[Dionysius Lardner, Irish scientific writer, editor of the Cabinet Cyclopaedia.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Dion: Lardner') to Messrs Dickinson & Co, regarding a business proposal, with part of signed document about an 'article' 'fabricated from rags'

Author: 
Dionysius Lardner (1793-1859), Irish scientific writer, editor of the 133-volume Cabinet Cyclopædia, repeatedly trounced in controversies with Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Publication details: 
Letter: 18 August 1851; 56 rue de Lille [Paris]. Accompanying document without place or date.
£56.00
SKU: 22896

Both the letter and the accompanying document are in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Both items signed 'Dion: Lardner'. ONE: Letter to Dickinson & Co. 1p, 12mo. He wishes to add 'these few lines' to 'the enclosed business letter' (not present), 'to aprise you that from the private knowledge I have of the parties interested in the business that I am of opinion that they are entitled to serious attention. The [?] is still unworked and totally unknown to the public or the trade and if you [?] find the specimen of pulp favorable a sufficient quantity could be forwarded to enable you to entrust to a trial on a sufficient scale to test its capabilities'. TWO: Conclusion of Manuscript Proposal, signed by Lardner, regarding an 'article'. 1p, landscape 12mo. Text in another hand, valediction by Lardner: 'I remain, Dear Sirs, | Yours very truly | Dion: Lardner'. (The 'Sirs' suggests that this item relates to Item One.) Reads: '[...] both in color and texture to any that can be fabricated from rags. | In the above estimate the raw material is put down at 5s. per Cwt but in point of fact this is a mere conjectural estimate in which a value is taken upon the principles that a greatly increased demand might give an augmented value to the article | At present the article can be procured almost for nothing.'