VICTORIAN

[ Wilson Barrett, English actor-manager. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Lady Greville, thanking her for her 'good opinion' of a performance, and complaining of 'heavy pressure of work'.

Author: 
Wilson Barrett [ William Henry Barrett ] (1846-1904), English manager, actor, and playwright, successful in the field of melodrama
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Royal Princess's Theatre, London ('LESSEE & MANAGER, MR. WILSON BARRETT.'). 10 April 1884.
£30.00

2pp., 12mo. On first leaf of a bifolium, the blank second leaf of which is laid down on a leaf of yellow paper removed from an album. In good condition, lightly-aged. He thanks her for her letter, '& the good opinion you express upon the performance'. He hopes to accept her invitation when he no longer labours under 'the heavy pressure of work, now rather weighing me down'.

[ Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro, Lord Chancellor of England. ] Autograph Signature ('Tho. Wilde').

Author: 
Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro (1782-1855), Lord Chancellor of England
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

On 1 x 4.5 cm. slip of paper, cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged. A good clear signature, neatly underlined, with the cross-stroke of the initial T looping down in calligraphic style. A few words of text from the letter on the reverse.

[ William Edward Frost, English artist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. E. Frost') to Joseph B. Cooke, regarding family illness and the gift of a photograph.

Author: 
W. E. Frost [ William Edward Frost ] (1810-1877), English artist specialising in female nudes, Royal Academician [ Joseph B. Cooke; Oscar Wilde ]
Publication details: 
46 Fitzroy Square [ London ]. 30 January 1875.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and worn paper. He regrets to inform him that 'we have still a sick house'. His 'dear Sister' has been 'very ill', but he trusts they are 'both mending'. He concludes: 'I have pleasure in enclosing a Photo of myself, and shll be pleased to be admitted to your collection'. Professor Joseph Bristow, in his paper 'Homosexual Blackmail in the 1890s', describes how, twenty years later (on 11 August 1894), at a party hosted at 46 Fitzroy Square by John Watson Preston, twenty men were arrested, including two dressed in women's clothing.

[ Irving Montagu of the Illustrated London News and Punch. ] Three Autograph Letters Signed (one 'Irving Montagu' and two 'Montagu') to Edward Draper

Author: 
Irving Montagu (1842-1901), war correspondent and artist of the Illustrated London News and Punch [ Edward Draper, London solicitor and writer on the theatre ]
Publication details: 
Two from Briar Cottage, Shepherds Bush, 2 and 7 January 1893. One on letterhead of 64 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square [ London ]. 'Saturday' [no date].
£56.00

The three items in fair condition, on aged and worn paper, the last two items with traces of grey paper from mounting adhering. ONE: From Charlotte Street. 'Saturday' (undataed). Signed 'Irving Montagu'. 2pp., 8vo. Arranging to dine at Draper's in the face of a clashing invitation. TWO: From Briar Cottage, 2 January 1893. 4pp., 12mo. Signed 'Montagu'.

[ Dinah Maria Craik ('Miss Mulock', 'Mrs Craik'), English novelist and poet. ] Autograph Note Signed ('D. M. C.') to 'A. E. W.', regarding 'a list of autographs'.

Author: 
Dinah Maria Craik [ born Dinah Maria Mulock; 'Miss Mulock'; 'Mrs Craik' ] (1826-1887), English novelist and poet
Publication details: 
Without date or place. On envelope with printed address 'Far Country | Kitchens Lane | Mt. Airy, Penna.'
£40.00

Written lengthwise on front of a 9 x 15.5 cm. envelope. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'A. E. W. | I had a list of the autographs in thy literary collection but unfortunately have mislaid it. If there is a duplicate it wont make any difference because this is an uncessary little note of | D. M. C.' The page also carries annotations in another hand in light pencil.

[ Edward Lear, artist and writer of nonsense verse. ] Autograph Signature ('Edwd Lear.').

Author: 
Edward Lear (1812-1888), artist and author, famed for his nonsense verse
Lear
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£80.00
Lear

On 2 x 6cm strip of paper, cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged. A good firm signature, underlined, with the tiniest part of the head of the loop of the iniitial 'E' of 'Edwd' has been shaved off.

[ Printed booklet ] On Coloured Books for Children. By Charles Welsh, Author of "A Bookseller of the Last Century," etc. Chapman to the Sette. Read before the Sette at Willis's Rooms, on Friday, May 6th, 1887, with a Catalogue of the Books Exhibited.

Author: 
Charles Welsh [ The Sette of Odd Volumes, London bibliographical club ]
Publication details: 
[ The Sette of Odd Volumes. ] Imprynted by Bror C. W. H. Wyman, Typographer to ye Sette, at hys Printing-hovse in Great Qveene Street, over against Lincoln's Inne Fields, within ye Parish of Saynt Giles in ye Fields. London, [ 1887 ].
£80.00

47 + [1] + [11]pp., 16mo. Internally in good condition, lightly aged, in worn grey printed boards with wear to spine.On cover: 'Privated Printed Opuscula issued to the Members of the Sette of Odd Volumes. | No. XIII. | Coloured Books for Children.' No. 167 of a limited edition of 255 copies, signed by 'Charles Welsh', and with recipient's name erased. Hand-coloured frontispiece. Pp.27-47 carry 'A Catalogue of the Coloured Books for Children; Past and Present.' The last eleven pages contain a 'Bibliography of Odd Volumes' and 'List of Members'. Five copies on COPAC.

[ French numismatics. ] Anonymous Victorian manuscript lists, in English, of mainly French medals contained in the 'Largest Box'.

Author: 
[ Victorian French numismatics ]
Publication details: 
[ English, mid-Victorian. ]
£180.00

A total of 10pp., 12mo. Neatly written out in a close mid-Victorian hand. Accompanied by a slip of paper carrying a list of the eight sections into which the items in the 'Largest Box' were divided. Three of the eight are lacking. The five sections present are: '2 French Medals', '3 French Medals', '5 Medals of Various Countries', '7 French Sovereigns | Members of the Bourbon Family | French Statesmen.', and '8 Napoleon and his Family.

Victorian bookplate or label of 'ETON COLLEGE.'

Author: 
[ Eton College, Windsor ]
Publication details: 
[ English, mid-Victorian. ]
£35.00

6 x 9 cm. Printed in black ink. Laid down on part of a leaf, carrying on the reverse a part of an inscription in French from 'votre affectionée Eugénie'. Lightly-aged, and discoloured from the glue used in mounting. Within a decorative border characteristic of the period depicts a distant prospect of the college, with two boats rowing on the river, and a middle-class couple (she with bustle, he with top hat) with dog on bank in foreground.

[ Printed pamphlet. ] A Grammar of Socialism.

Author: 
Thomas Wodehouse, Curate of the Savoy [ Women's Printing Society, Limited, 21B, Great College Street, Westminster; English socialism; radical Anglicanism ]
Publication details: 
Second Edition. John Hodges, 13 Soho Square, London, W. 1884.
£56.00

32pp., landscape 12mo (8.5 x 13.5 cm). Stitched in grey printed wraps. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with front wrap detached and lightly marked. Wodehouse is named as author on front cover, but not on title-page. Laid out in the form of a fourteen-page catechism of 28 points, followed by 'Notes and Illustrations from Various Writers'. Pertinent as ever, in its criticism of 'excessive inequality in the partition of wealth'. COPAC only lists three copies of the first edition of 1878. Of the eight copies of the second 1884 edition on COPAC, six are listed as being printed by 'F.

[ Printed pamphlet on 'the sin of self-abuse'. ] In Confidence: To Boys. By H. Bisseker, M.A., Formerly a Public School House-Master. Revised by The Council of the Medical Officers of Schools Association.

Author: 
H. Bisseker, M.A., Formerly a Public School House-Master [ The Alliance of Honour, London; The Medical Officers of Schools Association; masturbation; onanism; self-abuse ]
Publication details: 
'Copies of this Edition are to be obtained from The Alliance of Honour, 112, City Road, London, E.C.' London: Adlard and Son, Batholomew Close. 1904.
£120.00

[2] + 31 + [3]pp., 16mo. Stapled in plain green wraps. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with rusting staples, and light staining (of an indeterminate nature) to front cover. The first two pages give details regarding the Alliance of Honour, including a list of the organisation's officers (including thirteen bishops) and a statement of 'The Object' ('to impress upon men the necessity of leading pure lives', and so on).

[ Stratford-upon-Avon Tercentenary Celebration of the Birth of Shakespeare, 1864. ] Chromolithographic invitation to the 'Banquet', strikingly designed in vivid colours.

Author: 
Stratford-upon-Avon Tercentenary Celebration of the Birth of Shakespeare, 1864 [ Day & Son, Lithographers to the Queen, London ]
Publication details: 
By Day & Son, Lithographers to the Queen, London. [ Banquet at Stratford-upon-Avon on 23 April 1864 at 3p.m. ]
£56.00

On one side of a 12 x 16.5 cm piece of card. In good condition, with light aging and spotting. Printed in gold, red, light-brown and black. Ornate border in the Tudor style, incorporating Shakespeare's coat of arms within a circular band with quotation 'Take him for all in all I shall not look upon his like again'. The border encloses: 'SATURDAY APRIL 23, 1864. | BANQUET | ONE GUINEA. NO. 54 | At 3 P.M.' Added in manuscript: 'Table D'. The lithographers slug, very faded, is in small letters at bottom right.

[ Sir Henry Ellis, Principal Librarian of the British Museum. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Henry Ellis') to Edward Magrath, thanking him for his good offices.

Author: 
Sir Henry Ellis (1777-1869), Principal Librarian of the British Museum [ Edward Magrath, founder member and secretary of the Athenaeum club, London ]
Publication details: 
No place. [ 3 December 1834. ]
£38.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for 'the promptness with which you placed my request on behalf of Mr. Tennent before the Library Committee'. Tennent will himself thank Magrath 'for the obliging offer of the use of your private Room'. In another hand at bottom right: 'Librarian British Museum'.

[ Nicholas Carlisle, Secretary, Society of Antiquaries of London. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Nis. Carlisle.') to 'Mrs. Smyth', discussing domestic matters.

Author: 
Nicholas Carlisle (1771-1847), Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Publication details: 
Somerset Place [ London ]. 2 January 1847.
£45.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed, with broken seal in red wax, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Mrs. Smyth.' Addressed at head of letter to 'My dear friend.' He begins by thanking her for 'a huge slice of Cumberland pie', which he is certain 'will prove excellent'. The letter continues with references to 'Mr. Archer' and 'Mrs Grainger', the latter being 'at present in sorrow, for the death of her eldest sister at Sheffield'. In a contemporary hand beneath the signature: 'From Nicholas Carlisle Esq. | Sec. for many years of the Soc.

[ James Lothian, Scottish gardener. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Daniel Mctaggart of Kilkerran, sending a book on the 'Potatoe question'.

Author: 
James Lothian (1817-1871), Scottish gardener, author of the first English book on the cultivation of Alpine plants [ Daniel McTaggart [ Mactaggart ] of Kilkerran, Argyll, Scotland
Publication details: 
No place. 19 June 1854.
£56.00

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Daniel McTaggart Esq: of Kilkeran [sic]'. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper. He is sending him 'Keith' (i.e. a book by George Skene Keith), which contains 'some facts bearing on the Potatoe question'. He has other works on the same matter, but they are 'out', with the exception of 'Vol: 2 of the Gardener which I send down'. In his opinion 'Works on Forrest [sic] trees and Landscape Gardening throw no light on either disease or Longivity [sic] of Plants.

[ Lord Braybrooke, editor of Pepys's diary. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Braybrooke'), regarding the payment of a bill.

Author: 
Lord Braybrooke [ Richard Griffin [formerly Neville], 3rd Baron Braybrooke ] (1783-1858), politician and editor of the diaries of Samuel Pepys
Publication details: 
Audley End, Saffron Walden. 19 January 1875.
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lighthly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dear Sir | I beg to enclose a cheque for the Sum of £10 . 10 . and shall feel obliged by yr returning to me a Receipt for the same | I remain | Yours truly | Braybrooke'. In another hand at top right: 'Answd'.

[ George Cruikshank, English caricaturist. ] Cabinet card photographic portrait of 'Mr George Cruikshank' by the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company.

Author: 
George Cruikshank (1792-1878), English caricaturist and illustrator [ The London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company ]
Publication details: 
The London Stereoscopic Company, 110 & 108 Regent Street and 54 Cheapside [ London ]. Undated [ circa 1873? ].
£50.00

Albumen print photograph, dimensions 15 x 10 cm. Mounted on 16.5 x 10.5 cm card. Printed in red ink on the reverse of the card are the firm's illustrated details ('Photoraphers to the Queen the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family' and 'Prize Medal For Portraiture Vienna Exibitiion 1873.' In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The National Portrait Gallery lists four versions of this image, but not within an oval, as here.

[ Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Liberal politician. ] Commencement of Autograph Letter to Lady Monteagle, expressing his distress and that of his wife [ over a death in her family ].

Author: 
[ Sir George Cornewall Lewis (1806-1863), Liberal politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer. ] [ Marianne, Lady Monteagle, wife of Thomas Spring Rice (1790-1866), 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon ]
Publication details: 
Grove Mill, Watford, Hertfordshire. No date.
£60.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. Ends abruptly at the end of the fourth page, and without signature. For the period an unusually frank expression of distress, apparently over the death of his wife's elder daughter He thanks her for calling on him with books - 'when you so kindly came to that House though I had intended so very much to see you I felt all my courage fail - & that I s[houl]d. only distress you & do myself harm if I saw you'.

[ John George Wood, naturalist and author. ] Autograph Signature ('J. G. Woods') on conclusion of Autograph Letter

Author: 
Rev. J. G. Wood [ John George Wood ] (1827-1889), English naturalist and author
Publication details: 
Date and place not stated.
£30.00

On one side of piece of 13.5 x 8.5 cm piece of paper. Aged and worn. Reads: 'know when I shall have an evening to myself, for in the last fifteen days or so, I have only dined at home twice, and as far as I see, that much of vagrant life seems rather on the increase than otherwise. But the first evening that I have, I will dedicate to you, & give you notice thereof | Best remembrances to your family - | Yours very sincerely | J. G. Wood'. On reverse, in another hand: 'J. G. Wood | the great naturalist'.

[ The Australian Wine Company, Limited, London. ] Printed notice and Autograph Receipt Signed, both by John Paterson, the firm's liquidator.

Author: 
The Australian Wine Company, Limited, London; John Paterson, Chartered Accountant, Liquidator
Publication details: 
John Paterson, Chartered Accountant, 35 Walbrook, London. [ Australian Wine Company, Limited, London ] Notice dated 20 February 1885; receipt dated five days later.
£45.00

12mo bifolium, with the printed notice on the recto of the first leaf and Paterson's autograph receipt on the reverse of the first leaf. In good condition, lightly aged. The notice states that as liquidator Paterson has 'sold the Goodwill and Stock-in-trade to Mr. C. H. Aylwin' The notice is completed in manuscript, asking 'G. Johnston, Esqre.' to remit the ten shillings owing by him to the company. On the reverse Paterson acknowledges receipt 'from James Johnston, Banker, 61 Irish Sreet, Dumfries, Ten Shillings Stg.

[ Andrew Varick Stout Anthony, American wood engraver. ] Autograph Note Signed ('A. V. S. Anthony') to W. E. Ambler.

Author: 
A. V. S. Anthony [ Andrew Varick Stout Anthony ] (1835-1906), American wood engraver
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the St Botolph Club, 2 Newbury Street, Boston. 8 January 1889.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: 'Dear Sir: | I have nothing at present except some note book sketches, otherwise I should be pleased to acceed to your request. | Yours truly | A. V. S. Anthony'.

[ William Newnham, medical practitioner and author. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W: Newnham') to Dawson Turner, on reverse of printed handbill advertisement for his 'The Reciprocal Influence of Body and Mind'.

Author: 
William Newnham (1790-1865) of Farnham, Surrey, medical practitioner and author [ Dawson Turner (1775-1858), banker, botanist and antiquary ]
Publication details: 
Letter dated from Farnham, 27 November 1841. Undated prospectus by London publishers J. Hatchard and Son, 187 Piccadilly, and J. Churchill, Princes Street, Soho..
£100.00

On a 12mo bifolium of laid paper, with the printed advertisement on the recto of the first leaf, and the manuscript letter on the verso of the second. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper folded twice. The advertisement is headed 'Preparing for Publication, in One thick Volume, 8vo., Price 12s. Cloth,' and consists of a reproduction of the title-page. The letter, addressed to 'Dawson Turner Esq', states that, as a member of the Royal Society of Literature, Newnham has 'taken the liberty of addressing the present announcement to each one of my fellow members'.

[ Thomas William Webb, astronomer. ] Long Autograph Letter Signed ('T. W. Webb.') to Rev. Dr Thomas Dick, on William West's Clifton Observatory, the rings of saturn, and other scientific matters.

Author: 
Thomas William Webb (1806-1885), English astronomer and clergyman [ Rev. Dr Thomas Dick (1774-1857), Scottish science writer; William West (1801-1861), artist and builder of the Clifton Observatory ]
Publication details: 
Tretire [ Herefordshire ]. 5 March 1840.
£400.00

For more information on Webb see his entry in the Oxford DNB. 3pp., 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, with light signs of age. Around ninety lines of closely and neatly written text. Addressed (with postmark and red wax seal of smith at forge) on reverse of second leaf to 'Thomas Dick, Esq. L.L.D., | Broughty Ferry | near Dundee, | Scotland.' A highly interesting and informative letter.

[ John Baldwin Buckstone, actor-manager and playwright. ] Autograph Signature ('Jno. B Buckstone').

Author: 
John Baldwin Buckstone (1802-1879), English actor-manager and playwright, associated with the London theatres the Adelphi and Haymarket
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 4 x 9.5 strip of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age. Reads 'Truly Yours | Jno. B Buckstone | T. Q. H'. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

[ John Palgrave Simpson, Victorian playwright. ] Autograph Signature ('J Palgrave Simpson').

Author: 
John Palgrave Simpson (1807-1887), Victorian playwright
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 4 x 10.5 cm. strip of paper, cut from a letter, presumably in response to a request for an autograph. In fair condition, with light signs of age.

[ François Guizot, French politician and historian ] Autograph address, on cover of letter, to London bookseller Richard Bentley, with postmarks and seal in black wax.

Author: 
François Guizot [ François Pierre Guillaume Guizot ] (1787-1874), French politician and historian [ Richard Bentley (1794-1871), London printer and publisher ]
Publication details: 
With three postmarks, one from Paris, 13 February 1852
£45.00

Covering leaf of letter, 18 x 22.5 cm, folding into 7 x 15.5 cm packet. In fair condition, aged and worn. Addressed by Guizot to 'Mr. Bentley bookseller | 8 New Burlington Street | London | England.' Seal in black wax (without impression) and three postmarks, two circular French ones, including one from Paris, and an English one in red ink. Perhaps the cover of a communication relating to his book 'Corneille and his Times', published by Bentley in 1852.

[ Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Lansdowne') to the economist Nassau Senior (acting as his agent), directing him to arrange accommodation for him at Ilfracombe.

Author: 
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice (1780-1863), 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne [ Lord Henry Petty ], British Liberal statesman [ Nassau Senior [ Nassau William Senior ] (1790-1864), economist ]
Publication details: 
Bowood [ Bowood House, Wiltshhire ]. 5 September 1837.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. On leaf with mourning border. With 7.5 x 12.5 cm frank cut from front of envelope, reading 'Calne September fifth 1837 | Nassau Senior Esq | Ilfracombe | Devon | Lansdowne'. In good condition, lightly aged. While Senior is known to have been a protégé of the Marquess of Lansdowne, this letter suggests that he acted as his agent. The Marquess asks him to 'secure me a lodging at the hotel at Ilfracombe or if full at any house in the town on Friday, when I expect to be there pretty early'.

[ William John Thoms, antiquary. ] Autograph Signature ('William J. Thoms.').

Author: 
William J. Thoms [ William John Thoms ] (1803-1885), English antiquary, founder and editor of 'Notes and Queries', and coiner of the word 'folklore'
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 1 x 5.5 cm. slip of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

[ Macvey Napier, editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica. ] Autograph Signature ('Macvey Napier.').

Author: 
Macvey Napier [ born Napier Macvey ] (1776-1847), Scottish scholar, editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 1.5 x 6.5 cm. strip of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

[ Francis Guest Tomlins, journalist, dramatist and founder of the Shakespeare Society. ] Autograph Signature ('F. G. Tomlins').

Author: 
F. G. Tomlins [ Frederick Guest Tomlins ] (1802-1867), journalist, dramatist and founder of the Shakespeare Society
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£20.00

On 1.5 x 6 cm. slip of paper. In good condition,, with light signs of age. Presumably cut from a letter in response to a request for an autograph.

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