WARWICKSHIRE

[Agnes Strickland (1796-1874), Victorian historian.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Agnes Strickland / Historian of the Queens of England and Queens of Scotland’), stating her requirements for lodgings in Warwick during the ‘Archaeological Meeting’.

Author: 
Agnes Strickland (1796-1874), Victorian historian and poet, whose best-known work is 'The Queens of England'
Publication details: 
20 July 1864; [Ipswich].
£90.00

See her entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. On bifolium In fair condition, lightly aged, with stub from mount adhering to the inner margin of the recto, and obscuring a few words of text. The male recipient is not named: the letter is signed ‘Agnes Strickland / Historian of the Queens of England and Queens of Scotland’. By the advice of the publisher, Daldy, she is enquiring after ‘quiet comfortable lodgings at Warwick next Monday 25th till Tuesday August 2nd during the Archaeological Meeting in your antient historical town at which I have promised to be sent’.

[Captain George Richards, Royal Marines.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Richards'), sending his likeness and describing his service: '23 Actions' including 'the death of Nelson and Abercrombie', serving under Wellington in Peninsular War.

Author: 
Captain George Richards (d.1866), Royal Marines, meritorious British Army officer [Solihull, Warwickshire]
Publication details: 
16 September 1863. Solihull [Warwickshire].
£150.00

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, aged and creased. Folded twice. Written in a shaky hand, as explained by the text: 'My dear Sir / | Agreeable to promise I send my Likeness, I wish it was something worthy of your acceptance - suffice it to say the original saw the death of Nelson and Abercrombie. Served under Wellington in the Spanish peninsular War, attended his funeral, and from 1797 to 1814 was by Sea and Land in 23 Actions[.] I am well in health but cannot see what I write - My sincere love to Mrs. Macwey - God bless you'.

[John George Jackson, Leamington architect.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J G Jackson') to William Hookham Carpenter, regarding payment to his father the bookseller James Carpenter, the building of a villa for 'Mr Woolryche', and a bust of Shakespeare.

Author: 
John George Jackson, Leamington architect [William Hookham Carpenter, Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, son of London bookseller James Carpenter]
Publication details: 
3 May 1834; Newbold Lodge [Leamington].
£56.00

For John George Jackson (c.1798-c.1851), architect of Leamington Priors, pupil of P. F. Robinson, see Lyndon F. Cave's 'Royal Leamington Spa' (1988). He erected Newbold Lodge on the site of Strawberry Cottage in the early 1830s. See the entry for the recipient William Hookham Carpenter (1792-1866), later Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, in the Oxford DNB. At the time of the present letter Carpenter was working for his father the Old Bond Street bookseller James Carpenter (c.1768-1852). 2pp, 8vo. Bifolium.

[ Fernand Gampert, Swiss artist, friend of Christian Dior. ] Autograph Letter Signed, in French, to Captain C. W. Townsend, with reference to the painter Lucien Monod.

Author: 
Fernand Gampert (1898-1989), Swiss artist, friend of Christian Dior; his sister Edith Gampert [ later Edith Arnaud ] (1897-1987) [ Captain Cecil William Townsend ]
Publication details: 
9 Rue Bellot, Geneva [ Switzerland ]. 16 November [ no year, but dating from the First World War ].
£75.00

8pp., 12mo. On two bifololiums with mourning borders. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed to 'monsieur Townsend'. From the papers of Captain Cecil William Townsend of the Warwickshire Yeomanry, Dunsterforce and Norperforce, and the British Military Mission to South Russia. Gampert is still at college as he writes, and the reference to the 'boches' dates the letter to the First World War. Gampert begins by explaining the reason for the delay in writing, with reference to 'Mlle Trithen'.

[ The Greenway Bank Fraud and Victorian 'Prison Rules'. ] Copy of Manuscript 'Statement by Mr Campbell on Greenway', headed 'In the matter of G. a prisoner', regarding an incident at Chatham Gaol resulting in the suspension of privileges.

Author: 
The Greenway Bank Fraud and Victorian 'Prison Rules', 1890 [ Sir Richard Harington (1861-1931) of Ridlington, 12th Baronet; Kelynge Greenway ]
Publication details: 
Place not stated. Docketed 'Rec[eive]d 26 Nov 1890'.
£56.00

3pp., 8vo. In good condition, on two leaves of lightly-aged paper, folded into a packet and docketed (by Harington?) on the outside 'Recd 26 Nov 1890 | Copy | Statement by Mr Campbell on Greenway'. Headed 'In the matter of G. a prisoner'. The document begins with an interpretation of the current arrangements: 'In accordance with the Prison Rules a prisoner under sentence of Penal servitude whilst he continues in the 3rd.

[Inscribed by Berthold Wolpe; From Evelyn Philip Shirley's Ettington Manuscript Library.] Contemporary calligraphic copy, in ornate binding, of the 1655 Plantin 'Series Chronologica Imperatorum Romanorum, a C. Iulio Caesare ad Ferdinandum III. Avg.'

Author: 
[ Christophe Plantin; Berthold Wolpe; Evelyn Phillip Shirley (1812-1882); Ettington Manuscript Library; William Staunton of Longbridge, Warwickshire ]
Publication details: 
Undated manuscript of work from 'Officina Plantiniana excudebat M.DC.LV. [ 1655 ]'
£320.00

The text of the printed volume is neatly and skilfully copied over 61pp., 4to., and ruled in red. Interspersed with a number of pages carrying only the red ruling. Internally good and tight, in worn brown morocco binding with front hinge nearly detached, with heavily-worn spine with no label and singeing at head and foot. Gilt dentelles, both internal and external, and the following stamped within decorative border at centre of both covers: 'SERIES CHRONOLOGICA | IMPERATORUM | ROMANORUM | 1655'.

[ Printed pamphlet. ] The Official Programme of The Tercentenary Festival of the Birth of Shakespeare, To be held at Stratford-upon-Avon, Commencing on Saturday, April 23, 1864. Also, An Account of what is known of the Poet's Life; [...].

Author: 
[ By order of the Committee, The Tercentenary Festival of the Birth of Shakespeare, 1864 ]
Publication details: 
At London: Imprinted for Cassell, Petter, & Galpin, at the Belle Sauvage, in Ludgate-hill, near Paules Church-yard. 1864.
£80.00

The full subtitle reads: 'Also, An Account of what is known of the Poet's Life: a Guide to the Town and Neighbourhood of Stratford-upon-Avon And sundrie other matters just now of publicke interest relating thereto.' 96pp., 8vo. In red printed wraps. Pp.79-96 carry advertisements, as do the wraps, and there is also a leaf of advertisements on red paper inserted at rear. Aged and spotted, in brittle and worn wraps with slight loss to extremities. Illustrations in text. At head of front cover: 'Published under the Authority of the Committee.' Several copies on COPAC, but now uncommon.

[ Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. ] Autograph Signature ('Eardley Wilmot') as frank, on cover of envelope addressed to William Hulton at Leamington Priors.

Author: 
Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, 1st Baronet (1783-1847), successively MP for North Warwickshire and Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land [ Tasmania ]; abolitionist
Publication details: 
'Coventry September thirty 1836'.
£28.00

On the front cover of an 8 x 13 cm. envelope. With intact small seal in red wax at back. Aged and worn. Reads: 'Coventry September thirty 1836 | William Hulton Esq | Leamington Priors | Eardley Wilmot'.

[ Lewis Mansergh, Secretary, Public Works Commission, Cape of Good Hope. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Lewis Mansergh') to 'Mr. Anthony', regarding the Irrigation Act.

Author: 
Lewis Mansergh [ Cornewall Lewis Warwickshire Mansergh ], Secretary of the Public Works Commission, and of the Provincial Council, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa [The Irrigation Act, 1906.]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Office of the Commissioner of Public Works, Cape of Good Hope. 24 September 1906.
£56.00

2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He is sending, under separate cover, a copy of 'the Irrigation Act as it finally passed the House', but feels there is 'no use loading you up with particulars of the many intervening phases - and they were many. As you have it now it is the law!' He continues with reference to Gordon and Paterson, the former of whom 'will be finally leaving at the end of the year, and the Govt: has suggested another Indian man', whom Gordon recommends.

[Chandos Leigh, 1st Baron Leigh.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Leigh') to 'Mr. Brodie', regarding a 'rather singular letter' he has received from one of his parishoners, offering his services as a shoemaker at a prison.

Author: 
Chandos Leigh (1791-1850), 1st Baron Leigh, of Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire, minor poet, cousin of Jane Austen and friend of Byron and Leigh Hunt
Publication details: 
57 Portman Square, London. 14 July 1849.
£150.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. The recipient presumably held a living near Leigh's Warwickshire mansion Stoneleigh Abbey (said to be the model for Sotherton Court in his cousin Jane Austen's 'Mansfield Park'). Leigh apologises troubling Brodie 'with the enclosed rather singular letter which I have received from one of your Parishioners'.

[Printed item.] The History of Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom of Coventry, with a Description of St. Michael's Church, the Holy Trinity, and other Places of Worship, with numerous Local Illustrations. [...]

Author: 
[J. Tomkinson, Coventry publisher; Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom; the Coventry Cemetery]
Publication details: 
Fifth Edition. Coventry: Printed and published by J. Tomkinson, High Street, 1877.
£220.00

After '[...] with numerous local illustrations.' the title continues: 'To which is added a short account of The Coventry Cemetery, Waterworks, St. Mary's and Draper's Halls, School of Art, New Free Library, Bond's and Ford's Hospitals; also the History of Stoneleigh and Combe Abbeys, Kenilworth Castle, &c.' 48pp., small (15 x 12 cm) 4to. With fold-out frontispiece and nine engraved plates, including 'The Countess Lady Godiva riding through Coventry' and 'Peeping Tom of Coventry'. In green printed card wraps with red cloth spine.

[Victorian printed Shakespeare ephemera] Illustrated 'Description' of Shakespeare's Birthplace, together with tickets of admission to it, and to Ann Hathaway's Cottage, and a letterhead of the Shakespeare Memorial, carrying notes of books.

Author: 
Richard Savage, Secretary and Librarian to the Trustees, Shakespeare Memorial, Stratford-upon-Avon [Ann Hathaway's Cottage; William Shakespeare]
London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, Cambridge University A
Publication details: 
The first three items dated 1895-6. All items dated in hand 25 October 1895. ['Description' by Edward Fox, Printer, 1, High Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.]
£150.00
London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, Cambridge University A

A nice collection of Victorian Shakespeare ephemera. All four items with text clear and complete, on lightly-aged and worn paper. The 'Description' is printed in red, on both sides of a piece of paper 13.5 x 18 cm, with both vertical edges perforated. 'This may be retained as a Souvenir' along one edge. Dated at end 'RICHARD SAVAGE, Secretary and Librarian to the Trustees. | 1896-6.' Along head of first page: 'The Committee request that no Gratuities be offered to the Attendants.' Numbered 22989 in black.

Autograph Letter Signed to his former pupil Richard Twining, with a transcription in Twining's hand.

Author: 
Samuel Parr (1747-1825), schoolmaster and classical scholar [Richard Twining (1772-1857), tea merchant]
Publication details: 
11 February 1824; Hatton.
£95.00

8vo, 2 pp. Leaf dimensions 21 x 16.5 cm. On good wove paper. 29 lines. Text clear and complete. On the first leaf of the bifolium, with the transcription, presumably by Twining, on the recto of the second. Addressed by Parr to Twining at Devereux Court in the Strand, on the reverse of the second leaf, which carries Parr's broken seal in red wax, and a postmark. In good condition, though a little grubby. Parr's handwriting is legendarily bad (he received a flogging at Harrow because of it, and never reformed), and although the transcriber has made a game effort, there are a few lacunae.

Autograph Letter Signed to Rosa Tuckwell [nee Strong, b.1829/30], wife of William Tuckwell (1829-1919).

Author: 
Mary Campbell [AUTOGRAPHS; Sir Joshua Reynolds; Rev. William Tuckwell]
Publication details: 
No date [but between 1858 and 1878]; Wheatleigh.
£100.00

Four pages, 12mo. Very good on lightly aged paper. She apologises for only sending 'two words of Sir Joshua Reynolds' writing', and hopes she may some day 'succeed in getting a more valuable autograph'. It was given to her 'by a great niece' of the artist, 'and was cut out of a manuscript of some work on Engravings, which he had prepared for the press'. They are glad to hear of Tuckwell's 1878 'appointment to the living of Stockton': 'I trust many years of rest and happiness are in store for you in that quiet retreat'.

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