Literature

Poet and journalist (1797-1864). 2pp., 8vo, good. Watts accepts an invitation and gives his excuse for not responding earlier in rather more words than appear necessary.

Novelist and biographer, daughter of W.M. Thackeray (1837-1919). 2pp., 12mo, good. She commends a doctor to May’s mother, Mrs Irving.

Scottish novelist (1800-1864). One page, 8vo, good. She quotes Shakespeare’s “What’s in a name?” and appends hersignature.

Canon of St Paul’s and wit (1771-1845). One page, 4to, good. some damage, slightly affecting the text, traces of mounting. Smith outlines his travel plans, including a visit to his correspondent. He continues, “We talk of nothing now but bombarding & it is supposed that Troy would have been under such a Cannonade have been taken in 15 or 20 minutes”.

Politician and critic (1759-1835). One page, 12mo, good. He regretfully declines her invitation claiming a prior engagement.

Banker and writer (1840-1930). 2pp., 8vo, good. He is asking friends to his home for “chat and supper”, including Bowen.He gives minute directions how to get to his house in Tufnell Park.

Irish author and editor (1800-1889). One page, 8vo, good. He is thanking his correspondent on behalf of his wife for his contributionof a “little picture . . . in aid of the governess asylum”.

Novelist. Signature with part of subscription ("yours truly / Thos Highes"), on piece of paper c.1.5 x 0.75", good condition.

Librarian and author. "I shall be very happy to conduct the members of hte South Place Ethical Society over the Library, at any time that may be mutually arranged."

Author and drama critic (DNB). One page, 4to, good condition. He thinks that "the man who alters the view of life of the world is a more important person" than the rose-grower "who makes his neighbourhood fragrant". Those who initiate are few. Hw would rather see wages increased, and the purchasing power of hte masses. He disklikes the tendencu to giving "bad value for money" - e.g. in his childhood the milkman would give extra just iun case of a shortfall. Today, it's exact measure or less.

Paper, c.4 x 3.5", good condition, at the top of which the authoress has signed her real name and her pseudonym "Ada Ellen Bayly. / Edna Lyall."

Paper, c.6.5 x 4.5", fold mark, some foxing, but image bold and clear of people on the sea-front pulling and pushing an invalid chair against a fierce gale which has caught an umbrella, a fish, a handbill, etc. The sub-title reads "I [underlined] got a nice little airing! / Yours ever / GAB."

Novelist. Text: "Yours / E Bulwer Lytton / 71 Marina / St Leonards on Sea / Sussex", clipped part of letter, c.4 x 2", laid down on similar sized card, fold mark but clear.

Signature, "Faithfully yours / M. Arnold", on laid down piece o fblue paper, c. 2 x 1", accompanied by another small portion of the same letter with date 6 Dec. 1860, and a blind-stamp, "Privy Council Office"

Novelist. Card, c.3.5 x 2.5", verso has traces of the laying down processs., slightly soiled by signature clear.

Novelist. One page, 8vo. She has obviously asked him for a copy of his "So Perish the Rose" but he says that it has "long been out of print & copies are extremely difficult to come by as I well know for I have been trying to get one for some time."

Ian Hay Beith, novelist. Two pages, 8vo. He is sending one of his books, "The Lighter Side of School Life" since Codner has expressed a desire to read it. He gives instructions about how he should return it.

Novelist. One page, 8vo. "Thank you so much for your appreciative letter."

Poet and Man of Letters. One page, 4to, folded, minor spotting. "Dear Sir / Love is what you ask for: / Yours very truly / Maurice Baring".

P.J. Bailey, Poet. One page, 8vo, letter in good condition, the name "'Festus' Bailey" in red ink top left corner. He thanks his correspondent for a "little volume of poems" which have given him pleasure, and many of which "give evidence of pure and true feeling & graceful fancy". Collinson published a volume called "Autumn Leaves" in [1869] in London and _Nottingham_. Presumably he was a fellow-townsman of Bailey's.

French novelist. Signature "Pr. Merimee" underlined on piece of paper, 1.5 x 0.75"

Irish scientist. Original letter probably to David Brewster, sceintist, since he contributed substantially to the collection of which this was part (a collection made by his daughter-in-law). Part of letter, c.3.5 x 2". One side "Believe me, Dear Sir, / yours very truly / Dion Lardner". Other side, 21 words, talking about a "subject" and "extensive knowledge", and producing "about twelve s[heets?]", having enclosed a "specimen".

Author. Part of an autograph letter signed with much of text trimmed off, leaving piece of paper, 4.5 x 4.5", good condition. One side, "Believe me / dear Sir / Yours very truly / Anna Jameson [with address]. Other side, she wonders if an accident has intervened in something (a meeting?) but hopes to see him at the same time and place the following day.

The address panel only, 4 x 2", of a letter with the address "Mrs Davidson/ Milner's[?] Lodgings/ Green Street/ Scarborough/ Yorkshire" in Mitford's hand. Partly laid down. Mary Mitford's name and address are written in another hand on the reverse.

Litterateur and Poet (1757-1833). One page, 4to, fold marks, minor tears and staining, clear and good. Sotheby asks Jerdan "If there be time, l;et the Two last lines of the Proem [underlined] be -/ "And, in his grave while falls a Nation's tears,/ I strow these fading flours on Scott's untimely Bier".The equivalent text published in "the Literary Gazette", 3 Nov. 1832, p.699, runs as follows: "The golden close of F,me's unclouded day --/ Now strew these fading flowers on his untrimely tomb." In other words, Sotheby was too late with his changes.

Poet and playwright. Three pages, 8vo, good condition. H has realised that Jerrold is publishing in his "Anthology" two popems which are about to appear in Trench's "New Poems", to be published by Methuen the following day. He requests what he believes in Methuen's customary charge of a guinea a poem. Otherwise, could he return them.

French politician and historian (1811-1882). Poor condition, complete text:. "Mille remerciement de la part de Mr Louis Blanc. Il reviendra. --- I.e. he was in exile or about to go into exile.

Miscellaneous Writer (Poetry Society). Total 4pp., 8vo. He is enlisting Wilson's aid in selling his new book (favourably reviewed by Evelyn Waugh) and requesting a list of distinguished visitors to Bumpus's (bookshop) (Walter) Scott {Centenary] Exhibition to establish who was interested in Scott at that time. Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235). Four items,

Novelist. One page, 8vo, fold mark, good condition. "I cannot refrain from writing to thank you for two kindly notices of my work that you have given in recent numbers of "The Sphere"; & I trust you will not consider me troublesome for doing so, or for saying that it gave me much pleasure to see this recognition. . . ."

American Crime Writer. One page, 4to. He refers to his just having been welcomed into the Crime Writers' Association but has been too busy to reply sooner. He has ben packing and trying to "finish a novel (which failed)". He very much appreciates meeting CWA members. He adds that "the book is now en route for Crime Club" giving him the opportunity to look about him. He would welcome CWA visitors and prmises a good cup of tea from his Australian mother-in-law".