THEORY

Thompson was a well-known Boston astrologer in the early decades of the twentieth century, with a lucrative private practice and columns in the 'Ladies Home Journal' and the 'Boston Globe', the latter syndicated to nearly a hundred other American newspapers. In August 1933 she was unmasked as a fraud by a disgruntled secretary in an article in the 'Ladies Home Journal'. Seven items, in good condition, on paper with light signs of age. ONE: Typescript titled 'A Boston Woman Who Has Made Good | Catherine Howard Thompson'. Dated internally to 1916.

5pp., 4to, typed on five leaves stapled together. With a few minor manuscript corrections. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The introduction reads: 'Bio-crystallography of the blood rests on the premise that the motive force which directs the processes of crystallisation is a Psychosomatic activity inherent in the blood stream.

Papert has been described by by Marvin Minsky as 'the greatest living mathematics educator'. At the time of this paper he was studying for a PhD at Cambridge University and living in London, where he was a leading figure in the revolutionary socialist circle centred on the magazine 'Socialist Review'. 9pp., 8vo. On nine leaves stapled together. In fair condition, aged and worn, with creasing to last couple of leaves. Divided into three parts: '1. Propriétés des treillis des ouverts et représentation des treillis comme treillis d'ouverts; | 2.

1p., on 11 x 9 cm card. Addressed on reverse 'To the Editor of The Book Buyer | c/o Messrs. C. Scribner's Sons | New York City | U.S.A.' With two postmarks. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and postage stamp removed. Since posting a letter on the previous day, he has 'discovered another article satirising the Bacon-Shakespeare theory', as with the one 'in Macmillan', anonymous. It is titled 'Who wrote Dickens's Novels?', and appeared in the Cornhill Magazine, August 1888. 'The author humorously endeavours to prove that Gladstone wrote them!!'

Clipped signature, c. 5 x 2cm, good condition.

This piece does not appear to have been published, and the only copy traced is in the Liddell Hart Papers at King's College London, with the original manuscript and an accompanying list of eighteen recipients including Lloyd George, H. G. Wells, and John Gordon of the Sunday Express, from whose papers the present two copies derive.

[2] + 30pp., 4to. Text paginated 1-30. With an additional nine pages of diagrams, numbered 1 to 10, and including one double-page fold-out (Diagram 8). Stapled duplicated typescript. Ink manuscript note (by Pask?) on back cover: 'MARVIN MINSKY [cognitive scientist in the field of artificial intelligence, b.1927] | SEYMOUR PAPERT [mathematician, b.1928] | WARREN MACULLOGH' [neurophysiologist and cybernetician, 1898-1969].

29pp., 4to. Paginated 1-29. Stapled duplicated typescript. In poor condition, with the leaf carrying the first page loose, aged and worn. From the Seymour Papert papers, and with a few notes in pencil (by either Papert or Sonnabend?). No copy found on either COPAC or OCLC WorldCat, nor in Pask's own archive, now in Vienna (Paul Pangaro Pask Collection).

The collection is in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, and can be grouped into three sections. ONE: Complete typewritten draft ([3] + 44pp., 4to) of Sussman's unpublished monograph on Bloch is contained in a large brown envelope, with the following note by Sussman on the front: '2ND COPY (without illustrations) of "Ernest Bloch - Music's Prophet" | JS'. It includes the contents, list of illustrations, introduction, and two-page 'Key and Bibliography'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The name of the addressee is indistinct, and appears to be 'S. Algernon'. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | I regret that I am unable to give the Lecture you ask for. I really have no business to undertake any kind of public speaking & except in very special circumstances, I keep out of it'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads 'Dear Sir | I am under obligations to you for yr. polite note of the 15th. & for yr. pamphlet - The subject is one of great importance & I shall read it with interest.' Perhaps the New York surveyor John C. Hind, who was active in the 1820s.

Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He commences with a mathematical supposition (in formula terms) then proceeds with putting the suppositions of "the master" [Malthus, Ricardo or their like?) in mathematical terms, concluding a fall of price to "3/4d or one quarter", adding that "The suppositions he makes are incompatible with the ratio theory ...", doing sums which he concludes with the an answer he describes as "absurd".

27pp., 8vo, sewn as issued, good condition. Scarce. COPAC lists six copies, while WorldCat lists the Glasgow and Edinburgh copies but no American.

8vo, 52 pp. In original black and white printed wraps, with solarized face on cover. On aged paper, with rusted staples and wear to wraps, which have minor damp staining at head causing sligh bloom to first three leaves. One of 750 copies: 'Number 9 of the "OUTCAST" Series of Chapbooks issued by Oscar Bardinsky at the Alicat Book Shop'. A scarce item by influential American avant-garde filmmaker and theorist.

12mo, 1 p. Written in Laski's distinctive close hand. Fair, on aged paper, with a little spotting and two tiny pinholes in top left-hand corner. He has enjoyed reading Grinling's pamphlet (possibly 'Fifty Years of Pioneer Work in Woolwich') but, as 'Memory is by definition a traitor', Grinling's 'name doesn't "place" itself' for Laski. 'But you will possibly care one day to come and remind me; at any rate you will be sure of a welcome.'

12mo: 1 p. Nine lines of text. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Suggests a convenient time for a meeting 'with you, Dr. Masters and Profr. Allman.' Looks forward to hearing from the recipient, once he has 'fixed the hour and the place'.

4to: 2 pages. 37 lines of text. Text clear and entire on slightly discoloured paper, lightly worn and creased and with a few nicks to extremities. Signed properly on the second page. Place's essay, apparently a biographical account of the psychological development of a very young child, 'whiled [sic] away a long train journey last night very pleasantly'.

Small octavo: 31 pages. Unbound and stapled. Very good, in grubby original pink printed wraps. According to one authority McGowan is the 'first fully qualified actuary in South Africa of whom there is record [becoming] Cape Government Actuary of the former Cape Colony in 1890'. COPAC (under mispelt name "MacGowan") only recordds the BL copy.

Bishop of Oxford (1805-73), celebrated opponent of the theory of evolution, nicknamed for his slippery arguments "Soapy Sam". One page, 12mo, on mourning paper. "I cannot fail to pay the greatest attention to your recommendation of Mr P Chabot". Signed "S Oxon". Minor discolouration to paper.

Bishop of Oxford (1805-73), celebrated opponent of the theory of evolution, nicknamed for his slippery arguments "Soapy Sam". One page, 12mo. "My dear Count / I accept , but not that merely, for I thank you really & heartily "the thing" which accompanied your note. I dipped into them to-day with very great interest." Signed "S Oxon". Docketted "Received last night". Paper discoloured at the edges.