CLASS

[English Social History: A working-class London cinema-goer.] Two exercise books, filled with 385 manuscript entries by ‘Miss Renee Fish’ of Catford, detailing ‘Films I have seen’, between 1930 and 1934, and 1939 and 1943, at various London cinemas.

Author: 
[English Social History: A working-class London cinema-goer in the 1930s and 1940s; the movies; the pictures; the flicks]
Publication details: 
‘Miss Renee Fish, / 112, Allerford Road / Catford, / S.E.6. [London]’ First exercise book: 272 entries between 3 January 1930 and 27 October 1934. Second exercise book: 113 entries between 12 June 1939 and 20 March 1943.
£450.00

An interesting agglomeration of ephemera London cinematic information. The author is working-class or lower-middle-class. Two sturdy ruled small 4to exercise books, with black covers of ribbed watered cloth and spine of red cloth. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: 150pp. Ownership inscription on inside of front cover: ‘Miss Renee Fish, / 112, Allerford Road / Catford, / S.E.6.’ The first page is headed: ‘31. 12. 29. Films I have seen during 1930.’ Each of the volume’ The entries are numbered from 1 to 272, with an additional numeration for each year from the second year onwards.

[‘I was aiding the poor in speaking so frankly to the rich’: Anthony Wilson Thorold, successively Bishop of Rochester and Winchester.] Long Autograph Letter Signed criticising the middle and upper classes for excluding the poor from churches.

Author: 
A. W. Thorold [Anthony Wilson Thorold] (1825-1895), successively Bishop of Rochester and Winchester, who recruited Isabella Gilmore to revive the female diaconate in the Anglican Communion
Publication details: 
6 January 1863; 16 Bedford Square [London]. On his embossed armorial letterhead.
£56.00

An interesting and empassioned letter, highlighting one aspect of the debate over the class inequalities present in mid-Victorian England. See Thorold’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 8pp, 12mo. On two bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. Signed ‘A. W. Thorold’. The recipient is not named. He begins by stating that his speech at Islington lasted twenty-five minutes, as opposed to the report in the journal he has sent him, which ‘could be easily spoken in two’, and does not give a ‘fair notion of its point and aim’.

[ Thomas Burt; working class MP ] Autograph Letter Signed Thos Burt to Watson [presumably his biographer, Aaron Watson], about a social event he can't attend, and his health.

Author: 
Thomas Burt [ (1837–1922), trade unionist and one of the first working-class Members of Parliament.]
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Northumberland Miners' Mutual Confident Association, with lines through and address changed in Burt's hand to 20 Burton Terrace (Newcastle), 17 Nov. 1906.
£56.00

Four pages, 8vo, bifolium, good condition. I rejoice that the N.L. Club is about to give you a complimentary Luncheon. The Committee asked me to propose, so to speak the Toast of the Guests. Most reluctantly I had to decline, mainly owing to the state of my health, but partly too because I am uncertain whether I can be in London in time for the function. | I trust, and feel sure, that there will be a great and appreciative gathering worthy of the guests and of the occasion. | It seems almost an age since I saw you and I have often chided myself for not calling upon you.

[ Empire Industries Association, London. ] Printed pamphlet titled 'Mandated Territories | The Constitutional Position'.

Author: 
Empire Industries Association, London [ German Mandated Territories; League of Nations Class C Mandates ]
Publication details: 
Empire Industries Association, 9 Victoria Street, London SW1. November 1938. Printed by Burrup, Mathieson & Co., Ltd., 31, Throgmorton Street, London, E.C.2.
£120.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium on grey paper. In fair condition, aged and with rust spotting. The document begins: 'In view of the numerous discussions with regard to the status of the Mandated Territories, and the possibility of a request from Germany for the restoration of some or all of the former German Colonies, and in view of the many misconceptions as to the constitutional status of a Mandated Territory, the Empire Industries Association has prepared these brief notes in the hope that they will be helpful to those who may be taking part in any discussions on the problem.

[ Pamphlet. ] The Facts about the Unemployed. An Appeal and a Warning. By One of the Middle Class.

Author: 
'One of the Middle Class' [ 'H. H. C.' ]
Publication details: 
London: The Modern Press, 13, Paternoster Row, E.C. and W. L. Rosenberg, 261, East Tenth Street, New York City. 1886.
£65.00

16pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Signed in type at the end 'H. H. C.' At foot of reverse of title: 'The Writer will be glad to hear from anyone who agrees with his conclusions.' Scarce.

[ Poor Rates in Devon, 1819. ] Handbill 'Poor Rates' notice by H. Roberts, Governor, Hospital of Poor's Portion, Plymouth, regarding the examination of 'the Receipts of the Collectors'.

Author: 
H. Roberts, Governor, Hospital of Poor's Portion, Plymouth [ Poor Rates in Devon ]
Publication details: 
'Hospital of Poor's Portion, 23rd August, 1819.' [ 'WILLIAMS, PRINTER AND BOOKSELLER, OLD-TOWN, PLYMOUTH.' ]
£45.00

Printed on one side of a 31.5 x 19.5 cm piece of Britannia laid paper. A fragile piece of ephemera, aged and with heavy wear to extremities. The text is complete, except for loss to the first letter ('P') of the first word ('Poor') on the top line. Text reads: 'Poor Rates. | THE GUARDIANS who were appointed a Committee to examine the Receipts of the Collectors, having compared a great number of Receipts with the Original Rate Book, have the satisfaction to inform the Inhabitants that they are fully satisfied with Messrs.

[Printed British civil service paper.] Open Competition for registration as Boy Copyist (New Class) in the Civil Service, August, 1898. Regulations, Examination Papers, and Table of Marks.

Author: 
[Civil Service Commission, 1898; British civil service; Her Majesty's Stationery Office; Eyre and Spottiswoode]
Publication details: 
'Civil Service Commission. [All Rights Reserved.]' London: Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. 1898.
£45.00

24pp., foolscap 8vo. With 3pp. of lithographed plates ('Copying MS.') between pp.6 and 7, giving two examples of uncorrected manuscripts for the contestants to copy out. Stitched and unbound. On aged paper, with the first and last leaves and fore-edges of plates worn and chipped at extremities. Divided into three sections: 'Regulations, &c.', 'Examination Papers' and 'Table of Marks'.

[HMS Berwick, Royal Navy cruiser.] Duplicated 'List of Urgent Defects', ninety-two in number, with the priority of the necessary work indicated in manuscript, compiled on the verge of the ship's decommissioning in 1946.

Author: 
[HMS Berwick, Royal Navy County class heavy cruiser, of the Kent subclass, launched 1926 and decommissioned 1946; Second World War; North Sea convoys; Norwegian campaign]
Publication details: 
No place. [Admiralty, Whitehall.] Latest reference to December 1944.
£150.00

9pp., foolscap 8vo. Duplicated carbon, printed in purple (except for Item 27, added in black), with the type breaking up heavily at points. Listing 92 numbered items, with columns for 'Departmental Serial No.' and 'Priority', the latter marked up in red pencil with 'A' (top priority), 'B' and 'C'. The list is divided into the following subsections: 'Hull & Miscellaneous', 'Auxiliary Machinery & Gunmountings', 'Electrical', 'First Fitting Stores'. The document was presumably produced as part of an assessment of whether the ship should be saved or scrapped.

[Printed nineteenth-century handbill.] Copy of a curious Love Letter | From a young Gentleman in this Neighbourhood, to his Sweetheart, Miss W - , of this Town, which was found near this place yesterday morning.

Author: 
'T. B - l.' [nineteenth century handbill]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [1830s?]
£56.00

1p., 12mo. Text enclosed within a decorative border. In fair condition, on heavily aged and worn wove paper, with a couple of small holes. Printed on cheap paper, with rough untrimmed edges. Beneath the title is a poem in two columns, itself titled 'Directions for Reading it.': 'Hast thou no pity on my woes? | Dost thou at me turn up thy nose? | I'll make my declaration first, | So read straight forward and be curst. | But if thy heart to me incline, | O!

[The Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.] Large printed Government 'abstract', headed 'WORKSHOPS. | FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT, 1901.' and mainly consisting of an 'Abstract | As prescribed by the Secretary of State, of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.'

Author: 
[The Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.]
Publication details: 
'Form 4. | (January 1902.)' 'may be obtained, either directly or through any Bookseller, of Eyre & Spottiswoode, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.C.; or Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh; or E. Ponsonby, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin'.
£180.00

Printed on one side of a piece of 76 x 55 cm paper. In good condition, lightly-aged. At head of document the words 'Official Notice' and the royal crest. Folded into a 22 x 9.5 cm packet, docketted on reverse 'Statutory Notice | and | Workshop and Factory Acts'. The document begins with 'Notices. | To be filled up and signed by the Occupier.', followed by the 'Abstract', in two columns of small type, under the sub-headings 'Sanitation", 'Accidents', 'Employment and Meal Hours', 'Holidays', 'Outworkers', 'Piece Work.

[Printed pamphlets.] Board of Education. Memorandum on Class Instruction at Schools for Mothers.

Author: 
[Janet M. Campbell; L. A. Selby-Bigge; Board of Education, London]
Publication details: 
'This Paper may be referred to as Circular 912.' London: Printed under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, By Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, E.C., Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 1915.
£50.00

14pp., 12mo. Stitched and unbound. In very good condition, lightly aged and worn. The 'Memorandum' is by Campbell, with a 'Prefatory Note' by Selby-Bigge, dated May 1915. Divided into two main sections: 'Class Teaching on the Consultation Day' ('Health Talks' and 'Sewing Class') and 'Classes held other than on the Consultation Day' ('Mothercraft, Hygiene, &c.', 'Sewing Class', 'Cookery', '"Advanced" Classes', 'General Arrangements' and 'Teachers'). Final section on 'The Local Education Authority'.

[Printed parliamentary paper.] Strand Union Workhouse. Copy of the Report made by R. B. Cane, Esq., Poor Law Inspector, to the Poor Law Board, after an Inquiry held by him on the 4th and 6th June 1866, into certain Allegations made by Matilda Beeton.

Author: 
[R. B. Cane [Richard Basil Cane], Poor Law Inspector; Matilda Beeton, Head Nurse at the Strand Union Workhouse, Cleveland Street, London]
Publication details: 
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 25 June 1866.
£220.00

28 + [1] pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. P. 1 has the drophead title: 'STRAND UNION WORKHOUSE. | RETURN to an Order of the Honourable The House of Commons, | dated 25 June 1866; - for, | COPY "of the REPORT made by R. B. Crane, Esquire, Poor Law Inspector, to the Poor Law Board, after an Inquiry held by him on the 4th and 6th June 1866, into certain Allegations made by Matilda Beeton, in reference to the Treatment of the Sick in the Strand Union Workhouse." | Poor Law Board, 25 June 1866.

Coloured advertisement for 'Burke's Colonial Gentry'.

Author: 
Sir Bernard Burke, C.B., LL.D., Ulster King of Arms [Burke's Peerage; English genealogy]
Publication details: 
1890 [1891]. [London.]
£45.00

8vo: 1 p. A bifolium (leaf dimensions roughly 270 x 185 mm), on thin wove paper, with the printed page on the recto of the first leaf, the rest being blank. Very good, on lightly aged paper. Attractive item printed in red, blue, black and gold. Text reads 'Vol I in the Press. Burke's Colonial Gentry. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Principal Families residing in the British Colonies by Sir Bernard Burke, C.B., LL.D., Ulster King of Arms.

Handbill resolution.

Author: 
Arthur Nicholson, Chairman of Meeting of Silk Manufacturers and Representatives, Leek, Staffordshire
Publication details: 
1902; 'THOMAS GRACE, PRINTER AND STATIONER, LEEK.'
£25.00

One page. Roughly 13 inches by 8 inches. In good condition, although slightly discoloured, creased from folding and with one very small closed tear. Reports the resolution of a meeting held at the Town Hall in Leek on 30 December 1901, that beginning on 1 January 1902 'the operatives shall give up the five minutes grace now allowed on entering Mills at 6.30 and after dinner'. Also states the working hours for week-days and Saturdays.

Syndicate content