SOUTH

The Theory of Chances, or The Modern Development of the Rules of Probability; with some notes regarding 'probabilities' in the game of roulette at Monte Carlo.

Author: 
James McGowan, FIA, formerly Government Actuary to the South African Government [Gambling; Roulette; Monte Carlo; Theory of Probability]
Publication details: 
London: Lamley & Co. 1, 3, and 5 Exhibition Road, South Kensington. [Printed at the Oxford University Press by Frederick Hall.]
£120.00

Small octavo: 31 pages. Unbound and stapled. Very good, in grubby original pink printed wraps. According to one authority McGowan is the 'first fully qualified actuary in South Africa of whom there is record [becoming] Cape Government Actuary of the former Cape Colony in 1890'. COPAC (under mispelt name "MacGowan") only recordds the BL copy.

The Source of "The Ancient Mariner."

Author: 
Ivor James, Registrar of The University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire [Samuel Taylor Coleridge]
Publication details: 
Cardiff: Daniel Owen and Company, Limited. 1890.
£125.00

12mo: [iv] + 88 pages. Unbound. In original olive printed wraps. PRESENTATION COPY to 'Dr. Elliott | With kind regards', with around a dozen manuscript emendations. On aged paper, with loss to front wrap and spine. Each page, including the front wrap, within ruled red border. COPAC lists only five holdings.

Substantial Autograph Letter Signed to his sister.

Author: 
"Tom" [surname unknown], sailor (possibly Captain).
Publication details: 
Ship Donna Amelia, Valparaiso, 24 Sept. 1865.
£240.00

Four pages, 4to, minor defects, text complete and clear. Something of a stylist, he first describes the effects of a severe storm on his ship (out of Montevideo). They eventually arrived at Valparaiso, planning to load a "coasting cargo for Callao from there to go to the [Chinea?] Islands to load a cargo of guano". He hoped for a rest but the Spanish Admiral arrived on the 17th "in a splendid steal friggat[sic]". He ordered the Chilean authorities to salute his flag and then he would talk to them. They refused as the 18th was the anniversary of thier independence.

Printed Receipt, with Manuscript Insertions, Signed by the 2nd Marquess, for rent on two Mayfair properties.

Author: 
Richard Grosvenor (1795-1869), 2nd Marquess of Westminster [Grosvenor Estate Office; Mayfair; Richard Jones]
Publication details: 
Grosvenor Estate Office, 9 Davies Street, Grosvenor Square; 30 March 1849.
£45.00

One page. Roughly nine inches by four. Aged and creased, with one small closed tear and one spike hole (neither affecting text, which is clear and complete). An attractive document, embossed with a government one shilling stamp, and bearing the Westminster coat of arms, supported by two dogs, engraved by Warrington, 27 Strand, in top left-hand corner. Reads (MS additions in square brackets): '[Imp: Hopkinson] | Grosvenor Estate Office, | 9, Davies Street, Grosvenor Square | Received the [March 30th] 184[9] of [Richard Jones Esqr.

Autograph Postcard signed (surname difficult) to [Marin?]

Author: 
Charles [Robert? Robel? etc] [ AMUNDSEN ]
Publication details: 
[Printed heading] Societe de Geographie . . . ., no date [1913]
£80.00

Two sides of postcard, in French, in a difficult hand, probably sent in 1913, the year in which this French Societe awarded a medal to Amundsen (GRADE MÉDAILLE D'OR DES EXPLORATIONS - of the south), text clear and complete. He is discussing the arrangements for the visit of Amundsen, saying initially that they cannot be changed (date, hour, "sejour"). He refers to the receptions involving "les membres du gouvernement" ("sont ]prevues?] du 22 [jour?] de son arrivee . . . Peut-etre le 29 deviendra-t-il libre, maiscela depend ni de la Societe de Geo.

Typed Letter Signed to 'Miss J. Scott Rogers, | Acting Secretary, | Royal Society of Arts'.

Author: 
Julian Mockford [SOUTH AFRICA]
Publication details: 
11 September 1943; on letterhead of the 'OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA, | Trafalgar Square, | LONDON, W.C.2.'
£28.00

South African author and journalist (1898-1950), Public Relations Officer at the South African High Commission. One page, octavo. Very good if somewhat grubby. Docketed and stamped. 'Herewith the translation by a colleague, as asked for in your letter dated September 9. I hope "Here are South Africans" does not bore you too much!'

Autograph Letter Signed "Milner" to "Russell".

Author: 
Alfred Milner (later Viscount)
Publication details: 
Hotel Bristol-Naples, Palermo, 4 March 1908.
£125.00

Three pages, 8vo, conjoint leaves, wear at spine, not affecting text. "After many wanderings your letter of Feb 13th. has caught me here. I have been out of England since the middle of January,/ Your letter refers to a previous one wh. I have never received. / I am afraid that I cannot throw much light on the subject wch you refer. There is a big monument on the tope of Spion Kop, a column, wh. may be in the form of an obelisk but it is to the memory of the men who fell then generally, though I think, if I remember rightly, there are a number of individual inscriptions.

Autograph Signature countersigning cheque.

Author: 
Narciso Campero [BOLIVIA]
Publication details: 
10 June 1872; drawn on the Paddington Branch of the London & County Bank, Berkeley Place, Edgware Road.
£100.00

General (1815-96) and President of Bolivia between 1880 and 1884. Dimensions seven inches by three inches. Creased and with several closed tears, and with ink employed in printing cheque faded to purple and lilac. One edge perforated and with perforated numbers '17 x 6' (not affecting signature). Order to pay 'General Narciso Campera' five pounds and sixteen shillings. Drawer's signature illegible. Signed 'Narciso Campero' on reverse.

Autograph Letter Signed to C. H. Grinling with presentation copy of his pamphlet 'Spiritual evolution in South Africa'.

Author: 
Theodore Johannes Haarhoff
Publication details: 
Letter dated 2 November 1946, on University of Witwatersrand letterhead; pamphlet printed in Johannesburg and undated (but inscribed by recipient 'C H. G. | Dec. 4. 1946').
£100.00

THE PAMPHLET: 8vo, 21 pages, in original blue printed wraps. Somewhat dusty and bumped in one corner but in good condition overall. Inscribed on title-page 'With the good wishes of the author'. THE LETTER: 1 page, 8vo. Grubby and with jagged closed tear to one edge not affecting text. He thanks him for the note '& the enclosures with their prophetic words. How slow the material world is to react to the vision of its seers!' He hopes his 'little essay' will be of interest. He concludes 'Patrick Duncan was the only Milner man I knew & he, of course, has passed over.

Anonymous part of long autograph letter regarding the setting up of a syndicate to be named 'Guiana Rivers Ltd', addressed to 'My dear Joan'.

Author: 
[GOLD MINING IN GUYANA]
Publication details: 
9 March 1930; 'Trent House | Main Street | Georgetown'.
£120.00

10 pages on 5 8vo leaves. In good condition, but with a few large blots. The first part of a letter by a writer who appears to be English. Straight out of B. Traven. The author wants Joan to join him and Gwen in partnership with Hamerly. 'Hamerly is down here from one of his expeditions & we became friendly through his having lived & travelled widely in the Paraguayan Chaco.

autograph letter signed to Major William Owen Lanyon, C.M.G. [later Sir William Owen Lanyon, Administrator of the Transvaal]

Author: 
Earl of Carnarvon
Publication details: 
4pp, 8vo, 30 August 1875, no place, on mourning letterhead with blindstamped Carnarvon crest
£100.00

Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, British statesman who made Canada a confederation but failed to create a federation of South Africa; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Interesting matter relating to South African affairs. He encloses (not present) a passage of Lanyon's from the Government Gazette.

Autograph letter signed to Miss Lanyon,

Author: 
Sir Marshal James Clarke
Publication details: 
20 March 1896, The Residence, [?], Zululand.
£45.00

South African colonial administrator (1841-1909). 2 pp, 12mo. He and Lady Clarke would have been pleased had Mr and Mrs LanyonSigned "Marshall Clarke". "[...] had your stay allowed I would have made a point of going to Durban [...] Sir Owen Lanyon [Sir William Owen Lanyon, 1842-1887, colonial administrator] was my good and valued friend". With four pieces of gummed paper from previous mounting still adhering to the verso of the blank second leaf.

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