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[‘Tradesmen or gentlemen’? The Victorian man of letters.] Autograph Letter Signed from Andrew Wynter, author and physician, to Edward Walford, editor of the Gentleman’s Magazine, criticizing the ‘vexatious and illiberal’ publishers Bradbury and Evans

Author: 
Andrew Wynter [born Andrew Winter, pseudonym ‘Werdna Retnyw’] (1819-1876), physician and author [Edward Walford (1823-1897), editor of the Gentleman’s Magazine; Bradbury and Evans; Cassell and Co.]
Publication details: 
London: ‘4 Ladbroke Gardens, W. / March 3rd 1867’.
£180.00

See the entries for Wynter and Walford in the Oxford DNB. The present letter provides a valuable insight into the position of ‘the man of letters’ in Victorian periodical publication: according to the ODNB, Walford ‘edited the Gentleman's Magazine in 1866 and strongly objected to the proprietor Joseph Hatton's decision to change the character of that magazine.

[Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley, England cricket captain in the first Ashes series against Australia.] 15 manuscript items of banking correspondence between Darnley (8 signed items), his attorneys Wadeson & Malleson (6) and bankers Coutts & Co (1).

Author: 
Ivo Bligh (1859-1927), 8th Earl of Darnley, England cricket captain in the first ever Ashes series against Australia, 1882-3; his attorneys Wadeson & Malleson, London; his bankers Coutts & Co, London
Publication details: 
All items from 1901. The Earl of Darnley, Cobham Hall, Gravesend, Kent; Coutts & Co, 59 Strand, London, WC; Malleson & Co, 7 Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate Without, London, EC.
£420.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The correspondence dates from the year 1901, Bligh having acceded to the earldom on the death of his elder brother Edward on 31 October 1900, and the material consists of what is probably the first set of banking instructions, mainly relating to his ‘accession account’, with recipients of payments ranging from the Dowager Countess to Rochester Golf Club. 10pp, foolscap 8vo; 2pp, 4to; 10pp, 12mo. The fifteen items range in size from foolscap 8vo to 12mo. Four items (letters to Coutts from Wadeson & Malleson) are typed and the rest are in manuscript.

[John Jackson, Northumbrian wood engraver who was apprenticed to Bewick.] Autograph Letter Signed to the printers and publishers Vizetelly, Branston & Co, asking to be sent four copies of ‘The Young Lady’s Book’ (presumably containing his work).

Author: 
John Jackson (1801-1848), Northumbrian wood engraver, apprenticed to Thomas Bewick, whom he left after a quarrel, going to work under William Harvey in London
Publication details: 
'[70?] Clarendon st [London] / Monday Morng [1829?]'.
£120.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. On recto of the first leaf of a bifolium, the verso of the second leaf of which carries the address to ‘Messrs Vizetely [sic] Branston & Co / 135 Fleet St’. The firm, who traded between 1827 and 1837, were not only ‘engravers and oriental printers’, but publishers too: the item referred to in this letter, ‘The Young Lady’s Book’, had two editions published in 1829 and a third in 1832, and Jackson presumably contributed work. In fair condition, discoloured and worn.

[E. V. Lucas writes to E. H. Shepard regarding the illustrating of a poem for 'Punch'.] Typed Letter Signed ('E. V.') to 'Ernest', regarding the illustrating of a poem ('Monmouthshire'?) for 'Punch'.

Author: 
E. V. Lucas [Edward Verrall Lucas] (1868-1938), author and Chairman of Methuen & Co, London publishers [E. H. Shepard [Ernest Howard Shepard] (1879-1976), artist and illustrator; Punch magazine]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Methuen & Co, Publishers, London. 17 May 1928.
£100.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed in type to 'My dear Shepard,' but with the last word corrected in autograph to 'Ernest'. He has now 'made sufficient progress with Monmouthshire' to be able to give Shephard 'a line': 'The first two verses bear upon the Wye valley and the Usk valley, of which Tintern is the best symbol.

Publishers' 'Specimen Of First Seven Plates' in 'An Elementary Text-Book of Entomology' by 'W. F. Kirby, of the British Museum'.

Author: 
W. F. Kirby [ William Forsell Kirby (1844-1912) ], of the British Museum [ Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Paternoster Square; William Wesley & Son, London, Booksellers and Publishers ]
Publication details: 
London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Paternoster Square. 1885. [ With stamp of William Wesley & Son, Booksellers and Publishers, 28, Essex Street, Strand, London. ]
£38.00

16pp., 4to. Unbound and unstitched pamphlet. On aged and worn paper. The first page has the Wesley stamp, and is headed 'Specimen Of First Seven Plates' It also carries nine lines describing the 'object of the author'. The seven plates are accompanied by captions, and there is also an explanation regarding them.

[Rev. Dr Henry Christmas.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Christmas') to Arthur Hall, discussing the plan of a magazine, with the names of contributors and sub-editors of sections, for a prospectus, and describing a section of 'Lyra Evangelica'.

Author: 
Rev. Dr Henry Christmas [Noel-Fearn] (1811-1868), editor and numismatist [Arthur Hall, London publisher [Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co., Paternoster Row]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£90.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and unevenly-sunned paper. He begins by giving six numbered points which 'will do for the Introduction' to a prospectus for a magazine. The first reads: 'The biographical & archaeological portion of the Magazine will be placed under the superintendance of the Revd Professor Christmas, M.A.

[Novello & Co., Limited, music publishers.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Novello & Co Ltd | W. C. H.') to Dr Carl Peters, informing him that he has money due to him from the sales of his uncle Carl Engel's 'Violin Family'.

Author: 
'W. C. H.', Novello & Co., Limited, music publishers, London [Dr Carl Peters (1856-1918), German African explorer, nephew of Carl Engel (1812-1882), musicologist]
Publication details: 
On Novello & Co. letterhead, 1 Berners Street, W. London. 30 September 1898.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Dr. Carl Peters | 29 St James Street | W'. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | We beg to inform you that we have a small amount due to you from the sales of your "Violin Family" by Carl Engel but, before forwarding same, we shall be glad to know whether the above is your correct address.'

[Pamphlet, lacking covers] Darton's Instructive Stories. Old Times

Author: 
[Darton and Co., London]
Publication details: 
[18402. 1850s?]
£120.00

16pp., 8vo (publisher says "foolscap Quarto"), coloured illustrations, missing paper wraps (scans of Oxford copy covers enclosed). Listed on the wraps, back a list of sister works, front full title "Darton's Instructive Stories. Old Times" (titlepage just has "Old Times". Titlepage grubby, marked, wear and tear at edges, contents complete and attractive. Only one copy recorded on COPAC/WorldCat, at Oxford.

[Victorian newspaper advertising.] Printed pamphlet, headed 'Provincial Advertisement Office. | List of Provincial Newspapers in which advertisements appear, | The weekly Circulation of which is estimated at UPWARDS OF A MILLION Copies.'

Author: 
[Provincial Advertisement Office; Brown Gould & Co., 470 Oxford Street, W.C., London]
Publication details: 
With the oval blind stamp in one corner of Brown Gould & Co., 470 Oxford Street, W.C., London. '5.69', i.e. May 1869.
£56.00

4pp., 4to. Bifolium on wove paper. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper. 114 newspapers are listed, each with the 'Day Published', from 'Ayrshire Express | Saturday' to 'Yarmouth Independent | Saturday.' One title is added in manuscript, at the foot of the first page: 'Nottingham & Midland Counties Daily Express.' At the foot of the last page: 'Intimations of Alterations and Additions will from time to time be given. | 5.69.' Scarce: no copies on COPAC or OCLC WorldCat.

Autograph Signature of the German composer and conductor Peter Josef von Lindpaintner, received after his death from the London music publishers Wessel & Co.

Author: 
Peter Josef von Lindpaintner (1791-1856), German composer and conductor [Wessel & Co., music publishers, 18 Hanover Square, London]
Publication details: 
With note stating that it was received 'from Wessel & Co - 1859'.
£45.00

The signature, cut from a letter is on a strip of paper roughly 1.5 x 10 cm, laid down on a piece of paper, 7 x 11.5 cm. Lindpaintner's signature ('Js. Lindpaintner') is bold and florid; a small part at the head has been trimmed away in cutting the strip. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with one pinhole at head of mount, and traces of grey paper on reverse. The mount is neatly captioned 'Autograph of Lindpaintner, composer of "The Standard Bearer" | &c. &c. &c. | Recd. from Wessel & Co - 1859'.

Manuscript Memorandum of Agreement between J. Hain Friswell and the London publisher Henry S. King, setting out the terms of publication of Friswell's 'The Better Self'. Signed 'J. Hain Friswell'.

Author: 
James Hain Friswell (1825-1878), English essayist and novelist [Henry S. King & Co., publishers, 65 Cornhill, London]
Publication details: 
22 October 1874.
£56.00

1p., foolscap 8vo. On laid paper, with red embossed tax stamp in top left-hand corner. In fair condition, lightly-aged. The memorandum is seventeen lines long, and begins: 'Memorandum of an Agreement made this twenty second day of October One thousand eight hundred and seventy four. Between Mr J. Hain Friswell of Fair House, Bexley Heath, Kent, of the one part and Messrs. Henry S. King & Co. of 65 Cornhill London publishers of the other part. | The said Mr J. Hain Friswell has written a Work entitled "The better self" which he herby assigns to Messrs. Henry S.

Autograph Letter Signed from the Irish poet Aubrey de Vere, containing an appreciation of the theologian Richard Holt Hutton, with references to the new edition of his poems, the publishers Macmillan & Co, Baron von Hugel, and the Tennyson family.

Author: 
Aubrey de Vere [Aubrey Thomas de Vere] (1814-1902), Irish poet [Richard Holt Hutton (1826-1897), writer and theologian]
Autograph Letter Signed from the Irish poet Aubrey de Vere
Publication details: 
August 1895; on letterhead of the Athenaeum, Pall Mall, London.
£130.00
Autograph Letter Signed from the Irish poet Aubrey de Vere

16mo, 4 pp. 64 lines. Text clear and complete. Hutton was a friend of both de Vere and his correspondent, and 'this will always remain a link between us; for no one who ever knew him can forget him; & no one who remembers him can ever cease to honour him'.

Manuscript Letter from Bradley & Co., 'Picture Frame Makers, Packers & Conveyancers, Exhibition Agents' to the artitst W. F. Stocks, giving their charges for delivering pictures to the Royal Academy.

Author: 
Bradley & Co., Picture Frame Makers, Packers & Conveyancers, Exhibition Agents, of London [The Royal Academy]
Picture Frame Makers, Packers & Conveyancers
Publication details: 
London, 14 March 1903; on Bradley & Co. letterhead, 81 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London.
£56.00
Picture Frame Makers, Packers & Conveyancers

12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium. Written out in one hand, and signed 'Bradley & Co' in another. Addressed to 'W. F. Stocks Esqre | Glen Elwy | St Asaph. | Flint[shire]'. Thirteen lines. Text clear and complete. On foxed and lightly-aged paper. Giving the firm's 'charge for receiving unpacking & delivering pictures to the R.A. or other London Exhibitions' and for 'collecting repacking & forwarding', as well as the dimensions of pictures for which these charges apply.

Autograph Card Signed ('H C Beeching') to Messrs Swan Sonnenschein & Co., publishers.

Author: 
Henry Charles Beeching (1859-1919), Dean of Norwich and author
Publication details: 
Postmarked 21 June 1905; on letterhead '3, Little Cloisters, Westminster.'
£23.00

Plain card, roughly 8.5 x 11 cm. Five lines of text. A little grubby, but good. Asking for his manuscript, so that he can 'correct the proof of the Introduction to Crashaw. It was written so many years ago that I can't always recall what I wrote'.

Eight items relating to royalties due from Richards for Lucas's 'The Open Road' following Richards' bankruptcy.

Author: 
Edward Verrall Lucas (1868-1938), English author; Grant Richards (1872-1948), English publisher
Publication details: 
London; 9 March to 7 April 1905.
£220.00

The collection as a whole is in good condition, although lightly creased in places and somewhat dusty and aged. All items have unobtrusive pinholes, and Item Seven has fraying and closed tears to extremities. An interesting correspondence casting light on publishing practices at the turn of the nineteenth century. ITEMS ONE TO FIVE: 12mo letters from Lucas's solicitors Field, Roscoe & Co., each on the firm's letterhead, to the 'Receiver and Manager appointed to carry on [Richards'] business', H. C. K. Stileman, dated 9, 11, 18 and 21 March, and 1 April 1905.

Three manuscript orders authorising payments, and three typewritten orders cancelling payments.

Author: 
The Duchy of Cornwall [ MESSRS COUTTS & CO., BANKERS ]
Publication details: 
All dating from 1912.
£250.00

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.

Typed Letter Signed to Betty Ross.

Author: 
Edward Verrall Lucas
Publication details: 
12 February 1936; on letterhead of the publishers Methuen & Co Ltd.
£38.00

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].

Typed Letter Signed to R[ainforth]. A[rmitage]. Walker of the Print Collector's Quarterly.

Author: 
Edward Verrall Lucas
Publication details: 
28 February 1935; on letterhead of the publishers Methuen & Co.
£56.00

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.

Autograph Letter Signed to [Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co, publishers].

Author: 
James Grant
Publication details: 
20 December 1850; on letterhead of the 'Morning Advertiser Office, 127, Fleet Street, London.'
£28.00

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.

Two Autograph Letters Signed and first leaf of Autograph Letter; all three items to Sir Henry [Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Edward North Buxton [BIG GAME HUNTING]
Publication details: 
29 April and 2 May 1901, 8 May [1901]; all three items on letterhead 'KNIGHTON, | BUCKHURST HILL.'
£120.00

Politician and director of Trueman, Hanbury, Buxton and Co. (1840-1924), whose entry in 'Who's who' describes his 'Recreations' as 'a keen follower of big game in four continents'. All three items 12mo and very good. The first two items on cream paper and bearing the Society's stamp; the last item on grey paper and docketed. First and last item signed 'E N Buxton'. ITEM ONE (two pages) addressed to 'Sir Trueman' [sic]: 'I have not forgotten that you asked me how my films stood the Climate & if I got any decent results in the Soudan'. Offers to show Wood 'a few' at the Athenaeum.

Printed bank instructions, with autograph additions and signature.

Author: 
Earl of Dalkeith [FIELD SPORTS, FOX HUNTING]
Publication details: 
07/06/01
£35.00

Dimensions: 5 inches by 7 inches. Somewhat grubby and with ink stain at foot. Headed 'THE MASTERS OF FOX HOUNDS ASSOCIATION, | TATTERSALLS, ALBERT GATE, LONDON.' Standing order to Dalkeith's bank, Coutts & Co of 59 Strand, to make an annual payment on 1 May to the Herries Farquhar branch of Lloyds one pound, as his subscription to the association. Signed 'Dalkeith'. Docketed by the bank and pinned to a 'Tattersalls' letterhead, roughly 5 inches by 7 inches, carrying a note which reads 'With the Secretary of the M. F. H. A's compliments.

two letters signed to E. S. Gibb,

Author: 
Joseph Rowntree
Publication details: 
6 and 7 November 1890, with letterhead of the Engineering Department of Rowntree & Co., The Cocoa Works, York.
£80.00

The younger. Quaker cocoa manufacturer and philanthropist (1836-1925). Both letters one page, 4to, and written by an amanuensis. The letters deal with a "proposed new siding", for which "Mr Copperthwaite & my Clerk of Works" think it will be necessary to "take down the bridge which connects the north & south portions of my land, & which is situated midway between the road to & the road to ." In the second letter he says he is leaving for Scarborough that morning, and that he fears his two days' absence "might delay operations with the branch line".

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