AUTOGRAPH

[ Edward Meyrick Goulburn, Headmaster of Rugby school and Dean of Norwich. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Meyrick Goulburn') to Rev. H. J. Beaumont, writing dismissively of 'Church Defence' and 'Parochial Machinery'.

Author: 
E. Meyrick Goulburn [ Edward Meyrick Goulburn ] (1818-1897), Headmaster of Rugby School, Dean of Norwich, Prebendary of St Paul's, religious author [ Rev. H. J. Beaumont ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 21 Sussex Gardens, Hyde Park, W. 27 October 1864.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. He cannot help Beaumont, 'having no time to do so', and being 'disqualified, having never given any attention to the thought of Church Defence'. Regarding 'Parochial Machinery' he writes that he has 'none in my own Parish but the most ordinary and common-place appliances, which (in these days) every body else has'. He is sorry that Beaumont 'should have taken so much trouble to get help, which, if I could give it, would be of the smallest possible value'.

[ Edward Meyrick Goulburn, Headmaster of Rugby school and Dean of Norwich. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Meyrick Goulburn') to the sculptor Thomas Sharp, declining a statuette of himself, because he is 'not a sufficiently dignified personage'.

Author: 
E. Meyrick Goulburn [ Edward Meyrick Goulburn ] (1818-1897), Headmaster of Rugby School, Dean of Norwich, Prebendary of St Paul's, religious author [ Thomas Sharp (1805-1882), sculptor ]
Publication details: 
No place, 15 October 1862.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Sharp's gift is 'kind and acceptable', and Goulburn hopes 'soon to call upon Mrs Sharp and yourself and acknowledge your kindness in person'. However he does not consider himself 'a sufficiently dignified personage to be honoured by a Statuette. - Possibly some few members of my congregation might like to have this memorial of me; and if this be so, pray let them have it'. Accompanied by a long manuscript bioigraphical note, on two parts of an envelope, written while Goulburn was still alive.

[ Eliza Weaver Bradburn, children's author and daughter of Rev. Samuel Bradburn, 'the Methodist Demosthenes'. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eliza W. Bradburn') [ to Rev. S. Walker ] regarding the sale of her 'little books', and her 'Missionary capes'.

Author: 
Eliza Weaver Bradburn, children's author and biographer of her father Rev. Samuel Bradburn (1751-1816), 'the Methodist Demosthenes' [ Rev. Samuel Walker of Nottingham ]
Publication details: 
'At G. Laishley's Esq. | 71 Finchley New Road | St. John's Wood | London'. 5 December 1856.
£120.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter indicates that Bradburn was deriving some sort of income from the sale of her books, and was making 'Missionary capes', possibly for charity. She writes that she is concerned that 'the two notes written to Mrs. Walker and the one to yourself, were not received', and asks whether ''the Missionary Books' and magazines were sent to him as ordered, 'I trust Mr. Thomas Walker had the dozen for which he kindly prepaid me.' She has 'an affectionate respect for Mr. and Mrs.

[ Cardinal Francis Bourne, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster. ] Autograph Signature ('F. Card. Bourne').

Author: 
Cardinal Francis Bourne [ Francis Alphonsus Bourne ] (1861-1935), Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster
Publication details: 
Place and date not statred.
£20.00

Neat signature ('F. Card. Bourne'), if a little shaky, at top left of one side of a light-green leaf extracted from an autograph album. No other text on either side. In good condition, lightly aged.

[ Presentation copy from 'R. B.', i.e. the publisher Richard Bentley, to his assistant-editor H. E. G. Evans. ] Lord Althorp. By Ernest Myers.

Author: 
Ernest Myers [ Richard Bentley, London publisher; his assistant-editor H. E. G. Evans ]
Publication details: 
London: Richard Bentley and Son. Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen. 1890. [ Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, London and Beccles. ]
£80.00

v + [2] + 240pp., 8vo. In original dark-blue cloth binding, gilt. Grey on brown printed endpapers with Bentley's 'Fide et Fiducia' motif. In good condition, in like binding, with bookplate neatly removed from front pastedown. Binder's ticket of Burns & Co. at rear. At the head of the reverse of the front free endpaper Bentley has written: 'H. E. G. Evans from R. B. | 19 Octr.

[ Roger Kemys of Wickwick, Elizabethan antiquary. ] Signed Autograph Note ('Roger Kemys Recever'), as receiver, at foot of acquittance for the 72s 4d part of 'Marten Flower' of the £6 19s due to Lord Berkeley for 'felons goods' & for £3 10s 0d.

Author: 
Roger Kemys (d.1610) of Wickwick in Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, Elizabethan antiquary
Publication details: 
No place. 1600.
£300.00

1p., landscape 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Six lines of text, headed by the date, signed 'Roger Kemys Recever', with two-line addition signed 'Roger Kemys'. The document records the receipt of the 72s 4d which is the part of 'Marten Flower' of the £6 19s due to Lord Berkeley 'for ye felons goods by band', and for £3 10s. Docketed on reverse.

[ Cuthbert Kelly and the New English Singers. ] Autograph Signatures of the six members of the ensemble, including Dorothy Silk, Nellie Carson Mary Morris and Kelly himself.

Author: 
Cuthbert Kelly, Director, The New English Singers; Dorothy Silk (1883-1942); Nellie Carson; Mary Morris
Publication details: 
Place not stated. 2 March 1934.
£120.00

On one side of an 11.5 x 17.5 cm page removed from an album, dated 2 March 1934 and headed 'THE NEW ENGLISH SINGERS'. In good condition, lightly aged. To the right of the page are the signatures of 'Dorothy Silk' and 'Nellie Carson' (sopranos), and 'Martin ' and 'Mary Morris'; to the left are those of 'Vernon and 'Cuthbert Kelly' (bass). According to Chapter One of 'The Travel Diaries of Peter Pears, 1936-1978' (1999), titled 'American Tour with the New English Singers (1936)', the ensemble was 'a vocal sextet specializing in Elizabethan madrigals and English folksongs.

[ Sir Hubert von Herkomer, painter, film director and composer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Hubert Herkomer') to 'Lady Wynn', regarding a 'word portrait' of his 'splendid wife', who has just died.

Author: 
Sir Hubert von Herkomer [ originally Hubert Herkomer ] (1849-1914) German-born British painter, pioneering film director and composer
Publication details: 
New York. 23 December 1885.
£90.00

1p., 16mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'Dear Lady Wynn | I thank you from the depths of my heart for your kind letter. I enclose you a word portrait of my splendid wife. More I dare not write or I shall not regain the strength I need to carry out her wishes in life.' As the Oxford DNB explains, after the death of his first wife in 1883 'Herkomer married, on 14 August 1884, a Welsh nurse, Lulu Griffiths (b. 1849), who had been a member of his household since 1874. He was devastated by her sudden death a year later.'

[ Samuel Heywood of the Inner Temple. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Saml. Heywood') to 'Mr. Strong', enquiring when 'Mr. Whitbread' would like him to make an appearance at 'the Election for Bedford'.

Author: 
Samuel Heywood (1753-1828) of the Inner Temple, Serjeant-at-Law and Chief Justice of the Carmarthen Circuit of Wales [ William Henry Whitbread (1795-1867), brewer; MP for Bedford 1818-1835 ]
Publication details: 
'Inner Temple [ London ] - Monday. 4 oClock'. No date [ 1818 or 1820?].
£35.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed on second leaf of bifolium to 'Mr. Strong | Redcross Street | Cripplegate'. He would like to be informed 'by the bearer whether the Election for Bedford comes on on Wednesday & when Mr. Whitbread wishes me to be there - If we set out tomorrow I will thank you to mention the news that I may make my arrangements accordingly'. Whitbread was the son of the celebrated brewer Samuel Whitbread.

[ Sir David Carnegie, Scottish politician. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Lord Spenser [sic]', i.e. Lord Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty, urging the suit of 'Mr Moodie'. With Autograph Draft of Spencer's reply.

Author: 
Sir David Carnegie of Pitarrow (1753-1805), Scottish politician, Baron Carnegie of Kinnaird and Leuchars, de jure Earl of Southesk [ George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834); Admiralty ]
Publication details: 
25 Portman Square [ London ]. 19 June 1798.
£65.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. On aged and creased paper. Carnegie's letter is on the recto of the first person, with Spencer's instructions regarding the response as customary diagonally on folded over outer corner of the reverse. Spencer was First Lord of the Admiralty between 1794 and 1801. Carnegie begins by addressing 'Lord Spenser [sic]', and stating that he 'is sorry to trouble his Lordship again about Mr Moodie, whom he had the goodness to put on the list of Marine Expectants at Sir David's request'.

[ Sir Denis Le Marchant, as Joint Secretary to the Treasury. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Denis Le Marchant') to J. Blackburn, requesting him to insert an 'Address & the reply of Her Majesty' in the Globe newspaper.

Author: 
Sir Denis Le Marchant (1795-1874), Clerk of the House of Commons; Liberal MP for Worcester; Under Secretary of State for the Home Department [ Samuel Blackburn, editor of The Globe newspaper, London
Publication details: 
'Treasury | 9 August [ circa 1841 ]'.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'J. [sic] Blackburn Esq'. Reads: 'My dear Sir, | If this Address & the reply of Her Majesty has not already appeared in the Globe, perhaps you will insert it.' Le Marchant was Clerk of the House of Commons from 1850 to 1871.

[ Frederic Villiers, war artist and correspondent. ] Autograph Signature with date.

Author: 
Frederic Villiers (1851-1922), British war artist and correspondent, said to be the model for the Kipling's character Dick Heldar in The Light that Failed [ The Graphic newspaper, London ]
Publication details: 
6 March 1913. No place.
£20.00

On 8 x 10.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, with minor traces of mount. A good firm signature reading: 'Frederic Villiers | 6 - 3 - 13'.

[ Henry Charles Hoare of Fleet Street, London banker. ] Autograph Letter Signed [ to John Bowyer Nichols, editor of the Gentleman's Magazine ], correcting biographical details [ in an obituary of Sir R. C. Hoare ].

Author: 
Henry Charles Hoare (1790-1852) of Fleet Street, London banker, father of Sir Henry Ainslie Hoare [ John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863), printer and editor of the Gentleman's Magazine ]
Publication details: 
Fleet Street [ London ]. 11 September 1838.
£120.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Handwriting practice in a nineteenth-century hand on the blank reverse of the second leaf. He 'must beg to correct' Nichols's 'intended Paragraph' (in the Gentleman's Magazine obituary of Sir Richard Colt Hoare) on the question of 'my Father's Christian names'. He has written 'Hugh Henry', 'which must be reversed to Henry Hugh'. He proceeds to give a transcription of how 'the paragraph will run': 'The Baronetcy devolves on his eldest Half-Brother Henry Hugh Hoare Esqr. the head of the eminent banking house in Fleet St.

[ Andrew Halliday, Scottish journalist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear Teget' [ W.B.Tegetmeier, naturalist ], asking to see him regarding something to his advantage in his 'own line'.

Author: 
Andrew Halliday [born Andrew Halliday Duff ] (1830-1877), Scottish journalist and dramatist, associate of Dickens & Thackeray, a founder of Savage Club [ W.B. Tegetmeier, naturalist, member of Club]
Publication details: 
122 Camden Street N. W. [ London ]. 'Tuesday Evg' [ no date ].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on greyish paper, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. 'Teget' is a nickname: Halliday gives the recipient's name in full at the foot of the letter, but it is not quite legible: ' Esq'. The letter reads: 'Dear Teget. | I want to see you with reference to something that is likely to be to your advantage in your own line. Can you run up here to-morrow or Thursday?'

[ Alfred Bromley, Yorkshire sculptor, statuary, marble mason. ] Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed member of the clergy (Revd. Walker), requesting the payment of 'the small Acc[oun]t', as he has taken over Tilney's marble works in Leeds.

Author: 
Alfred Bromley (c.1828-1887), sculptor, statuary, marble mason, born in Birstal, Yorkshire [ Thomas Tilney's marble works, Leeds ]
Publication details: 
Marble Works, Saville Street, Wellington Street, Leeds. 20 January 1852.
£120.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins by calling in 'the small Acct', explaining that he has 'lately been subjected to rather an expensive personal, [sic] having taken the old established Marble Works late in the occupation of Mr. Tilney, directly opposite the Gt Northern Railway Station'. He is obliged to use all his endeavours 'to get together all my small outstanding Accounts, or exclusive of any other, I would not of some time yet caused [sic] yourself the slightest trouble concerning its remittance'.

[ Thomas [ Tom] Hood, humorist and playwright. ] Autograph Note Signed to 'Teg' [ .B. Tegetmeier, naturalist, member of Savage Club], regarding the songs Elizabeth Philp has sent to the Queen.

Author: 
[ Thomas Hood ] Tom Hood (1835-1874), humorist and playwright, editor of the magazine Fun, and founder of Tom Hood's Comic Annual [ Elizabeth Philp (1827-1885), singer, music editor and composer ] W
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, laid down on part of a page from an album. Reads: 'Dear Teg. | Miss Elizabeth Philp has sent a batch of Songs of her own Company to the Queen. Will you kindly interest yourself to get them a notice?'

[ John Harraden of the Post Office. ] Autograph Letter Signed to the Earl of Chesterfield, complaining of the 'hardships' of his case, and requesting his intervention, with reference to William Hayley of Earlham, John Palmer, George White Thomas.

Author: 
John Harraden of the Post Office [ Philip Stanhope, 5th Earl of Chesterfield (1755-1815), Postmaster General; William Hayley (1745-1820); George White Thomas (c.1750-1821); John Palmer (1742-1818) ]
Publication details: 
No. 26 Compton Street, Soho. 10 November 1808.
£220.00

The recipient of the letter, the 5th Earl of Chesterfield, was Postmaster General between 1790 and 1798. The 'Mr. Palmer' mentioned in the text is John Palmer (1742-1818), MP for Bath, who was Comptroller General of the Post Office between 1786 and 1792. Harraden appears to have been regarded by his superiors as a whistle-blower and trouble-maker.

[ T. J. Wise: Proof of what would be the first volume of his Tennyson bibliography, with Signed Autograph Inscription to W. M. Rossetti. ] A Bibliography of the Writings of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Author: 
'T. J. W.' [ Thomas James Wise; T. J. Wise ] (1859-1937), book collector, forger and thief [ William Michael Rossetti (1829-1919); Rose Esther Dorothea Sketchley (1875-1949) ]
Publication details: 
'Of this Book One Hundred Copies Only have been Printed.' London: Printed for Private Circulation. 1907. [ Printer not named, but with date stamp of Richard Clay and Sons, Bread Street Hill, E.C. [ London ], and Bungay, Suffollk, 1 November 1907. ]
£950.00

Alan Bell, in his entry on Wise in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, characterizes him as 'both a careless and a dishonest bibliographer' (see also Simon Nowell-Smith, 'T. J. Wise as Bibliographer' in the Library, 1969). One of Wise's aims was clearly to legitimize his forgeries, and as John Collins states in 'The Two Forgers' (1992), his bibliographies are all 'more or less tarred with Wise's own publications'.

[ Sir John Pender, Manchester textile merchant and submarine telegraph cable pioneer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jno Pender') [ to the physician Sir William Henry Allchin ], explaining why he cannot dine with 'the Directors of your Company'.

Author: 
Sir John Pender (1816-1896), Scottish textile merchant in Manchester and submarine telegraph cable entrepreneur [ Sir William Henry Allchin (1846-1912), physician ]
Publication details: 
'Manr. July 10/65', i.e. Manchester, 10 July 1865.
£45.00

2pp., 12mo. A square has been cut away at thee head of the leaf (probably to remove Pender's monogram), otherwise in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The recipient is not named but it is the physician Sir William Henry Allchin. The letter reads: 'On my arrival here last evening I found an invitation from the Directors of your Company to dine with them at Richmond on the 17th. inst. I regret that I will not be in Town at the time. The Card I fear by some mistake reached my hands late.' From the Allchin papers.

[ Thomas Robinson Ferens, industrialist and politician. ] Five letters (3 ALsS and 2 TLsS, all five 'Thos. R. Ferens') to 'Colonel Milburn' [ Lieut-Col. Charles Henry Milburn ], arranging a meeting with Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane. ]

Author: 
Thomas R. Ferens [ Thomas Robinson Ferens ] (1847-1930), philanthropist, industrialist (Reckitt and Sons) and MP for Hull East [ Lieut.-Col. Charles Henry Milburn (1860-1948); Suffragettes ]
Publication details: 
All five from 1907 (1 May, 2 and 25 September, 26 November and 11 December) . On letterheads of: the House of Commons (1); the Derwentwater Hotel, Keswick (2); Wilton House, Hull (2).
£120.00

The five letters total 8pp. The first three letters are in autograph and the last two typed. The first has two punch holes to the first leaf, the collection is otherwise in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The correspondence relates to the arranging of a meeting between Milburn and the Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane (1856-1928, later 1st Viscount Haldane), apparently with regard to a complaint by Milburn which has lead to him considering resigning from the position of Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the 2nd East Riding Yorks Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers)'.

[ Jeremy Thorpe, disgraced Liberal Party leader. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Jeremy') to 'Peter' [ documentary-maker Peter Morley ], with 'Memorandum on suggested Programme for "This Week"', 'on the South African question', signed 'Jeremy Thorpe.'

Author: 
Jeremy Thorpe [ John Jeremy Thorpe ] (1929-2014), disgraced Liberal Party leader [ Peter Morley [ Franz Peter Meyer ] (1924-2016), television documentary maker; Apartheid; South Africa ]
Publication details: 
Both the letter and the memorandum on House of Commons letterheads. Letter dated 3 June 1960; memorandum undated.
£180.00

Both items in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, and stapled together. Between 1960 and 1963 Morley was producer of ITV current affairs series 'This Week'. ONE: ALS from 'Jeremy' to 'My dear Peter'. 3 June 1960. 1p., 12mo. Enclosing the 'preliminary Memorandum', and giving his contact details at the Liberal Club. 'In Kenya I have very good contacts who cd lay on a private plane (gratis!) to investigate the re-emergence of mau mau. | In the Protectorate I think I cd arrange Transport.' He ends by opining that 'this scheme has possibilities'.

[ Roy Henderson, Scottish baritone and singing instructor of Kathleen Ferrier. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Roy Henderson') to 'Mrs Ruskin', regarding 'the right kind of training required', 'Bel Canto singing' and the teaching of 'Mr. Arnold'.

Author: 
Roy Henderson [ Roy Galbraith Henderson ] (1899-2000), leading Scottish baritone of the early twentieth-century, later a singing instructor who counted Kathleen Ferrier among his pupils
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 'Roy Henderson, | Baritone', 305 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent. 11 November 1925.
£150.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight traces of mount adhering at head of reverse of leaf. 40 lines of text. The letter concerns a singing instructor named 'Mr. Arnold' who has offered to teach Mrs Ruskin or a member of her family 'at half fees'. Having been asked his advice Henderson begins: 'It is extremely difficult to give an opinion about the right kind of training required. The Bel Canto singing from the point of voice production is undoubtedly the very best. It means smooth even singing.

[ Dr Thomas Guthrie, Scottish divine, phlanthropist and preacher. ] Autograph draft of part of a speech of thanks, for delivery to 'great & good men', including 'my Lord Provost', assembled to honour him.

Author: 
Dr Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873), Scottish divine and philanthropist, one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, where he was a leader of the temperance and Ragged School movements
Publication details: 
[ Scotland. ] Undated.
£180.00

Written in ink on both sides of an irregular slip of paper (roughly 9 x 19cm), with a few words inserted in pencil. Aged and worn. In Guthrie's hand, and with 'Dr Guthrie's' in pencil at head of first page. The text comprises the upper part of the first leaf of the draft of a speech of thanks by Guthrie, for delivery at a meeting in his honour. Heavily revised, with a few interpolations in the margins on both sides. There are no indications that the text has been published, and Guthrie's sons' memoir, included in his 'Autobiography' (1874), throws up no clues.

[ Dr. Williams's Library, London. ] Two birth certificates: first (1798), signed by J. L. Towers, Registrar, for daughter of Thomas Cooper of Hoxton; second (1816), signed by Thomas Morgan, Registrar, for son of Benjamin Seaton of Chatham.

Author: 
Dr. Williams's Library, London (Thomas Morgan and J. L. Towers, Registrars) [ Thomas Cooper of Homerton; Rev. Israel Lewis; Benjamin Seaton of Chatham; Jacob George Bryant; Dissenters; Unitarians ]
Publication details: 
Dr. Williams's Library, Redcross-street, near Cripplegate, London. The second (1816): 'Printed by S. Couchman, Throgmorton-street, London.'
£150.00

The two documents are printed forms, completed in manuscript. Both are tipped-in onto a leaf removed from an album. Both in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. ONE: 'C No 1429'. Dated 12 October 1798 and signed by 'J L Towers', 'Register.' Recording the birth of Sarah Cooper, daughter of Thomas Cooper and Jane Cooper (daughter of the Rev. Israel Lewis', born in Homerton, in the Parish of Saint John Hackney, on 17 June 1783. Witnessed by 'E. S. Cooper' and 'Sarah Mackaness'. TWO: 'E No 3478'. Dated 30 January 1816.

[ Henrietta Skerrett Montalba, Victorian sculptor. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs. Allchin', i.e. the wife of the physician Sir William Henry Allchin, regarding an order for one of her works.

Author: 
Henrietta S. Montalba [ Henrietta Skerrett Montalba ] (1856-1893), British sculptor, daughter of Anthony Rubens Montalba (1813-1884) [ Sir William Henry Allchin (1846-1912), physician ]
Publication details: 
20 Stanley Crescent [ London ]. 11 January 1884.
£120.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Evidently responding to an order from an exhibition catalogue for one of her sculptures, she thanks her for her 'note and enclosed cheque which was quite right - Number 16 is not yet taken so I will put it down to your name'.

[ Arthur Hacker RA, English artist. ] Autograph Letter Signed, responding to the flattery of an admirer.

Author: 
Arthur Hacker (1858-1919) RA, versatile and popular English artist who trained at the Royal Academy Schools and in the Paris atelier of Léon Bonnat
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 7 Cavendish Buildings, Old Cavendish Street, W. [ London ] 29 July 1899.
£90.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir/ | I am very pleased to hear you like my pictures and seem so well acquainted with them - | I hope you will go on taking an interest in Art. | I am | Yours Sincerely | Arthur Hacker'.

[ William Stanley Roscoe, poet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. S. Roscoe') to an unnamed recipient, regarding an order of '30 more copies', which is 'commensurate to the Scholars' moderate establishment'.

Author: 
William Stanley Roscoe (1782-1843) of Liverpool, poet, son of the historian William Roscoe
Publication details: 
'Liverpool May 2nd. [ no year ]'.
£56.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, Laid down on part of a leaf removed from an album. Reads: 'My Dear Sir | My absence from home must plead my excuse in not sooner replying to your obliging note of the 22nd Ulto - | I have desired 30 more Copies to be forwarded to you as you request, & I am sure you will be glad to hear that thro' your kindness, & that of many others who have interested themselves, we are likely to realize a sum commensurate to the Scholars moderate establishment'.

[ Sir Walter Besant, novellist and historian. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. Besant.'), headed 'Mem. for Mr Henry Gray' (genealogical bookseller), ordering five books from his catalogue.

Author: 
Sir Walter Besant (1836-1901), novellist and historian largely responsible for the creation of the People's Palace in East London [ Henry Gray of Acton, genealogical bookseller ]
Publication details: 
12 Gayton Crescent, Hampstead. No date.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'Mem. for Mr Henry Gray | I have received your Catalogue dated April 25th. | Will you send me, if still in hand, […]'. A list of five works follows, the last four French, including Sarah Scott's Utopian "Millenium Hall", following which Besant writes: 'for wh. I will remit by return post – on receipt.'

[ Stephen Austin, Hertford printer, proprietor of the Hertfordshire Mercury. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Alexander Ramsay, offering to help promote 'The Scientific Roll', although Hertford is 'not a Literary or Scientific locality!'

Author: 
Stephen Austin (1804-1892), Hertford stationer and printer, proprietor of the Hertfordshire Mercury [ Alexander Ramsay, editor of 'The Scientific Roll' ]
Publication details: 
On his Hertford letterhead. 10 November 1881.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter begins: 'It would afford me very great pleasure to help you in the matter of "The Scientific Roll" This is not a Literary or Scientific locality! and we have given up our Booksellers' Shop'. If Ramsay will send 'a copy of the numbers printed', he will 'give a notice in the "Hertfordshire Mercury" and perhaps that will make it known and induce people to take it.' The Austin family continued to run the Hertfordshire Mercury until the 1980s.

[ Thomas Hood, English poet. ] Autograph Note Signed ('T. Hood.'): a joke on the name 'Furlong' and 'A mile of daughters'.

Author: 
Thomas Hood (1799-1845), English poet, author of 'The Song of the Shirt' and 'The Bridge of Sighs', member of John Scott's 'London Magazine' circle
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£35.00

On one side of a 6 x 11.5 cm slip of grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged, with small strip of glue staining along right-hand edge. Reads: 'A mile of daughters - | Family of Furlongs having 8 girls | 8 furlongs = 1 mile. - | T. Hood.' A joke on the surname of the person who requested Hood's autograph, as explained in Walter Jerrold's 'Thomas Hood, his Life and Times' (1907), which states that in 1838 Hood wrote to his friend Wright: '[…] only think of a mile of daughters! There is a family of Furlongs coming to live here, whereof eight are daughters – 8 furlongs = 1 mile.'

Syndicate content