SOMERSET

[Printed pamphlet.] Twelve Sonnets composed during a period of blindness by Thomas Bruce Dilks.

Author: 
Thomas Bruce Dilks (1866-1949), poet and local historian [East Gate Press, Bridgwater, Somerset]
Publication details: 
East Gate Press, Bridgwater. 1938.
£35.00

14pp., 12mo. Stitched into grey paper wraps, with white label printed in black and red on front cover. In fair condition, lightly worn and aged. The titles are: 'The Sea Bird at Dawn | January, 1937', 'Wonder', 'On my Father's Collection of Seaweeds', 'The Water Gate, Bridgwater Castle', '"Barchester"', '"We trusted that it had been he." (dated 'Good Friday, 1938'), 'The Third Day | Narrative of Cleopas' (dated 'Easter, 1938'), 'The Victorians', 'Robert Blake', 'Keats', 'John Richard Green' and 'To my Nurse | June, 1938'.

[Fitzroy Somerset, Lord Raglan.] Secretarial Letter, signed 'Fitzroy Somerset', informing 'Ensign Bickerstaff' [Robert Bickerstaff] that he may purchase a lieutenancy in the 64th Foot Regiment.

Author: 
Field Marshal Fitzroy Somerset [FitzRoy James Henry Somerset], 1st Baron Raglan [Lord Raglan] (1788-1855), British commander in Crimean War [Lt-Col. Robert Bickerstaff (d.1894), 6th Dragoon Guards]
Publication details: 
Horse Guards [London]. 18 November 1846.
£120.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Raglan signs and addresses Bickerstaff at the foot of the letter, otherwise it is in a secretarial hand. It reads: 'Horse Guards | 18 November 1846 | Sir, | I am directed by The Commander in Chief [the Duke of Wellington] to acquaint you, that, on your lodging the Sum of £250 - in the hands of Messrs. Cox & Co of Craigs Court His Grace will submit your name to Her Majesty for the purchase of a Lieutenancy in the 64th Foot - | I have the honor to be, | Sir, | Your humble Servant, | Fitzroy Somerset | Ensign Bickerstaff | 64th Foot'.

[Lieutenant-Colonel John Vandeleur, 10th Royal Hussars.] Autograph Letter Signed to the Military Secretary FitzRoy Somerset [Raglan]l, re. an application from one of his adjutants named Gladstone. Docketed with Autograph Note on subject by Somerset.

Author: 
Colonel John Vandeleur (c.1793-1864) of the 10th Hussars, Aide de Camp to General Sir John Ormsby Vandeleur (1763-1849) in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo [Lord Fitzroy Somerset (1788-1855)]
Publication details: 
Dorchester. 17 May 1839.
£80.00

1p., 4to. On bifolium. Very good on lightly-aged paper. Green date stamp of the Commander in Chief's Office. Docketed on reverse of second leaf with barely legible note by Somerset (he had had to learn to write with his left hand after losing his right arm at Waterloo), beginning 'Inform Messrs Cox of the intention'. Vandeleur considers that it 'would be a very great Indulgence to Mr. Gladstone to allow him the indulgence he asks provided it can be done without inconvenience to the Service'.

Signature ('Fitzroy Somerset') of Lord Fitzroy Somerset, later Lord Raglan, on frank to Colonel Brotherton.

Author: 
FitzRoy James Henry Somerset [known as Lord FitzRoy Somerset], 1st Baron Raglan [Lord Raglan] (1788-1855), British army officer [The Charge of the Light Brigade; Battle of Balaklava; Crimean War]
Publication details: 
Merthyr Tydvil [Wales]. 11 June 1831.
£25.00

On piece of 6.5 x 11.5 cm paper, cut from front of frank. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. With the red government postmark ('FREE | 11 JU 11 | 1831'). Reads 'London June seventh 1831 | Colonel Brotherton | Merthyr Tydvil | [signed] Fitzroy Somerset'.

Typed Letter Signed ('Raglan') from Fitzroy Richard Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan [Lord Raglan] to fellow anthropologist J. H. Driberg, regarding a proposed stay at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Author: 
FitzRoy Richard Somerset (1885-1964), 4th Baron Raglan [Lord Raglan], President, Royal Anthropological Society [Jack Herbert Driberg (1888-1946), Lecturer in Anthropology, Cambridge University,1934-42
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Cefntilla Court, Usk, Monmouthshire. 11 October 1938.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Having been 'very comfortable' at Trinity College, Cambridge, as a guest of Bernard Thomas, Raglan thinks it will be 'very pleasant' to stay there again. He gives details of his proposed itinerary, makes suggestions regarding his motor-car, and accepts an invitation to 'dine in Hall'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. R. Planché') from the dramatist and herald James Robinson Planché, thanking 'Mr. Barnett' for procuring the freedom of Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, for him,with reference to its manager Benjamin Lumley.

Author: 
James Robinson Planché [J. R. Planché] (1796-1880), dramatist, antiquary and Somerset Herald [Benjamin Lumley (1811-1875), manager of Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket]
Publication details: 
Garrick Club. 24 April [no year].
£40.00

1p., 12mo. Fair, on aged paper and worn paper. He is 'exceedingly obliged' to Barnett for 'procuring for me the freedom of Her Majesty's Theatre'. He asks if he will 'receive an official commemoration from Mr. Lumley', or whether he should write and thank Lumley on the strength of Barnett's note.

Autograph Letter Signed from Robert Miller, informing 'Captain Pack' [Colonel Arthur John Reynell Pack] of troop movements from Cork to Gibraltar and the West Indies, and discussing Pack's desire for a transfer to the Royal Fusiliers.

Publication details: 
[Received 7 December 1841.]
£120.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed, with red wax seal and postmark in red ink, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Captain Pack | Royal Fusiliers | Barbados'. The letter begins: 'My dear Captain Pack | I take the earliest opportunity of letting you that [sic] the Ship Herefordshire - a noble vessel - has been taken up to convey the 67 to Gibraltar, & the 66 & 72 from thence to the West Indies, proceeding afterwards with the Fusiliers & 19th Halifax'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('John S. Pakington') from the British Conservative politician John Somerset Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton, to General Sir Robert Gardiner, Governor of Gibraltar, discussing his 'printed but unpublished Report' on the 'Rock'.

Author: 
John Somerset Pakington (1799-1880), 1st Baron Hampton [Lord Hampton] British Conservative politician [General Sir Robert Gardiner (1781-1864), Governor of Gibralar, 1848-1855]
Publication details: 
Eaton Square [London]. 1 March 1856.
£150.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He writes to thank Gardiner for sending him 'a copy of your printed but unpublished Report to His Majesty's Government on the danger of governing Gibraltar as a Colony'. Gardiner's report 'forms an appropriate termination' to his 'administration of the affairs of the "Rock," & I shall read it with the interest and attention due to your long Experience in that Fortress'. He ends by sending his compliments to Lady Gardiner.

Secretarial Letter Signed ('FitzRoy Somerset') from Lord FitzRoy Somerset [later 1st Baron Raglan] to Lieutenant [Christopher Bernard] Martin, 60th Regiment of Foot.

Author: 
FitzRoy Somerset (1788-1855), 1st Baron Raglan [Lord FitzRoy Somerset; Lord Raglan; General Rowland Hill (1772-1842), 1st Viscount Hill of Almaraz; 60th Regiment of Foot (King's Royal Rifle Corps)]
Secretarial Letter Signed ('FitzRoy Somerset') from Lord FitzRoy Somerset
Publication details: 
29 September 1832; Horse Guards [Whitehall, London].
£95.00
Secretarial Letter Signed ('FitzRoy Somerset') from Lord FitzRoy Somerset

Folio, 1 p. On bifolium. Docketed on reverse of second leaf. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Martin having written to him on 16 September, 'renewing [his] application to be permitted to retire with the Rank and Half pay of Captain', Somerset is 'directed by the General Commanding in Chief [Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill]' to acquaint Martin 'that His Lordship can only repeat the Substance of the communication which I was desired to address to Mr. Daly on the 4th. Instant on the same subject, viz - that it is wholly out of Lord Hill's power to comply with your request'.

[Broadside; architectural proposals] Buckingham House [Extracted from the John Bull, of July 31, 1831].

Author: 
[F.W. Trench, M.P. for Cambridge]
Broadside; architectural proposals] Buckingham House
Publication details: 
[London, 1831].
£180.00
Broadside; architectural proposals] Buckingham House

Two pages, folio, 3 small closed tears, small part of a corner torn off, some marginal staining, mainly good condition. The article states that Trench some years since proposed forming a continuous quay along the nothern shore of the Thames, has published other proposals: A Proposition for the Disposal of Buckingham House, for a National Picture Gallery, A National Statue Gallery, and for the King's College; leaving one entire end of the Palace and one Wing, with the whole of the other Attics, for other public purposes.

Autograph Letter Signed ('F A Greenhill') to 'Mr Connor', on the subject of incised slabs in Somerset. Together with offprint of Greenhill's paper 'Notes on Scottish Incised Slabs (I).'

Author: 
Frank Allen Greenhill (1896-1983), MA, FSA, FSA (Scot), of Dumfries, Scottish archaeologist
Publication details: 
15 January 1946; 'St Monan's', Victoria Rd, Maxwelltown, Dumfries.
£38.00

Letter: 4to, 1 p (32 lines); and 8vo, 2 pp (42 lines) in bifolium. Total of 74 lines. Texts of letter and offprint clear and complete. Both on aged and creased paper, and attached to one another by archival tape. Offprint 4to, 8 pp (paginated 81-88). I n the letter Greenhill writes 'My acquaintance with Somerset brasses is but scanty, all I ever rubbed being at Hutton, Cheddar, Churchill, Wedmore, St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Crewkerne, and the Strode brass at Shepton Mallet.

The Description and Explanation of a "Universal Character;" or, Manner of Writing, that may be intelligible to the Inhabitants of every Country, although ignorant of each others Language; and which is to be learnt with facility, [...].

Author: 
[anon.] [Bath, Somerset; provincial printing; pasigraphy; linguistics; universal language]
Publication details: 
Bath: Printed by J. Hollway, Engraver and Copper-Plate Printer, Union Street.' [1830? 1833? 1835?]
£450.00

4to: 48 + [3] pp of letterpress, with additional leaf after title of 'Errata of Letter Press' and 'Errata in Plates'. Twenty numbered plates (the first two transposed), including one fold-out, and a final seventeen full-page unnumbered plates ('Examples'). Apparently complete. In original brown quarter binding, with cloth spine and paper boards. Ownership inscription of 'Lady Rolle' (1796-1885, born Louisa Barbara Trefusis) on front board. Text clear and complete. On aged and lightly-spotted paper, with wear to extremities and wraps, and cloth spine torn and worn.

The Seven Pilgrims: An Allegory. Published by Request.

Author: 
Rev. Frederic Charles Skey, M.A. [vicar of Weare, Somerset; Yarmouth; provincial printing]
Publication details: 
Yarmouth: Printed by George Nall, 182, King Street. 1860.
£150.00

12mo: 16 pp. Unbound. Stitched as issued. Aged and a little dogeared. From the Skey family archives, and inscribed by the author at the head of the title 'For my dear Mother.' A prose allegory, in small print, beginning, 'I thought there was an island whose rough craggy sides were lashed by the unwearying ocean.' Excessively scarce: no copy on COPAC or WorldCat. Skey was vicar of Weare for forty-five years, until his death at the age of 83.

The Duties of a Soldier, illustrated and enforced in a Sermon, preached at the Consecration of the Colours of the Somerset Light Dragoons, On Wednesday, the 6th. of August, 1794, in the Church of St. Mary Magdalen, Taunton.

Author: 
Rev. John Gardiner, Curate of the Church of St Mary Magdalen, Taunton, and Rector of Brailsford, &c. in the County of Derby [Somerset Light Dragoons; British Army]
Publication details: 
Published at the Request of the Corps. Taunton: Printed by J. Poole; sold by Him, and E. and S. Hassums; Sold also by Messrs. Rivingtons, St. Paul's Church Yard; Stockdale, Piccadilly; Richardson, Cornhill; and J. Downes, Temple-Bar, London. 1794.
£250.00

4to: 37 pp. Unbound. Stitched as issued. Text clear and entire on discoloured paper worn at the extremities. Central closed tears to the last four leaves, the closed tear to the last leaf being repaired with archival tape on the blank reverse. A production over which the author has taken great care, he having added two autograph footnotes, one of three lines and the other of two, on p.34. Note on p.37: 'The extraordinary length of this Discourse, being more than double that of Sermons usually printed, is the reason for its being sold at the additional price of one half. [i.e.

Handbill advertisement for 'A Sermon, on behalf of the Home Missionary Society', to be preached by 'The Rev. John Thomas, Minister of the New Chapel, Highgate.' Contemporary manuscript for printing, on London Missionary Society, on reverse.

Author: 
Rev. John Thomas, Minister of the New Chapel, Highgate [the Home Missionary Society; London Missionary Society; Somerset Auxiliary Missionary Society; William Bragg, Printer, Cheapside, Taunton]
Publication details: 
Undated [circa 1830]. Printer unnamed [William Bragg, Printer, Cheapside, Taunton, Devon].
£56.00

From a collection of material relating to William Bragg, Printer, of Cheapside, Taunton, Devon. Printed on one side of a piece of wove paper, 22 x 27.5 cm. Grubby and lightly creased, with central spike hole, slight wear and loss to extremities, and 5 cm closed tear. Text clear and entire. Twelve lines of printed text, in a variety of types and point sizes, reading 'A Sermon, on behalf of the Home Missionary Society, will be preached at Paul's Meeting, Taunton, On Friday Evening, April 14, 1826. By The Rev. John Thomas, Minister of the New Chapel, Highgate.

Autograph Signature ('Isabel Somerset') on piece of paper.

Author: 
Lady Isabel Somerset [Lady Isabella Caroline Somerset; Lady Henry Somerset] (née Somers-Cocks) (1851-1921), Temperance activist and campaigner for women's rights
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£23.00

On irregularly shaped piece of paper, roughly 3 x 7 cm, cut around the signature and its double underlining. Good signature, with slight smudging to a couple of letters.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent [William <Lecardale?>]

Author: 
John Carrick Moore [THE ROYAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY]
Publication details: 
2 November 1848; 4 Hyde Park Gate, Kensington.
£80.00

Scottish geologist (1805-98), Fellow of the Royal Society. Written in capacity as Secretary of the Geological Society. Four pages, 12mo. On grubby, stained paper discoloured with age. Second leaf of bifoliate attached to two fragments of draft replies in similar condition. 'Your very elaborate Paper on the L[ower]. Greensand Corals came before the Council yesterday for consideration: and the unanimous wish was to print it in the Journal with the fullest illustrations.

Handbill headed 'Souvenir. Street Library Book Fund.', consisting of a monologue entitled 'Lord Beaconsfield speaks before the curtain'.

Author: 
Laurence Housman [The Street Library, The Crispin Hall; Somerset; English libraries]
Publication details: 
Crispin Hall, July 8th, 1931.'
£56.00

One one side of a piece of laid paper, 26.5 x 21 cms. Aged and creased, with chipping to extremities and staining on reverse from repair to one of two closed tears. Thirty-six lines, with facsimile of Housman's signature at foot. An appeal for 'money for the Library - your Library'. Somewhat poignant, considering the present neglected state of the British library service. '[...] The question is - do you want to give money to your Library? [...] But, for my own part, I ask - why, why Libraries? What are they for? What there do you read?

Autograph Letter 'To the Editor', entitled 'Phrenology', and signed 'Apollonius'.

Author: 
PHRENOLOGY [Wiveliscombe; Somerset Country Gazette]
Publication details: 
Wiveliscombe Decr 18th, 1840'.
£65.00

Two pages, quarto. On a discoloured piece of brittle, thin wove paper, with some fraying, several closed tears and a little loss (affecting three words). A long, able and closely-written defence of the discipline. '[...] | X appears decidedly opposed to an alarmed at the science, and feels himself awfully degraded with the comparisons drawn by Phrenologists between the human species and the lower animals - that they should exist, breathe, and partake of, in a limited degree, corresponding qualities with the human race.

Autograph Postcard Signed to Kenneth Bredon, of Bredon's Bookshop in Brighton.

Author: 
Nicolas Bentley
Publication details: 
Postmarked 24 September 1974; 'The Old School, Downhead, Shepton Mallet, Somerset.'
£35.00

One page, very good. Postcard illustration of Marie Taglioni. In Bentley's distinctive neat hand. 'If & when Angus & Robertson's traveller shows you a book called Dead Funny, illus. by Bill Tidy, pubs. Ask & Grant, I hope you'll feel compelled to place a huge order: The Grant is Arabella's husband, just breaking into publishing (mad!) How are you & Billie? We should love to see you both, but I doubt that you ever come this way. If you do, you can count on a warm bed & reception. Try & make it sometimes.' Signed 'Nick'.

1 Autograph Letter Signed from W[illiam?] Maugham to Percy Gye.

Author: 
William Maugham
Publication details: 
14 December 1874; Charter House.
£100.00

Provides invaluable information on the traditions of Charterhouse, the ancient charitable London institution. Maugham may well be the translator of Charles Tilt's 1828 edition of Friedrich Christian Accum's A Practical Essay on Chemical Re-agents. 4 pages, 16mo, grubby but in otherwise good condition. The first page has a mourning border. 'Saturday was the anniversary of the feast devoted to the memory of the founder, and the brothers, in health, feasted in the banquetting hall, and I dare say enjoyed themselves. I am on the sick list and was happily excused.

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