BRITISH

English sculptor (1860-1928). Florid signature 'Geo. Frampton' on slip of paper, 1 inch by 3 1/2. Slightly smudged but in good condition. Attached to piece of blue paper docketed with biographical information about the 'Great Sculptor'.

English portrait painter (1782-1875). In good condition. Dimensions approximately 4 1/2 inches square, cropped and with some loss of text after signature. Attached to larger piece of grey paper. Reads 'My dear Sir Martin | I accept with great pleasure your kind invitation for Wednesday the 29 Inst. | Ever yours faithfully | H. W. Pickersgill'.

Novelist, journalist and travel writer (1857-1942). Dimensions: 1 1/4 inches by 4 inches. In good condition, although creased along its length, and attached to a larger piece of paper docketed 'Morley Roberts. | Novelist & Journalist.'

Conservative Prime Minister (1897-1977). Stapled 8vo pamphlet, unbound, four leaves, 7 pages. Grubby, creased and with loss to the corners of the first leaf. Begins: 'THIS war is not a clash between rival dynasties. Its basic causes are not economic; nor is it even a struggle to decide the balance of power.' Shelfmark in manuscript at foot of first page. The British Library does not appear to possess a copy of this pamphlet.

Art dealer (1825-1910; DNB). 2 pages. 16mo biofoliate. In good condition. The recipients name is spelt 'Bewick' at the beginning of the letter and 'Bewicke' at the end. 'Dear Mrs Bewick | I came up from Southampton on Saturday. I am starting for Lancashire in a few minutes | I shall be back on Wednesday and off the following day | I can see you here if you can call about 5.30 | Yours sincerely | Wm Agnew'.

Captain Charles Dickson Inglis, R.N. (born c.1835; fl. 1898), is best known for his offer in 1887 to buy South Georgia in the Falkland Islands for the purposes of sheep-farming. This collection of his correspondence is neatly bound in a crude octavo volume, and is preceded by a manuscript index by him. Items in good condition overall, with minor discoloration and spotting, mainly caused by the glue used in mounting the photographs. All the letters are 8vo and smaller, several of them being cropped at the head, but with the cropped strips loosely inserted.

Medical journalist and reformer (1835-98), editor of the British Medical Journal. 2 pages, 8vo, in good condition, docketed in pencil. The recipient is not the celebrated collector of autographs but a physician of 13 Salisbury Street, Strand. 'I am staying at Weybridge & shall expect to be in town only for an hour on Thursday & shall hardly be able to have the pleasure of seeing your friend, but if you or he should write to me I shall be very glad if I can in anyway be of service to you.'

Director of the Tate Gallery (1869-1936). 1 page, 8vo, grubby and creased, with otherwise-blank verso docketed and attached to piece of card. 'Both our funds and our space are extremely limited and Mr Warne Browne's 'Catch of Pilchards', though a pleasant subject picture, is scarcely of national importance and my Board would not consider purchasing it. | It might possibly be of interest for a local Museum such as the Truro Gallery or the Passmore Edwards Art Gallery, Newlyn. I am returning the reproduction | Yours very truly | Charles Aitken | Director'.

Presumably Richard Pigot (1774-1868) who is described in Boase, Modern English Biography, as being a colonel in the dragoon guards at the time of writing and a general from 1851. 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition, but with one margin still adhering to the remains of a stub. 'I enclose you a letter to my old friend Lord Anglesey in favour of Mr Frederick Foster [...] I shall feel obliged to you by your interesting yourself in his behalf to obtain any vacancy that may occur in the Ordnance as a Messenger.

Auctioneer's Record of "Mrs Headon's Sale / December 11th 1801". 15pp., 8vo, in primitive wraps (sewn) created from a sheet of paper on which survives a proof (apparently) of a decorative advertisement (the size of a business card) for "James Graves / Tea Dealer & Grocer, / Putney / Surry / NB Dealer in British Wines". This proof straddles the spine and shows signs of wear and tear (e.g. fading), and the covers are slightly soiled.

British Tory Prime Minister (DNB). One page, 16mo, on mourning paper, creased but in good condition. The foot of the leaf, which would have borne the recipient's name, has been neatly torn away. 'My dear Sir, | We shall be very glad to see you on Monday, & the Three oclock Train will bring you here in good Time | Yrs Faithfully | Palmerston'.

Presumably printed for a Royal Air Force regimental reunion. Card bifoliate, 16mo, with 3 pages printed in green ink and featuring crude vignette of men in action in black ink on recto of first leaf, and with verso of second leaf reserved for autographs. Discoloured but in good condition. Recto of first leaf headed '"D" Squadron | R.A.F. Regiment O.C.T.U., Sidmouth. | 29th October, 1942 - 23rd January, 1943.' Across the opening are listed the men of nos. 13, 14, 15 and 16 flights. Among around a dozen autograph signatures in pencil or pen are those of the Squadron Commander Major J.

British Whig Prime Minister (DNB). Rectangular piece of paper approximately two inches by five, lightly creased and discoloured. Signed 'Melbourne' beneath the words 'By His Majesty's Command.' in another hand. In the same hand on the reverse are fragments of eight lines apparently relating to the retention in 'strict Custody' of one France <?> in the thirty-ninth year of the Reign of King George III. Docketted in ink and pencil beneath Melbourne's signature 'Melbourne'.

In the first letter Eccles thanks Mackenzie for his congratulations on Eccles' 'scheme for forming a national collection of works of art'. Any help the EAC can give will be welcome, 'as the need for pictures and works of art for Government buildings, both at home and overseas, is really great'. In the second letter he thanks him for his telegram of congratulations 'on the Coronation decorations. Everyone in the Ministry of Works has tried hard to produce something worthy of the Queen and of our contemporary art'. Two items,

Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, British statesman who made Canada a confederation but failed to create a federation of South Africa; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Interesting matter relating to South African affairs. He encloses (not present) a passage of Lanyon's from the Government Gazette.

Addressed to 'My dear Mr. Dyce' and signed 'George'. Is very grateful for the book on Kew Gardens. 'You are fully justified in your remark that nothing could have gone off better than the events connected with the 60th Jubilee of Her Majestys reign'.

English army officer and agent in the film business. Long and informed summary of 'the necessary points of our conversation'. Begins with description of Indian film industry: 'I have checked with India House these figures, and discovered that my sources of information are far more up to date than the Government's'. He encloses (not present) one of the stories he has found to 'make into Arabic films': 'Enslaved' by the Poet Laureate John Masefield. 'I have his written permission to make it into an Arab film'.

British free trade politician. Offprint from Hansard's Parliamentary Debates, entitled 'Speech of William Ewart, Esq., M.P., on moving resolutions in favour of education. In the House of Commons, Friday, July 17th, 1846.' Printed by G. Woodfall and Son. In letter apologises for late acknowledgment of his correspondent's. 'I have been almost unable to answer the many letters received by me. | I did not fail duly to present the Petition. And I beg you to assure the Petitioners that I feel honoured by having had the charge of it.' Two items,

Victorian novelist and satirist of the Raj. 'Dear Madam | I regret that I shall be away from England all winter | Yours truly | F. A. Steel." Creased, disoloured and docketed in pencil. Writing offset by folding of letter.

Director and Principal Librarian of the British Museum (DNB). The first on dusty discoloured paper with closed tears to edges. Thanks Slocombe for having 'thought of me' and apologises for writing in pencil. Has been 'knocked over by a rather severe attack from which I am only slowly recovering'. The second and third letters are both replies to the Slocombes for seasonal expressions of goodwill and both are docketed in pencil by Slocombe. Three items,

English politician. 'Are not the editors of the Sporting & Dramatic News going to make any use of your drawings? & if not, would there be any possibility of your being able to let my sister have the pencil sketch you made of her? She would value it very much. | We have been hard at work acting here, & all went off very well.'

She 'cannot apologise enough for having left his letter of May 29th so long unanswered'. It was supposed to be answered 'on her return from Italy' but was mislaid. She hopes Slocombe will 'forgive the unintentional rudeness'.

Asks whether he is able to dine with them on 6 July. Neat square stamp in purple ink at head filled in in another hand with details of when received and answered. Small paper and glue mark at centre of otherwise-blank reverse.

On two letterheads of the West African Writers and Artists Club, 129 Camberwell Rd. Major Shepheard has suggested that correspondent might supply contacts for the Club. Describes the Club's activities and lists the names of thirteen Gold Coast students from a recent British Council exhibition, whose addresses she asks for, along with the names of others from Nigeria. Two items,

Says that Chequers has been "thoroughly photographed twice since our alterations" (1910 and 1917), but that she would be glad to allow Shorter to have other photographs taken. Country Life does not give the Lees copies of these photographs, but does sometimes allow other newspapers to reproduce them. "I remember very well the luncheon at Lord Curzon's about a year ago - Would you care to come to see Chequers before we leave?" The Lees acquired Chequers in 1909, the Chequers Estate Act was passed in 1917 and the couple left in 1921.

Artist (1770-1844). 2pp., 8vo, good. “Clifford Holroyd” has asked him to put his case “before the Directors of The Artists G.B.[General Benevolent] Fund” at Cooper’s instigation. He requests information about Holroyd, and concludes by saying how useful this example proves the Fund.

(British Army: Ist Volunteer Rifle Battalion (Devon) in 1901). A small collection of letters and printed ephemera relating to the Ist Volunteer Rifle Battalion, Exeter, comprising: ALS, 2pp., 8vo, William C.Richards to Colonel Sir Dudley Duckworth-King, 17 Sept.

Painter. He accepts an invitation to lunch.

Painter. 4 ALSs, 2-3pp., 8vo, good. He asks for payment for a picture so that he can pay rent arrears, reports of his progress with his pictures, “the two Dartmoor streams”. He later talks of other pictures in which Roberrts has an interest (“Mermaid”, “Kennack Bay”, “Cadgwith [Cove]” and others) and his constant need for money. 4 items,

Painter (1842-1921). 2 ANSs, 8vo, good. In the first letter, he says that he has rested and feels able to continue with the sittings. In the second, he asks if he can exhibit her portrait at the “Grosvenor”. 2 items,