ROYAL

The four items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. In envelope addressed to Mrs P. E. Batt, Beckenham, Kent. ONE: 'The Last Month' by Wilmott. 13pp., foolscap 8vo. A photocopied typescript on thirteen leaves of paper, stapled together, with five original autograph annotations by Batt. The first reads '"Big funf" was one of the German Guards - had no roof to his mouth - spoke funnily' and the fourth 'We had a "Union Jack" which was used for burials when P.O.W.'s died.' Wilmott's account commences: 'There had been gun fire from the west and the south for the last three days.

3pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, on two leaves pinned together. He begins: 'I am sending herewith living specimens from Eagle Pond, Epping Forest, of a species of Volvox without protoplasmic connections between the cells. If you have not had it before you will no doubt be interested. If you have, I should be glad if you could tell me what you think it ought to be called. It is evidently close, if not identical, with V. Monona Gilb. Smith recorded by Pearsall as British from the Lake Dist. But it may also be V. tertius Meyer (cf.

An interesting collection, casting light on media attitudes to the British Royal family and news management in the interwar years. Dawson was clearly mindful of publicity. As his entry in the Oxford DNB explains: 'It was Dawson who composed on a menu card the celebrated lines, ‘the King's life is moving peacefully towards its close’, having modified this from what he described as "a very commonplace" final bulletin used for Edward VII.' Penn's attendance during the King's final illness was controversial: it was later revealed that he hastened his end with morphine and cocaine.

2pp., 4to. In poor condition, heavily-aged and with loss to a few words of text caused by chipping to extremities. Smith thanks him 'le Chevalier' for his 'obligeant cadea vos traits et rappelant ainsi l'expression de la bienveillance, la Philanthropie et l'esprit d'observation qui vous caracterisent'.',>

4pp., 12mo, printed in blue and gold on card bifolium. Aged and with central horizontal fold, with glue from previous mount adhering to reverse of second leaf. Jellicoe's signature, in pencil at the head of the first page, reads 'Jellicoe | AF'. The menu is made out in manuscript to 'Mr John Morland'. Nine champagnes are listed, with their vintages, with eleven suitably-grand courses. 'Cigarettes Ed. Laurens | Les spécialités sont expliquées par le Docteur de Pomiane.

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight wear and few short closed tears. An interesting artefact, reflecting the postwar British manpower shortage. The heading is all in block capitals, with 'TRADESMEN WANTED' across the top.

Printed in black on one side of a piece of thick laid paper, 30.5 x 19.5 cm. Aged, and separated into two parts by a neat tear along a vertical fold line 13 cm from bottom (repaired on reverse), and with slight wear at the head. An attractive and characteristically Victorian design, entirely drawn onto the stone (i.e. none of the text set in type). The design displays a quirky and charming amateur energy, with the text within a decorative border incorporating what appears to be 'IOD POONA' at the foot. Headed by the words 'STATION THEATRE .

All three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One: 1p., 4to. Having been told by 'General Evans' that Brett-James has 'kindly agreed to criticise the manuscript of a book I have just completed' he is enclosing it (the manuscript is not present). 'If you could possibly let me have it back by next Saturday, 14th, I should appreciate it, as on 15th. I am going to Mexico, & the mails with that country are not very good.' He is also enclosing a cheque for three guineas, 'which, I believe, is what you said'. Letter Two: 1p., landscape 12mo.

3pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by Brett-James in pencil at the head of the first page to 'Lt Gen Sir Brian Horrocks' and with one manuscript correction. The letter begins: 'I do want to say how interesting and worthwhile I found the broadcast discussion last Sunday evening about the factors which make a good division. All that was said was true and most stimulating, but there are a few points which I should like to add.

1p., 4to. Fifteen lines. On aged paper and worn paper with loss to text, laid down on piece of card. Addressed to 'Mr Penrice | Gt Yarmouth'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightl-aged paper. A short letter, in which he thanks Brett-James for writing to him 'about the Macmillan speech': 'I really feel badly at having put you obviously to so much trouble'. He suggests that Brett-James sends him 'the tape' and lets him 'have it transcribed here, by my secretary'.

The image is 9 x 5.5 cm, mounted on brown card, 10.5 x 6.5 cm, printed on both sides in red, with large facsimile of Disdéri's signature on reverse. In fair condition, somewhat aged. Page is shown seated at a table with a sculpture of a stag on it, with legs cross and the sole of his left show showing, smoking a pipe. In addition to being an MP, Paget held several positions in the Royal Household, acting as Equerry to Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1841. The present image is not among the four representations of Paget in the National Portrait Gallery collection.

1p., 4to. He is honoured to be asked to talk to the Napier Society (a military history society at Sandhurst), but is 'right in the middle of the Cambridge term', as a Fellow of Churchill College, and so must 'propose a subject which I have already talked about.' He suggests two topics: 'Trade Defence in World War II' and 'Some Reasons for Official History', in the last of which he tries 'to answer criticisms of that form of history and describe the sources I had used and the way I had worked when writing The War at Sea 1939-45'.

1p., 4to. 30 typed lines, with the last two lines in autograph. In good condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Brett-James is addressed as 'Head of Department, War Studies & International Affairs, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He will be 'very happy, if it suits the Committee, to present a Cup somewhat similar to that they accepted fm me last year - as the Paxton Cup.' He prefers to leave the conditions to them, and asks for 'due notice when the time of the Regatta is fixed'.

[6] + 28pp., 12mo. In coloured illustrative wraps. Morris's illustrations are light and fresh, the first being a caricature of 'the enemy': a sour-looking bespectacled Japanese army officer. The first section, which it illustrates, is on 'Security' and concludes: 'Remember that in disposing of household effects, releasing servants from employment, etc., you may easily give away too much information.

Two pages, cr. 8vo, fold marks, small loss to margin without loss of text, mainly good condition. "Thanks very much for letter, the 10/- postal order is 5/- more than the book cost me from the publishers, had a drink at your [deletion] expense with the surplus. I have forwarded the book on to you under separate cover, wjhich you should receive at the same time as this letter.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Having been 'very comfortable' at Trinity College, Cambridge, as a guest of Bernard Thomas, Raglan thinks it will be 'very pleasant' to stay there again. He gives details of his proposed itinerary, makes suggestions regarding his motor-car, and accepts an invitation to 'dine in Hall'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with original worn and torn envelope, with stamp and postmarks, addressed by Lucas to 'H. W. Stuart Esq. | Mulgrave House | Rectory Place | Woolwich'. Stuart's son has 'shown himself so good a worker' at Guy's that Lucas is 'anxious that he should have an opportunity of taking a good position in the profession'. Lucas has 'persuaded him to try for the fellowship & if possible, to pass the preliminary next September'. Lucas hopes Stuart will encourage his son, as he is 'convinced that he has the power, if you give him the opportunity'.

3pp., foolscap 8vo. 60 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Bifolium. Addressed, with broken red wax seal, to 'C. J. Auret Esqe. | Secretary | Board of Public Roads | Cape Division | Cape Town'. Napier understands that no tender has been received 'for putting in repair the Cross Road leading from Mr. place, to Mr. Henry Dreyer's Bridge on the Constantia Road & from the Bridge to the foot of the Hill leading to Wynberg'. It is 'very evident' to Napier 'that if some means are not immediately taken, that the heavy rains we may expect this winter will render the same totally impassable'.'s?>

Engrossed on both sides of a long strip of vellum, 18.5 x 76 cm. Written in a neat clerk's hand. The vellum is worn, with slight damage at the head, and some passages, particularly at the start, are illegible. The heading appears to be 'Court Leet Charge', and the sub-heading 'Charge in the Court Baron' appears twice. The text is strongly reminiscent to the relevant sections in Giles Jacob's 'Complete Court-Keeper, or, Land-Steward's Assistant'.

Two pages, 18 x 26cm, trimmed roughly with small loss of text, some damage, small closed tears. One side the Order as partly quoted above. This is followed by the note "Ld Wm Powlet [one of the 4 Tellers] I pray pay this Order Out of Addl. Tonnage for the Civil List 27 May 1718", plus a few more words. Overleaf, 5 clerks/tally-writers acknowledge receipt of sums amounting to £356.16s, signing their autograph statement of receipt. They include: Tho Sadler, Dudley Downes, John Lawton, Hopton Haynes, Jo. Taylour.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. With mourning border. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. At the time of writing the biography of the Liberal politician Hugh Culling Eardley Childers (1827-1896) by his son Col. Edmund Spencer Eardley Childers (1854-1919) had just been published, and Welby begins by thanking the Colonel for the gift of the book.

24pp., 8vo, with one extra plate on art paper, and five full pages of diagrams in text. Stapled, in blue printed wraps. With two ownership inscriptions on the wraps, both of Royal Artillery personnel: the first of S. M. Dawes, and the second of '483 S/L Batt RA', i.e. Jack Lynden Batt (b.1922), of 155th Battery, 172nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. This offprint is excessively scare, with no copies listed on COPAC or WorldCat.

25pp., 8vo. Eleven photographic figures in text. Stapled and unbound. Printed on art paper. Creasing and wear to title-leaf, otherwise in fair condition, with corners slightly dog-eared. Signature 'Henry' at head of title, with purple stamp: 'With the author's compliments.'' This offprint is scarce: no copy in the British Library, and the only copy on COPAC in the Guildhall.

7 + 10 pp., folio. Stitched and unbound. Printed front wrap, with vignette and 'St. Thomas's Hospital | Royal Charter.' in black letter. Worn and aged, with heavily-worn front wrap detached. Each of the two sections has its own drophead title, and printers' slug on last page. Tastefully printed on thick paper, with vignettes above the two drophead titles. All text in Latin. Scarce: no copy in the British Library or on COPAC. Whittingham and Wilkins were active in Tooks Court in the 1860s.

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'.

One page, 4to,fold marks, good condition. In English as follows: "The harbour of Vladivostock is not bvery large indeed, but still there is sufficient room for the wellcom [sic] guests, who are now present, and as you wish that I let you know where some of [H J Bitt?] ships, belonging to your squadron, are to be anchored, changing the place tomorrow, I beg to inform you that it is the best for them to remain in the same place, where they are now.

2pp., 12mo. 31 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Begins abruptly: '<...> rather wait a little & get it without its having made a great favour.' He declares that he is 'perfectly ready however to go to sea tomorrow & have no wish to remain on shore, the reverse in fact, I would rather be afloat if I could choose - Shore is a stupid place I think - perhaps as soon as I leave it I shall commence to think otherwise'. References to 'sharpish weather' and dinner 'with the Chads' follow. He has been 'living rather a la Hermit'.

One: 3pp., 16mo. 42 lines. Fair, on aged paper.