782. He is sending a 'List of Presents to persons out of London'. Copies for 'the Mansf[iel]d Waggon' are 'to be sent on Sunday evening to Smithfield; the twenty-one copies for 'Dr Jowett of Cambridge need not be wrapped up in separate papers'.

4to, 1 p. 14 lines. Text clear, apart from damage to two words caused by the breaking open of the wafer. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to the reverse. Her recipient has corrected 'a personal defect' in one of Trimmer's books, calling for a 'trifling' alteration. She will make the alteration when a new edition is called for. 'I am happy to find any of my Books are now in the excellent institution in which you perform so important an office'.

4to, 1 p. 19 lines. Text clear and complete. On aged and lightly creased paper, with strip of sunning to left-hand margin. Neat signature: 'Nicolas Bentley'. The film and television rights to the book were all 'bought some years ago by Herbert Wilcox, who, as I understand it, still owns them'. Bentley has reports the opinion of 'Messrs A. P. Watt, my late father's agent', on the question of the radio rights. 'I control the stage rights', Bentley states, giving the conditions on which he would agree to a stage adaptation.

4to, 4 pp. 43 typed lines, and two-line manuscript postscript. Signed in pencil 'Sincerely | Dollie & Troy.', with the name of the troupe typed over this. Text clear and complete on discoloured and creased paper. Chatty and humorous letter. 'By the time you read this letter we will have either left a terrible stench in the Theatre or else the Manager will be satisfied. [...] JANUARY 11, FLASH!!!!

Both items on 'Bebe' letterheads, and both with signature 'Bebe' incorporating a drawing of a stick figure with hat. Letter One: 12mo, 1 p. Twelve lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. With addressed envelope. She is sorry they missed one another 'at the station, especially after all the trouble you went through to get there'. Gives news of show: 'Boy, it will be good to get back to town again. | I have enjoyed the tour but as you know travelling nowadays isn't what it used to be, by a long shot.' Letter Two: 8vo, 1 p. 21 lines.

12mo, 2 pp. 19 lines of text. Clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Begins 'Just a line to tell you we miss you like mad & hope you are well & happy. Praises a 'dinner at Mary's'. They hope to call on Colleano when passing through London on 'Sunday Nite'. Ends 'Well honey, keep us in mind & we will see you soon - Our very best to Bonar Jr. [Colleano's son the film actor Bonar Colleano]' Postscript 'Billy sends his best'. Coogan was married to Ann McCormack, his third wife, from 1946 to 1951. From the Colleano Family archive.