HUGH

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 36 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. He is sending a 'leaf of the Leeds Mercury containing a review of your Life of your father, which is good & appreciative', along with a copy of one of his sermons (neither enclosure present). Not having yet seen the book, he asks if he 'put in the extraordinary prophecy which your father made in March or April 1892 of the numbers of members who were to be elected in the July of that year?' He has 'the letter he wrote to Fanny with the exact number', and wishes he had reminded him of that fact before.

All three items good, on lightly-aged paper. All bifoliums. Letter One (1 July 1901): 12mo, 4 pp. 42 lines. He is pleased to have received Childers' life of his father (published that year). 'I knew your Father well, [...] I was in the House in the Parliaments of 68 & 80 when he had his most serious work'. Praises his 'amazing pluck in going out as he did to Australia [Childers was first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne] & in his conduct there in the early days & during the gold discoveries time, the story of which in his letters is very curious'.

12mo, 16 pp. Stapled. In original pink printed wraps, with engraving of the two women, on a country path, on cover. Good, on lightly aged and dusty paper. Cutting of photograph of marble memorial to the couple loosely inserted. Scarce: the only copy on COPAC at Oxford, by whom it is dated to the 1920s. Main title on front wrap, with the title given at the head of the text being 'Lady Eleanor Butler and the Hon. Miss Ponsonby.'

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 32 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. In answer to a request for autographs, she has 'some duplicates somewhere, but tonight I send you only three cards', as she has 'no letters of Miss Yonge that I should like to part with'. She names the authors of the 'three signed postcards' (not present) as: James Payne ('Editor of Cornhill, author of many novels'), Charlotte Yonge and Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton.

12mo, 2 pp. 28 lines. With original envelope. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Regarding Saki's membership of two gentlemen's clubs - the Savage and the Author's - he has wished to refresh his memory before replying. Having heard back from both he admits he was mistaken; though he 'had drinks with him on several occasions at both he was never an actual member but, on and off, a guest only'. He recalls that Munro did not have 'any very close friends', but that he was 'much liked' by close acquaintance. 'Alas! I have no longer even a photograph of him'.

Folio, 1 p. Bifolium. Text on recto of first leaf; docketed on reverse of second leaf. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Headed 'Longhoughton | Northumberland'. Signed at foot by the Earl and Countess. Begins 'Licence is hereby Granted to Elizabeth Adams to Lett Lett or Assign over to Robert Adams All That Messuage or Tenement and the Lands thereto belonging with the Appurtenances Lying and being in Longhoughton held of us by Lease for Twenty One yeares from Ladyday One thousand Seven hundred forty and Nine'.

Broadsheet bifolium, 4 pp. Text clear and complete. On lightly-aged paper, worn along fold lines. Poetry collection, containing twenty-eight poems by writers including 'Mazizi Kunene (In Exile, London, 1960)' and Hugh MacDiarmid, whose two poems have the footnote 'We are especially pleased to print these two new poems by Hugh McDiarmid, contributed despite the painful after effects of his recent car smash. We wish him a speedy and complete recovery.' Masthead endorsement by Sean O'Casey: 'I am with you in all efforts to create perfect race equality the world over.

4to, 1 p. Good, aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to reverse. Reads 'The Duke of Northumberland presents his Compliments to Mr. Twining, & shall be glad to see him on Wednesday next at three o'clock. | Northd. House | Decr. 2d. 1799.' From the Twining family archive.

The six vols are uniformly octavo, in original blue cloth gilt. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In worn, spotted binding, with gilt on spine dulled. Each volume opens with several leaves of advertisements for dealers (ranging from Maggs and Quaritch to James Tregaskis and Frank Hollings) and a preface by the editor (that of 1918 describing as the 'outstanding features of the past season [...] the two sales of the Alfred Morrison Collection and the two 'Red Cross' sales'). Still a valuable reference tool, with many of the entries including a precis of the item or quotation from it.

4to: 6 pp + [ii]. Disbound. On aged spotted paper with slight chipping and loss to extremities. Text clear and complete. Report, in small type. Inscribed by Meredith at head of first page: 'Read by Hugh Meredith, M.A. before the British Association at York. 1906.' Scarce: no copy in the British Library and the only copy on COPAC at Oxford.

12mo, 32 pp (paginated 65-96). Stapled. In original grey printed wraps. On aged and foxed paper, in worn wraps. Closed tears to last leaf and back wrap, which carries tape from postage. Contains 'The Policy of the Irish Party' by Stephen Gwynn, 'A Sunday in July (Poem)' by 'Professor Dowden', 'Moods and Memories, IV' by George Moore, 'The Facts of the Churchbuilding Question in Ireland' by F. Hugh O'Donnell, 'On Going to Church' by John Eglinton, 'On the Possibility of a Thought Revival in Ireland' and 'Hon. W. Gibson'.

Octavo: 261 unpaginated pages. In original printed wraps. Internally sound and clean, in stained and creased wraps. Unobtrusive ownership mark of Myers & Co. of London on front wrap. Fifty full-page facsimiles of title-pages, etc. Foreword by Benedict, followed by Resume, beginning, 'The Collection of Laws belonging to Judge Russell Benedict, [...] is the Most Important Collection of its kind that has ever been brought together by a private party.

On a piece of yellow paper, 18 x 23.5 cm, removed from an autograph album. Dimensions of image 12.5 x 17.5 cm, neatly enclosed within a border. Good, on aged paper discoloured at extremities of margin. An accurate and detailed drawing of the organ in its setting on the balcony, with ceiling above and the surrounding steps, columns and alcoves.

4to: 1 p. Fourteen lines of text. Aged and worn, with closed tears along the fold lines, but with text clear and complete. He thanks his correspondent for the letter ('It is always a great delight to me to know that people like my work.') and gives details of where the 'little book I published on "Pride of Body" ' can be purchased. Ends with the details of his 'new novel "A Soldier of Life" ': 'I mention it, as you say it is difficult for you to get hold of books and I should like you to read it.'

All three items 4to. All good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Letter One (2 pp, 14 lines), addressed to 'My Lord'.

Two pages, printed on the recto of the first leaf and verso of the second of a yellow wove-paper bifolium. Leaf dimensions 22.5 x 14.5 cm. Grubby and creased, but with text clear and complete. The first poem, 'A New W[h]ig Song', begins 'In our town there's a street, with a chapel and shop, | Where a gay pole once hoisted of late is let drop, | There a fam'd Barber deals with his w(h)ig as he wills, | From full bottom'd P----r to little scratch M--ls.' References to 'shot-yellow A---r [Adair]' and 'M----y, the close button'd Barber'.

On a light-green leaf (11 x 14 cm) removed from an autograph album. Lightly aged and creased. Reads 'Hugh P. Allen | Nov 8. 1928'. Lightly docketed in pencil. Two other autographs on reverse.

4to, 1 p, 12 lines. Very good, on aged paper. Asking the recipient 'through this medium to recommend my son Lieut Halliday [Francis Halliday, born around 1776; fl. 1820] of the Thunderer, now at Jamaica, to the notice of Lord Hugh Seymour; Sir Hyde Parker has sent me an account of him, but to my great disappointment has not brought him Home - - - - - Francis has been six years in the East & West Indies & very attentive to his profession'. She feels sure that 'a line from yr. Lordship to Lord Hugh could not fail of being of great use to him'. Docketed on reverse 'Mem: Enquire abt.

12mo, 2 pp, 23 lines. The second leaf of a bifolium. Good, on lightly aged paper, with three small tissue mounts still adhering to a margin. Commenting on a legal matter relating to the recipient: '[...] there is the further difficulty tht except where the family so desire and a special case is made for it, the County Chancery will not generally speaking allow any of its wards to be taken out of its jurisdiction. [...] I wd.

Lord Chancellor of Ireland (1818-83). Two pages, 12mo. Creased and grubby, and with two small holes in embossment. He cannot avail himself of his correspondent's kind invitation for dinner the following day as he has 'an engagement I may not postpone or disregard'. He should have been happy to meet Mr and Mrs <?>, 'as well as to spend a pleasant evening with you'. Signed 'H. Law'.

12mo: 2 pp. Very good. 15 lines of text. He thanks him for his book . I can't read it leisurely at present - I am on the move - but I have been reading in it, as the old writers say'. He is very interested in the things he is gleaning from it. In a postscript he thanks the author for 'what you say about my work' and praises the book for its 'vitality which so much literature lacks, but which some books possess'.

All items very good, on lightly aged paper. Four closely written and interesting communications on his writings and philosophy. LETTER ONE (16 June 1930, 2 pages, 12mo): On the question of 'that misunderstanding regarding our last visit', the rest of the month is 'booked up', but 'perhaps the postponement - I hope it is no more than that! - of our coming may not be a bad thing'. Since their last meeting he has been 'passing through a phase of extensive internal adjustment, the physical aspect of which has taken the form of very bad health'.

English novelist (1834-1903), influenced by Ruskin and Pre-Raphaelitism, author of the influential 'John Inglesant'. Three pages, 12mo. Very good. The recipient Hugh Nettlefold (1858-93) was a screwmaker residing in Hall Field House, Sir Harrys Rd, Edgbaston. Reads 'We shall be very pleased to see you and your friend to tea tomorrow [^ Wednesday] at five o'clock. I will take care to be at home at that Time & shall be quite disengaged until six oclock <...> regards from my wife'. Signed 'J. Henry Shorthouse'. Nettlefold replies 'I will call for you about 1/4 to 5 tomorrow.

British archaeologist, anthropologist and numismatist (1856-1930). Two pages, 12mo. Very good. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. He is forwarding a cheque for his subscription of two guineas. 'My wife & I hope to be present at the Conversazione on the 17th., but I am hardly ever able to get to a meeting. | Do you think an architectural or archaeological Paper wd. be out of place on some evening?' Signed 'H. J. Dukinfield Astley'.

New Zealand-born English author (1884-1941), best know for his series of 'Herries Chronicles'. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by five inches. Folded once (not affecting signature). Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. From Autograph album. Reads 'With the best | wishes of | Hugh Walpole | May 30th. | 1924'.