BOOK

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He begins by stating that his book 'contains the details' his correspondent requires, and continues: 'I am sorry to say that I made a little mistake when I was talking to you over the telephone about "Pulcinella". I think I said there was a long description of that ballet in my "Diaghilev Ballet in London", but of course it is the "Complete Book of Ballets".

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In something of a hard sell he begins by stating that 'the "Sir Philip Sidney" letter, of which I showed you a facsimile the other day, [...] seems to me peculiarly suitable for your collection'. In support of the letter's 'exceptional rarity' he cites 'a letter of Thorpe's (the expert of autographs of his day) dated 1839 accompanying the autograph & giving its pedigree, in which he says "I never saw a letter of Sidney's for sale except the present"', adding that 'no other autograph of his has occurred since'.

The two items relate to the book 'An Old Coachman's Chatter with Some Practical Remarks on Driving. By a Semi-Professional. Edward Corbett, Colonel late Shropshire Militia.'(London: Richard Bentley and Son, 1890). Both the letter and the proofs are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. LETTER: 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. 34 lines of text in a particularly difficult hand. He will endeavour to 'throw all the light' he can on the subjects mentioned in his correspondent's letter, beginning:: 'I think the time between Cape Curig & Holyhead must be correct.

One one side of 16 x 11 cm piece of ruled paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The invoice is for six books totalling £3 17s 0d, the first three purchased in 1814 and the others in 1818: 'Abernethy's Works', '[Abernethy's] Lectures', 'Hey's Lectures', 'Adam's life of Hunter', 'Scudamore on Gout', 'Reid on Insanity'. Barklimore's receipt reads: 'Resd. [sic] 25th. April 1818 from Mr Dunlop | Archd. Barklimore'. Docketted on reverse: Mem[orandu]m of Disbursements on acct Dr. McWhirter by Dr. Barklimore.' Macwhirter does not feature in BBTI.

Note that Varenne's Christian name is spelled with one 't' on the bookplate, and generally with two 't's by later sources. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, tipped in onto a grey paper mount. Engraved on a 12 x 8 cm piece of wove paper, with no margin.

In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, tipped in onto a grey paper mount. Engraved on 13 x 8 cm piece of wove paper, with no margin. The firm's shop was at the sign of Horace's head in the Strand, and the engraving depicts a lapidary carving off the head and shoulders of the poet, with laurel leaf above, in an oval frame, around which are 'carved' decorations (including lyre and grapes).

Gladys Jones ('Gwen John') lived with her sister the suffragette Winifred Jones in Lincoln's Inn. Her play 'The Prince' - three corrected copies of which are in the present collection as Items Three to Five - was retitled 'Gloriana' [= Elizabeth I] when performed at the Adelphi Theatre in London in December 1925, with a youthful John Gielgud in the role of Sir John Harrington. Items One, Six and Seven below relate to the volume 'Plays of Innocence' by 'Gwen John', published in 1925 by Ernest Benn (by whom Victor Gollancz was then employed).

The last eight leaves only of a printed catalogue (no. 260 in M. V. de Chantilly's 'Robert Harding Evans of Pall Mall | auction catalogues 1812-1846 | a provisional list' (2002)). Stitched and unbound. On aged and worn paper, with slight damp staining to margins. Paginated 23-37 + [1], with the final page (i.e. the verso of the last leaf) carrying the advertisement: 'Preparing for Sale by MR. EVANS. | THE VALUABLE LIBRARY of an | EMINENT COLLECTOR.' (in manuscript: 'Mr Rennie'). Slug at foot of p.37: 'London: Printed by W. Nicol, | Cleveland-row, St.

Robert Harding Evans has been described as 'the greatest of all auctioneers of literary property'. In a career spanning three decades he oversaw the dispersal of many of the finest libraries ever assembled, from the great Roxburghe sale of 1812 to that of the Duke of Sussex in 1845, as well as those of the books of Lord Byron and the manuscripts and copyrights of Sir Walter Scott. In an undated letter to Bodley's Librarian (copy in Item Four below) Marcham states that he is 'working on Evans the auctioneer and the list will be published.

15pp., 8vo. On twelve leaves torn from an album. With minor emendations, and an essay in another hand on some reverses. Unpublished. The piece begins: 'My collection of catalogues has grown much in the same way as other collections of books. At times I have got rid of many I missed later on and it was only by long experience I found that some things are desirable. First it is better to have each sale bound by itself and this I have carried out except where some association in an existing bound volume would have been destroyed.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse of the second leaf. In reply to his letter, she refers Helmore to 'Mr Wright', who has 'frequently since the Publication of the "Sunbeam" [in 1849] been appealed to to bring it out in a cheap form - but he has no speculating propensities - and as he is perfectly satisfied with the sale of twenty thousand at a shilling - he is not inclined to try it in a cheaper form'. She has 'nothing to do with it - further than receiving a certain sum as each edition is sold out'.

The two items in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. ONE: To 'C. Lavers Smith, Esq'. 21 April 1903. 2pp., landscape 8vo. He asks 'whether prints are to be had of Nell Gwynne's reputed birthplace at Hereford'. He made enquiries about the house in Hereford on the previous Saturday. 'It was pulled down in 1861; but in 1858 two photographs of it were taken, and I found an old photographer who had negatives which he promised to lend to me for a small consideration.

Printed in purple ink on both sides of a 9 x 11.5 cm grey card with rounded edges. In very good condition. One side attractively printed, with fancy type, decorative border and floral vignette. The other more businesslike, headed 'W. J. Little, Stationery, Library, and Useful Present Depot, Next London and South Western Bank, High Street, Harlesden, N.W.' and carrying a list of prices for 'Special Value Writing Papers'. The printers' details are not given, but the item comes from the archive of Cheney & Sons, 'General, Commercial & Artistic Printers, Banbury'.

ONE: Letterhead (1p., 12mo). On the verso of the second leaf of a bifolium. Tasteful and restrained design, with the following in larger print on the left-hand side of the letterhead: '187 Piccadilly | London ........ 189 ....', and the following in smaller print on the right-hand side of the letterhead: 'HATCHARDS | BOOKSELLERS TO THE | QUEEN'. Very good, on lightly aged paper. TWO: Compliments slip, printed in brown on one side of a 6 x 9.5 cm piece of shiny cream paper. In small type within a ruled border is the following: 'WITH MESSRS.

The seven items in very good condition, lightly aged. From the firm's archive, and produced to its highest standards. Partner John Cheney described himself on his calling card (not present) as a 'Printer in Gold, Silver, and Colours', with 'Specialities in the best class of work', and the company's high standards attracted clients from London's West End. For more about the firm see 'John Cheney and his descendants, printers in Banbury since 1767' (1936), and the Victoria County History volume for the County of Oxford, Banbury Hundred.

1p., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The year '1910' added in pencil in another hand. The note reads: 'July 17 | Dear Mr Kennevy | I return Laidlaw with many thanks | Sincerely yours | A Lang'.

2pp., 12mo. Printed side by side on one side of a piece of 23 x 29cm wove paper, with blank reverse. In fair condition on aged and dusty paper. The left-hand page is headed 'NEW BURLINGTON STREET, Dec. 6', and has the slug at the foot: 'PRINTED BY T. BRETTELL, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, LONDON.' It advertises the forthcoming publication in 'Bentley's Miscellany' of two titles.

The first issue 44pp., 12mo, with pink order slip. The second issue 48pp., 12mo (paginated 45-92). Uniform: stapled in brown printed wraps.In fair condition, on aged paper, with rusting from staples. The first issue has articles by Ambrose Heal, Hal Warwick, Henry Arthur Jones, S. P. B. Mais, Eleanor E. Helme, Irene Beeston and Rose Fyleman. The interview with H. G. Wells is on pp.3-5. Wells asks what the 'object' of the new magazine is, and is told, 'to foster and develop the reading and possessing of books'.

80pp., 8vo. Stapled and unbound. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. On front cover: 'Each Book in this Catalogue is written by an Expert and is written so you can understand it'. Many items illustrated with representations of the binding. Index of subjects on p.2, ranging from 'Abrasives and Abrasive Wheels' to 'Wiring Diagrams', and including section on 'Automobile Books', pp.5-14 (Charts, Ignition Systems, Lighting, Questions and Answers, Repairing, Starting Systems, Trouble Charts, Welding), 'Gasoline Engines', pp.15-18, and 'Aviation', pp.19-22.

[1] + 28pp., 4to. New title-leaf and text pp.215-242. In printed brown paper wraps, inscribed at head of front cover 'to Mr Richard Bentley | from Michael Sadleir | Dec 1924'. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The paper was read before the Bibliographical Society on 17 November 1924. NOte: Sadleir describes the wonderful moment when he first saw the Bentley file copy collection in "Nineteenth-Century Fiction". He inevitably became very friendly. Richard Bentley was the grandson of the founder of the firm, selling up to MACMILLAN'S IN 1898.

Letter: 1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He begins by suggesting that Baron write to 'Mr Payn' (the novelist and editor James Payn) via the Reform Club, Pall Mall. (Baron's method involved asking one celebrity how to contact another.) He next discusses two of his works: '"The Memorial Windows" appeared in the Gentleman's & was published in Pippins & Cheese (Bradbury & Evans) - "The Valley" you will see in enclosed list'. He concludes by thanking Baron for his 'complimentary note'. With envelope addressed to 'J. T.

1p., 8vo, on the verso of the second leaf of a bifolium, with the Autograph Note by Bentley on the recto of the first leaf. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Smith's letter headed by him 'Private'.

[2] + 178 + [1]pp., 8vo, with 43 plates on art paper (some fold-out) at the end of the volume. In brown printed wraps. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. An impressive collection, very well catalogued. The final item, 166 (pp.172-174), is on a subject close to Voynich's heart: 'Xylographic Press in Poland'. Loosely inserted are an unused letterhead for Voynich's premises at 175 Piccadilly, and a business postcard from Myers & Co of 80 New Bond Street, carrying a manuscript note. Six copies of the catalogue on COPAC, but none listed at the British Library, and now scarce.

Spencer was a sharp operator (see Mandelbrote ed., 'Out of Print and into Profit', pp.285-287) and the present items give an hint of his methods. (The two letters are addressed from the premises at which his staff were said to practice their 'sophistications'.) His two letters (both signed 'W. T. Spencer') are in good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper, with the second dated by Bois to 1931. Bois's letter (signed 'Winifred Bois') is in fair condition, with a short closed tear along one edge. Letter One: Spencer to Bois, 23 February [1931].

11pp., 32mo. Stitched and unbound. In fair condition, on aged paper. The books include 'The Cabinet History of England', 'Miller's County Atlas of England & Wales' and 'The Princess Charlotte's Hymn Book'. There are also 'Thirteen Toy Books', 'Threepenny Toy Books', 'Conversation Cards', 'Children's Picture Cards', 'Portraits of the Royal Family', 'The Spelling Alphabet' and 'Engraved Music Cards'.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. An attractive production, printed on a leaf of parchment paper, with illuminations and decorative designs in red, blue, green and gold, in the Gothic style of the period. At the end of the second page, above the printer's slug, and illuminated: 'Auction Rooms 22 Fleet Street London | Established 1823'.

7pp., 8vo. Stapled. In poor condition, on aged and worn paper. The prices, and in most cases the names of the purchasers, are untidily given in pencil, the buyers seeming to be mainly members of the West Country trade, and including George [of Bristol], Grey, Lowe, Colbeck, Cox Towes, Brown, Williams. A collection strongly biased towards the English novel, with Henry James particularly well represented. A small collection of 'Dutch Books' features at the end of the sale. A scarce item, with no copy traced either on COPAC or on WorldCat.

8vo. The ten issues are consecutively paginated from 1-140, not including the printed wraps, which carry advertisements including individual wants of parties ranging from the Irish scholar F. J. Biggar to the London booksellers Maggs Bros. The ten items are all complete and unbound. The first six issues are printed on high-acidity paper, and are in frail condition, with loose leaves and chipping; the last four are in better condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper.

1p., 12mo. Attractively printed within a decorative border, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | The Specimen Book sent you herewith, of which I have much pleasure in asking your acceptance, contains a history of the Caslon Foundry printed with the justly celebrated types engraved by its founder in the early part of last Century.

The text is engraved in copperplate on one side of a piece of card, with plan on reverse of the the premises at 18 Paternoster Square, with Newgate Street, Warwick Lane, Rose Street and Paternoster Row also shown. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with unobtrusive vertical crease. A nice piece of nineteenth-century London book trade ephemera. The text reads: 'Publication Committee | Presbyterian Church of England, | 18 Paternoster Square.