MANUSCRIPT

On one side of piece of paper trimmed down to roughly 15 x 18 cm. On aged paper, with wear and loss to corners and extremities caused by removal from a mount. He writes: 'Sir, | I should feel extremely obliged if you cou'd take out of the Post Office two Letters, directed to me at Oxford, as I unexpectedly arrived today in town - | I remain | Sir | Sincly. Yrs. | [signed] Dungannon | 7. Hertford St | 4th. Decbr. 1827'. The signature is complete, but being placed in a corner, is close to an area of wear. Docketed on the reverse in an unknown hand: 'recd.

1p., 12mo. 8 lines. On aged paper with a small hole (not affecting text) and pin marks. He thanks him for his 'kind thought' in sending 'the Danish Images', adding: 'I assure you the present was a very welcome one to me.'

31pp., 12mo. Stitched and unbound. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Comprising a series of transcriptions in a contemporary hand - from the annotations and emendations clearly that of the original author, an anonymous middleclass Englishman with Radical and Communist sympathies. Neatly and closely written at around 34 lines to a page - from thirteen letters, dated (with interrogation marks as given in the text): '? May, 1869', 'Paris, June 1869', 'Monastery of La Grande Chartreuse, Alps Dauphiny, Feast of S.

Book: [xii] + 95 pp., 8vo. In fair condition, in original green cloth and worn yellow dustwrapper. Inscribed on front free endpaper: 'For Tom Driberg | With Good Wishes | Robin Skelton | May 1960'. With review slip, on the reverse of which Driberg has written: 'Blake | Graves | Frost | Plomer'. Skelton's Letter: 2pp., 12mo. 20 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Regarding the book he writes that he has 'added a note to the preface to the 2 Ballads of the Muse', which he hopes 'doesn't too much spoil the layout'. He thanks Driberg for his interest in his work.

2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. A very funny letter, written in the style that became known as 'birrelling'. He begins: 'Dear Sir. | I admire the enthusiasm which from the depths of an Office bearing the historically-ominous title of "Ministry of Food", & lodged in a once ducal mansion, can dictate (in type) so spirited a letter as your's [sic] of the 27th. ult. I wish I could believe in your vision of Three hundred Boys shouting Come - to an (almost) Septuagenarian Lecturer. It is of course all nonsense.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor spotting. Addressed to 'Dear Sir'. After thanking him for his 'kind letter' he states: 'I do not really make much objection to the republication of my interview. But what I feel is that I should have been asked about it & allowed to see a proof, as the interview took place some time ago now, & the circumstances are not quite the same.' He is glad [Walton] approved of the interview, adding 'I quite appreciate the spirit in which you view the journalistic aspect of affairs'.

2pp., 12mo. In a windowpane mount on a leaf removed from an album. The letter itself very good, on aged paper; the mount worn at extremities. He begins by informing the recipient that his 'last Letter has made ample atonement for the provocation of the preceding', and he has 'ever been the foremost, both in word & deed, to keep my wings in motion. I speak this seriously: my former note was only a temporary petulance'. The second paragraph begins: 'I must positively have another Paper for my Orators'. He has 'run to a fearful length, & yet have cramped myself all the way.

2pp., 12mo. 34 lines. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper. It has 'just flashed across' his mind that he neglected to answer the question in Wright's letter about the Syriac bible. 'We have no use for the Mod. Syr. Bib. in these parts & so do not keep it at hand.' He gives names of individuals to contact on the question, and discusses how copies could be procured. A postscript reads: 'What is the prospect for the completion of Lanes Lex. I have to the end of S - but since Lane died [Edward William Lane died in 1876] it seems as if most words were put off to the Supplement!!'

1p., 4to. Fair, on aged, worn and creased paper. Seventeen lines in phonetic spelling, with printed key at foot, headed: 'NOTE - Members of the Phonetic League are pledged to use this Alphabet and spelling in correspondence.' Disregarding the use of the diaersis, the letter begins: 'Mi der Bryn, | Zis is only a not ov enqwiri tu asertan wezer yu ar stil aliv.

2pp., 4to. 58 lines. Good, on lightly-aged and creased paper. E. S. E. Childers' biography of his father had appeared earlier in the year, and his brother writes to tell him that the American booksellers 'have not yet received the copies (3) of the "Life" which I ordered on first hearing it was published'. He is ordering a further six, and will send copies 'to some of the leading papers for review, including 1 each to Dean Hodges and Mr Robt Woods of Boston for review in the "Churchman" and Boston "Transcript"'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Dear Mr. Jack'. Having married Ioma Gladys Heaton-Nicholls the previous year, Evans-Pritchard had been commissioned in the Sudan defence force in 1940. (He would return to the Sudan-Ethiopian border to fight against the Italians alongside irregular troops of the Anuak.) In this letter Evans-Pritchard's mother writes to J. H. Driberg, at the time Lecturer in Anthropology at Cambridge University: 'Teddy & his wife were to leave England about the 3rd. for the East. I understood the sea voyage would be only about 4 or 5 days.

11pp., foolscap 8vo. Stitched and unbound. Aged and worn, with closted vertical 5cm cut from bottom through all six leaves. The full drophead title reads: 'CAP. LXXVII.

142pp., 4to. In a ruled notebook, bound in black cloth, with marbled endpapers. In fair condition, on aged paper, in worn binding with loss to a corner of a board. Starting at one end of the notebook is the diary of autograph entries, each dated and initialled by Mrs Driberg. In 1932 Mrs Driberg, a formidable Scottish widow in the last years of her life, has five hives (numbered 1 to 4, with a fifth observation hive), with a sixth hive (No. 5) added by 1934.

1p., 8vo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Van Thal was 'most distressed to read in the Daily Express this morning that you were no longer connected with that paper.' He thanks him 'for the pleasure that you have given me over a number of years of reading a first class column'. He hopes it will be 'discoverable as to where you are going to continue to write - or have politics put an end to a chapter?' In a postscript he states that he is at least 'able to console myself with Hansard!'

Having been expelled from the Communist Party in 1941, Driberg joined the Labour Party in 1945; he would be elected to the National Executive throughout 1949-72 and was chairman of the party in 1957-8. The collection is in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with occasional minor rust staining from paperclips. ONE: Autograph Notes by Driberg of 'Bradwell local information'. 12pp., 12mo, on a total of eight leaves of House of Commons notepaper.

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged grey paper. The words 'Admiralty, S.W.' and 'I HAVE received and laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the' are printed, with the rest written by a secretary, apart from Romaine's bold, firm signature. According to the letter Maude's letter of 5 May was 'addressed to Lord Panmure', and suggested 'the expediency of towing to their destination the Gun Boats, with high-pressure Engines, about to be employed on service in China'. Maude is addressed as 'E. J. Maude Esqre. | The Old Hall | Knostrop | Leeds'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. In envelope, with stamp and postmarks, addressed to 'John J. Baron Esqr. | 48 Griffin St. | Witton | Blackburne | Lancashire'. Although Hazlitt's handwriting is legendarily attrocious, the reader escapes lightly on this occasion. Hazlitt regrets that he has no copy of either of the books Baron names, as he 'printed only a few copies for presents. Nor have I any photograph of myself.' He is 'extremely glad that the perusal of my publications' has 'proved agreeable' to Baron.

Both 2pp., 12mo, on bifoliums, and both good, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One: He is sorry Hammerton and his wife came back 'to a very cold & stormy time', but is glad that he could not 'inaugurate your History at present. I am too busy to do anything at it. Work only increases as the world grows older.' He gives the time of his setting of from London to 'Turkey via Bulgaria, hoping not to be shot on the way', and the address of Rev. Dr R. Frew, with whom he is staying in London. Letter Two: He thanks Hammerton 'for the S. Blake [a .

Mackenzie's letter is 1p., landscape 12mo. 16 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with a crease to one corner. He thanks MP for his 'encouraging letter' and discusses his own 'silly slip about the Faery Queen's entrance' in a radio broadcast: 'I was so much concerned with giving listeners the difference between the O.P. and the Prompt side that it became a question of physician heal thyself.' He continues: 'I wasn't sure of the year Mille Le Garde [sic] sang that song. Probably '97. Rose Dering was the Aladdin. She was second boy. Ted Young was the Widow Twankey.

3pp., 4to. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with slight smudging to outer margins of both leaves. Addressed to 'My dear Jack'. He is pleased to have heard from Driberg, but disappointed that there is 'no immediate chance' of seeing him, as he has not 'strayed from home for moons.

1p., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with a creased corner. The note reads: 'The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos incloses [sic] an order for Mr Blair to the House of Peers for to-day, & begs to acknowledge the receipt of the Pamphlet on the Corn Laws. | 17th May'. The paper is watermarked '<...>YNSON | 1839'.

1p., 8vo. Fair, on aged and creased paper. Addressed on reverse 'ffor the Rt. honble thomas Ld. Connigsby att Mr notts the Bookeseller in ye Pall mall | London'. The letter begins: 'My Lord/ | I have this night late got ye. order or Respit for the Surplissage of rent in the of Mr. Kiens and have sent in Closed A Rentroll how I have set ye lands being more than ever they made in ye. best of time'. He gives a figure for Coningsby's rent, of which 'the widdow must have her thirds [...] She is to pay ye. a Third of the Quittrent'.?>

2pp., 4to. 23 lines. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, with the two pages of text on the two sides of the first leaf, and the address on the reverse of the second leaf, which has minor damage due to removal from mount, and carries two postmarks, and a broken red wax seal, with address by Curwen, to 'The Revd. Andrew Reed D.D.

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with postmarks and docketing, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Lawrence Davidson Esq | W.S. | Edinburgh'. The solicitors write that they received that morning 'your letter requesting us to make enquiry as to the character of P.

1p., 4to. 12 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He was not able to reply to Driberg's letter sooner because he was arranging with the secretary of the Cambridge Historical Society to deliver a paper to be entitled 'Theories of the Causes of Wars'. He wonders whether Driberg's 'anthropologists' might not be able to 'join in the meeting - or possibly I might to talk [sic] to them on the following day'. He does not think he will be able to find time the following term. Ginsberg's paper 'The Causes of War' was published in 1939 in the Sociological Review.

2pp., 12mo. 28 lines. In fair condition, on aged high-acidity paper. Homburger begins by thanking Driberg for his 'papers' and expressing pleasure at their meeting. He encloses 'a list [not present] of feila words (just a few typical) and a draft of my paper not complete nor absolutely definite but which will shew you that I have pretty sound basis for my ideas as to the sénégalais nilotique.' 'Great difficulties', he considers, 'have arisen [...] from mixing anthropologie [sic] & linguistics.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. 40 lines. In fair condition, creased and with minor damage to second leaf from previous mounting. Addressing Reed as 'Dear Charles', Curwen explains that when asked who he would like as chairman for a forthcoming meeting, 'it was natural I should mention you, because of our old regard'. He is sorry that his 'friends' applied 'again - after your declining'.

2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Mons. Marc Julien [sic] | Redacteur de la Revue Encyclopedique &c &c'.Jullien's address has been added in another hand: 'Rue d'Enfer St. Michel No. 18'. The first paragraph reads: 'Dear Sir | I have the pleasure to introduce to you Captn. Bromley, who is a zealous advocate of the cause of general Education, & who is visiting Paris for a short time. He will deliver you a Copy of the 21st. Report of the B. & F.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In original envelope, with stamp, three postmarks and red wax seal, addressed by Southesk to 'John J. Baron Esq. | 48 Griffin Street | Wilton | Blackburn | England.' Unaware that Baron is a barefaced autograph hunter, he expresses regret that, having no copies of his own works to hand, he is 'unable to accede to the very gratifying request of the lady referred to by you, as desirous to have two verses of my poems, in my own handwriting'.

All in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letters are dated 22, 24 and 25 December 1939 and 20 and 21 January 1940; the note is undated. The letters total 6pp., 4to, with an additional 1p., 4to, carrying a translation from Spanish; the note is on the back of a scrap of Asbach Uralt packaging. The first two letters are in English, the other letters and the note in French. One envelope is present, addressed to: 'M. Yvon Davis, Bradwell Lodge, Bradwell-on-Sea, nr.