Literature

[Printed book.] Seraphine. By E. H. W. Meyerstein | Author of "Terence Duke".

Author: 
E. H. W. Meyerstein [Edward Harry William Meyerstein] (1889-1952), scholar and poet
Publication details: 
London: Richards [The Richards Press Limited], 10 Paternoster Square, EC4. 1936.
£20.00

362 + [1]pp., 8vo. Advertisement on final page for Meyerstein's 'Terence Duke'. A fair copy, on lightly-aged paper, in worn original orange cloth binding, and lacking the dustwrapper.

[Presentation copy by E. H. W. Meyerstein.] The Boy. A Modern Poem. [With pencil note by Meyerstein: 'One of thirteen copies printed by mistake on large paper, and uncut.']

Author: 
E. H. W. Meyerstein [Edward Harry William Meyerstein] (1889-1952), scholar and poet
Publication details: 
London: Ingpen & Grant, 12 Bury Street, London WC1. 1928.
£120.00

62pp., 8vo. In good condition, on aged paper, in dulled black cloth binding with chipped printed label. Presentation inscription by Meyerstein on front free endpaper: 'J. A Petheridge | with the writer's kind regards. | Aug. 13. 1928'. Pencil note (probably also by Meyerstein) on front pastedown: 'One of thirteen copies printed by mistake on large paper, and uncut.'

[Printed periodical, in original illustrated wraps.] The Month. A View of passing Subjects and Manners, Home and Foreign, Social and General. By Albert Smith & John Leech. [Issues I, II, III and V.]

Author: 
Albert Smith [Albert Richard Smith] (1816-1860), editor; John Leech (1817-1864), illustrator [Bradbury & Evans, Printers, Whitefriars]
Publication details: 
Published at the Office of 'The Month,' No. 3, Whitefriars Street. [Bradbury & Evans, Printers, Whitefriars.] [Issues I, II, III and V, dated July, August, September and November 1851.]
£180.00

16mo, with the first three issues continuously paginated to 240, and issue V paginated 321-400. Each volume with a frontispiece by Leech, and numerous illustrations by him in text. Three of the four issues (I, III and V) with an initial four-pages of advertisements, and more advertisements on the wraps. The four volumes in fair condition, on aged paper, in worn wraps, with the first volume lacking its spine. Each with the small and neat ownership inscription of 'L Jackson' in the top right-hand corner of its front wrap.

[R. A. Austen-Leigh.] ALS and TLS to P. C. Vellacott, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, regarding historical queries; TLS from Austen-Leigh to C. H. K. Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton, with Marten's ALS reply on reverse. With draft of Vellacott letter

Author: 
R. A. Austen-Leigh [Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh] (1872-1961), Jane Austen scholar and relative [P. C. Vellacott, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge; Sir Henry Marten (1872-1948), Provost of Eton College]
Publication details: 
One (ALS to Vellacott): As from D2 Albany, Piccadilly W1. 3 May 1942. Two (TLS to Vellacott): on letterhead of 1 New-street Square, London, EC4. 10 June 1942. Three (TLS to Marten): same as Two. Four (Marten to Austen-Leigh): Eton. 11 August 1942.
£120.00

Austen-Leigh's three letters are all signed 'R A Austen Leigh'. ONE: ALS to Vellacott. 3 May 1942; 'as from | D2 Albany | Piccadilly W.1'. 2pp., 12mo. He asks if Vellacott can 'enlighten me on the following point - I am editing some letters of Dr. Goodall, who was Provost of Eton 1809 to 1840. There follows a sixteen-line transcript of a letter written in May 1838 from Goodall to his brother, regarding which he writes: 'Who would Mr.

[The Market Street Workhouse, Brighton, Sussex.] Manuscript titled 'A prayer for the poor in the poor House at Brighton'. With note by the author written 38 years later, lamenting the lack of improvement in conditions.

Author: 
[The Market Street Workhouse, Brighton, Sussex]
Publication details: 
Place not stated. February 1801.
£120.00

2pp., 8vo. The prayer is 39 lines long. In fair condition, on aged and worn laid paper with 'GATER' watermark. The prayer begins: 'O. Lord - O.

[Booklet; Ballantyne Press] Edinburgh Exhibitiuon 1886 | Printing as in the Olden Time at the Ballantyne Press Olde Streete | CATALOGUE

Author: 
[Ballantyne Press; Walter Scott]
Publication details: 
The Ballantyne Press | Ballantyne & Hanson, Edinburgh London, [1886]
£95.00

Booklet, [16pp., 16mo, inc. paper covers. foxing, mainly good condition. Two copies listed on COPAC, Edinburgh and the National Library of Scotland.

[Observations made at the Philosophical Society of London in 1815] Autograph Letter Signed "Thos Tucker" to Thos Winkworth (from address panel)

Author: 
Thomas Tucker, council member of the Philosophical Society of London in Coleridge's day.
Publication details: 
115 Chancery Lane, [London], 23 Sept. 1815 [the auctioneers, Hodgson's later occupied these premises, but perhaps the addres indicates Tucker was a lawyer]
£200.00

Three pages, 4to, fold marks, some chipping and closed tears, mainly discreetly repaired, but text complete and clear. He is responding to Winkworth's request for "an outline of the observations I had the honour to address to the PSL [Philosophical Society of London] on thursday last but fear [...]" Points made as follows. "Ist All philosophers agree that man is characterized as an improveable being [...] 2nd THere is no science that is not capabale of additions no Art that [...] 3rd.

[Printed Play] The Garrulous Lady

Author: 
K.M. Briggs [Katharine Mary Briggs] Folklorist.
Publication details: 
The Golden Vista Press, Fetter House, Fetter Lane, London, EC4, 1931.
£120.00

29pp., 16mo, paper wraps (covered in tissue), very good condition. Three copies on COPAC (copyright libraries) and three on WorldCat (USA). Scarce.

[The Royal Visit to Reading, 1870.] Printed handbill poem headed 'New Version to an Old Nursery Rhyme', and beginning 'Sing a song of Thousand Guineas', an attack on the mayor Peter Spokes, on the foundation of the new Grammar School.

Author: 
[Royal Visit to Reading, 1870; Queen Victoria; Sir Peter Spokes (1830-1910) of Redlands, Mayor of Reading]
Reading
Publication details: 
Without place or date [Reading, Berkshire; 1870].
£120.00
Reading

1p., 12mo. On trimmed wove paper. Aged and worn, with traces of mount on reverse. 24 lines, arranged in six four-line stanzas, beneath the title 'New Version to an Old Nursery Rhyme.' The poem - based on 'Sing a song of sixpence' - begins: 'Sing a song of Thousand Guineas, | Pockets full of brass; | Rate-payer's money's nought to me, | I'll squander it like an ass. | Sing a song of Royal Visit, | Ain't I a man of sense | To shake hands and sit with Royalty, | At Rate-payers expence.

[Horatio/Horace Smith] Autograph Note Signed to Lady Stepney accepting an invitation to dinner.

Author: 
Horace Smith] Horatio Smith, poet.
Publication details: 
12 Cavendish Place [London], Monday [no date].
£45.00

One page, 12mo, crupled but text clear and complete: "I shall have very great pleasure in diding with your Ladyship on Monday next - & some of the Ladies will be most happy to follow me in the evening. [...]" Note: joint author of 'Rejected Addresses'.

[Geologist] Autograph Letter Signed "John Carrick Moore" to Lady Eastlake, born Elizabeth Rigby, author, art critic and art historian, on W.E. Gladstone's scholarship [Prime Minister].

Author: 
John Carrick Moore (1805-98), geologist
Publication details: 
113 Eaton Square, Saturday [no date given].
£80.00

Four pages, 12mo, closely written, good condition. "Your approval of my criticism on the '[?] of Hector' has greatly gratified me. Gladstone is twenty fold a better Grecian than S.C.M., but he is crochetty, and a crochetty man sees what no one else sees, and refuses to see the palpable. I have not seen his colour blindness paper: but ifd he says there is no 'blue' in the Iliad he is distinctly wrong.

[Eden Philpotts] Two Autograph Postcards signed "E.P." to Lewis Wynne, Welsh poet.

Author: 
Eden Philpotts (1862-1960), English novelist, author of many works about Dartmoor and his native Devon [Helen Allingham]
Publication details: 
Torquay, 9 and 19 Feb. 1929.
£60.00

Postcards, c.11 x 9cm, some smudging but mainly good condition, text clear and complete. Postcard One: "Dear Mr Wynne, | Very best thanks for your valued gift: a fine & distinguished poem."; Postcard 2: "[...] | The books can be got separately & there are cheap editions of those two books any bookseller can secure for you for 2/- & 2/6 each. | I'm afraid London has had enough of my plays. My daughter's paly is not about [?] folk." Two items,

[Eden Philpotts] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Wilfrid C. Mosley', regarding Mosley's poor choice of a piece of his prose for an anthology. [not traced]

Author: 
Eden Philpotts (1862-1960), English novelist, author of many works about Dartmoor and his native Devon [Helen Allingham]
Publication details: 
Torquay | 14 March 1913.
£45.00

4to, 1 p. Ten lines, edges a little damaged but text clear and complete, on flimsy paper. "You are welcome to the quotation from my school-boy story - if it is worth while. I could have wished, however, that in an anthology of serious prose you had given me credit as a serious writer & chosen something more interesting. With compliments [...]"

[Russian Literary Periodical; Chekhov] Autograph Letters concerning "Severnyi Vestnik" [Northern Herald], publishers of Chekhov etc]

Author: 
Anna Evreinova; Nina Evreinova (Babashnikova); Fedor Babashnikova
Publication details: 
Various places, 1888.
£1,800.00

A Collection of Autograph Letters In Russian, and typed descriptions, transcriptions and translations in English which derive from previous owner. They concern a major literary periodical in Russia (Chekhov was a contributor), Severnyi Vestnik (Northern Herald) which was run by Nina Evreinova and, later, by Anna Mikh. Evreinova (a founding member of the Union for Women's Equality, etc - see further note below). The later history of this periodical emerges from this correspondence.A. Evreinova, Anna Mikh. (1844 - 1919*)DRAFT Autograph Letter Signed. 5 quarto pages, 27 September, 1888.

[Rupert Brooke; booklet] 1914 by Rupert Brooke set to music for Chorus and Organ, or Orchestra

Author: 
Alan Gray, composer
Publication details: 
Novello and Company Limited; New York: The H.W. Gray Co [1919? see COPAC]
£180.00

24pp., cr. 8vo, grey printed paper wraps, partially detached, creased and and worn, with two stains on front cover, largest 3/4"dia, contents aged but good. Tow copies listed on COPAC/WorldCat (both BL), i.e. very scarce.

[Pamphlet] Postscript to the sixth volume of the Pictorial Edition of the Works of Shakspere; detailing the Plan for the Completion of that Publication, and announcing A New Library Edition, edited by Charles Knight.

Author: 
[William Shakespeare] Charles Knight & Co.
Publication details: 
[London, 1842].
£80.00

[16]pp., 8vo, discreet stab-holes, good condition. Presumably this item was once bound in to an issue of a periodical. Four copies are listed on COPAC/WorldCat.

[Thomas Crofton Croker, Irish antiquary.] Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Crofton Croker') to Sir Francis Palgrave, giving an excuse for not replying to a dinner invitation.

Author: 
Thomas Crofton Croker (1798-1854), Irish antiquary and civil servant [Sir Francis Palgrave (1788-1861), born Francis Ephraim Cohen, English historian]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [Whitehall, London]. 16 January 1827.
£120.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on aged paper, with a closed tear along a fold line unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Addressed at foot to 'F. Palgrave Esqr' (he would not be knighted until 1832), beside which Palgrave has written: 'Mr. Crofton Croker. | Author of Fairy Legends of the South of Ireland &c.' The text of the letter reads: 'My dear Sir | I ought to apologize for not replying to your invitation for Wednesday evening last. - My excuse must be that I did not return to town until yesterday and that your note reached me on Friday at Brighton.'

[Sir Robert Howard, restoration playwright.] Autograph Treasury receipt, signed 'Ro: Howard'.

Author: 
Sir Robert Howard (1626-1698), English playwright and politician and Secretary to the Treasury
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£180.00

On one side of slip of 6 x 18 cm paper. In fair condition, aged, and with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Apparently concerning an enormous sum of money, the receipt reads: 'Registered upon the Register appointed to be kept by the Act within mentioned & payable there upon of

[Two printed works bound together.] Hamilton's 'An Inquiry into the Genuineness of the Manuscript Corrections in Mr. J. Payne Collier's Annotated Shakspere' and 'Mr. J. Payne Collier's reply to Mr. N. E. S. Hamilton's "Inquiry"'.

Author: 
N. E. S. A. Hamilton [Nicholas Esterhazy Stephen Armytage Hamilton (d.1915)] of the Manuscript Department of the British Museum; John Payne Collier (1789-1883), Shakespearian critic and forger
Publication details: 
Hamilton: London: Richard Bentley, New Burlington Street, Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 1860. Payne Collier: London: Bell and Daldy, 186 Fleet Street. 1860.
£200.00

Both works first editions, and both in good condition, on aged paper. Bound together in late nineteenth-century red cloth half-binding, with marbled boards. Title on spine: 'COLLIER CONTROVERSY | H.R.H. | 1919'. Hamilton title in full: 'An Inquiry into the Genuineness of the Manuscript Corrections in Mr. J. Payne Collier's Annotated Shakspere, Folio, 1632; and of certain Shaksperian Documents likewise published by Mr. Collier'. [4] + 155pp., 4to. With frontispiece and two plates, one of them double-page. Collier title in full: 'Mr. J. Payne Collier's reply to Mr. N. E. S.

[Anglo-Spanish author] Autograph Letter Signed "Telesforo de Trueba y Cosia" to an unnamed male correspondent (pencil note on second leaf says "To [William]Jerdan", the editor, about an article on "Spanish romance" for Colburn's "New Monthly".

Author: 
[Don Joaquín] Telesforo de Trueba y Cosio [Cozio/Cossio] (1798?-1835), Spanish (or Anglo-Spanish?) author.
Publication details: 
8 Leigh St, Burton Crescent, [London]1 Dec. (no year)
£750.00

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, tipped on to larger piece of paper, substantial, good condition.

[Printed pamphlet.] Tom Cladpole's Jurney To Lunnun; Shewing the many Difficulties he met with, and How he got safe Home at Last. Told by himself and written in pure Wessex Doggerel, By his Uncle Tim.

Author: 
'Uncle Tim' [Richard Lower (1782-1865)] ['Pure Wessex Doggerel'; Sussex dialect; Lewes]
Publication details: 
New Edition. Lewes: Printed and Published by Farncombe & Co., "East Sussex News." [Farncombe & Co., Printers, Lewes.]
£60.00

34 + [1]pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, a little ruckled. Advertisement for 'Jan Cladpole's Trip to Merricur' ('Just published') on last page. A three-page preface is followed by the poem, in 152 four-line stanzas, with pp.33-34 carrying another poem titled 'Tom Cladpole's Return'. Surprisingly uncommon.

[Rev. Dr George Croly.] Autograph drafts of three passages from an anonymous article in Blackwood's Magazine entitled 'Russia', dealing with Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as Emperor of the French. and his entry into and retreat from Moscow.

Author: 
Rev. Dr George Croly (1780-1860), Anglo-Irish clergyman and writer, editor of the Tory weekly The Constitution [Blackwood's Magazine, Edinburgh and London; Napoleon Bonaparte; Napoleonic Wars]
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [Published in Blackwood's Magazine (Edinburgh and London, April 1826).]
£220.00

3pp., 8vo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Unsigned, but certainly in Croly's hand. The first page is headed: '- for tho' the Old Law was established in the promises of temporal prosperity, yet the gospel is founded in temporal adversity'. The three extracts, fiercely critical of the French emperor, follow over a total of 61 lines, with a few minor emendations.

[Washington Irving's brother-in-law Henry Van Wart.] Signed bill, 'To Mess. P. Irving & Co | Merchants | Liverpool', 'In re Peter Irving & In re Washington Irving', carrying bankruptcy order; and Promissory Note; both payable to Messrs. Lewis C & Co.

Author: 
Henry Van Wart (1784-1873), American-born founder of the Birmingham Stock Exchange, England, and husband of Sarah Irving, sister of Washington Irving (1783-1859), American author and diplomat1
Publication details: 
Both items dated from Birmingham [England], the bill on 1 November 1816, and the promissory note on 1 July 1817. Both signed boldly by Henry van War
£1,000.00

 

[Harry Pirie-Gordon; Lawrence of Arabia] Autograph Letter Signed "HPG" AND Autog. Postcard Signed "Harry Pirie-Gordon" to Court [Stanley Court]. WITH: photographic copy of letter to Pirie-Gordon from a "stanley Court" [?], newspaper pages & cuttings

Author: 
Harry Pirie-Gordon [Pirie-Gordon, C. H. C. (Charles Harry Clinton) 1883-1969], foreign correspondent (The Times), soldier, secret agent, author, sometime friend of Baron Corvo (Frederick Rolfe)
Publication details: 
Letter (headed notepaper) and Postcard (Depicting Lawrence of Arabia) undated [1968? the year before his death]
£700.00

All items in good condition. ONE. ALS, 2pp. 8vo. He is responding to receipt of articles about Lawrence of Arabia (present - see below) with memories of encounters with Lawrence.

[George Robins, auctioneer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo Robins') to the editor of the Morning Chronicle James Black, pushing for an article to be inserted in the paper, to tie in with his sale of the contents of Horace Walpole's Strawberry Hill.

Author: 
George Robins [George Henry Robins] (1777-1847), celebrated London auctioneer [James Black (1783-1855), editor of the Morning Chronicle [Horace Walpole; Strawberry Hill]
Publication details: 
'Covent Garden [London] | Friday [1842]'.
£2,500.00

2pp., 12mo, bifolium. Very good, on lightly aged paper. The letter reads: 'Strawberry Hill is to the classic world much more important than the turmoil of everlasting Politics. It will be a little refreshing as a contrast to your readers to hear of Horace Walpole - the Inclosed is from Gallignani's Journal[.] in Paris they give a better attention to the Arts as well as the nuisance of everlasting Politics'. Postscript reads: 'Would you like to have a card to see'.

[Dr Samuel Parr, 'the Whig Doctor Johnson'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('S Parr') to the tea merchant Richard Twining, Senior.

Author: 
Dr Samuel Parr (1747-1825), schoolmaster and classical scholar [Richard Twining (1749-1824), Senior, tea and coffee merchant; his son Richard Twining (1772-1857), Junior]
Publication details: 
27 May [1807].
£56.00

1p., 12mo. 24 lines of text. In fair condition, on aged paper, with minor traces of mount adhering to reverse, which is addressed by Parr to 'R Twining, Senior, Esqre | Devereux Court | the Strand', and docketted 'Dr. Parr May 27th. 1807'.

[Printed Book; authorial inscription etc] Discourses in America

Author: 
Matthew Arnold [ Lady Dorothy Neville, 'writer, hostess, horticulturist and plant collector']
Publication details: 
First edition. London, Macmillan and Co., 1885
£650.00

[xiv], 207pp., dark green cloth, corners bumped, mainly good to very good. A copy inscribed by Matthew Arnold to Lady Dorothy Neville, 'writer, hostess, horticulturist and plant collector', with a letter by Arnold concerning his gift of the book tipped in. Also with prined "From the Author" note enclosed (loose), a printed bookplate alleging "Stolen from Lady Dorothy Neville", and a newspaper clipping concerning Matthew Arnold's burial place tipped in. The letter from Arnold reads as follows: "Dear Lady Dorothy | The Fourth Party are excellent company, but Sunday is impossible for me.

[Mary Cholmondeley.] Autograph Letter Signed to fellow-novelist Frances Mary Peard

Author: 
Mary Cholmondeley (1859-1925), English novelist [Frances Mary Peard (1835-1923), English novelist, author of more than forty books]
Publication details: 
Hendon. 29 January [no year].
£56.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with short closed tear at head of second leaf. She begins: 'I was so disturbed and disappointed when I came in on Tuesday to find I had missed you. And I believe you had been kind enough to call when we ought to be, and almost invariably are in - after 4.

[Horace Voules, de facto editor of Henry Labouchère's satirical magazine 'Truth'.] Autograph Letter Signed to Robert Ababrelton

Author: 
Horace Voules, de facto editor of the satirical magazine 'Truth' [Henry Labouchère [Henry Du Pré Labouchère] (1831-1912), Conservative politician and writer
Publication details: 
On letterhead of "Truth" Buildings, Carteret Street, Queen Anne's Gate, London. 25 May 1897.
£40.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and marked paper. Addressed to Ababrelton at 1 Northumberlandn Avenue. He thanks him for the letter and its enclosure. 'We have received copies of the latter by the dozen and we shall probably be dealing with the matter either in this or next week's issue of "Truth."'

[Offprint; Uncle Tom's Cabin] Offprint of long review by Jane Williams of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'

Author: 
Jane Williams [Jane Williams Isgafell], Welsh historian, poet and feminist..
Publication details: 
'From the Star of Gwent of 6th November, 1852.'
£250.00

Offprint of long, learned and critical review by JW of Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', 'From the Star of Gwent of 6th November, 1852.' 1p., folio. In three columns of small type. One autograph correction. Ascription at head: 'By Jane Williams ... Edwd. Williams'. Docketed on reverse 'Uncle Tom's Cabin | Review of by JW'. She starts off by saying that a reviewer would normally give information about the book as if the reader is unfamiliar, but "every one" is reading it.

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