POETRY

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Autograph Letter Signed, with postmarked envelope and red wax seal, to 'Samuel Lucas, cornfactor, Warwick Street, London'.

Author: 
Jeremiah Holmes Wiffen (1792-1836), Quaker schoolmaster (Leighton Road, Woburn), poet and translator of Tasso
Publication details: 
26 March 1819; Woburn.
£85.00

4to: 1 p. Very good. Tipped in by reverse edge to leaf removed from autograph album. Envelope similarly mounted, with almost-intact seal and two postmarks, including a circular one in black ink stating 'MORE TO PAY'. He met John Grant the previous day at Wycombe Quarterly Meeting, and was told by him that Lucas had 'enquired of him the Terms of Admission to my school'.

Memories of A. E. Housman. From the Magazine of King Edward's School, Bath, The Edwardian, Vol. 17, No. 3, Sept., 1936.

Author: 
Mrs. E. W. Symons [A. E. Housman]
Publication details: 
Printer - J. Grant Melluish, 27 Broad Street, Bath. [1936]
£20.00

Octavo: 8 pp. Unbound, stapled pamphlet of six leaves. Dogeared, with rusted staples and with horizontal band of discoloration and two vertical closed tears (2 cm and 1 cm) at head.

Life of Jack Sheppard, The Notorious House and Gaol Breaker.

Author: 
Victorian Chapbook [Newcastle; Provincial Printing]
Publication details: 
Newcastle-on-Tyne: Bowman, Publisher, Nuns' Lane. Price One Penny. [Slug on verso of title: 'Bowman, Publisher, 12, Nuns' Lane, Newcastle.'] Undated [1850, or between 1865 and 1875?].
£66.00

12mo: 24 pp. Leaf dimensions: 15.5 x 9.5 cms. Unbound. Good, on aged paper with fraying to extremities and a little light staining to title. Decorative title-page with vignette. On verso of title: list of twenty-three 'Penny Histories' ('Crown 12mo. Three or upwards sent post free to any address, on receipt of stamps to the amount') and nineteen 'Penny Song Books'. Heavily worn type and loss to text at foot of three pages due to faulty imposition. According to BBTI Robert Benson Bowman was active in Newcastle from before 1826 to after 1859.

Manuscript poem "The Moor"

Author: 
Ralph Hodgson
Publication details: 
No date
£100.00

Poet (1871-1962). One page, 8vo. Poem first published in the "Saturday Review", later in "The Mystery and other Poems" (1913), and later. Minor variations from the printed form ("&" becomes "and").

Autograph Signature (d'Aubigné) on fragment of document.

Author: 
[ D'AUBIGNE ]Théodore-Agrippa d'Aubigné (1552-1630), French poet, soldier and propagandist [d'Aubigne]
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£150.00

On piece of paper roughly half an inch by one and a half wide. Poor, and untidily laid down on slip of paper one inch by six wide. Tear across signature. Docketed in pencil 'author of book on Reformation'. Extraneous matter adhering to reverse.

A London Comedy and Other Vanities. With seven reproductions of pictures by Maurice Greiffenhagen.

Author: 
Egan Mew [Maurice Greiffenhagen; Elkin Mathews]
Publication details: 
London: George Redway. Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, Stamford Street and Charing Cross. 1897.
£175.00

AUTHOR'S COPY, WITH HIS MANUSCRIPT REVISIONS FOR THE SECOND EDITION. Octavo: 96 pages. Seven plates (of eight). Original olive cloth gilt, with pierrot on front board. Numbered copy twelve in the edition. One leaf (pages 49-50) removed. Aged, and in heavily worn boards. Carrying manuscript changes on twenty-two pages, as well as on a plate and the front board. Cutting loosely inserted, regarding a couplet by 'E. V. L.' of Brighton (clearly E. V. Lucas) addressed to Mew regarding the word 'hyperbole'. Six of Greiffenhagen's seven illustrations are present.

Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
Edouard Servan de Sugny.
Publication details: 
Cessy, pres Gex, 15 Juillet 1850
£150.00

Author/translator of "La Muse ottomane ou chefs-d'oeuvre de la poésie turque" (Paris, 1853). Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He thanks his correspondent for a copy of "l'Anthologie arabe de M. Grangeret de Lagrange" [first published 1828]. He explains his great interest in the book and the excellent job done by the compiler. He praises his correspondent for enriching the book with Latin and notes which derive from their discussions.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Lees'.

Author: 
Alice Law (born 1886), English poet
Publication details: 
No date (circa 1925?); on letterhead of the Lyceum Club, 128 Piccadilly, London.
£25.00

Two pages, 12mo. Very good on aged paper, with small closed tear at head not affecting text. Appears to concern an exhibition of women painters. Wants to 'personally thank' her for 'the privilege of having seen the International & in particular, your charming pictures. 'Early Morning' has quite carried away my heart! But the others are very fine. it must be so difficult, & so interesting to paint grey darkness. [...] Nothing of Miss Lister's there having in my opinion come up to her 'Builth Bridge' which we have. [...] Next to it I like 'A lonely Tree'.

Autograph Poem Signed.

Author: 
Elizabeth P. Peabody.
Publication details: 
No place, 16 May 1886
£200.00

American Educator, established first kindergarten in the USA (1860), sometime Boston bookshop owner, author, member of the Transcendental Club, etc. (see American DNB). A four-line poem in eight lines, one page, c.8 x 5", laid down on another stiffer paper, some ruckling, final word blotched, mainly good condition. First line: "What is Beauty but God, / as He comes to the Eye? . . . [final line] But Eva will be Heaven / tomorrow." She has added " Aged 82".

Memorandum of Agreement, "Black Magic Poetry 1961-1967".

Author: 
Leroi Jones
Publication details: 
08/10/70
£100.00

Sidgwick and Jackson/Leroi Jones, 4pp., fol., punch-holes sl. damaged, mainly good, marked "File copy", revisions in biro, additional clauses attached and initialled by Jones, document signed by Jones. Stapled to document: letter from Jones's agent, Ronald Hobbs, to Sidgwick and Jackson, clarifying the payment of advance payments on the book.

Autograph Note Signed to 'Miss Rowland Grey' [pseudonym of Lilian Kate Rowland-Brown, 1863-1959].

Author: 
Emile Cammaerts
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£56.00

Belgian writer (1878-1953), author of the fairy-tale 'The two hunchbacks', set to music by Frank Bridge. One page, quarto. Poor, on discoloured, creased paper with several closed tears. He thanks her for her letter and has 'written to Miss Sands to ask her if she could not possibly alter the date as I have another lecture on the same day, at night. But if impossible, I will come all the same.' Signed 'Em Cammaerts'. Docked in pencil, by 'HSJ', 'Dec: 4. 1915. I heard M.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Aunt Emily'.

Author: 
John Byrne Leicester Warren, 3rd Baron de Tabley
Publication details: 
67 Onslow Square; 27 June 1874.
£75.00

English aristocrat (1835-95), poet, numismatist, archaeologist, writer on natural history, etc. Two pages, 12mo. Good, but with blank verso of second leaf of bifoliate adhering to docketed remains of leaf from autograph album. Had he not been 'so busy that I hardly knew where to turn' he would have answered the letter 'on the subject of the seal' sooner.

Autograph Letter Signed to Charles Hogan; with printed prospectus of one of de Chatelain's works.

Author: 
Jean-Baptiste Francois Ernest de Chatelain, 'Le Chevalier de Chatelain'
Publication details: 
18 December 1862; on letterhead of Castelnau Lodge, Warwick Crescent, Westbourne Terrace Road, London.
£56.00

Anglo-French journalist (1801-81) and friend of Mallarme. Letter: two pages, octavo. Good, though on creased, discoloured and spotted paper. The verso of the second leaf of the bifoliate is ruckled and with glue stains showing through from the verso, which is attached to a piece of ruled paper. Reads 'Mon cher voisin | I enclose an order for the Westminster Play for to night, which may perhaps interest you or your son. If either of you are able to go, you should be there early.

Autograph Sentiment Signed "J Montgomery" entitled "Motto for the Bible", to "Miss Marshall".

Author: 
James Montgomery
Publication details: 
Fulneck (Leeds), 3 April 1835.
£150.00

Poet and editor (see DNB). One page, 4to, traces of blue paper on which item formerly laid down, condition mainly good, text clear and complete as follows: "Motto for the Bible/ Behold the Book, whose leaves display / Jesus the life, the truth, the way; / Read it with diligence [in the prayer?]; / Search it.- and You shall find Him there."

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs. Watkins'.

Author: 
Henry Thomas Mackenzie Bell
Publication details: 
18 June 1910; on letterhead '11, BUCKINGHAM GATE, S.W.'
£25.00

Poet and literary critic (1856-1930). One page, 12mo. Discoloured but very good. Folded once. One might almost think he was being sarcastic. 'The unflawed pleasure of my short visit to the Archdeaconry will never be effaced from my memory. Heartily I thank you all very much. | Most sincerely yrs | Mackenzie Bell | [autograph]'. Last word and square brackets Bell's.

Autograph Note in his hand (NOT signed). "Alexander Ross", written top right above the note, appears to be the addressee.

Author: 
Joseph Ritson.
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£185.00

Antiquary (DNB). Piece of paper, c. 4 x 4", discoloured byt text clear, bottom edge rough from tearing. Text: See another song by this author in Johnson's 'Scots Musical Museum'. If 'The Rock and the wee pickle tour' were written before the publication of Ramsay's 'Tea-table miscellany' (1724), there being a song to the tune in that book, the author must have been a great age in 1768. / Those poems are in the broad Buchan dialect." This is followed by the note "The above is in the hand-writing of Joseph Ritson.", an attribution confirmed by comparison with known examples in the BL.

The corsair, a tale.

Author: 
Lord Byron
Publication details: 
1814. London: Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars, for John Murray, Albemarle-street.
£95.00

1st edition, 2nd issue. 8vo. In original plain grey wraps. Fly leaf and half-title. Pages: xi + 100 + 4 pages of publisher's advertisements (dated February 1814). Without the words 'THE END' or the publisher's imprint on the last page. In poor condition: grubby, frayed and stained, and with loss to one corner each of rear wrap and to last leaf of advertisements. Also lacking, as a result of the partial removal of an ownership inscription, a small strip along the top edge of the title-leaf, but with inscription 'Sophia F. Stewart - 1814'.

Der Blütenzweig | Eine Auswahl aus den Gedichten von Herman Hesse.

Author: 
Herman Hesse
Publication details: 
Zürich: Fretz & Wasmuth Verlag Ag. 1945.
£22.00

80 pages. 16mo. In grubby decorated boards with white paper printed label on front. Corners bumped. Internally sound and tight, with a few pencil notes on front pastedown.

Typed Letter Signed to [Brian?] Mercer, [Secretary,?] Royal Society of Arts; together with a carbon of the Typed Letter to which it is a reply.

Author: 
Cecil Day-Lewis
Publication details: 
22 July [1961]; on letterhead '6 CROOMS HILL | GREENWICH | S. E. 10'; carbon of Mercer's letter dated 21 July 1961.
£65.00

British Poet Laureate (1904-72). Day-Lewis's letter, 1 page, 8vo. On grey paper. Good, but lightly creased and with a few staple holes. Thanks Mercer for the 'kind invitation'. 'I am afraid I could not manage to prepare the paper you suggest for January 24, since I have to be busy till near the end of this year on a play.' Suggests deferment to February or March. Signed 'C. Day Lewis'. Docketed by '' on 24 July 1961, 'We can offer other times, I think, in March.' and with 'Mar 21 | 2.30' beneath this in pencil.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
William Hazlitt the younger
Publication details: 
1 May [1886]; on letterhead '6, Spring Terrace, | Richmond, S.W.'
£75.00

Son (1811-93) of the essayist (1778-1830), and editor of his works. Three pages, 12mo. Stained and grubby. Docketed, with date on blank reverse of second leaf of bifoliate. He will be pleased to see the portrait which his correspondent describes. 'I very well remember that there was a chalk portrait by Bewick which would seem to be that you mention and there was an engraving of it in the life of my Father which I wrote some short time after his death & I do not remember whence that impression was derived.

Autograph Letter Signed to E. J. Wheatley.

Author: 
Henry R. Potter [David Love, the Nottingham poet]
Publication details: 
Wymeswold Sat[urda]y AM.'
£50.00

Possibly the Henry R. Potter, of the Office of Works, who corresponded with Gladstone in 1885 and 1894. 4 pages, 16mo. In good condition: neatly folded twice, with traces of stub along one edge of verso of second leaf of bifoliate. Apologises for 'the numerous omissions of which I have been guilty' in his lecture. His only excuse is that he 'submitted the lists to two or three persons resident in Nott[ingha]m and consequently, as I concluded, conversant with its "Notables" '.

Autograph Letter Signed by O'Conor to Mrs [J. M.] Patterson, Secretary to The Royal Society of Literature, regarding a reading of John Masefield's poems.

Author: 
Joseph O'Conor [John Masefield, Royals Society of Literature]
Publication details: 
No date (but post 1963?); 18 Melville Road, Barnes, S.W.13.
£65.00

Irish actor (1916-2001). 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition though creased along one edge. Accompanying this item are a typescript (1 page, 8vo, in good condition, annotated in ink) headed 'MASEFIELD READINGS', listing 13 items alternatively allocated to 'O'Conor' and 'Day Lewis', and two typewritten slips of paper listing some of the officers of the Royal Society of Literature, one of which has corrected details of the Don Carlos Coloma Memorial Lecture on the reverse. In the letter O'Conor complains that [Masefield's Collected Poems 'seem riddled with misprints'.

Typed Note Signed to Herbert M. Adler.

Author: 
Israel Zangwill.
Publication details: 
Far End, East Preston, Sussex, 12 July 1911.
£100.00

One page, 4to, sl. dusty and dulled, fold marks, but text clear and complete, as follows: "Dear Adler, I cannot remember whether "Lord of the World" was published for the first time in "Blind Children" or not, but at any rate it would be impossible for the pirates to know any more than I do. It is very probable also that I asked Funk and Wagnall's permission."

Contract [draft?] Signed by him and Desmond Brian on behalf of Anthony Blond Ltd. for a selection of poetry

Author: 
Christopher Hampton
Publication details: 
[London,] 23 November 1970.
£45.00

English playwright, screenwriter and director, born 1946. 4 pages, folio bifoliate. On yellow paper. Stain at head of first page and somewhat creased, but in good condition overall. The contract is printed for Anthony Blond Limited by Frank Rook Ltd. The relevant passages are filled in in manuscript, including a description of the work to be published as a 'selection of poetry written by the author for inclusion in a volume provisionally entitled Blondbooks Poetry 2'. There does not appear to be any record of this book in the British Library catalogue.

Autograph letter signed, Typed note signed, and Autograph postcard signed to Daniel George, man of letters,

Author: 
C. Day-Lewis
Publication details: 
Mainly undated, 1940s and 1950s
£250.00

(Letter [1945]) He is jumping at Daniel George's offer to take any reviews that Day-Lewis could do without. His doctor has ordered rest. (Note) He is returning an article he cannot use in "Orion". (Card) He would like to see a broadcast George has made. With: autograph note signed from Daniel George, 29 January 1945, acknowledging receipt of the books he is to review, hoping his health is improving. And: Christmas Card signed by Day-Lewis and Rosamund Lehmann (1944), containing a poem by Day-Lewis and a design by Paul Cross. 4 items,

autograph signature

Author: 
Winthrop Mackworth Praed
Publication details: 
two fragments of letter, both half an inch by three inches, Southampton, 6 November 1837
£20.00

English poet and essayist. On the first slip: 'Winthrop M. Praed'; on the second: 'Southampton November Six | 1837'. Both slips are discoloured from pasting in autograph album.

autograph poem signed,

Author: 
Brandon Thomas
Publication details: 
29 April 1895, on letterhead of the Hôtel Burlington, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
£30.00

English actor, playwright, songwriter (1856-1914). One page, 8vo. "Sir Maple is a handy man / And comfort round him spreads, / He furnishes on every plan / And also makes the beds." In bad condition, torn and holed by removal from mount, traces of which are glued to the reverse.

2 ANS to unnamed correspondents and one autograph address, "H. Cholmondeley <Parnell?> Esq. | The Admiralty"

Author: 
Charles Hamilton Aidé [Charles Hamilton Aide] (DNB), author and musician
Publication details: 
10 June 1889, Queen Anne's Mansion, and 1 July [no year], 68 Jermyn Street
£50.00

The 1889 note: "Let me know whether you care to publish poetry - I can send you 3 stanzas". The other note: "I regret much that I am already engaged to dinner on Tuesday. If it were probable that yr party sat late into the night I would gladly join you in the coffee state of yr festivities". Two items,

16mo fragment, in two pieces, of ALS to unnamed correspondent

Author: 
Alfred Noyes (DNB), English poet
Publication details: 
11 May 1932, Southwell St Lawrence
£20.00

The two pieces are attached on the reverse by gummed paper. The first is the head of the letter, giving place and date, and the second the conclusion, with Noyes' signature.

Autograph note signed to William Jerdan, editor of the Literary Gazette.

Author: 
William Sotheby.
Publication details: 
No place, postmark 3 Nov. 1832.
£350.00

Litterateur and Poet (1757-1833). One page, 4to, fold marks, minor tears and staining, clear and good. Sotheby asks Jerdan "If there be time, l;et the Two last lines of the Proem [underlined] be -/ "And, in his grave while falls a Nation's tears,/ I strow these fading flours on Scott's untimely Bier".The equivalent text published in "the Literary Gazette", 3 Nov. 1832, p.699, runs as follows: "The golden close of F,me's unclouded day --/ Now strew these fading flowers on his untrimely tomb." In other words, Sotheby was too late with his changes.

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