Manuscripts

[ Lord Nugent, Irish politician and writer. ] Original Autograph Manuscript of the commencement of his tale 'The Confessions of A Suspicioius Gentleman. | by Lord Nugent'. With numerous emendations and deletions,

Author: 
Lord Nugent [ George Nugent-Grenville, 2nd Baron Nugent of Carlanstown ] (1788-1850), Irish Whig politician and writer
Publication details: 
Without place or date. On paper watermarked 'P EVERITT | 1827'. First published in London in 1830.
£250.00

9pp., folio. On five leaves of aged and worn paper. Heavily reworked, with numerous deletions and additions. Headed 'The Confessions of A [amended from 'The'] Suspicious Gentleman. | by Lord Nugent'. The present short story was first published in 'The Musical Bijou' for 1830, and was reprinted in 'The Polar Star' (abridged) and 'New York Mirror', before being collected in an anthology by Nugent and his Wife, 'Legends of the Library at Lilies, by the Lord and Lady there' (London: Longman, 1832), pp.51-91.

[ Edwardian theatrical manuscript magazine. ] 'Ye Piecan's Gazette No 8', entirely in manuscript, with hand-coloured covers.

Author: 
[ 'Ye Piecan's Gazette', Edwardian theatrical manuscript magazine, edited by 'R. B.' ]
Theatrical MS newspaper
Publication details: 
Place not stated [ English ]. Vol. |1 No. 8 [ 1903 ].
£80.00
Theatrical MS newspaper

11pp., 12mo. Stapled into card covers. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Covers illustrated in colour by 'T. U. P.' The front cover carries, with the title, an illustration of a maid with a duster, captioned 'BESSAY NOTHING'. Humorous in intent.

[ Association Football: Scotland v Wales, Aberdeen 1934. ] The Autographs of 13 members of the Scottish team, with trainer Donald Colman, and 13 members of the Welsh team.

Author: 
[ Association Football: Scotland v Wales, 1934 ]
Footer
Publication details: 
'Nov. 1934 at Aberdeen.' [ Scotland ]
£220.00
Footer

The game was played on 21 November 1934 at Pittodrie, Scotland winning 3-2. 2pp., 12mo. on two leaves removed from an autograph album. Each team's autographs on a separate page. Both leaves in good condition, lightly-aged. ONE: On page headed 'Scotland Team', carries 14 autographs: 'C Napier [Charlie Napier (1910-1973), Celtic] | Alex Massie [ (1906-1977), Hearts] | | Pr.

[ South Africa; Rugby Union; autographs ]The Springboks Tour of the UK in 1931-2, Signatures of the Players.

Author: 
[ South Africa; Rugby Union ]The Springboks Tour of the UK in 1931-2
Springboks
Publication details: 
1931-2
£150.00
Springboks

Two pages extracted from an autograph album, c.17.5 x 11cm, sl. grubby, mainly good condition. One entitled (in ink, "North of Scotland v. Springboks. | Aberdeen: 9th Jan.1932"; the other just headed by date so, "10/1/31 [32 in fact]" There are eight (8) signatures of South African players on the first page described above, and twenty-two (22) signatures on the second, total 30. One name, "S G Osler" is repeated on both pages. Given that a scrawled signature is liable to misinterpretation, the following members of the touring party appear to have signed: First page (total 8 signatures): a.

[ John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute. ] Manuscript indenture, signed by 'Cardiff' (with his seal), Dutens and Jacmar: 'Escoffment of a Cottage at Collierly in the County of Durham | The Right Honourable John Lord Cardiff to Mr. John Smith.'

Author: 
John Stuart (1744-1814), 1st Marquess of Bute (as John, Lord Cardiff) [ Louis Dutens (1730-1812), French author; David George Jacmar (d.1896) of the Auditor's Office; Thomas Shafto of Witton Gilbert ]
Publication details: 
[ Regarding Collierley, County Durham. ] 1 July 1780.
£80.00

3pp., folio. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Laid out in the customary fashion, with two tax stamps, one embossed and the other in black ink. Signed 'Cardiff' beside a good impression of his seal in red wax. Witnessed by 'L. Dutens' and 'D G Jacmar'. The indenture is 'Between The Right Honourable John Lord Cardiff of Cardiff Castle in the County of Glamorgan of the first Part John Smith of Wilton Gilbert in the County of Durham Gentleman of the second Part and Thomas Shafto of Dunston in the said County of Durham Esquire off the third Part'.

Manuscript Catalogue of 'Books received by R. H. Grubbe by bequest from W. J. Grubbe who received them by bequest from Louis H. Hall to be handed on for the most part to descendants of Dr. George William Hall, Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.'

Author: 
Louis Edmund Hall (b.1863); Rev. Reginald Hall Grubbe (b.1862) [ Dr George William Hall (1770-1843), Master of Pembroke College, Oxford and Vice-Chancellor ]
Publication details: 
'These books were recevied by the above R. H. G. in March & June 1926.'
£220.00

49pp. In 4to notebook with red cloth spine and black cloth boards. Internally in good condition, lightly aged, in aged and worn covers. An alphabetical list, with entries covering two facing pages, divided into three columns: 'Name of Book', 'Description' and 'How disposed of'. Almost all the entries in the last column are 'H[enr]y Hall', but one item is recorded as being 'Sent to Julia Hall'. The serious library of an educated Englishman, with almost no fiction present. Nearly all the books date from the period 1770-1900, although 'Gloucestershire Visitation of 1623' is also present.

[ Joseph Warton, Poet Laureate. ] Autograph Receipt Signed ('Jos. Warton') of monies (presumably tuition fees) from Hugh Rogers.

Author: 
Joseph Warton (1728-1790), Poet Laureate [ Trinity College, Oxford ]
Publication details: 
No place. 16 July 1767.
£250.00

On one side of 11 x 18.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. On reverse is small circular printed paper label of the Ray Rawlins Collection. Reads: 'July 16 1767 Received of Hugh Rogers Esqr the Above Sum in Full for His Son till Last Whitsuntide | by me | Jos. Warton'. Hugh Rogers of Helston, had a son, John, at Trinity, Oxford, presuambly tutored by Warton.

Autograph list by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, naming pictures he has contributed to thirteen international exhibitions between 1862 and 1898, proposed in autograph queries by the art historian William Roberts.

Author: 
Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), Dutch-born English painter of the 'Victorian Olympus' period [William Roberts (1862-1940), art historian]
Alma-Tadema
Publication details: 
Address in bottom left-hand corner of 'W. Roberts 47, Lansdowne Gardens, Clapham, S.W.' [Circa 1898.]
£500.00
Alma-Tadema

1p., folio. Good, on a lightly-aged piece of ruled paper. In two columns, with the left-hand column, written out by Roberts with his address at the foot, headed 'Name of Exhibition', and listing twelve international exhibitions between 1862 (Amsterdam) and 1898 (Brussels). The right-hand column, headed 'Picture Exhibition', carries Alma-Tadema's responses, some of which are written in darker ink than others, indicating that they were added at more than one point. Alongside 'Paris (EU) 1867' he writes '13 pictures amongst them.

[Edward Mason Wrench] Manuscript describing events in 1855-6, during his service in the Crimean War with the 34th Regiment of Foot. With duplicated (hectograph) letter by him and handbill advertisement for talk by him, both on the Siege of Sebastopol

Author: 
Edward Mason Wrench (1833-1912) of the 34th Regiment of Foot [The Crimean War; Siege of Sebastopol; Crimea]
Publication details: 
The account of 'Events in 1855 [and 1856]' dated by Wrench from Park Lodge, Baslow [Derbyshire], 1902. The duplicated letter dated 12 December 1880. The printed advertisement for talk at the School, Baslow, and dated 14 January 1881.
£450.00

Wrench was the son of a clergyman, and well connected, being presented to the Prince of Wales and staying at Chatsworth in his old age. His obituary in the British Medical Journal (27 April 1812), describes how he went out to the Crimea in 1854. 'He had been gazetted Assistant Surgeon to the 34th Regiment in November, and joined it on its arrival in the Crimea. He served during the terrible winter of that year, and was present at the capture of the quarries, the successful assault on the Redan of June 18th, and the final capture of Sebastopol on September 8th, 1855.

[Autograph Manuscript; Robert Lynd; Ireland] Autograph drafts of two chapters from RL's 'Rambles in Irish Places'

Author: 
Robert Lynd, Essayist, Journalist and Irish Nationlaist
Publication details: 
(Published in London as 'Rambles in Ireland' by Mills & Boon in 1912).
£250.00

ONE. First draft chapter headed: 'Rambles in Irish Places | (By Robert Lynd) | Chapter III | Through Lisdoonvarna'. 40pp., 4to, in notebook without covers. Early draft in pencil, heavily corrected with deletions and emendations. Begins: 'It was the merest accident that we went to Lisdoonvarna. Our ambition was to get from Spiddle, where we had been attending the opening of a summer school of Irish, to Killaglin in Kerry in time for the Fair'. TWO. Second draft chapter headed: 'Puck Fair: an Irish Medley | By Robert Lynd'. 48pp., 4to, in notebook.

[Embargo Act of 1807?;] Substantial copy letter, John Holmes, lawyer & politician in Maine/Massachusetts, to William Sabatier, merchant, about land in Maine/MA. Annotated & Copied by Sabatier,and forwarded to Thomas Hutchinson, Jr (see notes below)

Author: 
William Sabatier, "office holder, merchant, jp, and lobbyist (Canadian DNB) [John Holmes, US Senator, etc. (Wikipedia)]
Publication details: 
[Holmes letter] Alfred, Mass., 24 March 1809; [Wm Sabatier note], 5 May 1809.
£280.00

Four-pages bifolium, fold marks, good condition. Holmes letter copied by Sabatier to Hutchinson, and with substantial added material also by Sabatier, 2pp., folio; Sabatier added the note to Hutchinson, p.3, "A cross grained business has happened in the appointment which will occasion a temporary delay; Hutchinson's address appears on page four with a note (presumably in Hutchinson's hand), "Willm Sabatier Esq.

Manuscript headed 'A Valuation of Houses and Gardens &c in Corbridge as follows', giving names of proprietors, tenants, 'What the Building consists of' and valuations.

Author: 
[ Corbridge, Northumberland: manuscript valuation of houses and gardens, circa 1800 ]
Publication details: 
[Corbridge, Northumberland. Circa 1800.]
£100.00

10pp., 4to. On five leaves pinned together. In good condition, on aged laid paper with Britannia watermark. Folded into the customary packet, and docketted 'Valuation of Corbrid. Houses & Gardens &c.' Arranged in ten columns: No. of Claim; Proprietors Names; Situation & Tennants Names; What the Building consists [Premises consist] of; Particular Content of Land [Gardens &c]; Total Content of Land; Particular rent of Houses & Land; Yearly rent of Houses & Land; Houses & Land proportioned; Total Claim.

[Archive; unpublished history] Papers and correspondence relating to an intended history of the early years of the Daily Express

Author: 
John Gordon, editor of the Sunday Express [Lord Beaverbrook]:
Publication details: 
No particular place or date.
£2,000.00

For more about John Rutherford Gordon (1890-1974), editor of the Sunday Express between 1928 and 1952, see his entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.Although the volume for which the present material was amassed did not materialise, there is no doubting the seriousness of the project. Working with Beaverbrook's approval and encouragement (the nine memoranda by him present in the collection indicate his interest), Gordon employed Sunday Express news editor Jack Garbutt (John Lambert Garbutt, 1907-1973), John ('Jock') Selby Bradford and 'T. N. Shane' (i.e. H. A. H.

Autograph Note Signed 'Will. H. Lizars' on receipt of payment for work on Walter Scott novels.

Author: 
[ William Home Lizars ] William H. Lizars (1788–1859), Scottish painter and engraver.
Publication details: 
Edinburgh, 8 June 1827.
£180.00

One page, 21 x 8cm, one dge frayed and sunned, text clear and complete. Lizars acknowledges paymentof £49.14 from "John Gibson Junr, Esqre for the Trustees of Sir Walter Scott, Bart [...] payment of [annexed?] account [not present] for Titles to Tales & Romances."

Seventeenth-century Vellum Manuscript Indenture, a Terrier of John Head's lease lands in West Hendred, Berkshire.

Author: 
[John Head of Langley, Hampstead Norreys, High Sheriff of Berkshire, 1698-1699; terrier his lease lands in West Hendred]
Publication details: 
[West Hendred, Berkshire.] Late seventeenth-century.
£220.00

On one side of a strip of vellum (circa 40 x 18 cm). In fair condition, aged and worn. In English. Scan of part on application

[J. G. Wilson, proprietor of London booksellers J. & E. Bumpus Ltd.] Autograph notebook containing draft of talk to trainee booksellers on 'Modern Fine & First Editions', proposals for 'Anecdotal History of Bookselling' and for trade 'social club'.

Author: 
J. G. Wilson [John Gideon Wilson] (1876-1963), 'the most famous English bookseller of his time' and proprietor of the prestigious London firm of J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [J. & E. Bumpus Ltd., 477 Oxford Street.]
£350.00

It is Sir Basil Blackwell, in his DNB entry on Wilson, who described him as 'the most famous English [sic] bookseller of his time'. The freshness and enthusiasm conveyed by this small volume supports Blackwell's view that Wilson viewed 'bookselling not so much as a matter of retail trade as a service in which bookseller and customer met and shared the experience of contact with the precious manifestations of the spirit of man', as well as casting light on the methods and practices which made Wilson so successful.

[Felicia Hemans, poet.] Autograph inscription to 'Miss Chorley' [daughter of her biographer Henry Fothergill Chorley?].

Author: 
Felicia Hemans [Hemans Felicia Dorothea, née Browne (1793-1835)], English poet [Henry Fothergill Chorley (1808-1872), author]
Hemans
Publication details: 
Without place or date [c.1828?].
£50.00
Hemans

On the reverse of the half-title leaf (only) of her book 'Records of Woman: with other Poems'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads: 'Miss Chorley. With | Felicia Heman's kindest regards.' A nice association: Henry Fothergill Chorley edited the 'Memorials of Mrs Hemans' (1836).

[Sir Egerton Brydges.] Part of the Autograph Manuscript of his 'Clavering's Auto-Biography', containing portraits of Mrs Chapone, Captain Francis Grose, Joseph Ritson, Isaac D'Israeli, the Miss Burys; Dr Charles Symmons and Caroline Symmons.]

Author: 
Sir Egerton Brydges [Samuel Egerton Brydges] (1762-1837), writer and genealogist [Lee Priory Press; Mrs Chapone; Francis Grose; Joseph Ritson; Isaac D'Israeli; Dr Charles Symmons; Horace Walpole]
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but published in 'The Metropolitan' magazine, London, July 1832.
£220.00

On both sides of a 33 x 12.5 cm strip of paper. In fair condition, lightly-aged, with tiny part of mount adhering to one corner, and the merest loss to another. 'Egerton Bry' is written in another small hand in light pencil at the head. The Osborn Collection at Yale possesses what its catalogue entry describes as a 'probably incomplete' section of the manuscript, ' purporting to be the memoirs of a certain John Fitznigel Clavering, whose career and interests bear a strong likeness to those of Brydges himself'. The Yale cataloguer is unaware that 'Clavering's Auto-Biography.

[The Legislative Council of Jamaica, 1855.] Packet of six manuscript documents regarding the rejection by the Council of 49 chairs ordered from Druce & Co. of London, damaged in transit from England.

Author: 
William R. Myers, Secretary, Executive Committee, Legislative Council of Jamaica [Thomson Hankey & Co, merchant bankers, London; Thomas Charles Druce; Druce & Co., upholsterers, Baker St, London]
Publication details: 
Items from the Executive Committee Office, Jamaica, and from Spanish Town, Jamaica, West Indies. All dating from 1855.
£120.00

Packet of six items, held together with a pin. Totalling 8pp., folio; 3pp., 8vo. In good overall condition, on aged and worn paper. ONE: Autograph Letter Signed from 'Wm: R: Myers | Secy' to Messrs Thomson Hankey & Co, London. Executive Committee Office; 26 December 1855. 2pp., folio. Giving details of five documents which he is forwarding, 'on the Chairs received from Messrs. Druce & Co'. He writes that he is 'directed to communicate through you, that the Chairs are not accepted and will not be paid for, but will be kept on the account and risk of Messrs.

[Manuscript; Salisbury; New Sarum] "Com Wiltess" [County of Wiltshire]. Ancient Rents of the principal impropriations of the Dean & Chapter of Sarum [Salisbury].

Author: 
William Collins, auditor to Earl of Salisbury, Irish Army in the 1640s, etc. ("auditor Collins")
Publication details: 
1630s or 1640s[?]
£350.00

Five pages, cr.8vo, poor condition, including one bifolium, chipped with small loss of text. On [p.4] of the bifilium there is a signed statement in William Collins's hand (the auditor): 'Theise are the Auntient Rentes of the principall Impropriations of the Deane & Chapter of Sarum (i.e. Salisbury) according to the survey 26 H. 8 (i.e. of the 26th year of Henry VIII = 1534-5). What sume they are improved appeareth not but neither are the values of Bedwym (Bedwyn), Okborne (Ogbourne) & Uphaven (Upavon) expressed.Wm Collins, Auditor'.

[Sydney Smirke, architect] Signed Autograph document entitled 'Mr. Sancton Wood's Account with the Great Southern and Western Railway Company. Amount £8645 : 4 : 0. -', defending Wood's charges.

Author: 
Sydney Smirke (1798-1877), architect , best-known for designing the British Museum Reading Room [Sancton Wood (1815-1886), architect and surveyor; The Great Southern and Western Railway Company]
Publication details: 
Dated: 'Sydney Smirke. | 24, Berkeley Square [London] | Dec: 27th: 1851. -'
£150.00

2pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with some repairs to the chipped extremities. Begins: 'I have carefully examined this account and various papers connected therewith: and have received detailed verbal & written explanations thereof from Mr. Wood; I have carefully considered Messrs. Byrne's & Darley's report thereon; [...]'. Concludes: '[...], I am of opinion that Mr.

[Victorian British wine trade from Porto, Portugal.] Manuscript accounts, in English, detailing a substantial trade from Porto, with a large number of English wine merchants, headed 'Porto em 31st. December 1844', with table of 'Wines Shipt in 1844'.

Author: 
[British wine trade with Porto, Portugal]
Publication details: 
Porto [Portugal]. 1844.
£220.00

3pp. folio. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn wove paper watermarked 'RUSE & TURNERS | 1834', with a few short closed tears to crease lines.. The first page is headed 'Porto em 31st. December 1844', and the other two 'Porto the 31st. December 1844'. The account shows substantial sums paid in by various English wine merchants, and a final balance of 428,504 Reis 355 Dinheiro. Begins with 'Profit & Loss Dn. to Sundries' of 3887R 467D. Entries include: Brandy Account; Wines on Consignment; Casks Account; Bills Payable; Warehouse Utensils.

[Printed with MS. additions] An Agreement [...] Between Anthony Bernardi [...] Analytical Chemist (hereinafter called the Inventory) of the first part Charles Alfred Bolton [...] Metallurgist [..] and RAYCOL LIMITED [...]

Author: 
[Colour Films Movies; Colour Cinematography] Raycol and Anthony Bernardi, inventor
Publication details: 
13 November 1928.
£120.00

Thre leaves, last leaf blan, folion, fold marks, small closed tear on middle fold, mainly good condition. The agreement covers "Improvements in and relating to Colour Photography and Colour Cinematography" a Patent Application #5271/28 20th Febryaury 1928. Signed C.A. Bolton and Anthony Bernardi, with the Company Common Seal of Raycol, witnessed by two directors and a secretary.

[Alexander Hattrick, carpenter, or R. Turnbull.] 28 illustrations: depicting Australian scenes (panoramas of North Head Quarantine Station; Farm Cove, Sydney; Hobart, Tasmania) and a narrative of an excursion to Nurstead Woods, Kent.

Author: 
[Alexander Hattrick or R. Turnbull; Alexander Hatrick (1857-1918), New Zealand merchant; Pacific Steam Navigation Co.; North Head Quarantine Station, Sydney; Nurstead Woods, Kent; 'Swift Sure' whaler]
Publication details: 
One item with date 'May 1893'. All twelve items on stationery of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., including eight 'Soundings' forms, filled in 'For Chief Engineer', signed 'Alex Hattrick', and dated 25 March and 2, 7, 8, 11, 18, 24, 29 June [1893?]
£850.00

28 illustrations: 3 of which depict Australian scenes (panoramas of North Head Quarantine Station; Farm Cove, Sydney; Hobart, Tasmania) with a cartoon/narrative of an excursion to Nurstead Woods, Kent. One item with date 'May 1893'. All twelve items on stationery of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., including eight 'Soundings' forms, filled in 'For Chief Engineer', signed 'Alex Hattrick', and dated 25 March and 2, 7, 8, 11, 18, 24, 29 June [1893?] One item with date 'May 1893'. The twelve items in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Charmingly-executed in a naive style.

[Mrs Isabella Hankey, widow of West Indian merchant banker John Peter Hankey.] Signed manuscript 'Bond of Indemnity | Mrs. Hankey to Executors and Trustees of John Peter Hankey Esqr. deceased', referring to 'Sugar Plantations' and 'Negroes Slaves'.

Author: 
Mrs Isabella Hankey, widow of John Peter Hankey (d.1807) of Grenada, West Indian merchant banker [Messrs Thomson Hankey & Co., London bankers; Sir William Alexander]
Publication details: 
[London, England.] 21 July 1814.
£120.00

3pp., folio. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Signed 'Isabella Hankey' and witnessed by 'John fforster Carey Street'.

[Jamaican sugar plantations in the slavery period.] Detailed double-entry signed manuscript accounts of 'Sales of 20 Hogsheads Sugar received by Gibbs, Son & Bright, Pr. the St. Elizabeth Geo: Lewis from Jamaica for account of Thomas Foster Esqr.'

Author: 
Gibbs, Son & Bright, Bristol merchants [Thomas Foster; Daniel Stanton; Thomson Hankey senior (1773-1855), City of London merchant banker with extensive West Indian interests]
Publication details: 
[Gibbs, Son & Bright.] Bristol. 3 December 1822.
£120.00

On one side of a 47 x 20 cm piece of paper. Docketted on reverse. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. In part a form, printed in copperplate, with the details completed in manuscript, and signed on behalf of the firm 'Bristol 3rd December 1822 | Errors Excepted | Gibbs Son & Bright'. Included on the debit side are: Duty; Entry Fees, Wharfage, Town & Dock dues; 95 day's Interest; Freight; Warehouse Rent, Porterage, Weighing & Hauling; Insurance from Fire; Brokerage; Commission, leaving 'Nett Proceeds' of £257 18s 10d on £819 5s 0d.

[Thomas Coutts & Co., London bankers.] Manuscript Letter from the firm (signed 'Thomas Coutts & Co.') to John Hankey of the London banking family, expressing 'much surprize' at his firm's treatment of a bill from Lord St John.

Author: 
Thomas Coutts & Co., London bankers [John Hankey, member of the London banking family of Hankey & Co.; Lord St John]
Publication details: 
Strand [London]. 17 July 1790.
£180.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf 'To | John Hankey Esqr'. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper.

[William George Shrubsole, Victorian artist.] Autograph Manuscript of lecture titled 'The Ideal in Art', 'delivered at Bangor, N. Wales in Dec. 1886, in connection with the Menai Society of Science and Literature'. With signed drawing of W. E. Bacon.

Author: 
William George Shrubsole [W. G. Shrubsole] (1856-1889), British artist [The Menai Society of Science and Literature, Wales]
Publication details: 
'Bangor [Wales] Decr. 1886.'
£280.00

The lecture, which is unpublished, is an interesting personal statement by a neglected Victorian painter who died tragically young. (A rather impressive example of his work, in Turneresque style, titled 'The Heart of the Hills', is in the Maidstone Museum.) The lecture is 30pp., 8vo, in a ruled notebook with embossed black wraps. In good condition, on aged paper with some wear and discoloration. Ownership inscription of 'W. G. Shrubsole | Bangor Decr. 1886' inside the front wrap. The first page is headed 'The Ideal in Art. | by W. G. Shrubsole Dec.

Manuscript Letter from William Walker & Co. in Sydney, Australia, to William Kerr of Richmond, Virginia, regarding the state of the Australian tobacco trade and 'unfavorable' prices fetched by consignments of his tobacco.

Author: 
[William Walker & Co.; William Kerr of Richmond, Virginia; Messrs Gilmour & Kerr, Glasgow]
Publication details: 
Marked 'Per Caledonia', with ship's name altered to 'William Hyde'.
£120.00

1p., 4to. The second leaf only of a bifoliate letter. Addressed on reverse to 'William Kerr Esqr. | (of Richmond - Virginia) | Care of Messrs Gilmour & Kerr | Glasgow | NB'. An accompanying typed note identifies the postal features as follows: 'Postage: - 3d. pre-paid. Colonial outward Ship Letter rate. | 8d. to collect. Private Ship Letter rate. | Handstruck Marks: - PAID SHIP LETTER SYDNEY AP+21 1847 in red. (SL 3, var. 1 - early use.) | NN 29AU29 1847 in red.

[William Beckford.] Manuscript copy by Fownes & White of 'Points stipulated for & agreed to with Messrs. Thompson Hankey & Co. on their taking the Consignments of the West India Estates of Wm. Beckford Esq: in succession to Messrs. Plummer & Wilson.

Author: 
[William Beckford (1760-1844), author and 'England's wealthiest son'; his London solicitors James Fownes and Richard Samuel White; Messrs Thompson Hankey & Co. and Messrs. Plummer & Wilson, bankers]
Publication details: 
[Messrs. Thompson Hankey & Co., 'at a meeting held at their Counting House in Fenchurch St. on the 24th Decr. 1830.' 27 January 1831.
£320.00

The connection between the two firms of London bankers Thompson Hankey & Co., and Plummer & Wilson & Co. is unclear, but after the bankruptcy of John Plummer and William Wilson of Fenchurch Street 1831, a new firm named Hankey, Plummer & Wilson was formed, Plummer & Wilson bringing to it a number of clients including Beckford. The source of Beckford's vast wealth was of course the family's sugar plantations in the West Indies, and this document dates from before the abolition of slavery. 3pp., foolscap 8vo. Bifolium.

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