History

[Sir William Beveridge, ‘Architect of the Welfare State’.] Five Typed Letters Signed to educationalist T. Lloyd Humberstone, discussing Charles Holden’s Senate House design for London University's ‘Bloomsbury Site and, the ‘Toynbee days’,

Author: 
Sir William Beveridge (1879-1963), ‘Architect of the Welfare State’, Liberal Party social reformer and economist [T. Lloyd Humberstone (1876-1957), educationalist; Beveridge Report, 1942]
Publication details: 
The five letters dating from 1933, 1937, 1948, 1953, 1954. Three from Oxford (Master’s Lodgings, University College; two from Staverton House) and two from London (London School of Economics; Voluntary Social Service Report).
£250.00

See Beveridge’s entry in the Oxford DNB. Humberstone was a prominent member of the Convocation of the University of London. The five items are in good condition, lightly aged. All five signed ‘W H Beveridge’. ONE: 29 June 1933; The London School of Economics and Political Science, Aldwych, London. 1p, 4to. Folded twice. Thanking him for his book on ‘the Bloomsbury Site’. He does not agree with his ‘objection to Holden’s design (so far as I can judge I think it is very remarkable and very fine)’, but thinks that ‘the stirring up of discussion and interest in the matter is a good thing’.

[Sir John Powell of Gloucester, judge and politician.] Autograph Document Signed (‘John Powell’), with signature of witness ‘W Price’, appointing his clerk John Horsman to receive his ‘Salary for Michaelmas Terme’.

Author: 
Sir John Powell (1645-1713), judge and politician, Member of Parliament for Gloucester [his clerk John Horsman]
Powell
Publication details: 
11 December 1711; no place.
£180.00
Powell

See Powell’s entry in the Oxford DNB. While presiding over the 1712 trial of Jane Wenham for witchcraft he ruled that there was ‘no law against flying’. 1p, long 8vo. On recto of first leaf of bifolium. Folded twice. On laid paper with government watermark, with two blind-stamped sixpenny tax stamps at head of page. Text intact, but with wear, closed tears and slight loss to some edges and a crease. Text by Powell himself, signed ‘John Powell’, with red wax seal (without any impression). Signed at foot of page: ‘Wittness | W Price’. Endorsed with date on reverse of second leaf.

[Stephen King-Hall; Friends of Hansard; Hansard Society] Circular Letter sent to Friend[s] of Hansard with what looks like a stamped signature of Stephen King-Hall. See image

Author: 
Stephen King-Hall [William Stephen Richard King-Hall, Baron King-Hall of Headley (1893 -1966), naval officer, writer, politician and playwright, member of parliament for Ormskirk from 1939 to 1945.]
Hansard
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] The Friends of Hansard, War-time address: | 804 Hood | Dolphin Square | London, S.W.!, [Date handwritten] 18.5.44. With list of Officers inc. Margaret Bond and King-Hall himself.
£220.00
Hansard

Typed (cyclostyled or similar?) Letter Signed as above, three pages, 12mo. very good condition, apart from small rusty hole where formerly stapled.

[Thomas Babington Macaulay, historian] Autograph Letter to John sadly robbed of its signature by persons unknown, but concerning the contemporary success of his History, and other interesting matters.

Author: 
Thomas Babington Macaulay [Ist Baron Macaulay, (1800 – 1859), historian and Whig politician].
Macaulay
Publication details: 
Albany, 23 Oct.1849
£100.00
Macaulay

Formerly a four-page bifolium, but half a page cut off presumably including the signature, poor condition, with crude repair to a tear, but text clear and readable though the handwriting is a scrawl. A margin has been added, and the words Lord Macaulay. See Image of first page. Text: He thanks him for his letter. I have read it with much interest and pleasure. What you say of the Northern peasantry confirms the opinion which I have always held about them.

[Earl of Cromer; Egypt; Cattle Plague] Part only of an Autograph Letter Signed Cromer, with reference to cattle plague (rinderpest) as affecting Egypt and to the Southern Ports (eg Suez). Recipient unknown.

Author: 
Lord Cromer [Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer (1841 – 1917), statesman, diplomat and colonial administrator. Created Baron Cromer in 1892.
Cromer
Publication details: 
Place and date presumably in missing half of the letter. [Post 1892?].
£65.00
Cromer

Text on both sides of the bottom half of an Autograph Letter Signed, 12 x 9cm, a sprawling hurried handwriting. Text; [p.1] [...] due to the death of the [Princess?]. | The cattle plague is a serious business - I do not think we shall be able to do [p.2] bottom half only] about the [occupation?] of the Southern ports [Suez, Port Said?]. There need to be no hurry. The matter can [stand over?] for a while.

[Captain N. Craig, Governor of Pentonville Prison, c. 1863] Autograph Signature with title N. Craig Governor

Author: 
Captain N. Craig, Governor of Pentonville Prison, c. 1863
Pentonville
Publication details: 
Dated 20.12.63 in another hand.
£80.00
Pentonville

Paper, 14 x 5cm, poor condition. The words Pentonville Prison have been added as well as the above date, probably in a different hand. See Image.

[Dorset Election 1831; Hon. W.F.S. Ponsonby, brother of Lady Caroline Lamb; Earl of Shaftesbury] MS. The Expenses of The Committee for the Election of the Honble W.F.S. Ponsonby | To Thomas Phippard with covering letter from Tho. Phippard..

Author: 
[Dorset Election 1831; Hon. W.F.S. Ponsonby; Earl of Shaftesbury]
Dorset
Publication details: 
Bill dated 14 September 1831; covering letter Wareham, Nov. 1831.
£350.00
Dorset

Two pages, folio, fold marks, a little grubby, some damage (by stamp vandal?) marginally affecting text, ow fair.. A. The covering letter by Tho. Phippard, sending the Bill in the Election, asking the recipient, E.Nicoletts, Bridport, to fill in the blanks with the average sums charged per diem by the other agents. I have not included many days [absent?] in the business. My bill will be higher than some agents as I was directed to proceed in canvassing my Division earlier in consequence of the proceedings of Ashleys [ie Later Lord Shaftesbury].

[George Thompson, abolitionist] Autograph Letter Signed Geo Thompson [Alexander Shirreff?- an autograph hunter?], discussing his correspondent's interest in collecting autographs, encouraging him to collect remarkable Females.

Author: 
George Thompson [George Donisthorpe Thompson (1 1804 – 1878), British anti-slavery orator and activist ]
Thompson
Publication details: 
London, 8 April 1854.
£200.00
Thompson

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, remnants of glue where tipped in somewhere, good condition. A difficult hand at times.

[Hesing Xi Cheng or Sheng, Captain of the Keying, Chinese Junk] Signed 8vo portrait drawing of Hesing, known as Xi Cheng. WITH

Author: 
[Hesing; Voyage to England and New York from China, 1846-8]
Hesing
Publication details: 
[c.1848]
£250.00
Hesing

Signed `Hesing´ in bold black ink at the foot beneath his portrait, also adding the junk's name `Keying´ and the name `Suckling´ [not traced] to the portrait, all with their equivalent Chinese characters beneath. Quite heavily foxed, mainly around not on the image and signatures, top left corner torn off (a red ink stamp might have been there as in other examples, with Chinese characters, being the seal of Prince Hui Rui, but other examples would not have fitted in the lost corner). See image.

[Earl Canning; The Great Game] Autograph Note Signed Canning to Lord Fitzgerald, presumably William Vesey-FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald, as President of the Board of Control (see note), concerning the despatches of Col. Stoddard, British agent.

Author: 
Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning (1812 -1862), as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, statesman and Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Great Game
Publication details: 
F.O. [Foreign Office], 11 Nov. 1841.
£230.00
Great Game

ANS, one page, 12mo, fold marks, one edge rough, some faint staining, text clear and complete. Dear Lord Fitzgerald | I send you Col Stoddart's last Despatches, & his letters to Ld Palmerston. | As most of them are the original papers will you return them as soon as read. See image. Note: A. The President of the Board of Control was a British government official in the late 18th and early 19th century responsible for overseeing the British East India Company and generally serving as the chief official in London responsible for Indian affairs.

[Hugh Gaitskell, Labour politician] Typed Note Signed boldly Hugh Gaitskell to M.B. Bradshaw, Director, Art Exhibitions Bureau [...] permitting the exhibition of the Road to Tarbet, presumably a picture in Gaitskell's private collection.

Author: 
Hugh Gaitskell (1906-1963), sometime leader of the Labour Party.
Publication details: 
[House of Commons stamp] 23 June 1955.
£45.00

One page, 12mo, very good condition. He gives permission for 'Road to Tarbet' to be exhibited at Scarborough and Hull, on the understanding that you will take full responsibility for returning it to me in London when the Hull Exhibition ends.

[Stafford Northcote; Disraeli; Suez Canal] Autograph Note Initialled SHN [Stafford H. Northcote] to his Private Secretary, John Arrow Kempe about a high level meeting to discuss the 'Suez Canal purchase'.

Author: 
Stafford H. Northcote, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1874-1880.
Publication details: 
Embossed stamp House of Commons, 9 March [1874 added in pencil by Kempe]
£95.00

One page, 12mo, bifolium, second leaf laid down on slightly larger paper, good condition. Text: We are to have a meeting at Mr. Disraeli's house at 2.30 tomorrow, at which Lord Derby, Cave and Stokes are to be. | Would you write a civil note to Sir Erskine Perry to tell him that some pressing business will keep me from seeing him. Northcote has added a note to the top of the page, Let Mr. Corry [Montagu Corry, Secretary] have a note of the engagement so that Mr.Disraeli may not forget it.

[Billy Hughes, Australian Premier] Bold Signature as follows, W.M. Hughes | Sydney Australia | 20/9/32

Author: 
W.M. Hughes [William Morris Hughes (1862 – 1952), Australian politician who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Australia] [AND Henry J. Wood, conductor, Signature on reverse]
Publication details: 
Sydney, Australia, 20 Sept. 1932.
£56.00

Paper, 14 x 5cm, small stain not affecting text, good condition. See image. On the reverse is the signature of Henry J. Wood, conductor who founded the Proms, the J being slightly truncated, losing its tail in the cut.

[Periodical; India] Single issue of Britain and India. A Monthly Magazine, vol.1, no.4 (April 1920).

Author: 
[Periodical; India] Editor: Josephine Ransom [Australian Theosophist and writer, see Wikipedia]
Besant
Publication details: 
Printed by J. Edward Francis at the Athenaeum Press. See image for CONTENTS.
£100.00
Besant

Wraps, paginated [i]-ii;105-144; iii-[iv] inc.wraps, mainly good condition, but rusty round staples, one punch-hole (with minor loss of text) characteristic of material from the papers formerly held at the headquarters of the National Indian Association and the Northbrook Society, 21 Cromwell Road, later by its former Warden, Roland Knaster.

[N.C. Daruwalla; booklet] Bombay as an Educational Centre

Author: 
N.C. Daruwalla
bombay
Publication details: 
The Minerva Publishing CompanyLtd, London, [1921?]. See image.
£45.00
bombay

Small booklet, 24pp., 16mo, small wormhole, through blank space of text, , rust around staple, punch-hole slightly affecting the text characteristic of material from the papers formerly held at the headquarters of the National Indian Association and the Northbrook Society, 21 Cromwell Road, later by its former Warden, Roland Knaster. Scarce. One other copy traced, in the National Library of Wales.

[Annie Besant; Bloomsbury Group; Periodical; One issue of United India, vol.II, No. 26

Author: 
[Annie Besant; Bloomsbury Group]
Publication details: 
September 29, 1920. Printed at the Pelican Press [...] and published by United India Co., Ltd [...],
£250.00

Paginated [387]-402, fold marks, small rust marks from staples, punch-hole. From the papers formerly held at the headquarters of the National Indian Association and the Northbrook Society, 21 Cromwell Road, later by its former Warden, Roland Knaster. BUT stamped 1917-CLUB, a club founded by Leonard Woolf, frequented by his friends and (re. Wikipedia entry, Gordon Childe, Ramsay MacDonald, Aldous Huxley, H. G. Wells, H. N. Brailsford, Elsa Lanchester, Rose Macaulay,[3] Frederick Pethick-Lawrence, J. A. Hobson, Norah C. James, W. C. Anderson, Mary Hamilton, Emile Burns, E. D.

[Irish Independence] Striking original coloured Conservative Party election poster by Halkett, captioned 'Their Irish Master', showing John Redmond, with flag of 'IRISH INDEPENDENCE', leading Asquith, Lloyd George, Winston Churchill by the nose..

Author: 
George Roland Halkett (1855-1918), cartoonist [John Redmond; Herbert Henry Asquith; David Lloyd George; Winston Churchill; Irish Home Rule; Eire]
Ireland
Publication details: 
[1910.] 'No. 256. Published by the National Union of Conservative and Constitutional Associations, St. Stephen's Chambers, Westminster, S.W. Printed by Sir Joseph Causton & Sons, Limited, 9, Eastcheap, London, E.C.'
£500.00
Ireland

Lithograph. Landscape, 51 x 76 cm. In fair though fragile condition and worthy of framing, although aged and with a few small holes repaired. Weakened folds mainly repaired on reverse.. A determined Redmond marches to the right of the picture, large green flag of 'IRISH INDEPENDENCE' over his right shoulder, in his left hand three chains, linked to the noses of Asquith (with 'HOME RULE' paper under his arm), Lloyd George (holding a 'BUDGET BILL') and Winston Churchill (carrying a 'HOME DEPARTMENT' paper), who follow submissively.

[Gurdit Singh Dara, Activist; Indian Independence; Pamphlet] Government of India In Miniature at 21 Cromwell Road, London. WITH additional related material from the Cromwell Road papers.

Author: 
Gurdit Singh Dara (Bar[rister]-at-Law, Lahore) [Mrs Sarojini Naidu, Activist]
Publication details: 
London: Murray & Co., 1921.
£850.00

Pamphlet from the Papers of the objective of the attack, 21 Cromwell Road, 15pp. 8vo, grey paper wraps, stapled together (staples rusted), small rust mark on cover, one punch-hole, marginally affecting the printed text. No other copy recorded (on WorldCat or COPAC). Annotated in pencil, probably by Roland Knaster, Warden of 21 Cromwell Road 1921-1923 (see The India Office and Burma Office List for 1945). The author, Dara, was an agitator for Indian Independence as was the writer of the note that concludes this pamphlet, Mrs. Sarojini Naidu (see Wikipedia).

[Charles Kingsley, John Bowring, Henry Rawlinson, T.H. Huxley and others] Fourteen (14) Signatures mainly of people of distinction. See image.

Author: 
Charles Kingsley, John Bowring, Henry Rawlinson, T.H. Huxley and others
Devonshire
Publication details: 
No place of date.
£320.00
Devonshire

Paper, 13 x 12cm, minor defects, apparently (from vestige of another signature at top) trimmed, remaining signatures clear, as follows: Charles Kingsley, C. St Davids, John Bowring, H[enry] Rawlinson, Egerton Ellesmere, Lyttelton, David Masson, T.H. Huxley, [Charles Nicholson?], J.W. Blakesley, W.S.W. Vaux, [J. Duffin Hardy?], J. Brewer, Devonshire. Presumably they were attending a meeting (event) of some sort of Club, perhaps the Athenaeum, but the presence of Devonshire at the bottom of the list suggests a gathering of the Devonshire Association.

[Mary L. Armitt, polymath] MANUSCRIPT: Draft of the Index (ONLY) to her book, The Church of Grasmere: a history, published posthumously..

Author: 
Mary L. Armitt [Mary Louisa Armitt (1851 -1911), polymath, teacher, writer, ornithologist and philanthropist, and founder of the Armitt Library, Ambleside.]
Grasmere
Publication details: 
Book published in Kendal, 1912. See scan of sample page.
£380.00
Grasmere

Sixteen pages (two are half pages), fol., some foxing, but text clear. The text is in a large hand, with additions and occasional corrections for example, the word out is written beside 'Eighteen, the see Sidesmen', itself crossed out.

[Mysore; Buckshee] Autograph Letter Signed Nursuppah [Indian language name also] to Major Brine, Royal Engineers [...] Bangalore.

Author: 
Nursuppah [Nursuppa], Buckshee [Paymaster] to H.H. the Maharajah of Mysore
Mysore
Publication details: 
Mysore, 22 April 1867 [conceivably 9].
£120.00
Mysore

Three pages, 8vo, large handwriting, staining along fold marks, small closed tear at centre, text legible. Your welcome telegram to Dr [Renton?] here has been with much pleasure received by His Highness the Maha Rajah of Mysore.- In reply I am directed by His Highness the Maha Rajah, to ascquaint you that a letter from Dr Campbell, intimating all about your good self, has been received by the last Mail - Now the Maha Rajah most anxiously looks forward to have an interview with you & Dr Campbell.

[Sinn Fein] Debenture.

Author: 
The Sinn Fein Printing and Publishing Company, Limited.
Publication details: 
([1909]).
£120.00

Certificate, one page, 23 x 20cm, part printed, part manuscript, good condition, made out to Robert Lynd (in his Irish name) at 9 Greytown [Gayton] Road, Hampstead, London, No. 1876, £1, with terms, signed by the Directors (including John O’Mahony) and the Secretary (Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh). WITH: Receipt, part printed (17 Upper Fownes Street, Dublin, no date), 21 x 13cm, good condition, issued by the Sinn Fein Printing & Publishing Co., Limited to Robert Lynd (Irish form of name) for £2 for two debentures in the Company. Signed by Secretary, D. MacCarthy (Irish form).

[General Peron; Argentina; cyclostyled or similar] Traduccion || BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF GENERAL PERON.

Author: 
[Juan Domingo Perón (1895 – 1974), Argentine Army general and politician] Anon., Translator: J.W. de Kember.
Peron
Publication details: 
Presidencia de la Nacion | Subsecretaria de Informaciones [printed on each page] | Division Publicaciones | Sec. Traductores e Interpretes | Octubre 20 de 1954.
£250.00
Peron

Five pages, folio, good condition, apart from rust marks around the paper clip holding the pages together. With embossed stamp top of each page, two arms holding a torch aloft. A favourable view of the life of Peron from birth up to and including his second presidency (4 June 1952), concluding: On the 7th of May of 1953 National Congress, convened in extraordinary sessions, expressing the will of the people, recognized and acclaimed General Juan Peron as Liberator of the Republic. With two carbon copies of pp.2 & 3. Image of page 1 available.

[M.E. Grant Duff; India] Appointment Certificate Signed M E Grant Duff.

Author: 
Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1829 – 1906), Scottish politician, administrator and author. Sometime Under-Secretary of State for India.
Grant Duff
Publication details: 
Dated 8 July 1872.
£80.00
Grant Duff

One page, 4to, part printed, part manuscript, minor damage on fold marks, loss of small part of the word is, small closed tear, some weakness on fold marks. See Image. Text headed Ecclesiastical Establishment | No.

[General Gordon; handwritten] Notebook containing notes from his researches about General Gordon in Wortham's hand

Author: 
[General Gordon] H.E. Wortham (1884-1959), biographer, journalist, music critic and writer, author of two books concerning General Gordon.
Gordon
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£350.00
Gordon

Notebook, marbled boards (blue), spine of black tape, not paginated, notes on approximately 77 pages, with bits on other pages. See image. He makes notes from his reading/researches. Initially, for example, he makes notes on a. Gordon's Letters to His Sister [pub. 1888], quoting, summarising or commenting, concluding with a long quote from Gordon's letter when on the way to Khartoum, 32 pages. Then notes on b. Sir Gerald Graham's Last Words with Gordon (1887) (inc. lengthy summary of Gordon's appearance re. Graham), 10pp. c.

[ Wolfenden Report; homosexuality] Clipped Signature J.F. Wolfenden.

Author: 
John Frederick Wolfenden, Baron Wolfenden, (1906-1985), educationalist, best remembered for the report, recommending the decriminalisation of homosexuality (1957).
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£32.00

Clipping from Typed Letter signed, 8.5 x 5.5, good condition. Only typed text Yours very truly followed by signature. Docketed in another hand in pencil Headmaster of Uppingham | Author of Report. See image.

[Dmitry Hilkoff/Kilkoff, Tolstoyan, etc] Autograph Letter Signed D Hilkoff to John Bellows | Dear Friend [Bellows, polymath, printer and lexicographer] about a Russian translation of Barclay's Apology. In English.

Author: 
Dmitry Hilkoff [Kilkoff] [Prince Dmitry Aleksandrovich Khilkoff (Khilkov, or Hilkov or Hilkoff) (1858–1914), sometime officer in Czar's Army, & Tolstoyan (Pacifism) & a Socialist Revolutionary].
Publication details: 
Address given in text, 181 Grand-Lancy, Geneva, Switzerland; 17 Aug.1901.
£650.00

Two pages 8vo, bifolium, blank second leaf laid down on former album page, 22 x 14cm, good condition. Text: The last time I saw you I spoke to you about the necessity of translating and printing in russian [sic] 'Barclay's Apology'. I think that the sooner it will be printed the better, and ought to be printed in russian without any abriviations [sic]. But I have not the means of paying the translation and printing. | Do you think the Society of Friends would give the necessary money for the translation and printing?

[Head of Station, Tokyo; Japan] [Cyclostyled or similar] H/Tokyo's Valedictory Report

Author: 
[Head of Station, Tokyo]
Japan
Publication details: 
[1972]
£450.00
Japan

(Covering Note dated 5 April 1974), one page, 4to; Valedictory Report, 10 pages, 4to, good condition. A lengthy analysis of The Japanese, their society, customs, language, societal changes, etc., subjects that Intelligence would think important. See sample image. No other copy traced. From the private papers of C. A. A. Nicol, who was a 'Member of a joint FCO/MOD department in Hong Kong' between 1970 and 1975.

[Oleg Lyalin, Soviet Agent turned; cyclostyled or similar] Double Agents (D/As):- A DEFECTOR'S REPORT, marked Secret on every page.

Author: 
[Oleg Adolfovich Lyalin (1937 – 1995), Soviet agent who defected from the KGB]
Defector
Publication details: 
November 1972.
£500.00
Defector

Ten pages ( paginated 2-7), sm.fol., cyclostyled or similar, good condition, comprising: introductory page with information: reference, date (1 December 1972), To [Hong Kong], From: Head Office, [...]: Double Agents] and statement Attached are copies of a paper on KGB principles and methods of running double agents. This may be passed to appropriate [...]. Second page has Contents with number of paragraphs: I. Introduction, II. Objectives, III. Organisation and Procedures, IV. Operational Practice, Appendix A.

[Gaston Palewski; de Gaulle] Typed Letter Signed Gaston Palewski to Monsieur le Professeur Andre Gros, legal advisor to De Gaulle at the time, who counter-signs, referring to an article by Sir John Pollock, and his work in London.

Author: 
Gaston Palewski [(1901 – 1984), French politician, close associate of Charles de Gaulle]
Palewski
Publication details: 
[Printed heading includes] Cabinet du Général de Gaulle, No. 505/Cab.Dir., [date typed] Alger, le 8 février 1944
£120.00
Palewski

One page, 4to, fold marks, one edge dusted, fold marks, ow good. Je vous remercie vivement de m'avoir envoyé l;article de Sir John Pollock. Que cette fidélité amicale et intelligence est raffraichissante [one f crossed out]. | Je vous félicite du travail que vous faites à Londres, et vous prie de croire a mon tres fidèle souvenir. Underneath Palewski's scrawled signature, Gros has added le ci est de Palewski I I think!) adding his own nearly illegible signature. See image.

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