POTTERY

Printed in black and red on one side of a piece of 14.5 x 20.5 cm brown card. Designed in a style showing the influence of Art Deco. Within a decorative border with floral corners. Text, in capitals, reads: 'Wedgwood | Aztec Lustre | On the original cane body | Reminiscent of the brilliantly coloured | pottery made by the Aztecs, a cultured | race who inhabited Mexico and the | northern part of South America | before the Spanish Conquest in 1520.'

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with slight damage to one corner. At the head of the first page is a printed form (manuscript additions in square brackets): 'County of [Derby.] The Information and Complaint of [Joseph Walker Bourne] of [Church Gresley] in the said County [Potter] taken upon Oath before [me one] of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County, the [27th] day of [October] 18[30]'. Written out by the magistrate Sir Oswald Mosley, 2nd Baronet (1785-1871), and signed by him ('Oswald Mosley'), his son 'Oswd Mosley Junr' (1804-1856), 'Joseph.

6pp., foolscap 8vo. On two bifoliums attached with metal clasp. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed 'Dunbar Yd | Inventory' and headed 'The Dunball Steam Pottery Tile & Brick Company. | List [...]'. The inventory gives a clear impression of the extensive nature of the business.

Both items in excellent condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (22 December 1902): Addressed to 'Dear Sir'. He has asked Van Wisselingh 'to send the bronzes as I have none here', and he is waiting for a reply: 'if the bronzes have not arrived please wire and you shall have them before Xmas.' Letter Two (25 December 1902): He hopes that his mistake in addressing her as 'Sir' has 'amused and not annoyed you'. He has just had a reply from Van Wisselingh: 'as the notice was so short I could not get new bronzes cast by Xmas; so I sent your letter at once to Mr. V.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Solon has been informed by their common friend 'Mr Bailey' that the recipient has 'been kind enough to gather the parcel of circulars issued at various time [sic] by your firm, and which reaches me this morning.' He is sending 'a small pamphlet of mine [...] as an inadequate acknowledgement of the trouble I have caused you'. He continues: 'Mr Bailey must have told you that all printed matter having reference to ceramics has a special interest to me.

In 1868 Joseph Swan (inventor of the incandescent electric bulb) set up the company to commercialise his patented process for producing permanent photographic images. Throughout the nineteenth century it was known as the Autotype Fine Art Company, It changed its name to the Autotype Company Ltd in 1923, and is now MacDermid Autotype. All five items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Item One dates from before the company's move from 74 to 59 New Oxford Street in 1926; and the other four items from after the move.

23pp., landscape folio; on twelve leaves pinned together. Fair on lightly-aged and dogeared paper. The document is clearly official, perhaps relating to the Poor Law or Reform Bill. With numerous emendations in different hands. Each page is a printed form, divided into five columns: 'Number on Plan.', 'Description of Property', 'Owner', 'Lessee' and 'Occupier'. (The plan referred to in the first column is not present.) Properties range from 'Field (Glebe Land)' to 'Railway'; and from 'House. Barns. Stables yard & Garden' to 'Canal & towing path'.

One page and two pages, both 8vo, bifolia, some staining but text clear and complete. In the first letter to which (as he explains in the second letter) he didn't add his name, he says that he visited "your Bovey Coal Pits" as a geologist (!), made observations and concluded that it was a "real Coal district, the current coal mined [an internet site informs me of poor quality] being of a "comparatively recent formation". Real coal was produced in an earlier period.

On one side of a piece of wove paper, watermarked 'BRIDGE MILL | 1826', roughly 24 x 19 cm. In a variety of types and point sizes. Good, with text clear and entire, on slightly grubby and lightly discoloured paper . Two spike holes at centre, puncturing one large letter (the 'W' of 'WARE'). Serving as a proof, with printer's manuscript corrections in pencil. The first three lines ('W. VINEY, | ANGEL HILL, | TIVERTON," have been cancelled, with the text that is intended to replace them ('James Pope Street ') at head of page.

Arranging the three in what appears to be chronological order, the first (good, roughly four inches by two and three-quarters wide) has 'Josiah C. Wedgwood' in copperplate beneath a straightforward Victorian armorial design, with shield, coronet and motto 'OBSTANTIA DISCINDO'. The second (three and a half inches by three wide) dates from after Wedgwood's election as a Member of Parliament in 1906, having 'EX-LIBRIS JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, M.P.' on a scroll beneath a more modern armorial design, with helmet and leaves. It has slight damage to the bottom right-hand corner.

Quarto. Pages [xvi] + 159 + [1]. Wraps lacking. Bound in worn and frayed black cloth. Loose, and on discoloured paper, with some leaves strengthened or repaired. A particular feature of the volume is that each of the more than eight hundred lots is neatly priced in manuscript, with many of the purchasers' names given. Ownership stamp of Newman & Newman Antiques, Beauchamp Place, London, on front free endpaper.

Museum Curator and Authority on Ceramics (see DNS). Total, two pages, good condition. (5 May 1925) "I have handed on your enquiry to Mr. A.J. Koop, my colleague who deals with cloisonne enamels. My own concern with enamelling is limited to painted enamels." (20 May) He expresses pleasure at being invited to judge "the designs for pottery and glass at the forthcoming competition of the Society of Arts. . ." Two items,

Chairman of the famous pottery firm Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, Ltd (1867-1930), and High Sheriff of Staffordshire. All items are very good, if somewhat grubby. The typed letters are one page, quarto and the autograph, one page, octavo. All are signed 'Frank H Wedgwood', and most are stamped and docketed. One letter from 1918, two from 1919, one from 1924, five from 1925 and two from 1926. Mostly brief.

Managing Director of the famous pottery business ('saviour of the firm') and the fifth in the family to bear the name (1899-1968), Member of Parliament. All six items in good condition, though grubby, and with the first three bearing pin holes in one corner (not affecting text), the hole in the first letter being decidedly marked. All but one item docketed and stamped. Letters one, two, three and six are one page, quarto; letter four, two pages, 12mo; letter five, one page, 12mo; letter six, one page, quarto. All but the third item, which is signed 'Wedgwood', are signed 'Josiah Wedgwood'.

Potter. Good condition, text as follows: "Dear Roger Thornton, / I hope the enclosed will suffice. Thank you for all the nice things you say in your letter. I will try to go on a little longer making pots as well as I know how if they really give pleasure."