JAMES

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse to 'Mr. Everett | Market Street | Manchester'. Brailsford has been 'desired by the Missionary committee connected with this place to write you & earnestly to request the favour of yr. Services at their approaching Anniversary which is fixed for Monday Oct. 22nd. by preaching a preparatory Sermon on the Sunday eveng. Oct 21.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written in response to a request for an autograph, and signed at foot 'Yours Truly | Jas: C. Hook'. Above this, beneath the heading 'Lincoln', Hook has transcribed twelve lines from 'Ode Recited at the Harvard Commemoration, July 21 1865', beginning 'He knew to bide his time, | And can his fame abide,' and with 'J. R. Lowell.' at the end.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with postmark, to 'John P. Aston, Esqre | Messrs. Ainsworth & Co | Solrs | Essex Street | Manchester'. Aston was Ainsworth's father's law clerk. The year after this letter was written the novel 'Sir John Chiverton', on which Ainsworth and Aston collaborated, was published to great success (and endorsement by Sir Walter Scott).

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Addressed to 'Mr Cornish | 33, Piccadilly | Manchester'. The letter begins: 'Mr. Ormerod has received Mr Cornish's enquiry whether Mr O. has "any Io [i.e. folio] Paper Hist: of Cheshire for sale.' He replies that he 'has now only two Io Paper copies of Hist: Cheshire One is extensively illustrated and bound in ten Volumes in Morocco - This, of course, cannot be parted with.' Ormerod would part with the other set 'for £100, (one Hundred pounds) Cash - not less'.

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. After beginning 'Dear Popie / | How are you?' she asks what the 'immediate prospects' are for her to 'get a book and a series in the paper running', as she has 'scanned a tremendous amount of George's material' since moving to 'The Lawns'. In a postscript she describes the material as a 'wonderful story for T.V. too to say nothing about the films!', adding that she has 'got G. to record a lot of his old & recent material ready!' Macqueen-Pope was an admirer of Robey's, as his 'The Melodies Linger On: The Story of Music Hall' makes clear.

ONE: Typescript of '"Small Hotel" | A Comedy in Three Acts |by | James Gardiner'. 144pp., 4to. Bound with ribbon in blue card wraps with typed label. Text on rectos only. In pencil on title-page: '56 Welbeck Street'. In fair condition, on aged paper, in heavily worn wraps. 'The action takes place in the Lounge of the Bay View Hotel, near Dormouth, a South Coast Naval port.' No record of the play has been found, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC, or on the ITDb. TWO: Typed Letter Signed to Commander Vivian Ellis from Olive Harding of Myron Selznick (London) Ltd.

ONE: Typescript. [3] + 94pp., 4to. Stapled in green tyed wraps. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper; in aged and worn wraps. Stage directions underlined in red pencil, and a handful of minor manuscript changes. 'The action of this play takes place in Malta G.C.

George James Firmage was born in New York; attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1947-48) and College of the City of New York (1949); BA, New York University, 1952; pursued graduate study, University of Massachusetts, 1952-54; publications supervisor in advertising and marketing services department, First National City Bank, New York, 1954; wrote several books, including E.E. Cummings: a Miscellany (1958) and E.E. Cummings: a Bibliography; editor of A Garland for Dylan Thomas (1963) and of E.E. Cummings' Three Plays and a Ballet (1967).

1p., 12mo. Bifolium, addressed on second leaf to 'Rd. Wilson Esqr | Lincolns Inn Fields'. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. The letter begins: 'My dear Sir | I have so much responsibility on my shoulders in the new farce that I really dare not venture into society on those days on which I perform in it.' If he had a holiday he would accept Wilson's 'polite invitation', 'but so situated I am sorry to say it is impossible'.

ONE: The earlier of the two drafts, titled 'It Was Top of the Bill | The Story of Music Hall. | by | W. Macqueen-Pope.' 14pp., 4to. Paginated 1-12, with two further pages carrying material to be inserted. With a few autograph emendations, including an addition to the ending. Macqueen-Pope writes knowledgeably and with a passion for his theme, which is that 'Music Hall reflected public taste even more accurately than did the "legitimate" Theatre because it was created by the people themselves. The basis of the Drama of the Theatre - was religion.

148pp., 4to. Bound with pink ribbon into grey card wraps with typed label on cover. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn and aged binding. Pencil note on title page states '40000 words'. An interesting piece of social history during wartime. In a foreword Macqueen-Pope thanks a number of individuals for their assistance, adding that 'the leading characters in this real life story must perforce remain anonymous'.

For more about Corrie see his entry in the Oxford DNB, which states that 'His most effective mature work, A Master of Men, about the conflict between a mine manager, the mine owners, and the miners, was performed by the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre in 1944.' 111pp., 4to. On paper of various colours. Autograph title-page: 'English Version | A Master of Men | A Play | Joe Corrie | Hill's Hotel | 41 Princes Sq. | London W2 | Tel. Bay. 0118'. (Many of Corrie's plays were written in Lowland Scots.) In good condition, lightly-aged, in worn buff card wraps. With a few autograph emendations.

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He begins by asking Lackington to send a volume through his brother, and take back two volumes in exchange. 'I gave you 11S for them a few Weeks since, & tho' they are not one penny the worse, yet I cannot but expect you will allow yourself a fair profit'.

3pp., 12mo. Writing in a difficult hand, he thanks him for his very curious & interesting letter respecting Chr. Smart, of whose birthplace I had been previously ignorant, tho' his name was not unknown to me in connection with Horace'.

On 8 x 18.5 cm panel cut from front of envelope. In fair condition, lightly-aged and worn. All in Graham's hand, it reads 'His Grace | The Duke of Wellington | K. G. | Apsley House | J. R. G. Graham'. As is customary, Graham's signature is between two horizontal lines, in the bottom left-hand corner.

On piece of 6 x 12 cm laid and watermarked paper, cut from an order. In fair condition, aged and worn. Above the good firm signature, in another hand, is: 'Given onboard [sic] the Caledonia in Basque Roads 17 April 1809'. At foot, in a nineteenth-century hand: 'Gambier's autograph'. Gambier's actions during the battle, the victory in which was credited to him rather than Lord Cochrane, led to a Court Martial. Gambier was exonerated, and Cochrane's naval career ended.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He finds that he will be able to arrange 'a course of 3 afternoon lectures for you on Welsh and Irish Music . . at the Royal Institution during next week'. He asks Graves to 'communicate with the Assistant Secretary as to date and exact title'. He ends by stating the fee.

The fourteen items are laid down on three pages, on two leaves of grey paper, removed from an album, on the reverse of one leaf are two coloured coaching scenes by Randolph Caldecott, one featuring a highwayman. The overall condition is fair, with creasing and signs of age. The Autograph Letter Signed is from Crane to 'My dear Stanley Little'. 1p., landscape 8vo. With letterhead of Beaumont Lodge, Shepherd's Bush, featuring an illustration by Crane of a shepherd and sheep. 20 September 1892.

Not paginated, 12mo, covers buff, linen spine, leaves of main text opened, others unopened, covers sl. grubby, corners sl. bumped, contents good++ No. 44 of 200 Limited Edition. Text by Percy J. Smith, drawings by James Guthrie.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with Bath postmark, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Colonel Campbell | Gatcomb House | Isle of Wight | Southampton'. Continuing a communication of the previous day, he begins with reference to 'Mr. Courtenay' (until 1807 one of the Lords of the Treasury), stating that 'there is not the least chance of his ever pushing or even simply asking Lord Howick [ Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, Foreign Secretary, 1806-1807, and future prime minister ] to follow-up Mr.

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, laid down on card backing removed from an album. He writes that he only received Ballantyne's letter on his return from Melville Castle (seat of Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville), where he was 'obliged to go for a day'. He is now returning 'sheets P. & Q to press and will soon send copy'. He has been 'pleased with a note from Cadell that we had a Pisgah peep of <?>'. The letter ends with the Latin tag: 'post tot discrimina rerum' ('after many dangers').?>

The tale told anonymously by Charlotte Anne Moberly (1846-1937) and Eleanor Jourdain (1863-1924) in their 'An Adventure' (1911) is probably the most famous true-life ghost story of the twentieth century, and has been the subject of an enormous amount of analysis. For more information see the couple's entries in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. The present material is in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. It was assembled by Holroyd - a Sherlock Holmes expert - with the intention of writing a book on the subject. ONE.

Full title: 'Catalogue of a Miscellaneous Collection of Modern Useful Books, many in choice bindings, the greater portion the Property of a Gentleman leaving England, also some interesting Archaeological Manuscripts, by William Bromet, Esq., M.D., F.S.A.' 15pp., 12mo. Unbound and side-stitched pamphlet. Aged, worn and grubby. 308 lots. Lot 181 is 'Caumont (M. de) Histoire del' Architecture au Moyen Age, some manuscript memorandums and illustrations added by the late Dr. Bromet | Caen, 1838'.

6pp., 12mo. Bifolium and single leaf. On aged and worn paper, with 4 cm closed tear to all three leaves. A highly interesting letter, illuminating Victorian Fleet Street and City of London practices. The author's signature is frustratingly illegible, but may well be that of sports journalist Charles William Alcock (1842-1907). The recipient is possibly James Clarke (d.1888), editor of The Christian World. The author opens the letter with the 'conclusions' he has arrived at regarding the 'various schemes' which he 'maturely reflected upon' in a discussion with Clarke the previous week.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on aged paper. Evidently a response to a request for an autograph. Reads: 'Greetings | from | Arthur Balfour | Xmas 1900'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He explains his 'great and chief excuse' for breaking his promise to call on her that morning. 'The fact is I have to give an address on Monday evening as President of the Society of Chemical Industry'.

xi + 67pp., 12mo. Disbound and without covers. The preface to the first edition is dated from 'Liverpool, 1869', and that to the second from 'Lincoln, 1871'. In the latter Goy writes that he is in 'failing health', but that 'the whole has been thoroughly revised, and much additional matter introduced. The chapter on Artificial Teeth has been enlarged, and the character of the work altogether improved.' Scarce: no copy of any edition found on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat, and none in the Wellcome Library.

51 + [1]pp., 12mo. Stapled, in printed brown wraps. Internally in fair condition, on aged paper; in worn and spotted wraps. A six-page preface, dated 'Trinity College, Cambridge, | 26th July, 1907.', begins: 'Many years ago I printed and circulated privately a set of questions on the manners and customs of savages designed to elicit information on the subject from persons who live or travel among uncivilised races. The present set of questions is a revised and enlarged edition of that work.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper, with slight show-through on first leaf. Expressing, 'on behalf of the Eagle Committee', a 'joint sense' of Powell's 'kindly interest in the magazine', whose 'circulation, hitherto, has been restricted to members of the College'. Powell's 'helpful offer' will be considered that week, when his letter is laid before the committee, who are desirous of inserting, 'more systematically, intelligence respecting members of the College in London'.

1p., 4to. 31 lines of text, written in a neat and close hand.