MUIR

A fascinating collection of material, casting light on a furtive and little-discussed aspect of the English antiquarian book trade. (For further information see 'Anatomy of an Auction: Rare Books at Ruxley Lodge, 1919' by J. I. Freeman and A. M. Freeman, and 'Out of Print and into Profit', ed. G. Mandelbrote.) Of the eight items, all but Item Two below are in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. It would appear that some of the material at least was published, but precise details are not known.

A black and white print, 24 x 19 cm. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Shows Loder in top hat and nineteenth-century frock coat, with cane. Inscribed: 'To Mrs. Wright | With sincere good wishes | from | John Loder.' In pencil on reverse: 'Capt. William | Java Head | J. K. 67 | For Mrs Wright | Stills'. Stamped on reverse: 'CYRIL LEESTON | LONDON | TELEPHONE 3884 PADDINGTON'. This image is not in the National Portrait Gallery collection, nor is any other by Leeston.

1p., foolscap 8vo. In fair condition, aged and with traces of previous mount on reverse. On laid paper with watermarked date of 1810. Laid out in landscape within ruled lines. Returns for '10 Companies', with 19 columns (totalling 1456 individuals), gathered into sections for 'Commissioned Officers', 'Staff Officers', 'N[on]. C[ommissioned]. Officers' and 'Rank & File'. In bottom left-hand corner: 'one Captain on leave | one Lieutenant Sick | 1 Major & 2 Captains supernumerary | 1 Lieut. & 2 Ensigns wanting'.

vi + 110 + [1]pp., 8vo. Frontispiece. In grey printed wraps. Nicely printed. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with minor damp staining to corners. The firm's fifth catalogue, compiled by partners Evans and Gathorne-Hardy.

[2] + 8pp., 8vo., with an additional 6pp of illustrations. Aged and creased, with rusted staples. Typeset with something akin to an IBM golfball. Introductory note: 'This small collection of children's toys and games was formed in the early years of this century and had remained undisturbed in a packing case until purchased by us some months ago. Some of the toys show signs of use but in general the condition is very good. Adequate description is difficult and we have endeavoured to illustrate as many of the toys as possible.

The second item is loosely inserted in the first. Item One (offprint): 29pp. (paginated 141-169), 8vo. Stapled; in printed grey card wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and dogeared. Bookplate on reverse of front wrap, stating 'From the Library of | PERCY H. MUIR'. Item Two (bibliography): 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Fourteen pages of biography, followed by bibliography, with latest date 1937. At end: 'The Libraries Committee is pleased to announce that E. H. W.

Both letters are addressed to 'Dear Jake'. Both are in good condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Letter One: 1p., 8vo. Addressed to Carter at 26 Carlyle Square. Explaining the complications of a planned joint visit to the Hague. Letter Two: 1p., 8vo. Addressed to Carter at Sotheby's, New Bond Street, with Percy Muir copied in. On returning 'the draft note on the S.M. Handlist' (not present) he makes three long comments (totalling 32 lines of text). The first comment deals with two versions of the publication, 'varying in the dedication.

All four items printed on both sides of a piece of paper roughly 57 x 25 cm, folded twice to make 6 pp, each 19 x 25 cm. Aged and a little grubby and creased. The second number with title printed in red, the third with title in green, and fourth with title in blue. Each with engraving of park with neo-classical buildings by William McLaren. No.1: poems by Lewis Spence, R. L. Cook, Joe Corrie, W. H. Hamilton, Alexander Buist, A. V. Stuart, Hugh N. Maclachlan, A. A. C. Blackie, Dorothy Margaret Paulin and Helen B. Cruikshank. No.2: poems by William Soutar, Alexander Buist, A. V.