INDIA

Autograph Letter Signed ('Basil A. Yeaxlee') from the English educational pioneer Basil Yeaxlee [Basil Alfred Yeaxlee] to the anthropologist J. H. Driberg, regarding his difficulty in acquiring a copy of 'Island India goes to School' by E. R. Embree.

Author: 
Basil Yeaxlee [Basil Alfred Yeaxlee] (1883-1967), English pioneer in the field of adult education [Jack Herbert Driberg (1888-1946), anthropologist, brother of colourful Labour politician Tom Driberg]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 109 Woodstock Road, Oxford. 9 May 1939.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He begins: 'My bookseller has sent me tonight "Island India at School" - Chicago University Press $2 [in fact 'Island India at School', E. R. Embree et al, 1934], and therefore, presumably, C.U.P. in this country.' He apologises for troubling Driberg unnecessarily: 'But yesterday they told me that they couldn't even trace it in Publishers' Catalogues.' Postscript reads: 'I hope I'm not robbing you of your proper style & title. I feel that it might be "Dr."

Autograph Letter Signed ('T. W. Holderness') from Sir Thomas William Holderness to Sir Henry Marshman Havelock-Allan, regarding his appointment as Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India, and his predecessor 'poor Ritchie' [Sir Richmond Ritchie]

Author: 
Sir Thomas William Holderness (1849-1924), member of the Indian Civil Service and Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India [Sir Henry Marshman Havelock-Allan (1830-1897); Sir Richmond Ritchie]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the India Office, Whitehall. 24 October [1912].
£65.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Tipped in onto a leaf removed from an album. Holderness's predecessor Sir Richmond Ritchie (1854-1912) had died ten days before the writing of the letter, as a result, according to the Oxford DNB, of the undermining of his health by 'unremitting hard work [...] over several years'. Holderness begins the letter: 'It is very good of you to congratulate me on succeeding to poor Ritchie's responsibilities.

Autograph Note from the Indian 'Merchant Prince' Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy [Jeejeebhoy; Jeejebhoy] to 'Miss Brown', with engraved portrait, and long printed notice of 'The Late Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, Bart.'

Author: 
Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy [Jeejebhoy; Jeejeebhoy] (1783-1859), Bart, of Maragone Castle; Bombay 'Merchant Prince' and philanthropist
Publication details: 
The note from 'Maragone Castle | 23d. April [no year]'. Neither of the other two items with date or place.
£120.00

Note: 1p., 12mo. Creased, and with tear at head, 1 x1/2". Written in the third person, it reads: 'Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy will have much pleasure in complying with Miss Browns wishes by sending her some Flowers tomorrow Evening. | Maragone Castle | 23d. April'. Engraving: The margin has been cut away, but an accompanying printed slip carries the original caption: 'THE LATE | SIR JAMSETJEE JEEJEEBHOY, BART.' A steel engraving from a photograph, showing an old bewhiskered Jejeebhoy seated in robes and hat, with curled slippers, in a carved chair on a Turkey carpet.

Autograph Letter Signed from 'Bahadur Singh, Raojee Sahib Masuda' [Rao Saheb Bahadur Singh, Thakur of Masuda], in English, describing an injury sustained while pig-sticking.

Author: 
Rao Saheb Bahadur Singh [born Kunwar Bahadur Singh] (1857-1903), Thakur of Masuda from 1863 to 1903
Publication details: 
'Masuda 26th. March 1900', on Masuda State letterhead.
£120.00

2pp., 12mo. On two leaves laid down on a piece of paper removed from an autograph album. In fair condition, slightly-ruckled and worn. The letterhead, printed in red, consists of a monogram of a shining sun, with 'MASUDA STATE' on a banner above it, and the motto 'QUO FAS ET GLORIO DUCUNT' beneath. The letter reads: 'My dear Sir | I thank you very much for your kind letter of the 12th. Instant. I had killed a pig seven days ago[.] It was a very good and joky [sic] game[.] It suddenly fell by my stroke of spear. My mare also fell being pushed at the leg by the pig.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Ellenborough') from Lord Ellenborough to John Forbes Royle, commending his 'Essay on the Productive Resource of India'.

Author: 
Edward Law (1790-1871), 1st Earl of Ellenborough, Tory politician and Governor-General of India between 1842 and 1844 [John Forbes Royle (1799-1858), English botanist, born in India]
Publication details: 
Grosvenor Place, London. 1 January 1841.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. He begins: 'I have just received your work on the productive resources of India for which I beg to offer you my best thanks.' The subject has always been to him 'one of the deepest interest', and he rejoices that 'a gentleman of your knowledge has directed his attention to it'.

Autograph draft by Thomas George Baring, 1st Earl Northbrook, of a speech delivered by him, as First Lord of the Admiralty at the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Guildhall, 1883.

Author: 
Thomas George Baring (1826-1904), 1st Earl of Northbrook, Liberal politician; Viceroy of India, 1872-1876; First Lord of the Admiralty, 1880-1885
Publication details: 
On embossed Admiralty letterhead. [1883.]
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In pencil. Lightly-aged and worn. In pencil, with deletions and emendations. Docketed in another hand on reverse of second leaf: 'MS. speech delivered at Guildhall Banquet by Lord Northbrook, First Lord of Admiralty - 9th Novr. 1883.' And with the following in the second hand at the head of the first page: 'Lord Northbrook's Speech - Nov. 9. 1883 at Guildhall'. A very short speech, well reported in The Times of 10 November 1883.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Dhruva') from the Anglo-Indian sculptor Dhruva Mistry to Jennifer Jones of Art and Architecture magazine, regarding a planned talk to be titled 'Victoria Square: Work in Progress'.

Author: 
Dhruva Mistry (b.1957), CBE, RA, British sculptor born in India [Jennifer Jones; Art and Architecture magazine]
Publication details: 
On his monogrammed letterhead. 14 September 1993.
£350.00

1p., 8vo. Good, on lightl-aged paper. He thanks her for her telephone call, and hopes to give 'an illustrated talk about my work from 1980 onwards and culmination of themes towards sculptures for Victoria Square'. He will 'touch upon my conscious concerns for outdoor pieces in public, and working with others'. He ends by giving the title of the talk, 'If it is not too late'.

Autograph Letter Signed from Emma Roberts, author of 'Scenes and Characteristics of Hindostan', to William Jerdan, editor of the 'Literary Gazette'

Author: 
Emma Roberts (1791-1840), author and traveller in India [William Jerdan (1782-1869), editor of the 'Literary Gazette'; Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834), London publisher]
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but between 1826 and 1829.
£280.00

1p., 8vo. 22 lines. Fair, on aged and worn paper. Addressed on reverse to 'William Jerdan Esqr | Grove House'. On wove paper watermarked 'G & R TURNER | 1826'. The letter can thus be dated from between 1826 and 1829, the year 'Ackermann's Repository of the Arts' ceased publication. Written in a difficult, hurried hand. She has received a letter from 'Mr Ackermann', saying that the package which Jerdan was 'kind enough to promise should go in your bag yesterday I having given it to you too late for the boy on Monday, has not reached him'.

Autograph Letter Signed from Rustam Khan to Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Tytler, Commandant, thanking the officers of the 17th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry [Bengal Lancers], for conferring on him 'the honorary rank of captaincy'.

Author: 
Captain Rustam Khan, 17th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry [Bengal Lancers] [Major-General Sir Harry Christopher Tytler (1867-1939)
Autograph Letter Signed from Rustam Khan to Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Tytler
Publication details: 
4 May 1912.
£120.00
Autograph Letter Signed from Rustam Khan to Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Tytler

12mo, 3 pp. 38 lines. Text clear and complete. The two leaves attached along the margins. Signed in Devanagari and European ('So: Rustam Khan Captain') scripts. He acknowledges 'receipt of the Commission conferring on me the honorary rank of captaincy with a deep sense of gratitude to you and all the Officers of the Regiment'. States that he will 'ever cherish a grateful remembrance of all that the Officers and Regiment have done for me'.

Autograph Card Signed ('George Hamilton') from the Conservative politician Lord George Hamilton to 'Mr. Constable'.

Author: 
Lord George Hamilton (1845-1927), Secretary of State for India, 1895-1903, and First Lord of the Admiralty, 1885-1886 and 1886-1892
Lord George Hamilton
Publication details: 
15 December 1903; on letterhead of 17 Montagu Street, Portman Square, London.
£38.00
Lord George Hamilton

On both sides of the card, which is not addressed, having fitted inside an envelope. Aged, but with text clear and complete. Inviting Constable to play golf with him at Littlehampton. He can be there at 12.28 pm. 'I go to Coates on Friday'.

Sanskrit Luke

Author: 
[St Luke's Gospel]
Sanskrit Luke
Publication details: 
Calcutta: Printed by J.W. Thomas, at the Baptist Mission Press, and published by the Bible Society, 23, Chowringhee Road, C.A.B.S. 1884
£125.00
Sanskrit Luke

[114]pp., obl.8vo, printed blue wraps, worn at spine, loss of strip at edge, some damage to back wrap, contents good. See image on my website, richardfordmanuscripts.com (or request it). COPAC lists only one copy, at BL (who have the Mark and John as well).

An original blotting-paper impression ('Edward R' in mirror image) of the signature of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Author: 
Edward VII (1841-1910), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Emperor of India
Edward VII (1841-1910)
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£56.00
Edward VII (1841-1910)

On piece of blotting-paper, 14 x 13 cm; folded horizontally to make two rectangular leaves, each 7 x 13 cm, with the signature presented in the centre of the first leaf, and with the back leaf laid down neatly on a piece of cream card, 14.5 x 17 cm, with caption at foot of card: 'ORIGINAL BLOTTING-PAPER IMPRESSION OF SIGNATURE OF EDWARD VII.' Being the result of blotting, the impression is a mirror image of the original, with the firm signature 6 cm long, with a 7.5 cm underlining.

An original blotting-paper impression ('George R I' in mirror image) of the signature of King George V of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Author: 
George V (1865-1936), King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Emperor of India
'George R I' in mirror image
Publication details: 
Caption gives date as 14 December 1910.
£56.00
'George R I' in mirror image

On piece of blotting-paper, 13.5 cm square; folded horizontally to make a two rectangles, with the signature centred on the front leaf, and with the back leaf laid down neatly on a piece of cream card, 15 x 18 cm, with caption in ink at foot: 'ORIGINAL BLOTTING-PAPER IMPRESSION OF SIGNATURE OF GEORGE V DATED 14 . 12. 1910.' Being the result of blotting, the impression is a mirror image of the original, with the firm signature 4.5 cm long, with 6.5 cm underlining. On aged paper, with neat vertical fold line in centre, crossing the underlining half a centimetre from the right.

Autograph Letter signed "W.H. Sykes", Indian Army officer, statistician etc, to "Wm. Brown".

Author: 
Colonel William Henry Sykes, FRS (1790-1872), Indian Army officer, politician, ornithologist and statistician.
Autograph Letter signed "W.H. Sykes", Indian Army officer
Publication details: 
28 Marine Sq[uare], Brighton, 24 August 1861.
£125.00
Autograph Letter signed "W.H. Sykes", Indian Army officer

Two pages, 12mo, minor staining, mainly good condition.

Autograph Letter Signed from Sir George Birdwood ['George Birdwood'], a reference for William Martin Wood, editor of The Times of India, in his application to become Examiner in Political Economy at University College London.

Author: 
Sir George Birdwood [Sir George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood] (1832-1917), English administrator in India [William Martin Wood, editor of The Times of India; University College London]
Publication details: 
19 March 1887; No 7 Apsley Terrace, Acton.
£56.00

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. 47 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. As 'an intimate personal friend from 1865', Birdwood endorses Wood's application, stating that he was 'a frequent Examiner in political economy for Bombay University' between 1874 and 1880. He explains that Bombay University took in 'the greatest interest' in the subject, and 'always endeavoured to secure the best qualified examiners, - having the whole Civil Service, beside the Educational Department to select from', and that they 'always preferred' Wood.

[Printed paper] Studies on the Mouth Parts and Sucking Apparatus of the Blood-Sucking Diptera. No. 4. The Comparative Anatomy of the Proboscis in the Blood-Sucking Muscidae. By Captain F. W. Cragg, M.D., I.M.S., King Institute of Preventive Medicine.

Author: 
Captain F. W. Cragg [Francis William Cragg (1882-1924)], M.B., I.M.S.
Publication details: 
Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. 1913. [Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the Government of India. New Series. No. 60.]
£28.00

PRINTED SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS MEDICAL SANITARY DEPARTMENTS GOVERNMENT INDIA INDIAN FRANCIS WILLIAM CRAGG BLOOD-SUCKING PARASITES INFECTIOUS DISEASE

[Printed paper] Snake-Venoms in relation to Haemolysis. By Captain George Lamb, M.D., I.M.S.

Author: 
Captain George Lamb (1869-1911), M.D., I.M.S.
Publication details: 
Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India. 1905. [Scientific Memoirs by Officers of the Medical and Sanitary Departments of the Government of India. New Series. No. 17.]
£28.00

PRINTED SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS MEDICAL SANITARY DEPARTMENTS GOVERNMENT INDIA INDIAN SNAKE VENOM POISON CAPTAIN GEORGE LAMB

Correspondence and Proceedings in the Negociation for a Renewal of the East-India Company's Charter. [John Fane's copy]

Author: 
[John Fane (1751-1824), Tory politician] [the East India Company]
Correspondence and Proceedings . . .Renewal of the East-India Company Charter
Publication details: 
London: Printed for Black, Parry, and Co. Leadenhall Street. 1812. [London: - Printed by Cox and Baylis, 75, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.]
£56.00
Correspondence and Proceedings . . .Renewal of the East-India Company Charter

8vo, [viii] + 92 + [iv] pp. The last four pages comprise a publisher's catalogue. Unbound. Stitched as issued. First leaf discoloured and stained, last five leaves creased: otherwise a very good tight copy. Ownership inscription at head of first leaf, reading 'J. Fane Esq MP | 8 Great George St.'

Autograph Note Signed to "The Secretary of the Delegates, Clarendon Press, Oxford", about revises of his book "Ultrasonic Absorption" (pub. Oxofrd 1967).

Author: 
A.B. Bhatia, Indian Physicist
A.B. Bhatia, Indian Physicist, Autograph Note Signed
Publication details: 
Physics Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 12 July 1966.
£38.00
A.B. Bhatia, Indian Physicist, Autograph Note Signed

One page, chipped, punch-holes, fold marks, text clear and complete. He gives their reference and the title of his forthcoming book, saying "I sent the revises F & G of my book,last Monday, July 10. | If Iam not too late, please make the additional correction, which is shown in red ink on the attached proof sheet, p.67." Clarendon Press round stamp at top of page.

Autograph Note, in the third person, to Twining.

Author: 
Hugh Percy [Hugh Smithson] (1742-1817), 2nd Duke of Northumberland [Richard Twining (1749-1824), tea and coffee merchant]
Publication details: 
2 December 1799; Northumberland House, London.
£28.00

4to, 1 p. Good, aged paper, with traces of previous mount adhering to reverse. Reads 'The Duke of Northumberland presents his Compliments to Mr. Twining, & shall be glad to see him on Wednesday next at three o'clock. | Northd. House | Decr. 2d. 1799.' From the Twining family archive.

Manuscript account of 'Revenue as calculated to end of Charter', including reference to St Helena.

Author: 
East India Company [St Helena; Charter of 1833]
Publication details: 
Dated at foot '1845'.
£150.00

On one side of a piece of laid watermarked paper, 14 x 8 cm. On aged and creased paper. The accounts are brief, and neatly written in an unidentified hand. At foot '1845'. Headed 'Revenue as calculated to end of Charter', and featuring a total of £17,936,217 against itemised charges of £18,763517, including those incurred 'in India', 'Esp: St Helena', 'Political Chges in England' and 'Cost of '. Beneath this a section headed 'Of ye above charges may be pble in Engd'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('F. Madras.') to 'My dear Venables'.

Author: 
Frederick Gell (1820-1902), Anglican Bishop of Madras, India
Publication details: 
14 April 1871; 56 Friar Gate, Derby.
£85.00

12mo, 2 pp. 24 lines of text. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Laid down on a leaf from an album, in such a way as the first line of the second page can only be read in mirror image by holding the item up to the light. Marvellously indicative of the patronising attitude of the governing British classes to their Indian subjects. On visiting Venables he will 'venture to bring with me my native servant' who 'does not require much in the way of accommodation'. If Venables 'has no corner for him' in his house, asks if he can recommend 'a little room somewhere near'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('A. C Lyall') to Lane-Poole.

Author: 
Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall (1835-1911), Indian civil servant, poet and historian [Stanley Lane-Poole (1854-1931), British orientalist and archaeologist,]
Publication details: 
Undated; Flitwick, Swift Hill (on cancelled letterhead of 16 Queen's Gate, London S.W.
£28.00

12mo, 1 p. Nine lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with a neat cut (not affecting text) neatly repaired on reverse. The Registrar at the India Office has informed Lyall that Lane-Poole's name is 'on the list of those to whom the India Archaeological Reports are sent'.

Poems

Author: 
I. M. C.' [i.e. Isabella M. Cronyn] (Lady Couchman)
Publication details: 
Privately printed: The Westminster Press, 1942.
£25.00

Wife of railway engineer and administrator in India and Burma. Stitched 8vo pamphlet, in printed card wraps. In good condition. 16 pages.

Humorous pamphlet entitled 'Display of Knights in Tourney. Programme. 1. Jousting. 2. The two-handed Sword. 3. Melee with Battleaxes and Maces.'

Author: 
Ferozepore Brigade, Punjab [British Army in India; Firozpur; the Raj]
Publication details: 
Undated [early twentieth century]. Muir Press Brigade Printers, Ferozepore Area.
£45.00

4to (leaf dimensions 21.5 x 17.5 cm), 3 pp. Bifolium. On green paper. The central two pages carry a 'arms', 'motto' and 'biography' of each of the 'Dramatis Personae': 'Sir Attaboy de Walloper', 'Sir Kolynos Dent', 'Sir Bottholm Duster' and 'Sir Guinness Comme-Boisson'. The targets of this lighthearted satire are lost. Beside each character is an Indian name (the last being 'L/Def. Mohmed Sultan Khan'). There are also nine Indians named as playing herald, pages and varlets. No copy on COPAC.

List of Different Houses' (docketed 'List of Houses and Correspondences established by the House of Gopaldoss'), signed '/A true copy/ | Jno White | <?>'.

Author: 
[East India Company; British Raj; the House of Gopaldoss]
Publication details: 
Without place or date [circa 1820?].
£120.00

One page, octavo. Very good. On paper with 'C TAYLOR' Britannia watermarked paper. Possibly an East India Company document. Of obscure meaning, headed 'List of Different Houses', and consisting of two columns (the left-hand one of sixteen lines, and the right-hand of eleven). Includes 'Moorshedabad', 'Massulipatam', 'Poona, the Money paid to Mr. Mallet', 'Ahumabad the Residency of their Correspondent's' and 'The Mahratta Army'. With 'Exd: W D' in bottom left-hand corner. Docketed on reverse of second leaf of bifolium, with reference 'No. 149. A. | Entd at Dell <?d.> | " - MS'.

Signed ('Geo Wroughton') printed circular letter, addressed to T[homas]. Adams [of Alnwick, Northumberland].

Author: 
George Wroughton of Wilcott, Wiltshire [Bengal; the East India Company]
Publication details: 
25, Berners Street, London; May 12 1813'.
£125.00

4to bifolium: 2 pp. Good. Soliciting Adams's 'Vote and Interest' when he is 'enabled to proceed to a ballot', having 'lately presumed to offer myself to the Proprietors of East-India Stock, as a Candidate for a Seat in their Direction, upon some future vacancy'. (Feeling 'that their suffrages will have been very generally engaged to an earlier Candidate for the next appointment which a casualty may occasion', he does not want to 'interfere with that Election'.) He was resident in Bengal for thirteen years, and the final paragraph describes his other qualifications.

Draft Autograph Letter, probably incomplete (lacking signature page), to "St John". WITH related material.

Author: 
George Wyndham
Publication details: 
"Private / Draft / 25 Oct. 1904".
£500.00

(Wyndham) Statesman and man of letters, at the time of this letter Chief Secretary fo Ireland (see DNB). Three pages, 4to, good condition, draft with much working over. He appreciates being given detailed grounds for a proposal that Sir Anthony Macdonnell [MacDonnell, Antony Patrick, Baron MacDonnell, statesman, of Irish origin] , currently working with Wyndham in Ireland might be made available in the Indian Council, a matter of urgency. He explains at length his high opinion of Macdonnell (energy, ability, distinction, etc.) and his reluctance to part with him.

A collection of six autograph letters signed to Clement Shorter, man of letters, editor of "The Sphere".

Author: 
George Scott Robertson.
Publication details: 
1898-1914.
£150.00

Anglo-Indian Administrator (1852-1916). Total sixteen pages, 8vo, good condition. . Subjects include: anticipation of the publication of his book, "Chitral. The Story of a Minor Siege"; the Johnson Club, political activity (canvassing), Edward Clodd, a request to be the "accredited agent" of "The Sphere" at the Front (Great War). With; (printed) Order of his Memorial Service (1916). 7 items,

Two Autograph Cards Signed (both 'H M Durand') to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Mortimer Durand [Sir Henry Mortimer Durand] (1850-1924), British diplomat and civil servant,, Foreign Secretary of India, 1884-1894
Publication details: 
Received 19 July 1916 and 7 June 1917.
£28.00

Both cards plain with printed stamp and 9 x 11 cm. Both bearing the Society's oval purple stamp. Card One: He is 'leaving town on business for two or three days' and so cannot attend the meeting of the Indian Section Committee. Card Two: He will 'with pleasure support Abney if in town', but may not be there on the day.

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