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Author, Title, Summary Price
Hugh Percy (1785-1847), 3rd Duke of Northumberland [Robert Fitch (1802-1895), FSA, FGS, Sheriff of Norwich, antiquary]

Autograph Letter in the third person from the Duke of Northumberland to the Norwich antiquary Robert Fitch, thanking him for the engraved portrait of a relation, sending a subscription, and making an enquiry.

4pp., 12mo. 26 lines. Bifolium. He thanks Fitch 'for his present of the engraving of Alleyn Percy, the Master of St. John's College, Cambridge, on its foundation in 1615', which he will 'much prize' as he has 'no portrait of this Individual'. He is enclosing his subscription for the 'twenty...

£70.00
Dame Emma Albani Gye [née Marie Louise Cécile Emma Lajeunesse] (1847–1930), Canadian soprano

Autograph Letter Signed ('Emma Albani Gye') from the Canadian soprano Dame Emma Albani to 'Mrs. Blois', accepting an invitation to tea.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with a couple of unobtrusive creases. 'We shall be very pleased to come to tea with you on Sunday - I hope you will not mind if we are a little late - I shall be so glad to see Mrs. Arkwright also. With kind regards and many thanks | Believe me | Yours...

£40.00
John Somerset Pakington (1799-1880), 1st Baron Hampton [Lord Hampton] British Conservative politician [General Sir Robert Gardiner (1781-1864), Governor of Gibralar, 1848-1855]

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Pakington, 1st Baron Hampton, to General Sir Robert Gardiner, Governor of Gibraltar, discussing his 'printed but unpublished Report' on the 'Rock'.

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 He writes to thank Gardiner for sending him 'a copy of your printed but unpublished Report to His Majesty's Government on the danger of governing Gibraltar as a Colony'.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...

£150.00
John Westland Marston (1819-1890), poet and playwright, friend of Dickens and Dante Gabriel Rossetti [John Saunders (1811-1895), editor with Marston of the 'National Magazine'; Robert Cole]

Autograph Letter Signed ('Westland Marston') from the playwright John Westland Marston, inviting Robert Cole to 'a Bachelor party' for the National Magazine.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. The letterhead has been cut away from the first leaf, taking with it the number of the month, but not affecting the text; otherwise fair, on lightly-aged paper. Marston invites Cole to 'a pleasant little meeting of some of our friends and contributors at the Office': 'We...

£65.00
Llewellynn Jewitt [Llewellynn Frederick William Jewitt] (c.1816-1886), antiquary, illustrator, engraver, natural scientist, author of The Ceramic Art of Great Britain (1878) [Rev. John Smith Doxey]

Autograph Letter Signed ('Ll Jewitt') from the antiquary Llewellynn Jewitt to 'Mr Doxey' [the numismatist the Rev. John Smith Doxey], regarding an article for his journal 'The Reliquary'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The manuscript of Doxey's article is 'safe to hand' and Jewitt is 'much pleased [both words underlined twice] with the plates & coins. It is very nice indeed.' The article is too late for the next number, 'the difficulty being the engravings...

£65.00
Naomi Mitchison [Naomi Mary Margaret Mitchison, née Haldane], Lady Mitchison (1897-1999), novelist and social activist [The Bournemouth Little Theatre Club, founded 1919]

Typed Note Signed from the novelist Naomi Mitchison to 'Miss Steele', asking her to forward a letter.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She writes that she is enclosing a letter, which she would like sent on 'to the Manager of the Bournemouth Little Theatre Club if you will, as I do not know the address'.

£40.00
Octavius Morgan [Charles Octavius Swinnerton Morgan] (1803-1888), Welsh antiquary and Conservative Member of Parliament for Monmouth [Johann Sayller of Ulm; clocks and watches; watchmaking]

Autograph Letter Signed from the Welsh antiquary Octavius Morgan, discussing in detail a watch by Johann Sayller of Ulm in the possession of the unnamed recipient of the letter, and the evils of modern restoration of clocks and watches.

3pp., 12mo. 52 lines. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for sending for his 'inspection the old watch which is a nice specimen', but would have been of more interest had it been left in its original condition'. He describes the alterations, and his reasons for believing that they were '...

£120.00
Percival Leigh (1813–1889), satirist, the first writer to carve his name into the 'Punch' table [Charles William Shirley Brooks (1816-1874), editor of 'Punch' from 1870 to his death]

Autograph Letter Signed from the satirist Percival Leigh to 'My dear Brooks' [fellow 'Punch' contributor Shirley Brooks], regarding his writing, the nature of the joke, the unsuitability of his Hampshire surroundings to literature, and other matters.

4pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He considers the cut excellent, and is grateful to Brooks for having 'managed so well' with his article. 'Many such an article of mine has been sacrificed, though absolutely a pretty good one, and comparatively to that which stood in its place,...

£120.00
Sir John Conroy (1845-1900), 3rd Bart, chemist, Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford [Athenaeum, London; Sclater]

Autograph Letter Signed ('John Conroy') from Sir John Conroy, Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, to 'Mr. Sclater', regarding the election of Sclater's son to the Athenaeum, London.

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Docketed at head of first page: 'Sir John Conroy Bt | Fellow Balliol Coll.' He regrets that he cannot 'do London either on the 12: or before that day', and so will not be able to 'help in any way about your Son's election at the Athenaeum'. He...

£32.00
Sydney Smirke (1798-1877), English architect, younger brother of Sir Robert Smirke (1780-1867) [William Watkiss Lloyd (1813-1893), antiquary]

Autograph Letter Signed ('Syd Smirke') from the architect Sydney Smirke, advising 'Mr. Lloyd' [William Watkiss Lloyd?] not 'to be made instrumental in dunning', in a case involving Saunders & Co. and 'Sir Robert' [his brother Sir Robert Smirke?].

2pp., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor water staining and a couple of spike holes. An intriguing communication, beginning: 'I would not, if I were you, allow myself to be so worried.' Smirke feels that, as 'Mess: Saunders & Co have not been backward in representing themselves as...

£45.00
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