VENICE

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Fifty-six lines of neatly- and closely-written text. On bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and folded once for postage. Signed ‘A. H. Layard’ and addressed to ‘My dear Lister.’ He is sorry that Lister will be in Venice when he is absent, as he is not returning until May. ‘The Hotel de la Grande Bretagne is, I think, now the best in Venice - and very well situated.’ If Lister mentions his name he is sure the landlord ‘will do his best for you. The Grand Hotel is also good. I should not recommend Danieli’s.

1p, 16. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of grey paper, with simple drawing in the same ink as the text of a straight plain walking stick stuck in the ground and running up the left-hand margin, with the handle hooked to the right at the top with the dating to its right. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: ‘le 25 Decembre 89.

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, on discoloured paper with slight discoloration at corner as a result of removal from mount. Neatly centred on the page is 'Yours Sincerely | Clara Montalba'. No other text. The signature is florid and curliculous.

127pp., 12mo. The Armenian text, with title-page, is on pp.1-66; the Italian translation, with title-page, is on pp.67-127. Both title-pages have engraved plates as frontispieces facing them, that to the Armenian being a portrait of Mechitar Abbas, and to the Italian being a view of the island of St. Lazzaro. Internally in fair condition, lightly aged, with slight bloom to rear pastedown. In aged and worn original boards, covered with pink paper embossed with a floral pattern, and with label on spine. Ownership inscription (Armenian?) on flyleaf.

Printed on one side of a 30 x 20 cm. piece of deckled-edge laid watermarked paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Hapsburg double-eagle at head, with 'N. 18205 | 2042' at top left. Fifteen lines of text, followed by 'Zara 3 Settembre 1845. | CAVALIERE DI TURSZKY GOVERNATORE. | NOB. de FLUCK | I. R. Consigliere di Governo.' The governor orders that in future the city of Split will be regarded as an open city rather than a walled one. 'Delle esistenti fortificazioni saranno soltanto da conservarsi il Forte Grippe e le due batterie di S.

Two pages, 4to, some damage at fold mark, but text clear and complete. The writer identifies the author as Rawdon Brown, "resident at Venice", whose "Translation of the 'Despatches of Sebastian Giustinian" had been reviewed in "The Athenaeum". Brown takes exception to the conclduing sentence, refers to a passage in his own book and outlines the rules by which he is writing (using English "authorities" sparingly, etc., being more interested in what was said of the English abroad). He would welcome useful references for his second edition.

Dimensions of plate roughly four and a half inches by six and a half wide. Dimensions of paper roughly five inches by seven wide. Clear image on stained, grubby laid paper. Shows mythological figure with helmet and shield holding up a book, within a monumental border with coins, ivy, statuary, etc. This bookplate has been found in conjunction with another reading "Ex Libris Alexandri Torrigiani Med. Doct. Coll. Parmensis", and this may provide a clue to the provenance.

Postcard with painting of Rialto Bridge by Canaletto. Postmarked 1970. Ruckled with damp but entirely legible. An amusing communication, beginning 'Thought I would let you know that we were not involved in the great tornado that sunk a voporetto [sic] on Lirica 4, and that the Hotel alla Fava is still very comfortable.' Refers to the Lambs' 'self-contained eyrie' and 'the weak fast coffee which tastes of mud; but clearly and obviously isn't'.

Konody (1872-1933) was a well known art critic, and Art Director of the Canadian War Memorials from 1916 to 1919. He was also connected with the British Pavillon at the Venice Biennale. One page, 12mo, on grey paper. In good condition. Verso of blank second leaf of bifoliate attached to piece of paper. Now that he knows he will be in town the following weekend he can accept her invitation to lunch at the Whitefriars Club at 1.45. Signed 'P. G. Konody'.

Title continues: "Written on Papyrus preserved in the Library of the Armenian Monastery St. Lazaro." Pamphlet, green paper wraps, corners v. sl. turned but very good otherwise. Pp.36, sm. 8vo. Ordination of Buddhist priest, etc. COPAC records only one copy, at Birmingham, but dated 1875. No copy in BL.