MAKEPEACE

[London publishers’ 1909 catalogue.] Printed catalogue of ‘Macmillan’s Three-and-Sixpenny Library of Books by Popular Authors’; with separate prospectus for ‘The Novels of Charles Dickens’ in ‘Macmillan’s 3s. 6d. Series’.

Author: 
Macmillan & Co. Ltd., London publishers [Charles Dickens; William Makepeace Thackeray; Thomas Hardy; Charles Kingsley; F. Marion Crawford; Rolf Boldrewood; Rosa N. Carey; Charlotte M. Yonge]
Publication details: 
Macmillan & Co, Ltd., London. The catalogue by ‘J. Palmer, Printer, Cambridge’, and dated ‘20. 8. 09’, i.e. 20 August 1909. Dickens prospectus undated.
£56.00

Two pieces of uncommon Edwardian bibliographical ephemera. Both items worn and aged, and the catalogue somewhat dogeared. Both with some pencil marking. ONE (1909 catalogue): 32pp, 12mo. Drophead title on first page: ‘Macmillan’s Three-and-Sixpenny Library of Books by Popular Authors / Crown 8vo.’ The first two pages carry a description of the series, which ‘comprises over four hundred volumes in various departments of Literature. Prominent among them is a new and attractive edition of The Works of Thackeray, issued under the editorship of Mr. Lewis Melville.

[ James T. Fields, publisher ] Autograph Note Signed James T. Fields to H P Harland about getting a letter to Miss Thackeray.

Author: 
James T. Fields [James Thomas Fields (1817 – 1881), American publisher, editor, and poet.]
Publication details: 
Manchester by the Sea, Mass., 31 August 1874.
£80.00

One page, 12mo, bifolium, minor chips, good condition. Text: I should at this time address a letter to Miss Thackeray 'care of' Mr George Smith, Publisher of the Cornhill Magazine, London.

[Jane Octavia Brookfield, novelist and literary hostess, close friend of William Makepeace Thackeray.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jane O. Brookfield') to the actress Leonora Wigan, regarding her 'charming house' and her son's theatrical ambitions.

Author: 
Jane Octavia Brookfield (1821-1896), novelist and literary hostess, close friend of William Makepeace Thackeray [Leonora Wigan [née Pincott] (1805-1884), actress, wife of actor-manager Alfred Wigan]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 30 Thurloe Place, S.W. [London] 24 January [1870s].
£120.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter is addressed to 'My dear Mrs. Wigan' and begins: 'I am sorry to find that the friends I mentioned to you, have decided on another house already – but if I hear of any one else who would be glad of your very charming house, I will not fail to mention it.' She thanks her for offering to 'help Charlie some day with a word or two of advice – in case he should eventually decide on choosing the Stage as his career'. She would be 'very grateful for your valuable opinion on many points connected with it'.

[William Makepeace Thackeray, Victorian novelist.] Autograph Note Signed ('W M Thackeray') [to the travel writer Richard Ford], humorously addressed to 'One Two Three Park Street Esqr', inviting him to 'a masculine dinner'.

Author: 
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), celebrated Victorian novelist [Richard Ford (1796-1858), writer on Spain]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£200.00

On one side of 7 x 11 cm slip of paper, possibly cut down. In good condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering. Reads: 'Have you any engagement on Tuesday 9th. (7/30) and will you come to a masculine dinner with | Yours always | W M Thackeray'. Addressed at bottom left to 'One Two Three Park Street Esqr.' The celebrated travel writer Richard Ford, best-known for his 'Handbook for Travellers in Spain' (1845), lived at 123 Park Street, Grosvenor Square, from 1849 to his death in 1858.

[ Andrew Halliday, Scottish journalist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear Teget' [ W.B.Tegetmeier, naturalist ], asking to see him regarding something to his advantage in his 'own line'.

Author: 
Andrew Halliday [born Andrew Halliday Duff ] (1830-1877), Scottish journalist and dramatist, associate of Dickens & Thackeray, a founder of Savage Club [ W.B. Tegetmeier, naturalist, member of Club]
Publication details: 
122 Camden Street N. W. [ London ]. 'Tuesday Evg' [ no date ].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on greyish paper, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. 'Teget' is a nickname: Halliday gives the recipient's name in full at the foot of the letter, but it is not quite legible: ' Esq'. The letter reads: 'Dear Teget. | I want to see you with reference to something that is likely to be to your advantage in your own line. Can you run up here to-morrow or Thursday?'

[F. G. Kitton, Dickensian.] Autograph Letter Signed and Autograph Card Signed (both 'F. G. Kitton') to Winfield S. Moody, editor of The Book Buyer, discussing the claim that Dickens's works were written by Herbert Spencer', and a query on Thackeray.

Author: 
F. G. Kitton [Frederic George Kitton] (1856-1904), illustrator, writer and authority on Charles Dickens [Winfield S. Moody (1816-1894), editor of The Book Buyer; Dickensiana]
Publication details: 
Both items from Pré Mill House, St Albans, England. 19 and 27 March 1999.
£140.00

LETTER: 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged and worn paper. Kitton writes that he has received two copies of the Book Buyer for March, and is 'much interested' in it for two reasons: 'Mrs. Garlands flattering comments upon myself and my work', and 'a very generous notice of my latest Dickens production'. He finds illustrations 'excellently reproduced', and praises 'the careful attention that has obviously been bestowed upon the preparation of both blocks and letterpress'. Turning to another matter, he notes 'a query (no.

[Printed chapbook.] The History of Stoney Bowes, otherwise Andrew Robinson Bowes: being a Minute Memoir of his Infamous and Notorious Character.

Author: 
[Andrew Robinson Stoney Bowes (1747-1810); John Ross, printer, Arcade, Newcastle upon Tyne; Thomas Hutchinson]
Publication details: 
Printed by J. Ross, Arcade, Newcastle. [Slug: 'Printed and published by J. Ross, Newcastle.'] [1850.]
£120.00

24pp., 16mo. Woodcut vignette on title-page, showing man in military uniform restraining a struggling woman, under a tree. Stitched, in plain cream wraps. Internally fair, on aged paper, in worn wraps. Ownership inscription on flyleaf of 'John Hutchinson | October 1850'. Thirteen line note by Hutchinson on rear flyleaf, concerning the Bowes family, and further manuscript notes by him on pp. 13, 17, 21 and 22. Slip of paper with another note by Hutchinson loosely inserted.

Autograph Note Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Edmund Yates (1831-94), British novelist, dramatist and editor of the 'World' magazine
Publication details: 
28 August 1886; on letterhead 1 York Street, Covent Garden, London.
£40.00

One page, 12mo. Very good on lightly-aged grey paper. Reads 'Dear Sir. | Here is the autograph you require. | Faithfully your's | [signed] Edmund Yates'. The words 'Here' and 'to' are slightly smudged.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
George Payne Rainsford James [G.P.R. James]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

English novelist (1799-1860). On fragment of paper approximately 4 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches. In poor condition: creased and discoloured from previous mounting. Reads 'Your most faithful Servant, | G. P. R James'. Docketed on reverse 'March | - | Ap 28 | a 2 May'.

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