tea

The two advertisements are variants of one another, with much the same text in two columns of small type, surrounded by a decorative border with oriental influence (featuring flamingo, vase, bamboo). Both printed in black ink on one side of a 33 x 26cm piece of tissue. They are frail and unusual survivals: aged and creased with wear and slight loss to the extremities. Both are headed 'UNITED KINGDOM TEA COMPANY | SUPPLY THE FINEST TEA IN THE WORLD | FIRST HAND, DIRECT FROM THE MINCING LANE MARKET.' One is headed, in fancy type: 'THIS PAPER IS MADE IN JAPAN & IS A CURIOSITY'.

One page, cr. 8vo, good condition. "Your very kind note of the 17th is to hand and I too am very disappointed about 'Shamrock's' accident and the fact that your Mother and self will not be able to sail this season. I hope, however, this is only a pleasure deferred. [...]"

Pp.1-366 (paginated),[4], leather binding, bumped and worn, contents sound and in good condition. Registered number of theCompany given on endpaper. Minutes recorded from the beginning of the Company, first meeting of the Directors, Including Kearley and Tonge - a purchase agreement) 17 May 1895 (Contract for purchase, £10,000, etc.). Subjects include: appointment of secretary, Bankers, auditors, allotment of shares, Bank balances, properties (development and expansion), shares, transfers, shop facias ("International Stores"), purchase of peoperties, repairs and renovations.

1p., 12mo. 24 lines of text. In fair condition, on aged paper, with minor traces of mount adhering to reverse, which is addressed by Parr to 'R Twining, Senior, Esqre | Devereux Court | the Strand', and docketted 'Dr. Parr May 27th. 1807'.

1p., 12mo. On bifolium. Written in a faint, difficult hand, as one might expect from a ninety-six year-old. 'The President of Magdalen presents his Compliments to Mr Twining, and thanks his kind present of the portrait of his learned Uncle, author of one of the best translations into the English language of a great writer. His own great age and attendent

The twelve items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. They probably derive from Richard Twining (1807-1906), editor of 'Selections from the Papers of the Twining Family' (1887). ONE: Autograph Letter Signed, in a very shaky hand, from Rev. Thomas Twining, 'ffor Mr. Thomas Twining at the golden Lyon in Davaraux [sic] Court by Temple Barr | London | [signed] Frank Williamson'. [1717.] Postscript: 'I beg you because I have not Leisure now to write to him, to wait on Mr Hen.

Item One (address): 2pp., 4to. Bifolium, printed on the rectos of the two leaves. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight evidence of previous mounting on the reverse of the second leaf. First page headed 'To the Proprietors of East India Stock.' Addressed to 'LADIES AND GENTLEMEN', signed in type 'RICHARD TWINING', and dated 'Strand, December 19, 1809.' Second page carrying a memorandum headed 'AT a very numerous meeting of PROPRIETORS OF EAST INDIA STOCK, at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry, on Wednesday, the 20th of December 1809.

12mo, 14 + [i] pp. Stitched. Fair, on aged paper with slight spotting to cover; and with a central vertical fold. In a preface dated 'Birmingham, 1894', the author indicates that the preface is intended for the general public, rather than 'the Botanist and Trader'. Sections on 'Early History', 'Roasting', 'The Growth and Cultivation', 'Preparing for Table', 'The effect of Coffee drinking' and 'Medical Opinions' ('On November 2nd 1894, Dr.

Strip of paper cut from letter, roughly 19 x 9 cm. Poor, on lightly-stained paper, with small section lacking from the breaking open of the seal, resulting in loss of one word. Postmark and fragment of address on reverse: '<...>d Twining Esqr | <...> Strand | London'. Reads 'Yrs very truly | [signed] Tho Hughes | 15 Sepr 1823 | I was glad to hear so tolerable an account of your father: while life continues <...> him, I hope it will please God to render it tolerable'. From the Twining archives.

4to, 1 p. Good, aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to reverse. Reads 'The Duke of Northumberland presents his Compliments to Mr. Twining, & shall be glad to see him on Wednesday next at three o'clock. | Northd. House | Decr. 2d. 1799.' From the Twining family archive.

4to, 3pp. Bifolium. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with slight loss to second leaf caused by opening of red wax seal (part of which still adheres), and minor nicking to edges. Begins: 'The task you set me was a task indeed [...] my first attempt at translation'. He comments on some of the difficulties involved ('The Cara so often repeated in the original is beautiful in repetition while it's angliciz'd Dear is so degraded by vulgar use').

Unusual items, providing a first-hand glimpse into eighteenth-century European gastronomy, by one whose business was intimately connected with it. Texts of both items clear and complete. Both on aged, creased and worn paper. Item One: On one side of a piece of laid paper, 17 x 21 cm. Central vertical fold to make two sections, each with a square drawn in the centre, surrounded by names of foods.

From a small archive of Twining Family Papers. One page. crumpled fold marks, spotted, minor damage with loss of a letter or two (from "Pudsey" as addressee), text clear and otherwise complete, as follows: "Dr. Pu[dsey] | Boufght of William Horner Octob.

The nature of this somewhat Pooterish 'scandal' is explained in one of the cuttings in the scrapbook: '[...] the Unionists of North Lambeth are making secret but strenuous efforts to insure the return of Mr. H. M. Stanley at the next election.

[Saville] Esme Percy, Actor (1887-1957). The first, 21 November [1911], Theatre Royal, Bury, Lancashire. "So glad you are coming over Saturday night. If you will kindly let me know how many of you are coming I shall be pleased to give you all Tea if you will accept my invitation." The second, 24 November 1911, Theatre Royal, Bury, Lancashire, on deleted letterhead of the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester. "I shall expect you at 5 pm at 34 Shepherd St. Bury - am so glad your friends are coming with you". Two items,

Chairman and Managing Director of Lyons & Co. Ltd (1876-1941). One page, quarto. Very good. Docketed in pencil. Reads: 'Many thanks for sending me a copy of your book, World Peace and Armaments. I shall look forward with great interest to reading it.' Signed 'Isidore Salmon'.

24 pages, 16mo. In poor condition: grubby and with wear to extremities and closed tear to second leaf. Pencil marks to verso of last leaf. Stitched into grubby, worn vellum binding, bearing pencil and ink notes at front and rear.

Auctioneer's Record of "Mrs Headon's Sale / December 11th 1801". 15pp., 8vo, in primitive wraps (sewn) created from a sheet of paper on which survives a proof (apparently) of a decorative advertisement (the size of a business card) for "James Graves / Tea Dealer & Grocer, / Putney / Surry / NB Dealer in British Wines". This proof straddles the spine and shows signs of wear and tear (e.g. fading), and the covers are slightly soiled.

4 pp, 8vo. A long letter discussing the restoration of the ship. "[...] I have always appreciated (and envied) your personal experience of sail in days when seamanship in the old sense really meant something. [...] No one is better qualified to speak with authority on the restoration of a historic sailing vessel than you are". Five points are discussed: "The position of the upper topsail yards. [...] royal yards [...] fitting sails [...] ropes [...] Maintenance."

24pp, 12mo, contemporary vellum binding, poor condition and partly detached, contents fair-good, some annotation on cover and titlepage.