Autograph Letters

Rowton edited a celebrated anthology of British female poets. One page, 12mo. Poor: grubby and with remains of stub from previous mounting adhering to edge of bifoliate. 'It will give me great pleasure to deliver my Lecture on Charles Dickens at the Southwark Institution during the next Season. - My terms will be eight Guineas for the Three. - | I may perhaps be allowed to say that I am now delivering these Lectures (the Second comes on tomorrow night) at this Institution, with very great success, to crowded audiences.

English scientist (1889-1977), who worked with Rutherford in Manchester. All eight items quarto and very good. Most carrying the Society's stamp and some docketed. All signed 'Margaret Fishenden'. Mostly concerning the delivery and publication of a lecture on 'Domestic Heating'. Letter of 11 January 1926 suggests a number of people who should be invited.

Surgeon, Astley Cooper's mentor (DNB), author of medical works. Three pages, 8vo, crude repairs to tears on folds, laid down, text clear and complete. He writes, "That disorder in a horse which constitutes a Roarer, is caused by a membranous projection in a part of the wind pipe (technically called the larynx). It is a consequence . . . [he continues ] . . . "A Roarer is not therefore a diseased horse . . . When a horse is in strong action, his breathing becomes proportionatley quickened . . . and thus the roaring noise is produced.

French Hellenist. In French. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He returnsd a letter his correspondent had sent to their colleague, Viennet "pour l'Academie" to which he adds something of Labitte "pur la Collectio Pizarrensis [Pisaurensis?]. He benefits from the offer of ""votre nouveau substitut" Jacqumets [?]. He has seen Beuchot. He has corrected the first proof of "The Odyssey" ("j'ai corrige la premiere epreuve de L'Odyssee"). He has hopes of finishing "le grand oeuvre des poesies homeriques". He wonders what he will devote himself to afterwrds.

English politician (1649?-1717); Secretary to Sir William Temple at the Hague, 1668; on diplomatic missions to Rome, Stockholm and Copenhagen; Secretary of State to William III; Member of Parliament. One page. Dimensions of paper roughly seven inches by eleven. Poor: paper discoloured and with some loss to edges (affecting three words of text) and a closed tear. Recently repaired with archival tape and at an earlier period backed with paper. Verso attached to smaller leaf of blank paper. Fourteen lines of text.

Piece of paper, laid down on detached album leaf, c.4" x 3", with signatures only of Nancy Astor and Margaret Wintringham, the first and second women MPs, withe note giving that information.

Northern Irish Author and drama critic, see DNB. Three substantial and characteristic letters, total 8pp., 4to. She has submitted some of her plays for his critical appraisal and he has been plain-spoken. In the first letter, he comments on "The Long Duel" that he appreciates its literary rather than its dramatic qualities, but likes it. He finds two "grave faults" "one of which is common to dramatists who are primarily novelists.

Bookseller and publisher (1862-1933). One page, 12mo. Very good, docketed with the Society's stamp. 'In reply to your circular letter, I beg to apply for admission as a Fellow of your Society and herewith forward my application together with my cheque value 2 guineas, which in the event of not being elected, please return to | Yours faithfully | George H. Whitaker'.

Historian of aviation (1909-81) at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Eight items, various formats. Very good. LETTER ONE (two pages, octavo, 14 January 1949, on V & A letterhead): 'As a very new fellow of the Society I hesitate to burden you with reading the enclosed [an article on 'Father Gusmao: the first practical pioneer in aeronautics', not present], but I thought there might be some chance of its appearing in the Journal. It is too historical for the Roy. Aeronautical Society's Journal and too aeronautical for the others, so I am stuck!

Publishers. Total five pages, 4to, one torn without loss of text, fold marks, creasing, otherwise good condition. (8 June) "I should be pleased to lend you the blocks from Mr. Pennell's 'Lithography', of which you left a list for a fee of 5/- each. The frontispiece of Mr. Pennell by Whistler is a lithograph, but I have a similar half tone block which I could lend you2. He has to charge. (11 June) They have ordered the blocks to go to Messrs Clowes from two firms. (13 July) One firm failed to send a block and they return money. They request return now they are finished with.

Philologist (1840-1917)("ranked as the chief authority on the French language of his era". In French, written the age of 20. Three pages, 8vo, good condition. "En meme temps que cette lettre, vous recevez les epreuves d'un article qi parait actuellement dans la Bibliotheque de l'ecole des Chartes. et dont l'objet est le Girartz de Rossilho [title underlined]. Si je prends la liberte de vous adresser ce travial, c'est que la Biblioth. de l'Ec.

Note trimmed with the loss of a few letters, c.7" x 6", some staining but text clear, as follows: "These are to Certify the Principa[l] officers & Commissioners of His Majestys Navy that Mr Thomas Muir served as Lieutenant onboard His Majesty's Ship Juste under my command from the 15th day of June 1801 to the date hereof during which time he complied with the General Printed Instructions & was not absent Six Weeks at any one time./ Given under my hand onboar[d] the Juste this 10th day of [in another hand] April 1802." Note added in another hand - information about Nagle.

Mushet (died 1828) was an officer of the Mint, and author of 'An Inquiry into the Effects Produced on the National Currency, and Rates of Exchange, by the Bank Restriction Bill' (1810). The recipient (1787-1864) edited Bunyan. One page, octavo. Good, on slightly grubby discoloured paper with one spike hole. Two short printed accounts of Musket laid down at foot of page. Reads 'Dear Sir | I shall be obliged to you to send me this afternoon or early tomorrow morning a Copy of Ede's Book of Coins'. Signed 'R Musket' and addressed, on revese of second leaf of bifoliate, to 'Mr.

Novelist and playwright, author of the "flawed masterpiece" "Hunger and Love". Two pages, 8vo, fold marks but good condition, one ms. correction. A substantial letter dated 30 Oct. 1956, in which he reports on a letter from "Miss Black of Curtis Brown Ltd" (literary agents) in which she reports that Miss Farjeon does not want to sign a second agreement for "The Impossible Guest" (novel by Joseph Jefferson Farjeon published in 1949 which Britton presumably adapted for the stage).

Architectural historian (1904-92) and curator of Sir John Soane's Museum, 1945-84. Seven leaves, all very good, though some lightly creased and all with staple holes in top left-hand corner. The first three letters to Mercer and the last three to Samson. Three letters docketed. ITEM ONE (two pages, 12mo, 7 August 1958): He is 'much attracted' by the Society's invitation 'to give three Cantor lectures on Country Houses', 'especially as I understand the text of the lectures would be published'. There is however 'one rather grave difficulty.

Sometime Russian Head of Government. Bold abbreviated signature on page, 8vo

Natural scientist (see DNB). Two pages, 4to, some damage and marking but text clear and complete. "You will have probably seen from the progres of the Encyclopaedia, that we are now approaching very rapidly to the article Galvinism [underlined] which you were so kind as to undertake. We are printing at present the article Fortification . . . & I think we shall require it for press on the Ist of |September." He asks for an estimate of the number of sheets the article will occupy, how many plates or separate figures to illustrate.

French architect (1845-1938), brother of the painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. One page, 12mo. Very good, on discoloured paper. Rodin (the sculptor) has informed him that the sketch requested by the committee will be ready the next Saturday. Points out that it will be difficult to convene a meeting during the Easter holidays. Signed 'Emile Bastien-Lepage'.

Dramatist and novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. In a difficult hand, he says that he has heard from [M. Rey?] that he hasn't concluded his engagement in Brussels and has no interest in the role mapped out except in a few days. He goes on to talk of the work involved in corrections which has prevented him from sending a "manuscript exact". Note: The place and date are written in another hand on the reverse.

Wood-engraver. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. "I have just received yr last two drawings. / I will have these drawn I think, for photography gives a coat to the wood and when you think your tints are too light - you find them too dark. / With regard to the Beach cut I am persuaded that in printing it will now come very near the original, the colours of which I think you must have forgotten, and I have written to Mr Smiles (who seems to wish to get on without the subject) to try it at press - now it has been more finished - which I trust you will also approve. . . . PS.

Noé, Amédée-Charles-Henry de (1818-1879). French cartoonist.. - caricaturist. One page, 8vo, laid down, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He says that Madame de Noe [avec accent] is fully recovered from illness and wonders if his correspondent can dine next sunday. "Un mot de reponse s.v.p." He concludes with formal best wishes. The conjoint blank leaf is laid down - on the recto of this blank is a draft acceptance signed [Paggi?].

Scientist (see DNB). One page, trimmed 4to, laid down on card, some staining, date smudged, but text clear and complete. "I hope the enclosed will be useful to you in finding the vessell you want for your circumnavigation." Perhaps it relates to Lowry's scientific interests.

Liberator of Greece (see DNB). Three pages (one cross-written making essentially four pages), 4to, sl. damage with obscuring of a word or two, mainly good condition, apparently missing the first leaf.

Political Economist. One page, 12mo, good condition. Difficult to read but he talsk of submitting a "tirage" [printing; proof?] to his correspondet's attention (or vetting), mentioning sending [?] a title and "''indication que [?] extrait du journal d'agriculture".

French financier (1758-1850). Offical letter, two pages, folio, text in secretarial hand, signed by Mollien, some defects but mainly good condition. "Monsieur le Courte, je prie Votre Exc ellence de vouloir bien presente le plus promptement possible a Sa Majeste, le Budget Speculatif de recetter et de depenser de la caisse des Invalides pendant l'annee 18 . / Ce budget doit etre le premier element de la Comptabilite du Tresorier que Sa Majeste a etablie pour ce Service par Son Decret du 13. Aout dernier. / Le premier Article de ce budget me parois dernier presenter a [lu recette?] ce qui .

Miscellaneous author. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He asks politely for two pieces of information. Firstly, they have a book with engravings about Liberia "fondee par les Americains". He wonders if Liberia has a charge d'affaires in Paris or London. Secondly, he'd like to publish an article on "votre Bibliotheque americaine" and hopes they'll provide documentation.

Furniture Historian. Two letters SIGNED by Macquoid,one by amanuensis (he apologises for this - unwell). 3 pages, 4to, and 4 pages 8vo, good condition. He discusses matters which relate to their work on "A History of English Furniture" for which Slocombe provided illustrations - progress on a task; plans, wishes; contact with owners/aristos ;travels; suggestions; a sketch of a table; and so on. WITH: a page of notes in Slocombe's hand headed "oak furniture I am to paint"; a typed letter with ms.

(John Bull) W. Shackell (2; 1844), prob. printer (BBTI) and publisher and/or joint-proprietor of John Bull. He encourages contributions and anticipates "the Proprietor" making a proposition "for your further and permanent connexion with [John Bull]." See immediately above and below for more material from the J.T.J. Hewlett archive. Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.

Banker and Politician. In French. One page, 4to, good condition. If a consul to Guernsey has not yet been appointed, he recommends David Macculloch who has a good reputation and has commercial knowledge. He would be helpful to French ships there and his nomination would suit the Governor, Sir John Doyle, who had long since requested it of their Ambassador in London. {de Reyneval prob. the diplomat in Biog. Univ.]

Henry Flower, presumably the bookseller and publisher in BBTI, discussing Hewlett's Dunster Castle in congratulatory terms, hoping for a meeting. Originally from a larger archive, the residue of which is described in #3157 (Hewlett's papers), this and other items appear in my ABE inventory in book id#s 3124-3156.