CUNNINGHAM

4pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Replying to the recipient's 'very natural & proper inquiries', he discusses the granting of the 'honorary Degree of M.A.', which is 'often granted by our best colleges, to professors & men, known to those who nominate, on evidence of attainments equivalent to what is demanded for the same degree in course [...] No respectable College could confer the M.A. - in view of mere theological qualifications'. He discusses the length of time spent studying theology at Kenyon College, adding 'In absence - I think you wod.

Postcards, c.11 x 9cm, some smudging but mainly good condition, text clear and complete. Postcard One: "Dear Mr Wynne, | Very best thanks for your valued gift: a fine & distinguished poem."; Postcard 2: "[...] | The books can be got separately & there are cheap editions of those two books any bookseller can secure for you for 2/- & 2/6 each. | I'm afraid London has had enough of my plays. My daughter's paly is not about [?] folk." Two items,

4to, 1 p. Ten lines, edges a little damaged but text clear and complete, on flimsy paper. "You are welcome to the quotation from my school-boy story - if it is worth while. I could have wished, however, that in an anthology of serious prose you had given me credit as a serious writer & chosen something more interesting. With compliments [...]"

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She begins: 'I felt much gratified by yr. kind attention to my request, with regard to my lithographs; I should have sent you 2 or 3 more copies immediately, had I had them by me, in the hope that you might be able to part with them, before the season at Southwold was quite over, - I now take the liberty of charging you with 2 more copies'. She invites Mrs Thompson to visit, and states that her husband will return in three weeks from 'a miss[ionar]y. excursion to the islands of Guernsey &c'.

The background to the collection is simply stated. On the death of the 15th Earl of Glencairn in 1796 the title became dormant. It was claimed by Fergusson (praised by Boswell but dismissed by Johnson as 'a vile Whig' and derided by Burns as 'aith-detesting chaste Kilkerran') as heir of the line of the 10th Earl. Fergusson's claim was opposed by Sir Walter Montgomery Cunningham of Corshill, as presumed heir male along with Lady Henriet Don, sister of the 15th Earl, and wife of Sir Alexander Don of Newton Don, Roxburghshire.

4pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. 36 lines of text. Good, on aged paper. She fears she has appeared 'most ungracious & unthankful' for not acknowledging his 'kind present of two very pretty and useful books'. She hope he will excuse her, as she 'received them in the country, whither I had gone to recover from a sharp illness'. Since her return 'the dangerous illness of a dear friend' has left her with 'neither thought nor leisure'. She will read the books carefully, and as she meditates 'a neighbourly visit to my good friends Mr & Mrs Cunningham I hope to meet you'.

1p., 12mo. Fair, on aged paper, wtih two small unobtrusive closed holes to the paper. Placed in narrow paper windowpane border. The letter reads 'My dear Cunningham | This will be delivered to you by my Cousin & friend Mr Gray of Glasgow - He is ambitious of paying his respects to you - I need say no more - I am sure that you will soon be good acquaintances - With the greatest regard | Believe me | Yours truly | [signed] T. Campbell'.

8vo, 1 p. Image clear on aged paper, with the leaf loosely attached to the letterpress title of the work whence it comes (see below), that title being laid down in a folder with a window cut into the front for viewing the card through. The dimensions of the engraved illustration are roughly 12.5 x 8 cm, with the main feature of the elaborate design being contained in a circle 8 cm in diameter.

The two items one page, on both sides of an octavo sheet. Good, with unobtrusive strip of glue along one edge of Davis's side of the leaf. Davis is 'endeavouring to make a collection of autographs of the leaders of the United Nations, and especially of the British Commonwealth of Nations', and lists those he has already acquired. Willis encloses an 'autograph card' (not present) and suggests that Davis try '(a) Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Olivier, who is now 88 and was one of the Naval Leaders of World War I. He has been an A of F for over 25 years!

Irish-born playwright (1784-1862). On one page of a folio sheet folded to make two leaves, with the address on the reverse of second leaf "Allan Cunningham Esq / Lower Belgrave Place / Pimlico / 27". "I am much obliged to our common friend Forster [John Forster, 1812-1876, biographer of Charles Dickens] for telling me that, a few orders for Covt. Garden might not be unacceptable to you."