CLARKE

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written in response to a request for an autograph, and signed at foot 'Yours Truly | Jas: C. Hook'. Above this, beneath the heading 'Lincoln', Hook has transcribed twelve lines from 'Ode Recited at the Harvard Commemoration, July 21 1865', beginning 'He knew to bide his time, | And can his fame abide,' and with 'J. R. Lowell.' at the end.

On 18 x 16 cm leaf removed from an album. In good condition, lightly-aged. Headed '"Carnival" July 1945' and with the following signatures: 'Stanley Haynes (Director) | Guy Green . (Camera) | Sally Gray | Stanley Holloway (actor) | Catherine Lacey | Michael Clarke | Hazel Court. | Michael Wilding | Jean Kent | <?> (stills)'. The recipient was the daughter of a cameraman at Twickenham Film Studios.

6pp., 12mo. Bifolium and single leaf. On aged and worn paper, with 4 cm closed tear to all three leaves. A highly interesting letter, illuminating Victorian Fleet Street and City of London practices. The author's signature is frustratingly illegible, but may well be that of sports journalist Charles William Alcock (1842-1907). The recipient is possibly James Clarke (d.1888), editor of The Christian World. The author opens the letter with the 'conclusions' he has arrived at regarding the 'various schemes' which he 'maturely reflected upon' in a discussion with Clarke the previous week.

1p., 8vo. In very good condition. Page with reference at foot: 'SCHEDULE.ACC 28 Aug 95', headed with printed list, divided into four sections: 'Completed' (5 items beginning with 'Message to Future Mars Colonists (Video: Russian Lander, 96)'), 'Contracted' (5 items beginning with 'S.E. Asia Information Conference (Keynote: Colombo 5 Sept)'), 'Optioned' (5 items beginning with 'The Hammer of God (Spielberg, Zanuck, Brown - Paramount)'), and 'Under Discussion' (7 items beginning with 'Telecom 95 (ITU, Geneva 3-11 Oct)'). Clarke's autograph note reads: 'Dear Malcolm [sic] - photo herewith!

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with negligible traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse of the leaf. Addressed to 'Dr Clarke | Harper St.' After explaining that the Commissioners of the Public Records want lists of the new plates for the first volume of 'Foeder', and another list of 'the old ones necessary to be re engraved', reminds him that he promised the latter list 'in September last'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged. The letter reads: 'My dear Miss Macirone | Mrs. Cowden has recd. your letter, & forwards the enclosure to Clara [the Countess of Gigliucci, another sister]. | Mrs. C. C's hands are so afflicted that she writes with greatest difficulty; so I write for her. We Villa-ites know no one of the name of "Macirone" excepting your own distinguished family. We rejoice to hear you have regained yr. health, & that sweet Minnie is flourishing. We all send kindest remembrances. Excuse gt. haste'.

Closely and neatly written on five bifoliums. Text totalling 14pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with minor damage at head of third letter, and wear to extremities of the fourth. The first two letters (1856 and 1859) addressed formally, the third to 'Angela & Minnie', and the fourth and fifth to 'Angela'. She writes the first letter (1856) before her sister Clara's 'approaching visit to England', to thank Macirone for writing to express the pleasure she had received from Charles Cowden Clarke's sister's writing.

The twenty items in this collection are in fair condition, aged and worn, and present an interesting capsule of political activism in late-Victorian Britain. The printed circular (1p., 8vo) is headed 'THE OPIUM TRADE. | London, March 17th, 1886.' It is signed at the foot by Justin McCarthy (1830-1912), and requests support from Members of the House of Commons for Sir Joseph W. Pease's resolution, during a vote on 23 March.

39 + [1]pp., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged, no wraps, disbound. One copy on COPAC (at the Bishopsgate Library) and none on OCLC WorldCat.

[1] + 16pp., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged, no wraps, disbound. No copy of this proof on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat. Three copies of the report on OCLC WorldCat, and none on COPAC or at the British Library.

2pp., 8vo. Handbill with drophead title, and the first page headed: 'Copies of this Leaflet, price 8d. per 100 post free, and of all other papers issued by the Committee, may be had from the Secretary, Mrs. WOLSTENHOLME ELMY, Congleton, Cheshire.' In good condition, lightly-aged, disbound. No copy on COPAC or at the British Library. One copy on OCLC Worldcat.

3pp., 8vo. Drophead title, followed by a list in two columns of names of 28 members of the Committee, including 'DR. PANKHURST' and 'MRS. PANKHURST', below which are names and addresses of treasurer and secretary. Text begins: 'Mr. J. HINDE PALMER, M.P., Q.C., will, immediately upon the meeting of Parliament on the 6th of January, re-introduce the Married Women's Property Acts Consolidation Bill, [...]'. The third page is headed 'WANTED, THREE HUNDRED POUNDS' and dated 'January, 1881.' Regarding an offer of £50 by 'Mr. R. B.

4pp., 8vo. Drophead title. In good condition, lightly-aged, disbound. No copy on COPAC, and the only copy on OCLC WorldCat at the National Library of Australia.

1p., 8vo. Handbill with drophead title. In fair condition, aged and chipped at extremities. Laid down on leaf removed from book. No copy traced, either on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

2pp., 8vo. In fair conditon, on lightly aged paper. 'For some reason or other which I cannot understand a number of people have got into the literary world who have no literary ability or genuine interest in writing [...] Recently I gave a poem to a very young literary editor as a result of requests from him extending over a year. The poem had taken me months of hard work and I sent it with some hesitation as the youngster works in the Eliot interest. I got it back with a very smart and very rude note.

29 + [1]pp., 4to. In grey printed wraps. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn wraps. Stamps, shelfmarks and label of the Ministry of Education Reference Library, London. Eight copies on COPAC.

The two letters and flier are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; the cutting is on aged newsprint, separated into two parts along a crease line. Letter One (17 December 1896): 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. He informs the recipient that, as the review list for the book is closed, its publishers Wightman & Co have sent on the reviewer's letter to Musgrave. 'We are following this course as much interest exists between the North Country & West Africa.

1p., 12mo. Air mail letter on blue paper, addressed to Arthur Bourne, Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DX, England. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Clarke begins by thanking Bourne for his letter, and informing him that he has 'sent a card of thank [sic] to Dr. Allan Cottey'. 'I am now happily retired with the completion of my last and best novel "The Fountains of Paradise" (Playboy January and February - HBJ; Gollancz, January). I expect to be back in England in August to attend the World S. F.

4pp., 12mo. 210 lines. The first bifolium of a letter only, and hence lacking a signature. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with closed tears along fold lines. George Burwell, who had inherited Carter Hall in 1814 (see below) had died three years before the writing of this letter, and the identity of its author is unknown, although he does claim to be a 'Scotchman'. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir | Your letter of Jany 31 is received. I am glad to answer any questions, but I must not be supposed to advise you in any thing regarding a change of residence.

50pp., 8vo. Stapled. In original wraps with the word 'WARD.' in large letters on front, and nothing else printed on them. In good condition, on aged and spotted paper. The title, on p.1, reads 'Memorials of a Grand Parent and Parents, with Names of their Descendants, and a Double Appendix.' Printers details, p.2. Dedication, p.3, by Henry M. Ward, F. DeW. Ward, Mehetabel E. Clarke and Henrietta J. Clarke, dated October 1886: 'This Home Volume is dedicated to Our Children and Theirs, with the express requests, (1).

Letter: 6pp., 12mo, on bifolium and single leaf. An vivid and entertaining letter, shedding light on Victorian valuation and auctioneering practices. Barling wastes no time in passing on the bad news. 'I am very glad you have written to me about the B[awdeswe]ll. pictures & I can tell you [last world underlined] plainly what the 2 Christie's opinion was which I cd. not do to poor old C[larke]. S[toughto]n. The inspection in issue was a grievous disappointment. So far worse than I cd. have possibly believed, and then coming the question cd. two such Men as the Christies be wrong?

Whaite was first cousin twice removed of his more famous namesake. He was himself an excellent artist and teacher, and there is a large collection of his work at the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester. LETTER: 1p., 4to. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper. He begins: 'I am just trying to get away for a short holiday, so I have crafted your testimonial at once. [...] We should miss you badly if it should so happen that you left us, but that consideration need not stand in the way of my offering you the heartiest good wishes for your success.' TESTIMONIAL: 1p., foolscap 8vo.

1p., 8vo. A fragile piece of ephemera, on aged paper, with wear at head (not affecting text). The notice begins: 'For several months past the Council has had under consideration the question of the Society's finances since it has become apparent that our annual income is insufficient to ensure a continuous and regular flow of publications.' References follow to 'donations from private members', an 'enforced summer recess', 'the acquisition of library shelves, desks and other fittings'. Two reasons are given in justification of the doubling of the 'Fellowship subscription'.

2pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Two years before Gellibrand (whose name Levi misspells 'Jellibrand') made a financial contribution 'towards the Missionary work to the Italians in London'. Levi has not troubled him since, 'but before we close the account of 1868 the treasurer tells me that we must collect some more in order not to be in debt'. He asks if Gellibrand will 'kindly renew' his gift 'to the object'. He is sorry not to have met 'your & our friends at the Bible Society', whose work he values highly, but whose committee meet 'at an inconvenient hour in the day'.

From the papers of Alfred Clay Abraham (1853-1942), Liverpool pharmacist, and his daughter Emma Clarke Abraham (1850-1934) of Swarthmoor Hall, Ulverston. All items in fair condition, on aged paper, with texts clear and complete. ONE: Autograph Letter Signed from Henry Murray to his late wife Mary's brother. 8 pp, 12mo. On two bifoliums. Begins: 'Although a Stranger to you I perhaps need not apologise for the obtrusion of this communication upon you, when I inform you that I am the husband - or rather was the husband of your poor Sister Mary. for alas!

12mo, 1 p. Mourning border. Nine lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on worn and lightly-aged paper. Asks if Clarke knows 'Dutch, or Danish or both enough - to give us in the Christmas number of the Athenaeum a column upon each or one or either of those countries under a general group of "Literature of Foreign Countries in 1869"?' Requests an answer by return.

12mo, 64 pp, on 16 bifoliums, loosely housed in a contemporary blue-cloth binder. Eleven of the thirteen letters signed, ten of them 'your sincere friend Fred', the other two being incomplete; some of the illustrations signed 'F. C.', and one 'F. Clarke'. Fair, on aged paper. A delightful, imaginative and striking correspondence, illustrated in coloured pen by an accomplished amateur cartoonist. Suitable for display. Clearly and neatly written, with each page filled to the edge (no margins) with a combination of Pooterish text and energetic illustrations [also a la W.W. Jacobs].

12mo, 2 pp. Thirteen lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper, with small hole to one margin. The stub of the second leaf of the original bifolium attached to a leaf removed from an album, docketed in a contemporary hand 'Autograph of Lady Becher - formerly Miss O'Neill'. Suggesting that she direct her 'Concordance to Shakespeare' to 'Messrs. Dowbiggin & Co. Upholsterers, Mount St. Grosvenor Sqre., to be sent over with the Furniture for Sir Wm. Becher', in which case it will be examined 'in due time'.

Clarke is a forgotten Shakespeare editor, there being no reference to him (nor any copy of this item) on the COPAC or the Folger online catalogue. A bankrupt and bigamist (he was 'married' five times), he fathered 33 or 34 children, and worked in the booktrade as a commerical traveller and entrepreneur. 4to, 10 pp. One central horizontal fold. Fair, on lightly-aged paper with a little marking to the outer pages. Date in type at end of list of subscribers, 'AUGUST, 1894.', followed by a short note by 'A.

4to, 2 pp. Thirty lines of text. Clear and complete. On aged and grubby paper. One closed tear and minor traces of mount to extremities. An interesting letter, casting light on the relationship between bookseller and knowledgeable client in Georgian England. He gives the conditions under which he would be interested in buying a few items from the booksellers monthly catalogue.