Autograph Letters

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with slight wear to one corner. Signed 'H. Cernuschi'. He begins by stating that from King's 'première lettre' he had recognised his handwriting. He apologises for not being able to comply with a request of King's: 'Je possédais une importante collection d'autographes - mais elle m'a été volee toute entière'. He concludes by instructing King to send to Westminster '600 copies de Bimetalism in England aand Abroad et 50 copies de mon Speech a Paris 1889'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Not having had 'la facilté de profiter de la bonne recommendation de Miss Louisa Hardy', she writes a letter of recommendation for her son, who will be passing through London for a few days: 'c'est lui qui vous portera nos compliments et vous remercira des articles des journaux que vous m'avez fait parvenir et qu'il m'a traduit'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Tasteful letterhead including the firm's device within an oval, printed in sepia. In good condition: on aged and lightly-worn paper. King was the leading London parliamentary bookseller, and it is interesting to see him apparently offering a work of his own to other publishers. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir | We beg to acknowledge with thanks your offer of a translation of Herculano's "O Monge de Cister," which we much regret our inability to accept - our hands being very full just now, & all our arrangements for some time to come made.

Both items in fair condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. The second letter addressed by the secretary on the reverse, with four torn stamps and postmarks, to 'Mr. Lawrence Hodson | Bradbourne Hall | Ashbourne | Derbyshire'. The 'set of stations' referred to in the first letter is likely to have been based on those executed by Gill in stone in Westminster Cathedral, and completed in 1918. Letter One (3 November 1920): 1p., 12mo.

4pp., 12mo. 65 lines of text. Bifolium. In fair condition: on aged paper with one dogeared corner. He begins by apologising for not returning her manuscript sooner: 'what with my Doctorate exam: and other things, I have been specially busy'. Having been 'completely through the MSS' he lists those he likes best: 'the Rhapsodies (especially No. 1 - also No. 5 and No. 3 - especially the opening subject of No. 5).

Total 6pp., 4to. Headed "COPY" in red, from the papers of Mark Bonham-Carter. LETTER ONE: He is trying to persuade Lady Bonham-Carter that her views of the future of the Liberal Party are valid and should be aired, given her "unique position in British Liberalism". She should not fear dividing the Party because "[he has] come to the regrettable conclusion that there is nothing to divide", and it is necessary to "revive sopme life in Liberalism".He comments on the leadership and individuals (C. Davies, for example) and the low state to which the party has descended.

ALS, on letterhead of 20 Bradmore Road, Oxford; 'Easter Sunday 1931', 2pp., 8vo. Mainly personal long letter thanking her for 'a splendid present - Thank Heavens someone has had the wisdom to give me books, and the bounty to give me a lot of books'. With typed copy (1 p, 4to) of text headed 'Love and the Revolutionaries'. Inscribed at head 'For Sigle, With love from Thomas Hodgkin | Christmas, 1970'.

ALS, on letterhead of 22 Old Broad Street, EC, 2pp., 12mo. Recommending The Great Gatsby, 'the book of which I spoke in the course of your brief discussion of the younger American writers the other evening'.

ALS, on letterhead of 4 Whitehall Court, London; 'Tuesday' [1924], in envelope, 2pp., 8vo. 'You know all sorts of useful things - can you tell me of any way of getting in touch with Mary Ansell - Mary Barrie - Mary Cannan - Mary? here my knowledge stops. [...] Are you "sitting under" Bernard Shaw evening after evening - as I believe is said of preachers? I am going to begin my course on Friday.'

One page, 4to, creasing and sl. marked, text clear and complete: Thank you for your letter together with your writings. I don't give an opinion of other people's work, and I'll tell you why, in the past I have been wrong, and on pone occasion felt very responsible. | The best advice I can give you is to send it to a reputable publisher and ask him to get one of his professional readers to give you an honest opinion. These are the boys with the power to say 'yes' or 'no'. | I do hope you understand."

Irregular piece of paper c. 14 x 5 at most, good condions. Pencil note identifying signature

Two fragments: ONE: Half of a letter, 11 x 10cm, tipped onto album page, fair conditionn, text as follows: "PS | We expected some difficulty in carrying out the Telegraph between Europe and America - but are notr at all disappointed with the present stoppage - Bruce's spider made many swings beforee he fatened his liune to the other side. - Weshall make anther swing next May or JUne - then [underlined] I think we shall get over [small loss her?] In the meantime we are busy in the Mediterranean and towards the East.

Card, 11.5 x 9cm, vestiges of laying down in corners of verso, good condition. "J'ai été obligé de changer mes petits places de voyage. Voulez-vous aussi chamger les votres et venir mercredi au lieu de Vendredi. |Amitié[ ...]"Note in another hand on verso: "Autograph of Pierre Loti, Académician, officier in the French Navy (real name Viaud) author of Pecheur d'Islande, Fantomes d'Orient, etc. | Given me by M. Arthur Chasserian to whom it was addressed, Decr/92."

1p., 4to. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. A letter of recommendation for 'Mr Svederus, Chapellain du Roy de Suede, qui va a Paris pour quelques mois, et qui est recommandé au Ministre Suedois'. Woide explains that he became acquainted with Svederus during his stay in London, which lasted almost a whole year. He concludes by sending his regards to six individuals, beginning with 'Mr de Guines'.

2pp., foolscap 8vo. 54 lines of text. Good, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Addressed to 'The Hon. T. L. Graham, M.L.C., Prime Minister's Office, Cape Town.' Taylor begins by thanking Graham for his 'courteous letter' and is pleased to find that he has not been misunderstood. 'While siding with Dr. Smart it was on purely personal grounds that I wrote you. I cannot say that a number of your constituents differ from you; I do not know.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on aged paper, tipped in onto a card mount. He explains that he is 'obliged to return to London immediately after the delivery of my Lecture in Glasgow', and so will not be able 'to address the audience you bring together'. If he is 'asked to take part in the Glasgow Science Lectures' the following year, he will bear Hopps's wish in mind. Hopps was both an evolutionist and spiritualist, while Carpenter considered the claims of spiritualism 'epidemic delusions'.

1p., 4to. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter is on the recto of the first leaf, with the address - 'John Spottiswoode Esq. | Sackville St' - on the reverse of the second, which is also docketed 'Sir John Sinclair | Whitehall May 1790'. The letter reads: 'Sir John Sinclair presents his Comps. to Mr Spottiswoode - He has examined the Letter sent to Mr Grant and thinks that the objections mentioned in it, do not require any delay in drawing up the Claim.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of glue from mount on blank reverse. He informs Walford that he is returning 'the notes of my career having made some slight alterations'. He suggests that it would be 'well for me to compare the proof with the drafts'.

1p., 12mo. On light-blue paper. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. He thanks Sawyer for his letter and enclosure, found on his return and read 'with the greatest interest'. 'It was extremely kind of you to come and look at my botanical drawings and I am most grateful for the information you have been able to give me. It was marvellous to be able to have the opinion of a real expert.'

1p., 12mo. Air mail letter on blue paper, addressed to Arthur Bourne, Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd, 24-28 Oval Road, London, NW1 7DX, England. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. Clarke begins by thanking Bourne for his letter, and informing him that he has 'sent a card of thank [sic] to Dr. Allan Cottey'. 'I am now happily retired with the completion of my last and best novel "The Fountains of Paradise" (Playboy January and February - HBJ; Gollancz, January). I expect to be back in England in August to attend the World S. F.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper with loss to corners caused by removal from mount. Glencairn writes that with Eglinton's 'approbation' he offers 'to raise for His Majesties Service an Independant [sic] or Volunteer Company in the Parish of Kilbride Ayrshire Consisting of Sixty Men inclusive of non comissioned [sic] Officers Drums & Fifes or otherways as shall be deem'd most proper - upon the Same Footing and Regulations as other Independant [sic] or Volunteer Companys - and to serve within the District'.

Both items in fair condition, lightly-aged and worn. Severin Wielobycki's letter is 1p., 12mo. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium. It reads: 'Dear Madam. | I am much delighted that you take interest in my brother; all friends of his are of the same opinion tat he has been treated very unjustly. I hope your influence will if not relieve him, at any rate shorten his horrible sentence. | I beg to enclose two copies of the document according to your request' (only one copy present). The report of 'Dr Wielobycki's Trial' is 1p., 4to, on grey paper, in two columns of small print.

3pp., 12mo. With mourning border. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. The lower part of the second leaf has been cut away, not affecting the text. He begins by stating that he has received the recipient's 'last telegram announcing that you had postponed till to morrow your visit to London'. He has in turn telegraphed 'Mr. Benzon to propose to him to come to the Charing Cross Hotel at 11 or 12. In that case I would offer to yourself & Mr. Benson [sic] a breakfast at the Hotel'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of mount adhering to the reverse. The note reads: 'My dear Murray, | I hope you have not forgotten your promise to dine with me this evening, at Willis' Rooms, at 7 o'clock precisely. | Yours very truly | P. B. Du Chaillu'. Murray's published du Chaillu's books from 1861 to 1903.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged paper, with loss to the two upper corners. Addressed on the reverse, with red circular 'PD' postmark: 'Au Citoyen Mandar architecte | Cour Mandar No. 3. | Mairie de Paris'. The note reads: 'Citoyen, j'ai reçu ta lettre du 18 de ce mois, qui a pour objet de m'informer que tu as ouvert un cours de fortification qui se tiendra a cinq heures du Soir, les premidi, tridi, Septidi et nonidi de chaque décade.'

The three items in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Ordway's two letters each 1p., 4to, and each addressed to Bourne as editor of Spectrum magazine, Central Office of Information, Hercules Road, Westminster Bridge Road, London. In Ordway's first letter, 9 May 1969, he expresses pleasure at hearing from Bourne again, and the knowledge that he is 'still very active in the spreading of science information all over the world'. He has instructed his publisher to send Bourne a copy of the 'forthcoming second revision edition' of his 'History of Rocketry and Space Travel'.

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He is reluctant to refuse Baddeley's request, but he knows 'from old experience how impossible it is to pay consistent attention to anything else while one is editing The Times. When I was originally approached in the matter of the Oxford House, I was, to a great extent, my own master.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 'Lord Bingham presents his compliments to Sir Francis Freeling & will feel much obliged to him if he will be good enough to have the accompanying letter opened & returned to him free of postage as Ld. B. knows it to be a Petition to the House of Commons | Ld. B.

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with minor evidence of previous mounting. Apparently addressing an autograph hunter, she writes: 'I beg to forward you a specimen of my "pothooks and hangers" trusting you will "admire" if you honestly can. Believe I have pleasure in gratifying your request and am with truth my dear | Ever yours faithfully | Eliza Cook'. The poem, also signed 'Eliza Cook', is four lines long, beginning 'That stroke indeed would deeply gash'. There is no indication that the poem was published.

Brodrick's Autograph Letter Signed to Mathers: 1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. 'Dear Sir - It may interest you to read the enclosed, written by Ex-President Reitz whose "renderings" of "Maid of Athens" & "Tam O'Shanter" are so well known. Somebody once said that "the only thing that doesn't lose by 'translation' is a Bishop" and as a rule this is correct, but I think in this instance I have gained'. In a postscript he asks for the return of the 'M.S.', underlined twice.