Autograph Letters

English actor-manager (1853-1937), knighted in 1913. One page 12mo. What is clearly a reply to a request for an autograph, "Yours very truly, / Johnston Forbes-Robertson. / Feb: 1928." Mounted, with slight ruckling, on a piece of pink paper, docketed "Sir J Forbes Robertson / great actor / studied under Phelp / Passing of the 3rd floor back / Knighted June 1913 / Published reminiscences 1925".

Solicitor (1820-1910). 3 pp, 12mo. An informal letter. "We were all much pleased at hearing of your good husband's promotion and we were glad to find you are in a pleasant part of the country. [...] All are I am thankful to say well - Fred recently had a very alarming accident in London". Four pieces of gummed paper from mounting adhering to blank verso of second leaf.

(1859-1925). 2pp., 12mo, minimal remnants of its having been attache to album page . She and her husband cannot visit on the Friday since they are "At Home". She invites her to tea and expresses pleasure in the improvement in Mr Phillips health.

Lord Chancellor of England (1751-1838). 2 pp, 12mo. An interesting sidelight into ecclesiastical preferment. "Sir / The Living in Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire is that, to which I propose to present you, if you are disposed to accept it. Its Value, I am informed, but a Chancellor's Information is seldom correct, is about 280l a year - / It will require much of Residence, as the Parish is populous, & contains very numerous Inhabitants. The Duty must, therefore, be considerable - After what my excellent deceased Friend, Dr Parsons, Bp.

English actor, manager, director (1912-1998). One page, 4to. "Thank you very much for your letter. I enclose three post-cards, hoping that they will be of some use." Miss Wheldon was organising a charity fete. In bad condition: creased and torn, with holes for a ring-binder and annotated with a large ink cross.

Actor-manager (1858-1923), knighted in 1922. He thanks her for her letter. "It was very sweet of you to remember me and I appreciate it very much indeeed - With best wishes to you for the New Year / Yours / Charles H. Hawtrey".

Popular novelist. She announces to Kathleen Shackleton that they "go on to Cairo tomorrow. ALS, 2pp., 8vo to Sladen, regretting not being able to accept an invitation but inviting the Sladens to the "Authors Dinner" where she is to be a hostess. Two items,

English actor and dramatist (1846-1904). "Thank you for the kind offer. I shall bear it in mind. Many congratulations on the success." Strip of brown discolouration in the right-hand margin and evidence of previous paper-clip attachment.

Baron C.C.J. Bunsen, Prussian diplomat and scholar (1791-1860). He helps the Lord Mayor with his plans for returning the visit of the King of Prussia in January 1842. He gives detailed information on the route and means of transport, including timings, instructs him on the protocol of contacting the Court, gives his plans for visiting the Norwich music festival, and asks for the draft of the Lord Mayor's speech to the King of Prussia. He will have prepared the paperwork for the Prussian Customs that same day.

Grocer and yachtsman (1850-1931). One page, 3 inches by 4 1/2. "Yrs faithfully / Thomas J Lipton". Slightly foxed. Attached to a page from an autograph album docketted with a biographical notice.

South African colonial administrator (1841-1909). 2 pp, 12mo. He and Lady Clarke would have been pleased had Mr and Mrs LanyonSigned "Marshall Clarke". "[...] had your stay allowed I would have made a point of going to Durban [...] Sir Owen Lanyon [Sir William Owen Lanyon, 1842-1887, colonial administrator] was my good and valued friend". With four pieces of gummed paper from previous mounting still adhering to the verso of the blank second leaf.

Novelist. One page each, 8vo. He is responding to an invitation and outlining a busy schedule. 2 items,

Actor-manager (1858-1923), knighted in 1922. One page, 12mo. "Dear Miss Sterling / Months ago you asked me for my autograph . . / Here it is at last. / Yours very truly / Charles H. Hawtrey".

Colonial administrator (died 1888). One page, 12mo, on mourning paper. "Pray accept my best thanks for the Botanic tickets you have so kindly sent me. -" With an obituary from "The Colonies and India" for 1 August 1888.

Actress (1839-1921), wife of the actor-manager Squire Bancroft. The first letter, to Lady Hayter, "Thursday" (no date), 2 pages, 8vo. "Shall you have any military music on Friday? If so, I should like to see the Trumpeter for I want him to play some calls during a recitation. I would run in between 3 & 4 some day just to have a little talk on the subject." The second letter, to an unnamed male correspondent, "Tuesday", 3 pp, 12mo. She thanks him for sending the stalls to the concert, but is sorry that she cannot attend because "Mr.

Unionist politician, husband from 1881 of the heiress to the banking fortune and noted Victorian philanthropist, Angela Georgiana, Baroness Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906), whose name he adopted. One page, 12mo. No more than a dozen words. Bad handwriting. "Dear Sir / Could you send this note <?>". Signed "Burdett-Coutts".

Playwright (1902-1991). The typed letter, 8 February 1967, one page, 8vo. An interesting letter. "I am back again! I have just had a note from Murray Macdonald. He tells me he is going to direct a new play by Tam and Maggie Williams, probaly [sic] in July. The Williams' want Gladys Cooper [English actress, 1888-1971] for it but it is a small part and she has not said "Yes" or "No" yet. She spole to Murray about "The Limit" and told him she would like to do it at Guilford. So please, please convince her that the play to do is the one by ME and not by Williams!

Art dealer and Member of Parliament ((1825-1910). He is writing to her because hers is the first name on a list of "ladies" who have signed a petition "in favour of the extension of the suffrage to women householders". He has presented the petition with which he sympathises.

English actress-manageress (1869-1931), married successively to the actor-managers James Albery and Charles Wyndham. "I much regret that owing to the many calls upon my time at present, I am unable to give you the information you require."

Publisher. 2pp., 8vo. He discusses his reading which includes Blunden's "Cricket Country", some done for professional reasons.

Judge (1801-83), Baron of the Exchequer. One page, 12mo. "What is the true state of things at Belfast / Sam Martin". Martin was born in County Londonderry. Four pieces of gummed paper adhering from mounting adhering to the otherwise blank verso.

Novelist. Total 4pp., 8vo, in the most substantial of which he confesses to being "a most barren person . . . the very act of composition is one of exceeding pain & travail". He is considering a proposal to write something to help the Journalists Orphan Fund. One note concerns the Thackeray Charterhouse Dinner, the other conveys thanks for a fee and pleases that an Exhibition was successful. Three items,

OUP. One page 8vo. A brief note about unpacking "Buenos Aires material" which had presumably been there for an exhibition.

Irish Painter, poet, dramatist and novelist (1770-1850). He gives his correspondent the address of a "Mr Herbert" who was, according to the Post Office Directory of 1846, a professor and publisher of music.

English actor, vocalist and composer (1781-1848). On epage, 4to, creased and chipped with loss only of part of correspondent's name (which ends "...uin"). A significant letter about the Argyll Rooms, the major musical venue of its time. Letter as follows: "If the Licence formerly held by Col. Greville can thus [?] the interest of his family be obtained for the purpose of acting French plays at the Argyle Rooms.

Judge (1734-99). One page, 12mo. "<...> George Murley / Sarah Martin / Given under my Hand the 10th. day of August 1780 pursuant to the Statute in that case made and provided. / [signed] James Eyre". Paper slightly discoloured.

Orientalist and Cambridge Professor (1783-1852). Two pages, 4to, responding to a request for advice for the son of the correspondent who is engaged in preparing a Hebrew Lexicon. Lee gives some solid advice but finally points out that he is engaged on a similar task. WITH: the manuscript text with corrections, two pages, 4to, in Lee's hand, of the examination for the Crosse scholarship (presumably a Cambridge prize) involving Greek, Arabic, Hebrew and Syriac. WITH: an 8vo print of Samuel Lee. Three items,

Nondescript Tory politician (1780-1858). 2 pp, 12mo. "I do not feel right & am naturally apprehensive! / Should it come on - am I - after so short an interval to take the <?> remedy? I am now going out & shall return before hour - / your faithful servt / Haddington".

Historian of music and critic (1814-1887). Three pages, 8vo. He is finding prior engagements preventing his viisiting. He then discusses his researches into the life of Incledon (vocalist) including early memories (in discussion of first names), tombstone information, and the inaccuracy of a predecessor. The letter has been annotated by a few words (perhaps Marshall), in the most significant entry, giving Grove references.

One page, 4to. Difficult handwriting. "Sir / On my return to this Cottage from Houghton I had the favor of your letters. I enclose a letter to Ld. Sandwich [...] I also enclose a letter to Sr. Horace Man [...]" Sir Horace Mann (1701-86) was British envoy at Florence. Docketted on verso of second leaf, "Ld. Orford, inclosing one to Ld. Sandwich wch was imediatly [sic] delivd. [...] Ensign Commis at Patna." Creased, and with loss to second leaf from removal of a seal.