SYLVIA

4pp., 4to. Fair, on lightly aged and creased paper, with a few closed tears. The letter begins: 'Dear Lynd: I have been very ill and after two months in bed and an introduction to what Marley called "the thick, sweet smell of chloroform" I have been sent down here to get better - with the word of specialist and doctor that when I am well again I shall be better than I have been for a long time. This I write because I have often thought of writing to tell you how much I relish your papers.

Both items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Both letters are written in an excited, gushing style, and have the margins filled with extra text. Letter to Sylvia Lynd: 2pp., 4to. Addressed to 'Dear Mrs Lynd'.

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Nicely printed on laid paper. In good condition, on aged paper. Headed 'IN MEMORIAM ALEX FOSTER | by | GEORGE HETHERINGTON', and with 'August 1972' following the last line. At foot of second page, in manuscript, 'To Máire | With love from | Christine'. Christine's first husband was the diplomat and journalist Conor Cruise O'Brien. Scarce: no copy on OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. From the Lynd papers.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. One minor manuscript emendation (see below). Dated at the head 'March 3rd. 1921' and addressed to 'Madam'.

Both items in good condition, on lightly aged paper. Letter: 2pp., 4to. Headed 'Care of [blank] | To His Excellency The Ambassador of [blank]'. It begins: 'Your Excellency, | We beg to bring under your notice the following facts with regard to the present slow murder of the Lord Mayor of Cork in Brixton Prison, as a matter of concern for your Government. | The Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, was arrested on August 12th. in the City Hall, Cork, by the English Army of occupation.

2pp., 12mo. On bifiolium of ruled paper, with 'HIERATICA' watermark of 'J. S. & Co.' From the Lynd archive, and judging from the handwriting a youthful effort, almost-certainly dating from before Sylvia Dryhurst's marriage to Robert Lynd in 1909. In fair condition, on aged paper. In seven stanzas, the first three giving a taste of an amusing and unusual jeu d'esprit and excellent piece of Edwardian social history: '1) By some devil surely sent | Sandal hunting off I went, | And my footsteps never slowed | Till I reached the Finchley Road. | Chorus: (with fervour) Damn them ! | Damn them !

The bookplate is 3.5 x 2.5 cm, and shows a troubadour with a lute, with the initials 'M S' at the foot. It is affixed to a piece of 14 x 9 cm card. Bookplate in good condition, on aged card with one creased corner. The card carries the message in pencil by Shaw: 'Mrs. & Mr. Dryhurst.

2pp., folio. Tastefully printed in old-fashioned style on both sides of a sheet of thick wove 37 x 24.5 cm paper. Aged and worn, with chipping and closed tears to three edges. Inscribed by Mitchison at head of first page: 'Robert & Sylvia Lynd with best wishes from N. M. !' Twelve verses, followed by twelve pseud-scholarly 'Notes' (number 10 refers to a 'Prof. Bumpfendorf'). A topical political spoof, with the last verse reading: 'I'll sing you twelve, oh. | Pure Grow the Little Ones, | What is your twelve, oh?

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Signed 'A R. Dryhurst'. The document begins: 'I am desired by the Committee to inform you that they have resolved to print the speeches revised by himself, which Mr. Gladstone delivered at the beginning and end of the debate on the Eastern Question.' The terms are then given, 'With the view of securing for them, the widest possible circulation'.

Totalling 68 pp, comprising 50 pp, 12mo; 18 pp, 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Two signed 'W. A. Smart' and the others 'WAS.' All addressed to 'My dear Ernest'. Written in a spirited, chatty, and (for a diplomat) surprisingly indiscreet style, of which the beginning of the second letter (Salonica; 19 August 1919), concerning the appointment of Victor Vincent Cusden (1893-1980), gives a good example: 'Were you not content with condemning me to physical and financial ruin in this death-trap? Why, to add to my afflictions, did you send me this pathetic shop-boy?

Poet and critic (born 1929), friend of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, now best known as a poker player. In good condition. On one side each of 3 4to pages, neatly stapled to a piece of card. '[...] concerning a work at present entitled: | THE IRON CURTAIN SPY | Edited and compiled | by | Al Alvarez | [...]'. The authors name corrected by him in manuscript from 'Al' to 'A.' The first two pages initialled by Alvarez and the last page signed by him.