IPSWICH

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on worn and lightly-aged paper. The first page is headed: 'At a Meeting of Several Friends | to the | British and Foreign Bible Society, | Held at St. Peter's Parsonage, Ipswich, | October 5th, 1812, | The Rev. Edward Griffin, in the Chair, | It was resolved, | [...]'. Eight resolutions in small print follow, covering the whole of the first page.

One page, sm. Folio, bifolium, staining but text clear and complete. It is a letter from a lawyer or Chancery official by the name of Richard Curelys, addressed to 'the worshipful John Sothwell, esquyr'. Richard informs John that he has sought writs of Supersedeas and Dedimus potestatem from the Lord Chancellor, but that these will not be granted unless John's attorney and the plaintiff's attorney both make declaration of the truth of the (unspecified) matter. Richard provides legal advice. He tells John to cause Mr.

Founded in 1818, the Ipswich firm of W. S. Cowell Ltd ('The Press in the Butter Market') grew into one of the leading British printers, known for its high-quality catalogue work. The firm's papers are in the Suffolk Record Office at Ipswich, whose catalogue entry provides a good summary of its history.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. It is not 'from inattention or indifference' that Kelly has left Barry's letter unanswered. 'I think it would be inconsistent with my duty in the office which I now hold to become a member of your very excellent association'.

4pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of stub adhering to margin. He has received Flower's 'catalogue'. 'I was sure you wd. be delighted with Egypt. It has so much to tell us about man & nature. The early stages of mans progress, & the variety of nature.' Zincke would like 'time to look into things & to think about them': he was in Egypt 'only as many weeks as you were months'.

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'.

Both 12mo: 4 pp. Item 1 (21 May) Text clear and entire. On aged paper with small unobtrusive spike holes through both leaves. Slightly manic letter, casting light on the relationship between author, printer and engraver in the Victorian period. Tayler lists four 'plates for a chapter on the Essex Martyrs' which Leonard Seeley of Thames Ditton, who is printing and publishing Tayler's book 'Memorials of the English Martyrs' (Seeleys, 1853), has not yet received from Williams. Suggests other engravings for the 'last chapter'. 'It has occurred to me that the plate in Foxe 7th.

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'.

8vo, 1 p. Address, with broken wax seal and two postmarks, on verso of second leaf of bifolium. He has ('with much satisfaction') read in the Gentleman's Magazine an account of Wodderspoon's 'new work on Suffolk' ('Historic sites, and other remarkable and interesting places, in the county of Suffolk'), and 'it occurs to me that you may be pleased with a few points illustrative of the Antiquities'. Offers 'prints that I have published in the Architectural Antiqs of Oxburgh Hall' as 'tokens of a veteran topographer to the aspiring emulation of a young one'.

4to: 1 p. 21 lines. Very good, with a little wear to extremities. Headed 'Re Competition of Industrial Design'. The School have been 'working to' the 'Copy' they were sent 'giving full details of the Book Production competition' and dated 1924. 'Yesterday I discovered that the details, as regards sizes did not correspond to the first circular I received previously, announcing the Competitions, and dated 1925. [...] We have worked to Demy octavo as it was in the Copy. Our printing classes have now finished for the season, therefore no alteration can be made with their designs.

The firm, apparently antique dealers (although it also bought and sold false teeth), was established in 1833. All items are addressed to Slocombe, with whom the family (to whom he was perhaps related by marriage?) were clearly on intimate terms. Grubby, dusty, creased, dogeared and with several closed tears. The first six letters are from J. B. Fraser, the first four being on the letterhead of 'R. D. & J. B. FRASER, LIMITED.' ('ESTABLISHED IN THE REIGN OF WILLIAM IV.') Letter 1 (Ipswich, 4 Jan 1899, 4 pages, 8vo), from J. B. Fraser, concerns 'Edith', who is recovering from illness.