ROBERTS

2pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly-aged. Unsigned copy of typed letter., with one autograph emendation. Addressed to 'My dear Harry'. He begins by explaining that he is in Eastbourne recuperating from the flu. 'As I did not rise until Monday last I missed the Sunday papers including alas, the Referee. [ amended in autograph from 'the Rat' ] | A cutting, however (from the Ref) reached me here today containing an article of yours, wherein you place me among your Hebrew musical collaborators.

In good condition, on loose leaves, with light signs of age and wear. ONE: 'Green Roomers by the Rags Wags.' A large collection of original jokes. Around 140pp., mostly 8vo. On different papers, including letterheads of 212 Finchley Road, London, the Burlington in Folkestone, and the Hermitage Hotel, Le Touquet. Hundreds of unconnected gags, each of them framed as a rhetorical question, mostly relating to the London entertainment world. The humour is now mostly impenetrable. Individuals referred to include: C. B. Cochran, H. G.

[1] + 19pp., 4to. Unbound, on leaves attached with a brass stud. Title-page reads: 'LIFE'S LITTLE LAUGHS. | BY | HERMAN FINCK.' In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The introduction reads: 'Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs at you. Here then let me set down some things of humour that I remember, some of my own which have appealed to my friends, some of my friends' which have appealed to me.

1p., 12mo. In very good condition, lightly aged. Laid down on leaf removed from album. Reads: 'My Dear Faed/ | Will you take a quiet dinner with me on Tuesday next the 24th. 1/4 before 7 - and meet our friend MacNee - to say nothing of obliging | Yours faithfully | David Roberts'.

1p., folio. Good, on a lightly-aged piece of ruled paper. In two columns, with the left-hand column, written out by Roberts with his address at the foot, headed 'Name of Exhibition', and listing twelve international exhibitions between 1862 (Amsterdam) and 1898 (Brussels). The right-hand column, headed 'Picture Exhibition', carries Alma-Tadema's responses, some of which are written in darker ink than others, indicating that they were added at more than one point. Alongside 'Paris (EU) 1867' he writes '13 pictures amongst them.

On one side of 11 x 15.5 cm piece of paper. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. An interesting and unusual artefact of Devon social history. Reads: 'Messrs. Roberts & Carter, | To the Crier of Barum [the Latin name for Barnstaple] | 1835 | July 3rd Posting Bills, for sale of Rookebeare Estate 1s. 0d. | Crying do. 1s 0d | Augst 27th. Posting Bills for sale of Pinney Estate &c 2s 0d | Duryard 2s 0d | [total] 4s 0d' Bater's acknowledgment at foot reads: '28 August 1835 Recd the above | W Bater'.

1p., 4to. In fair condtion, lightly aged and creased. With a few autograph corrections by Roberts. Having been unsuccessful in placing an individual with Wilson, Roberts writes: 'Of course forty years ago the advent of a bookshop like yours was a tremendous event, and we all flocked to it as something new and wonderful, as indeed it was.

24pp., 8vo, paginated 161-184. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Roberts contributes 'The Cult of Sherlock'; Frank Swinnerton, 'Holmes - World Figure'; Darwin, 'The Great Holmes Joke'; Howlett and Pointer, 'Holmes on Stage and Screen'; Paget, 'He made Holmes real' ('In this article Winifred Paget writes of her father, Sidney Paget, whose drawings, says Frank Swinnerton on another page, made Holmes "the most universally familiar imaginary figure in two hemispheres'.

For a full list of named engravers, artists and publishers, see below. Lumb Stocks was, as the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography points out, 'one of the most influential exponents of steel line engraving, and his death left the Royal Academy without an engraver in its ranks'. He bequeathed his collection of prints to the British Museum;; the present collection was retained by the family, and purchased from the estate of Harold Carpenter Lumb Stocks (1884-1956), organist of St Asaph Cathedral.

10pp., 4to. Original top-copy typescript. On ten leaves held together by a brass stud. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Typed at end: 'Copyright of Estelle Roberts.' Begins: 'I am very happy to come here to-night to talk to you. While waiting to entrance the meduim I heard these words.

[v] + 25pp., 12mo. In grey card wraps, with white label on front cover, carrying title in black and red. Internally good, in worn wraps with front hinge torn at head around a third of the total length. Inscribed on front free endpaper: 'with affectionate remembrance | from | F. W. Bourdillon'. The booklet contains ten poems, tastefully printed, and all relating directly or indirectly to the Great War. Titles include: 'The Coming of the Oversea Armies', 'A Lamentation over Belgium' and 'Lord Roberts'. Not common: seven copies on COPAC.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged, creased and worn paper. The poem features under the title 'Liberty Imperilled' in Roberts's collection 'Charing Cross and Other Poems of the Period' (1919), and the context suggests that the poem was composed at the commencement of the First World War. The sonnet begins: 'Not without cause just and unshakeable | Will we surrender up the cherished prize | Of individual liberty, so well | and nobly held'.

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper with small closed tear along fold line. He is not sure whether, 'as a Permanent Official', he could attend Campion's meeting in Cambridge on 24 October, 'though I very sincerely wish well to your cause'. He has in any case 'accepted an invitation to a great dinner which the Lord Mayor gives on that day to Sir F. Roberts who goes to India as Commander in Chief.' He is not a great attender of public dinners, 'but this will be a large gathering ofr Indian soldiers and civilians, and I could not decline'.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, on aged paper. Addressed to 'David Roberts Esqre. R.A.' The letter reads: 'Sir | I will relinquish all claim on and interest in the plate I am engraving fom your picture of Jerusalem and make it over unconditionally to you on your paying me the sum of Fifty pounds. I hereby bind myself to this offer until tomorrow'.

59pp., 12mo. Stitched. Front wrap present, with the title printed within an ornate border on yellow paper, and the price given as sixpence. In fair condition, on aged paper, with dog-eared corner and slight loss at foot of the worn front wrap. Two ownership inscriptions: 'David Davies his Book' on the inside wrap, and 'David Davies his Book | 1852 | Tynyfawnay Llanfair | Montgomeryshire'.

16pp., foolscap 8vo. Stapled into white printed covers, with 'ransom note' design on front and facsimile on back of letter from the Warren Commission members to the President of the United States, 24 September 1964. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The document ends, under the publication details on the last page: 'Meanwhile back at the peanut farm: A PRESIDENT FOR AMERICA | The difference between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter is one of style and personality. Theirs [sic] policies are remarkably similar. | The Economist Oct.

The six items in good condition, lightly-aged and with slight rust spotting. Four of the letters concern an exhibition of the CUP's work at the Bumpus store, 350 Oxford Street. Lewis's four letters are all signed 'W. Lewis' and on his own CUP letterhead. One: 24 September 1931. 2pp., 8vo. In reply to Wilson's congratulations over the exhibition he informs him that he will be sending his son ('subject of course to your consent'), 'who has been in the printing [sic] now for two years and should know something of types.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On lightly-aged and creased paper, with short closed tear at centre of gutter. The first page is headed 'THE ACID TEST', and carries an announcement by Maurice, Roberts and Dryhurst, reading: 'The Georgia Committee, first formed in 1906 as the "Georgia Relief Committee," was revived in 1922 by the friends of Georgian Independence, and is open for membership to all supporters of the Rights of Small Nations.

1p., 8vo. 22 lines. Fair, on aged and worn paper. Addressed on reverse to 'William Jerdan Esqr | Grove House'. On wove paper watermarked 'G & R TURNER | 1826'. The letter can thus be dated from between 1826 and 1829, the year 'Ackermann's Repository of the Arts' ceased publication. Written in a difficult, hurried hand. She has received a letter from 'Mr Ackermann', saying that the package which Jerdan was 'kind enough to promise should go in your bag yesterday I having given it to you too late for the boy on Monday, has not reached him'.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with broken seal in black wax, on verso of second leaf, to 'James Montgomery Esqr'. 80 lines of text. He has been twice that day to Montgomery's Sheffield mansion the Mount 'to enquire about you - the first time in vain, and the second nearly so. There they are much as heretofore - but Miss Sarah meaning to write sermons you may have it before this.' Roberts declares: 'I think the present great Lions of the town are myself and mad dogs - perhaps you may think that they might be included under one head - yes - if that head was yours!

Forster's main objection is that the National Service questionnaire, sent out by the Society of Authors 'at the suggestion of the Ministry of Labour', asks members to 'give general particulars of their political opinions' (see Hansard, 25 May 1939). Four items. ONE. Priestley's letter, addressed to 'My dear Forster' by 'J. B. Priestley'. 1 p, 4to. Twenty lines. Fair, on aged paper.

12mo, 1 p. Text clear and complete. On aged and creased paper. Giving the numbers of thirteen wagons which are 'still undelivered', 'the position with the Owners' having become 'so acute that a Reward of Ten Shillings per Wagon is offered to anyone who traces either of the Vehicles and takes the necessary steps to ensure delivery of same'.

8vo, [iii] + 66 pp. Computer printout in plastic binder. Text clear and complete. Creasing to first four leaves, otherwise in very good condition. On title-page: 'ACTING COPY ONLY'. Note by 'C. W.' on next page: 'This version of the script is taken from Paul Roberts' unedited first draft transcription for a public reading of the play at the Powys Society's Annual Conference, at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, at 7.30pm on Sunday, 28th August, 1994. | Where words have still not been deciphered in the transcript, temporary ones have been inserted.

12mo, 1 p. Clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In a bifolium, with thin strip of archival tape along edge of reverse of second leaf from previous mounting. He is enclosing 'W Roberts' letter & the answer' (neither present), and asks for a duplicate to be made of the latter item and 'sent forward'. Complains of 'a sad irregularity of Messrs Forbes & Co', asking if the matter has been set straight.

On rectangle of paper roughly 8 x 11 cm, with small triangles neatly cut away from corners. Aged and with traces of glue and paper from previous mounting. The letterhead has Roberts's Garter crest in the top left-hand corner and his address at top right. Firmly written: '[signed] Roberts, F.M. | 28. April 1908.' Slight smudging to the 'rt' of 'Roberts'.

On one side of a piece of pink paper, roughly 18 x 23.5 cm, removed from an autograph album. Good, on lightly aged paper. Eight bars of music and libretto, with staves for 'Soprani', 'Alti', 'Tenori' and 'Bassi'. Covering most of the page, and followed by 'From "The Waters of Babylon" (Psalm 137) | (May 1935.) | E. Phyllis Roberts. | June 15th, 1935.' Twenty-nine line poem 'To the Gentle Owner of this Album' on the reverse, signed 'Moir Carnegie | 21-6-10'. (in whose name a "prestigious" prize was given).

12mo, 2 pp. Good, with minor staining and head, and traces of previous mount to blank second leaf of bifolium. He is sorry to learn that the 'Private Secretary, Mr. Harold Roberts' has rheumatic fever, 'a most painful disease' which 'usually lasts some time'. 'The poor lad will get over it, and ere long be quite himself again'. Lady Roberts is sending the boy 'some flowers'. When he is 'stronger, and would care to read', Roberts will send him 'a copy of my "Forty-one years in India".'

One page, 12mo. Very good, laid down on piece of larger, thicker, blue-backed paper. Amusing response to a request for an autograph. 'I do not know why you should bother about collecting consul's autographs. Consuls are generally a useless lot of fellows who do nothing and think a great deal about themselves. Instead of being intermediaries of trade they assume diplomatic attitudes; dress well, smoke well and so on. They should be diplomats. | I am not a Consul General, neither am I in London, but if my autograph is needed to add to your collection I give it here below.'

Three pages, octavo. Very good on lightly aged paper. Kenyon's paper was 'much enjoyed' when read on Saturday, and there was 'a good attendance'. '[T]he pleasantries were not missed': '1. the confusion of the inexhaustible emender; 2. the thrift of the canny Odysseus in his role of wooer; 3. Burne Jones's Law.' 'At the end some interesting questiosn were asked', for example, 'why second-rate Greek annalists shd. seemingly have been preferred to Herodotus & Thucydides'.

On piece of paper roughly eleven inches by eight wide. 'Col[oure]d 2/6' engraved in bottom right-hand corner above caption. On aged paper, creased and with two closed tears of one and a half inches apiece, and one of half an inch, none of the three affecting the image. Full-length portrait of a somewhat simian Harrison, in black top hat and brown cut away jacket, clutching his arms in front of his belly with one glove removed, standing on a grassy hill (in front of Chester Castle?]. Two small ink docketings on reverse.