AUTOGRAPH

[ Robert Freind, Westminster School ] Autograph Note, Third Person "Dr Freind [...]" to "Mr Garth in Hare Court" [Samuel Garth, poet and physician, friend of Addison and Pope]

Author: 
Robert Freind, clergyman, Headmaster of Westminster School, circle included Swift, Prior, etc
Publication details: 
Westminster, 20 June [1711 entered in pencil]
£280.00

One page, 12mo, bifolium, fold marks, grubby, some staining, text clear and complete. "Dr Freinds Complements wait upon Mr Garth. If Colonel Cracherode has executed the two Deeds he begs the favor of Mr Garth to deliver them to his Servant the bearer." A Google snippet view (from The Genealogist) discusses a situation in which Cracherode and Dr Robert Freind are executors, perhaps in a family will.

[ Eva Turner, soprano ] Substantial Typed letter Signed "Eva Turner" to a "David Bowman" on various matters including her views on biography.

Author: 
Dame Eva Turner, "dramatic soprano"
Publication details: 
[Headed, "Eva Turner"] 26 Palace Court, London, W2 4HZ, 12 Dec. 1977
£80.00

One page, cr. 8vo, fold marks, very good condition. She appreciates his thoughtfulnes concerning her personal life, and is sympathetic about his personal life. She goes on: "I think there are enough biographies and autobiographies on the market without my inflicting more and so I have decided against it! Notwithstanding I am very touched by all your kind observances regarding myself." She then discusses her promising students, Linda Esther Gray [later her biographer] and Stuart Harling. She appreciates his remembering her Pekingese which had died after a long life and not been replaced.

[ Russell Braddon ] Autograph Note Signed "Russell Braddon" to a "Mr Kwiatowski", about having his photograph taken.

Author: 
Russell Braddon, Australian author (of "Naked Island" etc.)
Publication details: 
[Headed] 11e Cornwall Gardens, London, SW&, 10 Nov. 1989.
£65.00

One page, 8vo, very good condition. He thanks his correspondent for his letter and poems, adding: "I dislike being formally photographed, so I have no studio shots to send you, but I enclose the four signed cards for which you asked - even though I doubt that those to Wendy, Mary and Anon will be in the least appreciated."

[Sir Henry Halford, physician extraordinary to four monarchs, including George III in his madness. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Halford') to Sir Henry Ellis, Principal Librarian at the British Museum, asking for help in writing royal biographies

Author: 
Sir Henry Halford (1766-1844), physician extraordinary to George III, George IV, William IV and the young Victoria [Sir Henry Ellis (1777-1869), Principal Librarian at the British Museum]
Publication details: 
Pall Mall [London]. 7 November [no year].
£250.00

4pp, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of tissue from mount adhering to one edge. Folded three times. An interesting letter, in which Halford asks Ellis for assistance in the writing of royal biographies for the Royal College of Physicians (of which he was President from 1820 to 1844), while explaining that it would not be 'proper' to go 'lower' than George II.

[ George Melly; Jazz etc. ] Typed Letter Signed "George Melly" to "Dave Kwiatkowski" declining a song but sending photographs.

Author: 
George Melly, jazz and blues singer, critic, writer and lecturer.
Publication details: 
[Headed] 33 St Lawrence Terrace, London, W10 5SR, 25 September 1986.
£28.00

One page, 8vo, fold mark, good condition. "I am sending you the photographs as you asked. | I read your lyrics but quite honestly I don't think they are really suitable for me. | I have already written three volumes of autobiography and enclose an order form for all of them."

[ Ronnie Scott's; Jazz ] Part of an Autograph Letter Signed "Ronnie" to unknown correspondents about admission to Ronnie Scott's.

Author: 
Ronnie Scott, Jazz Musician
Publication details: 
Not known.
£28.00

One page, 8vo, good condition. Text commences: "club - I can easily attange it - and all you have to do - is say that you are friends of mine, and ask for the doormanb called 'Bill' - who will look after you. | I go on - at about 11.30. Maybe will see you on Saturday - all the best, [...]"

[Forbes Winslow, nineteenth-century physician and psychiatrist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F Winslow'), postponing a conversation as a result of a tiring visit to a patient in Northamptonshire.

Author: 
Forbes Winslow [Forbes Benignus Winslow] (1810-1874), nineteenth-century physician, psychiatrist, author and authority on lunacy
Publication details: 
Bushey, Hertfordshire. 'Sat.' [no date]
£125.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with evidence of mount on reverse of second leaf, which is endorsed 'Dr. Forbes Winslow'. Two central folds, one vertical and one horizontal. The male recipient is unnamed. He is 'quite unfit to go up to London to-day', 'owing to the fatigue I underwent yesterday travelling a long distance into Northamptonshire to see a patient'.

[Forbes Winslow, nineteenth-century physician and psychiatrist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('F Winslow'), urging Sir John Philipart to 'make an effort to come among yr old friends & shake them again by the hands'.

Author: 
Forbes Winslow [Forbes Benignus Winslow] (1810-1874), nineteenth-century physician, psychiatrist, author and authority on lunacy [Sir John Philippart (1784?–1874), author and editor]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 23 Cavendish Square [London]. 28 November [no year].
£150.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to edge of reverse of second leaf, and two central folds, one vertical and one horizontal. He invites Philipart to 'do us the pleasure of meeting Dr & Mrs Bennett on Wednesday next at dinner at 6.40 for 7 o Cl'. He is 'most anxious', as they are 'both going down the hill [last four words underlined] to renew an old & much valued friendship & to re introduce you to some of my grown up children'.

[Charles Williams, poet and author (the Inklings), to the playwright Christopher Fry.] Autograph Letter Signed, Typed Letter Signed and Typed Card Signed (all 'C. W.'), in copy of his 'Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury', with Fry's ownership signature.

Author: 
Charles Williams (1886-1945), English poet and author, a member of the Inklings [Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright]
Publication details: 
Autograph Letter from Southfield House, 1941. Typed Letter, 1942, and Typed Card, 1944, both on Oxford University Press letterheads.
£450.00

The letters are in fair condition, lightly aged; the card is discoloured and stained. Loosely inserted in a copy of Williams's 'Thomas Cranmer of Canterbury', 75 + [1]pp, 8vo, with the ownership signature 'Christopher Fry' on the front free endpaper, in worn binding with fraying at head of spine. Delightful and revealing letters, mixing personal and business (Williams worked for the Oxford University Press and Fry was published by them). ONE: ALS from Southfield House, 17 December 1941. 2pp, 12mo. Thirty lines of closely-written text, on a leaf of ruled paper torn from a notebook.

[Christopher Fry ownership inscription to a book by Charles Williams.] The House of the Octopus. [A Play in Three Acts]

Author: 
Charles Williams [Christopher Fry; the Inklings]
Publication details: 
London: Edinburgh House Press, 2 Eaton Gate, S.W.1. 1945.
£60.00

115pp, 12mo. In good condition: sound and tight, on browning War Economy paper, in green cloth with slight bloom, and in slightly worn and chipped browning dustwrapper. (The subtitle 'A Play in Three Acts' features on the dustwrapper, but not on the title-page.) Fry's ownership inscription 'Christopher Fry' is in blue ink at the top right-hand corner of the recto of the front free endpaper. A verse drama from the library of the leading twentieth-century English exponent of the genre, after T. S. Eliot.

[Christopher Fry ownership inscription to a book by Charles Williams.] The Region of the Summer Stars.

Author: 
Charles Williams [Christopher Fry; the Inklings]
Publication details: 
Editions Poetry London. 1944.
£450.00

55pp, 8vo. In fair condition, internally tight and sound, on browning paper, in lightly-worn blue cloth binding. No dustwrapper. Slight dink at head of spine. Ownership inscription 'Christopher Fry' in blue ink at top right-hand corner of recto of front free endpaper. Fry and Williams were on cordial terms, the latter working for Oxford University Press and the former being published by them.

[ Manuscript; Wine & Food Society ; menu ] "Diner servi a la Wine & Food Society President, | Monsieur Andre Simon | Secretaire General Monsieur John Hoare"

Author: 
[ Wine & Food Society ]
Wine and Food Society
Publication details: 
Jeudi, le 2 Septembre 1965
£80.00
Wine and Food Society

One page MS, sm. folio, from an album, verso, the recto has remnants of other printed material (list of restaurants in London perhaps). Menu Gastronomique listed on left, columnised from L'Abandance des Pates, through Les Quenelles, Le Canard, others, Le gigot froid, La Salade Verte, Les Fromages de France, Le Baba aux fruits frais, concluding with Le Moka. Attendees have signed the right hand column, headed by John Hoare (Secretaire General) but not including Simon (17 signatures).

[W. H. Davies, Welsh poet, author of 'Autobiography of a Super-Tramp'.] Four Typed Letters Signed, encouraging the writing of 'Mr Harris', i.e. Christopher Fry. With Fry's copy of Davies's 'Ambition and Other Poems' and poem in Fry's autograph.

Author: 
W. H. Davies [William Henry Davies] (1871-1940), Welsh poet and author of 'Autobiography of a Super-Tramp' [Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright]
Publication details: 
The first two letters on letterhead of Malpas House, Oxted; the last on letterhead of The Crofts, Nailsworth, the third from Shenstone, Nailsworth. Between 23 March 1928 and 16 May 1935. Book: London: Jonathan Cape, 1929.
£850.00

The letters are in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, except for the third, which is damp-stained with closed tears at head and foot. The book is in fair condition, without dust wrapper. All four letters are signed 'W. H. Davies.' The first three are addressed to 'Mr Harris', and the last (an ANS rather than an ALS) to 'Mr Fry'. Each is 1p, 12mo. Letter One: 23 March 1928; Malpas House, Oxted. After reading his poem, Davies states, 'I begin to think you ought to take some step towards publishing, as soon as you have enough material.

[ William Wyndham, Secretary at War ] MS Document (text secretarial) Signed "W Windham" addressed to "His Grace The Duke of Portland, KG"

Author: 
William Windham, Secretary at War in Pitt's government.
Publication details: 
War Office, 1 August 1799.
£120.00

One page, folio, top corner lost with apparently little loss of text, fold marks, small closed tear, faint foxing, mainly good condition. "The undermentioned Arms &c being [expec?]ted to complete the 4th/or King's Own Regiment of Foot: I have the Honour to request that your Grace will receive and transmit His Majesty's commends to the Master General and Board of Ordnance, that the said Arms &c. may be delivbered out of His Majesty's Stores, for the use of the said Regiment, and the Expense thereof charged to the Estimate of Ordnance for Parliament".

[James Simpson, educationalist, phrenologist and friend of Sir Walter Scott.] Autograph Letter Signed to geologist William Hutton of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, writing enthusiastically about his lectures around England on non-sectarian popular education.

Author: 
James Simpson (1781-1853), Scottish advocate, educationalist, phrenologist, friend of Sir Walter Scott [William Hutton (1797-1860), geologist; Sir Thomas Wyse; Professor Dionysius Lardne]
Publication details: 
Bath; 30 August 1836.
£250.00

The background to this letter is explained in Simpson's entry in the Oxford DNB which states that he 'took a deep interest in the movement for better elementary education. He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh modern infant school, in which he attempted to solve the problem of religious education by allowing parents to select religious instructors themselves. Failing to receive adequate support, however, the school was ultimately sold to the kirk session of New Greyfriars.

[Sir Henry Holland of Knutsford, physician, travel writer and socialite.] Autograph Letter Signed ('H Holland') [to Lovell Reeve?], giving detailed 'memoranda' of his life for inclusion in a 'biography of living men'.

Author: 
Sir Henry Holland (1788-1873) of Knutsford, physician, travel writer and socialite [Lovell Reeve?]
Publication details: 
Brook Street [London]. 2 November 1856.
£300.00

4pp, 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to one edge. Seventy-four lines of closely and neatly written text. Although the date is somewhat early, the recipient may be Lovell Reeve, editor until 1865 of 'Portraits of Men of Eminence in Literature, Science, and Art, with Biographical Memoirs' (1863-1867). Having received the recipient's letter on his 'return from abroad', Holland states his 'general objection to the biography of living men'.

[Claude Phillips; Wallace Collection ] Two Autograph Letters Signed "C.P." to an unnamed correspondent ("Dear Friend")

Author: 
Claude Phillips, Art Historian, first Curator of the Wallace Collection.
Publication details: 
One from 40 Ashburn Place, SW, 9 May [no year given]; the other from a hotel in Munich, 24 Aug. [1910 written in another hand].
£135.00

Total 7 pp., 8vo, bifoliums, sl. battered but text clear and complete, if a bit of a scrawl. Letter One (Ashburn Place): He wants to meet up soon, and gives response to a performance of Gotterdammerung - "no impression". But he goes again "for his sins". Letter Two (Munich): He wonders if his "Friend" has been suffering, wondering what cure he's tried (active or "peace and rest"). He describes his reponse to such a situation. "I fidget and worry too much about things, and wear myself to death when my mind is not occupied". He's been away from Engand for three weeks, "suffering".

[ Earl of Haddington ] Autograph Letter Signed "Haddington" to an unnamed correspondent [a Campbell?]

Author: 
Charles Hamilton, 8th Earl of Haddington DL (1753–17 March 1828) Scottish nobleman and apparently Collector.
Publication details: 
"Tyn." [Tynninghame] 8 Jan. 1815.
£80.00

One page, cr. 8vo, good condition. He taks health to start off with. Then "I am very glad you have found all I want of the Luxembourg Gall[e]ry. As for the Marquis of Annandale & Lord Glasgow [miniatures?], you did well not to buy them as I believe I can get them here from the families. The first vol[ume] of Valmont [presumably Laclos's" Les Liaisons Dangereuses" ], I am glad you have found. As to Grangers Biography. I am not sure if my Son has not got a copy. at all events let me know the price, as a friend of mine wants it.

[ F.W. Fairholt; Engraving ] Autograph Note Signed "F.W. Fairholt", to "Smith", about a Cut.

Author: 
F.W. Fairholt [Frederick William Fairholt (1814–1866), antiquary and wood engraver].
Publication details: 
11 Montpelier Sq[uare] | Friday.
£35.00

One page, 16mo, small tear on fold mark, ow good condition, hand showing signs of haste. "Here is the bit I promised you about the Trumpet, if you commence the article with a dewscription of it; this will add on very well. | They want at Richards that Cut of the Roman glass with flowers on it, which I left with you a week or two ago, and which they wait for."

[ J.G. Pfister; Numismatics ] Autograph Letter Signed "J.G. Pfister" to C. Roach Smith, fellow-numismatist, on an abstruse "coin" issue., a "fibula" (broach or clasp)

Author: 
J.G. Pfister, Numismatist, author of "Stray Leaves from the Journal of a Traveller in Search of Ancient Coins".
Publication details: 
British Museum, 18 January 1856.
£220.00

One page, 12mo, fold marks, grubby but text clear and complete. "It appears to me that the fibula [broach or clasp] in question is of the XIthe century, and represents a still ruder imitation of the rude Munus Divinus of Louis-Le-Debonaire. It was for several centuries the custom in France, that all sort of coins or imitations of coins in all the different metals, bearing portraitrs with names, or religious legends & were given as mariage presents. And of course such gifts served also for other sacred and religious ceremonies. And afterwards formed into fibulae [an addition in smaller hand].

[Leonard Welsted, poet and 'Dunce'] Autograph Signature "Leond Welsted"

Author: 
Leonard Welsted, poet and 'Dunce'
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£120.00

Piece with signature cut from larger document, c.9 x 3cm, edges indiate it's the bottom left of a document, part image, decorative, of a key and the letters ML with his signature beside. Note: Welsted married a daughter of Henry Purcell, antagonistic towards Scriblerians etc. See DNB.

[ Cork & Orrery ] Autograph Signature only, with place "Orrery. Leicester Fields. May 1st 17[57?]

Author: 
Orrery [John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork and 5th Earl of Orrery, FRS (1707-1762), writer and a friend of Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson
Publication details: 
Leicester Fields. May 1st 17[57?]
£220.00

Piece of paper, 14 x 7.5cm, signature on reverse of marbled paper, perhaps endpaper of book, and an ownership signature. Good condition.

[Olivia Serres; artist and impostor] Subscription of Autograph Letter Signed to "Your Royal Highness" [George IV?].

Author: 
[ Olivia Serres (1772–1834), known as Olive, was a British painter and writer, born at Warwick. Also known as an English impostor, who claimed the title of Princess Olive of Cumberland.
Publication details: 
No place or date present.
£220.00

Subscription of Autograph Letter, 18 x 7cm, on backing of part of an album page, good conditipon. Text: "request I presumed to make - of being allowed the Honor of styling Myself - Landscape Painter [phrase undelined] to your Royal Highness [underlined] | most respetfully I remain | Sir Your Royal Highness | obed[ient] ser[van]t | Olivia Wilmot Serres".

[George Cruikshank, Victorian caricaturist, friend and illustrator of Charles Dickens.] Autograph Signature ('Geo Cruikshank').

Author: 
George Cruikshank (1792-1878), Victorian caricaturist and book illustrator ('the modern Hogarth'), friend and illustrator of Charles Dickens
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£25.00

On 2 x 8 cm slip of paper, cut from document. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on larger piece of white paper cut from leaf of an album. A distinctive, strong signature, reading 'Geo Cruikshank'. No other text. From the distinguished autograph collection of Richard Hunter, son of Ida Macalpine, whose collection of 7000 books relating to psychiatry is in Cambridge University Library.

[Caroline of Ansbach, signing as Regent ('Guardian of the Kingdom') to her husband King George II.] Autograph Signature ('Carolina R. C. R.', i.e. 'Regina Custos Regni') to warrant, also signed by Sir William Strickland, Secretary at War.

Author: 
Caroline of Ansbach [Princess Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach] (1683-1737), Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Electress of Hanover, Consort of George II [Sir William Strickland (1686-1735)]
Publication details: 
'Given at the Court at Kensington this 23d. Day of June 1732. In the Sixth Year of His Majesty's Reign.'
£850.00

The Oxford DNB explains the context of the document: 'During his four absences in Hanover in 1729, 1732, 1735, and 1736–7 [George II] left her as regent entrusted with “all domestic matters”. Foreign affairs were dealt with by the king and the secretaries of state, one of whom accompanied him to Germany, but other affairs were left “entirely to the Queen with the advice of the Lords of the Council”'. 2pp, foolscap 8vo. On bifolium, the verso of the second leaf of which is endorsed: 'Warrant for placing upon Half Pay Captain Stanhope Yarborough'.

[Sir James George Frazer, Scottish anthropologist and folklorist, author of 'The Golden Bough'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. G. Frazer') discussing 'the marriage rules of savages' and their 'aversion to inbreeding'.

Author: 
Sir J. G. Frazer [Sir James George Frazer] (1854-1941), Scottish anthropologist and folklorist, author of 'The Golden Bough'
Publication details: 
No. 1 Bride Court, Temple, E.C. [London] 7 May 1918.
£500.00

3pp, landscape 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with thin strip from stub of mount still adhering. The male recipient is not named. Thirty-five lines of closely and neatly written text.

[Sir James George Frazer, author of 'The Golden Bough'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. G. Frazer') to 'Mr. Wright', regarding difficulty getting copies of his obituary of Australian anthropologist Lorimer Fison from publisher Alfred Nutt.

Author: 
Sir J. G. Frazer [Sir James George Frazer] (1854-1941), Scottish anthropologist, author of 'The Golden Bough' [Alfred Trübner Nutt (1856-1910); Lorimer Fison (1832-1907), Australian anthropologist]
Publication details: 
St Keyne's, Cambridge. 7 April 1910.
£400.00

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with two fold lines. Thin strip of stub from mount adhering to one edge. The subject of the letter is Frazer's obituary of 'the Rev. Lorimer Fison and Dr. A. W. Howitt' (their deaths being 'two heavy losses' suffered by 'Australian anthropology in particular'), published in Folklore, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Jun. 30, 1909), pp. 144-180. Frazer begins by thanking Wright 'for the copy of my article which you have succeeded in wringing from the clutches of young Mr Nutt', i.e. the publisher of 'Folklore' Alfred Nutt (himself a folklorist).

[Sir Thomas Phillipps of Middle Hill, eccentric book and manuscript collector, complains of having been 'plundered' by a Worcester lawyer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos Phillipps') to the wife of Sir Charles Hastings, in reply to an invitation.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872) of Middle Hill, eccentric collector of books and manuscripts; Sir Charles Hastings (1794-1866) of Worcester, surgeon and founder of the British Medical Association]
Publication details: 
'M H [i.e. Middle Hill] 12 Aug. [no year, but after Sir Charles Hastings' 1850 knighthood]'
£350.00

3pp, 16mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged. Phillipps's letter (or draft letter) is a reply to a dinner invitation from the wife of the eminent Worcester physician Sir Charles Hastings. It occupies the reverse of the first leaf, and both sides of the second leaf of the bifolium. The recto of the first leaf carries the invitation, in manuscript, with the text in square brackets printed in copperplate: 'Sir Charles & Lady Hastings [Request the pleasure of] Sir Thos & Lady Phillipps' [Company at Dinner] on Thursday the 28th. Inst.

[Sir William Lawrence, President of the Royal College of Surgeons and Serjeant Surgeon to Queen Victoria.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wlm. Lawrence') to 'Professor Owen' [Sir Richard Owen], asking him to amend a document.

Author: 
Sir William Lawrence (1783-1867), President of the Royal College of Surgeons of London and Serjeant Surgeon to Queen Victoria [Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892)]
Publication details: 
Whitehall Pla[ce] [London]. 25 July 1848.
£180.00

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with slight damage at head repaired with archival tape, and thin strip from stub of mount adhering to one edge. He asks Owen to 'alter or add to the paper sent herewith in any way you please, so that it may harmonize with the report you have drawn up, & represent the meaning you may intend to convey'. He will 'call at the College in the course of the day & affix my signature to the completed document'.

[Marshall Hall, celebrated physician and pioneering neurologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Marshall Hall') to the London medical publisher John Churchill, announcing that he is 'to give up lecturing'.

Author: 
Marshall Hall (1790-1857), celebrated physician and neurophysiologist [John Spriggs Morss Churchill (1801-1875), London medical publisher; Royal Society of London]
Publication details: 
14 Manchester Square [London]. 20 December 1838.
£250.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the text of the letter on both sides of the first leaf, and the address on the reverse of the second leaf, only half of which is present after a central vertical cut. Strip of stub from mount adhering to one edge. Folded three times. The letter is addressed, after the valediction, 'For Mr Churchill', and addressed on the second leaf to 'Mr. Churchill | Prince's Street | Soho'. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir, | I am about to give up lecturing.

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