Literature

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.

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"

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet. A fragment cut from a letter, c. 6" long and from 0.5 to 0.75" wide, with vestiges of hte laying-down process and small tear. Text:" P.S. Derwent! James Coleridge has written to his Brother, that / your wife is beautiful, unaffected, good, & an ornament to our / Family.-" I am informed by Professor James Mays, editor of the "Works" of Coleridge, that "Derwent was married on 6 Dec. 1827 . . . and the letter must date from very soon after 28 April 1828 when C's brother James paid STC a surprise visit at Highgate."

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

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.

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".

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.

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. . . ."

(1861-1945). "First Cartoonist" for Punch (1909-1945). "In reply to your enquiry I am afraid I cannot furnish you with any names of artists wanting ideas for humorous drawings. The only thing would be to apply to any artists who do such work & take your chance."

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".

Chief Librarian, British Museum (1797-1879). One page, 8vo, bifoliate, sl. marked, fold marks, text clear and complete. "Mr Panizzi presents his compliments to the Lord Mayor . . . and regrets very much that a previous engagement will prevent him from having the honour . . ."

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.

Poet and man of letters (1884-1958). One page, 4to, fold marks, sl. wear, text readable. " . . . I think the occasion for using that poem by Collins would be the next occasion on which we mention - as we are bound to mention - the Artist's Rifles [last work in ms.]/ It will go in very nicely if you will let me hold it up for a bit. I don't blame Wise about the Swinburne poems; I don't think there is a man in the world who could tell one Swinburne poem from another, once you have ruled out the few best.

Author of "Tom Brown's Schooldays", lawyer (1822-1896). One page, 8vo, a little crumpled and marked from having been laid down previously in an album, but text clear and complete. He asks for his next "Court" day to be changed since the "Governor of the Isle of Man has come down on me to fulfil an old promise to preside at the speech day of King William's College". He will have to get there by the "Friday boat". From DNB: " In July 1882 Hughes was appointed a county-court judge, and went to live at Chester.

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.

Divine and poet (1780-1825). Three pages, 4to, heavily water-stained but still all legible, tear and nick not affecting text. He tells her that he has at last got round to sending her a book (a postcript reveals that it was a "french Book" which his wife had promised ot loan a long time before). He had hoped she was going to visit. He discusses the parlous health of his son and his wife's "maternal anxiety". He had seen a mutual acquaintance, looking better, and hopes she received his letter of thanks for the drawings of the tesselated pavement she had given as a present to him,.

Novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. "I am quite willing that you should use the extract from my book "The House of the Arrow", but you should, I think, get also the consent of Mesrs. Hodder & Stoughton before using it."

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.

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,

Poet, wood engraver, and illustrator ((1870-1944). (July) "I shall be very pleased to be represented in the anthology . . . [gives permission for two shorter pieces] / May your venture have so much success as to enable future compilers to repair in some measure the market value of verse. Thanking you for your courteous encouragement." (Sept.) "I am agreeable to your choice of peices for your Anthology namely "On Death" & "That Land". . . ." Two items,

Publisher. 2pp., 8vo. He discusses his reading which includes Blunden's "Cricket Country", some done for professional reasons.

Agreement "to be associated in the exploitation of the said Play", 4pp., folio, manuscript correctionsand additions initialled throughout by the above parties, and finally signed by both. WITH: Typed copy of the agreemen,t5 May 1944, between Agatha Mallowan (Christie) and Bertie Alexander Meyer for the rights to produce a play, 4pp., folio, NOT signed; AND: Typed copy of agreement, 30 Sept. 1942, between the same parties for the rights to "Ten Little Niggers", 4pp., folio, some pencilled annotation, NOT signed; AND: Typed copy agreement, 9 Sept.

Scottish novelist and historical writer (1828-1897). 2pp., 12mo, laid down. She is delighted to accept "Mrs Hargreaves's invitation, saying when will suit her best and outlining travel plans.