CHARLOTTE

The tale told anonymously by Charlotte Anne Moberly (1846-1937) and Eleanor Jourdain (1863-1924) in their 'An Adventure' (1911) is probably the most famous true-life ghost story of the twentieth century, and has been the subject of an enormous amount of analysis. For more information see the couple's entries in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. The present material is in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. It was assembled by Holroyd - a Sherlock Holmes expert - with the intention of writing a book on the subject. ONE.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with negligible traces of mount on blank reverse of second leaf. Written in a somewhat difficult hand. The letter begins: 'My Votes are I am happy to say at liberty I enclose them'. She continues by expressing her 'distress' at the health of one of her sisters, who has been 'at St Leonards - she is I am thankful to say now out of danger'. She sends the best wishes of 'Mrs Burns', noting that 'the Election is in April'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Scharf had illustrated her 'Life in Ancient India' (1856), and she writes informally, expressing regret at the news of his move 'from the Classic No. 1., a house consecrated to the Arts by your occupation of it & ever to be remembered with respect, regard, pleasure & all good feelings'.

Written out by Yonge on both sides of a card, and placed in an envelope with penny lilac stamp and postmarks, addressed by Yonge to 'Miss Marcironi [sic] | 126 Adelaide Road | London | NW'. In fair condition, lightly-aged, the card with central horizontal and vertical folds.

4pp., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with short closed tears at heads of both leaves. The recipient is not named, but the letter is from the Lynd family papers. Robert Lynd was in St Ives at the time of writing, and the letter begins: 'I'm so glad you are in such a nice place & that the children can join you there. They will love it. London gets so odious by the 15th of July. I came her e last week as I was very tired, & sick of the stuffy feeling of everything.

Dimensions of etching 13 x 9 cm. Dimensions of plate 14.5 x 10.5 cm. Dimensions of page 32 x 25.5 cm. The image itself in excellent condition, the borders aged, with wear and closed tears to extremities.

[44]pp., 8vo, paginated 487-530. Rebound in modern red cloth binding, with red leather label on cover, with title 'ADDRESS TO HRH PRINCESS CHARLOTTE' in gilt. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn grey paper. The only reference to a 'Tory' in Christabel Coleridge's 'Charlotte M. Yonge, Her Life and Letters' (London, 1903) is to one of Yonge's two kittens, born on the Queen's birthday in 1900. In a letter to Coleridge, 17 July 1900, she states that 'Tory is banished', and on 1 August 1900 she reports that she has seen 'Tory in his new abode - also stepped on him'. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the letter is a playful one, addressed to his new owner.

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased, with slight discoloration and repair on reverse. Giving his address as 'Cary Tuttyt, Charlotte Town, Prince Edwards Island, B. N. A.' With black rectangular stamp: 'RECEIVED IN | 29 AUG. 1846 | MILY. DEPARTMENT.' Docketted on reverse 'Does not appear to have enlisted 1839'.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with minor evidence of previous mounting. Apparently addressing an autograph hunter, she writes: 'I beg to forward you a specimen of my "pothooks and hangers" trusting you will "admire" if you honestly can. Believe I have pleasure in gratifying your request and am with truth my dear | Ever yours faithfully | Eliza Cook'. The poem, also signed 'Eliza Cook', is four lines long, beginning 'That stroke indeed would deeply gash'. There is no indication that the poem was published.

1p., 4to. Bifolium, addressed by Alison on reverse of second leaf to 'The | Lady Charlotte Campbell | D<?>cks Hotel'. Good, on aged paper, with label at head in a contemporary hand attributing the letter to Alison, who was seventeen at the time of writing, but already at Edinburgh University. Docketed by Campbell 'from Mr. Alison | recevd Edinh. | March Seven 1809'. An interesting letter, casting light on the reading practices of the upper classes in Georgian Scotland. Alison's conceit is that he is writing a letter of introduction for a real person.

110 x 150mm, albumen print laid down on larger card, very good condition

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. With mourning border. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'My dear Yonge, | I dare say you remember my telling you of the proposed series of educational books to be issued from the Clarendon Press, Oxford, and asking whether your sister would be willing to undertake any English books, if the Delegates of the Press should make an offer to her.

2pp., 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with unobtrusive spike hole. The letter begins: 'The Marchioness of Westmeath is much obliged to Mesrrs. Fitz & for the two Canisters of Cephalic snuff sent according to desire & requests they will be so good as to forward by the Bearer three or four more Canisters - Also a box of Pills made up exactly according to the enclosed prescription which Lady Wth.?>

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good.

1p., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. She thanks him for writing to her, and sending 'the two charming postcards'. She continues: 'I, also, often use the History of Christian Names - what a lot of research it must have meant for dear Miss Yonge!' Charlotte M. Yonge's 'History of Christian Names' was first published in 1863, with a revised version appearing in 1884.

1p., 12mo. Laid down on a leaf removed from an album. Fair, on aged and dusty paper, with slight creasing to one corner. Reads: 'I shall probably look in at your homes on Monday | Yrs trly | [signed] W Carus Wilson | Aug 26 | Carterton Hall | Kirby Lonsdale'. Wilson ran Clergy Daughters' school which the Bronte sisters attended (fictionalised as ''Lowood' in 'Jane Eyre'). Charlotte Bronte blamed the harsh conditions at the school for the early deaths of her two elders sisters, and for the ill-health of her younger sisters, Anne and Emily.

Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of the Prince Regent, died in 1817 at the age of 21. Many poems of mourning were published, but whether Evans's was among them is uncertain. Both drafts are in good condition, on aged paper; the first with short closed tears to the spine. DRAFT ONE (the earlier?): Title: 'Verse on the Death of the Princess Charlotte', altered from 'Threnodia Augustalis, Odes on the Death of the Princess Charlotte'.

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 32 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. In answer to a request for autographs, she has 'some duplicates somewhere, but tonight I send you only three cards', as she has 'no letters of Miss Yonge that I should like to part with'. She names the authors of the 'three signed postcards' (not present) as: James Payne ('Editor of Cornhill, author of many novels'), Charlotte Yonge and Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton.

On both sides of a leaf of 16mo laid grey paper, with the lower part of the leaf torn away. Fair, on aged and creased paper. The last part of a letter, with the recto reading '<...> paper which one of the Embassy to America gave a doctor there - just like blotting paper, I daresay you know them well - | There are several books of sermons <...>' and the verso '<...> his name - I am hurried today and cannot write more now | Yours sincerely | [signed] C M Yonge'.

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.

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'.

Letter One: 12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 75 lines of text. Clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Expresses regret at 'Morten Edens melancholy death, so young & so clever as he was'. 'There is great talk of Peace. We hardly know if to believe it - few will be sorry should the news prove to be true, as I think most of us have had enough fighting. Apparently refers to his sweetheart under a cypher. She has not written to him, but 'London gaieties have little time for correspondence'. 'The weather here is something awful - cold & wet, fogs & sleet.

On one side of a piece of paper, 9.5 x 7.5 cm. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Minor traces of stub in thin strip along one edge. Reads 'Elderfield | Decr 19 | Dear Madam | The Story you mean is in the Christmas number of the Monthly Packet for 1877 | Yours truly | [signed] C M Yonge'. Docketed on reverse in a contemporary hand 'Miss Charlotte M. Yonge Authoress of The Daisy Chain etc. etc. etc'.

Dimensions roughly two and a half inches by four and a half wide. Clear, bold signature on aged paper. Reads '<...> believe me Gill's friend as well as your own | [signature] Charlotte H Dolby'. Reverse reads '<...> says, because I get mixed up with such a lot of people, and lose my individuality in the <...>'.

12mo, 4 pp. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Peel is visiting Yonge's neighbourhood and he begins by describing the planned lodging arrangements. 'Shawford sounds very tempting the only drawback being railway journesy backward & forward.' He thanks Yonge for the 'hospitable' offer regarding staying at Otterbourne: 'whoever be our party I think it would be best not to troube you - best to come over to Otterbourne for lunch or tea as may be agreeable to you'. He will write again once his daughters 'have made up their minds'.

On one side of a piece of green paper, 8 x 15.5 cm. Aged and spotted, and with traces of glue and paper from mount still adhering. Central closed tear (not affecting text) caused by removal from mount. In Cushman's florid hand, with the signature roughly 3.5 x 9 cm. Reads ' "Oh! I am fortunes fool!" | Charlotte Cushman | Dublin April 4th. 1846.'

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. He was absent when the letter to his wife (the English contralto Charlotte Dolby) arrived. He has heard 'the little boy', and thinks that 'with proper care he may turn out a good Violinist, but he hs to undo every thing and to be guided in the right Way. He has undoubtedly great disposition. If he is persevering and hard Worker (the Violin being the most difficult instrument) I believe he can be one day a very good player'. It is however 'impossible for me to forsee in the future before he has a good start in his Studies.'

English novelist (1775-1861). One page, 12mo. A frail item in poor condition: on discoloured, frayed paper, with several closed tears and some loss to edges. A formal letter in the third person. 'Lady Charlotte Bury presents Her Comp[limen]ts. to Mr: Colnaghi and would be obliged to Him if He could make it convenient to call upon Her any time this Day, as she wishes to speak to Him respecting Some Drawings which she intends to publish'.

Two pages. Paper dimensions approximately seven and a half inches by twelve. An important and highly dramatic document, relating to the Prince's treatment of his wife Caroline of Brunswick in the period following the birth of their only child Princess Charlotte Augusta, with reference to the tensions caused by the Prince's Whig connections. 'GR' at both head and end of document. Begins 'The Propositions which you have Lately made in your Letters of your Particular Regard to me, are so Contradictory to all your actions, that I cannot suffer my Self to be Imposed on by ym.