PHRENOLOGIST

[ Johann Gaspar Spurzheim, phrenologist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Spurzheim'), in English, to his landlord 'Mr Booth', regarding the possibility of his vacating his house early.

Author: 
Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832), German phrenologist, developing the system of Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828), to whom he served as assistant
Publication details: 
'Friday Evening | 23. Foley Place. [ London ]'
£300.00

1p., small 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, with light signs of age. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with remains of red wax seal, to 'Mr Booth | Duke street'. It is his intention 'to go abroad and not to keep the house longer than Ii am obliged', so he asks Booth if he will 'put up a bill that the house is to be let. it is understood that, if no one will take it before february, I must pay the rent.' He asks if Booth knows 'any poor family in whom you have confidence and who would be glad to live in it till it is let again', suggesting 'the same family who was in it before me'.

[Johann Gaspar Spurzheim, German physician and celebrated phrenologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Spurzheim.'), in English, to an unnamed woman, regarding his treatment, 'as friend and not a practioner', of 'our little patient'.

Author: 
Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832), German physician, a leading proponent of phrenology
Publication details: 
No place or date. 'Sat. Mg.' [i.e. Saturday morning]
£350.00

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the blank reverse. Refusing payment for his services, Spurzheim writes: 'Sat. Mg. | Dear Madam | We had agreed that I would give You my opinion as medical Man with the greatest pleasure as friend and not a practioner. I therefore take the liberty of returning the encolsed. I shall pass by to see our little patient on my way to Woodcroft.

[George Combe, Scottish phrenologist and lawyer.] Autograph Document describing 'The Police Establishment of Edinburgh', including information on the 'Watching', 'cleaning' and 'Lighting' departments, written out by him for Arthur West of Bath.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society [Alfred West of Beechen Cliff, Bath; policing in Scotland]
Publication details: 
Bath. 11 April 1835.
£650.00

1p, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of glue from mount at head of reverse of second leaf, which is addressed, with broken seal in red wax, to 'Arthur West Esq | Beeching [i.e. modern-day 'Beechen'] Cliff | Bath.' The page is headed: 'The Police Establishment of Edinburgh consists of,' and the text is neatly written out in two columns. The first is headed 'In the Watching department', and contains twelve entries from '1 Superintendent' to '2 Female [Turnkeys]', including '30 Night Patrole men' and '166 night watchmen'.

[George Combe, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe') [to his agents], requesting remittance of the previous years account, and for a parcel to be sent to Professor Benjamin Silliman of New Haven.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society [Benjamin Silliman, American chemist]
Publication details: 
Westminster Family Hotel, Westminster Bridge [London]; 19 June 1840.
£300.00

1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse. Begins: 'Gentlemen! | As I am on my way to Edinburgh, from the United States, I shall be obliged by your informing me, here, whether you have remitted or otherways paid the balance due to me on last years account, due on 4th. June, current, rendered to Mr. Probert Cox'. He asks for payment to be made to Messrs Coutts, 'so that it may be at my command here'. He also requests the making up in a parcel of 'a copy of my Testimonials & “the Suppressed Documents”, if you have one'.

[George Combe, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe') supplying a paragraph by his brother Dr A. Combe on Sir Walter Scott's 'conduct', which he suggests Joseph C. Neal insert in 'The Pennsylvanian'.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society [Joseph C. Neal (1807-1847), editor of The Pennsylvanian'; Sir Walter Scott]
Publication details: 
Marshall House [i.e. Marshall House Hotel, Philadelphia]; 11 March 1839.
£280.00

1p, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip of paper adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is addressed to 'Joseph C. Neal Esq | Pennsylvanian office'. He was gratified at Neal's 'notice of Rogets re-publication'. He has sent Roget 'and also the Editor of the Phren: Journal a copy of the Pennsylvanian containing it'. He quotes a paragraph from a 'letter from my Brother Dr. A. Combe', which he suggests Neal makes use of 'as a piece of literary news, only suppressing all allusion to the source from which it is derived'.

[George Combe, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe') to Inverness 'Courier' editor, regarding Sir William Hamilton, 'Mr. A. Smith, Banff' and Edinburgh Review article on 'The Ethics of Phrenology'.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society [Sir William Hamilton; Edinburgh Review]
Publication details: 
45 Melville Street, Edinburgh; 27 February 1851.
£200.00

1p, 16mo. Aged, worn and discoloured, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse. 'Sir | In your notice of the late Mr. A. Smith, Banff, you mention that he wrote “The Ethics of Phrenology” an article in the Edinburgh Review. As this article was generally ascribed to Sir William Hamilton, I should be obliged by your mentioning whether you have full reliance on your authority in ascribing it to Mr. Smith? My only reason for asking the question is to do justice to Sir William Hamilton, if he is not the author.'

[George Combe, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe') to William Tait, asking him to insert an advertisement in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, and complaining of the loss of previous advertisements.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society [William Tait (1792-1864), editor and proprietor, Tait's Edinburgh Magazine]
Publication details: 
Edinburgh; 9 October 1846.
£250.00

1p, 16mo. Bifolium. Aged and worn, with repair with archival tape to outer edge. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'William Tait Esq | 107 Princes Street'. He writes that he is enclosing an advertisement which he wishes to be inserted in Tait's Magazine on four occasions between November 1846 and May 1847. 'As my advertisement was altogether lost sight of in your office last year, will you be so kind as acknowledge receipt of this order that I may he certain that it has reached you.'

[George Combe, Scottish lawyer and phrenologist.] Autograph Draft, Signed ('Geo Combe'), of part of article or paper on the 'leading object' of the punishment of offenders in prison.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish lawyer and phrenologist, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Societ
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£250.00

Twelve lines of text, on one side of an 11 x 13 cm piece of paper, with 'Messrs. Neill & Co' deleted on the reverse. Part of a draft of an article or paper, with deletions and corrections, signed at foot 'Geo Combe'. The final text reads: 'but until a certain sum be redeemed by the labour, attended by the good conduct, of the prisoner.

[George Combe, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe'), responding with outrage at his recipient's 'utterly vulgar' use of the word 'bump' in connection with phrenology.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society
Publication details: 
Carlton House, New York; 14 December 1838.
£500.00

1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight use of archival paper, and thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse. A splendid explosion of outrage at his correspondent's use of the word 'bump'. The recipient is not identified.

[Sir James Clark, Physician-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria.] Autograph Note Signed ('Ja Clark') to 'Mr Owen', i.e. Sir Richard Owen, regarding 'Mr Combe' sending Owen his work.

Author: 
Sir James Clark (1788-1870), Physician-in-Ordinary to Queen Victoria, and to St George's Infirmary [Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892), palaeontologist; George Combe, Scottish phrenologist]
Publication details: 
No place; 14 May [no year].
£90.00

1p, 16mo. In fair condition, aged and grubby, with remains of glue from mount on reverse. Reads: 'Dear Mr Owen, | I have sent your note to Mr Combe & hope he may be able to send you the work - | Yours truly | Ja Clark'. The note has a light stamp at top left of page, stating that it is 'Ex. Litt. Ricardi Owen', and a gift to Sherborne from 'R. S. Owen'.

[George Combe, phrenologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe') to educationist W. E. Hickson, praising his book 'History of Sunday' and discussing his 'broken down' health.

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist and lawyer, founder of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society [William Edward Hickson (1803-1870), author and educationist]
Publication details: 
Edinburgh; 7 May 1857.
£200.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Second leaf, blank except for endorsement, with traces of glue from mount. Addressed to 'W E. Hickson Esq'. He thanks him for his 'kind remembrance', and for 'sending me your “History of Sunday”; It is a most valuable, & from its small compass & cheapness, a most serviceable, contribution to the great cause of human emancipation from superstition'. He states that he has himself 'lately published a work with the same end in view'.

[ Dr Edward Loftus Geall, phrenologist. ] Three Autograph Letters Signed (all 'E. L. Geall'), one written on back of his pamphlet 'Some Objections to Phrenology Answered'. With a handbill advertisement for his Leicester Institute of Mental Science.

Author: 
Dr. Edward Loftus Geall, phrenologist, Principal of the Leicester Institute of Mental Science
Publication details: 
[ Leicester Institute of Mental Health. ] 53 Cromer Street, Leicester. Two of the letters from 1954 and one from 1955. The pamphlet by the Cobden Press, Leicester. [ 1953 ].
£200.00

The collection is in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Geall's pamphlet is 12pp., 12mo, and stapled. The only copies on OCLC WorldCat at Harvard Medical School and Cape Town. The back page carries a letter by Geall to an unnamed individual [ Marcus Adams ], dated 17 January 1954. The handbill advertisement for the Leicester Institute of Mental Science is 4pp., 12mo., on a bifolium. The other two letters, each on Geall's letterhead, are both 1p., 4to.

[ George Combe, phrenologist. ] Autograph corrected text from his appendix to his edition of Elisha P. Hurlbut's 'Essays on Human Rights and their Political Guaranties'.

Author: 
George Combe [ born George Comb ] (1788-1858), English phrenologist [ Elisha P. Hurlbut ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. (Published in Combe's appendix to his 1847 Edinburgh edition of Hurlbut's book.)
£135.00

On 8 x 22 cm piece of paper. In fair condition, aged and creased, and laid down on piece of card. Note in a contemporary hand in red ink in the margin: 'George Combe the Phrenologist | (Holograph) [sic]'. With five emendations and deletions.

Autograph Signature ('Geo Combe') of the Scottish lawyer and phrenologist George Combe.

Author: 
George Combe [Comb] (1788-1858), Scottish lawyer, phrenologist and author
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£25.00

On one side of a 5 x 8 cm piece of paper, cut from a letter, and backed with card. In good condition, lightly-aged, with the top two corners rounded. Reads: 'I am | Gentlemen | Your very obed Sert | [signed] Geo Combe'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Combe') to Messrs Bell & Bain, Printers, Exchange Court [Glasgow].

Author: 
George Combe (1788-1858), Scottish phrenologist
Publication details: 
20 April 1836; 81 Bath Street [Glasgow].
£95.00

8vo, 1 p. Addressed by Combe on the reverse, to which his monogram seal in red wax (with his motto 'RES NON VERBA QUAESO') still adheres. In poor condition, on discoloured paper, with damage to a few words of text above the signature caused by clumsy removal from the mount, a part of which still adheres to the reverse. Repaired with archival tape. The letter presumably concerns 'Additional testimonials on behalf of George Combe, as a candidate for the chair of logic in the University of Edinburgh' (1836). It reads 'Gentlemen | Be so good as correct these proofs, make them up in 8vo.

Amativeness: or, evils and remedies of excessive and perverted sexuality; including warning and advice to the married and single.

Author: 
O. S. Fowler
Publication details: 
John Heywood, Deansgate and Ridgefield, Manchester; and 11, Paternoster Buildings, 1884.
£36.00

Thirty-two pages. Octavo. In original light-blue illustrated printed wraps. A scarce item, in frail condition, with the wraps worn, spotted and frayed, particularly at the spine. Closed tears to reverse of wraps, which is stamped 'MAY BE HAD OF J.S. CROPLEY, WINDSOR'. Rust staining from staples. Internally sound, tight and generally clean, with bottom outside corner dogeared. Ownership inscription of Tom Rowland Kent.

Fragment of Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
George Combe
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

Victorian phrenologist (1788-1858) and natural philosopher. Paper dimensions roughly seven and a half inches by three inches. Folded four times. Good, but worn and with some loss to bottom corners from previous mounting. Reads 'I am | My dear Sir | Yours most truly | Geo: Combe | If you see Mr. <?> at the meeting put this letter into his hands, lest I should not see him before it. | [signed] G C'.

Autograph Signature on fragment of letter.

Author: 
George Combe
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£25.00

Victorian phrenologist (1788-1858) and natural philosopher. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a quarter. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of lilac paper. Crease line affecting first line of text. Reads 'I am | My dear Major Mair | Very truly yours | Geo. Combe'. Docketed in pencil at foot by Dame Sarah Elizabeth Siddons Mair (died 1941) '(Phrenologist) | Written to my Father - S. E. S. M.'

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