LOCOMOTIVES

[William Ewart Gladstone and colonial railways, 1846.] Printed Colonial Office circular dispatch, laying out ‘some general principles’ regarding ‘plans of Railway communication’ in the British colonies.

Author: 
W. E. Gladstone [William Ewart Gladstone] as Secretary of State for the Colonies, 1846 [Colonial Office, Whitehall; nineteenth-century railways; Victorian locomotives]
Publication details: 
Dated from Downing Street [London], 15 January 1846.
£120.00

A scarce item, of which no other copy has been traced. 9pp, 8vo. Disbound from a volume, and paginated in manuscript 57-65. In good condition, lightly aged. Printed in lithograph in facsimile of a manuscript document. Begins by explaining the purpose of the dispatch in true Gladstonian style: ‘I find that the impulse which has been given in every other part of the Civilized World to plans of Railway communication has been felt in many of the British Colonies.

[ George Hudson, 'The Railway King'. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo Hudson'), complaining to an unnamed party within a few months of his death of the non-arrival of a portmanteau at Kirkham Railway Station.

Author: 
George Hudson (1800-1871), 'The Railway King', railway promoter and fraudster
Publication details: 
Kirkham Station [ Yorkshire ]. 9 October 1871.
£180.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly aged paper, tipped in onto part of a leaf from an album. The main body of the letter reads: 'I am sorry to say the portmanteau has not arrived - will you enquire about it - I hope you addressed it to the Kirkahm Station on the North Eastern railway.' In a postscript he gives the full address as 'Mr Hudson Kirkham Station on the North Eastern railway York', adding that he will pick it up 'in a few Days when we return'. The letter may result from a mix-up with Kirkham Station in Lancashire.

[Joseph Pease, Quaker industrialist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Pease') to an unnamed correspondent, complaining that 'every action and transaction of Railway Companies must be suspected examined & re examined'.

Author: 
Joseph Pease (1799-1872), Quaker railway company promoter and industrialist
Publication details: 
Southend, Darlington. 1 April 1856.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper. He has been 'too unwell to attend much to business', and his 'Care in this matter has been to meet your convenience but not depart from instructions - to the best of my knowledge - at a time when every action and transaction of Railway Companies must be suspected & examined & re examined'. He concludes in the hope that his correspondent will 'deposit the Note on rect of this and obtain the Cash', adding that he 'cannot obtain any further instructions from the Board for several days'.

[Early Victorian railways.] Seven items on the topic, including six Autograph Letters Signed by William Green, John Gregson, Jonathan Binns, Oswald Gilkes, Augustus Maitland, William Shuttleworth, to John Diston Powles, Sir Joseph Fowler and others.

Author: 
Victorian railways: William Green, John Gregson, Jonathan Binns, Oswald Gilkes, Augustus Maitland, William Shuttleworth [Robert Stephenson; John Diston Powles, Sir Joseph Fowler]
Publication details: 
The six letters from London, Liverpool, Ulverston, Durham, Darlington, Edinburgh; written between 1824 and 1859; the transcription undated, but after 1821.
£750.00

Seven items, all in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Housed in an elegant and sturdy custom-built brown buckram folder, with thick boards, flaps and red leather label, with 'Letters on Railways' stamped in gilt on the spine. The first item is a transcription of a set of accounts by Edward Pease, and the other six items are letters, whose authors are: William Green, John Gregson, Jonathan Binns, Oswald Gilkes, Augustus Maitland, William Shuttleworth.

[The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company.] Letter of Attorney, on two skins of vellum, from 'Moncure Robinson Esqr. to Messrs. Thomson Hankey and Co.', appointing them his company's London agents, with his signature and seal in red wax.

Author: 
[Moncure Robinson (1802-1891), American civil engineer; Elihu Chauncey and Richard Fenn Lardner of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company'; Messrs. Thomson Hankey & Co., London bankers]
Publication details: 
18 April 1837.
£950.00

In very good condition, on one side each of two skins of vellum. Robinson's signature and seal in red wax at the foot of the attached skins, and the customary embossed tax stamps on both. Ruled borders in red ink. Docketed on reverse of first skin. The document begins: 'To all to whom these Presents shall come. Moncure Robinson of the City of Philadelphia in the United States of America and now residing in Bond Street in the County of Middlesex in Great Britain Esquire sends Greeting'.

[Lady Elizabeth Eastlake, daughter of Dr Edward Rigby and wife of Sir Charles Lock Eastlake.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Eliz: Rigby'), sending personal news to her aunt, with reference to the family of the bookseller John Murray.

Author: 
Lady Elizabeth Eastlake [née Rigby] [Elizabeth, Lady Eastlake] (1809-1893), daughter of Dr Edward Rigby (1747-1821) and wife of Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865) [John Murray, London bookseller]
Publication details: 
'Blackheath. | Wednesday night [undated, but 1840s]'.
£100.00

4pp., 16mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, on aged paper. She begins by explaining the reasons for her silence, and apologising if she has 'seemed neglectful': 'the truth is that I quitted Chester Squr on Monday, for Miss Squire's of Blackheath [...] I return to London to morrow mg, to spend a few days with Mr. Murray's [publisher] family in Albemarle St. & then think of takg the railroad to Derby [opened in 1844] to fulfil a long promised visit.' The letter continues with references to 'Mrs Reese Sr.' of Chester Square, 'dear Kath:' and 'dear Matty'.

Autograph Note Signed ('Charles Fox')[ from the civil engineer and designer of the Crystal Palace] Sir Charles Fox to Edward Walford, regarding the proof of his entry in biograpahical dictionary.

Author: 
Sir Charles Fox (1810-1874), English civil engineer on railways and London's Crystal Palace [Edward Walford (1823-1897), journalist and biographer]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 8 New Street, Spring Gardens, London. 15 May 1867.
£120.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of glue from mount on blank reverse. He informs Walford that he is returning 'the notes of my career having made some slight alterations'. He suggests that it would be 'well for me to compare the proof with the drafts'.

Copy of typed report into the 'Development of Rail Car Services in Europe [Germany, Austria, Hungary and Denmark]', by the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Junin, Peru [William Frank Stanton?]. With six fold-out blueprints.

Author: 
[Chief Mechanical Engineer, Junin, Peru [William Frank Stanton (1887-1962), English civil engineer?]
Publication details: 
Junin, Peru; 29 November 1935.
£250.00

32pp., foolscap 8vo, bound into white wraps with the six fold-out blueprints. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn wraps. Figure 1: '2-6-2 Diesel Locomotive V.1601 (showing the 'general characteristics' of the 'new 1400 H.P. Diesel locomotive'). Figure 2: 'General Arrangement of the small standard Shunting Locomotive' ('75 H.P. Diesel shunting locomotive made by the Deutz Motorenfabr, Köln, Germany'). Figure 3: 'general proportions' of 'the old "Flying Hamburger" and the new unit equipped with hydraulic transmission'). Figure 4: '150 H.P. Diesel-Hydraulic Rail Car'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('E Lord') from the theologian Eleazar Lord to the Rev. Dr James Richards of Newark, discussing the endowment of 'another Professorship' and other matters apparently relating to the New York Sunday School Union Society.

Author: 
Eleazar Lord (1788-1871), DD, American financier, railway president, theologian and philanthropist [Rev. James Richards, DD, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Newark]
Publication details: 
[2 September 1823.]
£165.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on the reverse of the second leaf to 'Revd Doct Richards | Newark'. Undated, but docketed by Richards 'E Lord DD | Sepr 2d | 1823 | author of the Biog. Dictionary'. Lord writes that he was glad to receive Richards' letter. 'I have as yet only the offer of a mann to be one of 4 to endow another Professorship. - He is however deliberating of a larger grant. The man on whom I hd placed some dependence, will I fear disappoint me.' He asks if 'any thing in this way' could be done on Richards' 'side of the river'.

Scrapbook containing two hundred engravings and photographs of mainly Victorian and Edwardian traction engines, road rollers and locomotives, with one blueprint.

Author: 
[Victorian and Edwardian traction engines]
Victorian and Edwardian traction engines
Publication details: 
The scrapbook undated (collection assembled in 1920s?).
£325.00
Victorian and Edwardian traction engines

The scrapbook is landscape 8vo (28 x 18.5 cm), and contains 28 leaves of brown paper tied together with ribbon, on which, together with the inside of the back cover, the images (dating from between 1860 and 1928) are laid down. The scrapbook lacks the front cover, and its leaves are worn, but the images are in good overall condition, with occasional wear and creasing. Ranging in size from 14.5 x 11 cm ('Fowler 8/c Traction About 1875. Jointed Horn Plates.') to 7.5 x 5.5 cm ('S/c Traction (About 1875-80)'.

[Printed book.] Rules and Catalogue of Books of the North Eastern Railway (Northern Division) Literary Institute [Newcastle-upon-Tyne].

Author: 
[North Eastern Railway (Northern Division) Literary Institute, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; Thomas Elliot Harrison (1808-1888), civil engineer, designer of the Jarrow and Hartlepool Docks; lending libraries]
Rules and Catalogue of Books of the North Eastern Railway
Publication details: 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Printed by Michael Benson, No. 57, Side. 1870.
£350.00
Rules and Catalogue of Books of the North Eastern Railway

12mo, 10 + 67 pp. In original purple morroco binding, with 'PRESENTED TO | T. E. HARRISON, ESQ., | VICE-PRESIDENT.' stamped on the front cover in gilt. A tight copy, in fair condition, on aged paper, with front endpapers sprung, and in a worn binding. Vignette woodcut on title-page, showing man working beside track as locomotive goes past.

Manuscript two-part petition, with signatures of numerous residents, addressed to Member of Parliament Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, in favour of the building of 'a Railway from the Town of Oswestry through Llansilin and Llanrhaiadr to Llangynog'.

Author: 
[Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 6th Baronet (1820-1885), Conservative M.P. for Denbighshire from 1841 to 1885; Cambrian Railways; Oswestry and Newtown Railway; Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway]
Manuscript petition, with signatures of numerous residents (Welsh Railway)
Publication details: 
Undated (1850s?).
£300.00
Manuscript petition, with signatures of numerous residents (Welsh Railway)

In two parts, each with the first page carrying the identically-worded petition. Part One: folio, 10 pp. Part Two: folio, 8 pp. Both texts clear and complete. On heavily aged and worn paper, with part of the blank last leaf of the second part torn away.

Printed prospectus, with separate leaves of testimonials and illustration, for shares in 'The Universal Railway & Carriage Spring Company, Limited

Author: 
The Universal Railway & Carriage Spring Company, Limited [the Perry Green Gardiner Patent Elliptic and Sprial Spring; Victorian locomotives; nineteenth-century railways]
The Universal Railway & Carriage Spring Company, Limited [
Publication details: 
London: 1876.
£75.00
The Universal Railway & Carriage Spring Company, Limited [

The prospectus is folio, 3 pp, in a bifolium. Loosely inserted is a folio leaf, with the testimonials printed on one side, and a quarto leaf with four engraved illustrations: two of wheels under carriages, and two showing details of the springs on those wheels. The three items are on aged paper, with the illustrated leaf in good condition, and the other two items with chipping and closed tears. The texts and illustrations of all three items are clear and complete, apart from some loss to a footnote to the testimonials, caused by the page being printed too low on the leaf..

Five mounted publicity sepia photographs of Great Eastern Railways dining facilities: showing the interior of restaurant cars in the first and third class compartments, the first class smoking saloon, the kitchen, and an exterior shot of the cars.

Author: 
[Great Eastern Railway; British railways]
5 publicity sepia photographs of Great Eastern Railways dining facilities
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1910?].
£180.00
5 publicity sepia photographs of Great Eastern Railways dining facilities

The five photographs are all in sepia and 15 x 20 cm. Each is mounted, with a 17.5 x 22.5 white backing, on a piece of grey 25 x 30 cm card. Each is neatly captioned in black copperplate, with red underlining. The photographs are all in good condition, on discoloured and worn mounts. The items were clearly produced for display by the company, as they all have pinholes in their mounts. The captions read: 'G.E. Rly Restaurant Cars.' [exterior shot]; 'G.E. Rly Restaurant Car - Kitchen', 'G.E. Rly. Restaurant Car Third Class Compartment', 'G.E. Rly Restaurant Car.

Printed notice ('PRIVATE. - For Railway Servants only.') offering a reward for the return of a number of 'G.W.R. HIRED WAGONS.'

Author: 
C. A. Roberts, Great Western Railway
Printed notice ('PRIVATE. - For Railway Servants only.')
Publication details: 
20 December 1916. Chief Goods Manager's Office, Paddington Station, W.
£45.00
Printed notice ('PRIVATE. - For Railway Servants only.')

12mo, 1 p. Text clear and complete. On aged and creased paper. Giving the numbers of thirteen wagons which are 'still undelivered', 'the position with the Owners' having become 'so acute that a Reward of Ten Shillings per Wagon is offered to anyone who traces either of the Vehicles and takes the necessary steps to ensure delivery of same'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed (all three 'A. W. Pimm') on 'loco matters' to King.

Author: 
Arthur Watson Pimm [A. W. Pimm] (b.1881), locomotive engineer and inventor [H. G. King of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers; Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd; Vickers; LNER; LMS Railways]
Publication details: 
Autograph Letters: 14 October and 18 December 1942. Typed Letter: 4 November 1942. All three from 5 Oakhill Road, Orpington, Kent.
£450.00

Text of all three letters clear and entire. A well-written and well-informed correspondence relating to 'locomotive matters'. Letter One (14 October 1942): Manuscript. Foolscap, 4 pp. Good, on aged high-acidity paper. 'Knowing, and to some extent, at least, sharing' King's 'interest in loco matters', Pimm informs him that the Ministry of Supply 'have ordered 360 L.M.S. mixed traffics generally like the 227 that AW's [Armstrong Whitworth] bill as their last order'.

Detailed pencil illustrations of nine steam engines [locomotives].

Author: 
B. Reynell [Victorian, Edwardian illustration; railway locomotives; steam engines]
Publication details: 
Without date or place [Edwardian?].
£200.00

Landscape sketchbook of twelve leaves. Dimensions of each leaf roughly 26.5 x 38 cm. Unbound and stitched. In original brown patterned wraps. Good, on lightly discoloured and spotted drawing paper, with some wear to extremities, heavy wear at head of spine, and in heavily-worn wraps. The first leaf, otherwise blank, has had a small square taken out of it, and there are stubs indicating the removal of a couple of leaves.

Engraving by Bolton from an illustration by Prior, of 'the Booksellers' Provident Retreat at Abbots Langley, Herts'.

Author: 
The Booksellers' Provident Institution [Thomas Bolton, wood engraver; William Henry Prior (c.1812-82), illustrator]
Publication details: 
[1848].
£250.00

Landscape. Dimensions of paper roughly nine inches by thirteen and a half. Trimmed. Clear image on aged and foxed paper. Captioned 'This ENGRAVING of the BOOKSELLERS' PROVIDENT RETREAT at Abbots Langley, Herts, erected upon ground presented by JOHN DICKINSON, ESQ.

Autograph Note Signed to 'Mr. Hearson'.

Author: 
Sir Frederick Robert Upcott
Publication details: 
13 March 1913; on letterhead '227, ST. JAMES' COURT, | BUCKINGHAM GATE, S.W.'
£26.00

Chairman of the Board of Indian Railways (fl. 1916). One page, 12mo. In very good condition, with one rough edge caused by removal from mount. 'It is my intention to be present at the dinner of Devonians in London on 3 May'. Signed 'F. R. Upcott'.

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