Autograph Letters

Typed Letter Signed ('Beaverbrook') from the press baron Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, proprietor of the Daily Express, to the London bookseller Charles J. Sawyer, regarding 'the United States Tariff Act'.

Author: 
William Maxwell "Max" Aitken (1879-1964), 1st Baron Beaverbrook [Lord Beaverbrook], Anglo-Canadian press baron, proprietor of the Daily Express [Charles J. Sawyer, London bookseller]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Lord Beaverbrook's Office, 29 Bury Street, St James', SW1 [London]. 14 July 1930.
£60.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with strip from mount adhering at head of blank reverse. He thanks Sawyer for his letter: 'I am obliged to you for sending me the front page of the United States Tariff Act'. 'The Americans are out for their own prosperity all the time. I only wish our own Government would show the same propensity.' He addresses the letter to 'Chas. J. Sawyer, Esq., 12 & 13, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, W.1.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Willm. B Carpenter') from the English zoologist William Benjamin Carpenter, explaining to Rev. John Page Hopps why he cannot address a meeting.

Author: 
William Benjamin Carpenter (1813-1885), English physician, zoologist, physiologist, and Registrar of the University of London from 1856 to 1879 [Rev. John Page Hopps (1834-1911), spiritualist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the University of London, Burlington Gardens, W. 17 February 1875.
£75.00

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'.

Autograph Letter Signed from 'W. Taylor' (the Swahili scholar Rev. William Ernest Taylor (1856-1927)?) to Sir Thomas Lynedoch Graham, regarding Sir Gordon Sprigg and the suspension of the Cape constitution.

Author: 
W. Taylor of Plumstead [Rev. William Ernest Taylor (1856-1927), Swahili scholar?] [Sir Thomas Lynedoch Graham (1860-1940); Cape Colony; South Africa; Lord Milner; Sir Gordon Sprigg]
Publication details: 
Plumstead. 12 June 1902.
£250.00

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.

Autograph Letter, in the third person, from the Scottish politician and statistician Sir John Sinclair to London solicitor John Spottiswoode, regarding an inheritance claim pertaining to the Ratter family.

Author: 
Sir John Sinclair (1754-1835), 1st Baronet, Scottish politician and writer on finance and agriculture, who coined the word 'statistics' [John Spottiswoode (1743-1811), London solicitor; Ratter family]
Publication details: 
'Whitehall | Sundy Eveng' [May 1790].
£120.00

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.

Autograph Note Signed ('Charles Fox')[ from the civil engineer and designer of the Crystal Palace] Sir Charles Fox to Edward Walford, regarding the proof of his entry in biograpahical dictionary.

Author: 
Sir Charles Fox (1810-1874), English civil engineer on railways and London's Crystal Palace [Edward Walford (1823-1897), journalist and biographer]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 8 New Street, Spring Gardens, London. 15 May 1867.
£120.00

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'.

Typed Letter Signed ('Fitzroy Maclean') from Sir Fitzroy Maclean, thanking the London bookseller R. E. B. Sawyer for giving his opinion of his botanical drawings.

Author: 
Sir Fitzroy Maclean (1911-1996), Scottish soldier and author best-known for 'Eastern Approaches' [R. E. B. Sawyer of the London booksellers Charles J. Sawyer & Co]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Strachur House, Argyll [Scotland]. 25 April 1978.
£120.00

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.'

Typed Letter Signed ('Arthur') from the science-fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke, sendng personal news to Arthur Bourne of the Academic Press Inc., including that he is 'happily retired with theh completion of my last and best novel.

Author: 
Sir Arthur C. Clarke [Sir Arthur Charles Clarke] (1917-2008), English science and science-fiction writer [Arthur Bourne of the Academic Press Inc, British science journalist]
Publication details: 
'Leslie's House', 25 Barnes Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. 7 November 1978.
£150.00

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.

Autograph Letter, Signed 'Glencairn', presumably written by Sir Adam Fergusson of Kilkerran, claimant of the Earldom of Glencairn, to the Earl of Eglinton, offering to raise a volunteer company 'to serve within the district' of the Parish of Kilbride

Author: 
Sir Adam Fergusson (1733-1813) of Kilkerran [Earl of Glencairn; Hugh Montgomerie (1739-1819), 12th Earl of Eglinton, Lord Lieutenant, County of Ayr; Scottish militia; Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland]
Publication details: 
Kilmarnock [Scotland]. 28 July 1798.
£180.00

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'.

Autograph Letter Signed from Polish refugee Dr Severin Wielobycki to an unnamed lady, enclosing a printed report of his brother Dionysius Wielobycki 's trial in Edinburgh for forging the will of Margaret Darling, headed 'Dr Wielobycki's Trial'.

Author: 
Severin Wielobycki (1793-1893) and his brother, Dionysius Wielobycki (1813-1882), Polish refugees who both trained as doctors in Edinburgh, before becoming homoeopaths [Isabella Darling]
Publication details: 
Letter: 55 Queen Street, Edinburgh. 26 January 1857. Newspaper report reprinted 'From the EDINBURGH NEWS of Saturday, Jan. 10, 1857.'
£180.00

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.

Autograph Letter Signed ('L P D'Orléans') from Prince Philippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris, arranging a meeting with 'Mr. Benzon' (the merchant banker Robert Benson).

Author: 
Prince Philippe d'Orléans (1838-1894), Comte de Paris [Louis Philippe d'Orléans], grandson of the French King Louis Philippe I and Union Army officer in the American Civil War
Publication details: 
On letterhead of York House, Twickenham, Middlesex [England]. 'Friday' [no date].
£220.00

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'.

Autograph Note Signed ('P. B. Du Chaillu') from the French-American traveller and anthropologist Paul Belloni du Chaillu, reminding his London publisher John Murray of a dinner engagement.

Author: 
Paul Belloni du Chaillu (1831?-1903), French-American traveller and anthropologist [John Murray III (1808–1892), London publisher]
Publication details: 
129 Mount Street [London]. 10 January 1863.
£120.00

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.

Manuscript Note, in a secretarial hand, signed ('Pache') by Jean-Nicholas Pache, Mayor of Paris, acknowledging a letter from the architect Charles-François Mandar, informing him that Mandar has 'ouvert un cours de fortification'.

Author: 
Jean-Nicolas Pache (1746-1823), French politician supported by Jean-Paul Marat, Mayor of Paris 1793-1794, who helped bring down the Girondists [Charles-François Mandar (1757-1844), architect]
Publication details: 
'Paris le 21 pluviose l'an 2e. [i.e. 2 February 1794] de la république uni et indivisible'.
£180.00

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.'

Two Typed Letters Signed (both 'Fred') from the American space scientist Frederick Ira Ordway III to the English science journalist Arthur G. Bourne, with copy of typed reply from Bourne.

Author: 
Frederick Ira Ordway III (b.1927), Harvard-educated American space scientist [Arthur G. Bourne, Science journalist]
Publication details: 
Ordway's two letters both on letterheads of the University of Alabama Research Institute, Huntsville. 9 May and 29 August 1969. Copy of Bourne's reply dated 11 July 1969.
£150.00

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'.

Typed Letter Signed ('Geoffrey Dawson') from George Geoffrey Dawson, editor of The Times, urging Sir Vincent Wilberforce Baddeley to 'look elsewhere' for someone 'in the matter of the Oxford House'.

Author: 
Geoffrey Dawson [originally George Geoffrey Robinson] (1874-1944), editor of The Times, 1912-1919 and 1923-1941 [Sir Vincent Wilberforce Baddeley (1874-1961); Oxford House settlement, Bethnal Green]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The Times, Printing House Square, London, EC4. 3 October 1923.
£45.00

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.

Autograph Letter in the third person from Lord Bingham [later George Charles Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan] to Sir Francis Freeling, Secretary of the General Post Office, regarding a petition to be presented to the House of Commons. With two cuttings.

Author: 
George Charles Bingham (1800-1888), 3rd Earl of Lucan [Lord Lucan], until 1839 known by the courtesy title Lord Bingham [Sir Francis Freeling (1764-1836), Secretary of the General Post Office]
Publication details: 
3 Park Place [London] 12 June 1830. One of the cuttings dating from the commencement off the Crimean War, 1853.
£180.00

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.

Autograph Letter Signed from the English poet Eliza Cook, sending what she describes as a 'specimen' of her 'pothooks' and hangers': a holograph poem titled 'Impromptu on being told the death of my Mother would leave a scar on my heart'.

Author: 
Eliza Cook (1818-1889), English poet and Chartist, close friend of the American actress Charlotte Cushman
Cook
Publication details: 
9 Gloucester Buildings, Old Kent Road [London]. 11 December 1845.
£100.00
Cook

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.

Autograph Letter Signed from the South African poet Albert Broderick to the editor of 'South Africa' E. P. Mathers, enclosing a corrected typescript of a translation of one of his poems into Afrikaans by 'Ex-President' Dr Francois Willem Reitz.

Author: 
Albert Brodrick (1830-1908), English-born South African poet [Edward Peter Mathers, editor of the journal 'South Africa'; Dr Francois Willem Reitz (1844-1934), President of the Orange Free State]
Publication details: 
Brodrick's letter, from 22 Cockspur Street [London, England], on cancelled letterhead of 141 Gloucester Road, SW. 9 January 1899. Reitz's typescript: Pretoria. 14 November 1898.
£250.00

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.

Autograph Letter Signed from Welsh poet Richard Llwyd, 'The Bard of Chester', to Sir Foster Cunliffe of Acton, sending 'the Blackburnian poem' and hoping for a reparation of 'the breach' [with John Blackburne, Tory MP for Lancashire?].

Author: 
Richard Llwyd (1752-1835), Welsh poet and antiquary, known as 'The Bard of Chester' [Sir Foster Cunliffe (1755-1834) of Acton Park, near Wrexham; John Blackburne (1754-1833), of Hale Hall]
Publication details: 
Bank Place, Chester. 27 April [1821?].
£150.00

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed, with broken seal in red wax, on reverse of second leaf to 'Sir Foster Cunliffe Bar - | Acton | Wrexham'. Chester postmark dated 27 April [1821?]. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He is enclosing 'the Blackburnian poem which arrived this morning by the Carrier -' (the poem is not present). The second paragraph reads: 'Classical Rats are voracious - they read with a vengeance - yet I hope that the breach is not beyond the powers of reparation'. From the papers of John Blackburne, through the antiquary Dr James Kendrick.

Typed Letter Signed ('Wyndham. A. Bewes') from the jurist Wyndham Austis Bewes to the British colonial official Sir Graham Bower, regarding a conference at Oxford and the German jurist Walter Simons, and complaining of 'the terrible time'.

Author: 
Wyndham Austis Bewes (1857-1942) of the Grotius Society and International Law Association [Sir Graham John Bower (1848-1933), British colonial official in South Africa; Walter Simons (1861-1937)]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the International Law Association, 2 King's Bench Walk, The Temple [London]. 7 June 1932.
£65.00

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased paper. Addressing Bower as 'My dear Sir Graham', Bewes begins: 'Considering the terrible times that we are passing through and which I see are so badly affecting you, I think you are too generous in sending a contribution fitting for halcyon days.' After a reference to Bower's bronchitis, he discusses the conference at Oxford, concluding: 'The German members who have already accepted are few for conditions there are frightful. Simons [the German jurist Walter Simons] is taking a kur [sic] and writes that he is not sure to come.

Autograph Letter Signed from the New York printer Walter Gilliss, presenting the journalist Clement Shorter with 'a little book written and made by me many years ago'.

Author: 
Walter Gilliss (1855-1925), New York printer [The Gilliss Press; Clement King Shorter (1857-1926), British journalist and literary critic]
Publication details: 
On Gilliss's own letterhead (with device of The Gilliss Press), Room 903, Mohawk Building, 160 Fifth Avenue, New York. 8 December 1923 [amended by Gilliss from 21 November 1923].
£120.00

1p., landscape 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. The letter reads: 'Dear Mr. Shorter: | You were so good as to admire the Stevenson printed by Doubleday, Page & Co., which was my handiwork to a large extent, and so, I am sending you a copy of a little book written and made by me many years ago, which I hope may interest you for an idle quarter-hour, (if you ever have one at your disposal). | Wishing you all the compliments of the season. | Yours sincerely | Walter Gilliss'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('David Pollock') from the future Sir David Pollock, Chief Justice of Bombay, to John Silk Buckingham, regarding the British and Foreign Institute, and a controversy in The Times.

Author: 
Sir David Pollock (1780-1847), Chief Justice of Bombay [James Silk Buckingham (1786-1855), author and traveller; the British and Foreign Institute, Hanover Square, London; The Times]
Publication details: 
Monmouth. 30 Ocotber 1843.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. 29 lines of neatly-written text. In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressing his letter to 'J: S: Buckingham Esqre.', Pollock writes that Buckingham's letter, 'enclosing the Rules &c. of the British and Foreign Institute', has been forwarded to him in Monmouth, where he is 'engaged on a long Circuit professionally, which comprehends all South Wales, and the West and South of England'. He is 'on the move continually', without 'time or opportunity to give sufficient consideration to the subject'.

Autograph Letter Signed in Italian from the future cardinal Giovanni Soglia Ceroni to the 'Sig. Dotte. Galeati', regarding the 'Causa già agitata fra il Sacerde. Francesco Gardi di Lugo, il Sig. Antonio Fornioni, e la Mensa Vescovile d'Imola'.

Author: 
Giovanni Soglia Ceroni (1779-1856), Italian Roman Catholic cardinal [Francesco Gardi di Lugo; Antonio Fornioni; la Mensa Vescovile d'Imola]
Publication details: 
Rome. 1 January 1817.
£75.00

2pp., 4to. 29 lines, in a neat calligraphic hand. In good condition, on lightly-aged laid paper. The document is signed 'Giovanni Soglia' and begins: 'Dal Sig. Dotte. Galeati ho ricevuto il fatto informativo della Causa già agitata fra il Sacerde. Francesco Gardi di Lugo, il Sig. Antonio Fornioni, e la Mensa Vescovile d'Imola; qual causa, atttesa la difformità delle due sentenze già pronunciate, si vorrebbe portare al Tribunale della Sac.

Autograph Letter Signed from the American artist Edwin Howland Blashfield to 'Mr. Thomas' [the playwright Augustus Thomas], regarding the National Institute of Arts and Letters [later the American Academy of Arts and Letters].

Author: 
Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936), American artist, President of the National Institute of Arts and Letters [Augustus Thomas (1857-1944), American playwright; American Academy of Arts and Letters]
Publication details: 
On his letterhead of 48 Central Park South, New York City. 14 November [1915?].
£120.00

1p., 12mo. 25 lines, neatly and tightly written. In good condition, lightly-aged, and with pin hole to one corner. Blashfield declares himself 'much disappointed' that Thomas will not be presiding 'at the joint meeting on the 17th. Nov.', stating that he has been urging 'from the beginning' that Thomas should 'so preside'.

Autograph Card Signed ('Edmund C. Stedman') from the American poet Edmund Clarence Stedman to 'Mrs. Ferris', regarding the marriage of the English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson to Emily Sellwood.

Author: 
Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833-1908), American poet, writer and scientist, educated at Yale University
Publication details: 
New York. 14 November 1890.
£90.00

On one side of a 9 x 11.5 cm piece of card. In good condition, lightly-aged and with a couple of minor spots. Reads: 'New York, Novr. 14th. 1890 | Dear Mrs. Ferris, | In 1850, [date underlined] Alfred Tennyson married Miss Emily Sellwood, daughter of Henry Sellwood, of Horncastle, & took up his residence at Twickenham. He was made Poet Laureate the same year, & was then 41 years old. | Sincerely yrs., | Edmund C. Stedman.'

Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Lee of Fareham') from Arthur Hamilton Lee, Viscount Lee of Fareham, to Morley Stuart, editor of the Cambridge Daily News, with reference to his 'old friend' the Marquess of Willingdon.

Author: 
Arthur Hamilton Lee (1868-1947), Viscount Lee of Fareham, soldier and politician [Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon (1866-1941), Viceroy of India; Morley Stuart; Cambridge Daily News]
Publication details: 
Both on letterhead of Old Quarries, Avening, Gloucestershire. 20 and 24 October 1940.
£90.00

Both items 2pp., 12mo. Both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with slight evidence of previous mounting. The first letter (addressed to 'The Editor | Cambridge Daily News') begins: 'When I received my L.L.D Degree from the University (in June 1931) you published in your issue of June 6, some photographs of the procession to the Senate House on that occasion.' He is writing 'on the off chance' that 'original prints' survive, 'as I am most anxious to obtain one, for my Autobiography, if it is in any way possible to do so'. In the second letter (to 'Mr.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Gerald Massey') from the poet and writer Thomas Gerald Massey to the autograph hunter John Bacon of Blackburn, discussing his English publications, and stating that he is 'busy with the real Work of my life'.

Author: 
Gerald Massey [Thomas Gerald Massey] (1828-1907), English poet and writer [John Bacon of Blackburn, autograph hunter]
Publication details: 
New Southgate, London N. 11 August 1882.
£150.00

2pp., 4to. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. In envelope, with postmark and stamp, addressed to 'John Bacon Esqr.

Seven Autograph Letters (five signed) from Mary Frances Stevens of Albany, New York: five to her mother and two to her father, including a description of a party at her home for her husband's friend Daniel Webster followed by a political meeting.

Author: 
Mary Frances Stevens [née Smith; later Butterworth] (d.1890), wife of Hon. Samuel Stevens (c.1798-1854) of Albany, New York [Daniel Webster (1782-1852), Whig politician; President Martin Van Buren]
Publication details: 
All seven letters from Albany, New York; those to her mother dated 27 August 1842, 2, 19 and 24 September 1844 and 24 September 1848; those to her father dated 24 January 1846 and 22 October 1848.
£350.00

Mary Frances Stevens was the daughter of Silas O. Smith of Rochester, and the mother of the novelist Augusta de Grasse Stevens (1852-1894) and of Marie de Grasse, Lady Evans (d.1920), wife of the English Liberal politician Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907). After her husband's death in 1854 she married John Fowler Butterworth. The seven letters in this collection are closely and neatly written; those to her father in brown ink and those to her mother in blue. All seven in good condition, on lightly-aged paper.

Two Autograph Letters Signed ('Souhesk') from James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk [previously Sir James Carnegie of Kinnaird and of Pittarrow], advising John T. Baron of Blackburn on the publication of his poems.

Author: 
James Carnegie (1827-1905), 9th Earl of Southesk [Sir James Carnegie of Kinnaird and of Pittarrow], Scottish nobleman [John T. Baron of Blackburn, autograph hunter]
Publication details: 
Both letters on letterhead of Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, N.B. 25 and 29 June 1883.
£100.00

Both letters in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (25 June 1883): 6pp., 12mo.

Autograph Letter Signed ('N: Vansittart') from Chancellor of the Exchequer Nicholas Vansittart to Whig MP William Smith, discussing James Walker's 'Letters on the West Indies', and voicing approval for the spread of Walker's 'mild system' of slavery.

Author: 
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley (1766-1851), Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer [William Smith (1730-1819), Whig abolitionist; James Walker, Commissioner for Crown Estates in Berbice, Guyana]
Publication details: 
Downing Street [London]; 16 February 1818.
£225.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. An important letter, in which the serving Chancellor of the Exchequer puts his position concerning slavery (a subject of extreme importance to the British Treasury), siding with a prominent apologist for the practice, James Walker, one of the commissioners managing the Crown Estates at Berbice.

Autograph Letter Signed ('H. Davis Richter') from the English painter H. Davis Richter to Dorothy Swan

Author: 
H. Davis Richter [Herbert Davis Richter] (1874-1955), English artist [Dorothy Swan]
Publication details: 
Letter on letterhead of 5 Redcliffe Square, South Kensington, SW10. 28 January 1946.
£100.00

Item One: Autograph Letter Signed from Richter to Swan. 1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly spotted paper. From the letter it would appear that in 1946 Richter was acting as one of the selectors for the 59th Exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, at the Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London. He writes that he is enclosing 'the mighty deed [a book, as the letter explains], also the invitation for the exhibition at the Royal Academy valid from Feb. 13 to March 17.

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