AUTOGRAPH

On 10 x 15 cm piece of laid paper. Simply a bold signature, underlined, with no other text, clearly given in response to a request for an autograph. In good condition, lightly aged.

An interesting letter from a leading Victorian sculptor, describing his methods while executing a bust of the recipient of the letter - the author, orientalist and editor and founder of the Athenaeum magazine James Silk Buckingham - and also describing work on a commission 'for the Queen'. The background to the letter is as follows. Theed had gone to Rome in 1826. He is believed to have studied there under Thorvaldsen and Tenerani, as well as John Gibson and Richard James Wyatt.

1p, 4to. In poor condition, aged and worn. The male recipient is not named. The letter read s: 'At a small meeting attended by Walter Crane, H. S. Salt, Charles Charrington, S. G. Hobson, Edward Rose, and myself it was considered advisable to issue to the whole Fabian Society a statement on the lines of the enclosed proof which I herewith send you. A desire has been expressed that you should sign it and if you agree to do so I should be much obliged to have your signature at an early post.

2pp, 4to. On first leaf of bifolium, the second leaf carrying the address to 'Lady Palgrave | Hampstead Green', with four postmarks, one dated 29 July 1837. In fair condition, on aged, worn and creased paper. Lady Elizabeth Palgrave was the wife of the archivist and historian Sir Francis Palgrave (1788-1861, né Cohen), and daughter of the banker, naturalist and bibliophile Dawson Turner (1775-1858) of Yarmouth.

Each 1p, 4to. Both in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and each folded three times. On the letterhead she is referred to as 'The Lady Edward Spencer-Churchill O.B.E.' Chairman of the British Legion. Women's Section. ONE: 16 November 1934. Having been informed by 'Miss Gerds' that the recipient 'would like to know if I am coming by Car or by train on December 1st, to open your “Fun Fair,”' she states that she is 'not sure how long it would take to motor from London', but thinks it would be quicker by train. 'I see a good one arrives at 2-47!' TWO: 5 January 1935.

2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with several folds. Twenty-two lines written in a close, crabbed hand. Begins: 'My dear Sir | I looked for you at the last meeting of the Antiquarian Society [i.e. the Cambridge Antiquarian Society] – in vain.' He is forwarding a letter he has received from 'Mr S. Jackson of Keswick, Cumberland – concerning some coins & medals for sale', He does not 'wish to be a purchaser', but Akerman may wish to give notice to 'some one who would wish to possess some of the collection'.

A letter of condolence to the son of A. V. 'Ebby' Ebblewhite [Albert Victor Ebblewhite] (1871-1939), who has been described as 'the inexhaustible handicapper and time-keeper, not only at Brooklands but at many other cycling, aviation and motoring venues'. 2pp, landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and folded once. He was 'terribly shocked' to hear of Ebblewhite's death the previous Monday, 'particularly as I had a letter from him that morning'. He wishes the family to know that 'I and all at Brooklands sympathise most sincerely with you all.

On 6 x 9.5 cm slip of paper, cut from the letter. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. On one side, with part of the franking postmark in red ink, Baring has addressed the letter in the customary fashion: 'Thetford December ten 1834 – | F. T. Maxon Esqr | 6 Little Friday St | Cheapside | London – | Frans Baring'. (The recipient is the solicitor Frederick Thomas Maxon.) The reverse of the slip carries part of the conclusion of the letter, with the top half of Barker's signature.

On 5 x 10.5 cm slip of paper, cut from the conclusion of a letter. In fair condition, laid down on 6 x 11 cm piece of cream paper. Reads: '[…] my dear Madam. | Your much obliged | and Obed | H More | Barley Wood | March 10 –'.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with the top part of the blank reverse pasted onto a slip of paper cut from an album. Adressed to 'Miss Constance M. Evans, | Raventhorpe, | Carmel Road N., | Darlington.' She begins by stating that Evans's letter has been forwarded to her by Julian Herbage.

3pp, small 4to. Bifolium on wove paper. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with closed tear at head of gutter. Customary tax stamp in red on first page. Each page with mourning border. In small print and double column.

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged. With thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the blank reverse. The recipient is not named. He informs him that he will 'not be in Town' before the following Monday, instead of the Thursday, explaining that he 'was not able to leave the King until Saturday last – and a sejour here of less than a week would hardly justify a journey of 103 miles and back again'.

Hadfield's insanity appears to have been the result of eight sabre wounds to the head sustained in 1794 at the Battle of Roubaix. On his return to England Hadfield fell under the sway of Bannister Truelock's millenarian cult, becoming convinced, as his entry in the Oxford DNB states, 'that his death at the hands of the state would effect the second coming' He conspired with Truelock to assassinate the king at Drury Lane Theatre on the evening of 15 May 1800.

2pp, folio. On one leaf. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to one edge. Folded twice. Fifty-seven lines of text, written in a clerk's hand, and addressed 'To Our Right Trusty & Welbeloved Lewis Lord Sondes [Lewis Watson, 1st Baron Sondes (1728-1795)] & Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Cousin Counsellor John Viscount Mountstuart [John Stuart (1744-1814), later Marquess of Bute] Auditors of Our Imprests.' The subject of the document is given at the foot of the last page: 'Allowance on the Accts.

1p, folio. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip from mount adhering to one edge. Folded twice. The three signatures are firmly and boldly written ('H: Pelham | H Fox | R Arundell') in the right-hand margin. The document read s: 'Order is taken this 18th. Day of April 1746 By Virtue of his Majestys General Letters of Privy Seal bearing date the 26th day of June 1727. And in pursuance of a Warrant under his Majesty's Royal Sign Manual dated the 10th. instant That you deliver and pay of such his Majestys Treasure as remains in your Charge unto Thomas Winnington Esqr.

40pp., 4to, disbound and defective, foxing, sl. frayed but main text complete, missing title/printed wraps (present as photocopy) with two folding Appendices (Tables) (one missing small section in middle with loss of some letters all the way down): Appendix No. 1. Statistics re. Raw and Refined Sugar up to 1804; No. 2 An Account of the Total Value of the Impor[t] into and Exports from Great Britain in 1801 and 1802, distinguishing the [Brit]ish Manufacturers from the Foreign Ones. INSCRIBED "T.B.H.

[viii].55, 8vo, disbound, with vestiges of binding at spine, from volume of similar pamphlets "Pro Gradu Doctoris" at the Medical School of the University of Edinburgh. With errata slip. INSCRIBED by the Author, "For | Charles Hastings Esq. with best regards of his Sincere Friend the | Author. - | 9 Great King Street | July 30th 1818." Hastings, a contemporary of Gordon's at the Medical School, was later to have a distinguished medical career and to help found the British Medical Association.

The present item dates from the final period of the king's mental instability, 1810-1820. Heberden – the son of the 'father of rheumatology' William Heberden the elder (1710-1801) – had been appointed Physician-Extraordinary to the queen in 1795, and by 1809 was Physician-in-Ordinary to both queen and king.

1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads 'Major General Garth presents his Compliments to Mr Ford and informs Him that Their Majesties and Princesses stop to breakfast at Hartford Bridge – and once afterwards for five Minutes at Stoney Cross – The Compton Arms – between Rumsey & Kingwood.' Postscript: 'The Majr Genl: supposes Mr Ford is acquainted that The King leaves Windsor 17th next.' Ford – the son of Queen Charlotte's physician, James Ford – was clearly enquiring with regard to the king's itinerary for security purposes.

The letter is written a few weeks after the king's recovery from his first bout of mental instability. In the period immediately preceeding the king's recovery a Regency Bill had been making its way through the House of Commons. It was made redundant by the king's recovery; had it been enacted the Prince of Wales, as Regent, would almost certainly have dismissed Pitt in favour of his rival Charles James Fox.

3pp, 12mp. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with short closed tear at gutter. Folded three times. Having received the unnamed recipient's letter at Horndean that morning, he writes that there is no reason why he should not 'take to morrow Week, in place of to morrow, as I know it will be equally convenient to His Majesty'.

Two pages, 12mo, good condition. He explains why he hasn't replied sooner, adding: I feel honoured to be again asked by the Dialectic Society to presdie at theor Introductory Lecture; but I greatly regret that, owing to a pressure of engagements this week, I am not able to comply with their request."

For the context of this letter see David J. Cox, 'A Certain Share of Low Cunning: A History of the Bow Street Runners, 1792-1839' (2010): 'From 1792 at least two Principal Officers were also permanently stationed at Windsor after the King had received several death threats.

The subject of the letter is clearly a seditious communication found in the Windsor area and brought to Greville's attention, which he is forwarding for the attention of the Home Secretary, the Duke of Portland. David J. Cox casts light on the context in his 'A Certain Share of Low Cunning: A History of the Bow Street Runners, 1792-1839' (2010), stating that from 1792 'at least two Principal Officers were also permanently stationed at Windsor after the King had received several death threats'.

One page, cr. 8vo, fold mark, very good condition. "I have the satisfactiuon to acquaint you that Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve of your appointment to the Colonelcy of the 70th Regiment of Foot in succession to General Sir Wm Paty K.C.B. deceased." Note: "[Doyle] was the second Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia post Confederation and the first Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick."

One page, 12mo, bifolium, fold marks, grubby, some staining, text clear and complete. "Dr Freinds Complements wait upon Mr Garth. If Colonel Cracherode has executed the two Deeds he begs the favor of Mr Garth to deliver them to his Servant the bearer." A Google snippet view (from The Genealogist) discusses a situation in which Cracherode and Dr Robert Freind are executors, perhaps in a family will.

Irregular piece of paper, c.7.5 x 2.5cm, very good condition, with just her signature

The recipient, Ralph Robinson, was George III's shepherd at Windsor, and the king (whose interest in agriculture earned him the nickname 'Farmer George') published contributions to the Annals of Agriculture under Robinson's name. 1p, 4to. Aged, soiled and worn in the folds, the wear taking in part of the royal signature. Archivally repaired, and with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the blank reverse. An unusual letter, showing the king's meticulous attention to detail.

2pp, folio. On a single sheet. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, folded twice into the customary packet. The first page is headed with the king's scrawled signature ('George R.'), he being practically blind with cataracts at the time of signing. The document is countersigned at the end by three Lords of the Treasury: 'Sp Perceval | Wm Eliot | W Sturges Bourne'. The tax stamp is in its customary position in the left-hand margin of the first page.

One page, cr. 8vo, fold marks, very good condition. She appreciates his thoughtfulnes concerning her personal life, and is sympathetic about his personal life. She goes on: "I think there are enough biographies and autobiographies on the market without my inflicting more and so I have decided against it! Notwithstanding I am very touched by all your kind observances regarding myself." She then discusses her promising students, Linda Esther Gray [later her biographer] and Stuart Harling. She appreciates his remembering her Pekingese which had died after a long life and not been replaced.