WILLIAM

[ Pamphlet. ] The Rise of English Democracy.

Author: 
William M. Thompson of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law
Publication details: 
'London: Published by William Reeves, 185, Fleet Street, E.C. Where may be had Books and Pamphlets on Social and Political Questions.' Undated [ circa 1890 ].
£70.00

24pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In fair condition, on aged paper, with slight damage at margin of title leaf. He concludes by reviewing the events of the previous four years: 'From one end of the country to the other the workers have been in a state of ferment. Great and numerous strikes have taken place. For the first time a National Strike Federation has been attempted, and with gratifying evidences of success. Our relations with the workers abroad have become closer and more cordial. Slowly and painfully the son of man has been marching to victory.

[ Pamphlet. ] The Robbery of the Poor.

Author: 
William H. P. Campbell [ The Modern Press, Paternoster Row, London ]
Publication details: 
London: The Modern Press, 13 and 14, Paternoster Row, E.C. 1884:
£56.00

54pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In good condition, on aged paper. Dedication: 'To | The Poor of England, | This Pamphlet is dedicated | By ONE | Who would hasten the coming of the Day | When we shall not [last word underlined] have them | With us.' He concludes with 'one word' to those who think that 'what we believe in as possible is a splendid Utopia that can never exist, a pleasant dream that shall never be realised': 'Have it so, if you please.

[ Pamphlet. ] Perverted Politics. A few Thoughts for the Time. [ 'Reminiscences and Reflections (Revised).' ]

Author: 
John Tyndall, LL.D., D.C.L. [ (1820-1893), Irish physicist and Fellow of the Royal Society ]
Publication details: 
William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1887.
£80.00

15pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In good condition, on aged paper, with a few pencil marks in margin. 'Reprinted by Permission' on title-page, and 'First published in the "St James Gazette."' on first page of text, which is headed 'Reminiscences and Reflections | (Revised).' Begins: 'It is my privilege to have been born in Ireland. [...] The lighthouses on the Irish coast - models of cleanliness and good order in a country not famous for either - are known to have been objects of special interest to me.

[ Pamphlet. ] The Heresy Hunters and the Heresy Hunters' Song. Respectfully Inscribed to the Baffled Inquisitors.

Author: 
[ William Robertson Smith (1846-1894), Scottish theologian, Professor of Hebrew at Aberdeen Free Church College
Publication details: 
'No. 2. Bon-Accord Rhymes and Ballads. ] Aberdeen: George Middleton, Skene Square. 1878.
£80.00

Smith's entry in the Oxford DNB explains the background to this pamphlet, explaining that he was 'commissioned to write some articles on biblical subjects for the ninth edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and the first two of these appeared in 1875—‘Angel’ in volume 2 and ‘Bible’ in volume 3. These articles marked a turning point in his career. The Bible was regarded by the Free Church of Scotland as ‘the supreme rule of faith and life’, and so anything that might seem to undermine its authority was bound to arouse opposition.

[ Pamphlet. ] The Position of the Agricultural Labourer in the Past and in the Future. By an Agricultural Labourer.

Author: 
'An Agricultural Labourer' [ also 'A. W.' ]
Publication details: 
London: William Reeves, 185, Fleet Street, E.C. Publisher of Works on Land, Labour, Capital, &c
£80.00

63pp., 12mo. Disbound without covers. In fair condition, on aged paper. Signed in type at end 'A. W.' First page of text headed: 'The state of the Farm Labourers and Labourers generally, and their wants, adn theh neeed there is of an alteration in the present Land System.'

Reproduction of a drawing of G.F. Watts, artist, by Rudolf Lehmann, from 'R. Lehmann's Portrait Studies', presented in the style of a studio photograph.

Author: 
Rudolf Lehmann [Wilhelm Augustus Rudolf Lehmann] (1819-1905), Genre and portrait painter [G.F. Watts; Frederick Bruckmann, bookseller, Southampton Street, Strand, London]
Publication details: 
Fred. Bruckmann, London, 17 Southampton Street, Strand. No date.
£100.00

Printed on a piece of 14 x 9.5 cm india paper, laid down on a piece of 17 x 11.5 cm card, with rounded edges, good condition. Printed at the head of the card is 'R. LEHMANN'S PORTRAIT STUDIES.' And at the foot: 'G.F. WATTS | FRED. BRUCKMANN, LONDON, | 17 Southampton Street, Strand.' Beneath the image, in small type: 'Lehmann del.' and 'Registered.' Lehmann was born in Hamburg and moved to London in 1866. He wrote two books.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Ellenborough') to 'W Astell Esq'.

Author: 
Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough (1790-1871), Tory politician and Governor-General of India [William Astell (1774-1847), Director of the East India Company]
Publication details: 
8 June 1830. India Board.
£38.00

12mo: 2 pp. Eleven lines of text. A bifolium, docketed on the otherwise-blank second leaf '8 June 1830 | Ld. Ellenborough'. Good: lightly spotted and with traces of grey paper mount adhering to edge on reverse of second leaf. He is enclosing a letter (not present) 'from Keene' (docketed [by Astell?] ('Kearney.)', and possibly the watercolourist W. H. Kearney). 'I must not enter into a Correspondence with him and he asks nothing definite.' Asks Astell to 'consider the matter' and to let him know his opinion on the coming Saturday.

[ William Hepworth Thompson, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. H Thompson') to 'My dear Pollock' [ Sir Frederick Pollock ], on Samuel Laurence's portrait of James Spedding. With annotated photograph of the portrait.

Author: 
William Hepworth Thompson, classical scholar and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge [ Samuel Laurence (1812-1884), English portrait painter; James Spedding (1808-1881), literary critic ]
Publication details: 
'T. C. L.' [ Trinity College Library, Cambridge. ] 30 May 1884. Photograph by Hills & Saunders of Cambridge.
£120.00

Both letter and photograph in good condition, with light signs of age. LETTER: 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium, with mourning border. He is enclosing the photograph, which 'poor Laurence [...] executed in his decling years & promised to Trinity College. His daughter loyally carried out his wishes, & the portrait (life size) hangs in our LIbrary.' (Laurence had died earlier in the year, from the effects of an operation.) He is sending a second copy of the photograph (not present) for 'Professor Frederick, who has left record of his affection for our dear friend'.

[ James Spedding, editor of Sir Francis Bacon. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed to 'Mrs. Pollock' [ later Lady Juliet Pollock ], one listing the twenty-two 'greatest' English authors, the other concerning the 'Swedish nightingale' Jenny Lind.

Author: 
James Spedding (1808-1881), editor of Sir Francis Bacon, literary critic and Cambridge Apostle [ Lady Juliet Pollock [ née Creed ] (1819-1899), wife of Sir William Frederick Pollock (1815-1888) ]
Publication details: 
Both letters from '60 L. I. F.' [ i.e. 60 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London ]. 3 June 1847 and 24 April 1854.
£1,210.00

Learned and witty, Spedding was a popular figure within the literary scene of Victorian London. As he lay dying following an accident, Tennyson rushed to the hospital and begged admission to his bedside. When approached by Delia Bacon, he dismissed the Baconian theory with contempt, and was the first to realise that the play 'Henry VIII' was a collaboration between Shakespeare and John Fletcher. Both of the present letters are signed 'Jas Spedding' and addressed to 'My dear Mrs. Pollock', and both in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with minor traces of glue from mount.

[ William Reed, Lancashire agriculturalist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Will Reed') to "William Cathrall' of the Manchester Times

Author: 
William Reed of Chat Moss, near Warrington, Lancashire, agriculturalist [ William Cathrall, proprietor and editor of the Manchester Times; Salford ]
Publication details: 
'Bank Parade, Salford | June 26. 1834.'
£75.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. Cathrall | Times Office | Manchester'. In reply to a letter 'requesting from me "an account of the origin and progress of the Manchester Agricultural Society"', he states that 'any information I possess is quite at Mr. Everett's service'. He suggests two times when Everett can call on him, and he will 'endeavour to promote his views in any way in my power'.

[ Vice-Admiral Robert Hall, Third Lord and Controller of the Navy. ] Letter in a secretarial hand, signed 'Robert Hall', to William Griffith of Derby

Author: 
Vice-Admiral Robert Hall (1817-1882), Royal Navy, Third Lord and Controller of the Navy [ The Admiralty, Whitehall ]
Publication details: 
Admiralty [ Whitehall, London ]. 27 March 1874.
£56.00

1p., folio. In good condition, with light signs of age. Addressed to 'Wm. Griffith Esqre. | Becket Street Chapel | Derby.' Informing Griffith that he has 'laid before My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the petition from the United Methodist Free Church, Derby, requesting the alteration of the 93rd. Clause of the Marine Mutiny Act'.

[ William Ewart Gladstone, English Liberal prime minister. ] Portrait photograph of Gladstone in middle-age, with conclusion of Autograph Letter Signed ('W E Gladstone') addressed to W. H. Pennington.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), English Liberal prime minister
Gladstone
Publication details: 
Neither item with place or date.
£65.00
Gladstone

Both items are laid down on a leaf removed from an autograph album. Both in good condition, with light signs of age. The photographic print of Gladstone measures 9 x 5.5, with the head and shoulders image in an oval 7.5 cm high by 5 cm wide, and showing a middle-aged Gladstone with dark bow tie and frock coat, staring to the right. Beneath the photograph is a 9.5 x 9 cm piece of paper, cut from the conclusion of a letter, reading: '[...] difficult however to follow circumstances with which we are imperfectly acquainted | We are now on the eve of going abroad for a

[ William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal prime minister. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to 'Miss Lewis', expressing sympathy with the views she expresses in the preface to her translation.

Author: 
William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), English Liberal prime minister
Publication details: 
Hawarden. 25 July 1892.
£56.00

Lengthwise on one side of 12 x 7.5 cm postcard. In fair condition, aged and worn, with two light postmarks over text, and the reverse carrying traces of paper and glue from previous mounting. Addressed, on reverse, to 'Miss Lewis | 10 Lower Sloane Street | London | S. W.', and redirected in another hand to an address in Essex. The message reads: 'Mr Gladstone with his compliments begs to thank Miss Lewis fo rthe presentation of her Translation and enters with much sympathy into the views she has taken of the deeper questions involved both in the Preface and the work.'

[ The Old Drury Club, 'a Social Circle round the Shrine of Shakspeare' in Regency London. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Benj. Oakley') by Benjamin Oakley of Tavistock House, a 'Circular' to Thomas Hill, regarding the club's 'embarrassing finances'.

Author: 
[ The Old Drury Club, 'a Social Circle round the Shrine of Shakspeare' in Regency London] Benjamin Oakley of Tavistock House, stockbroker and editor of Shakespeare
Publication details: 
Tavistock Place [ London ]. 4 April 1815.
£100.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with postmarks, to 'Thomas Hill Esq | New Inn'. In good condition, lightly-aged. Headed by Oakley 'Circular' and entirely written out in his own hand. The letter begins: 'In consequence of the embarrassing finances of the Old Drury Club, and its being uncertain whether, or no, it can any longer hold its deliberative meetings at its accustomed place of redevous [sic] - it has been determined by a majority of its members - to resolve themselves into a committee of ways and means'.

[ 'The Chevalier Sir Frederick Bowman, K.C.E.' ] 'Shakespeare Souvenir' pin badge, depicting Bowman as the Bard of Avon, attached to a Typed Letter Signed ('Frederick H.-U. Bowman') to Barry Duncan, regarding the actress Edith Loraine and her career.

Author: 
Frederick Bowman [ Frederick H. U. Bowman; The Chevalier Sir Frederick Bowman K.C.E. ] (1893-1969), Liverpool music hall actor, eccentric and author [ William Shakespeare; Count Potocki de Montalk ]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of 'The Chevalier Sir Frederick Bowman K.C.E.', Humanimal House, Sandown Lane, Liverpool, with date stamp 1 June 1964. Pin badge undated, but contemporaneous.
£56.00

Letter: 1p., 8vo. In fair condition, lightly creased and aged. With a few autograph emendations. In a characteristically eccentric letter he writes that their common friend Jimmy Linton has told Bowman that Duncan 'may be able to give me some particulars and perhaps a photo of Edith LORAINE who played Godiva in F. B. Woulfe's Company, presenting the famous historical play by Max Goldberg, (John F. Preston.) He refers to Mabelle F. Barlow, Lady Astor and his own play 'Divorce or Dishonour'. As a boy he was greatly impressed by Loraine's performance, and it 'started my interest in Coventry.

'The Encyclopaedia Britannica Dinner given by Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace': 'Plan of Tables' and menu., attended by A.J. Balfour and all the great and the good. (up to 300 of them).

Author: 
[ Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace (1841-1919), Foreign Correspondent of The Times of London; Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publication details: 
Dinner held at the Hotel Cecil, London, 21 November 1902.
£60.00

Both items nicely printed and in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. ONE: 'The Encyclopaedia Britannica Dinner given by Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace. Hotel Cecil, Friday Evening, November 21st, 1902. Plan of Tables.' 28.5 x 80 cm, folding up into a 28.5 x 13.5 cm packet. Printed in black and red on the whole of one side, with the other side carrying a 'Programme of Music' ('M. G. Fericescu, Musical Director'), an alphabetical table, and a cover with engraved illustration. Made out in pencil to 'Mr. A. Williams | K24' (i.e. the Liberal MP Aneurin Williams).

[ Sir William Martins, Gentleman Usher. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to actor-manager Benjamin Webster, asking him to arrange a performance of a farce at the Adelphi Theatre 'at the rather earnest wish of a former Lord Chamberlain'.

Author: 
Sir William Martins (c.1787-1874), Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State [ Benjamin Webster [ Benjamin Nottingham Webster ] (1797-1882), actor-manager; Adelphi Theatre, London ]
Publication details: 
St James's Palace [ London ]. 16 February [ no year, but on paper watermarked 1844 ].
£45.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condiion, on aged and worn paper. Marked 'Private', and written with an urgency suggesting the involvement of royalty behind the request. The letter begins: 'Sir William Martins presents his Compliments to Mr Webster and at theh rather earnest wish of a former Lord Chamberlain entreats Mr Webster, if it be practicable to allow the Farce of "Powder & Ball" to be played at the Adelphi one evening this Week either Wednesday Thursday or Friday'. He will 'explain further' and writes 'in case he should not be fortunate enough to meet Mr Webster at the Theatre'.

[ William Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W. Boyd Carpenter') to 'Professor Lang' [ probably William Robert Lang ] regarding George Thomas Shettle and the lack of 'spiritual ideals' evidenced in the Great War.

Author: 
William Boyd Carpenter (1841-1918), Bishop of Ripon and court chaplain to Queen Victoria [ Professor William Robert Lang (1870-1925) of the University of Toronto; George Thomas Shettle (1861-1936) ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 6 Little Cloisters, Westminster. 30 January 1918.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. He begins by apologising for being unable to give any information regarding Shettle, who 'only came into Ripon Diocese in 1911, theh year in which I resigned'. He is unacquainted with Shettle's books, none of which are credited to him in Crockford's. He agrees with Lang's 'letter & notes on Church & Education matters': 'the War is constantly disclosing how far astray our Education & Church method has been.

[ Daniel Terry, actor and dramatist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Danl. Terry') to the wife of the architect William Atkinson

Author: 
Daniel Terry (c.1780-1829), English actor and dramatist, friend of Sir Walter Scott [ William Atkinson (c.1774-1839), English architect ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date, but with note stating that it was written 'about the year 1829'.
£45.00

1p., 12mo. Addressed to 'My dear Mrs. Atkinson', and with contemporary note at head stating that the letter is 'To Mrs. Atkinson Grove end - about the year 1829', Grove End in Paddington being the estate of the architect William Atkinson. In good condition, lightly-aged, with minor traces of stub adhering to one edge on blank reverse. He thanks her for her 'beautiful present' and informs her that he has 'secured 6 places in the front Boxes for to-morrow evening - and shall do myself the pleasure of bringing up admissions for that Number either to day or early to morrow morning'.

[ Daniel Terry, actor and dramatist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Danl. Terry') to William Campbell, playfully inviting him to come and drink with him and 'Geddes' in Mount Street.

Author: 
Daniel Terry (c.1780-1829), English actor and dramatist, friend of Sir Walter Scott
Publication details: 
'Sunday Afternoon'. Without place or date.
£45.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed on second leaf to 'Wm Campbell Esqr. | Brook Street'. In good condition, lightly-aged. The letter begins: 'Had I been aware, before dinner, of what our friend Geddes has just informed me after dinner, - that you are at present a Batchelor, you certainly should have had no excuse for not returning with him to a friendly knife & fork in Mount Street'. He asks him, if he is 'quite alone', to 'come immeditely & lecture him for his remissness - & drink to his better behaviour - we are quite en famille with only Geddes'.

[ The Garrick Club, London. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('R H Atkinson') from the secretary of the Garrick Club to drama critic R. W. Lowe, regarding 'the privilege of engraving the pictures in the Club Collection'.

Author: 
R. H. Atkinson, Secretary of the Garrick Club, London [ Robert William Lowe (1853-1902), drama critic ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Secretary's Office, Garrick Club [ London ]. 15 May 1888.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. Lowe's request has been laid before the Club's committee, and there is no possibility of acceding to it: 'You say in your letter that you are aware that the privilege engraving the pictures in the Club Collection is "rarely" granted, but in this matter I fear you must have been misinformed as it is against the Rules to grant it at all'.

[ Lord William Pitt Lennox. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Willm P. Lennox') to an unnamed recipient, regarding the sale of a copyright to the London publishers Hurst & Blackett.

Author: 
Lord William Pitt Lennox (1799-1881), British Army officer and author [ Hurst & Blackett, London publishers ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Hall Place, Tunbridge. 16 July 1863.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition. The subject of the letter is probably Lennox's Fifty Years' Biographical Reminiscences', published by Hurst and Blackett in 1863. Lennox is 'extremely flattered' at the contents of the recipient's letter, but has 'disposed of the copy right to Messrs Hurst and Blackett. 13. Gr. Marlborough St.', to whom he refers the recipient. 'Had I been in London I would have done myself the pleasure of expressing my thanks in person'.

[ Maria Ann Lovell, English actress and playwright. ] Autograph Letter in the third person to Dillon Croker, regarding his assistance.

Author: 
Maria Ann Lovell [ née Maria Ann Lacy ] (1803-1877), English actress and playwright, wife of the author George William Lovell (1804-1878)
Publication details: 
7 Mornington Crescent [ London ]. In envelope with postmark of 20 March [ no year ].
£25.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of glue from mount on reverse of letter and envelope. Envelope, with penny red, addressed by Lovell to 'Dillon Croker Esq. | 3 Gloucester Road | Old Brompton'. Reads: 'Mrs. Lovell begs to thank Mr. Croker for his polite note and for the trouble he has kindly taken - | Should there be any occasion Mrs Lovell will gladly avail herself of Mr. Croker [sic] offer of further assistance.'

[ George William Lovell, playwright. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo W Lovell') to theatrical publisher T. H. Lacy, regarding the publication of 'The Wife's Secret' and 'The Trial of Love'. With autograph prelims of the former play by Lovell.

Author: 
George William Lovell (1804-1878), playwright and novelist [ Thomas Hailes Lacy (1809-1873), actor, playwright, and theatrical publisher; Charles Kean [ Charles John Kean ]; Ellen Kean ]
Publication details: 
Letter: Vale Lodge, Hampstead Heath. 28 July [ no year, but after the death in 1868 of Charles Kean ].
£150.00

Both items in good condition, on lightly aged paper. Letter: 2pp., 12mo. The letter begins: 'Mrs. Kean has given me back possession of the two Plays. The Wife's Secret & The Trial of Love. & the advice of Mr. Coyne was that I should add them to the Dram[ati]c. Authors Society's list.' Under the circumstances, he asks whether Lacy would be 'desirous of printing them & if so what would be your arrangement?' He suggests a meeting the following day. Autograph prelims: 3pp., 4to. Bifolium, with bottom half of second leaf torn away.

[ William Clark Russell, nautical author. ] Offprint of article about him by 'Capt. W. J. Ward (Cardiff)', titled 'A National Asset'. With photographic portrait of Russell, and reproduction of sonnet to him by Julia D. Young.

Author: 
Capt. W. J. Ward (Cardiff), Author of "A Lady Skipper," "S.S. Grauck, or The Scheme That Failed," Etc. Etc. [ William Clark Russell (1844-1911), English nautical author; Julia D. Young ]
Publication details: 
'Reprinted from "The Maritime Review."' No place or date (but during the reign of King George V).
£50.00

2pp., 4to. Printed on the same side of one piece of shiny art paper, folded to make a bifolium. Aged and stained, with wear and slight loss to extremities. Photograph of Russell beneath title, alongside 'Sonnet | To W. Clark Russell', reprinted 'From "English Sea Pictures." By Julia D. Young, Author of "Barham Beach, the President's Poem." - New York.' The author laments that '[i]n this country, it is not the fashion to ennoble those who really do something for their time and generation', such as Russell, whose 'stupendous output' consists of 'fifty-seven books everyone [sic] of them good'.

[ William Harcourt, ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm. Harcourt'), regarding the admission of the recipient's son as a cadet in the Royal Military College.

Author: 
William Harcourt (1743-1830), 3rd Earl Harcourt, Field Marshal of the British Army, Governor of the Royal Military College, Great Marlow
Publication details: 
St Leonards [ St Leonards Hill, near Clewer, Berkshire ]. 14 August 1805.
£80.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He informs the recipient that he is 'happy to have it in my power to comply with your request for the admission of your Son as a Cadet in the Royal Military College', and that he has 'inserted him in the List of Candidates for Examination' on 1 October 1805. He states that he is sending 'the usual Circular letter, which will give you the necessary information respecting the qualifications required, and articles to be provided by the Young Gentleman on his admission into the Establishment'.

[ Sir Stafford Northcote. ] Long Autograph Letter Signed ('Stafford H. Northcote') to Henry Barnett of Woodstock, regarding W. E. Gladstone's candidacy for MP for Oxford University. With copy of letter by Gladstone and proof of speech by Barnett.

Author: 
Sir Stafford Northcote [ Stafford Henry Northcote (1818-1887), 1st Earl of Iddesleigh ], Conservative politician [ William Ewart Gladstone; Henry Barnett (1815-1896), MP for Woodstock ]
Publication details: 
Northcote's letter from 32 Charing Cross [ London ], 5 July 1847. Copy of a letter from Gladstone dated 13 Carlton House Terrace [ London ], 29 June 1847. Proof of Barnett's speech undated.
£150.00

ONE: Northcote's letter to Barnett. 7pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums, in a close hand. In good condition, in aged envelope, with red wax seal and two postmarks (one of Woodstock), addressed to 'Henry Barnett Esqre | Woodstock | Oxon.' At the time of writing Northcote was Gladstone's personal secretary at the Board of Trade. The letter begins: 'Coleridge has left town for Sessions, and will not I fear return for some time. This will account for your letter of the 1st. remaining so long unanswered. I am sure we are much indebted to you for your suggestions, by which I doubt not we shall profit.

[ William Black, Scottish novelist. ] Autograph Note Signed, asking Scottish painter Thomas Faed to second his application for membership of the Athenaeum.

Author: 
William Black (1841-1898), Scottish journalist and novelist [ Thomas Faed (1826-1900), RA, Scottish artist ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, S.W. [ London ] 26 July [no year].
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly-aged, and laid down on a piece of card. Reads: 'July 26 | My dear Faed, | Would you mind seconding me at the Athenaeum? I believe Tom Hughes has put down my name. | Yours faithfully | William Black.' According to Black's entry in the Oxford DNB, he 'studied landscape painting for a short time in the Glasgow School of Art, but, becoming connected with the Glasgow Citizen, gradually exchanged art for journalism'.

The Defence of Guenevere and other Poems by William Morris. Illustrated by Jessie M. King.

Author: 
William Morris and Jessie M. King [ Isabel Bonus ]
Publication details: 
London and New York: John Lane The Bodley Head. 1904.
£280.00

8vo. 310pp. Red cloth, gilt extra, with ornate design to front board and spine. First edition with King's illustrations. A good copy of an extremely attractive book, in binding with light fading in parts, but gilt still bright, and with the merest wear at head of spine. Bookplate by Isabel Bonus for Annie C. Dolamore. Collated and complete. All of King's ninety-five illustrations are present, with twenty-four of them, including the frontispiece, on shiny art paper. A sumptuous item, produced at the high point of King's Art Nouveau period.

Manuscript Catalogue of 'Books received by R. H. Grubbe by bequest from W. J. Grubbe who received them by bequest from Louis H. Hall to be handed on for the most part to descendants of Dr. George William Hall, Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.'

Author: 
Louis Edmund Hall (b.1863); Rev. Reginald Hall Grubbe (b.1862) [ Dr George William Hall (1770-1843), Master of Pembroke College, Oxford and Vice-Chancellor ]
Publication details: 
'These books were recevied by the above R. H. G. in March & June 1926.'
£220.00

49pp. In 4to notebook with red cloth spine and black cloth boards. Internally in good condition, lightly aged, in aged and worn covers. An alphabetical list, with entries covering two facing pages, divided into three columns: 'Name of Book', 'Description' and 'How disposed of'. Almost all the entries in the last column are 'H[enr]y Hall', but one item is recorded as being 'Sent to Julia Hall'. The serious library of an educated Englishman, with almost no fiction present. Nearly all the books date from the period 1770-1900, although 'Gloucestershire Visitation of 1623' is also present.

Syndicate content