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[Harry Hall of the British Museum, Egyptologist.] Portrait photograph by Swaine of New Bond Street, with a second more relaxed portrait showing him with hands in pockets.

Author: 
Henry Reginald Holland Hall ['Harry Hall'] (1873-1930), Egyptologist, Keeper of the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, British Museum [Swaine, New Bond St, London portrait photographers]
Publication details: 
The first image: 'Swain, 146 New Bond St, W. [London] and at Southsea.' The second image unattributed.
£90.00

Both prints black and white, and in good condition. The portrait shot is 14 x 9.5 cm, on grey card backing, within a 30.5 x 20.5 cm folder of the same grey card, printed with the name and address of the firm. The image depicts the head and shoulders of a moustachioed Hall, who is glancing to his left side with a faraway look in his eyes, while smartly dressed in dark jacket and waistcoat.

[Street ballad; Christmas] The Black Decree, &c

Author: 
Anon.
Publication details: 
'Printed by J. Evans and Sons, Long-lane, London", c.1795 [see BBTI]
£100.00

One page, 4to, c.35 x 24cm, folded (with marks), creased slightly at edges and on folds, some foxing and pinholes, blank reverse grubby, with two small woodcuts at top. A sheet containing a number of Christmas songs: The Black Decree (Herod); O see man's Saviour in Bethlehem born; While Shepherds watch'd their Flocks by Night; On Christmas Night all Christians sing. No other copy traced.

[Harry Hall of the British Museum, Egyptologist.] Portrait photograph by Swaine of New Bond Street, with a second more relaxed portrait showing him with hands in pockets.

Author: 
Henry Reginald Holland Hall ['Harry Hall'] (1873-1930), Egyptologist, Keeper of the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, British Museum [Swaine, New Bond St, London portrait photographers]
Publication details: 
The first image: 'Swain, 146 New Bond St, W. [London] and at Southsea.' The second image unattributed.
£90.00

Both prints black and white, and in good condition. The portrait shot is 14 x 9.5 cm, on grey card backing, within a 30.5 x 20.5 cm folder of the same grey card, printed with the name and address of the firm. The image depicts the head and shoulders of a moustachioed Hall, who is glancing to his left side with a faraway look in his eyes, while smartly dressed in dark jacket and waistcoat.

[Father Basil E. Popoff, Chaplain of the Russian Embassy.] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs Kapoustin'

Author: 
Basil E. Popoff (d.1877), Chaplain of the Russian Embassy and to Marie Alexandrovna, Duchess of Edinburgh
Publication details: 
32 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, W. [London]. 11 January 1870.
£100.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In very good condition, lightly aged. Neatly and closely written. There has been a Russian Orthodox Church serving the Embassy in London since 1725, and this was a purpose-built 'Embassy Chapel' at 32 Welbeck Street from 1866 to 1922. Popoff writes that in 'the absence of my father [Eugene Popoff], who is now in St. Petersburg', he is answering Mrs Kapoustin's letter.

[Printed programme.] Redhill Open Lawn Tennis Tournament (Eighth Year), 1909.

Author: 
Redhill Open Lawn Tennis Tournament, 1909 [Kenneth Powell (1885-1915), English sportsman; Friedrich Wilhelm "Fieten" Rahe (1888-1949), German tennis player, runner-up at Wimbledon in 1913]
Publication details: 
C. Stephens, Printer, West Street, Reigate. 1909.
£45.00

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and folded paper. Headed: 'Saturday, 24th July. The Tea to-day is kindly provided by Mrs. Searle.' Giving the scorecard, with names of all participants and results from first round to final, for nine events from the 'Gentlemen's Singles (Level). New Challenge Cup presented by SIR J. COLMAN, Bart.' (F. W. Rahe versus K. Powell) to 'Ladies Doubles (Handicap)' (Miss Harper and Miss Russell versus the Misses Bowyer). Scarce: no copy on COPAC.

[Violet Attlee, wife of the Prime Minister Clement Attlee.] Autograph Note Signed ('V H A') at head of Autograph Letter from Downing Street secretary E. J. Sayer, apologising for a mistake.

Author: 
Violet Helen Attlee [née Millar] (1896-1964), Countess Attlee, wife of Clement Attlee (1883-1967), 1st Earl Attlee, Labour Prime Minister; Elizabeth Sayer, later Cooper, Downing Street secretar
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Prime Minister. Sayer's apology: 30 March 1950. Violet Attlee's reply on the same day.
£65.00

1p., on 20.5 x 8.5 cm slip, headed by the Prime Minister's official letterhead. Sayer's apology is headed 'Mrs Attlee', and she writes that she feels she 'must apologise in writing for the mistake I made over the arrangements for giving your two seats to the Misses Trevor', hoping that it did not cause inconvenience and promising not to do the like again. Violet Attlee's reply, headed 'Miss Sayer', is at the head of the letter: 'Please don't worry. It is quite a relief to me to find that somebody besides myself makes mistakes! | W H A 30/3'.

[Richard Bentley, publisher.] Two copies (one proof) of his pamphlet 'Death of the Broad Gauge', describing a Great Western Railway journey during the switch to Narrow Gauge, in a series of letters to his father George Bentley. With printed envelope.

Author: 
Richard Bentley the younger (1854-1936), member of celebrated firm of London publishers, son of George Bentley (1828-1895) and grandson of Richard Bentley (1794-1871) [Great Western Railway]
Publication details: 
[Privately printed for Richard Bentley the younger, of Richard Bentley & Son, New Burlington Street, London. 1892 and 1893.]
£320.00

All three items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Untitled proof, with 'Proof 6.12.92 [i.e. 6 December 1992]' in manuscript at foot of first page. 20pp., 8vo. Unbound and unstitched. Two manuscript corrections, and two indications of where maps are to be placed. The first letter is written from 'Dawlish, S. Devon, | May 20, 1892', and the last from 'Clifton, | May 31, 1892'. A passage, on pp.5-8, is under the heading 'The End of the Broad Gauge', the first paragraph reading: 'On Thursday the men arrived from all parts of the G.W.

Collection of 25 newspaper cuttings from Fleet Street newspapers relating to the final illness of King George V, collected and presented on letterheads for Lord Dawson of Penn, who attended on the king, by the advertising agency G. Street & Co.

Author: 
Bertrand Edward Dawson, Lord Dawson of Penn (1864-1945), President, Royal College of Physicians; attended dying King George V [G. Street & Co., 6 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3, advertising agency]
Publication details: 
Mounted on letterheads of G. Street & Co., Ltd., 6, Gracechurch Street, EC3. London: April and May 1931.
£80.00

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.

[Charles Stewart Parnell and the Parnell Commission.] Offprint from The Times: 'Parnellism and Crime. | Facsimile Page from the "Irish World." | Reprinted from The Times of June 7, 1887.

Author: 
[Sir Robert Anderson; The Times of London; Charles Stewart Parnell; The Parnell Commission; Patrick Ford; Patrick Egan; Irish Land League]
Publication details: 
London: Printed and published by George Edward Wright, at The Times office, Printing-House Square. 1887.
£280.00

For the context of this item see Parnell's entry in the Oxford DNB, and T. W. Moody's study 'The Times versus Parnell and Co., 1887-90' (in 'Historical Studies VI', ed. Moody; London: RKP, 1968). Moody notes that the first three Times articles (7, 10 and 14 March) 'were quickly reprinted in pamphlet form (price one penny)', but makes no mention of the present item. On both sides of single 60.5 x 47.5 cm leaf (on wove paper with 1887 watermark of 'The Times Taverham Mill'). Folded four times to make a packet with 15 x 12 cm title, which reads in full: 'Parnellism and Crime.

[Herbert Trench, Irish poet.] Autograph Letter Signed to A. G. Gardiner, editor of the Daily News, asking for a review of his book 'Poems with Fables in Prose'.

Author: 
Herbert Trench (1865-1923), Irish poet [Alfred George Gardiner ['Alpha of the Plough'] (1865-1946), editor of the Daily News; Robert Lynd (1879-1949), Irish essayist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Villa Viviani, Settignano, Florence. 24 July [1918].
£56.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged and folded twice. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir | For my book - "Poems with Fables in Prose" (2 vols. Constable) I confess I particularly aspire to the honour of a review in the Daily News. He gives a list of themes which the volumes contain, 'Inter alia', including 'new philosophical iteas'. In black pencil at the head of the page (probably by Gardiner) is 'Mr Lynd', i.e. a direction for the letter to be forwarded to columnist Robert Lynd.

[William Latey, QC, jurist and journalist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wim Latey') to Clement King Shorter, regarding petitions for a civil list pension for his mother, the widow of editor John Latey.

Author: 
William Latey (1885-1976), QC, jurist [Clement King Shorter (1857-1926), editor; John Latey (1842-1902), journalist, son of John Lash Latey (1808-1891), editor of the Illustrated London News]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Lloyd's Weekly News, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street, London. 6 March 1908.
£56.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. A long and detailed letter, beginning: 'The situation is not quite as we thought it. Yesterday I saw Mr. Higgs at Downing Street and he explained to me all the circumstances concerning the consideration of Mrs. Latey's petitions. | The suggestion emanating from him, with the Prime Minister's concurrence, is as follows.' The plan outlined, as Mrs Latey is not eligible for the pension, is for a fund to be established for her, to which 'the Prime Minister would add [...] a sum from Royal Bounty - the whole to be sunk in an annuity for her.

[Desmond Harmsworth, publisher, poet and artist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Desmond') to Irish poet Sylvia Lynd, expressing condolences on the death of her husband Robert.

Author: 
Desmond Harmsworth (1903-1990), publisher, poet and artist, a member of the Northcliffe publishing dynasty [Sylvia Lynd (1888-1952), Anglo-Irish poet, wife of the essayist Robert Lynd (1879-1949)]
Publication details: 
The Daily Telegraph, Fleet Street. 7 October 1949.
£65.00

2pp., 8vo. On aged paper. He expresses himself with sincere emotion: 'O Sylvia - I have just read the news that your Robert has died - my Robert, too, in a far, far lesser, but still real, sense. […] Think how few women have loved, & been loved, by a man like him. […] I, too, am not far off my end. […] I have never being [sic] in Robert's company - even for a few minutes together - without feeling that he was one of the most loveable of men. […] I am writing at the printers, waiting for "proofs." - Robert would smile at a situation so characteristic of both our lives.

[Viola Garvin, journalist.] Typed Letter, written on her behalf by 'G. F.', to 'Sylvia Dear' (i.e. the Anglo-Irish poet Sylvia Lynd), thanking her for 'one of the nicest novel articles we have had', and asking her to review Somerset Maugham.

Author: 
'G. F.' [Viola Garvin (1898-1969), journalist; Sylvia Lynd (1888-1952), Anglo-Irish poet, wife of the essayist Robert Lynd (1879-1949); Gerald Gould (1885-1936), reviewer with the Observer, London]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Observer, 22 Tudor Street, London. 14 August 1934.
£40.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. She thanks Lynd for 'one of the nicest novel articles we have had in Gerald's absence', and asks her to 'be an angel, and do something else for Viola, who is vanishing tomorrow for four or five weeks', in reviewing 'the Somerset Maugham book you wanted [...] I really think he is worth a long article to himself - 1500 words, and, if you care to, you can put in a word for Heinemann's edition of the Collected Works, which we send alongside. Mr.

[Robert Huish, hack writer and authority on bees.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Robt Huish') to 'Mr Keene' of Furnivals Inn, regarding 'Mr Greening' and the Fleet Prison.

Author: 
Robert Huish (1777-1850), hack writer and apiculturist (authority on bees)
Publication details: 
'K. B. [i.e. the King's Bench Prison, London] | 25 Jany 1808.'
£75.00

1p., 8vo. Addressed on reverse to 'Mr Keene | Furnivals Inn'. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight damage caused by black powder seal. The letter reads: 'Sir | On consulting with Mr Greening, I find it will be most adviseable <?> Mr Greening go to the Fleet - I wish therefore you could send over Mr Watson this Afternoon, when I will pay him the Money requisite for the Habeas <?>. | Sir | Your hble Servt | Robt Huish'.

[J. G. Wilson, proprietor of London booksellers J. & E. Bumpus Ltd.] Autograph notebook containing draft of talk to trainee booksellers on 'Modern Fine & First Editions', proposals for 'Anecdotal History of Bookselling' and for trade 'social club'.

Author: 
J. G. Wilson [John Gideon Wilson] (1876-1963), 'the most famous English bookseller of his time' and proprietor of the prestigious London firm of J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street.]
£1,350.00

It is Sir Basil Blackwell, in his DNB entry on Wilson, who described him as 'the most famous English [sic] bookseller of his time'. The freshness and enthusiasm conveyed by this small volume supports Blackwell's view that Wilson viewed 'bookselling not so much as a matter of retail trade as a service in which bookseller and customer met and shared the experience of contact with the precious manifestations of the spirit of man', as well as casting light on the methods and practices which made Wilson so successful.

[The Coronation, 1953.] Plans, sections and elevations, with letters and memoranda, by the Scottish architect Joseph Wilson, ARIBA, for the 'Proposed Coronation Stand' and 'Accommodation' at London booksellers J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street.

Author: 
[The Coronation, 1953.] [Joseph Wilson (b.c.1888), Glasgow architect; J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street, prestigious London bookshop owned by J. G. Wilson [John Gideon Wilson] (1876-1963)]
Publication details: 
Joseph Wilson, 200 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, C2. [J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street, London.] Eleven items, all dating from 1952.
£450.00

For more about Joseph Wilson, ARIBA, FRIAS, see his entry in the Dictionary of Scottish Architects. From the familiar tone of his letters (Items Seven, Ten and Eleven below), there is every indication that he was closely related to his client, J. G. Wilson, proprietor of the prestigious firm of J. & E. Bumpus Ltd, and a man described by Sir Basil Blackwell (in his DNB entry on Wilson) as 'the most famous English [sic] bookseller of his time'. Eleven items, in good condition, lightly aged and worn.

[Horatio Bottomley, MP and fraudster.] Ten legal documents (three signed by Bottomley) relating to his purchase, from the receiver Charles Fox, of the assets of his 'Sol Syndicate', set up for the acquisition of The Sun newspaper.

Author: 
Horatio Bottomley (1860-1933), Liberal MP, fraudster and proprietor of the London newspapers The Sun, John Bull and Sunday Illustrated [Charles Fox, receiver; Harry Weber]
Publication details: 
London. Between 1902 and 1907.
£250.00

From the papers of The Sun's receiver, Charles Fox of 11 Old Jewry, London. The ten items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. According to Bottomley's entry in the Oxford DNB, ' In 1902 he bought a moribund evening newspaper, The Sun.

[The Legislative Council of Jamaica, 1855.] Packet of six manuscript documents regarding the rejection by the Council of 49 chairs ordered from Druce & Co. of London, damaged in transit from England.

Author: 
William R. Myers, Secretary, Executive Committee, Legislative Council of Jamaica [Thomson Hankey & Co, merchant bankers, London; Thomas Charles Druce; Druce & Co., upholsterers, Baker St, London]
Publication details: 
Items from the Executive Committee Office, Jamaica, and from Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies. All dating from 1855.
£280.00

Packet of six items, held together with a pin. Totalling 8pp., folio; 3pp., 8vo. In good overall condition, on aged and worn paper. ONE: Autograph Letter Signed from 'Wm: R: Myers | Secy' to Messrs Thomson Hankey & Co, London. Executive Committee Office; 26 December 1855. 2pp., folio. Giving details of five documents which he is forwarding, 'on the Chairs received from Messrs. Druce & Co'. He writes that he is 'directed to communicate through you, that the Chairs are not accepted and will not be paid for, but will be kept on the account and risk of Messrs.

[The Royal Fusiliers in the Peninsular War.] Autograph Letter Signed from Sergeant-Major Dove of the Royal Fusiliers ('of six Years service [...] in the Peninsula') to 'Mr. Smith' of Manchester, regarding his journal history of the Regiment.

Author: 
Sergeant-Major Dove, Royal Fusiliers (7th Regiment of Foot) [Smith, Mechanics Arms, Henry Street, Manchester]
Publication details: 
Chester Castle. 10 July 1827.
£95.00

2pp., small 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. Smith | Mechanic Arms | Henry Street | oppe Ancott Street | Manchester'. With contemporary note, in another hand, on separate piece of paper: '312. | Journal of Sergt. Major Dove, of six Years Service of the 7th Royal Fusiliers, in the Peninsula'.

[William Monk, engraver.] Proof on large paper of his own self-designed bookplate ('W. MONK | HOGARTH STVDIOS'), depicting a peacock looking out onto a country sunrise from a wooden balcony. With five-line quotation from Chaucer.

Author: 
William Monk (1863-1937), engraver, based at Hogarth Studios, Charlotte Street, London, best-known for his 'Calendarium Londinense'
Publication details: 
'W. MONK | HOGARTH STVDIOS' [Hogarth Studios, Charlotte Street, London.] Undated [1890s?].
£120.00

Dimensions of etching 13 x 9 cm. Dimensions of plate 14.5 x 10.5 cm. Dimensions of page 32 x 25.5 cm. The image itself in excellent condition, the borders aged, with wear and closed tears to extremities.

[Printed item.] First Regiment, L. L. V. | The Memorial of the Seventh Company to the Committee of the Bread-Street Ward Armed Association, agreed on at a Meeting of the said Company, [...].

Author: 
Josiah Lowe, Chairman [Seventh Company, First Regiment, L. L. V., Bread-Street Ward Armed Association, London]
Publication details: 
'[...] held at the White-Horse Tavern, Friday-Street, on Monday, November 12, 1804. Mr. Josiah Lowe, in the Chair.' Sorrell, Printer, Bartholomew-Close, Smithfield.
£120.00

2pp., 8vo. On the first leaf of a bifolium of laid paper with watermark 'WILLIAMS | 1803'. On aged and worn paper, with closed tears and chipping to extremities.

[Sir Winston Churchill.] Photograph showing him leaving Downing Street at the end of his second and final term of office, making a victory sign while his staff stand in the doorway.

Author: 
[Sir Winston Churchill (1965), British Prime Minister who led the country to victory in the Second World War]
Publication details: 
Keystone Press Agency Ltd., Fleet Street, London. Dated on reverse 6 April 1955.
£45.00

Black and white print, 15 x 10cm. A dewy-eyed Churchill stands in the doorway of 10 Downing Street in long dark coat, clutching top hat, gloves and cane in his left hand, and makes a raised victory sign with his right, while a group of seven male and female staff members crowd in the doorway behind him. From the papers of Elizabeth Sayers (later Cooper), member of the Downing Street staff.

[Printed parliamentary paper.] Employment of Children Act Committee. Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Children Act, 1903, appointed by His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department [H. J. Gladstone].

Author: 
[Employment of Children Act; British parliamentary report, 1903; House of Commons; child labour; street trading]
Publication details: 
Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of His Majesty. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Ltd., Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. [10 September 1910.]
£50.00

23pp., foolscap 8vo. Stitched. On aged and worn paper, with short closed tear to first leaf at foot of spine. Shelfmarks, stamp and label of the Board of Education Reference Library, London. Purple stamp on reverse of first leaf: '10 SEP 1910'. Divided into three sections: Warrants of Appointment; Majority Report; Minority Report. The 'Majority Report' section under the following main headings: Origin and Course of Inquiry; General Results of the Investigation; Remedies and Recommendations; Summary of Recommendations and Conclusions. A large part of the document discusses 'Street Trading'.

[Privy Council Medical Research Council.] Printed item: 'Child Life Investigations. Social Conditions and Acute Rheumatism.

Author: 
G. F. Still, M.D., F.R.C.P. [Privy Council Medical Research Council; The Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London; The Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow; St Thomas's Hospital]
Publication details: 
Special Report Series, No. 114. London: Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1927.
£120.00

108 + [6]pp., 8vo. Stitched. In green printed wraps. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Still provides the introduction and 'General Conclusions'.

[Elisabeth Frink, English sculptor.] Invitation and illustrated programme of her 'First one-man Exhibition' of 'Sculpture & Drawings', at the St George's Gallery, London.

Author: 
Elisabeth Frink [Elizabeth Jean Frink] (1930-1993), English sculptor and printmaker [Yolanda Sonnaband (b.1935), theatre designer and portrait painter; Typography Froshaug]
Publication details: 
St George's Gallery, 7 Cork Street, London W1. 17 May to 18 June 1955. The programme by 'Typography Froshaug / Printed in Great Britain'.
£120.00

Both items on aged and lightly-worn paper. ONE: Invitation. Printed postcard, addressed on reverse to 'Mrs Molanda [sic] Sonnaband, | 30, Hamilton Terrace, | N.W.8.' Tastefully designed, in sans-serif font, the card reads: 'Elisabeth Frink | Basil Jonzen requests the honour of your company at the Private View of the first one-man exhibition of sculpture & drawings of Elisabeth Frink at St. George's Gallery Paintings & Sculpture. 3pm Tuesday 17 May 1955 | 10am to 6pm (1pm Saturdays) 7 Cork Street . London W1'. TWO: Programme.

[Duplicated First World War school magazine.] Our Own. The Magazine of Sidmouth St Boys' Demonstration School. Boys' Dept. HULL. [The first fourteen issues, including a 'Shakespere Tercentenary Number'.

Author: 
[Sidmouth Street Boys' Demonstration School, Hull, Yorkshire.] [Shakespeare Tercentenary, 1916; Sidmouth Street Football Club; Dudley Murton Freeling (b.1899), Royal Flying Corps]
Publication details: 
[Sidmouth Street Boys' Demonstration School, Hull.] Issues 1 to 14. Dating from between 1913 and April 1919.
£250.00

Totalling 280pp., 8vo (each issue 20pp), with aditional grey card printed covers to issues 13 and 14. The first twelve issues are bound up, without covers, in a black leather half-binding with black cloth boards. As the covers are lacking it is only possible to date these issues from the gilt title on the spine: 'OUR OWN | 1913-6'. Ownership inscription on front free endpaper: 'Cecil Thom | 22 Nov. 1916.' (Henry E. Thom appears to have been a music teacher at the school.) Modern bookplate of John Gadd on front pastedown. Issues 13 (March 1917) and 14 (April 1919) are loosely inserted.

[Sir George Buchanan, physician and epidemiologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('George Buchanan'), apologising 'To the Secretary of the Social Science Association' for not being able to present a paper.

Author: 
Sir George Buchanan (1831-1895), epidemiologist and civil servant, assistant physician at the children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street ( N1855-1860), physician (1861–1868) at the London Fever Hospital
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 75 Gower Street, WC [London]. 3 October 1859.
£40.00

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. A florid apology, beginning: 'The very kind consideration extended to me by yourself and the other managers of your admirable association appears to demand from me something more than a renewed Confession of incapacity on my part.' He has been 'at work almost all the time that other people have been making holiday, without finding time to leave my more imperative labours for the compilation of the paper which I should have wished to present'. He continues in the same tone, with the reminder that he 'at first expressed to Mr.

[William Beatty Kingston, author and Daily Telegraph journalist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm: Beatty Kingston') to the solicitor Edward Draper, asking his advice regarding a claim against him by London bootmakers Noguez & Wasselin.

Author: 
William Beatty Kingston (1837-1900), English author and Daily Telegraph journalist [Edward Draper, solicitor of Vincent Square; Noguez & Wasselin, bootmakers, 11 Great Portland Street]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Daily Telegraph, Fleet Street, London. 2 December 1884.
£30.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper, with traces of mount on blank reverse of second leaf. The letter begins: 'My dear Edward Draper | In the name of "The Trombone" I solicit your advice & aid in the following matter. | Twelve or thirteen years ago a London bootmaking firm, hight Noguez & Wasselin, did work for me or my wife (I disremember which) to the tune of three pounds odd shillings. | I have no doubt that I paid for what I had - and having been my unbroken custom ever sincce I became a legally responsible person.

[Ralph Straus.] Typed Letter Signed to the theatrical historian and bookseller Ifan Kyrle Fletcher, discussing, with biographical information, playbills associated with George Augustus Sala he requires. With Typed Note Signed and Typed Card Signed.

Author: 
Ralph Straus (1882-1950), author and literary biographer [George Augustus Sala (1828-1895), journalist; Ifan Kyrle Fletcher (d.1964), theatrical historian and bookseller]
Publication details: 
The letter and note both on letterheads of Ralph Straus, The Tanyard, Shorne, Nr. Gravesend; 6 January 1939 and 8 January 1945. The card from the Tanyard; 7 January 1945.
£56.00

All three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. All signed 'Ralph Straus'. ONE: TLS. 6 January 1939. 1p., 8vo. After expressing his willingness to have 'the programme of Wat Tyler and the Bil of Madame Sala for 1827', he expresses his desire to acquire playbills 'of Sala's grandfather, in a King's Theatre ballet 1776 onwards - particularly if it gives his Christian name of Claudio. I know of one in Jan. 1788.

[Malcolm Elwin, biographer and critic.] Two Typed Letters Signed, the first to the bookseller J. G. Wilson, regarding a meeting before the publication of his 'Thackeray book', and the second to Wilson's firm, Messrs J. & E. Bumpus, London.

Author: 
Malcolm Elwin (1903-1973), biographer and critic [J. G. Wilson [John Gideon Wilson] (1876-1963), bookseller, proprietor of Messrs J. & E. Bumpus, 350 Oxford Street, London]
Publication details: 
Both on his North Stoke, Oxford, letterhead. 11 and 13 September 1932.
£56.00

Both 1p., 4to, and both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE (11 September): He is writing regarding Wilson's 'kind suggestion that I should call in and see you one day shortly before the publication of my THACKERAY book'. Having been told by 'Mr. Hartley' that Bumpus is on holiday, he will call on 14 September. TWO (13 September 1932): Presumably with his tongue in his cheek, he writes: 'Dear Sirs, | Thank you for your letter of yesterday, reference II,456JGW, and for saving me the risk of a fruitless visit. I will call to see Mr.

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