BRITISH

British stage designer (died 1971), painter, writer and lecturer. Both items one page, octavo, and very good, though lightly creased. Both signed 'Maxwell Armfield'. LETTER ONE (docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp): He has read the lecture by 'Mr. Davis', 'with great interest [...] our opinions on the subject seem to be identical! I should like to meet him some time if he is an accessible sort of person. [...] a series of such lectures issued as pamphlets with attractive titles would do a great deal towards a better understanding of the problem'.

English scientist (1889-1977), who worked with Rutherford in Manchester. All eight items quarto and very good. Most carrying the Society's stamp and some docketed. All signed 'Margaret Fishenden'. Mostly concerning the delivery and publication of a lecture on 'Domestic Heating'. Letter of 11 January 1926 suggests a number of people who should be invited.

4to and 8vo. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition otherwise. The six items, all addressed to Messrs Coutts & Company, are, in chronological order: ITEM 1, 5 manuscript pages, 4to, headed 'Duchy of Cornwall, | Buckingham Gate, S.W. | 1912.

Company founded in 1908 by Philip Lee Warner and Eustace Gurney, 'to bring artists' work to the appreciation of a wider public'. One page, quarto. Folded twice. Good, but slightly foxed and lightly creased. The typed message reads ' "The best of Prophets of the future is the Past" | With the best of wishes for future success.' The signatures are arranged in four columns. The inclusion of 'Cobden-Sanderson' is unexplained.

Rowton edited a celebrated anthology of British female poets. One page, 12mo. Poor: grubby and with remains of stub from previous mounting adhering to edge of bifoliate. 'It will give me great pleasure to deliver my Lecture on Charles Dickens at the Southwark Institution during the next Season. - My terms will be eight Guineas for the Three. - | I may perhaps be allowed to say that I am now delivering these Lectures (the Second comes on tomorrow night) at this Institution, with very great success, to crowded audiences.

Novelist and writer on aeronautics (1885-1968). All items one page, quarto. As a whole good, though grubby, but some items with pin holes, closed tears, etc. Most bearing the R.S.A. stamp and some docketed. Three items with enclosures. The items are dry communications relating to the arranging of R.A.S. lectures at the R.S.A.

Printed address, headed notepaper. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. Russell Flint is responding to a letter from Mackenzie (attached, copy Typed Letter, one page, 4to, 26 April 1949- saying that he (Mackenzie) has circularised friends in the Press asking them to urge readers to buy water-colours as "a jolly good investment". Mackenzie also comments on the neglect of the teaching of water-colour painting in the schools, and its consequences. Russell Flint approves and has wanted to meet up but been busy with the RA Private View et al.

A clean copy, on good thick paper, of an engraving, three versions of which are in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG D8332, NPG D8333, NPG D8334), where they are dated 1889, and described as being etched 'after a photograph originally published in the Pall Mall Gazette 'Grand Old Man' extra'. Dimensions of paper roughly nine inches by six, dimensions of image roughly five inches by four. Burton's signature is faintly etched at the foot of plate, and the print is docketed in pencil 'W E G' at the foot of the paper, with 'Burton 1/-' on reverse.

Pickersgill (1782-1875) and Uwins (1782-1857) were both English artists who exhibited at the Royal Academy. Very good, on a piece of grey paper roughly two inches by four. From a collection of Autograph Signatures cut from petitions to the Artists' General Benevolent Fund. Blank reverse.

Full lea., rebacked, raised bands, gt.dec., corners and edges bumped and worn, some foxing of mainly endpapers, contents g-vg. INSCRIBED by the author to Hans Sloane , physician and collector (collections formed basis of British Museum).

Behnes (died 1864) was a sculptor, and Robins (1778-1847) a flamboyant auctioneer. Very good, on piece of paper roughly two inches by three and a half. From a collection of Autograph Signatures cut from petitions to the Artists' General Benevolent Fund. Blank reverse.

Small 8vo. Pages i-vi, 3-86 (nothing apparently lacking). Original publishers' catalogue for 1879 at rear. Good tight copy, in worn original brown cloth, gilt. PRESENTATION COPY 'For The Library of the Medical Society of London with The Authors Compts'. With stamps, labels, and other evidence of library provenance. From the collection of the Society's librarian Nehemiah Asherson, and carrying a note by him, over the Society's stamp on the half-title 'DISCARDED FROM THE LIBRARY | RESCUED FROM Pulping | 1971/2'.

Wife (1799-1888) of the English poet Bryan Waller Procter ('Barry Cornwall', 1787-1874), and stepdaughter of the noted jurist Basil Montagu. One page, 12mo. Very good on slightly paper, and with closed tear to blank second leaf of bifoliate. Written on behalf of her husband during his final illness. 'Mr Procter desires me to say that you have his ready permission to print The Old Arm Chair | I regret to say that my husband is now too feeble to write to you.' Signed 'Anne B. Procter'.

Novelist and miscellaneous writer (1822-98). Dimensions roughly five inches by three. Grubby and with minor fraying, loss and closed tears to edges (not affecting text). Printed halfpenny stamp and two postmarks in black ink. Addressed to 'Mrs. Black | 5 Hazlitt Road | W. Kensington | W.' 'I have not received ye Ladies Pictorial, but fine - all very well done with great sympathy & tenderness & so well written - I have begun by informal LSaturdays - & shall be very glad to see you if you could come'. Signed 'E: Lynn Linton'.

English jurist (1843-1914), Warden of All Souls college, Oxford. Two pages, 12mo. On discoloured, grubby, creased paper, with a small closed tear and some bleeding due to damp on the verso. Extensive damp damage to blank second leaf of bifoliate. Docketed as 'To Pinkham'. Before leaving Oxford the previous week he 'ordered a somewhat miscellaneous collection of books' to be sent to his correspondent's library. 'It was a small collection - a few biographies, some college histories and one or two books which chanced to be in the booksellers catalogue & which looked interesting.

Editor and journalist (1785-1870). The recipient (1784?-1874) was a writer on military matters, and editor of the United Services Journal. Two pages, 12mo. Good, though grubby, and with docketing, rust from paperclip and biographical details typed in line at head. A formal letter, unsigned and in the third person. 'Mr Redding presents his Compts. to Sir J. Phillepart with but scanty recollections for it is many years since they met and wishes to remind him of an article sent to the U[nited]. S[ervices]. J[ournal]. thro' Mr Hunt.

Paper dimensions roughly five inches by seven. Dimensions of illustration four and a half inches by five. Very good. Dated '1914' within body of illustration above the word 'Frightfulness' in gothic. With 'GAF' beneath body of illustration, above 'EX LIBRIS | Attilae Secundi | The Nook | St Helena'. Signed in pencil, next to 'GAF', '(one of fifty) G A Fothergill'. The "Second Attila" is obvioulsly Wilhelm II.

Octavo. 224 pages. Very good, with light spotting to top edge, front endpapers and prelims. In worn, torn dustwrapper with some loss. INSCRIBED COPY 'To Alan | 'at his own request' | with friendly greetings from | Henry Gifford | 7th November 1950'.

English ecclesiastic (1778-1858). Two pages, octavo. Creased, and with one edge of verso adhering to leaf from autograph album. 'I hope you will excuse the great liberty I take in asking you to help me a little in finishing the Marbling, Enclosing, Ventilating &c of the Cathedral | I have been robbed of 20,000 by the Union Bank, so that I am compelled to solicit aid from the Congregation & kind friends in my extremity'. Signed 'D Calcutta'.

Author and politician (1806-63). The recipient (1802-76) was author of a dictionary of English artists, and successively private secretary to several English statesman. Two pages, 12mo. An odd request. 'I have been asked by a friend to ascertain for him whether any person has ever been tried in England for suffocating a human being supposed to be affected by hydrophobia. If you shd. be in possession of any information which throws light upon the subject, would you have the kindness to enable me to answer the question'. signed 'G C Lewis'.

English artist (1890-1978). His wife, Yvonne Kapp, published four novels under the pseudonym Yvonne Cloud. One page, octavo. Very good, though a little creased and with dogeared corners. Reads 'Dear Mr. Wilson, | It is good of you to have taken so much trouble - I am greatly obliged to you. The lists have gone off to Berlin to-day. | All my thanks - & good wishes for a restful holiday'. Signed 'Edmond X. Kapp'.

English artist and illustrator (1820-1912). Swain (1820-1909) was a noted wood-engraver, and the letter concerns his possible employment by Macquoid. Two pages, 12mo. Good, but on discoloured paper, heavily sunned along one edge and browning in one corner, with small closed tear at top of fold. Swain's price 'for Blocks will do - £8. 8. 0 for full page & £6. 6. 0 for front page -'. He has seen Williams 'who was very polite & promised me some work'. Williams is 'going to be married soon - wh: he said wd. "come in the way" of drawings at present'. Signed Thos. R. Macquoid'.

English art critic and dramatist (1849-1916). One page, octavo. Very good. On grey Truslove, Hanson & Comba paper. Entitled 'Sailor's Chorus', the piece consists of two stanzas of eight lines each. It begins 'Above the mast one single star, | Still loiters in the dawn!' and ends 'Ere the swallows keel shall touch the shore | Yeo Ho! Hearts Ho! Yeo Ho! Haul away!' Signed 'J. Comyns Carr' in bottom left-hand corner.

English essayist and biographer of Charles Lamb (1868-1938). One page, quarto. Good only, on discoloured and creased paper. Lucas finds Ross's 'Heads and tales, etc.' (London: Rich & Cowan, 1934), a collection of interviews with the famous, 'incorrigibly lively'. 'I do not share all your sympathies but you have made a very entertaining thing out of question and answer. While I was reading, it occurred to me that a new kind of interview might be based on the "Questions I should not put to So-and-so". To G[eorge]. B[ernard].

English positivist philosopher (1831-1923). Two pages, 12mo. In poor condition: on discoloured paper with remains of stub still adhering along one edge, and with slight damage to blank verso of second leaf of bifoliate. He is obliged for the 'invitation to contribute to the pages of the International Review; & I only wish that it was in my power to accept it.' He has 'a limited amount of time for literary work' and cannot at present make 'any further engagement', but may do so in the future. Signed 'Frederic Harrison'.

One page, quarto. Poor, on creased, discoloured paper, with two punch holes in left-hand margin and short closed tears along the central fold. 'It is as well that you underlined your name in print, for I cannot detect the faintest resemblance between it and your signature. Is this the fault of my imperfect eyes or your powerful hand? | As to your humorist - I think the Forceps Saga is funny, but Punch has a number of people who do things rather like it. Still, he should certainly let the Editor see this specimen together with something new.

English novelist (1900-96). One page, octavo. Good, but with slight marking from staple in top left-hand corner. He is glad his correspondent is 'having therapy for your bad back for, hard work though it is, and must be in your case, I'm sure you will find it helpful. | About author's proofs, they of course usually go back to publishers; but what I am glad to be able to send you is the jacket of my latest book which at least has a picture and my signature, and I hope it will, at least, be decorative in your study.' Signed 'Victor S Pritchett'.

Journalist (1802-79). Three pages, 12mo. Good, but on slightly discoloured grey paper, with some staining from previous mounting to one edge. 'Dear Sirs, | You will see some of your publications noticed in the Morning Advertiser of to-day. As we mean to make literary notices a feature in our paper, any publications you may send us will meet with every attention. Mrs Hall's "Pilgrimages" [published by Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co] has not reached me, otherwise, being a Christmas book it would have met with an immediate notice.' Asks to be sent 'all the advertisements you can.

The title "Ghouls Jan 25" appears at the bottom and Furse's name and a date in the 1920s appears in the right-hand margin. Size circa 21 x 35cms, small tear on left, some creasing, mainly good condition, laid down on same-size paper. On the tombstone (blank in the middle until written in), the artist has inscribed his name in pencil over the final part of a faintly written (but mainly decipherable) menu which starts with "Hors d'oeuvres" and goes through fish, meat and icecream dishes. The inscription is as follows: "to my friend H. Brabazon. / Charles W. Furse".

Miniature painter and chemist (1802-75) with Carlisle and Newcastle connections. The recipient (1794-1860) was a miniature-painter and member of the Royal Academy. Both letters in poor condition, on discoloured, worn and stained paper, but with no loss to text. In LETTER ONE (two pages, 12mo) he states his willingness to meet Ross 'to talk over the matter to whicy your letter of yesterday refers', undertaking to 'enage with Mr. Thorburn to meet us'.