Robert Gibbings (1889-1958), Anglo-Irish wood-engraver and author
Publication details:
On his letterhead, 91 Warwick Road, London, SW5. 1 January 1953.
£120.00
1p., 4to. Eight lines. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with slight discoloration to the blank reverse, caused by tape repair to a short closed tear. In envelope addressed by Gibbings to 'Mrs. de Navarro | P.O. Box 88 | Mont-Rolland | P.Q. | Canada'. He thanks her for her 'nice letter'. He is 'now hard at work on the engravings for my new book "Coming Down The Seine" to be published in the autumn; then I may be going back to Ireland again.' He ends in sending 'every good wish for 1953'.
[Chambers's Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Tracts, W. and R. Chambers, Edinburgh]
Publication details:
[Circa 1845.] [Chambers's Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Tracts. No. 85.] Printed and Published by W. and R. Chambers, Edinburgh.
£125.00
12mo, 16 pp. Unbound, unstitched and unopened. A half-sheet folded three times to make eight leaves. Reproduction of early engraving on first page, vignette of country scene on last page, three illustrations of tools and a further thirteen numbered figures in text. Text and images clear and complete. Publishing details, with price of '1/2d' printed upwards along inner margin of last page. On aged paper, with slight damage to the margin of the first leaf. This single issue scarce: no copy on COPAC. Chambers Miscellany was originally published between 1844 and 1847.
Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899), painter and illustrator; Edmund Evans (1826-1905), wood-engraver and printer [Swarthmoor Hall, Ulverston, Cumbria, 'birth' place of Quakerism]
Publication details:
Foster's letter: 7 December 1864; on letterhead of The Hill, Witley, Surrey. Copy of Evans's letter: 20 December 1864; Raguet Court, Fleet Street, London. Engravings undated [1865].
£450.00
ONE. Birket Foster's letter to John Abraham: 12mo, 2 pp. 26 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on aged paper, with one dog-eared corner. Docketed 'Birket Foster re Sketches'. A letter of Abraham's has been forwarded to him 'relating to the illustrations which I did for the late Wm. Benson (to illustrate the Memoirs of the Fell family I believe)'. He suggests that they be put into Evans's hands to engrave: 'he is a thoroughly conscientious man, and will do the best he can for the price you like to name'.
[Religious Tract Society.] No. 22. [1820?] 'Printed and sold by R. TILLING, 68, Circus-street, Liverpool.'
£56.00
16mo, 8 pp. Unbound as issued. Following slug: 'Price 2s. 8d. per 100. | Great Allowance to Shopkeepers and Booksellers.' Text clear and complete. On aged and grubby paper. Vignette, beneath title, of priest exhorting poor family in their humble home. Separate sections on duties and encouragements, each with numbered sub-sections of 'inspired passages'. Scarce: the only copies on COPAC at the British Library, Lambeth Palace, Manchester and the V&A.
Theatre historian, wood engraver, etc. four pages, 8vo, (250 copies, numbered in pencil)with a poem by John Gawsworth and a device including Block's name on the front cover by "Edward Carrick" (pseud. for Edward Anthony Craig). Three copies, EACH,
![[Printed pamphlet.] Wood-Engraving.](http://dev.richardfordmanuscripts.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/featured/10917.jpg "[Printed pamphlet.] Wood-Engraving.")
