DIE

On one side of a 12 x 13 cm piece of paper. On aged paper with four folds. The crown is drawn in pencil, and is 2.5 x 2.75 cm. The caption, in ink, is below, and reads: 'Scottish crown. | Drawing to be returned.' Between the two lines of text is the firm's stamp, made up of perforated lettering. Presumably a design for a letterhead, or other engraving.

Four items loosely inserted in a 33 x 25.5 cm black paper folder which is in good condition, with light signs of wear. With 26.5 x 20.5 illustrated label on cover, printed in black and brown, for 'The Colophon | A book collector's quarterly'. Presented to the guests at a 'Colophon' dinner (perhaps the inaugural one in 1929?). The contents as follows. ONE: Leaf from the Cologne Chronicle, 1499. The dimensions of the leaf from this incunabulum are roughly 30.5 x 20.5 cm. In fair condition, on aged paper with light damp staining. With three woodcuts, each roughly 5 x 4 cm.

12mo, 3 pp. Forty lines. Text clear and complete. With: Seven-line Autograph Note Signed by 'W S Fitch' in a close hand at foot of third page. He is ashamed for not replying sooner to Fitch's letter, and his gift of 'a couple of Ducks': 'the only way I can reconcile such a case is to believe one of the great Authors, I forget which, perhaps Montaigne that the receiver is the one who confers the greatest compliment so if you please we will set it down so in this instance, and say no more about it'. He thanks Fitch for 'the Impressions' of seals, which 'add very much to my collection'.

Text of both letters clear and complete, on aged, grubby paper. The 'Diehards' were a group of right-wing Conservative peers who attempted unsuccessfully to thwart Liberal legislation to limit the right of veto of the House of Lords over Commons legislation. (See G. D. Phillips, 'The Diehards: Aristocratic Society and Politics in Edwardian England', Cambridge, Mass., 1979.) TYPED LETTER: 17 December 1913. 4to, 1 p. He is going to try to write the history of the affair '[b]efore things fade altogether from my memory', and asks if OG has 'any papers, or letters, or diaries'.

8vo. 95 pages. In poor condition: high-acidity paper browning and fraying at extremities (but with no loss to text), staples rusting, signatures separating, original printed grey wraps laid down onto nonce card dustwrapper. A reprint of the only issue of a journal that was suppressed by government censorship on its appearance in April 1915. No copy of this issue in the British Library.