ART

[Edward Scriven, engraver.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edwd Scriven') to the bookseller Joseph Harding regarding the retouching of his 'plate of Norfolk'.

Author: 
Edward Scriven (1775-1841), engraver [Joseph Harding, bookseller, chief assistant to James Lackington (1777-1844) of Finsbury Square]
Publication details: 
51 Clarendon Square, Somers Town [London]. 29 October 1819.
£165.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Scriven begins: 'I am afraid you will have thought I had forgotten to send the plate of Norfolk: the truth is, I decided on doing a few touches to that hand noticed by you & Mr Lackington; and although it was but a very little, I did not like to trust its going without first seeing a proof, as we can never be quite sure, on at all touching the copper, how it may come afterwards.' He ends by sending his 'best respects to Mr Lackington and the rest of your Gentlemen'.

[Benjamin Phelps Gibbon, engraver.]

Author: 
Benjamin Phelps Gibbon (1802-1851), Wesh engraver
Publication details: 
89 Albany Street, Regents Park [London]. 17 November 1841.
Upon request

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He reports that he shared the 'bounty' of the recipient's 'delicious present' with his brother, who has been 'confined to the house for a month'. He reports that 'Mr Watts and family are well', and hopes that 'Mr Stack is so'.

[Althea Willoughby, English artist.] Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Autograph Note Signed to the publishers Ingpen and Grant regarding her designs for woodcut engravings for Alexander Somerton's 'Glades of Glenbella'.

Author: 
Althea Willoughby (1904-1982), English artist, designer of posters for London Transport, 1933-1936 [Ingpen and Grant, London publishers]
Publication details: 
All three from 20A Alfred Place, SW7 [London]. 14 April, 10 July and 2 August [1929].
£180.00

Each item is 1p., 12mo, the note being the last of the three. All written in green ink, the first on green paper, and the other two on pink paper. The three in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written in an attractive, calligraphic hand. ONE: She writes that she is enclosing 'four rough designs [not present] for the woodcut frontispiece to the "Glade [sic] of Glenbella', and asks to be informed by return of the firm's choice, and she will 'get on with it at once'. She ends with a query about galley sheets. TWO: Docketted with brief pencil accounts.

[Abraham John Mason, wood engraver.] Autograph Letter Signed ('A. J. Mason') to 'J. Mayer Esqre', discussing a commission for an advertisement to be placed in the Art Union Monthly, mentioning individuals (Hall, Fairholt, Clements) and processes.

Author: 
Abraham John Mason, wood engraver [Samuel Carter Hall, editor of the Art Union Monthly]
Publication details: 
28 Liverpool Street, King's Cross. 27 January [no year].
Upon request

4pp., 12mo. 55 lines of text, written in a neat, clear hand. On bifolium, with second leaf neatly placed in paper windowpane mount. The letter begins: 'I herewith send the electrotype of the Trowel, [not present] which is I think a beautiful specimen of the peculiar but slow process.

[William Strang, Scottish painter and etcher.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm Strang') to an unnamed female recipient, regarding a meeting of the Art Workers' Guild.

Author: 
William Strang (1859-1921), Scottish painter and etcher, President of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers [The Art Workers' Guild]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 7 Hamilton Terrace, NW [London]. 20 January 1916.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper. The letter reads: 'Dear Madam | Thank you for your reminder about reading the paper tomorrow night. | I will be at the Guild before 8, and get the slides.' Strang was Master of the Art Workers' Guild.

[William Strang, Scottish painter and etcher.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm Strang') to 'Daffarn', regarding an engagement with him and his 'friend Watson'.

Author: 
William Strang (1859-1921), Scottish painter and etcher, President of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Gravers
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 7 Hamilton Terrace, NW [London]. 2 April 1907.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on aged paper. The letter reads: 'Dear Daffarn | I will be in any time in the afternoon after 2.30 on Friday, & will be pleased to see you and your friend Watson. | The work goes on slowly but I think I will finish in time.'

[Peltro William Tomkins, drawing master to the royal family.] Autograph Letter Signed ('P W Tomkins') to 'Gentlemen' [booksellers] regarding 'Dr Clarkes Plates' and the desire of the bearer of the letter to be employed as an engraver.d

Author: 
Peltro William Tomkins (1759-1840), engraver and draughtsman, drawing master to the family of King George III
Publication details: 
53 New Bond Street [London]. 14 March 1809.
£60.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper, laid down on a grey-paper mount. The letter is addressed 'Gentlemen'. In the first paragraph he explains that having received their letter, he sent 'Dr Clarkes Plates [...] to the Writing Engravers but have not as yet received them back'. He has sent the bearer of the present letter to find out when they will be done, and he has been told to tell them the answer he receives. The second paragraph reveals that the bearer of the letter is himself an engraver: 'I understand that he applied to you for the engraving of one of your Portrait Plates.

[Martin Hardie, art historian and curator.] Two Typed Letters Signed to the artist and critic Eric Hesketh Hubbard, discussing the loan and delivery of drawings.

Author: 
Martin Hardie (1875-1952), art historian and Victoria and curator at the Albert Museum [Eric Hesketh Hubbard (1892-1957), artist and critic]
Publication details: 
First letter: on letterhead of Rodbourne, Tonbridge, Kent. 3 October 1943. Second letter: from Rodbourne. 10 October 1943.
£70.00

The two items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 1p., 4to. Regarding the loan by him to Hubbard of drawings, and delivery options for them. TWO: 1p., 12mo. 'You vanished very suddenly after our Meeting and I did not have the chance of discussing arrangements with you. Will you please let me know what time it passes through Tonbridge on the following Monday.' He hopes to bring two more pictures 'straight to Albany from Charing Cross, arriving about mid-day? If you are not to be there I will take them to the Royal Academy and deliver them in the afternoon.'

[Niccolò Schiavonetti, printmaker.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Nichs. Schiavonetti') to 'Mr. Scott', sending '4 sorts of french paper', and giving instructions on how it is to be prepared.

Author: 
Niccolò Schiavonetti [Nicholas Schiavonetti] (c.1771-1813), printmaker, brother of Luigi Schiavonetti (1765-1810)
Publication details: 
Brompton; 15 April 1811.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper with damp stain along one edge. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. Scott'. He is sending 'by Bearer 4 sorts of french paper, 2 sheets of each, which you will be so good as to see that it is properly prepared before it is used - The grand Eagle with the watermarks will require a great deal of brushing with a hard brush as I think that many of the specks will brush off they being chiefly superficial'.

[John Hassell, artist and engraver.] Autograph Note Signed ('J Hassell'), arranging to offer 'something interesting' to an unnamed employee of the London printseller 'Mr Boydell' [either John Boydell or his nephew Josiah Boydell].

Author: 
John Hassell (1767-1825), watercolour painter and engraver [John Boydell (1720-1804), artist and London printseller; his nephew Josiah Boydell (1752-1817)]
Publication details: 
'Thursday Morng [no date] | 11 Clements Inn'.
£50.00

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-stained paper. The note reads: 'Dr Sir, | I shall do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you the beginning of the week, when I hope to have something interesting to shew you for Mr Boydell - believe me | Dr Sir | Yrs truly | J Hassell'.

[Frederick William Fairholt, artist and antiquary.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. W. Fairholt') to unnamed male recipient, reporting that he has done an engraving for him, and commenting adversely on the increasing 'taste for hard words'.

Author: 
Frederick William Fairholt (c.1813-1866), artist and antiquary
Publication details: 
11 Montpelier Square, Brompton. No date.
£45.00

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. 21 lines of text. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. As Doubleday has not 'sent the last', he has 'done your 3rd Cut of "glorious Apollo" from the print alone endeavouring to give the antique style as faithfully as I could.' He thanks him for his 'bit about the "archaic" term', and is certain 'that that [last word underlined] - like many other derivations from Greek & Latin roots, are most frequently used improperly[. T]he taste for hard words is certainly on the increase among all classes - from the advertising tailor upwards.'

[Valentine Green, Engraver.] Autograph Letter Signed ('V. Green') to an unnamed male recipient, regarding the removal of two paintings, including one by William Daniell.

Author: 
Valentine Green (1739-1813), English engraver and print publisher, Keeper of the British Institution, 1805-1813 [William Daniell (1769-1837), landscape and marine painter]
Publication details: 
British Gallery, Pall Mall [London]. 20 July 1807.
£120.00

1p., 4to. In good conditon, on aged paper. He begins: 'As both the pictures you bought are to be taken without the frames, I can't take upon me to displace them, without either you or the Artists were present, and more especially Mr. Daniell's, which is framed in a particular way.' Consequently he will keep the paintings, till either the recipient or artists take them away, 'and give me a proper discharge for them'. He ends with his hours of attendance.

[Sir George Hayter, artist.] Autograph Receipt Signed ('George Hayter'), to Messrs Crace, for the loan 'of two spear axe pikes, and a body & helmet suit of armour'.

Author: 
Sir George Hayter (1792-1871), painter and engraver [Messrs Crace & Son, 14 Wigmore Street, London, interior designers]
Publication details: 
'33 Gloucester Place in the new Road [London]'. 25 April 1855.
£130.00

On one side of a piece of cm blue paper. Reads: 'April 25, 1855. | 33 Gloucester Place in the new Road | Received of Messrs Crace | The favour of loan of two spear axe pikes, and a body & helmet suit of armour, to be returned. | George Hayter | with Thanks & Compliments.'

[Shelagh Maitland, artist's model.] Autograph Letter Signed, offering her services to the Duchess of Kent, stating she has worked for Lord Plunkett, Cathleen Mann, Simon Elwes, Sir John Lavery, T. C. Dugdale, David Jagger. With risqué autograph poem.

Author: 
Shelagh Maitland, artist's model [Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent [Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark] (1906-1968); Cathleen Mann; Simon Elwes; Sir John Lavery; T. C. Dugdale; David Jagger]
Publication details: 
40 Queensborough Terrace, W8 [London]. 19 July 1938.
£80.00

Both items are in an envelope addressed to the Duchess at 3 Belgrave Square. The envelope and its contents are on aged and creased paper. LETTER: 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Knowing that the Duchess is 'a well-known artist', she is offering her 'services as a model'. 'I was permanent model to the late Lord Plunket [sic] and have been painted by Cathleen Mann, Simon Elwes, Sir John Lavery, T. C. Dugdale, David Jagger and several other well-known painters.' She describes her appearance and asks to be granted an interview. POEM: 2pp., 12mo. In pencil. Unsigned, but clearly by Maitland.

[Malcolm Osborne, painter.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to Westley Manning, in the first describing his wartime enlistment in the Artists Rifles, and training under the artist William Lee-Hankey.

Author: 
Malcolm Osborne (1880-1963), English landscape painter [William Westley Manning (1868-1954), artist; The Artists Rifles, British Territorial Army; William Lee-Hankey (1869-1952), artist]
Publication details: 
The first from 11 Edith Grove, Chelsea. 24 July 1915. The second from 15 Redcliffe Square, South Kensington. 25 July 1921.
£160.00

Both letters in very good condition, neatly written out on lightly-aged paper. ONE: 2pp., 4to.

[John Raphael Smith, mezzotint engraver and publisher.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. R. Smith') to the architectural writer James Elmes, informing him of the progress of a work and that he is sending two proof plates. Carrying 3 signed notes by Elmes

Author: 
John Raphael Smith (bap. 1751, d. 1812), mezzotint engraver and print publisher [James Elmes (1782-1862), writer on architecture]
Publication details: 
'Newman Street. 33. [London]'. 17 June 1811.
£120.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'James Elmes Esqre.' At the head of the letter Elmes has written: 'From J. Raphael Smith the celebrated mezzotinto Engraver | J Elmes', and down the bottom right-hand corner: 'From J. Raphael Smith, Painter in Crayons & Mezzotinto Engraver to Mr Elmes, with 2 proof prints | J. E'. At the foot of the page Elmes has identified 'Mr. Tooke' in the letter as 'Horne Tooke J.E.' Smith writes: 'Sir | I have sent you an impression of Sr.

[John Burnet, painter, engraver and writer on art.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jno: Burnet') to the editor of the Literary Gazette William Jerdan, regarding a loan of a document made by a 'friend of Vandyk [Vandyke]'.

Author: 
John Burnet (1784-1868), painter, engraver and writer on art [William Jerdan (1782-1869), editor of the Literary Gazette]
Publication details: 
30 Cadogan Place [Sloane Street, London].] 'Tuesday' (no date).
£180.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper, with wafer. Addressed on reverse to 'William Jerdan Esqr. | Brompton'. The letter reads: 'My dear Sir, | A particular friend of Vandyk [sic] has hastily drawn up the enclosed. you have made what use of them you require, perhaps our friend Watts would like to see them.'

[James Mitan, engraver.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Mitan') to the print collector Robert Balmanno, arranging an exchange of prints by Abraham Raimbach between Balmanno and the engraver Charles Heath.

Author: 
James Mitan (1776-1822), English engraver [Robert Balmanno (1780-1861), Scottish author and print collector; Charles Heath (1785-1848), engraver; Abraham Raimbach (1776-1843), engraver]
Publication details: 
63 Warren Street, Fitzroy Place. 2 December 1814.
£220.00

2pp., 4to. 18 lines of text. In bifolium. Good, on aged and creased paper, with strip of page to which the letter was attached adhering. Addressed, with red wax seal, on reverse of second leaf, to 'R. Balmanno Esqre. | 3 Middle Temple Lane Temple'. He begins: 'Having some communication last week with Mr. Charles Heath in the course of conversation he was regretting that he could not procure any proofs of plates engaraved by Mr. Raimbach - now as your Kindness gained me what I wished of his performance with an obliging offer of something more it occurred to me to solicit fom Mr.

[George Richmond, English portrait painter, disciple of William Blake.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Geo Richmond') to 'Lilian', in the first speaking of a 'bond between us', and in the second discussing a 'print & frame'.

Author: 
George Richmond (1809-1896), English portrait painter, in his youth a disciple of William Blake, and one of the 'Shoreham Ancients'
Publication details: 
Both on letterhead of 20 York Street, Portman Square [London]. 2 November1882 and 7 July 1885.
£180.00

Both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, and both with a mourning border (the first thick and the second thin). ONE: 3pp., 16mo. He apologises for 'having neglected to answer' her 'too kind and pretty note'. 'And really such neglect does great injusticce to my feeling, for your note brought back to me in vivid recollection, a visit to when we were both in great sorrow, which I am sure was a bond between us, though we had our games of Whist in the Evening with your Aunt Laura & Mrs. Buchanan!' TWO: 2pp., 16mo. He is glad she likes 'both print & frame'.

[Francesco Bartolozzi, Italian engraver.] Autograph Receipt Signed ('Francis Bartolozzi'), on account of 'Engraving a Print of The Royal Children after Mr: Copley' for Alderman John Boydell.

Author: 
Francesco Bartolozzi (1725-1815), Italian engraver, long resident in London, Engraver to King George III [Alderman John Boydell (1720-1804), London printseller; John Singleton Copley, artist]
Publication details: 
No place [London]. 23 January 1789.
£450.00

On one side of an 8 x 18cm piece of paper, with counting house spike hole in centre. In very good condition, lightly-aged, and neatly placed in a windowpane mount of 26 x 20.5 cm. With embossed Four Pence government stamp. Neatly and elegantly written out, it reads: 'Janry: 23 1789. Recvd. of Ald: Boydell Fifty Pounds upon acct: of Engraving a Print of The Royal Children after Mr: Copley | Francis Bartolozzi | 50. 0'.

[Sir Thomas Dyke Acland.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos. Dyke Acland') to an unnamed recipient, explaining how he has ceased to make charitable payments to the widow of an artist 'labouring under loss or decay of sight'.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland (1787-1871), successively Conservative Member of Parliament for Devonshire and North Devon
Publication details: 
From the Waterloo Hotel, on his crested letterhead. 10 June 1863.
£56.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of glue from mount along one edge. A hurried letter, illegible at points. 'You will see the name of yr. respectable at the end of the enclosed Petition from My Own Hand. She has no right to refer to me for any further knowledge of herself and her husband, or his position of art - than that of my having understood him to be an artist in a state of much distress, labouring under loss or decay of sight, & that I for some years I might almost , I gave him occasional relief.

[Henry G. Bohn, bookseller and publisher.] Printed 'Catalogue of a Collection of Works on the Fine Arts, comprising Books of Prints, Picture Galleries, Treatises on Painting, Sculpture and Engraving, Lives of Artists, &c.'

Author: 
Henry G. Bohn [Henry George Bohn] (1796-1884), British bookseller and publisher [Christie's, London auctioneers]
Publication details: 
Messrs. Christie, Manson & Woods, At their Great Rooms, 8 King Street, St. James's Square, London. [Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, Limited, Stamford Street and Charing Cross.] Sold on 30 March 1885 and following day.
£120.00

30pp., 8vo. Stitched and unbound. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper, with a few closed tears. Full title: 'Catalogue of a Collection of Works on the Fine Arts, comprising Books of Prints, Picture Galleries, Treatises on Painting, Sculpture and Engraving, Lives of Artists, &c. Forming a Portion of the Library of that well-known Amateur Henry G. Bohn, Esq., Deceased, Late of North End House, Twickenham'. 395 lots. A few items priced in pencil, some with name of purchaser.

[Thomas Phillips, portrait painter.] Autograph Note Signed ('T Phillips') informing '- Wilder Esq.' that his 'Picture is now varnished & ready to be sent away'.

Author: 
Thomas Phillips (1770-1845), English portrait painter [Wilder]
Publication details: 
8 George Street, London. 1 April 1842.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of glue from mount on reverse, which is docketed 'Phillips the Portrait Painter'. The note reads: 'Dear Sir | Your Picture is now varnished & ready to be sent away. Pray be so good as to favour me with the Direction for the Case'.

[Printed 'Agenda Buvard de la Maison des Magasins Réunis' (Parisian department store), filled with photographs, advertisements and illustrations, including twelve stylish full-page colour representations of the seasons by 'Fabiano'.]

Author: 
[Maison des Magasins Réunis, Parisian department store, founded in 1866; 'Fabien Fabiano' [pen name of Jules Coup de Fréjac (1883-1962)]
Publication details: 
Maison des Magasins Réunis, Place de la République, Faubourg du Temple, Rue de Malte, Paris, France. [Paris. Imp. Henon, 11, rue Stendal. 10-12.] 1913.
£450.00

4to. In red cloth binding, gilt, with the department store's logo on the front board and endpapers. In very good condition, on aged paper, with empty wallet on rear pastedown. Green cloth bookmark with printed advertisement 'pour la Toilette des Dames'. An attractively-designed volume, with a marked Art Nouveau feel, the highlight of which is the set of twelve full-page illustrations of the seasons on art paper by Fabiano.

[Halifax Explosion, Nova Scotia, Canada, 6 December 1917.] Twelve postcards of scenes of devastation by the largest non-nuclear man-made explosion in history, by Underwood & Underwood of New York.

Author: 
Underwood & Underwood, N.Y. [Halifax Explosion, Nova Scotia, Canada, 6 December 1917]
Publication details: 
Copyright Underwood & Underwood, N.Y. [New York.] 'Novelty Mfg. & Art Co., Limited, Montreal [Canada]'. Undated [1917 or 1918].
£100.00

The largest man-made explosion before the the development of nuclear weapons, with a force equivalent to nearly 3 kilotons of TNT, occurred when the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc, laden with wartime munitions, collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the Narrows, a strait connecting the upper Halifax Harbour to Bedford Basin. The explosion devastated the Richmond District of Halifax, killing 2000 and injuring 9000. Each postcard carries the words 'Copyright Underwood & Underwood, N.Y.' next to the caption beneath the image, with 'Novelty Mfg.

Album of 49 photographs by the Victorian photographer William Claridge of Berkhamstead, with the ownership inscription of his granddaughter Sybil Maude Hubert, and including character studies of individuals, and an unknown view of the City of London

Author: 
William Claridge (1797-1876) of Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, Victorian photographer; his granddaughter Sybil Maude Hubert [married name Churchill] (1872-1944)
Publication details: 
[Berkhamstead] The photographs dating from c. 1855 to 1876. Sybil M. Hubert's ownership inscription dated 1883.
£850.00

49 photographic prints, laid down on 48pp. of a small (16.5 x 13 cm) contemporary 4to album, quarter-bound with brown leather spine and brown cloth boards, with yellow endpapers. No captions: the only manuscript in the volume being the ownership inscription of 'Sybil M. Hubert | 1883' on the front free endpaper. A fragile survival: aged and discoloured, with occasional staining from damp, which also caused some of the photographs to stick to one another, with slight damage occurring on their being detached; binding also in poor condition, with boards detached and leaves loose.

Manuscript copy of letter from William Lock to Alexander Murray, complaining from Italy about the result of the sale of his books and prints, discussing his estate, and planning the sale by Sotheby of his own paintings and those of Henry Fuseli.

Author: 
William Lock (1767-1847), painter, son of the connoisseur William Lock [Locke] (1732-1810) of Norbury Park, Surrey [Henry Fuseli; Samuel Sotheby; Alexander Murray; John Julius Angerstein]
Publication details: 
2 June 1821. Florence, Casa Quaratesi, Piazza Ognissanti.
£150.00

1p., 4to. Neatly written out in a contemporary hand (presumably the recipient's), with 'Copy' at the head. In very good condition, on lightly-aged laid paper with watermark of 'W D WELLS'. Signature transcribed as 'Wm. Lock'. Lock has just received Murray's letter of 18 May, 'giving me an Account of the Sales of my Books and Prints which is so much below what I had reason to expect, that I must beg you to apply only One thousand to the Payment of my Debt to my Fathers Executors'.

Autograph Memorandum by the artist John Piper, describing how Vollard's biography of Cézanne inspired him when he read it as a teenager.

Author: 
John Piper (1903-1992), English painter [Ambroise Vollard (1866-1939), art dealer and connoisseur; Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Fawley Bottom Farmhouse near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Undated.
£230.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. Clearly responding to an enquiry regarding what books had had a formative influence on his life, Piper writes: 'Vollard's Life of Cézanne, because it showed me, in my teens, that an artist can be dedicated, unbohemian, unworldly, against the tide and absolutely true to his instincts, which happened to be right. The book - by a dealer, too!

Duplicated typewritten report titled 'The Magdalen Street Project', describing an influential experiment in 'civic design', carried out by the Civic Trust in conjunction with Norwich City Council.

Author: 
[Magdalen Street Project; Norwich City Council; Norfolk; The Civic Trust, London; Sir Misha Black (1910-1977), Russian-born British architect, founder of the Artists' International Association]
Publication details: 
The Civic Trust, 79 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1. [1959]
£250.00

[1] + 7pp., foolscap 8vo. On eight leaves, stapled together in one corner. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with slight rust marking to title leaf. The title leaf reads: 'THE MAGDALEN STREET | PROJECT | Further information obtainable from: | THE CIVIC TRUST | 79 BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD | LONDON S.W.1. | TATe Gallery 0891'. The background to the experiment is explained in the first two paragraphs: 'This is the story of an experiment in civic design. It is also a story of civic co-operation in which self-help was seen to be synonymous with public spirit.

Autograph Letter Signed from the American artist Edwin Howland Blashfield to 'Mr. Thomas' [the playwright Augustus Thomas], regarding the National Institute of Arts and Letters [later the American Academy of Arts and Letters].

Author: 
Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936), American artist, President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters [Augustus Thomas (1857-1944), American playwright; American Academy of Arts and Letters]
Publication details: 
On his letterhead of 48 Central Park South, New York City. 14 November [1915?].
£120.00

1p., 12mo. 25 lines, neatly and tightly written. In good condition, lightly-aged, and with pin hole to one corner. Blashfield declares himself 'much disappointed' that Thomas will not be presiding 'at the joint meeting on the 17th. Nov.', stating that he has been urging 'from the beginning' that Thomas should 'so preside'.

Syndicate content