DORSET

4pp., 12mo. Bifiolium. In fair condition, on aged paper. Macready had taken leave of the stage a month before the writing of this letter, with a farewell performance of Macbeth at Drury Lane on 26 February. An interesting letter, fifty-one lines long, revealing the great actor's response to the change of circumstances brought about by his early retirement. Macready begins by telling Jerdan that his 'friendly reminder of the 16th. inst' found him 'in all the external stillness of he most quiet of village towns, and with as much internal care as would satisfy the most excitement-loving person'.

Both letters 2pp., 12mo. Both in good condition, lightly-aged, the second with the first page lightly crossed through in pencil. The letters relate to work done for the firm of her brother-in-law Marcus Adams (described in his Times obituary as 'the outstanding child photographer of his day and photographer to the Royal Family for more than 30 years'), at 43 Dover Street, Mayfair. She begins the first letter by explaining that she has 'endeavoured to make the Woodall miniature like the snapshot, but unless they are really satisfied I had better do another.

8.5 x 13.5 cm sepia shiny landscape photographic print on card with rounded corners. Laid down on grey paper backing. In fair condition, fading slightly, with 'T. Hardy wrote Return of the Native here' in top right-hand corner and 'RIVERSIDE' in bottom right hand corner. Shows frontage of house, with path leading to it and tree to the left of the foreground. 'The Return of the Native' was published in 1878.

223pp., 8vo, of typescript, with additional manuscript page: 'Carbon Copy | Spanish Holiday | by | R. G. Dixon | during | May-June | 1960.' Typed single-spaced, with occasional minor manuscript emendations. Each page on a separate leaf, the whole held together by a metal clasp. In beige card folder with the following on inside cover: 'R. G. Dixon | April Cottage | Fernlea Close | Ferndown | Dorset'. The front cover of the folder carries part of a label from the previous use of the folder, providing a clue to the author's itentity: '"D" Co[mpan]y. Towcester Batt[ery]: | Home Guard.

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. Addressed by Thynne, with two small seals in red wax, on reverse of the second leaf, 'For Wm. Blackett Bart | At Mr. Morlands in Manchester Court | Cannon Rowe | Westm[inste]r.' In fair condition, on aged and dusty paper. The letter reads: 'Sr | Had I not Recd yors of this day I should not have failed of Sending you the acquittance for the mony Recd upon the Bill you sent me which was very punctually paid, for which I Returne you many thanks and also the Usuall acquittance for theh Same. I am wth. great respect | Yor very humble Servt | H. Thynne'.

Colonel Hugh Maurice Wellesley Souter was born in India in 1872. He joined the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers from the Manchester Regiment in 1896, and served in the Tibetan Campaign of 1903-4, being mentioned in dispatches, and also on the frontier. In the First World War he was in France, Belgium, Gallipoli, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. He received the D.S.O. and the C.M.G., and was four times mentioned in dispatches, retiring in 1921.

8vo, 2 pp. Bifolium. Thirty-five lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Second leaf addressed, with postmarks, to 'Dr. Pultenely | Blandford | Dorset', and docketed by Pulteney. Signed 'John Aikin'. He thanks him for 'the offer of assistance'. He only has 'one of the three books you mentioned, & should be very glad of the perusal of Anthony's apology, & Jones on Buxton baths'. The books willl be 'carefully returned, with my best acknowledgments to the gentleman who favours me with the loand of them'.

The subtitle reads in full: 'A List of the Members of Parliament for the Boroughs of Weymouth and Melcomb Regis, from the earliest Period. A List of Lodging Houses; and A New Map of Weymouth, Including the late Additions and Improvements; beautifully engraved by Baker.' 8vo, [iv] + 91 pp. Errata on last page. The frontispiece 'Plan of Weymouth' folds out to roughly 38 x 26 cm, with the dimensions of the print roughly 26 x 22 cm. Engraved beneath the print: 'J. Ham Delin. Engraved by B. Baker for Harveys New Weymouth Guide'. Unbound and stitched, in original plain wraps.

On piece of paper 6 x 9.5 cm. Lightly-aged, and tipped-in onto front free endpaper removed from book. A simple design, within a restrained decorative border, consisting of 'William Barnes.' in gothic letters in an arch, centred above a wavy rule beneath which are the words (adapted from the Dream of the Rood) 'BEARNAS AER BEORNAS.' A contemporary note on the endpaper beneath the bookplate (transcribed in a modern hand above it) states that the item came from Barnes's Rectory Sale, 25 November 1886. Uncommon.

First edition. 8vo: xii + 200 + [iv] pp. (the last four pages an unpaginated publisher's catalogue). In original blue cloth, gilt. Fair, tight copy, on lightly-aged paper, with some spotting to endpapers. Binding with dulled spine and minor spotting. Bookplate of the Rev. English Crooks. Binders ticket ('BOUND BY BURN & CO.') to rear pastedown. Half-title reads 'RURAL POEMS'. The 'translation' of the three collections beginning with 'Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect' (1844).

Prolific author (1862-1925), responsible for the words to 'Land of Hope and Glory'. Brother of the novelist E. F. Benson et al. Four pages, 12mo. Good though grubby, and on paper foxed and discoloured with age. Discusses his 'little paper on Stuart Donaldson'. 'He had a wonderfully <?> and courageous spirit [...] I knew Fred Donaldson well, but never quite understood him. St Clair, now Bishop of Sarum, was my own contemporary & close friend. [...] Donaldson did a great work here in lifting the College out of obscurity into life & activity. He (& I) came here in 1904. There were then 30 men.

1 page, 8vo. Creased and discoloured, with some wear to extremities and a small spike-hole at centre. He encloses sixteen pounds for the payment of the bill of 'Mr Holder', and enquires whether 'Mr Halsey' has paid over the fifteen pounds he owes.