GRASSE

[Rev. Henry Erskine Gedge.] Autograph diary of 'Our Life, Social and Domestic', covering 40 years including 16 years as chaplain at the Chapelle Victoria de Grasse, on the French Riviera. With copy of anonymous printed booklet 'A Family Gathering'

Author: 
Henry Erskine Gedge (1832-1913), Vicar of Brixworth, Northamptonshire, Chaplain at the Chapelle Victoria de Grasse, son of Rev. Sydney Gedge (1802-1883; ODNB) [Alice de Rothschild]
Publication details: 
The diary covering the years between 1873 and 1913. The booklet, without publication details, privately printed in 1877.
£450.00

Gedge's short obituary in The Times, 24 March 1913, contains the following brief account of his career: 'Mr. Gedge was a scholar of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was Carus and Scholefield prizeman, and obtained a first class in the examination for theological honours in 1857. He was ordained in the diocese of Lichfield, and was for seven years vicar of Brixworth, Northamptonshire.

Autograph Memorandum by Sir Murland de Grasse Evans, headed 'The Comanche tribe', describing an encounter on crossing Arkansas River, including smoking with tribe members in a wigwam.

Author: 
Sir Murland de Grasse Evans (1874-1946), 2nd Baronet, son of the Liberal politician and banker Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907) [Comanche tribe of Plains Indians; Native Americans]
Publication details: 
Without place or date [1899].
£450.00

2pp., small 4to. On two leaves of watermarked paper. Hurriedly-penned abbreviated memoranda. Although related, it is not clear whether the two leaves are sequential. The first is headed 'The Comanche tribe'. After a couple of lines Evans describes 'Crossing Arkansas R[iver] on the way we got to their Wigwam & smoked We were 3/4 <?> arguing re buying of skins I had rep. rifle hairy. The door of wigwam lifted by a string. I lifted door saw the ground cov[ered] with horses feet.

Autograph Letter Signed from Elizabeth Todd Nash of Madison, Connecticut, to Lady Marie de Grasse Evans, concerning her book 'Fifty Puritan Ancestors'.

Author: 
Elizabeth Todd Nash of Madison, Connecticut, author of 'Fifty Puritan Ancestors' [Lady Marie de Grasse Evans (d.1907), wife of Sir Francis Henry Evans]
Publication details: 
225 Central Park West, New York City. 25 March 1902.
£60.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'My dear Lady Evans - | Last week my publishers Messrs Tuttle Morehouse & Taylor sent you the two copies of "Fifty Puritan Ancestors" ordered so long ago. I trust you will find it as satisfactory as the rest of the Ward kin have done.' She apologises for a misunderstanding over the sending of a letter by Lady Evans 'to cousin Frank Ward - as I supposed you intended me to do'. 'Fifty Puritan Ancestors, 1628-1660. Genealogical notes 1560-1900. By their lineal descendant, E. T.

Five issues of a duplicated illustrated manuscript magazine, titled 'The Tubbendens Gazette', compiled by the family circle of Sir Francis Henry Evans and his wife Mary de Grasse Evans, including pieces on Harrow School and Girton College, Cambridge.

Author: 
[Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907) of Tubbendens, Orpington, Kent, banker and politician, his wife Lady Marie de Grasse Evans (d.1907)] [Harrow School; Girton College, Cambridge]
Publication details: 
[Tubbendens, near Orpington, Kent.] The five issues dated February, March, April, May and June 1892.
£180.00

Each issue 6pp., foolscap 8vo, on three leaves. All five issues duplicating, in blue and purple ink, manuscript text, mostly set out in double column, and hand-drawn illustrations. The issues for February and March in the hand of an unnamed male editor; the third issue edited by 'Gwladys Evans'.

[Privately printed booklet, in French, on Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse and his role in the American Revolution.] Appel aux Etats-Unis. Un Grand Oublié.

Author: 
[Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse (1722-1788), commander of the French fleet at the Battle of Chesapeake; Lady Marie de Grasse Evans (d.1907), American-born wife of Sir Francis Henry Evans]
Publication details: 
Imprimerie des Orphelins d'Auteuil, 40, rue La Fontaine, Paris. No date.
£220.00

16pp., 12mo. Stapled. In cream wraps, with the title in brown on front cover. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with vertical fold and slight rust staining to cover from staple. From the Evans family papers, which include those of de Grasse's descendant Lady Marie de Grasse Evans [née Stevens]. No copy traced, either in English-speaking libraries or the Bibliotheque Nationale.

Hand-coloured steel engraving by S. Cousen from painting by W. H. Bartlett of a river view of Albany, New York

Author: 
William Henry Bartlett (1809-1854), English landscape painter; John Cousen (1804-1880), engraver [Albany, New York]
Publication details: 
From the book 'The History of the United States of North America' (New York: Virtue & Yorston, 1855-1856).
£28.00

11 x 17.5 cm., with the original margin of the print, with caption, trimmed away, and the engraving laid down on a piece of 24.5 x 30.5 card. From the papers of Marie de Grasse, Lady Evans, wife of Sir Francis Henry Evans, and originally Marie de Grasse Smith, daughter of Hon. Samuel Smith of Albany, New York. In pencil on the mount: 'Albany 1837.'

Seven Autograph Letters (five signed) from Mary Frances Stevens of Albany, New York: five to her mother and two to her father, including a description of a party at her home for her husband's friend Daniel Webster followed by a political meeting.

Author: 
Mary Frances Stevens [née Smith; later Butterworth] (d.1890), wife of Hon. Samuel Stevens (c.1798-1854) of Albany, New York [Daniel Webster (1782-1852), Whig politician; President Martin Van Buren]
Publication details: 
All seven letters from Albany, New York; those to her mother dated 27 August 1842, 2, 19 and 24 September 1844 and 24 September 1848; those to her father dated 24 January 1846 and 22 October 1848.
£650.00

Mary Frances Stevens was the daughter of Silas O. Smith of Rochester, and the mother of the novelist Augusta de Grasse Stevens (1852-1894) and of Marie de Grasse, Lady Evans (d.1920), wife of the English Liberal politician Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907). After her husband's death in 1854 she married John Fowler Butterworth. The seven letters in this collection are closely and neatly written; those to her father in brown ink and those to her mother in blue. All seven in good condition, on lightly-aged paper.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Saml. Smith') from the Whig poltician and barrister Hon. Samuel Stevens, asking the Adjutant General of the State of New York, L. Ward Smith, to be one of the 'groom's men' at his wedding.

Author: 
Hon. Samuel Stevens (c.1798-1854) of Albany, New York, American barrister, Whig politician, friend and associate of Daniel Webster [L. Ward Smith (d.1863), Adjutant General of the State of New York]
Publication details: 
New York. 15 June 1842.
£180.00

Stevens married Mary Frances Smith (d.1890; second husband John Fowler Butterworth), daughter of Silas O. Smith of Rochester, and two of their children were the novelist Augusta de Grasse Stevens (1852-1894), and Marie de Grasse, Lady Evans (d.1920), wife of the English Liberal politician Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907). 2pp., 4to. 35 lines of text. In good condition on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with postmark, to 'Mr L Ward Smith | Rochester | N.Y-'. The letter begins: 'My dear Ward | How affectionate & familiar a man is, when he is about to ask a favor.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Samuel Stevens') from the barrister and Whig politician Hon. Samuel Stevens of Albany, New York, to his future father-in-law Silas O. Smith of Rochester, asking for permission to court Mary Frances Smith.

Author: 
Hon. Samuel Stevens (c.1798-1854) of Albany, New York, American barrister and Whig politician, friend and associate of Daniel Webster, husband of Mary Frances Stevens [nee Smith]
Publication details: 
Albany [New York]. 21 January 1841.
£180.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr Silas O Smith | Rochester'. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir | During my short sojourn at your city last October, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of your daughter. Since my return a correspondence has taken place between us in which she has given me permission to visit her & to entertain the hope that she may be persuaded to exchange the protection of the best of Parents for that of a husband.

Autograph Letter Signed (both 'WE Gladstone') from Liberal Prime Minister William Eward Gladstone, thanking Miss A. de Grasse Evans (a relation of his friend and colleague Sir Francis Henry Evans) for sending a book.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), Liberal statesman, four-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom [Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907), Liberal Member of Parliament (Southampton, Maidstone)]
Publication details: 
Hawarden; 8 December 1888.
£100.00

2pp., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Miss A. de G. Evans'. He thanks her for sending the book, adding: 'Both your kindness and the subjects to which it refers have made me very desirous to lose no time in examining it: and if, when I am able do to this, I find that I have any thing to say which can be useful (it will be no reproach to the work if I have not) you may depend upon hearing from me.' From the papers of Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907), who served as Liberal MP for Southampton, 1888-1895 and 1896; and Maidstone, 1901-1906.

Galley proof of magazine article 'Christmas in America Fifty Years Ago' by Augusta de Grasse Stevens, with note from 'E. Lowe' to her mother Mrs Butterworth; and manuscript biography of 'the young and rising novelist' in her sister Lady Evans's hand.

Author: 
Augusta de Grasse Stevens (1852-1894), daughter of Samuel S. Stevens (d.1854) of Albany, New York, and his wife, nee Mary Frances Smith [later Mrs John Fowler Butterworth] (d.1890)
Publication details: 
Neither item dated. [1890s.] Lowe's note on the proof from 7 Harley Gardens, SW [London].
£400.00

Both items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Item One (galley proofs): On piece of 13 x 49 cm. paper. In manuscript at head: '7 Harley Gardens SW | Monday | Dear Mrs Butterworth | The Printer will send you a proper proof tomorrow | Yours in haste | E Lowe'. The first part only, in small type, with one minor correction. The article is attributed to Augusta de Grasse Stevens in Helen O. Black's 'Notable Women Authors of the Day' (1893). Item Two (manuscript biography): 4pp., 4to. With a few minor emendations.

A pressed flower, picked from the grave of the American politician Daniel Webster by Marie de Grasse Stevens [later Lady Evans].

Author: 
[Daniel Webster (1782-1852), American politician; Marie de Grasse Evans (d.1920), Lady Evans [nee Marie de Grasse Stevens, daughter of Hon. Samuel Stevens of Albany, New York]
Publication details: 
Picked from the Old Winslow Burial Ground section of the Winslow Cemetery, near Marshfield, Massachusetts. August 1859.
£80.00

Small sprig (6cm long), pinned to 8 x 5 cm piece of ruled paper, torn from a notebook. The paper carries the note by Stevens: 'Grave of Daniel Webster | August 1859.' Placed in a 9.5 x 12 cm envelope, docketted in pencil: 'From Daniel Webster's grave | M. F. B'. Marie de Grasse Stevens, daughter of the Hon. Samuel Stevens of Albany, New York, friend and colleague of Daniel Webster, and widow of Irving Van Wart, married the English banker Francis Henry Evans in 1872. She became Lady Evans on his being knighted in 1893. From the Evans papers.

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