scharf

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged.

The five letters total 10pp., 12mo. On five bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. An interesting correspondence, from one of the trustees of the new National Portrait Gallery to its (as yet unknighted) secretary. ONE: 'Brit. Mus. | Saturday afternoon' [1859]. 1p., 12mo. Begins: 'Lord Macaulay [another trustee] tells me that he intends to visit the Portrait Gallery with some friends at 3 on Monday.' TWO: Chevening. 2 November 1859. 2pp., 12mo. After thanking him for 'the drawings for Lady Stanhope' he exclaims: 'Another terrible storm yesterday!

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. She is out of town, and Scharf's letter has followed her to Cheshire and Lancashire, and she is sending a letter of introduction to Lord Essex, whom she hopes will 'afford you every facility in your interesting pursuits'. She is flattered 'at the manner in which you always speak of my Grove Catalogue - it was a great pleasure to me & I much regret that other duties & occupations have prevented me for a time from continuing my Biographies'. She concludes by wishing him 'every success in your Blenheim Catalogue'.

The three items totalling 11pp., 12mo. On three bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. ONE: 23 February 1860. 3pp., 12mo. She begins: 'I cannot receive yr. repeated welcome remembrance of old Remp[ston]e. days, without a line of thanks for the pleasurable thoughts they awaken - a boon, to a Recluse, who lives much on the past & on the far-off present, which a friendly telescope may bring before her'. She congratulates him in graceful terms on his 'success'.

3pp., 12mo. He is pleased to find that Scharf is 'making progress with the catalogue and with identifying the pictures'. He thanks him for sending information 'on various points', and assures him that 'Ash [...] will be most ready to carry out anything for you'. Scharf's 'Catalogue Raisonné; or, A List of the Pictures in Blenheim Palace; with Occasional Remarks and Illustrative Notes' was published in London in 1862.

Totalling 14pp., 12mo. On four bifoliums. In good condition, lightly-aged. The correspondence indicates the closeness between Scharf and the family of the man responsible for his appointment as Secretary to the National Portrait Gallery. Topics include: the obtaining by her son [Edward Stanhope (1840-1893)] of 'a first Class in Mathematics the first in that branch at Ch[rist]. Ch[urch, Oxford].

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium on grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. He has received Scharf's 'private list' (of paintings to borrow?) and will let him know 'which I can spare immediately'. In the meantime, as Scharf is in town, he suggests that he go and see 'what I have' in 1 Stable Yard, St James! - The pictures there belonging to me are a Canaletto - view of Venice - a Rubens - His own daughter - an Original of Mrs. Siddons, by Sir W. Beechey & a View of Jerusalem by D. Roberts'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Scharf had illustrated her 'Life in Ancient India' (1856), and she writes informally, expressing regret at the news of his move 'from the Classic No. 1., a house consecrated to the Arts by your occupation of it & ever to be remembered with respect, regard, pleasure & all good feelings'.

12mo, 1 p. On mourning paper. Ten lines of text, followed by initialed signature 'GS.' Clear and complete. Good, on aged paper. Scharf states that his last meeting with Stanhope was at Chevening on 20 November 1875, and that he had 'almost up to the last moment been reading to him "Advice to Julia" by Henry Lutterell illigitimate [sic] son of Lord Carhampton, publd by Murray. 1820'. Stanhope, he concludes, 'enjoyed it very much'.

Antiquarian and dramatist (1796-1880), disbound article, [12] pages, in homemade blue wraps, contents partly detached, manuscript title on front "J.R. Planche on a battlepiece in the National Gallery, July. 1878".