Literature

Novelist (1843-1923). Both scraps laid down on 8vo-sized page. George Bentley says " . . . & I find this commodity scarce already./Truly Yrs / George Bentley". Montgomery says " . . . Believe me /Truly Yrs/ Florence Montgomery".

Part of letter, c. 4 x 4",somewhat roughly trimmed with loss of bottom half of text. Surviving text as follows: Miss Edgeworth informs Mr Bentley that by some mistake in the way of sending the packet containing the proof sheet of Helen it came by mail coach & cost 9/10 - / To avoid similar mistakes in future" [text ends]. Bentley published "Helen" in 1834.

Novelist and philanthropist. Mrs Milner Gibson, wife of the statesman, Thomas Milner Gibson, was a society hostess of note (see DNB). 2pp., 8vo. She says "It is very cruel to pounce upon those just arrived but [?] the Tale of our poor gentlemen the belongs most to be pitied perhaps of all sufferers. I take advantage of hearing that you are expected in London to beg of you to help us next week. We remember well all you did for us on a former occasion".

American children's author, etc. One page, 8vo, good condition. "I beg to enclose my subscription to 'The Poetry Journal' for 1916."

Novelist. One page, 8vo, minor defects, text clear and complete. She explians her tardy response ot his letter by saying she was abroad. She acknowledges familiarity with the works of Calverley but "I am ashamed to admit that when I wrote "The Road that Bends" [pubd 1916] = some ten years ago, I did not remember that one quotation came from his "First Love"." She thanks him for the "connection".

Son of G.H. Lewes, partner of Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot). Total 5pp., 8vo, damp-staining and marking affecting the text without obscuring it, rust marks from paper-clips marginally obscuring the text. (1887) Blackwoods had forwarded his correspondent's request to quote some passages from the works of George Eliot in a book of "Readings" [perhaps" What to read at winter entertainments ... Edited and arranged by ... F. L" (1888)]. He gives his permission for this.

Novelist (1810-1865). Signature removed from album, c. 3 x 1.5", , clear and attractive text as follows: "Yours very truly / E.C. Gaskell // Plymouth Grove." Thie album from which it was removed contained letters and clipped signatures, some of which had been provided by Sir David Brewster, scientist (see DNB), a relative of the collector. I can find no evidence that Brewster corresponded with Gaskell, but Mrs Gordon's biography of Brewster reveals that they met on at least one occasion.

One page, 12mo. Very good. He presents his correspondent with 'deux petits ouvrages sortis de ma plume'. The first was mentioned by 'Mr. Burgess' and the second is 'un petit traite qui a eu le bonheur il y a quelques ans de remporter le prix annuel dans l'Universite d'Oxford'. Signed 'Willm. Roberts'. In a postscript asks to be recommended to any acquaintances Van Santen may have 'a Rotterdam Anvers ou Bruxelles'. Address, with broken wafer, on second leaf of bifolium. Roberts is perhaps best remembered for the controversy brought on by a passage in Byron's 'Don Juan'.

Two pages, octavo. Good, with some creasing at head and foot. He has just returned from visiting his brother and sister-in-law at Liss, and will send his 'The Wood of Time' (1938). 'Since I wrote the poems it contains, poetry, like most of the other arts, has undergone a complete revolution; indeed began to undergo it before "The Wood of Time" was published.' Despite this he is pleased it 'did not fall entirely upon deaf ears. Since that time I have written several other things, but have really published nothing of the same nature.' He is glad she is still writing.

One page, 12mo. Good, if a little aged and lightly creased. He apologises for the delay in 'sending the drawing that now I ask you to please me by accepting' (not present). He asks her to accept it as a present for 'that almost superannuated festivity' of Christmas. 'I send you a coat-of-arms as that includes a certain amount of letterpress which you will I think prefer to a simple drawing'. He has delivered all the drawings bought by Mrs Samuel's friend and has received his thanks.' Signed 'E. T. Rees'.

Two pages, 12mo. Good, but with some light glue stains on reverse, to which a small printed strip giving a printed list of Mrs Charles's works is attached. 'I was hoping to hear your boy was better - & I am very glad he is - thanks - but I am engaged on Thursday, & for some little time to come - so many people from all quarters coming just now & I hope you may be able to come & see me before very long'. Signed 'Bettie Charles'.

One page, 12mo. Good, though aged and foxed. 'My best thanks & gratitude for your noble notice | Were you ever in low spirits If so sympathise with me I feel as if I would never wish to be acted again . . Chastelard the first night my god almighty ! ! ! - | Your sincere friend | W G Wills'. Chastelard is a character in Wills's play 'Marie Stuart' (1874).

Illustrated by [George] Cruikshank, pp.[xviii].556, 8vo, hf.lea., apparently rebacked (inc. corners), front board detached, contemporary marbled boards and endpapers, covers bumped, contents sound and clean.

One page, small octavo. Very good, though with a little offsetting of ink from folding of letter, and a small closed tear at head. A reply to a request for an autograph - in a close, neat, hand - reading 'Dear Sir | With much pleasure as I assure you that I am | Sincerely yours | Alfred Sutro'.

In very good condition, on a greetings card containing a reproduction of an illustration of a black cat by Barry Moser, from Godden's translation of Carmen Bernos de Gasztold's 'Prayers from the Ark'. The prayer, in Godden's hand (and probably one of her translations from the book) reads 'Lord, I am the Cat. It is not exactly that I hahve something to ask of you! No - I ask nothing of anyone - but, if you have by some chance, in some celestial barn. a little white mouse, or a saucer of milk. I know someone who would relish them.

Prolific author (1862-1925), responsible for the words to 'Land of Hope and Glory'. Brother of the novelist E. F. Benson et al. Four pages, 12mo. Good though grubby, and on paper foxed and discoloured with age. Discusses his 'little paper on Stuart Donaldson'. 'He had a wonderfully <?> and courageous spirit [...] I knew Fred Donaldson well, but never quite understood him. St Clair, now Bishop of Sarum, was my own contemporary & close friend. [...] Donaldson did a great work here in lifting the College out of obscurity into life & activity. He (& I) came here in 1904. There were then 30 men.

Made out for £2, good condition. Countersigned on back "Jessie Conrad". Seven cheques were found by a fellow dealer in a book from Conrad's Library ("an 1830s book on Napoleon"), one of which he sold on eBay, the other six coming to me. I have consigned one to a colleague, and am offering out the others individually, including this the last in this series of cheques which, since he died on 3 August 1924, is arguably the last thing he wrote. WITH: two Postcard photopgraphs of Conrad's study, on the verso of which someone called A..W.

American diplomat and author (1817-1911), editor of Benjamin Franklin's works. All three items are very good on paper discoloured with age, though all with small punch holes for binding in upper corners, resulting to loss to six words of text. All three signed 'John Bigelow'. The second letter represents an important exposition of Bigelow's religious position at the very end of his life. LETTER ONE (14 March 1911, 21 Gramercy Park, two pages, octavo): In response to his correspondent's 'Syrenic appeal' he is sending a cheque for $25, 'at the rate of $5 for the next five years'.

Australian Novelist, author of "Mystery of a Hansom Cab" (1886). One page, 8vo, suitable for framing, with bold signature, minor defects, text clear and complete as follows: Dear Sir, / Better late than never. Herewith the autograph you asked me for 14th February last / Yours faithfully, / Fergus Hume..

Hf. lea., ]xxxii].766.162. Formerly a poor copy rescued by sympathetic rebacking, wear and tear and some internal damage (staining, one blank endpaper torn with some loss of page), text complete and clear. Heavily annotated throughout in English and occasional Greek by Frederick W. Farrar whose bookplate when he was at Trinity College, Cambridge, is loosely inserted and whose signature appears on the recto of the front free endpaper ("Frederic W. Farra/ Trin. Coll.

First appearance of biography of the author (pp. xi-xxviii) by his son in law, dated 'Islington, | Feb. 21st, 1828.' 12mo. Pages: xxviii + 360 + four pages of publisher's advertisements. Frontispiece portrait engraving of author by E. Finden from painting by Livesy; three engravings by Finden from drawings by R. B. Harraden. Nineteenth-century leather binding; marbled endpapers. Tight copy, but dusty and with staining, particularly to binding and prelims. Scarce in this edition; no copy in British Library. Dedicated to William Wilberforce.

Novelist and playwright, author of the "flawed masterpiece" "Hunger and Love". Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition, one ms. correction. A substantial letter dated 30 Oct. 1956, in which he reports on a letter from "Miss Black of Curtis Brown Ltd" (literary agents) in which she reports that Miss Farjeon does not want to sign a second agreement for "The Impossible Guest" (novel by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon published in 1949 which Britton presumably adapted for the stage).

American Educator, established first kindergarten in the USA (1860), sometime Boston bookshop owner, author, member of the Transcendental Club, etc. (see American DNB). A four-line poem in eight lines, one page, c.8 x 5", laid down on another stiffer paper, some ruckling, final word blotched, mainly good condition. First line: "What is Beauty but God, / as He comes to the Eye? . . . [final line] But Eva will be Heaven / tomorrow." She has added " Aged 82".

Small 8vo. Pages: viii + 24 + [4 blanks]. Original cream paper wraps: title and price in red and engraving in green on front. Wraps discoloured, rubbed and stained, with covers loosening and loss at foot of spine. Internally sound and tight, but quite heavily foxed. Dated ownership inscription on flyleaf. Titlepage vignette and 15 engravings. Collection of whimsical poems about places like Hampstead Garden Suburb and people like G. K. Chesterton and Bernard Shaw. Taylor & Sewell A125b.

Museum Director and Bibliophile (DNB). One page, 4to, with conjugate blank, good quality paper, edges sunned irregularly, text clear and complete. The page is headed with a substantial view by E.H. New of the Museum. The text comprises a printed acknowledgment of a contribution for "the addition to our Collection" which Cockerell has dated and signed in manuscript. He has also written the name of the correspondent ("Mrs A.J. Finberg") and the title of the contribution ("Study of Apple boughs by Samuel Palmer").

Conveyance of Lands at Stapleton in the County of Leicester, Joseph Knight and John Edwards (the other signatories) to Baroness Noel Byron, widow of the poet, and others (family). A vellum deed, 26" x 20", folded, 2 leaves, with a PL:AN including the land (coloured) involved in the agreement, c. 12 x 12", adjacent to Wigstones Farm Stapleton and Kirkby Lordship.. Good condition although front panel of folded item is stained without loss or obscuring.

Later chaplain-general of the forces, author (DNB). One page, 4to, slight remnants of laying down process, fold marks but letter in good condition. "I heard today that Allan Breck [pubd by Bentley in 1834] was in circulation in several book clubs in this neighbourhood. If it be so, your people have forgotten to send me any copies. Be so good as let me have five, that I may give them to the Editors of two of our local newspapers, & get them favorably noticed there. / Don't forget the last I sent you . . .".

Liberator of Greece (see DNB). Three pages (one cross-written making essentially four pages), 4to, sl. damage with obscuring of a word or two, mainly good condition, apparently missing the first leaf.

Dramatist and novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. In a difficult hand, he says that he has heard from [M. Rey?] that he hasn't concluded his engagement in Brussels and has no interest in the role mapped out except in a few days. He goes on to talk of the work involved in corrections which has prevented him from sending a "manuscript exact". Note: The place and date are written in another hand on the reverse.

Noted Dickens scholar (1856-1904). Croker was the son of the Irish antiquary Thomas Crofton Croker. Two pages, 12mo. Good, but with a few stains. 'I am sorry to learn that the Dickens items which you so kindly lent to the Exhibition have not yet been returned to you, and am making enquiries at once. | [...] some of my memoranda went astray when they were removed from one room to another at the Memorial Hall during my absence, and the paper containing your address could not be discovered. | I have reason to believe that good things are in the safe custody of Mr. Miller (Hon. Sec.