MAISON

See her entry, and that of her husband, in the Oxford DNB. Signed ‘Mary Cowden Clarke’. 1p, 12mo. Laid down on white-paper backing. Brittle and discoloured, with chipping and tears along the outer edge, as a result of clumsy removal from an album. Blind-stamped letterhead of small head of Shakespeare. Endorsed in pencil: ‘To Mrs Kerrison Harvey’. With the usual expressions of gratitude to the writer and ‘Mr. Kerrison Harvey’, she and her husband decline the ‘obliging invitation for the 9th.’, ‘as we have given up visiting, and lead a very quiet home life’.

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged, worn and brittle paper. 66 lines of closely-written text, heavily revised with additions, deletions and emendations. The author describes his scheme as 'un projet qui contribuerait a l'embellissement de le grand plan de Bruxelles, sans qu'il coutait rien a la ville'. He describes the renovation of the facade of the Maison du Roi, and suggests the placing of 'Statuettes d'Albert et d'Isabelle' in a 'niche gothique'. Jamaer reconstructed the Maison du Roi in 1868.

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.

12mo, 1 p, 14 lines. Good, on aged and lightly creased paper. Small red oval monogram in top left-hand corner. In French. As he was about to come and see her 'on est venu me chercher pour des affaires urgentes. il faut que je sorte à l'heure même'. The only news is that 'le ministre des finances refuse très inhumainement la petite maison d'Angivillers. S'il persiste, il y aura, plus que jamais, impossibilité de Loger plus à l'aise les Personnes qui réclament contre la première Distribution'.

Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition. He apologises for not returning a book he had borrowed from the Baron ("L'almanack Medical"). He had taken it to the country "pour en lire quelques passages a mon frere" and forgot to bring it back. He plans the eventual return. "L'etat de la sante de mon frere ne s'ameliore que peu et bien lentement - Il reviendra de la campagne probrablement avec moi mardi prochaine." Heconcludes with politenesses at length.