Autograph Letters

[Chula of Siam; motor-racing] Signature only Chula of Siam.

Author: 
Chula of Siam [Chula Chakrabongse (1908 – 1963), member of the family of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand]
Siam
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£25.00
Siam

Paper 7.5 x 2.5, laid down on larger paper (page from a small album), very top of the f of of carelessly trimmed, good condition. See image.

[R.H. Benson, priest; Girls' School in India] Autograph Letter Signed R.M. Benson about his Society organising a Superior Girls School in Bombay, asking Madam his correspondent's, help in finding a suitable Headmistress.

Author: 
R.M. Benson [Richard Meux Benson (1824 – 1915), priest in the Church of England and founder of the Society of St. John the Evangelist.]
Publication details: 
Cowley St John Oxford, 15 Sept. 1875.
£80.00

Four pages, 12mo, bifolium, some faint staining, text clear and complete. I hope you will excuse my troubling you, but as you are often corresponding with ladies of a literary turn, it has occurred to me that you might be able to help me to find what I want. Our Society is just organising a Superior Girls School in Bombay. We want a throughly ladylike person to be the Head of it, a good Churchwoman & an efficient teacher. It would rank in England as a Superior Middle Class School. | If you happen to know of any suitable person I should be very glad to open up some negotiation with her.

[Dorset Election 1831; Hon. W.F.S. Ponsonby, brother of Lady Caroline Lamb; Earl of Shaftesbury] MS. The Expenses of The Committee for the Election of the Honble W.F.S. Ponsonby | To Thomas Phippard with covering letter from Tho. Phippard..

Author: 
[Dorset Election 1831; Hon. W.F.S. Ponsonby; Earl of Shaftesbury]
Dorset
Publication details: 
Bill dated 14 September 1831; covering letter Wareham, Nov. 1831.
£350.00
Dorset

Two pages, folio, fold marks, a little grubby, some damage (by stamp vandal?) marginally affecting text, ow fair.. A. The covering letter by Tho. Phippard, sending the Bill in the Election, asking the recipient, E.Nicoletts, Bridport, to fill in the blanks with the average sums charged per diem by the other agents. I have not included many days [absent?] in the business. My bill will be higher than some agents as I was directed to proceed in canvassing my Division earlier in consequence of the proceedings of Ashleys [ie Later Lord Shaftesbury].

[Admiral Willian Sidney Smith; Paris Imprisonment] COPY Letter to Lady Camelford (his aunt) in detail about his imprisonment in Paris. Smith's name mispelt (Sydney)

Author: 
Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764-1840), British maritime hero of whom Napoleon exclaimed 'That man made me miss my destiny'
Smith
Publication details: 
[Headed] Copy of a Letter to Lady Camelford, Tower of the Temple, Paris, 27 August 1796.
£500.00
Smith

One page, folio, good condition, laid down on part of an album page (verso has a newspaper clipping about Wilson, the Pedestrian c.1815 - possibly some indication of when the Copy Letter was made). Text: My dear Aunt, | The recollection of my Situation must occasionally present itself to my Friends with redoubled anxiety when brought to Mind by the Accounts from Paris of tumults at the prison doors, Assassinations within the Walls & the whole train of mischief which the Daemon of Sedition & discord is perpetually Waking in this ill fated City!

[John Randall, coachmaker] Two Autograph Letter Signed ('John Randall') from the London coachmaker John Randall to 'monsieur le Doctor Brown' [i.e. Sir Charles Brown], physician to the Queen of Prussia, one giving an Estimate for work.

Author: 
John Randall, 80 Long Acre, London, coachmaker and freemason [Sir Charles Brown (c.1747-1827) of Potsdam, 'First Physician to the King of Prussia, his Court and Army']
Coaching
Publication details: 
London, Long Acre 1788 AND London; 30 June 1789.
£150.00
Coaching

(1788) Letter, bifolium, , cr. 8vo, good condition, one page giving assurances as to quality, etc., with list (essentially a quote) of prices/features of A new Fashionable Chariot with a [?] light coloured cloth, Painted a Green [?] Patent yellow, made of the best materials & season'd timber, followed by a price list of various features (blinds, plated head plates, steps, strong plated harness, packing etc etc). See image. (1799) 1p., 4to, bifolium, very good, on lightly-aged paper.

[John Rich; theatre; Beggars' Opera] Signature with some unexplained text. See image.

Author: 
John Rich (1692–1761), important director and theatre manager in 18th-century London.
Rich
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£450.00
Rich

Paper, 18 x 4cm, laid down on paper, 15 x 24cm, grubby, Signature of John Rich with note and a title[?], as follows: Mrs Rich's Ground | Mr Linley | 5 Guineas for Fülling | Jn. Rich. No illumination from Google. John Rich's signature and autograph apparently hen's teeth. Perhaps Rich is best remembered for the success of John Gay's Beggar's Opera and the 'invention' of Pantomime..

[Mother Mary of Stella Maris; Jerusalem; Khartoum] Autograph Postcard Signed Mother Mary of Stella Maris | Convent of Marie Reparatrice | P.O.B. 29 Jerusalem to [Khartoum -see full statement below]. Recommendation.

Author: 
Mother Mary of Stella Maris [Les sœurs de Marie-Réparatrice; Jerusalem].
Catholic
Publication details: 
[Printed] Couvent de Marie Reparatrice. [MS] Jerusalem, 26 Novembre 1944. With original envelope. (No stamp!)
£100.00
Catholic

Postcard, 13 x 10cm, good condition. With the stamp of the Convent, see image.Text: To the Religious (Catholic Communiteis at Khartoum - | This is to recommend most warmly a great friend of ours Capt. Gerald Wynne Rushton, who is about to start for Khartoum as Administrator of the Area - | He is a good Catholic - And he needs in consequence to find a really good Catholic family, where he can stay. (Board and Lodging.) Revd Mother Supr of our Community here, as also myself, would be grateful for any help given to Capt.

[Prince Leiningen; Royal Navy] Autograph Letter Signed Leiningen to General Brine

Author: 
Prince Leiningen [Ernst Leopold, 4th Prince of Leiningen (1830 -1904), German nobleman who served with distinction in the Royal Navy.]
Leiningen
Publication details: 
[Headed] Admiralty House, Sheerness [postmark smudged 10 July 8[3?]]. With original envelope.
£150.00
Leiningen

Two pages, 12mo, fold mark, good condition. Text: The wide ribbon was issued to myself & the other officers of the Expedition in 1854 [Crimean War] together with the gold Turkish medal.- The men did not get it, but if I remember right they had silver or bronze medals given them: I forget which. The only other Naval [underlined] officer besides myself, who received the gold medal, was the late Adm[iral] The H[onoura]ble H.C. Glyn.

[Lord Napier of Magdala] Third person message commencing Lord Napier of Magdala and initialled NM (full text below).

Author: 
Lord Napier of Magdala [Field Marshal Robert Cornelis Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala (1810 – 1890), Indian Army officer.]
Napier
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£65.00
Napier

Paper, 11.5 x 8cm, fold mark and sl.foxed, text clear, as follows: Lord Napier of Magdala hopes to meet the schoolboy some day. See image.

[George Thompson, abolitionist] Autograph Letter Signed Geo Thompson [Alexander Shirreff?- an autograph hunter?], discussing his correspondent's interest in collecting autographs, encouraging him to collect remarkable Females.

Author: 
George Thompson [George Donisthorpe Thompson (1 1804 – 1878), British anti-slavery orator and activist ]
Thompson
Publication details: 
London, 8 April 1854.
£200.00
Thompson

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, remnants of glue where tipped in somewhere, good condition. A difficult hand at times.

[Thomas Law, reformer; Bengal; India; Washington DC] Autograph Letter Signed T Law to The Honble Mr Clay [Henry Clay Sr., American attorney/statesman], praising Clay, mention of Talbother's fever, expanding on his theory re population control

Author: 
Thomas Law (1756 - 1834), reformer of British policy in India, where he served as collector of revenue for the East India Company.
Law
Publication details: 
No place or date given. Clay became Speaker in the 1810-1811 Elections.
£250.00
Law

Three pages, 4to, bifolium, poor condition, with some (crude) repair work but other closed tears on folds, requiring attention BUT text clear and complete (with odd difficult word). Some pencil notes by a later reader, inaccurately attributing to Edmund Law. Text: I regret sincerely that I cannot participate with my fellow citizens in the general expression of their sense of your high merits. Were I able to attend I would drink your health Eminent [speaker?] but most exalted when addressing his successor.

[Edmund Evans, Wood Engraver and Printer] Autograph Letter Signed Edmund Evans to Mr H. [Charron?]. about Charles Keene.

Author: 
Edmund Evans (1826-1905), wood engraver and colour printer who worked with Greenaway, Crane, Caldecott and others.
Publication details: 
[Printed] Witley, Surrey excised. [handwritten] 27 Victoria Road, Deal, 15 Sept. 1897.
£180.00

Four pages, 16mo, bifolium, some staining, closed tear on joint, but text clear and complete, as follows: I am sorry that I cannot give you the information about Charles Keene that you ask for. I know that he made some drawings on wood for me - for 'yellow backs' but forget what they were, remembering only some were for Bulwer Lytton's novels, nor do I remember the date, but it was when he had a large top room, over an Engineer's shop in the Strand, about opposite Norfolk Street, before he drew for 'Punch'.

[Francois D'Orleans, Prince de Joinville] Autograph Letter Signed Fr. d'Orleans | Prince de Joinville to unnamed correspondent (Monsieur), concerning his correspondent's dogs and a meeting (foxhunting presumably). In French

Author: 
Francois D'Orleans, Prince de Joinville (1818-1900), Son of Louis Philippe.
d'Orleans
Publication details: 
Claremont, 18 Dec. 1858.
£60.00
d'Orleans

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, remnants of the paper it was laid down on on page 4. He looks forward to seeing his correspondent and his dogs at Fetcham [home of the Surrey Union Hunt kennels]. He'd like to know where nous elevons mettre le meet [word underlined]. He talks about the pack of 12 dogs peniblement reunis apres l'ouverture de la saison. He elaborates. See image for the remaining text.

[Hugh Gaitskell, Labour politician] Typed Note Signed boldly Hugh Gaitskell to M.B. Bradshaw, Director, Art Exhibitions Bureau [...] permitting the exhibition of the Road to Tarbet, presumably a picture in Gaitskell's private collection.

Author: 
Hugh Gaitskell (1906-1963), sometime leader of the Labour Party.
Publication details: 
[House of Commons stamp] 23 June 1955.
£45.00

One page, 12mo, very good condition. He gives permission for 'Road to Tarbet' to be exhibited at Scarborough and Hull, on the understanding that you will take full responsibility for returning it to me in London when the Hull Exhibition ends.

[Stafford Northcote; Disraeli; Suez Canal] Autograph Note Initialled SHN [Stafford H. Northcote] to his Private Secretary, John Arrow Kempe about a high level meeting to discuss the 'Suez Canal purchase'.

Author: 
Stafford H. Northcote, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1874-1880.
Publication details: 
Embossed stamp House of Commons, 9 March [1874 added in pencil by Kempe]
£95.00

One page, 12mo, bifolium, second leaf laid down on slightly larger paper, good condition. Text: We are to have a meeting at Mr. Disraeli's house at 2.30 tomorrow, at which Lord Derby, Cave and Stokes are to be. | Would you write a civil note to Sir Erskine Perry to tell him that some pressing business will keep me from seeing him. Northcote has added a note to the top of the page, Let Mr. Corry [Montagu Corry, Secretary] have a note of the engagement so that Mr.Disraeli may not forget it.

[Primo Carnera, Boxer] Autograph Signature. See image.

Author: 
Primo Carnera [(1906 -1967), nicknamed the Ambling Alp, Italian professional boxer and wrestler, World Heavyweight Champion from 29 June 1933 to 14 June 1934.]
Carnera
Publication details: 
Docketed in pencil (not in his hand), Christmas Day, 1930.
£80.00
Carnera

Paper, 9.5 x 7cm, very clear bold signature, very good condition.

[William Osler Father of Modern Medicine] Autograph Postcard Signed W. Osler addressed to Maltby & Son | 30 St Michaels St | Local [Oxford bookbinders].

Author: 
William Osler [Sir William Osler (1849–1919), Canadian physician, Father of Modern Medicine]
Osler
Publication details: 
[Oxford] 5 July 1919 [N.B. He died in December of this year]
£280.00
Osler

Postcard, 11 x 9cm, some scuffing of an edge (perhaps formerly tipped into an album or similar), good condition, saying simply Re Speculum Morale || Yes - leave in the same binding - mend the clasp. | Wm Osler. Note: Speculum maius (greater Mirror) was a major encyclopedia of the Middle Ages, written by Vincent de Beauvais in the 13th century. It was a great compendium of all knowledge of the time. The work seems to have consisted of three parts: the Speculum Naturale, Speculum Doctrinale and Speculum Historiale.

[Helmut Gernsheim; photography] Typed Letter Signed Helmut Gernsheim to Ronald Horton responding to a request for Lantern Slides for a lecture, referring to his latest book, and appreciative of comments on his latest work.

Author: 
Helmut Gernsheim [Helmut Erich Robert Kuno Gernsheim (1913 – 1995), historian of photography, collector, and photographer.]
Gernsheim
Publication details: 
[Printed] 19 St. Edmunds Court, Regents Park, London, NW8, 28 October 1951. Docketed 14 Nov. 51 (presumably the reply date).
£220.00
Gernsheim

One page, 8vo, Note: Ronald Horton (1902–1981), Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust, Brighton & Hove. See image. Text: I was very interested to hear about your forthcoming lecture of 'The inter-relationship of Art and Photography', but I am sorry I have not got any lantern slides at all.

[George Colwell Oke, legal author, Chief Clerk to the Lord Mayor of London.] Four Autograph Letters Signed to George Edward Frere, alleging editorial prejudice, and discussing statute on weights and measures, killing of horses.

Author: 
George Colwell Oke (1821-1874), Chief Clerk to the Lord Mayor of London, author of legal works including ‘Oke’s Magisterial Formulist’ [George Edward Frere (1807--1887) of Roydon Hall, Norfolk]
Publication details: 
All four from 1861: 26 and 31 January; and 17 and 20 June. All four letters on letterhead of Mansion House Justice Room, London, EC.
£160.00

All signed ‘George C: Oke’. At the time of writing Oke was Assistant Clerk to the Lord Mayor, a position he had held since 1855; in 1864 he would assume the Chief Clerkship. For details of the recipient, barrister and F.R.S, elder brother of Sir Bartle Frere and nephew of Canning’s friend the satirist John Hookham Frere, see the Law Times, 31 December 1887. The four letters total 10pp, 12mo, all on letterheads with engraved arms of the City of London. All in good condition; very lightly aged; with folds. Closely and neatly written.

[Auguste-Henri Forel, Swiss entomologist and neurologist, authority on ants, pioneer of neuron theory.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Aug. Forel’), in French, on overwork (‘Ma position ici me tue’), work (‘mes fourmis de Colombie’) and future plans..

Author: 
Auguste-Henri Forel (1848-1931), distinguished Swiss entomologist, neurologist, Director of Burghölzli psychiatric hospital, Zürich, and eugenicist, authority on ants and co-founder of neuron theory
Publication details: 
Burghölzli psychiatric hospital, Zürich. 23 December 1896.
£250.00

Forel’s work on ants was praised by Charles Darwin. Such is his standing that his image appeared on the 1000 Swiss franc banknote between 1878 and 2000. 4pp, 12mo; bifolium. Lightly aged, worn at foot (with slight affect on signature); folded twice. 73 lines of text, in an untidy hand. Entirely in French, apart from the following towards the end, suggesting an English-speaking recipient: ‘Merry Christmas and New Year!’ Excellent content. The recipient appears to be a British naturalist to whom he promised a magazine piece on a recent visit.

[Charles Stuart Calverley] Full Signature and date only Charles Stuart Calverley.

Author: 
Charles Stuart Calverley (1831-1884), poet and wit.
Calverley
Publication details: 
Feb. 1852 (no day given)
£25.00
Calverley

Full Signature, on possibly flyleaf of a book, 14.5 x 20cm, one edge rough (as removerd from book, ow good condition. See image.

[Mysore; Buckshee] Autograph Letter Signed Nursuppah [Indian language name also] to Major Brine, Royal Engineers [...] Bangalore.

Author: 
Nursuppah [Nursuppa], Buckshee [Paymaster] to H.H. the Maharajah of Mysore
Mysore
Publication details: 
Mysore, 22 April 1867 [conceivably 9].
£120.00
Mysore

Three pages, 8vo, large handwriting, staining along fold marks, small closed tear at centre, text legible. Your welcome telegram to Dr [Renton?] here has been with much pleasure received by His Highness the Maha Rajah of Mysore.- In reply I am directed by His Highness the Maha Rajah, to ascquaint you that a letter from Dr Campbell, intimating all about your good self, has been received by the last Mail - Now the Maha Rajah most anxiously looks forward to have an interview with you & Dr Campbell.

[Montagu of Beaulieu; the Birth of mass motoring] One Typed Letter Signed Montagu of Beaulieu AND Two Typed Notes Signed Montagu about cars and motoring in their infancy, and future legislation in their regard..

Author: 
Montagu of Beaulieu [John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu (1866 ? 1929), Conservative politician and promoter of motoring.
Publication details: 
[Headed] Palace House, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Kent, 22 Nov. 1905; [Headed] 17 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W., 10 Oct and 15 Oct. [1906].
£200.00

A. 22 Nov. 1905, Three pages, 12mo, bifolium,black-bordered, good condition. He refers to an account sent to him by a correspondent of Car which I read with great interest but he had yet to receive a detailed account. I quite understand in Surrey motorists must be a great nuisance to many of the inhabitants, and therefore was quite prepared for the Council passing a resolution-which in itself is I think impracticable.

[Dmitry Hilkoff/Kilkoff, Tolstoyan, etc] Autograph Letter Signed D Hilkoff to John Bellows | Dear Friend [Bellows, polymath, printer and lexicographer] about a Russian translation of Barclay's Apology. In English.

Author: 
Dmitry Hilkoff [Kilkoff] [Prince Dmitry Aleksandrovich Khilkoff (Khilkov, or Hilkov or Hilkoff) (1858–1914), sometime officer in Czar's Army, & Tolstoyan (Pacifism) & a Socialist Revolutionary].
Publication details: 
Address given in text, 181 Grand-Lancy, Geneva, Switzerland; 17 Aug.1901.
£650.00

Two pages 8vo, bifolium, blank second leaf laid down on former album page, 22 x 14cm, good condition. Text: The last time I saw you I spoke to you about the necessity of translating and printing in russian [sic] 'Barclay's Apology'. I think that the sooner it will be printed the better, and ought to be printed in russian without any abriviations [sic]. But I have not the means of paying the translation and printing. | Do you think the Society of Friends would give the necessary money for the translation and printing?

[Ivor Novello] Bold Autograph Signature All good wishes | Ivor Novello.

Author: 
Ivor Novello [born David Ivor Davies] (1893-1951), Welsh composer, playwright and actor.
Novello
Publication details: 
No place or date
£28.00
Novello

Page, 20 x 15.5cm, extracted from Autograph Album, one rough edge (extraction process), very good condition. See image.

[Thomas K. Finletter; Economic Cooperation Administration] Substantial Typed Letter Signed, illegibly, Thomas Finletter, to Mark [Bonham-Carter], about taxes in the US and Uk.

Author: 
Thomas K. Finletter [Thomas Knight Finletter (1893 – 1980), American lawyer, politician, and statesman].
Publication details: 
[Headed] A shield in American colours saying FOR EUROPEAN RECOVERY supplied by the United States of America, Economic Cooperation Administration. Special Mission to the United Kingdom, 9 May 1949.~Two pages, sm. folio, good condition. Text; As I said to you the other day at the Ackermans, I do not think that 'The Economist's' figures contradict what we said in Spain. [...] He goes on to compare taxes per capita in the States and UK, giving figures for total tax, population, and tax per person (about $100 les per person in the UK). He continues, I agree however that per capita figures are by no means the only criterion because of the great national income per person in the United States[...] He then quotes 'The Economist' giving percentages of the tax burden.~65~AUTOGRAPH ECONOMICS ECONOMIC COOPERATION ADMINISTRATION~ ~0~RF2~ ~ ~ ~ ~
£65.00

Two pages, sm. folio, good condition. Text; "As I said to you the other day at the Ackermans, I do not think that 'The Economist's' figures contradict what we said in Spain. [...]" He goes on to compare taxes per capita in the States and UK, giving figures for total tax, population, and tax per person (about $100 les per person in the UK). He continues, "I agree however that per capita figures are by no means the only criterion because of the great national income per person in the United States[...]" He then quotes 'The Economist' giving percentages of the tax burden.

[Rosita Forbes] Bold Signature only: Rosita Forbes.

Author: 
Rosita Forbes [(1890 – 1967), travel writer, novelist and explorer].
Rosita
Publication details: 
No place or date
£30.00
Rosita

Piece of paper, 6.5 x 2.5cm, very good condition. Signature only, with no evidence of being a part of a letter. See image.

[Gaston Palewski; de Gaulle] Typed Letter Signed Gaston Palewski to Monsieur le Professeur Andre Gros, legal advisor to De Gaulle at the time, who counter-signs, referring to an article by Sir John Pollock, and his work in London.

Author: 
Gaston Palewski [(1901 – 1984), French politician, close associate of Charles de Gaulle]
Palewski
Publication details: 
[Printed heading includes] Cabinet du Général de Gaulle, No. 505/Cab.Dir., [date typed] Alger, le 8 février 1944
£120.00
Palewski

One page, 4to, fold marks, one edge dusted, fold marks, ow good. Je vous remercie vivement de m'avoir envoyé l;article de Sir John Pollock. Que cette fidélité amicale et intelligence est raffraichissante [one f crossed out]. | Je vous félicite du travail que vous faites à Londres, et vous prie de croire a mon tres fidèle souvenir. Underneath Palewski's scrawled signature, Gros has added le ci est de Palewski I I think!) adding his own nearly illegible signature. See image.

[Huddersfield F.C.] The Autograph Signatures of 12 Players for Huddersfield in its golden period

Author: 
Huddersfield F.C. in its pomp.
Huddersfield
Publication details: 
c.1925 [John F. Chaplin, a signatory of this collection describes himself as Trainer. He was trainer from 1922-6 (playup liverpool site)]
£180.00
Huddersfield

Page extracted from autograph book, 10 x 14cm, dulled but still clear, one edge roughened having been removed from an autograph book. Signatures of N. Christie, W. Carr, G M Lean, W.E. Roughton, J. Smith, C. Luke, W.H. Smith, J.J. Williams, H. Turner, R. Robinson, W.G.B. Bottrell, F.R. Goodall, John F. Chaplin. See image. Note: Huddersfield became the first English club to win three successive English league titles in 1925–26. The first two league titles were won under manager and pioneer Herbert Chapman, who also led the team to an FA Cup win in 1922.

[Marechal Berthier] Autograph Subscription to a Letter, signed Berthier (see image),

Author: 
Louis-Alexandre Berthier ( 1753 – 1815) (Minister of War and chief of staff to Napoleon)
Berthier
Publication details: 
No Place or Date.
£56.00
Berthier

Part of letter, 18.5 x 10, stained and grubby but text clear (see image), laid down on another piece of paper of the same size, as follows: Recevez, Monsieur le Comte, l'assurance de ma plus haute consideration | Le Prince de Wagram et de Neuchatel | Vice-connétable | Berthier ||

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