SIR

Black and white photograph, 11 x 15 cm, laid down on piece of white paper 12 x 16.5 cm, itself laid down on a piece of grey card, 200 x 255 cm. In fair condition, slightly discoloured and with one tiny chip to the right-hand edge; in lightly-aged mount with wear to corners. The card carries the printed caption: 'Proclamation of H. M. King Edward VII. | GIBRALTAR, 25TH JANUARY, 1901.' A large crowd looks up at a large official party on the stone balcony of the Governor's House, Gibraltar, which is decked with a large Union Flag.

1p., landscape 12mo. With circular purple stamp of the Magistrate of the District, Belgaum. The magistrates name is faded and difficult to decipher (''). Completed in manuscript (in square brackets in the following transcription): '[Lieut. Peacock, Officer in charge Disinfection and Central Segregation Camps,] Supervisor of Circle No. [last four words crossed through] is hereby appointed a plague authority under the Moffussil Plague Rules in the town and suburbs of Belgaum.'
With related newspaper article.

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. On monogrammed letterhead. In fair condition, with traces of glue from mount still adhering. She proposes a date for a meeting, adding: 'Will Miss Paget come in the evening & bring a young friend with her if she pleases?'

2pp., foolscap 8vo. On bifolium, with the reverse of the second leaf carrying the address, two postmarks and a red wax seal. In response to a letter from Norman, Barrow writes that his son 'was promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant on the 3rd of September 1841, and as he has not since been appointed to any Ship it is presumed he will return to England'. Furthermore, 'the Commission promoting him is with the Chief Clerk of this Office, and will be delivered to any person authorized to receive it on the payment of the Stamp Duty of 5/-'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with strip of tape from previous mounting adhering at the foot of the recto of the second leaf. He asks her to send 'cards for your afternoon Friday' to 'our dear friends Mr. and Mrs. Koecher (and the Misses Koecher)', who would 'enjoy every minute'. He gives the Koecher's address as de Keyser's Royal Hotel, Blackfriars, and ends by conveying his wife's love.

3pp., 12mo. Gilt-edged bifolium. Fair, on aged paper, with the reverse of the second leaf backed with part of the leaf on which the letter was previously laid down.

Both items 4pp., 12mo, and bifoliums. Both in fair condition, on aged paper; the first with slight wear to one corner. In the first letter Pauncefote informs Aberdeen that Justice John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911), who has just visited him, is planning a summer holiday 'at Murray Bay in your Dominion'.

The five items aged and worn, with slight rust staining from previous attachment. Both of RC's letters signed 'Merton Russell:Coates -'. TLS (8 October 1917): 1p., 4to. A rather sniffy letter, with RC stating that he has 'quite a number of photographs of Sir Henry Irving of various kinds', and instructing Mrs Rothsay to 'please take the frame off as I would rather have it unframed'. ALS (29 October 1917): 2pp., 4to.

1p., 4to and 12pp., 12mo. The 4to leaf, in which the others (in three bifoliums) were wrapped, carries a black wax seal (damaged on opening) and the address 'His Excellency Major Genl Sir James Carmichael Smyth Bt. Bahama Islands.' Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'My dear Sir James'. He begins by reporting that his family is 'no longer living at the Priory, [...] but we are established, at least our home is established at leamington, where we have built & completed a pretty hunting Box.

On one side of a piece of wove paper, 15.5 x 9.5 cm. In fair condition, on aged paper, with one creased corner and a small nick at the head. The drop-head title is in capitals, with the second line having only the opening quotation marks (before the initial word 'BEWARE'). The poem is 29 lines long, with three seven-line stanzas followed by an eight-line one. At the foot of the poem: 'Albury. Mary Frances Tupper.' The first stanza reads 'The stamp of Rome is on their heart, | Take care! take care! | They play the Jesuits' crafty part, | Beware! beware!

1p., 12mo. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The note reads: 'Sept. 17th. 1928 | Dear Sir | I send you my signature with pleasure, and I am | Yours very faithfully | [signed] Arthur Quiller-Couch | L. S. Porter Esq.'

32pp., 8vo. In original printed wraps. Stitched. In fair condition: dusty and lightly-aged, with minor creasing. Described on p.5 as 'a new translation of the Memorandum presented to the protecting Powers by the Executive which, since the departure of the second Greek High Commissioner, has been governing Crete under obvious difficulties, but with conspicuous success'. The 'Copy of Letter from Monsieur E. Venizelos to Sir Charles W. Dilke', dated 'Canea. 13/26 July, 1910', is on p.3; and Dilke's introduction on pp.5-12.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with slight creasing to bottom outer corner of both leaves. Bishop begins by asking Gye to confirm 'the excuse which Mr Barton has given for his absence the whole of Friday Evening last: & which having being [sic] noticed to me officially, I am obliged to enquire particularly into: - He says that he was at the Old Bailey Trial in consequence of your invitation that day!

Three pages, 12mo. Good only: some staining but text clear and complete. He's been away and so has only just received his correspondent's letter. He continues: "It is impossible for me to give you any information as to the probable amount of the Expence of presenting your claim to the Earldom of Huntingdon before the House of Lords. As however the pedigree is a very long one & the attendance of many witnesses with the original parish Registers will be necessary I apprehend that it must be very considerable.

Eight tall and thin 8vo diaries of unusual shape: the first six 34.5 x 13.5 cm, the last two slightly smaller. The first diary has 120pp., the others of similar length. With between two and four daily entries to a page, depending on the volume. The diaries are elegantly printed by a number of different Paris publishers (Dechamp; Pirmet; 'E. J.'; 'M. et H.'; 'F. G.'; 'B. L.'). Five are bound in light-brown cloth, with coloured paper labels stamped in gilt; the other three have printed paper boards.

All four items in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. All written in Murray's distinctive wavy hand. Letter One: 15 December 1898. 3pp., 12mo. He begins by asking Mann to 'send the proceeds for the enclosed cheque into the proper hands to discharge my debt for the pencils'. He 'had to run down by night mail on Sunday night & back on Monday night, to attend the funeral of my dear old friend James Muir who died after a very short illness'. He expresses sympathy for 'Poor Brough'.

1p., 8vo. Good, on lightly-creased paper. He writes that he was 'very interested' to get Brill's letter. 'I will certainly work on something: I have many ideas, and you will probably be able to select something from what I will show you.' He suggests 'a drink at the Chelsea Arts Club one evening? I now have an answering machine, so you can leave a message there - or even with Monica at the College'.

Lower part of letter with ruled border, laid down on part of leaf from autograph album. Dimensions: 7.5 x 18.5 cm. Lightly aged and ruckled. Reads: '<...> your support at the approaching Election for the County of Durham - having for so long possessed the confidence of this County, it is his utmost ambition to have it continued and should he be honoured with yours, it will be considered the highest obligation | I am Sir | Your faithful Servant | [signed] Ju: Milbank | Seaham | Octr: 27. 1806.' Contemporary ink note reads: '[Lady Milbanke afterwards Lady Noel Milbanke, mother of Lady Byron.]'

1p., 4to. Bifolium, with address ('Mr. Faden. Charing Cross. London'.) on reverse of second leaf, from which the seal has been cut away. He begins by informing Faden that his servant will call to pay his bill. 'I wish you would desire Mr. Wyld [James Wyld the elder (1790-1836)] your successor to send me the largest & best maps extant of Sweden, Norway & Lapland - maps I want in my otherwise beautiful collection very much'. He also enquires after 'Walker's new Map of India 16s', and a 'new map of Ceylon - where my eldest daughter is gone - as the Governor Sr. Edward Barnes' wife -'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He writes to thank Gardiner for sending him 'a copy of your printed but unpublished Report to His Majesty's Government on the danger of governing Gibraltar as a Colony'. Gardiner's report 'forms an appropriate termination' to his 'administration of the affairs of the "Rock," & I shall read it with the interest and attention due to your long Experience in that Fortress'. He ends by sending his compliments to Lady Gardiner.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He is enclosing a cheque in payment of Lyndon's fees, 'and with best thanks for your kind attention'.

7pp., 4to. On three bifoliums and two single leaves of watermarked laid paper, all loose, with the bifoliums placed inside one another and the single leaves inserted after the title. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Written out in black ink, with the titles in red ink, in an excellent uncial hand. The five translations are 'My Own, my Native Land' and 'The Family Dinner-Party', both by Bowra; 'This World is all a Fleeting Show' and 'This defileth a Man', both by Murray; and 'Whom the Gods love', by Byron.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He regrets that 'too much time has elapsed' since her letter to 'our Mary': 'I wished to write sooner but I have missed doing so through great pressure of various urgent engagements'. He is enclosing (not present) 'an introduction to Prof. Carey Foster, which I hope may be useful unless you have already got the advice you wanted'. The recipient is probably a member of the family of Sir Otto Jaffe (1846-1929), Lord Mayor of Belfast.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper. In good condition, lightly-aged. Reads: 'Sir John Hobhouse presents his compliments and would be very much obliged to the Secretary of the British Institution to send him two tickets for the exhibition of this evening.'

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed at head of first page: 'Sir John Conroy Bt | Fellow Balliol Coll.' He regrets that he cannot 'do London either on the 12: or before that day', and so will not be able to 'help in any way about your Son's election at the Athenaeum'. He concludes: 'I trust it will go all right.'

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The poem is of eighteen lines, and begins: 'I agree, my dear friend that whatever we feel | We are really no more than the "flies on the wheel." | And that there's little more which each one of [us] does | Than fluster & flurry & worry & buzz | But each has his place if he only could know it | But I doubt very much if my place is a poet!

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor water staining and a couple of spike holes. An intriguing communication, beginning: 'I would not, if I were you, allow myself to be so worried.' Smirke feels that, as 'Mess: Saunders & Co have not been backward in representing themselves as Principals in the matter', and as they 'are as largely as - or more largely, interested' than Lloyd himself 'in obtaining a payment, they had better themselves address Sir Robert'.

1p., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with short closed tear to one edge and traces of mount on blank second leaf of bifolium. Signature slightly smudged. Brassey writes that he has been 'detained at the House of Lords, where I have been acting as chairman of a private committee', and as a result 'found it impossible to go down to the Albert Docks yesterday afternoon'. The letter almost certainly relates to the Albert Dock Seaman's Hospital, which was officially opened the following year, as a branch of the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He begins by enquiring whether the recipient is 'the J. R. Clark who appeared recently on TV', whom he 'would love to meet'. 'In 1934 my two aunts were in Germany and wrote letters home. They were keen Nazis and my older aunt met Goering & Goebbles. My grandparents and younger aunt were given luncheon by the Mussolinis when in Rome.' He was 'rivetted' by the television programme, as he was 'transcribing the letters sent to their mother by my aunts when the programme was broadcast'.

On one side of a piece of thin light-brown card, 41.5 x 31cm. In very good condition. What appears to be the calligrapher's tiny monogram in the bottom right-hand corner. A striking document which has, despite the date, a strangely 'New Age' feel about it. Illuminated in a range of pastel colours, picked out in gold, around the text at the head and down the margins, with illustrations of a church, a mountain and, at the head, the Innes family home. The calligraphy has a modern feel to it, with Celtic influences.