DERBYSHIRE

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.

6pp., 12mo. Cyclostyled in purple ink on two loose leaves of 8vo paper (one printed on one side only, and the other on both sides). A facsimile of small handwriting, with five illustrations, including one captioned 'Steamer on the Hudson River' (the others a view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the river, a silhouette of a racing 'sulky' carriage, a steamer, and an ancient statue 'From Cyprus'). In fair condition, lightly-aged, with light rust marks from a paperclip. The second sheet, of four pages, ends abruptly, with a pencil note: 'concluding pages wanted'. The text begins: 'New York.

2pp., 12mo. Printed on one side of a piece of 21 x 26.5 cm paper, with central vertical fold dividing the pages. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to 'My dear Children'. He begins by describing his attendance at the laying by Prince Albert Victor of 'the first stone of the New Bancroft Schools at Woodford', with lunch by the Drapers' Company. He soon changes tack: 'On the 14 I visited Buffalo Bills Wild West Show and you will I dare say like to hear what I saw there, better than what we did at Woodford.' He notes that he was 'mightily taken with the reality of the show.

Part of a series of cyclostyled documents, in facsimile of Wrench's autograph, for distribution amongst his family. The three items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Facsimile letter with facsimile signature 'Ed M Wrench'. Headed 'Aug 1909' and with 'Sep 13 1909' at foot. 3pp., 4to.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He writes that he is 'much obliged, and gratified, by the expression of approval of my "Half Hours" in your kind note received this day', for which he thanks him.

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with slight damage to one corner. At the head of the first page is a printed form (manuscript additions in square brackets): 'County of [Derby.] The Information and Complaint of [Joseph Walker Bourne] of [Church Gresley] in the said County [Potter] taken upon Oath before [me one] of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County, the [27th] day of [October] 18[30]'. Written out by the magistrate Sir Oswald Mosley, 2nd Baronet (1785-1871), and signed by him ('Oswald Mosley'), his son 'Oswd Mosley Junr' (1804-1856), 'Joseph.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper. In response to Scott's application, he explains that, 'being much connected with two Counties (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire), I am anxious to give my assistance to the leading charities & other public objects in both, & also to contribute to local objects in places with which I am specially connected by residence, property, or otherwise'. Unfortunately he finds it impossible 'to comply with the numerous applications which I receive for contributions to Churches, Schools, &c., in places with which I have no such connection'.

Not published. A fair copy, neatly written out over 8pp., 4to. 175 lines, in heroic couplets. On two bifoliums of wove paper, each with hunting-horn watermark of 'G R'. A well-written production, with valuable content regarding a loathsome practice which persisted in England until 1835.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'My dear Sir, | Having a day to spare, and having a little business in London, I left home by midnight mail yesterday, but unfortunately got into the smash that took place on the North Western line [i.e.

4pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Good, on aged paper. Printed in small type. Curzon's letter, dated from Kedleston, 30 September 1913, is a long report, covering the first two pages of the document, describing his efforts to 'remove from the town and country the great reproach of losing a library devoted to Derbyshire persons and subjects' by securing it for the Borough of Derby. The third page of the document carries 'an appeal made by Lord Curzon of Kedleston to residents in the County and Borough of Derby', headed 'Lord Curzon and the Derby Free Library.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and creased green paper. Fifteen lines, including slug, in a variety of types and point sizes. The item reads, in full: 'UNITED IRISH LEAGUE. | Postponed Meeting | will be held | ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, | at the | NEW MIDLAND ARMS, | CLIFTON STREET, DERBY, | To form a Branch of the above. | Chair to be taken at 8 p.m. prompt, by | Mr. J. ROWAN, Derby, I.L.P. | Amongst those to speak will be Messrs. James | Reilly, J. R. Rowan, I.N.F., D. Brady, | Desmond O'Connor, and others. | God Save Ireland. | J. W.

1p., 16mo. On aged paper, with minor damage on removal from album. He requests 'the favour of an early notice in your journal, of the accompanying little volume if it be fortunate enough to meet your approbation'. The work has 'no object but to serve true religion & true liberty'. In a postscript he requests a 'copy of the paper containing the notice'. Howitt practised as a chemist in Nottingham between 1822 and 1836, when he moved to Esher, Surrey.

3pp., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Dear Sir', but from the context clearly addressed to Cruikshank. (That Cruikshank and Prince were correspondents is shown by a reference in Rosa Baughan's 'Character Indicated by Handwriting' (1880), which describes a 'long letter' from Cruikshank to Prince.) Prince begins by apologising for not thanking Cruikshank for his 'Exposure of that "Scamp's" devices'.

15 pp, narrow folio (14.5 x 38 cm), in the remains of a volume which has been reused and cut up (see below). Although aged and dogeared, the eight pages carrying the accounts are in reasonable condition, with all texts clear and complete, although the last leaf of the eight has the lower third cut away. In remains of original vellum binding, with '17 Maij j683' on front board. The pages are variously paginated in a contemporary hand between 245 and 274.

4to, 4 pp. Bifolium. 105 lines of text. Clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Black wax seal with impression of 'D L' adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is postmarked 'LOUGHBOROUGH | 109' and franked '1817 | Loughborough March Eight | S. Pipe Wolferston [sic] Esqr | Stotfold Hall | Tamworth | [signed] P. Gell'. Begins 'I have recd. your obliging communication of the 22d.

4to, 1 p. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper with minor rust stain from paperclip at head. Letterhead, in light and dark blue, featuring globe and the mottos 'BOOKSELLERS TO THE WORLD' and 'STOCK OF NEARLY THREE MILLION VOLUMES'. Thirteen lines of text. Bradshaw is clearly unhappy at the price asked for a copy of Cox's 'Memorials of Old Derbyshire'. 'The writer would point out that we received six reports regarding this book from various clients, but in no case at a price allowing us to quote below 15/-.

Sitwell and Renishaw collaborated on the play 'Gentle Caesar' (published in 1942), and the last two letters would appear to concern a possible film adaptation. All three items very good on lightly aged paper. Letter One ('Friday Renishaw'): 12mo, 2 pp. 18 lines of text. Apparently written around the time of the play's composition. Sitwell is 'delighted' that Minney is 'already immersed in Pares's book. I have just read the Czar and Empress Marie's Letters.' He has 'marked (in the preface mostly) what I thought helpful for atmosphere, or amusing'.

On one side of a piece of wove paper, cut into a rectangle approximately 4.5 x 9 cm. Good, on lightly-creased paper with one vertical fold. Cut from an envelope, with traces of the postmark over the autograph, and a section of the gummed strip on the reverse. Reads 'From | John Cowper Powys | Waterloo | Blaenau - F Festiniog | Merionethshire | North Wales | I enjoyed thinking of you in Italy'.

8vo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Very good on lightly aged paper. Written in Powys's distinctive, sprawling hand. Concerns William Blake and the monograph on him (1954) by Denis Saurat, who 'must indeed be a wonder considering the scope of his interests.' 'Yes I was brought up by my mother on the Poems of Blake; so I am always interested by any reference to them or any reproduction of them. Indeed and indeed I can fully understand your being so hypnotized by the pictures of Blake that you find yourself going to see them when you had decided to go somewhere else'. Powys is 'in excellent health'.

12mo, 2 pp. Very good. Attractive letterhead with engraved illustration of 'Renishaw Hall | Derbyshire' (last word crossed out by Sitwell). Written in purple ink. Asks if there is 'anything to be made of a curtain-raiser, or short film, which wd. show Napoleon catching the cold, which lost him the Battle of Waterloo? . . It is an amusing idea.' He considers that it is 'sure to have been some very silly person who sneezed at him . . . Or is the idea nonsense!'