CENTURY

4pp., 16mo. Bifolium. He thanks him for his 'intended help with Mr Hope & Mr Marriott'. He is sending him 'the Design I wish to carry out for our West Window', but without Hope's help it 'must be a distant job - the estimate is 100£ Hardman made the drawing from my description'. He continues by discussing work on the chancel and altar rails, and is sending 'a published view of the old Church'. He explains that he is setting up 'one of our South Windows' in memory of his sister-in-law Harriet, who died in 1851, addiing that 'S Parr also gave a Stone Pulpit & Eagle Lectern'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged. He is declining his request as he has 'many, & much more pressing claims to meet in the way of Church building'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. The recipient's name has been smudged by Canning, and is illegible. It is 'utterly impossible' for him to 'do anything for Mr Blake', and he is as a consequence returning his memorial, 'which would with greater propriety be addressed to any other department of the Government than to that which I administer: & with the business of which Mr Blake's "claims," as stated in that Memorial have no concern'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with 6cm vertical closed tear to first leaf, affecting a couple of words. The reverse of the second leaf carries a broken seal in black wax, and is addressed to Clanricarde. The letter begins: 'My dear Ld C: | We are in a great difficulty at the H. of Lords today for want of a third Peer.' He will esteem it a great favour if Clanricarde 'will come at ten and enable me to go on with the Causes - for otherwise there will be the whole expence thrown upon the packs'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper with spike hole through one word (the 'yours' of 'Very truly yours'). He apologises for being foreced to forego the opportunity of 'attending at the Institution, which I have often wished to revisit', as a result of the requirement for 'an extraordinary amount of attendance from me night as well as day, consequent upon the encrease [sic] of cholera cases, & some other matters, of possible emergency'.

1p., 12mo. Mourning border. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He writes that his 'visit to the Gallery' has to be on the following Friday, but asks the recipient not to 'in the least inconvenience yourself on my account, though I certainly should consider it a great pleasure to see you on the occasion'. According to his entry in the Oxford DNB: 'In 1860 William Chambers returned to Edinburgh and the firm. Robert Chambers and his wife travelled to America before he and his family moved to London so that he could oversee the firm's new London offices.

As befits the son of a City of London clergyman, Edward Mason Wrench was a well-educated and well-connected man (being presented to the Prince of Wales in his old age), attributes which enabled him to thrive at Chatsworth. His standing was also enhanced by an eventful army career. Wrench's obituary in the British Medical Journal (27 April 1912), describes how, after service in the Crimea, 'he was transferred to the 4th Lancers, went to Madras with that regiment in the following month, and served with it during the whole of the Indian Mutiny.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper. Arnald's appeal begins: Appealing to the 'known humanity' of Lawrence and the Council, Arnald writes on behalf of 'Mrs. Abigail Whitcombe, widow of Mr. Thos. Whitcombe late of Clarendon Square, marine painter, and for 40. Years an annual contributor to the Exhibition of the Royal Academy', who has previously received assistance, but is now 'almost totally deprived of sight, and otherwise afflicted', and is dependent on 'the assistance afforded by friends on whom she has no Claim'.

Black and white photograph of Kirsova in costume and dance pose, cut from a magazine. 13 x 9.5 cm. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Good firm signature across bottom left of image, reading: 'Hélène Kirsova | 1936'.

The three items in good condition, lightly aged. The first two with mourning borders (for his wife, who had died in 1852). Lovelace's handwriting is idiosyncratic. ONE: 12 February [1852]. From 6 Great Cumberland Place. 1p., 16mo. Acknowledging receipt of 'a memorial from certain inhabitants of Limpsfield, as well as the letter of Mr. Elliott'. TWO: 9 January 1853. 1p., 12mo. Stating that he has 'felt it inexpedient to comply with the requisition transmitted to me in February last'. THREE: 30 July 1854. 1p., 4to. Addressed to King as 'Dear Locke'.

On a thick piece of shiny card, with rounded edges, 12.5 x 18cm. Aged, and with two dog eared corners and a 3cm closed tear (not affecting illustration). On one side is the chromolithographic illustration, with 'J. N. Drummond' in the bottom right-hand corner, showing an English rural landscape - more autumnal than winter - with river in the foreground and trees and viillage with church in the background.

The two signatures are on one side of a 14 x 18cm leaf of cream paper removed from an album. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with laid down. Good clear examples. Beecham's signature 'Thomas Beecham' is above that of 'Ethel Frank'. Probably given on Franks first visit to Britain in 1921. Small magazine cutting of photograph of three musicians laid down on reverse.

2pp., 4to. On watermarked laid paper. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Twenty-nine lines of text. Law was appointed prebendary of Carlisle in 1773 and archdeacon four years later. In 1782 he left for Ireland. According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, Paley, 'his friend and successor in the archdeaconry, accompanied him to Ireland and preached his consecration sermon'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount on reverse of letter and envelope. Envelope, with penny red, addressed by Lovell to 'Dillon Croker Esq. | 3 Gloucester Road | Old Brompton'. Reads: 'Mrs. Lovell begs to thank Mr. Croker for his polite note and for the trouble he has kindly taken - | Should there be any occasion Mrs Lovell will gladly avail herself of Mr. Croker [sic] offer of further assistance.'

On watermarked laid paper. Dimensions of paper: 23 x 32cm. Dimensions of plate: 14 x 20cm. In fair condition, aged and lightly stained, with creasing and short closed tear to right-hand margin, but with the engraving good and clear. A windy scene, with a turbulent cloudy sky weighing heavily over a disheveled windswept landscape, in which two small figures can be made out on a bridge. Inscribed in pencil beneath the plate: 'Oliver Hall | To R. Wallace | Ed: 40.' The title 'Hayling Island' is in pencil in the bottom right-hand corner.

On F. J. Head & Co. laid paper. Dimensions of paper: 23 x 29cm. Dimensions of plate: 17.5 x 25cm. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. A wonderful watery view of a winding country river and trees. Inscribed in pencil on the reverse: 'To Father Richard. This is working Proof for drypoint "The River" | Robin Wallace July 1927'. Wallace, a well-known painter of landscapes and still life subjects in oil and water-colour, was born at Kendal in the Lake District and studied in Kensington at the Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art.

On 7 x 13.5cm piece of watermarked laid paper, cut from the head of a 12mo leaf. Tastefully printed in red and brown, in gothic type with rubricated capital. Reads: 'MEMORANDUM | from | James Wilson, | Dealer in Ancient and Modern Books and Manuscripts; rare | and valuable County Histories, Old Poetry, Theology, costly | Works on the Fine Arts, Illuminated Missals, and other | Ancient MSS. on vellum, and Literary Curiosities and Rarities | in general. Catalogues issued Monthly, gratis andn post free. | 35, Bull Street, Birmingham,'. The date 'Jan 30th 86' in bottom right-hand corner of slip.

Both items in good condition, on aged paper. Lovell begins the first letter (3pp., 12mo) by expressing disappointment at not having heard from Webster yet 'with the M.S.', and offers to 'save [him] any trouble in explanations' by calling on him. If that is not acceptable he asks him to 'let me have the copy with your notes upon it & I will work at once. And if you have any thing more agreeable in the way of criticism to communicate it will put me in better spirits'.

Both items in good condition, on lightly aged paper. Letter: 2pp., 12mo. The letter begins: 'Mrs. Kean has given me back possession of the two Plays. The Wife's Secret & The Trial of Love. & the advice of Mr. Coyne was that I should add them to the Dram[ati]c. Authors Society's list.' Under the circumstances, he asks whether Lacy would be 'desirous of printing them & if so what would be your arrangement?' He suggests a meeting the following day. Autograph prelims: 3pp., 4to. Bifolium, with bottom half of second leaf torn away.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with light glue stains on blank reverse of second leaf. Lovell writes in jaunty tones: 'When I quitted Town I left your incomparable Cardinal in the plenitude of his power & on my return I find him still in the ascendant & his glory undiminished! - Such a man belongs to posterity & my posterity are anxious to pay (?) [the question mark is Lovell's, the implication being that they want to get in to a performance without paying] their homage to him.

2pp., 4to. Printed on the same side of one piece of shiny art paper, folded to make a bifolium. Aged and stained, with wear and slight loss to extremities. Photograph of Russell beneath title, alongside 'Sonnet | To W. Clark Russell', reprinted 'From "English Sea Pictures." By Julia D. Young, Author of "Barham Beach, the President's Poem." - New York.' The author laments that '[i]n this country, it is not the fashion to ennoble those who really do something for their time and generation', such as Russell, whose 'stupendous output' consists of 'fifty-seven books everyone [sic] of them good'.

The fourteen items are laid down on three pages, on two leaves of grey paper, removed from an album, on the reverse of one leaf are two coloured coaching scenes by Randolph Caldecott, one featuring a highwayman. The overall condition is fair, with creasing and signs of age. The Autograph Letter Signed is from Crane to 'My dear Stanley Little'. 1p., landscape 8vo. With letterhead of Beaumont Lodge, Shepherd's Bush, featuring an illustration by Crane of a shepherd and sheep. 20 September 1892.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition. He has been 'clinging' to Lucas's umbrella since the return from a trip to Ostend, where Cust had 'an awful quart d'heure with the luggage people, who were very unwilling to send it on, [...] but by bribery and threats of weeping and pcitures of you all shivering on deck, I <?> them to entrust the 16 or 17 packages to the guard of the train next due'. The letter continues in much the same chatty tone.

1p., 12mo. On aged paper, with spike hole and damage to one margin, affecting five words of text, but not the signature. He asks for the item he orders, 'Natural Hist of England', to be addressed on the parcel to 'Very Rev. Dr. Husenbeth | Care of Mr. Spratchett | St. John's | Madder Market | Norwich'.

Printed in black on 4 x 7.5cm piece of card. Lightly aged and stained, with one indentation. Evidence on reverse of removal from a grey paper mount. Restrained in design, and reading 'G. BERNARD SHAW, | 29, FITZROY SQUARE, | W.' The 'G' and 'S' in Shaw's name with flourishes at head trailing to the right. Shaw lived at this address from 1887 to his marriage in 1898. Virginia Woolf lived there from 1907 to 1911. From a collection of material relating to Walter Crane, who was a member of the Fabian Society with Shaw, and possibly designed by him.

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He writes that 'he does not at present know of any among his acquaintance who may be in want of a proper Person to fill the situations alluded to in Mr Payne's Cards', but that he will 'bear in mind the application, in case a suitable opportunity should occur to him, of which he would avail himself with propriety'. Spencer's library, of which Thomas Frognall Dibdin had the care, forms the basis of the John Rylands Library in Manchester. Both Spencer and Thomas Payne (1752-1831) have entries in the Oxford DNB.

On 5 x 11cm. piece of paper, torn from the conclusion to a typed letter. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: '[...] myself, you would write to me. | Yours very truly, | Edgar Wallace'.

1p., 12mo. A frail survival, creased and aged. Begins: 'The MANCHESTER TIMES has now been in the hands of the present Proprietor for twelve months, [Paulton had bought out Prentice in 1847] during which period its increase in circulation has been unprecedented. | At the commencement of the present year the Proprietor of the MANCHESTER TIMES announced that its circulation, during the previous half-year, had ranged from | 3,000 to 4,800. | He then expressed his strong conviction, that in SIX MONTHS from that time the maximum would become the average circulation.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on aged paper, in aged franked envelope ('J. Cowell') addressed to 'The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of St. Helena.' Reads: 'My Lord - | I am desired by His Royal Highness, Prince Alfred, to forward you the accompanying portrait of himself. | Believe me | My Lord | Yours faithfully. | J. C. Cowell'.

ONE: Northcote's letter to Barnett. 7pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums, in a close hand. In good condition, in aged envelope, with red wax seal and two postmarks (one of Woodstock), addressed to 'Henry Barnett Esqre | Woodstock | Oxon.' At the time of writing Northcote was Gladstone's personal secretary at the Board of Trade. The letter begins: 'Coleridge has left town for Sessions, and will not I fear return for some time. This will account for your letter of the 1st. remaining so long unanswered. I am sure we are much indebted to you for your suggestions, by which I doubt not we shall profit.