VICTORIAN

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed to 'Dear Sir', but with the rest written in French. He explains that it is with reluctance that he is unable to leave paris and attend the 'Congrès de Statistique', and that it is always with pleasure that he visits England. He refers to a 'traite de Commerce' and the 'Conseil Superieur du Commerce, dont j'ai l'honneur d'etre membre'. The letter is accompanied by an engraved portrait of 'The Late M. Michel Chevalier', cut from a magazine. On 14 x 9 cm paper. In good condition, lightly-aged.

Both on 4to biofoliums, and addressed, with postmarks, on the reverse of the second leaf. Both in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE (22 February 1844): Concerning the unfortunate state of 'the Glasgow congregation' since Harris's removal to Edinburgh. His successor 'Mr. T[aylor].' stated his 'present views' to 'Messrs C<?> & Smith', 'and they said at once he ought to resign the pulpit [...] The end cannot be far off. Mr. T. declared he would not quit the pulpit till he was dragged out of it'. The letter continues with references to 'Mr Taylor' and 'Mr Davidson'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse to 'Mr. Everett | Market Street | Manchester'. Brailsford has been 'desired by the Missionary committee connected with this place to write you & earnestly to request the favour of yr. Services at their approaching Anniversary which is fixed for Monday Oct. 22nd. by preaching a preparatory Sermon on the Sunday eveng. Oct 21.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'With Mary Maxwell's love & best wishes, & many thanks for the charmingly illustrated Xmas book of The Children in the Wood | M. E Braddon | January 1. 1878.'

Draft invitation on both sides of landscape 12mo (11 x 18 cm) piece of paper. In fair condition, lighly aged. A rough draft, apparently for the design of a printed card. The main effort, on one page, reads: 'Mr. Geo. G. Adams, Sculptor, | Solicits the honor of a call, from | [wavy line] | to inspect his | [two wavy lines] | Private view on the [wavy line] | 126, Sloane Street.' There is the start of another attempt on the reverse. The poetical quotation is on one side of a 5 x 18 cm strip of paper, laid down on a paper backing. In fair condition, aged and worn.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Writing to Bentley in his position as editor of 'Temple Bar' magazine, Boucicault begins: you were kind enough to say some time since that you would publish a slight story of mine I had sent you, but returned it to me with the expression that I had not succeeded in bringing out with the best effect portions that were capable of great improvement.' He states that he has been 'unable to touch' the story, and so is returning it to Bentley in the hope that he will 'publish it in its original form'.

Theodore Hoppen, in his 'The Mid-Victorian Generation', refers to a 'growing band of anti-Catholic lecturers who toured Britain in the 1850s and 1860s', adding that most 'were rogues like the former Dominican, Giacinto Achilli, and the soi-disant Baron de Camin. Almost all depended financially upon admission fees. Their lurid handbills advertised travesties of the mass, "the secrets of the confessional", and "wafer Gods" to be "sold at 1d. each at the doors".' See also Paul Colman Mulkern, 'Irish immigrants and public disorder in mid-Victorian Britain, 1830-80'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper. He thanks him for sending 'Idylls of Spain' (by Rowland Thirlmere, 1897), which 'Mr. Milner' will settle with him for, and states that he is 'interested in the subject and would be glad of a note of any books you happen to come across on this subject'. In 1903 Crockett would publish 'The Adventurer in Spain'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He writes with playful urgency: 'My dearest Matilda | Do not go out of London until I have seen you - & pray delay your journey for a day or two - Dine with Henry to-morrow - Thursday - and with me on Friday. | Ever most affectionate | John Hobhouse'. In a postscript he sends his regards to the Count, instructing her to give him 'my commands to retain you', adding 'He must come to me with you.'

6.5 x 10 cm piece cut from envelope, with the seal (roughly 1 x 1.5 cm) in black wax (2.5 cm in diameter) attached on a strip of paper. The seal a firm impression in good condition and the envelope fragment in fair condition, on aged paper, strip carrying typewriten caption laid down at foot. The Princess's autograph is unsigned, and simply reads: 'À mon cher petit Léopold.'

The envelope is 7 x 12 cm, with penny stamp printed on. In fair condition, lightly-aged, with back flap intact (i.e ungummed rather than cut open). The address - certainly in Swinburne's hand - simply reads: 'The Hon. J. Leicester Warren | 67 Onslow Square | S.W.'

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to an unnamed recipient. He gives his prices for 'a head in Marble', a 'Torso bust', and a 'pale draped bust'. Docketed on reverse with biographical details in a nineteenth-century hand.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Cut down at margins, with loss to part of letterhead. Addressed to 'S Hague Smith Esqr | Pitt St North'. He writes that he has not yet received a sample for 'the slabs of white marble 12 inches square', and asks him to 'give an answer to Odling Bros', as he wishes to know 'what quantity I could get from the person whom you <?>, & about the quantity also'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, very lightly aged. Harrison begins by answering the unnamed recipient's enqury 'about Manx Coins &c', with reference to 'an old bookseller in Douglas' and 'John F Crellin of Orrysdale'. Crellin has 'a fine Collection of Coins relating to the Island', and is 'in a poor state of health & confined to bed'. Harrison discusses a paper by Crellin on 'the Coinage of 1733' before turning to 'what duplicate' of Manx Society publications he has in his possession, 'chiefly of my own Editing'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, with slight damage to gutter from removal from stub. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf, to 'John Britton Esqre | 17, Burton St | Burton Crescent'. He asks him and 'any friend who might be interested in the subject' to try to attend 'a meeting at the Guildhall Coffee House' the following day, 'Sir Wm. Heygate in the chair, to consider the necessity of combining a public walk with the intended embankments of the Thames'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged paper, with minor damp staining. If the recipient has 'come home' he invites him to dine. 'We have already such a preponderance of the female sex, from ladies staying here, that I am sorry we cannot ask any more.' If his son is 'still at Sandridge instead of you we shall be glad to have him as your locum tenertem here also'. He is directing the letter 'accordingly', 'but out of the multitude of your name in Crockford [the clerical directory] I dare not make a shot at his Christian name'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Addressed to 'Mr Cornish | 33, Piccadilly | Manchester'. The letter begins: 'Mr. Ormerod has received Mr Cornish's enquiry whether Mr O. has "any Io [i.e. folio] Paper Hist: of Cheshire for sale.' He replies that he 'has now only two Io Paper copies of Hist: Cheshire One is extensively illustrated and bound in ten Volumes in Morocco - This, of course, cannot be parted with.' Ormerod would part with the other set 'for £100, (one Hundred pounds) Cash - not less'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged. He asks him 'to forward these Cards immediately (I have sent one to Mr. Doane) as many have call'd asking if they are to be engaged'. He expresses his regret for 'the mistake in the Name card', but it is too late to alter it. The 'sole cause' of the error was his 'constantly thinking of the state of poor Walker'.

Two pages, 12mo, fold marks, good condition, text clear and complete. My first lecture I published in May last 'On the Classification & Geographical Distribution of Mammalia" | 8vo Parker's, Strand. | The matter of the other three lectures will appear in a work on fossil Mammalia in the Press (Murray) [presumably "Summary of the succession in time and geographical distribution of recent and fossil Mammalia " (1859)]

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins by noting that they have not corresponded for a while, and that he has 'been abroad most of my time for several years'. He is sending him 'a set of advance sheets of a little book I am to publish with Cassells at the end of September' ('Recollections of Rossetti'), 'because I have a very grateful memory of all the kind, appreciative and very able articles which you have written about other books of mine'.

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. Cathrall | Times Office | Manchester'. In reply to a letter 'requesting from me "an account of the origin and progress of the Manchester Agricultural Society"', he states that 'any information I possess is quite at Mr. Everett's service'. He suggests two times when Everett can call on him, and he will 'endeavour to promote his views in any way in my power'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Greenhill has offered to show Jerrold 'interesting rooms [...] with Thackeray associations', and Jerrold apologises for the circumstances preventing his acceptance of the invitation. 'The work in connection with the small Exhibition is much more than it seems and I fear the trying to fit this, or my portion of it, in with the must-be-done work of a busy penman has made me a shockingly neglectful answerer of letters.'

On one side of an 8 x 13 cm piece of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age, and central horizontal fold. Firm, bold signature, 8 cm long, with underlining flourish. Beneath the signature, in a small hand, is the message: 'M Guinot | M: Vigny vous adresse son nom pour vous remercier il ne connait pas votre adresse'. Addressed on reverse, 'à M. Eug. Guinot'.

On a gilt-edged piece of card, 13 x 11.5 cm., with rounded edges. In good condition, lightly aged. The illustration by 'E M W' on one side is printed in silver, yellow, light blue, grey and brown, and shows a snowy country scene with two tiny figures beneath a shining sun on a stone bridge over a stream. Captioned 'The Joy of Christmas be in your heart.' Cowan's eight-line poem, on the other side, is printed in grey, in variety of gothic fonts. It begins: 'Only its best and brightest history | May Memory relate you!

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Ornate letterhead printed in red and black, with engraving of a rising sun ('The Mark of Excellence'). Addressed to 'Messrs. Marcus Adams Ltd. | Child Photographers, | 43, Dover Street, | W.1.' The letter begins: 'I have in hand the production of a film somewhat of a national character, including all the episodes in the reigns of our Royal Family, from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee onwards, and I thought it would be a very nice idea to finish the film with a short length of little Princess Elizabeth.

4pp., 8vo, paginated 1-4. On two bifoliums. Aged and worn, but with the text clear and complete. From the Adams family papers, which also include an extensive archive of Walton Adams's papers relating to the British Israelites. An interesting artefact relating to an important figure in the history of British photography. (See also his obituary in The Times, 15 June 1934.) Untitled and unsigned, the unpublished account begins: 'As I am now over 90 years of age I believe that I am the oldest living British photographer, my first Studio was opened in 1864'.

The collection consists of 21 typewritten articles, with some drafts of the same; two folders of miscellaneous typed and autograph texts, a cloth map, a folding card model of 'The Pyramid' and a diagram of the 'City & Temple to scale'. BACKGROUND: Walton Adams, the founder of a family of notable British photographers and artists, including his son Marcus (1875-1959) and grandson Gilbert (1906-1996), was at his death 'believed to be the oldest professional photographer in the country' and 'the first photographer to use dry plates' (see his obituary, Times, 15 June 1934).

Both items are laid down on a leaf removed from an autograph album. Both in good condition, with light signs of age. The photographic print of Gladstone measures 9 x 5.5, with the head and shoulders image in an oval 7.5 cm high by 5 cm wide, and showing a middle-aged Gladstone with dark bow tie and frock coat, staring to the right.

Lengthwise on one side of 12 x 7.5 cm postcard. In fair condition, aged and worn, with two light postmarks over text, and the reverse carrying traces of paper and glue from previous mounting. Addressed, on reverse, to 'Miss Lewis | 10 Lower Sloane Street | London | S. W.', and redirected in another hand to an address in Essex. The message reads: 'Mr Gladstone with his compliments begs to thank Miss Lewis fo rthe presentation of her Translation and enters with much sympathy into the views she has taken of the deeper questions involved both in the Preface and the work.'?>

The sepia photographic print is 15.5 x 11.5 cm, and shows a sumptuous domestic interior, showing paintings around an ornately carved wooden doorframe, into another room, with hangings draped footstool, piano, and other accoutrements of high Victorian interior decoration. In pencil on reverse: 'The Lyric Club'. The cutting is 12 cm and forty-five lines long. It begins 'The new Lyric Club is starting on its career with every propsect of a brilliant success.