MONTHLY

[William Harrison Ainsworth, Victorian historical novelist and close friend of Charles Dickens.] Autograph Letter Signed, as editor of the New Monthly Magazine [to Alexander William Kinglake], discussing a manuscript article on a 'Russian Tour'.

Author: 
W. Harrison Ainsworth [William Harrison Ainsworth] (1805-1882), Victorian historical novelist and close friend of Charles Dickens [Alexander William Kinglake (1809-1891), author of 'Eothen']
William Harrison Ainsworth
Publication details: 
'Kensal Manor House / Harrow Road. / May 19th. 1846.'
£180.00
William Harrison Ainsworth

The subject of this article is discussed by William M. Johnston, in his article ‘William Kinglake’s “A Summer in Russia”: A Neglected Memoir of Saint Petersburgh in 1845’ (TSLL, Spring 1967). The memoir was published anonymously by Ainsworth in the New Monthly Magazine, of which he was editor and proprietor, in three parts, but a German translation in the same year revealed Kinglake’s identity. See the entries for Ainsworth and Kinglake in the Oxford DNB. An interesting letter, casting light on Victorian journalistic practices. 4pp, 12mo. Forty lines of text. On a bifolium.

[Horace Smith, poet and friend of Shelley, author with his brother Joseph of the 'Rejected Addresses'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Horatio Smith'), playfully thanking Joseph Blunt for making him 'a present of a pair of horns'.

Author: 
Horace Smith [Horatio Smith] (1779-1849), poet, author his brother Joseph Smith of the 'Rejected Addresses' (1812), friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley [Joseph Blunt]
Publication details: 
3 November 1831. Brighton.
£80.00

2pp, 12mo. On bifolium. Twenty lines of text. In fair condition, aged and worn, with chipping and short closed tears to extremities. Folded twice. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Joseph Blunt Esqre.' Signature underlined with a flourish.

[Theatre Royal, Williamson Square, Liverpool: details of benefits.] Autograph Letter from 'Edwd. Murray' to Vernor & Hood, proprietors of ''The Monthly Mirror', giving a 'correct Statement of Benefits at the Liverpool Theatre (this season)'.

Author: 
Theatre Royal, Williamson Square, Liverpool [Edward Murray; Vernor & Hood, London publishers]
Publication details: 
[Theatre Royal, Williamson Square] Liverpool. 20 September 1800.
£120.00

1p, 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and folded several times. The main text reads: 'Gentn | By inserting the following correct [last word underlined] Statement of Benefits at the Liverpool Theatre (this season) in your next Mirror you'll particularly oblige your most obt. Servt. | Edwd. Murray'. Beneath this is a list of the names of 15 individuals, with the amount of money made by each one's benefit, coming to a total of £2665. The list begins with 'Miss Murray £263' and ends with 'Mr Simmons 101'. The penultimate entry is for 'Mr Wild (Prompter) 103'.

[ William Moncrieff, English dramatist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. Moncrieff'), justifying his biographical treatment of R. W. Elliston [ in his 'Ellistoniana', New Monthly Magazine ], with reference to Charles Lamb.

Author: 
William Moncrieff [ William Gibbs Thomas Moncrieff; W. T. Moncrieff ] (1794-1857), English playwright and theatre manager [ Robert William Elliston (1774-1831), actor and theatre manager ]
Publication details: 
4 Cowley Street, Westminster Abbey. 1 February 1843.
£100.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The letter is addressed to 'My dear Sir' and the recipient is not identified. He begins by thanking him for his 'kind attention': 'I had got the information about Gattie, though I dont think I shall want it.' He is surprised the recipient 'never heard Mr Elliston mention The King of the Sheffield Gallery'. He continues: 'I am sorry my Anecdotes do not appear to please you, there is one thing however which must please you, which is, that finding them so incorrect &c you had nothing to do with them'.

[ Edward Dubois, Thomas Hood and Colburn's 'New Monthly Magazine'. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E DuBois') from Dubois to the editor Hood regarding material [from a contribution] that he has 'drawn out' for 'droll engravings'.

Author: 
Edward Dubois (1774-1850), wit and man of letters [ Thomas Hood (1799-1845), poet and humorist, editor of Colburn's 'New Monthly Magazine', 1841-1843 ]
Publication details: 
'Temple [ London ] | Friday morn.' [ No date: written between 1841 and 1843 (when Hood was editor of Colburn's 'New Monthly Magazine'. ]
£120.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with fraying to outer edges. The leaf addressed on the reverse 'Mr Hood.', and docketed by Hood 'E DuBois'.

[ Samuel Carter Hall and his wife: their fifty-fourth wedding anniversary. ] Printed keepsake poem by Hall titled '54! | Anniversary', with autograph signatures 'S. C. Hall.' and 'Anna Maria Hall'.

Author: 
Samuel Carter Hall [ S. C. Hall ] (1800-1889), editor of the of the Art Journal and New Monthly Magaziner, his wife Anna Maria Hall [ née Fielding ] (1800-1881)
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [ Firfield, near Addlestone, Sussex; 1878. ]
£120.00

Printed in lilac on one side of a 12 x 8,5 cm piece of thin card, with serated edges and rounded corners, and with glue staining to one edge and on blank reverse. The card is embossed with tiny stars, with decorative edges and the text enclosed within an oval border, with the autograph signatures above one another in a rectangular box beneath it. The twelve-line poem (signed in type 'S. C.

[John Watkins, LLD, writer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Watkins'), offering to do his best regarding a review of 'Coleridge's Memoirs' [i.e. the 'Biographia Literaria'], but stating that he would 'as soon write the History of the Devil'.

Author: 
John Watkins, LLD (fl.1786-1831), Devon-born writer [Samuel Taylor Coleridge; William Wordsworth]
Publication details: 
No place. 'Monday Evg' [1817?]
£140.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on creased and aged paper, with one edge adhering to a mount from an album. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | The Two Volumes of Coleridge's Memoirs were returned with the Life of Wordsworth. If they are send [sic] by to morrow any time - I will do my best - tho' to say the truth I would as soon write the History of the Devil. Inter nos. | Yrs truly | J Watkins | Monday Evg'. Docketted on reverse 'J. Watkins'. The letter may relate to a proposed review in the 'Monthly Review'. As his entry in the Oxford DNB states, surprisingly little is known about Watkins.

[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.

[Anglo-Jewish Association] Three Typed Letters Signed "Phineas L. May", Administration Officer, Anglo-Jewish Association, to George Bilainkin, "the editor of 'Illustrated'" "famous diplomatic correspondent"

Author: 
[The Jewish Monthly] Phineas. L. May, Administration Officer, Anglo-Jewish Association.
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Anglo-Jewish Association, Woburn House, Upper Woburn PLace, WC1 [London], January and February 1946.
£300.00

Total 4pp., 12mo, good condition. Letter 1 (25 Jan. 1946) He gives brief biographical detail, showing prior acquaintance, and praises an article of Bilainkin on Yugoslavia in the magazine 'Illustrated'. He says the Anglo-Jewish Asociation is "considering the publication in the near future of a National Jewish Monthly Magazine [...] and the Publicity Committee have asked me to approach you to become a co-opted member". He suggests lunch.

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Madden') from James Madden, of London publishers Madden & Malcolm, informing the unnamed recipient that his paper on 'Cycles of Civilization' will be published in firm's periodical 'The Monthly Prize Essays'.

Author: 
James Madden of Madden & Malcolm, 8 Leadenhall Street, London, publishers of the Monthly Prize Essays
Publication details: 
Addressed from Madden's home address of 23 Artillery Place, City Road, London, with the business address of Madden and Malcolm (8 Leadenhall Street) scored through. 4 June 1846.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper with wear to corners. The context of the letter is apparent from the following advertisement in The Times, 29 June 1846: 'On the 30th of June, will be published, in 8vo., price 2s. 6d., the first number of | THE MONTHLY PRIZE ESSAYS. Each number will contain six Essays in Prose and six in Verse. The first prize for prose will be £20; the second, £15; the third, £10; and the other three, £5 each. There will be but three prizes for poetry - £5, £3, and £2. The Essays must be delivered by the 30th of the previous month.

Autograph Letter Signed ('R: Griffiths') from Ralph Griffiths, editor of the Monthly Review, to an unnamed editor [John Nichols of the Gentleman's Magazine?] recommending the grandson of Dr Philip Doddridge. With engraving of Griffiths by Ridley.

Author: 
Ralph Griffiths (1720?-1803), editor of the Monthly Review [Dr Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), dissenting minister and writer; John Nichols (1745-1826), printer and editor of the Gentleman's Magazine]
Publication details: 
'Turnham Green, June 13th.' [no year].
£65.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on aged paper, with thin trace of glue from mount on blank reverse, and minor chipping beneath flourish of Griffiths's signature. Addressing his letter to 'Dear Sir!', Griffiths suggests that if his correspondent is 'in want of any assistance' in carrying on his 'very extensive literary concerns, the Bearer can be well recommended. - He has had a liberal education, possesses a good taste, & may be useful to you in revising, correcting, translating, &c. &c.' The 'young Gentleman' to whom Griffiths refers is, he states, 'Grandson to the Celebrated Dr.

Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Campbell') from the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell, Lord Rector of Glasgow University, to an unnamed recipient, describing a mistake regarding 'my Letter to the Students'

Author: 
Thomas Campbell (1777-1844), Scottish poet, Lord Rector of Glasgow University, 1826-1829, and editor of the New Monthly Magazine
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [Written while Rector, between 1826 and 1829.]
£65.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and creased paper, with short vertical closed tear at head (not affecting text). The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | By a sad mistake the Copies of my Letter to the Students were not sent off on Saturday | But 250 have been struck off which will sufficiently answer for the present demand - | Yours in haste | [signed] T. Campbell

Autograph Letter Signed ('Cs. Redding') by Cyrus Redding, expressing regret at not being able to assist William Shoberl, son of the journalist Frederic Shoberl, and bewailing the state of English publishing, and of his own affairs.

Author: 
Cyrus Redding (1785-1870), journalist and author, editor, Galignani's Messenger, and working editor, New Monthly Magazine [William Shoberl, son of Frederic Shoberl [Schoberl] (1775-1853), journalist]
Publication details: 
"Hill Road, | Thursday'. [No date, but on paper watermarked 1855.]
£220.00

3pp., 12mo. 55 lines, neatly and closely written. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Mr W. Shoberl.' An excellent letter, giving an experienced and knowledgable view of the state of the mid-Victorian British booktrade. Redding begins by stating that he is 'indeed concerned to hear the statement' Shoberl has communicated to him. He wishes it was in his power to forward Shoberl's wishes.

Olive, Cypress and Palm. An Anthology of Love and Death. Compiled by Mina Curtiss.

Author: 
Mina Curtiss, ed. [Ellery Sedgwick, editor of the Atlantic Monthly]
Publication details: 
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company. 1930.
£56.00

8vo: xvii + 296 pp. In original black cloth, with design in silver stamped on front board. No dustwrapper. Faded spine and lightly-marked cloth. Inscribed by Curtiss on front free endpaper: 'To Ellery Sedgwick - | Most gratefully - | Mina Curtiss | Christmas, 1932.'

Nos. 85, 106 and 108 of 'The Naturalists' Leisure Hour and Monthly Bulletin.'

Author: 
A. E. Foote, editor (natural history bookseller of Philadelphia [geological reports]
Publication details: 
October 1884, July 1887 and March 1888. 1223 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa.
£185.00

Each catalogue 8vo, 32 pp. Stapled and unbound. The text of all three items clear and complete. On aged and spotted paper. Each issue carries an editorial introduction, with that of October 1884 (no. 85) eight pages long, and boasting that it is 'the most complete catalogue of American Official Geological Reports ever published. The previous lists of Prime and Marsh have been consulted, but very many have been added during the period covered by Prime'.

Autograph Letter Signed to J.T.J. Hewlett, author of "Peter Priggins" and other books.

Author: 
Drinkwater Meadows
Publication details: 
1843
£45.00

Drinkwater Meadows (DNB), actor, taking up Hewlett's offer of help to get him published in the New Monthly Magazine. (Nothing by Meadows is listed in the Wellesley Index for NMM, but he contributed a series to Ainsworth's Magazine, Oct. 1845-August 1845.) Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

Autograph Letter to 'Sir J. Phillepart' [i.e. John Philippart].

Author: 
Cyrus Redding
Publication details: 
Thursday [docketed 'Feb 1847']; [10?] Hill Road, St John's Wood.
£80.00

Editor and journalist (1785-1870). The recipient (1784?-1874) was a writer on military matters, and editor of the United Services Journal. Two pages, 12mo. Good, though grubby, and with docketing, rust from paperclip and biographical details typed in line at head. A formal letter, unsigned and in the third person. 'Mr Redding presents his Compts. to Sir J. Phillepart with but scanty recollections for it is many years since they met and wishes to remind him of an article sent to the U[nited]. S[ervices]. J[ournal]. thro' Mr Hunt.

Autograph Note Signed to Richard Lehman.

Author: 
Samuel Carter Hall
Publication details: 
49 Pall Mall | Nov 22' [docketed '(1848)'].
£25.00

Journal editor and writer (1800-89). 1 page, 8vo. Creased and slightly discoloured, but in good condition overall. Cover of envelope pasted to back, reading 'for | Rd Lehman Esq | Newmarket Road | Norwich'. Reads 'Dear Sir. | I much regret that I have been unable to avail myself of your kindness: I have been so over-run with Matter at this, the concluding, month of the year. | Sincerely | S C Hall.'

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