CLUB

Both items are scarce, with the only copies on COPAC (other than 'electronic resources') at the National Library of Scotland. ONE: 'The Watt Club. Instituted 1854. Address by Thomas Knox, Esq., J.P., As President of the Watt Club, in proposing "The Memory of Watt,"' at the Annual Dinner of the Club, held on Saturday Evening, 19th January, 1878. Reprinted by the Club from Public Reports for Distribution among the Students.' 8pp., 12mo. In grey printed wraps. Stitched. Disbound. In good condition, on aged paper, with central vertical fold line.

Letter: 1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He begins by suggesting that Baron write to 'Mr Payn' (the novelist and editor James Payn) via the Reform Club, Pall Mall. (Baron's method involved asking one celebrity how to contact another.) He next discusses two of his works: '"The Memorial Windows" appeared in the Gentleman's & was published in Pippins & Cheese (Bradbury & Evans) - "The Valley" you will see in enclosed list'. He concludes by thanking Baron for his 'complimentary note'. With envelope addressed to 'J. T.

8pp., 12mo. Stapled. Printed in blue on shiny art paper, in cream card wraps, also printed in blue, and tied with blue and white ribbon. On aged and worn paper. With illustrations in text, including a half-page image of the 'Pip, Squeak & Wilfred Jig-Saw Puzzle'. The first page carries a message to 'My Dear Boys and Girls' from 'Uncle Bill', including: 'To-day's Gugnunc Party - our third - is particularly interesting as it is also a birthday party.

[4] + 47pp., 8vo. In printed wraps. Internally in fair condition, on aged paper, with slight staining to the corners; in worn and chipped wraps. A handsome production, as one might expect from one of the nine founders of the Grolier Club, with a two-page introduction followed by a full-page reproduction of the Ascensius printer's device, and 47 examples of pages set in various point sizes of Cushing, Ancient Roman, Jenson, Satanick, Louis XV, and Century Roman. No copy on COPAC, six American and one French on WorldCat.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with slight damage caused by removal from an album. The first leaf of the document carries fifteen numbered rules; and the second leaf carries a 'List of Members', with Joseph Chamberlain as President; Viscount Milner as Chairman of Executive Committee, and Honorary Treasurer Viscount Ridley, and including the Duke of Bedford, Bonar Law, and the publisher John Murray. At the foot of the final page is a list of 'Foundation Members' of the 'South African Branch Compatriots' Club'.

The list of officers and members is printed on one side of a piece of 49 x 31 cm paper. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with slight damage caused by removal from an album. The Club's President is named as Herbert, the Treasurer as Viscount Wolmer MP of University College, and the Secretary as E. W. Benison of Magdalen. Five committee members are named, followed by the members in alphabetical order in two columns, from 'Amery, L. S., All Souls College' to 'Yerburgh, R. D. T., University College'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and folded paper. The reverse of the document is docketted, with the stamp of the St James's Budget. He writes that he is enclosing a photograph, which he asks to be returned to him 'after it has served its purpose'.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with slight damage caused by removal from an album. The first leaf of the document carries fifteen numbered rules; and the second leaf carries a 'List of Members', with Joseph Chamberlain as President; Viscount Milner as Chairman of Executive Committee, and Honorary Treasurer Viscount Ridley, and including the Duke of Bedford, Bonar Law, and the publisher John Murray. At the foot of the final page is a list of 'Foundation Members' of the 'South African Branch Compatriots' Club'.

The list of officers and members is printed on one side of a piece of 49 x 31 cm paper. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with slight damage caused by removal from an album. The Club's President is named as Herbert, the Treasurer as Viscount Wolmer MP of University College, and the Secretary as E. W. Benison of Magdalen. Five committee members are named, followed by the members in alphabetical order in two columns, from 'Amery, L. S., All Souls College' to 'Yerburgh, R. D. T., University College'.

The piece of vellum an irregular rectangle of about 4 x 17 cm. Smudged signature, with crumbling red wax seal to its right, beneath fragment of Latin text ending with date 1841. The engraving, with facsimile of signature, 'From a picture in his Lordship's possession | This plate, 28 x 19 cm on 4to leaf, is by express permission dedicated most respectfully to the Members of the Reform Club by their faithful Servant Thomas Collins'. It is in fair condition, aged and with strip of discoloration in margin at head.

Letter: 2pp., 8vo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressing his letter to 'Dear Sir Albert', Petingale thanks Richardson for his letter 'arising out of your visit to the Ealing Arts and Crafts Exhibition', which has encouraged Petingale to send him 'the latest number of "Miscellany", which is the contribution of the Literature Group to the Ealing Arts Club, and which my wife and myself have been editing for the last nine years'. He discusses a visit to Holy Cross Church, designed by Richardson.

The Oxford DNB entry on Sir Walter Besant states that, 'Concerned to cultivate better understanding with North America, Besant worked in the last two years of his life for the Atlantic Union.' In fact it was Besant who founded the club in 1900, with Conan Doyle and others, with the object, according to The Times, 22 February 1900, 'of drawing together the various English-speaking peoples and strengthening the bonds of union by the formation of ties of personal friendship among individual members'.

17 items, the collection in good condition, on aged paper. Item One: Autographs of sixteen individuals associated with the production, all signing to 'Sonia'. 2pp., 12mo. On bifolium removed from ruled notebook. The signatories are: Michael Bryant, Robert Hunter, Margaret Whiting, Hilda Braid, Vivian Matalon, Tony Church ('Sonia, our proletarian beauty | from hungry Hugo'), Jack MacGowran, Robert Adams, Prunella Scales ('Maggie'), Michael Balfour ('May you triumph over virtue'), Patrick Magee, Tony Robertson, Joby Blanshard, Anthony Jacobs, Lee Montagu and Ian Bannen.

8pp., 12mo. Stapled into beige wraps with deckled edges, with attractive illustration of street musicians on front in brown and red. In good condition, with rusting to staple having loosened the central bifolium. A pleasing memento of an early concert by Elman (he was fifteen at the time). Pp.4-8 carry the 'Words of the Songs'. 'At the Piano - Mr. Charlton Keith. Piano by Bechstein. Suppied by Mr. Arthur Wood, Redhill.' Scarce: no copy on COPAC.

2pp., 16mo. 22 lines of text, closely and neatly written. In fair condition, on aged paper, with small pinholes and a spot of glued paper from previous mounting. The letter begins: 'My dear Draper, | I sail early tomorrow morning. | Enclosed is a ten pound note, and the summons referred to. - I cannot help thinking that a compromise might be effected it it were shown to the summoner by a "lawyer" that I have left England, have no house or furniture of my own, and that the most valuable of my books are gone with me. You will deeply oblige me if you will see whether this can be done'.

The letterhead features an image of an hornet seated at a writing table. Letter One: 1p., 12mo. Bifolium. Fair, on aged paper. The letter reads: 'Friday | Dear Draper | Have you made up your mind to let me have a conceit or two for Ye Hornet. I can only offer 5/- a column but then Column is but a very brief affair. | Yours always | [signature in the form of a drawing of a hornet]'. Letter Two: 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of previous mount on reverse of second leaf. Addressed to 'My dear Draper'.

Both items in poor condition, with burn marks and damp damage [fire damaged much of the Society's archive]. Some of the text of the autograph letter has faded, and it may be that the signature to the typed note has washed away. Autograph Letter Signed: 2pp., 4to. He begins by offering to 'oppose anybody' in a debate that Mrs Roscoe is organising (at the Society of Women Journalists).

1p., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dr. Draper/ | Do something for No 2. | No 1 was put of for a week | Yours | Aug: Mayhew'. Mayhew edited the Comic Almanac between 1848 and 1850.

Address panel, c. 13 x 8cm, edges sl. ragged, mainlky good condition.The reverse is blank apart from remnants of glue for prior laying down, and the identification of John A. Murray as "Lord Advocate | M.P. Leith". The Bannatyne Club, founded by Sir Walter Scott, in 1823, disbanded 1861. David Laing "had an antiquarian turn, and was the first Secretary of the Bannantyne Club on its foundation on 27 February 1823. In 1826 he was elected a Fellow of The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He became Librarian of the Signet Library in 1837, gave up the bookshop and sold the stock.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He will be 'very happy, if it suits the Committee, to present a Cup somewhat similar to that they accepted fm me last year - as the Paxton Cup.' He prefers to leave the conditions to them, and asks for 'due notice when the time of the Regatta is fixed'.

1p., 8vo. Good, on lightly-creased paper. He writes that he was 'very interested' to get Brill's letter. 'I will certainly work on something: I have many ideas, and you will probably be able to select something from what I will show you.' He suggests 'a drink at the Chelsea Arts Club one evening? I now have an answering machine, so you can leave a message there - or even with Monica at the College'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She writes that she is enclosing a letter, which she would like sent on 'to the Manager of the Bournemouth Little Theatre Club if you will, as I do not know the address'.

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed at head of first page: 'Sir John Conroy Bt | Fellow Balliol Coll.' He regrets that he cannot 'do London either on the 12: or before that day', and so will not be able to 'help in any way about your Son's election at the Athenaeum'. He concludes: 'I trust it will go all right.'

1p., 4to. On aged and lightly-creased paper. Giving breakdowns for different seats in matinee and evening productions, as well as for programmes, with the number of complimentary tickets. The Arts Theatre Club was founded in 1927, 'in an attractive building in Great Newport-street shaped somewhat like the House of Commons' (Times, 9 May 1927). On its relaunch in 1933, its stated aim was 'to select plays of theatrical merit [...] with an entire disregard for their commercial possibilities' (Times, 18 December 1933).

In fair condition, on aged and creased paper. Comprising seven folio pages, each in two columns: 'Existing Articles' on the left, and 'Proposed Amended Articles' on the right. These seven pages are each on separate leaves, and all stapled to a proxy voting slip (not filled in) and an amendment slip. The Dar es Salaam Club, 'solidly built with much fine joinery in dark African timber and heavy brass fittings on doors and windows', was housed in what became the Forodhani Hotel Training Institute building, Dar es Salaam.

3pp., 12mo. A fair copy. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The twenty-eight-line poem is arranged in seven four-line stanzas, with Hillard's firm signature and the date at the end. The poem begins with unintentional, but no less curious, sexual overtones: 'The rod of Aaron, severed long | From its ancestral bowers, | Felt in its veins the sap of youth, | And shone with buds of flowers. | The rigid staff, smoothworn and dry, | In living green was dressed.

First Dublin edition. 12mo, xiv + 346 pp. Good tight copy on lightly-aged paper. In original worn tree calf binding, with remains of red label gilt on spine and no free endpapers. Subtitled 'Now first published from his Lordship's original manuscripts. By Henry Penruddocke Wyndham.' Wyndham had inherited Dodington's papers from a relative, whose will requested him 'not to print or publish any of them, but those that are proper to be made publick, and such only, as may, in some degree, do honour to his memory'.

Not bound, 27pp., folio, first and last leaf, and another, loose, others conjoined, somewhat stained, main body presumably lacking leaves but covering the period 18 September 1933 to 24 May 1934, typed title and headings for columnised pages, c.39 entries per page (many names repeated, visitors and members signing in): Date | Visitor's Name | Address | Members Name. A club which catered to the theatre and arts, but usually at the level of people whose fame has not survived them But there are a few interesting names.

12mo, 4 pp. 41 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with slight discoloration to edges. 'It was high time that in England, whence so many mountain climbers and tourists go to the Alps, a protest should be raised against the ruin wrought in Switzerland by the construction of tourist railways up the slopes of the mountains'. Deplores the 'irretrievable harm' already done to 'some of the noblest landscapes in the world, [...] easily accessible from the populous cities of Central and Western Europe, such as those on the shores of the Lake of Lucerne'.

The subscription Liverpool Library within the Lyceum, founded in 1757, is believed to have been the first circulating or lending library in Europe, and the first two of these items provide a valuable insight into its status at the time when the advent of the public library system was undermining its position.