SOMERS

A nice item of Victorian charitable ephemera. The Society (later the Hepburn Starey Blind Aid Society) was instituted in 1864, and according to p.5 of the present item the phrase ‘Hall of Light for the Blind’ was ‘Given to Somers Town Blind Aid Society by a Blind Chinese Christian lad’. No copy of this item, or of any other material relating to the Society found on either WorldCat or JISC. 24pp, 12mo. Stitched. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The front cover is laid out in decorative fashion: ‘“The Hall of Light.” / Somers Town / Blind Aid Society.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of stub at inner edge. A shameless plug for his book 'A Tractate on Language, with Observations on the French Tongue' (1860), closely written over four pages. As 'an old Oxford man', he 'shd feel obliged if the Editor wd give some notice of his work a "Tractate on Language" - in his weekly paper'. He had 'caused a Copy to be transmitted to him, & he trusted that if the book did not command a detailed review some observations wd be made about it - & in a note sent at the time he expressed a desire to have any paper in wh.

1p., 12mo. With mourning border. Reads: 'Dear Lord Stanhope | I am most unfortunately compelled to go into the country this evening, or I should not have failed to have attended the meeting of the trustees of the Nat. Portrait Gallery. | Very truly yours | Somers.' It was Stanhope who had been mainly responsible for the foundation of the National Portrait Gallery in 1856.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In very good condition, lightly-aged. She begins by explaining that as she is 'obliged to leave London', she will not be able to 'draw any more at his House this year'. She asks him to inform her how much she owes him 'for the Lessons he has been so obliging as to give - Lady Katherine Douglas & Miss Stuart will be at Mr. Parris's this Morning - | Ly Eastnor is desired by Lady Selkirk, & Lady Stuart de Rothesay, to enquire from Mr. Parris, what they are indebted to him for the Lessons to these two young Ladies'.

Folio: ii + 21 pp. After 'Popish Successor,' the title continues 'Exactly drawn by the Reigns of Christian the Second, and Sygismond King of Sweden, and Ferdinand the Second King of Bohemia.' Text clear and entire, on discoloured and lightly-foxed paper. Slight chipping to edges, and quite heavy discoloration to the final few leaves, with small hole at foot of last leaf (the reverse of which is blank), affecting the word 'FINIS.' but leaving the text undamaged. In very good modern calf quarter-binding, with marbled boards and title on red label on spine.