SOLICITORS

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'.

Folio, 530 pp, preceded by 24 p manuscript thumb index. In original brown calf binding, marbled endpapers, with red spine label stamped 'BILL BOOK C'. Text clear and complete, in a variety of hands. Good and tight, on aged paper, in worn binding. The first twenty-seven pages carry bills from the firm acting on behalf of 'The Trustees of Saint Bartholomews Hospital, Chatham' (founded in 1078 by Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, for the 'poor and leperous', and one of the oldest hospitals in Britain).

12mo, 2 pp. Fifteen lines of text. Clear and complete. On aged and stained paper, with 3.5 cm closed tear in gutter, corner torn with no loss of text. Addressed, with postmark and remains of red wax seal, on reverse of second leaf. Docketed 'Lady Mary Ross | Park Lane 31 March 1830 | ans. 17 Apl'. Her neighbour 'Mr Wyndham Lewis' is 'In a fidget, as to Insurance'. She hopes it has been regularly paid, and 'must trust to yr not allowg it to be neglected'. She believes the insurance is 'for the House only & that I did not wish furniture'. According to the 'Survey of London', No.

4to, 1 p. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged and worn paper. With 1 cm vertical closed tear at foot of each leaf. Addressed, with postmarks, on the reverse of the second leaf, which is docketed '31. July 1840. | Gurney & Co. that Mrs E. Lofty resides at Hethersett near Norwich -'. Reads 'Respected friends | We believe that the lady for whose address you enquire in yr favor of the 29th Inst resides at Hethersett near this city'. Gurney joined the family business at the age of seventeen.

Solicitor (1820-1910). 3 pp, 12mo. An informal letter. "We were all much pleased at hearing of your good husband's promotion and we were glad to find you are in a pleasant part of the country. [...] All are I am thankful to say well - Fred recently had a very alarming accident in London". Four pieces of gummed paper from mounting adhering to blank verso of second leaf.