MARRIAGE

[Female suffrage; printed pamphlet.] On the Forfeiture of Property by Married Women. [Reprinted, by kind permission, from the FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW, for the Committee in support of MR. RUSSELL GURNEY'S MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY BILL.] With an Appendix.

Author: 
Arthur Hobhouse, Q.C. [Alexander Ireland, Manchester printer; Rt Hon. Russell Gurney, QC, MP] [women's suffrage; Victorian feminism]
Publication details: 
Manchester: A. Ireland & Co., Printers, Pall Mall. 1870.
£80.00

16pp., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged, no wraps, disbound. Several copies on COPAC, none of this edition on market currently.

[Gretna Green and ‘runaway marriages’.] Autograph Signature of ‘R B Mackinnon. / Last Blacksmith / “Priest” / Gretna Green’.

Author: 
Gretna Green and ‘runaway marriages’; R. B. Mackinnon (fl. 1941), blacksmith, last of the ‘anvil priests’
Gretna
Publication details: 
2 September 1941. Gretna Green [Scotland].
£56.00
Gretna

The author of the present item is the last in a line that stretched for around two hundred years. After the passing in 1754 of Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act, which prevented minors from marrying without their parents’ consent, English couples would take advantage of laxer Scottish laws. As one of the nearest parishes to England, Gretna Green became the destination of choice, and the marriage was usually conducted before two witnesses by a village blacksmith, who became known as an ‘anvil priest’.

[King Edward VII: marriage to Princess Alexandra, 1863.] Printed souvenir booklet titled: 'Come to the Marriage! A Memorial of the Marriage of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, to H.R.H. The Princess Alexandra, of Denmark, March 10th, 1863.'

Author: 
'F. G.' [marriage of the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, 1863; The Book Society, Paternoster Row, London]
Publication details: 
'London: The Book Society, 19, Paternoster Row, And Bazaar, Soho Square.' [1863.]
£120.00

No other copy of this royal memento has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. It is 29 + [3]pp, 32mo. Stitched with white thread into shiny white paper covers, with title duplicated within border in black on front, and back cover carrying an advertisement for a 'New Series of Packets of Books, for the young'. The final three pages carry a catalogue of 'Publications of The Book Society, 19, Paternoster Row, London.' In fair condition lightly aged, with faded front cover and dogeared corners.

[John Callcott Horsley, RA, painter.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. C. Horsley.') to 'Archdeacon Farrar' [Frederic William Farrar], asking him to officiate at the wedding of his daughter Fanny to Dr Arthur Whitelegge.

Author: 
John Callcott Horsley (1817-1903), RA, painter [Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903), Desn of Canterbury]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of High Row, Kensington, W. [London] 31 January 1885.
£56.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium of grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged.

[Caroline Norton, social reformer, George Meredith's 'Diana of the Crossways'.] Autograph Letter Signed, requesting permission to attend 'some curious experiments of animal magnetism'.

Author: 
Caroline Norton [Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton] (1808-1877), author and social reformer, heroine of the novel 'Diana of hte Crossways' by her friend George Gissing
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£500.00

1p., 16mo. With mourning border. Aged and worn, with tear to one corner and glue stains on reverse. Signed 'Caroline Norton'. The recipient is not identified. The letter begins: 'Dear Sir | The Prince Schomberg having told me of some curious experiments in animal magnetism which you would make this evg. I called to ask permission to witness them -'. She will 'retract' her 'petition' if he has 'no other ladies present – or if the persons on whom the experiments are made, only speak German', as she 'will not be able to understand enough of what passes'.

[ Victorian matchmaking: 'consult me personally & see cartes of 500 Ladies'. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Editor | M N') and printed agreement from the editor of Matrimonial News to J. Russell Gubbins of Limerick, who is in search of a wife.

Author: 
Matrimonial News, London periodical (Frederick Farrah, proprietor) [ John Russell Gubbins [ John Russell Legh ] of Bruree House, Limerick ]
Publication details: 
The two letters from the Matrimonial News Office, 282 Strand, London. 11 and 13 February 1874.
£150.00

A marvellous slice of Victorian social history. The entry for 'Matrimonial News' in 'Frederick May's London Press Dictionary and Advertiser's Handbook, 1871' runs as follows: 'MATRIMONIAL NEWS AND SPECIAL ADVERTISER – 2d. F. Farrah, 282, Strand, W.C.

[ Mona Caird, Scottish novelist and suffragist: 'my power of immediate help was nil'. ] Autograph Signature to last two pages of a letter explaining her inability to help the recipient, due to her 'financial matters' being 'black'.

Author: 
Mona Caird [ Alice Mona Caird; née Alice Mona Alison; married name Alice Mona Henryson-Caird] (1854-1932), Scottish novelistt, proponent of women's suffrage, and theosophis
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. The final two pages of an autograph letter by Caird, signed along a margin on the penultimate page: 'Yours sincerely | Mona Caird'. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter reads: '[…] I received your letter I knew too that my power of immediate help was nil. My expenses at the time were swelling out of all expected proportion & financial matters looking black all round in consequence of the state of things in Australia | You cannot imagine too what an infinite number of appeals I receive for help. For some time I shall be utterly unable to give any substantial aid.

[ Printed pamphlet, with introduction by G. W. Foote. ] Marriage and Divorce. An Agnostic's View. By Colonel R. G. Ingersoll.

Author: 
Colonel R. G. Ingersoll [ Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899), 'The Great Agnostic' ] [ G. W. Foote, Progressive Publishing Company, London ]
Publication details: 
London: Progressive Publishing Company, 28, Stonecutter Street, E.C. [ Printed and Published by G. W. Foote, 28 Stonecutter St., London, E.C. ] 1890.
£45.00

15 + [1]pp., 12mo. Disbound without wraps. In good condition, with light signs of age. Last page carries a list of 'Works by Colonel Ingersoll.' Foote's introductory note reads: 'During November and December, 1889, the North American Review printed a number of articles by representative men on the subject of Divorce. The editor framed a series of four questions, which the various writers replied to. Colonel Ingersoll answered them seriatim and fully, without the least evasion and reserve, having a habit, not only of meaning what he says, but of saying what he means.

[ Rev. Robert Anderson Jardine, the man who married the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. ] Album of newspaper cuttings and other material, with signed note on front cover: 'PROTESTANT CUTTINGS | PAMPHLETS & general items: | R. Anderson Jardinee'.

Author: 
Rev. Robert Anderson Jardine (1878-1950), Vicar of St Paul's, Darlington, who performed the 1937 wedding ceremony of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
Publication details: 
Cuttings dating from 1910 and 1911, and 1930.
£200.00

Jardine, dubbed by the press 'the Poor Man's Pastor', travelled to France to perform the ceremony. As a result, his vestry committee resigned and he resigned his living, emigrating to the United States. The cuttings are laid down on 19pp of a Victorian folio volume, in superior brown calf binding, tooled in gilt, with marbled endpapers, and 'HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS' stamped on the spine. As the title on the spine indicates, the volume contains the manuscript of a harmony of the gospels, covering 127pp, with the text written around columns of printed text cut from a printed bible.

[Female suffrage; printed pamphlet.] Marriage-Law Injustice, Objections to the Divorce Act, with Suggested Amendments.

Author: 
Fredk. A. Binney [Frederick Altona Binney] [Palmer & Howe, Manchester printers] [women's suffrage; Victorian feminism]
Publication details: 
Manchester: Palmer & Howe, Bond Street. 1876.
£80.00

24pp., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged, no wraps, disbound. Copies in copyroight libraries. None on market currently.

[Female suffrage; printed pamphlet.] The Injustice of the English Law as it bears on the Relationship of Husband and Wife. An Essay Read in the Law School at Cambridge in November, 1867.

Author: 
Rev. Alfred Dewes, D.D., LL.D., Vicar of Christ Church, Pendlebury [The Contemporary Review, London; women's suffrage; Victorian feminism]
Publication details: 
'Reprinted, by the kind permission of the Proprietors, from "THE CONTEMPORARY REVIEW."' ['Frederick Bell & Co., Steam Printers, King's Road, Chelsea.'] Undated [circa 1867].
£120.00

16pp., 8vo. In good condition, lightly-aged, no wraps, disbound. Only one copy on COPAC, at the British Library. There was a second edition, published by Virtue & Co., London, in 1874.

[Printed pamphlet in the form of a poetical dialogue regarding a parliamentary bill to legalise marriage to a deceased wife's sister.] Sisters-in-Law. A Conversation between two Peers.

Author: 
Anon. [Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill, 1871] [women's suffrage; Victorian feminism]
Publication details: 
'London: R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor, Printers, Bread Street Hill'. Undated [London: Edward Stanford, 1871].
£60.00

15 + [1]pp., 8vo. Drophead title. In good condition, lightly-aged, no wraps, disbound. Poetic dialogue in Tennysonian blank verse, beginning: 'First Peer. - This measure, every session comes to pass | By large majorities the Lower House; | And every year, of course, we throw it out, | But only by a bare majority.

[Printed Book] Beeton's Hand-Book of the Law relating to Women and Children [title continued below]

Author: 
Beeton's Law Books. No. 2
Publication details: 
London: Ward, Lock and Tyler, 1871
£150.00

[title continued] "!To which is added the Registration of Births and Deaths | The Whole including Marriage | Breach of Promise | Husband and Wife | Settlements | Parent and Child | Registration." pp.iv.188 (additional 3 pages of advts, inc.inside back cover), limp cloth binding, attractive cover with some use of colour (see scan), covers stained, contents good. A surprisingly scarce book, only two copies listed on COPAC (Oxford and Cambridge).

Autograph Journal of Johanna Maria Barrow, daughter of Sir John Barrow of Ulverston, describing her courtship by the soldier and artist Captain Robert Batty.

Author: 
Johanna Maria Batty (1800-1886), wife of the English army officer and artist Lieut-Col. Robert Batty (1789-1848), and daughter of Sir John Barrow (1764-1848)
Publication details: 
[Darley Dale and Dovedale, Derbyshire.] 31 July to 1821 and succeeding days.
£400.00

9pp., 12mo. In makeshift unbound pamphlet, made up of six bifoliums pinned together. In good condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. While short, the account is vivid, its first-person account of a whirlwind Regency romance evoking the inevitable comparison with Jane Austen. Written with the long s, the journal begins: 'On Monday July 31st.

Six manuscript bills and one letter from Edinburgh and Dumfries tradesmen, relating to the 1839 marriage in Buittle Parish of Janet, daughter of John Herries Maxwell of Munches, to William Maxwell of Carruchan.

Author: 
John Herries Maxwell (1784-1843) of Munches, of Buittle Parish, Kirkcudbright [Descendant of friend of Burns; William Maxwell of Carruchan]
Six manuscript bills and one letter from Edinburgh and Dumfries tradesmen
Publication details: 
Edinburgh and Dumfries; 1839.
£180.00
Six manuscript bills and one letter from Edinburgh and Dumfries tradesmen

Janet Maxwell married William Maxwell in Buittle Parish on 3 September 1839, and died three years later. The nine items, in good condition on lightly-aged paper, provide a fascinating insight into the requisites and cost of an early Victorian Scottish middle-class wedding, from the wedding 'pelisse' to the 'bride's cake'. ONE. Covering packet with manuscript note by J. H. Maxwell reading 'Vouchers | My Daughters marriage - clothes jewellery pocket money &c | 3d Sep 1839 | £439. 5. 4'. TWO. Autograph itemised account by J. H. Maxwell. 12mo, 1 p.

Typed copy, with annotations, of depositions in the case Rex v. Mir Anwaruddin, heard at the Central Criminal Court, 1918, following a libel action against Horatio Bottomley. For 'Director of Public Prosecutions [Sir Charles Willie Mathews]'.

Author: 
[Mir Anwaruddin (b. 1888); Sir Charles Willie Mathews (1850-1920), Director of Public Prosecutions; Horatio Bottomley (1860-1933), proprietor and editor of the magazine John Bull, and fraudster]
Publication details: 
Headed 'Central Criminal Court, 25th June, 1918.' [The trial took place on 2 July 1918.]
£450.00

Folio, [i] + 49 pp. Text clear and complete. A mimeographed typescript, with text and manuscript annotations. Clear and complete, on aged and creased paper. Typed in bottom right-hand corner of covering title: 'Director of Public Prosecutions.' Anwarudding was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1913, and between that year and 1918 his marital difficulties caused him to appear before thirteen different High Court Judges in eight different courts.

Autograph Note Signed "The Blacksmith of Gretna Green" to unnamed correspondent.

Author: 
"The Blacksmith of Gretna Green".
Autograph Note Signed "The Blacksmith of Gretna Green"
Publication details: 
"Gretna Hall | April 10th 1852".
£56.00
Autograph Note Signed "The Blacksmith of Gretna Green"

Two pages, 12mo, some creasing and staining, and a few wards faded, but text readable and complete. A letter or spoof letter from (or purportedly from) "The Blacksmith of Gretna Green", with newspaper clipping attached giving the text of this letter and commenting on it.

[Pamphlet] Facts and Opinions in Favour of legalising Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister

Author: 
Anon.
Opinions in Favour of legalising Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister
Publication details: 
Printed for The Marriage-Law Reform Association, 26 Parliament Street, [London], no date [1851?]
£125.00
Opinions in Favour of legalising Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister

RIGHTS OF WOMEN MARRIAGE LAW DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER

Four copies (on white, blue, pink and yellow paper) of a printed handbill titled 'Copy of a Letter from S. F. a Member of the Society of Friends, to a Young Woman, a Short Time before her Marriage.'

Author: 
S. F.' [Society of Friends; Quakers; Victorian women; nineteenth-century marriage]
Publication details: 
Undated [1840s?], and without publication details [English].
£225.00

Each copy is identically printed, on a piece of paper roughly 22.5 x 19.5 cm. Title and 56 lines of text (ending 'S. F.'), within a decorative border. Three of the four have a lightly-embossed stationery crown mark in a top corner. All four with text clear and complete, and in good condition, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Begins 'HAVING heard thou art shortly to enter a garden enclosed, and knowing thou art at present a stranger to this garden, permit an old friend to give thee an account of it.

Printed handbill on green paper titled 'Copy of a Letter from S. F. a Member of the Society of Friends, to a Young Woman, a Short Time before her Marriage.'

Author: 
S. F.' [Society of Friends; Quakers; Victorian women; nineteenth-century marriage]
Publication details: 
Undated [1840s?], and without publication details [English].
£56.00

On a piece of green paper roughly 22.5 x 19.5 cm. Title and 56 lines of text (ending 'S. F.'), within a decorative border. Lightly-embossed stationery crown mark in top left-hand corner. Text clear and complete. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper with creasing to bottom righ-hand margin. Begins 'HAVING heard thou art shortly to enter a garden enclosed, and knowing thou art at present a stranger to this garden, permit an old friend to give thee an account of it. I have travelled every path and part thereof, and know the productions of every kind, it can possibly yield.

Coloured lithographic dioramic print, captioned 'Morgan's Improved Transformations. The Royal Magic Pear. This Print upon holding before the Light will undergo an entire change and will present [...] the Portraits of the Royal Bride and Bridegroom.'

Author: 
William Morgan, printseller [the Marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1840; diorama; dioramic print]
Publication details: 
London. Published by Wm Morgan, 68, Upper Harrison St. Grays Inn Rd. 15th. Feby. 1840.'
£300.00

Dimensions of print roughly 13 x 17.5 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (22 x 28.5 cm). Engraved label (3 x 12.5 cm) beneath the print, with small remarque-style Dimensions of print roughly 20 x 14.5 cm. On original grey paper windowpane mount (34 x 24 cm). Engraved label (5 x 19 cm) beneath the print. Worn and discoloured. An usual and attractive item, with a simple picture of a pear which transforms into a portrait of the royal couple, under drapes, when held up to the light.

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