SIR

1p., 8vo. In very good condition. Page with reference at foot: 'SCHEDULE.ACC 28 Aug 95', headed with printed list, divided into four sections: 'Completed' (5 items beginning with 'Message to Future Mars Colonists (Video: Russian Lander, 96)'), 'Contracted' (5 items beginning with 'S.E. Asia Information Conference (Keynote: Colombo 5 Sept)'), 'Optioned' (5 items beginning with 'The Hammer of God (Spielberg, Zanuck, Brown - Paramount)'), and 'Under Discussion' (7 items beginning with 'Telecom 95 (ITU, Geneva 3-11 Oct)'). Clarke's autograph note reads: 'Dear Malcolm [sic] - photo herewith!

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged and spotted. Since she is going away, he considers it 'safer' to return the 'Oedipus', which has given him great pleasure. He hopes she will enjoy her 'Freshwater outing', and that 'we may remain above the horizon to welcome your return to town'. The Freshfields were a noted family of solicitors, with strong connections with the Bank of England.

Printed in black on one side of a 12.5 x 17 cm card. In fair condition, on aged and creased paper, with a little light staining. To the right of the page is an illustration by Tenniel of Mr Punch holding Yorick's skull, while a pug dog looks on. Text reads: 'Sir John Tenniel requests the honour of a visit from [blank] and friend, On Saturday, March 30th, To the Private View of some of his Drawings for "Punch Cartoons," etc., At the Fine Art Society's, 148, New Bond Street. 10 to 6 o'clock.'

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper, with slight show-through on first leaf. Expressing, 'on behalf of the Eagle Committee', a 'joint sense' of Powell's 'kindly interest in the magazine', whose 'circulation, hitherto, has been restricted to members of the College'. Powell's 'helpful offer' will be considered that week, when his letter is laid before the committee, who are desirous of inserting, 'more systematically, intelligence respecting members of the College in London'.

Church was a leading authority on the chemistry of paintings. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In very good condition. Written in a neat and close hand in the spirit of a true antiquary. Addressed to 'My dear Friend'. He begins by discussing Roman coins ('by no means rare even when in good condition'), describing 'two gold Neros' in his possession, and 'aurei of Galba', before turning to his activitiies since leaving Cirencester. He has not been 'working at Britanno-Roman things', but has been through 'some very interesting specimens belonging to Mr. T. B.

Both items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: Copy letter. 2pp., folio. On paper with watermark 'JOHN HOWARD | 1804'. Ends: 'To | Sir J. T. Duckworth K.B. | Vice Admiral of the White | &ca. &ca. &ca. | Given on board the Ocean off Cadiz | 12th. August 1806 | (signed) Collingwood | By Command of the Vice Admiral | (signed) W R Cosway | A Copy -'.

1p., 12mo. On bifolium. In very good condition. Having asked Thorp's son to ask him to 'turn this' in his mind, he writes again on behalf of the Duke, who would like 'the names of such gentry, as might be made Depy. Lieuts. Mr. Adamson complaining of their want at Hexcham - Avonlea - & some other places'. The only name that Smith can recollect is that of 'Mr. Mitford, of Mitford Castle, who is desirous of acting'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition. In stamped envelope addressed by Dicksee to 'Shirley Slocombe Esq. | 27 Warwick Gardens | Kensington | W.14'. He apologises for his late reply to Slocombe's 'kind congratulations', explaining that he is 'faced by over 500 letters all needing answers'. Dicksee was knighted the following year.

1p., landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. With manuscript note of receipt. Robieson grants permission to reprint, adding 'There is no need for me specially to obtain the writer's permission, he will I am sure be only too glad to see his letter get extra publicity.' The carbon of Griggs's letter is stapled to Robieson's. It is dated 16 February 1950, explains that the letter, from 'County Planning Officer', published on 7 February, 'referred to a paper recently read to this Society on "Are Town Planners Planning Too Far Ahead?"'

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with a short closed tear along a crease and slight loss to one corner. He regrets that 'it is not in my power to afford any Official Assistance, in promoting the use of your very Ingenious, & Valuable Invention; as the Business of this Department is exclusively confined to the Building, & <?>, belonging either to His Majesty, or the Public, such as Palaces, Public Offices &c.' He suggests a number of organisations to which Lawrence should apply., 'as the Departments most likely to encourage your useful Undertaking'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He acknowledges receipt of a cheque for 35 guineas, for 'the small drawing of Constantinople', adding that 'Prince Hohenlohe called and saw it here today, and liked it very much'. He ends with the news that he has engaged 'Heffer to call here for it, & pack & send it to its destination'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In very good condition, lightly aged. Had he known that Hughes's wedding was 'coming off so soon' he would have been 'in time with a little gift'. As it is, he asks him to choose for himself, 'with the aid of your wife': 'Are you and she sick of the Oxford Books of Verse? Is Shakspeare's England too weighty (avoirdupois) for war-time establishments?

2pp., 4to. On leaf with mourning border. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with traces of paper stub adhering to one edge. Regarding Neale's 'Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland', which was published in parts, with a total of 732 plates) in two series totalling 11 vols between 1819 and 1829. Gardiner writes that he has been 'commanded by The Prince Leopold to ascertain the number of volumes in which it is proposed to compleat Mr.

Both items 2pp., folio. Each on a separate leaf, the two leaves attached to one another by small gummed labels. Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Signed by Woods. Announcing the appointment, and enclosing a warrant ('ordinary Member of the Military division of the Third Class, or Companions'. TWO: Signed by Cox. The word 'duplicate' in red ink at head of first page, but with Cox's genuine signature. Announcing the appointment, 'on the recommendation of Secretary Sir Michael Hicks Beach'.

On three sides of a vellum bifolium supplied by the London law stationers Witherby & Co. Dimensions of leaf 39 x 26 cm. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. The document is a draft, with several emendations in pencil, including a lengthy addition in the margin of first page, and a shorter one on the second page. Laid out in customary style, within red rules. Docketed on fourth side: 'Dated 15th August 1914 | The Earl of Ducie and Others | to | The Earl of Ducie and Others | Red Cross Garden | Assignment'. With stamp of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, signed by Hugh de Bock Porter.

The Patent Office - now the Intellectual Property Office - was established by the Patent Law Amendment Act of 1852, which simplified the procedure for obtaining patents of invention and reduced costs. In 1883 another Act of Parliament brought into being the office of Comptroller General of Patents, with, according to the National Archives, 'a staff of patent examiners to carry out a limited form of examination; mainly to ensure that the specification described the invention properly, but without any investigation into novelty'.

H. G. Wells had been a member of an organisation of the same name at the end of the nineteenth century, but the two appear unrelated. The background to the present SKDS is explained in a loosely-inserted cutting from the Observer, 6 February 1938, which states that the Conservative at Kensington 'have a very vigorous Debating Society, of which the chairman is Miss Dorothy Saward. It meets once a month, and Miss Saward has been singularly successful in her choice both of motions and speakers'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium, with Smirke's embossed monogram. Although he and his wife were 'absent in Northumberland', their daughter and a friend were able to make use of Miss Macerone's gift of a card of admission to her concert, and 'very great pleasure' was 'afforded to them by the afternoon's Entertainment.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads 'Dear Madam, | I am sorry I cannot have the pleasure of attending your Concert, but wish you every success. | Yours very truly | G A Macfarren'. Little is known of Miss Macerone, but on 26 October 1846 the Boston 'Musical Gazette' reported: 'A young lady, Miss Macerone, who excels as a pianist and composer ! recently gave her first concert in London. She performed Mendelssohn's trio in D, ( in which Messrs.

The two items are disbound, but attached to one another. On aged and worn paper. PROSPECTUS: 1p., 12mo. Reads: 'Mr. Abel's Account of the Embassy to China. | In the press, and immediately will be published, | In One Volume, Quarto, illustrated by Maps and other Engravings, of Landscape, Natural History, Geology, &c.

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads: 'Yes, I feel sure that at the time I pencilled in C. L. Dodgson, the author of Alice in Wonderland etc. The Rev. R. St. John Tyrwhitt was a resident in Oxford, and the note may have been addressed to him across the table? He was the father of the present Admiral Sir R. J. Tyrwhitt.'

ONE: Invitation. Tastefully printed in red and black on one side of an 11.5 x 15 cm piece of card. The club's monogram in a red square in top left-hand corner. Headed: 'YE SETTE OF ODD VOLUMES | United once a month to form a Perfect Sette | Object: Conviviality and Mutual Admiration.' The form, which has not been filled in, invites the recipient to one of the Tuesday meetings at the Imperial Restaurant, No. 7 Glasshouse Street, Regent Street. In envelope with circular 'Odd Volumes' device in red on flap.

Printed on one side of a piece of wove paper, folded twice to make a card of 4pp., 4to. In good condition, lightly-aged and spotted. Low's 10 x 8.5 cm illustration is on the cover, and is rather uncharacteristic in its lightness of touch. Nor is the layout of the cover in the usual 'Sette' style, rather harking forwards to the 1940s. Cover states: 'His Oddshippe Sir Harry Trelawney Eve (Chaplain) in ye Chair'.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium on card. In good condition, lightly-aged. A bold and characteristic cartoon by Low, depicting the evening's chairman. The central two pages, under the heading 'LADIES' NIGHT', give a humorous description of the planned celebrations, beginning: 'The June Meeting of the Sette is nominally dedicated to the graces of feminine society. Actually, it is an overt act of self glorification on the part of the individual members of the Sette.' Among those referred to are: 'the Master of Ceremonies, Bro. S. K. Glanville (Ushabti)', 'Bro. Vyvyan Holland (Idler)', 'Bro J. G.

On irregular piece of paper (4.5 cm wide, and up to 2.5 cm high). In good condition, lightly aged. Good firm hand. Reads 'Free | J Jekyll'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and spotted paper. A convincing copy of a genuine typed letter, with Milford's signature and the letterhead in black ink, and the typewritten text in purple. 25 lines of text in three paragraphs. An interesting glimpse into the state of the British publishing industry in the period immediately following the First World War.

Printed in black and red on one side of a piece of 37.5 x 26 cm wove paper, with Charles Martin 'Extra Strong' watermark. Text enclosed in attractive decorative border. At foot: 'God Save the King. | At a Piano ... ... ... ... Miss Wynne Runting'.

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'.