MAKERS

58 + [2]pp., 8vo. Frontispiece photograph of Queen Victoria, seated with a fan. In yellow wraps ornately printed in brown (discoloured gold?). Disbound from volume of pamphlets, with library stitching to spine and small '5' in ink at head of cover. Advertisements on wraps and final leaf. Descriptions of 479 fans (no illustrations), the first four lent by Queen Victoria. Four page index listing scores of lenders, including Mrs Leopold de Rothschild, Princess Louise, the Marchioness of Bristol, the Irish Lace Depot, the London Glove Company, and the Duchess of York.

Printed on both sides of a 4to (28 x 22.5cm) leaf of semi-opaque paper. Both sides with oval purple stamp of 'J. Blanch & Son, 29, Gracechurch St., London, Gun Makers'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with one dog-eared corner, folded three times. An attractively-produced item, with specifications, and text printed in small type. Engraving of a bullet in top right-hand corner of first page, with the Colt prancing horse at top left, also a small engraving of the rifle, with a larger one, by R. M. Smart, showing how 'To Charge the Magazine'.

Silk & Sons of Long Acre were one of the leading Victorian coach builders, Robert Silk (born c.1797, fl.1871) already being established in Long Acre by 1851. In due course Robert was succeeded by his son William (born 1824), who in his turn took his sons William junior (1853-1911) and Robert John (1858-1934) into the business. The firm continued to trade at least until 1907, when the Long Acre premises were sold. The present collection of eleven items derives from the firm's archive.

Silk & Sons were one of the leading coach builders of Victorian London, Robert Silk (born c.1797, fl.1871) already being established in Long Acre by 1851. Robert Silk was succeeded by his son William (born 1824), who in his turn took his sons William junior (1853-1911) and Robert John (1858-1934) into the business. The firm continued to trade at least until 1907, when the Long Acre premises were sold.The present collection, mainly compiled by the elder William Silk, contains around 350 items relating to carriages, coaches, coaching and coach building, dating from between 1750 and 1893.

Westley Richards & Co was established in 1813. In 1957 W. A. Clode bought the firm from Captain E. D. Barclay, and it remains within the hands of the Clode family today.

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed in another hand on reverse of second leaf to 'Monsieur le Doctor Brown | Medicin de la Majesté la Reine | regnante de Prusse | Berlin', and docketed (presumably by Brown) 'J. Randall Coachmaker | 1789 | London June 30 | recd. July 13 - | with a Receipt in full inclosed -' (the receipt is not present). Brown begins: 'I have sent you enclos'd a receipt in full for what you was Indebted to me'. He would have answered Brown's letter before, but has been 'very Ill for these six weeks past & oblig'd to be by the Sea side'.

12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium. Written out in one hand, and signed 'Bradley & Co' in another. Addressed to 'W. F. Stocks Esqre | Glen Elwy | St Asaph. | Flint[shire]'. Thirteen lines. Text clear and complete. On foxed and lightly-aged paper. Giving the firm's 'charge for receiving unpacking & delivering pictures to the R.A. or other London Exhibitions' and for 'collecting repacking & forwarding', as well as the dimensions of pictures for which these charges apply.

4to, 1 p. Fair, on aged paper, with a couple of closed tears neatly repaired on reverse with archival tape. Letterhead ('Importers of Violin, Violoncello and Harp Strings'), with decorative device of two violins, gives the 'Proprietors' as 'S. Bernard Withers, Douglas S. Withers', but with the first name crossed out. Withers writes that 'In this sad time of the loss of my Brother Bernard' Miss Gunn's 'condolences are sincerely appreciated'.

According to the British Library Bisset's Directory was published in 1800. Paper dimensions roughly 5 1/4 inches by 9 inches; print dimensions roughly 4 1/4 inches by 7 inches. In very good condition although somewhat grubby. Paper watermarked '<179?>9 | TMAN'. At head of plate: 'M'. At foot of plate: 'Reynolds. Sct. Birm'.

Long and unusually entertaining account 'Re Varnish', addressed to an American correspondent. A fascinating insight into the nature of Victorian entrepreneurship. 'It has long been an idea of mine that of all the Trades the most profitable one is Varnish [...] the Germans, clever as they are, can't make Varnish at all [...] nor for that matter can the Americans'.