CORBETT

The two items relate to the book 'An Old Coachman's Chatter with Some Practical Remarks on Driving. By a Semi-Professional. Edward Corbett, Colonel late Shropshire Militia.'(London: Richard Bentley and Son, 1890). Both the letter and the proofs are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. LETTER: 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. 34 lines of text in a particularly difficult hand. He will endeavour to 'throw all the light' he can on the subjects mentioned in his correspondent's letter, beginning:: 'I think the time between Cape Curig & Holyhead must be correct.

[1] + 24pp., 8vo. Stitched. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-spotted paper, with slight wear to edges of covers. A notice at the front reads: 'The Name following the title of a Book is that of the Donor. Where no Name is given, the Book has been obtained by purchase or by exchange.' The first two entries read: 'Ainsworth, William. Account of the Caves of Ballybunian. 1834. Henry Harris. | Airy's Lectures on Astronomy. 1849. F. F. Tuckett.' Loosely inserted are the replacement chart and a slip of paper carrying the note: 'BRISTOL NATURALISTS' SOCIETY.

2pp., 12mo. 31 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Begins abruptly: '<...> rather wait a little & get it without its having made a great favour.' He declares that he is 'perfectly ready however to go to sea tomorrow & have no wish to remain on shore, the reverse in fact, I would rather be afloat if I could choose - Shore is a stupid place I think - perhaps as soon as I leave it I shall commence to think otherwise'. References to 'sharpish weather' and dinner 'with the Chads' follow. He has been 'living rather a la Hermit'.

One: 3pp., 16mo. 42 lines. Fair, on aged paper.

6pp., 12mo. Earlier in 1864, as Captain John Corbett, he had married Georgina Grace, eldest daughter of G. J. Holmes of Brooke Hall, Norfolk. He begins by explaining that he could not answer her note, as he received it 'at Spithead just before sailing for Sheerness': 'As I explained to your Husband I took the note & consequently the address so that when I wanted to send my wedding cards I could only send them to Alexander at the R. L. College.' He continues: 'I am not very long out of harness and am going to try my hand at being a Flag Captain'.

12mo, 110 + [xvi] pp. Lacking the cover carrying picture of Corbett, and leaf carrying pp. 1-2, which should have the photo of Richard K. Fox on the second page. Stapled. In poor condition, on stained art paper. Foreword ('Boxing as a science') with facsimile of Corbett's signature on p.23. The other 48 full-page photographic illustrations are present, including three portraits of Corbett ('Gentleman Jim' and 'Pompadour Jim), James J. Jeffries ('Champion of the World'), Fitzsimmons and Jeffries, John L.

4to, 3 pp. Bifolium. On grey paper. Text clear and complete. Good, lightly creased and aged, with part of stub adhering. Highton's entry in the Oxford DNB makes no mention of the controversy surrounding his administration at Cheltenham, where he was headmaster from 1859 to 1862.

Apparently originally on a bifolium, the two pages are now each trimmed and on a separate leaf (the first 21 x 10.5 cm and the second 17.5 x 11 cm), and each laid down on a page removed from an album. The reverses are blank. On aged, discoloured paper. The first page is headed 'Great Western Cooking Depot, Specially opened for the Working Classes.

One page on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of laid watermarked paper. Leaf dimensions 32 x 20 cm. Text clear and entire on aged and lightly-spotted paper.

(1699-1747). One leaf, dimensions roughly eight inches by ten. Printed text with manuscript additions on recto; docketed on verso 'Right Hon Pattee Byng afterwards Earl of Torrington Treasurer of the Navy 1729- Brother of the unfortunate Admiral John Byng'. Good, but grubby, and with slight loss at head and in centre (affecting five words of text). 'Received then of [Lord Parker one of the Four Tellers of his Majesty's Exchequer] the Sum of [One hundred Twenty one thousand four hundred and sixteen pounds seven shillings and Eleven pence] in further Part of an Order, Dated the [10th.