CENTURY

The five issues are each eight pages long and octavo. All five issues unbound, and stabbed. All good, though lightly aged and with some wear to extremities. An improving publication, produced 'Under the direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education, appointed by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge'.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good on lightly-foxed blue paper. He has sent his correspondent's letter to the naval correspondent of The Times, and hopes 'that some good may come of it.' Would like to receive 'any more snippets you have from time to time. I didn't know, for instance, that the racing whaler had Sussex until the other day, otherwise I should have tried to make a song about it!' Sends seasons greetings, and wishes him the 'Best of luck'.

One page, 12mo. Good on piece of lightly-creased and aged paper, neatly mounted on slightly-larger piece of paper. Enclosing funds 'for the Use of St Andrews Hall April 2nd. 3rd. & 4th./66 for Christys Minstrels Concerts'. Postscript requests that receipt be sent to Reading in Berkshire: 'Shall be there on Thursday next'. A significant document. 1866 marked the introduction of the minstrel show into England by Christy's Minstrels, and the first of several extremely successful tours by the company.

On piece of paper roughly one inch by three and a half inches wide. Good, with glue staining to reverse. Reads 'Yours sincerely | Rod. I. Murchison | P.S. | <...>. On reverse (which is docketed in pencil) 'I <...> | that when Lord Palmeston died he had in his <...> 80 applications <...>'.

Postcard with painting of Rialto Bridge by Canaletto. Postmarked 1970. Ruckled with damp but entirely legible. An amusing communication, beginning 'Thought I would let you know that we were not involved in the great tornado that sunk a voporetto [sic] on Lirica 4, and that the Hotel alla Fava is still very comfortable.' Refers to the Lambs' 'self-contained eyrie' and 'the weak fast coffee which tastes of mud; but clearly and obviously isn't'.

12mo: [iv] + 88 pages. Unbound. In original olive printed wraps. PRESENTATION COPY to 'Dr. Elliott | With kind regards', with around a dozen manuscript emendations. On aged paper, with loss to front wrap and spine. Each page, including the front wrap, within ruled red border. COPAC lists only five holdings.

Dimensions roughly three-quarters of an inch by five inches wide. Good, with glues staining from previous mounting to edges of reverse. Reads '<...> | for the right of translation - I remain, my dear Sir, your most | obedient faithful Servant | [signature] C F R de Montalembert | I shall be happy to look through the rest of the Introduction, if you think it useful.' On reverse '<...> | to be very unpalateable to those who <...>'.

Both items very good and docketed on reverse. Both advertisements appear to have been placed by Challinors & Shaw, solicitors. ITEM ONE (printed on one side of a piece of paper roughly ten inches by eight wide) is headed 'CIRCULATION OVER 180,000 WEEKLY.' Describes the paper as 'The County Newspaper and Leading Journal for Staffordshire' and the 'largest Newspaper and the best and most influential Advertising Medium' in the county.

AUTHOR'S COPY, WITH HIS MANUSCRIPT REVISIONS FOR THE SECOND EDITION. Octavo: 96 pages. Seven plates (of eight). Original olive cloth gilt, with pierrot on front board. Numbered copy twelve in the edition. One leaf (pages 49-50) removed. Aged, and in heavily worn boards. Carrying manuscript changes on twenty-two pages, as well as on a plate and the front board. Cutting loosely inserted, regarding a couplet by 'E. V. L.' of Brighton (clearly E. V. Lucas) addressed to Mew regarding the word 'hyperbole'. Six of Greiffenhagen's seven illustrations are present.

One page, 12mo. Very good. 'I shall sing il "Soave e bel contento" [aria by Pacini] and will be happy to take a part in the quintetto[,] you must procure the parts of my song'. May possibly refer to the J. N. Hummel Benefit Concert in London on 29 April 1830, where Pacini's aria was played.

On paper roughly four and a quarter inches by three and a quarter wide, with corners snipped to make an irregular octohedron. Good clear illustration on ruckled, aged paper. Tipped onto a larger piece of aged glue-stained paper. An amusing caricature showing Haggard astride Rozinante, in a full suit of armour, with an inkpot and quill pen as hat, holding a lance inscribed 'LITERATURE' in one hand, and a baby wrapped in a large roll of paper inscribed 'SHE M.S.' in the other. Unsigned, and attributed to Furniss in pencil on mount.

On piece of aged paper roughly one inch by one and a half inches wide. Signature, underlined and overlined, less than an inch long.

Dimensions of paper roughly one centimetre by six wide. Close-cropped but clear and entire. On aged paper with traces of glue from previous mount on reverse.

One page, on leaf roughly six and a half inches by eight wide. Aged and creased. Unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Attractive letterhead (according to which the firm, previously at 41 Coleman Street, was established in 1819) with illustration showing a gentleman angler in top hat fishing in rushes by river beside a crouching servant holding a net. 'ARTIFICIAL BAITS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION MADE BY H. J. ALFRED.' In the spirit of the times Fellows took all of eighteen months to pay a bill of thirteen shillings. Signed 'Recd W H Alfred'.

One page, 12mo. Good. Docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. Concerns 'Sir Alexander Redler's being brought up by Crookes for election to the Athenaeum by the Committee under Rule II [...] you [...] intimated that you knew Redler & that I need not descant on his virtues: he is a most clubbable man & I trust you may be able to support him'.

12mo bifolium. A frail, aged survival of a scarce and significant item, with wear, staining and several closed tears. THE LETTER (one page, on recto of second leaf of bifolium), signed 'R. T. Jefferies', asks 'Can you not give me your assistance at my next concert you would be conferring a favor on me by attending and I should also be glad if you could send a few vocal friends, will not any of the boys be able to attend. Please excuse haste'. In another hand on verso of second leaf, 'Rehearsals | Metropolitan Lecture Hall adjoining Gower St Railway Station Saturday 3#'.

12mo. In original worn red morocco binding, gilt, with loose front free endpaper. Good, with EXTENSIVE MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS. Eight blank leaves bound in front and back, on which are laid down forty-nine illustrations of arms of London livery companies, each approximately one and a half inches square, and apparently dating from the mid-eighteenth century.

All items octavo. All in good condition, on aged paper, bound together in heavily-worn contemporary half-calf. Ownership inscription of the art dealer Faris C. Pitt on front free endpaper. The various issues of the 'Catalogue of Books' vary in length from eight pages to twenty-eight.

Four pages, 12mo. Very good, with unobtrusive remains of stub along one edge. In interesting letter discussing the state of the English stage. Her tardy response is due to 'pressure of work". 'What you say about the present condition of the stage is only too true.

One page, 12mo. Very good; lightly creased with staple holes to one corner. 'I beg you to publish the letter which I have addressed to the Journal. There is no point in withholding it.' Horder, who designed Lloyd George's house, as well as Mallory Court and Greys, is, according to one authority, 'one of a group of early twentieth century architects who were highly influential in re-introducing the romantic vernacular styles of the Elizabethan period. Many of his homes were in the style of Edwin Lutyens, having gables, stone dressings, mullioned windows and inglenooks.'

On piece of paper roughly seven inches by four and a half. Good, though aged, and with small closed tear at foot. Evidence of previous mounting adhering to blank verso. Presumably in response to a request for an autograph. Seven lines of text, headed 'The "Half-Timer"', concerning the deleterious effects on health of child labour.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good on aged paper, with small closed tear at head not affecting text. Appears to concern an exhibition of women painters. Wants to 'personally thank' her for 'the privilege of having seen the International & in particular, your charming pictures. 'Early Morning' has quite carried away my heart! But the others are very fine. it must be so difficult, & so interesting to paint grey darkness. [...] Nothing of Miss Lister's there having in my opinion come up to her 'Builth Bridge' which we have. [...] Next to it I like 'A lonely Tree'.

One page, quarto. Very good, with staple holes in one corner. He thanks Samson for his letter 'about the enquiry from the Esso Petroleum Company concerning a sculptured commemorative tablet. I should be pleased to take part in any limited competition for this project and could carry out the work this year if I were commissioned to do so within the scheme of my existing commitments.' The context is explained by an accompanying photocopy of a carbon of a typed letter (one page, quarto) of 5 May 1960 from Samson to the sculptor Professor R. Y.

Two pages, quarto. Very good, with a little wear and light creasing. 'I often think of those days, & how timid & shy & stupid I was! Yet I enjoyed myself too, & shall never forget your great kindness, & the help you gave me. Since then I've had many adventures & experiences. I am not the thing I was!' She has been in London for the winter, and hopes they will be able to meet. 'We're so glad you like "Yellow Sands" - & I'm very pleased you like "Tomek". She has 'just finished another novel & play'. Asks what has become of a number of common acquaintances.

One page, roughly eleven inches by eight. On aged paper, with fraying to extremites affecting one word of text. 'Richard Battley Esqre. of Fore Street Cripplegate a Gentleman very conversant in several branches of science particularly Vegetable Chemistry and Pharmacy being desirous of becoming a Fellow of the Medico Botanical Society of London | We whose names are hereunto subscribed do recommend him as highly deserving of that honor & likely to pr an useful and valuable member.' Signed 'J Frost', 'Wm. Yarrell' and 'Wm. Newman'.

Classical actress and theatre manager (1872-1957), later Lady Simson. The signature is 2½ inches long, on a piece of grey paper, with one crease but otherwise in good condition. The paper is mounted on a piece of card which is neatly docketed, 'Lena Ashwell | now | Lady Simson 1925 | Actress | famous in | [...] | Appointed Office of the Order of the British Empire for valuable work in providing concerts at the front and at Home during the Great War'.

One page, 12mo. Very good, if a tad grubby. Thanks Draper for his 'amiable but unconvincing' note. 'Do you not know that I was irritated into bad language by being accused of "d - d impertinence? This, too, before I said a discourteous word. - Goodman [the writer Edward John Goodman], of course, rules the Committee [of the Savage Club] and even you have listened to the voice of that Israelitish charmer.' Concludes 'Mais n'importe. Either this evening or tomorrow I send in my resignation. I will neither apologize, nor renew the matter in cold blood.' Signed 'Henry S. Leigh'.

One page. Dimensions of paper roughly thirteen inches by eight. Very good on aged paper, with slight loss at head and small closed tear (neither affecting text). Headed 'Annuity for Life, 1746.' '[...] Received the [19] Day of [July] 17[70] by me [William Earl of Radnor Asse. to Robert Lord Romney] Of George Grenville, junr. Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Three hundred pounds] in full for [Six] Months Annuity, due the [fifth] Day of [July] last past, of [£600] per Annum, during the Life of [me William Earl of Radnor] [...]'.

One page. Dimensions of paper roughly eight inches by six and three-quarters. Trimmed but with no loss to text. Very good on aged paper. 'Received by me [Lady Anne Silvius] Of the Honourable Richard Hampden Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Fifty pounds] in full of all former Directions, and for Three Months Annuity, due at [Xmas] last past, of [200] Pounds per Annum'. Signed 'Ann: Sylvius', and with the signature [slightly trimmed] of 'Eliz Jones'.

One page. Paper dimensions roughly fourteen inches by nine and a half inches. Good, with cream paper backing. 'Received then by me [Jane Countess Dowager of Bridgewater ass[ign] of Charles Bertie Esqr] [...] Of [James Vernon Esqr] One of the Four Tellers of the Receipt of His Majesty's Exchequer, the Sum of [Threescore pounds] being for [Twenty ffour] Months Interest of [ffive Hundred Pounds] [...]'. Signed 'J Bridgewater'. Witnessed by 'J Peirce'.