Sir William Gurney Benham (1859–1944) was a newspaper editor, published author and three times Mayor of Colchester.
Publication details:
[Printed heading] Essex County Standard Office, Colchester, 22 Nov. 1941.
£280.00
Two pages, 8vo, tipped on top slightly larger backing page, information about author typed under the letter, good condition. He thinks an author is wrong in a statement, saying "The duty levied under Charles I (fixed in 1628) was 36 pence [underlined] per gross on all playing cards, not 36 shillings [underlined]. Actually the duty was 2s. pergross but there was a further 1s. pergross payable to the Officer appointed as Receiver of the Duty.
Bernard C. Westall [Bernard Clement Westall] (1893-1970), President of the De La Rue Company, manufacturers of playing cards [Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal, Marshal of the Royal Air Force]
Publication details:
On letterhead of The De La Rue Company Limited, De La Rue House, 84/86 Regents Street, London W.1. 19 July 1963.
£45.00
1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Salutation ('Dear Lord Portal') and valediction ('I hope you are well. | Kindest regards | Yours sincerely | Bernard C. Westall') in autograph, the rest typed. Addressed to 'Marshal of the Royal Air Force, | the Rt. Hon.
Miscellaneous writer on subjects such as angling, ports and harbours, tobacco, wood-engraving - and playing cards (see below(DNB):Three ALs, signed (1) and initialled (2) to Smith, [1848], total 4pp., various formats, one in poor condition with minor loss of text.(March) Chatto asks Smith for specific books.