Autograph Letters

Politician and children's writer (1829-1893). Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a half. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] himself, & the flatterers to whose advice he has listened rather than to those who have not feared to tell him the truth - | Vy truly | Brabourne'. Docketed in pencil.

Politician and director of Trueman, Hanbury, Buxton and Co. (1840-1924), whose entry in 'Who's who' describes his 'Recreations' as 'a keen follower of big game in four continents'. All three items 12mo and very good. The first two items on cream paper and bearing the Society's stamp; the last item on grey paper and docketed. First and last item signed 'E N Buxton'. ITEM ONE (two pages) addressed to 'Sir Trueman' [sic]: 'I have not forgotten that you asked me how my films stood the Climate & if I got any decent results in the Soudan'. Offers to show Wood 'a few' at the Athenaeum.

Biographer of Robert Louis Stevenson. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by one and a quarter. Very good. Taken from autograph album and mounted on larger piece of cream paper. Reads 'Yours very affectionately | Rosaline Masson.'

Anglo-Irish author (1794-1860) and art critic. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two inches. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger sheet of paper. Reads '[...] Oxford Street London for the next 3 weeks - Ever yours truly & affecly - | Anna Jameson'. Docketed in pencil at foot '(Legendary Art etc) | Written to my Mother - S[arah]. E[lizabeth]. S[iddons]. M[air].'

novelist (1859-1943). Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two inches. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of pink paper. Reads 'Yrs sincerely | Annie S. Swan.'

Victorian phrenologist (1788-1858) and natural philosopher. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a quarter. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of lilac paper. Crease line affecting first line of text. Reads 'I am | My dear Major Mair | Very truly yours | Geo. Combe'. Docketed in pencil at foot by Dame Sarah Elizabeth Siddons Mair (died 1941) '(Phrenologist) | Written to my Father - S. E. S. M.'

Archdeacon of Westminster and Dean of Canterbury (1831-1903). Two pages, 12mo. Good but grubby and with some staining from glue and with head of verso attached to larger sheet of green paper, some of which adheres to letter. He is 'very full of engagements in Lent; indeed I am more occupied in this way than is good at all for me or for others. I admire the resolute penitence of in preaching his year & no more. I alas! have about a hundred to preach, & many many other duites w[hic]h bring me nothing but hatred disparagement. So I know you will excuse me.' Signed 'F W Farrar'.

Scottish novelist (1841-98). Paper dimensions roughly four inches by one and a half. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. Reads 'Yours veryy faithfully | William Black.'

Architect (1915-98), designer of the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. All items very good. ITEM ONE (one page, folio): typed copy of Mills' 'programme' ('The object of the proposed research is to study at first hand the effect of these new techniques on building types in the United States [...]'.). ITEM TWO (one page, quarto, typed): letter by Mills dated 3 March 1969. Congratulates the Society on 'the new appearance of the R.S.A. Journal which is an enormous improvement on the past'. Explains that he has been awarded the Fellowship and encloses copy of programme.

Scottish author. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by one and a quarter. Very good, with some light glue staining. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] your welcome letter which | [...] | [...] your loving friend Jean M. C. Miller Morison'. Docketed in pencil 'Poet & Critic - "The Purpose of the Ages" etc'.

Historian (1867-1950), who 'organised reception of Belgian Refugees at Folkestone for L.G.B., 1914 (Med. du Roi Albert)' (Who's who). One page, quarto. Good. Folded three times. Docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. Signed 'Basil Williams'. In answer to Wood's telegram Williams replies 'I am to say that I am afraid we cannot sent [sic] people from here to Aldeburgh.

Manx novelist (1853-1931). Paper dimensions roughly three inches by one and a half. Very good. Reads 'Yours vy truly | Hall Caine'.

New Zealand-born English author (1884-1941), best know for his series of 'Herries Chronicles'. Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by five inches. Folded once (not affecting signature). Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. From Autograph album. Reads 'With the best | wishes of | Hugh Walpole | May 30th. | 1924'.

Paper dimensions roughly four and a half inches by two and a half inches. Very good. Folded once (not affecting signature). From an autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of blue paper. Reads '[...] | It was a real pleasure | to see you again the other | day. | Yours afftely | E C Price -'. Docketed in pencil at foot.

English aristocrat (1838-1919), author of 'Safe studies', 'Nuts and chestnuts', etc. etc. Paper dimensions roughly four inches by two inches. Very good. From autograph album. Mounted on larger piece of cream paper. Written in lilac pencil. Reads 'Lionel A Tollemache'. Docketed at foot in pencil.

English novelist (1857-1903). Paper dimensions roughly four and a quarter inches by two and a quarter inches. Very good, but grubby and with a few light glue stains. From autograph album and mounted on larger piece of light blue paper. Reads '[...] | it will save confidencce. | In gt. haste | Yrs. truly | A. E. Bayly.' Docketed '(Edna Lyall)' in pencil beneath signature.

British engineer (1862-1932), President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and for thirteen years 'Engineer-in-Chief, Charing Cross, West End, and City Electric Supply Corporation, Ltd'. One page, quarto. Very good. Thanks Menzies for a copy of the Society's journal, 'including Dr. Crowley's Paper with my contribution'. Signed 'W. H. Patchell'.

British art historian (1866-1939) whose papers are now in the Courtauld Institute, London; Turner specialist and founder of the Walpole Society. Both items one page, quarto, very good. Both docketed and bearing the Society's stamp, and signed 'A. J. Finberg'. First letter enquires whether 'a full list of the recipients of [the Society's awards] has been published, or whether the materials for the compilation of such a list are in existence & are accessible to research'.

Linguist (died 1922), Professor of Hindustani and Reader of Hindi and Bengali, University College, London, and Teacher of Bengali at Oxford University. Two pages, 12mo. Very good though a little grubby. Docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. 'As I have not heard from you I am afraid there are no candidates for Hindustani - I have come here for a much needed rest, and, as no letters will be sent on from Gerards Cross, will you kindly write direct to this address in case a paper is required.' Signed 'J F Blumhardt'.

Anglo-Danish research chemist (died 1944), a pioneer of infrared photography. One page, quarto. Very good, though a bit grubby and with a few small staple holes. 'Will you kindly thank the Council of the Royal Society of Arts for the honour conferred upon me in awarding to me a silver medal for my paper on Infra-Red Photography.' He will be present at the 'opening meeting of the next session'. Signed 'Olaf Bloch'.

Fragment of an autograph letter, c.4" x 2",laid down on slightly larger card (from an album).Text only "I am reading ["Foreigners"?] and enjoying them. / Yours very truly / C.M. Yonge.

Authority on the Balks, etc. (DNB). Fragment of a letter, c.6" x 2", laid down on slightly larger card from album, good condition. Text: By the time I leave, I hope we shall have our Serbian expedition virtually ready. The great trouble is to find a means of transit: it is hoped to get out all the way by ship. I will write agin: this has to catch the post."

Children's Author and Editor. Two pages, 8vo, attached to slightly larger card (a page from an autograph album), good consition. Text: "I am much obliged to you for the offer of your tale, but think it better to return it as I am fully supplied at preset with material for my Magazine. Will you allow me to say that it strikes me as being better adapted for such a puvblication as the "Monthly Packet" which is intended for rather older readres than mine." DNB entry: "In May 1866 Mrs. Gatty established a monthly periodical for young people called ‘Aunt Judy's Magazine.’"

Fragment of a letter, c.3.5" x 3", laid down on slightly larger card, surving text as follows: "I have no story suitable. Hope you had a pleasant trip. Very truly yours / H Rider Haggard".

Fragment of a letter, subscrption only, c.2.5" x 1", laid down on slightly larger card, cut from album, "Yours v[er]y tsinc[erel]y / Bret Harte"..

British railway engineer (1836-1918). Both items very good, and both stamped and docketed, and signed 'J. Wolfe-Barry'. LETTER ONE: one page, octavo. 'I have much pleasure in accepting the Office of Vice President of the Society and shall be glad, as an ex-officio member of the Council to be summoned to its meetings'. LETTER TWO: one page, octavo (landscape). 'I want to propose William Archer Tait D.Sc Civil Engineer for admission to the Royal Sy of Arts. His address is 9 Victoria Street S.W. Please take the necessary steps'.

Artist and art historian (1835-1906), President of the Royal Society of British Artists. Both items very good, if somewhat grubby, and both stamped and docketed, and signed 'Wyke Bayliss'. Both postcards with postmark over printed stamp. POSTCARD ONE: 'I was dining last night with Dr Richardson and he said he should be glad if you could let him have some more cards of invitation for my lecture on the 25th. May I ask you (if you think proper) to send them a dozen, in addition to htose you have already sent.' POSTCARD TWO: 'I send by this post the MS of my paper, for the printer.

Indian civil servant (1854-1935) whose posts included those of Under-Secretary to the Governments of Bengal and India. All four items signed 'Chas. S. Bayley'. All four items one page, 12mo. The last three, all on grey paper, very good; the first somewhat grubby and creased, and with two paperclip rust stains in one corner. LETTER ONE (addressed to 'Mr. Digby'): He is returning Menzie's letter (not present) and feels sure that 'the Indian Section Committee will be pleased to learn that the Council have agreed to appoint a joint committee to consider the question of the Birdwood medal.

Chairman of the famous pottery firm Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, Ltd (1867-1930), and High Sheriff of Staffordshire. All items are very good, if somewhat grubby. The typed letters are one page, quarto and the autograph, one page, octavo. All are signed 'Frank H Wedgwood', and most are stamped and docketed. One letter from 1918, two from 1919, one from 1924, five from 1925 and two from 1926. Mostly brief.

Managing Director of the famous pottery business ('saviour of the firm') and the fifth in the family to bear the name (1899-1968), Member of Parliament. All six items in good condition, though grubby, and with the first three bearing pin holes in one corner (not affecting text), the hole in the first letter being decidedly marked. All but one item docketed and stamped. Letters one, two, three and six are one page, quarto; letter four, two pages, 12mo; letter five, one page, 12mo; letter six, one page, quarto. All but the third item, which is signed 'Wedgwood', are signed 'Josiah Wedgwood'.