INSANITY

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'His Grace The Duke of Wellington | London | Europe'. With postmark of 'LIVERPOOL SHIP'. In fair condition, on aged paper. 47 lines of closely-written text. A ranting missive, the reading of which requires Wellington's sense of duty.

11pp., 12mo. Stitched. With stamp, shelfmarks and labels of the Board of Education Reference Library. Scarce: no copy in the British Library, and the only copy on COPAC in the library of the Royal College of Surgeons.

These volumes bear tragic testimony to a diseased mind. A native of Argentina, Hume saw service in the First World War with the 1st County of London Yeomanry at Gallipoli, before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps (66 Squadron, RFC and RAF). In May 1917, while on his second patrol, he was shot down over France. It was while incarcerated in several POW camps (he escaped from one) that Hume's mental illness appears to have begun to manifest itself, and he was exchanged for German prisoners in August 1918.

ONE: Autograph Petiton Signed. 'Unto the Right Honble. Lord John Russell Secrety of State &c &c | The Petition of Samuel Cleland residing near St George Dumfries Upper Canada'. 2pp., foolscap 8vo. In poor condition, aged and worn at edges, with one corner apparently nibbled away by mice. At least some of the damage would appear to be contemporary with the document, as Cleland has written within the boundaries of the loss to the corner, and there is no loss to text. Docketed in red at head '1091 U. Canada' and stamped 'Received | C. D. | June 1 1840'.

8vo: [ii] + 69 pp. Stapled pamphlet. In original light-blue printed wraps. Text clear and complete. In fair condition, on aged paper, slightly dogeared and with rusted staples, in creased and worn wraps. A singular production of profound psychiatric interest. Carries the following announcement on the title: 'I have now cleared my character to the world from the aspersions (that I deserted my friend by going to America and that I soon after married) which my enemies cast upon it.

Shaw (1872-1938) was Secretary of State for War in Ramsay Macdonald's Labour administration. Twenty pages, quarto. Paginated by author. On one side each of twenty leaves of high-acidity paper, discoloured with age and fraying at extremities. Text entirely legible, but with some loss at head of each leaf and particular damage to the final one (affecting signature). A singular psychological case: the astounding rantings of a lunatic, replete with underlinings, capital letters and exclamation marks.

Both items clear and entire: good on lightly aged paper. Both addressed, with postmarks, to 'Mrs. Admiral Paterson, East Cosham Cottage, near Portsmouth.' Letter One, to 'My dear Ellen' (4to, 8 pp). Long letter, leaving his sister 'to judge as a reasonable Being whether I do not do every thing that can possibly be expected from me'. He is at present in debt to the tune of £460. Letter Two, to 'My dear Sister' (4to, 4 pp). Another letter dealing with the financial matters of the family. Docketed 'Dr. Yeats most strongly desiring his Sister Mrs.