CENTURY

[ Shelford Bidwell, physicist and inventor whose 'telephotography' was a precursor to the modern fax. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mr. Henslow', requesting a 'distant room' for a demonstration of 'an experimental telephone'.

Author: 
Shelford Bidwell (1848-1909, English physicist and inventor whose 'telephotography' was a precursor to the modern fax
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Riverside Lodge, Wandsworth. 27 November 1883.
£220.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for his note, adding: 'I think perhaps it will be better to clear the platform as the apparatus will then be more easily seen. I should be glad if possible to have the use of a distant room in the building to which I could run an experimental telephone wire. The room may of course be a very small one.'

[ Henry Carvill Lewis, geologist and mineralogist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('H. Carvill Lewis') to 'Prof. A. Ramsay' [ Alexander Ramsay, editor of the 'Scientific Roll' ]

Author: 
Henry Carvill Lewis (1853-1888), American geologist and mineralogist, debunker of paranormal claims
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 7 November 1884.
£180.00

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. He is sending 'the first two volumes of the Proceedings of the Mineralogical Section of the Acad - as also some papers of my own'. He has heard of Ramsay's 'Scientific Roll', and desires to 'heartily endorse it', in the 'hope that it may be continued – It will be of very great service to scientific men'. He will be glad to receive it, and in return to send 'from time to time both the Proceedings of the Section and other original material'.

[ Robert Wilson Shufeldt, American ornithologist and white supremacist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. W. Shufeldt') to Alexander Ramsey, regarding the 'Scientific Roll'.

Author: 
Robert Wilson Shufeldt (1850-1934), American ornithologist and white supremacist [ Alexander Ramsey ]
Publication details: 
From Fort Wigate, New Mexico. 28 January 1886.
£320.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. A presentation copy of the 'Scientific Roll' has 'just come to hand, as I have been snowed in at this point for a long time': 'if my purse were only as willing as my spirit I would put the shoulder to the wheel with you. It is a splendid work, and I look for the remaining parts with great interest.' He ends by asking to be put down as a subscriber. Ramsay's 'Scientific Roll: A Bibliography, Guide and Index to Climate' appeared between 1880 and 1884, and 'Scientific Roll and Magazine of Systematized Notes' appeared between 1890 and 1900.

[ Joseph Ady, fraudster. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Ady') to 'Mrs Jackson', giving details of funds he claims are due to her, and attacking Sir Peter Laurie for 'Malice'; on reverse of one of his lithographed fradulent circulars.

Author: 
Joseph Ady (1775-1852), Quaker fraudster [ Sir Peter Laurie (1778-1861), Lord Mayor of London ]
Publication details: 
Without date or place [ 1846 or later ].
£220.00

For details of Ady and his methods, see his entry in the Oxford DNB. The present item is on one side of a 9.5 x 22 cm piece of paper.

[ John Camden Hotten, London bookseller. ] Signed Autograph inscription ('Jno Camden Hotten') to Charles Welford., on hf title of his 'Literary Copyright'.

Author: 
John Camden Hotten (1832-1873), London bookseller [ Charles Welford ]
Hotten
Publication details: 
No place. 24 October 1871.
£65.00
Hotten

On the half-title of his self-published anonymous 'Literary copyright: seven Letters addressed by Permission to the Right Hon. the Earl Stanhope' (1871), now a loose leaf in 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Printed in the centre of the page are the words 'Literary Copyright.' Above this Hotten has written, in his stylised hand: 'To Charles Welford | with the respects of | Jno Camden Hotten | 24 Oct. 1871.'

[ Joseph Butterworth, legal bookseller and politician. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Jos: Butterworth') regarding the interest taken by Thomas Jeffery of Portsea in 'the Convicts in the hulks'.

Author: 
Joseph Butterworth (1770-1826), legal bookseller and politician [ Thomas Jeffery of Portsea; transportation ]
Publication details: 
Bedford Square [ London ]. 28 January 1826.
£65.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, aged and with creasing at foot. Reads: 'Thos Jeffery | 7 Conway Row | Half way Houses | Portsea | takes an active part in visiting the Convicts in the hulks & wd be most thankful for some tracts | Jos: Butterworth | 28 Jany 1826 | Bedford Square'. At the head of the page, in another hand: 'Rec'd £1. 1. 0'.

[ John David Macbride, Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford. ] Autograph Note Signed ('J D Macbride') | Principal of Magd: Hall' ], [ to Major R. G. MacGregor] acknowledging the receipt of a copy of translations from the Greek Anthology.

Author: 
J. D. Macbride [ John David Macbride ] (1778-1868), Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, later Hertford College [ Major Robert Guthrie Macgregor (1805-1869) ]
Publication details: 
Oxford. 27 October 1864.
£75.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Sir | I beg to thank you for a copy of your Greek Anthology which I shall deposit as your gift in the Hall Library of this Society.' Macgregor is not named, but the item comes from a batch of his papers. His 'Translations from the Greek Anthology' was published without date in London by Nissen and Parker. Macbride oversaw the move (completed in 1822) of Magdalen Hall from alongside Magdalen College to the site of the defunct Hertford College, after which it was renamed in 1874.

[ William Upcott, antiquary and autograph collector. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Dr J. B. Brown

Author: 
William Upcott (1779-1845), antiquary and autograph collector
Publication details: 
'Islington - | 102 Upper Street'. 10 October 1839.
£120.00

H2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with the blank second leaf placed in a windowpane mount. The letter gives a good impression of Upcott's questionable character, well-described in Janet Ing Freeman's entry on him in the Dictionary of National Biography. It reads: 'My friend will not part with his Autograph of O. Cromwell – He purchased it for 5 Guineas – the usual price – To his signature in my possession is attached that of his Secretary Thurloe – by no means a common Autograph – Dr. R.

[ Stephen Heller [ Heller István ], Hungarian pianist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Stephen Heller') in French, to an unnamed lady, seeking to rearrange the date of the lesson of 'Mlle. Shillito'

Author: 
Stephen Heller [ Heller István ] (1813-1888), Hungarian pianist, teacher and composer
Publication details: 
No place. Date illegible.
£120.00

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition. On his monogram letterhead. He states that he is still too ill to teach an arranged lesson to 'Mlle Shillito', and seeks to rearrange the date.

[ Thomas Henry Burke, Irish civil servant killed in the Phoenix Park Murders. ] Autograph Signature ('T H Burke') on part of an 'Authority to discharge'.

Author: 
Thomas Henry Burke (1829-1882), Permanent Under Secretary at the Irish Office, killed in the Phoenix Park Murders
Publication details: 
[ Dublin. ] Chief Secretary Office D.C. 'Discharged 20 March | 1875'.
£150.00

Piece of paper, approximately 15 x 21 cm, torn from the second and concluding leaf of a bifolium. Aged and worn, with repair to a closed tear. Burke's signature is at the foot, preceded by writing in another hand, thus: 'Hugh Mc. Mahon respectively. | I am, | Sir, | Your Obedient Servant, | J H Burke'. On the reverse, in ink: 'Chief Secretary Office D.C | Authority to discharge John & Hugh McMahon | also | Edward, Patrick & Bernard Mc.Swine | on entering into Bail self £2. with two Sureties £5 each.' Beneath this, at foot: 'Recd. & Ansd. | Discharged'.

[ Sir Walter Gilbey, wine-merchant and philanthropist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Walter Gilbey') to 'Mr Howard', regarding the 'serious state and suffering' of Howard's grandfather.

Author: 
Sir Walter Gilbey, 1st Baronet (1831-1914), English wine-merchant and philanthropist
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Elsenham Hall, Essex. 11 August 1895.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. He is 'deeply grieved' at the news of Howard's grandfather: 'I could wish, as you all do, his life spared a few years longer but when you tell me of his serious state and suffering, I feel we must be prepared for the worst and not desire a lingering death.' He asks for his 'sympathy and regret' to be conveyed to the whole family.

[ Sir Anthony Panizzi, Principal Librarian of the British Museum. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('A Panizzi') to 'Delane' [ editor The Times? ], re.Earls of Derby (inc. his acquaintance 'the great cockfighter') and whether a book is by the present Earl.

Author: 
Sir Anthony Panizzi [ Antonio Genesio Maria Panizzi ] (1797-1879), Principal Librarian of the British Museum and Italian patriot
Publication details: 
'British Museum | Thursday mng'.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with unobtrusive traces of stub. The letter begins: 'Vixere fortes antes Agamemnona, all the Earls of Derby have of late been Edwards, in 1828 the Earl of Derby was the grandfather of the present one – I have known him – the great cockfighter – and husband of Miss Farren.' He asks him not to forget to send 'the book of diplomatic sports': he is leaving for the continent the following Saturday, but will not fail to return it.

[ Archibald Geikie, Scottish geologist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Arch Geikie') to a female student of geology, correcting the misidentification of two specimens.

Author: 
Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924), Scottish geologist and author
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Shepherd's Down, Haslemere, Surrey. 24 October 1907.
£56.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition. The recipient is not identified. The letter begins: 'Dear Madam | It always gives me pleasure when I can in any way assist a student of Geology, and the pleasure is not lessened when the student is a young lady.' He proceeds to explain how the two specimens about which she has written to him ('Frigonia incurva' and 'Pleuromya Voltzi') have been wrongly identified, concluding: 'Your specimens appear from your drawings to be only casts and may therefore be difficult to determine satisfactorily.'

[ Professor Robert Bellamy Clifton, designer of the Clarendon Laboratory in Oxford. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('R B Clifton') to 'Wells' [ Joseph Wells ], regarding 'the tickets for the Wadham party'.

Author: 
Robert Bellamy Clifton (1836-1921), Professor of Experimental Natural Philosophy at Oxford University, designer of the Clarendon Laboratory [ Joseph Wells (1855-1929) of Wadham College, Oxford ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Portland Lodge, Park Town, Oxford. 18 June 1884.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition. Good firm signature, beneath which, in a contemporary hand: 'Professor of Experimental Philosophy | F.R.S: F.R.A.S.' He has been prevented from thanking Wells for 'the tickets for the Wadham party',having been engaged in 'a series of oscillations between London & Oxford', and his expressions of gratitude 'must now be combined with apologies for my delay in giving utterance to them'. Neither he nor his wife will be able to attend 'the festivity', but he has 'ventured to send the tickets to Mrs. G. R. Scott'.

[ Laura Henderson, founder of the Windmill Theatre. ] Autograph Letter Signed to an actress [ Janet Achurch ], praising her performance in 'A Doll's House'

Author: 
Laura Henderson [ born Laura Forster ] (1863-1944), founder of the Windmill Theatre, London [ Janet Achurch, stage name of Janet Sharp (1863-1916), actress ]
Publication details: 
14 Hill Street, Berkeley Square [ London ]. 'Sunday' [ 1889 ].
£320.00

4pp., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Achurch's entry in the Oxford DNB explains the context: 'In 1889, when she was still only twenty-three, she undertook the management of the Novelty Theatre, London, where on 7 June she appeared as Nora in the first English production of Ibsen's A Doll's House.

[ Charlotte M. Yonge, novelist. ] Autograph Signature ('C M Yonge') to part of Autograph Letter.

Author: 
Charlotte M. Yonge [ Charlotte Mary Yonge; C. M. Yonge ] (1823-1901), English novelist associated with the Oxford Movement
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£25.00

On 5.5 x 12.5 cm piece of grey paper, cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Written on both sides. The side with the signature reads: '[...] I will let you know if I have anything farther, but it does not at all depend on me | Yours faithfully | C M Yonge'. The other side reads: '[...] when of course we can accept them or not as we please. | Mr Hughes & some others were unwilling to write under a possible Editor who they thought might [...]'.

[ Allan Cunningham, Scottish poet. ] Autograph Note Signed to an unnamed woman ("Madam").

Author: 
Allan Cunningham (1784-1842), Scottish poet and author
Publication details: 
27 Lower Belgrave Place [ London ]. 'Tuesday one oClock'.
£35.00

On one side of an 11.5 x 12.5 cm piece of paper, cut down from a larger leaf. In good condition, lightly aged; laid down on a 15.5 x 15 cm piece of card to which a typed biographical slip is attached. Reads: 'Dear Madam | I have just received your note and write in haste to say that I shall do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you tomorrow (Wednesday) about ten oclock. | I remain Dear Madam | Your very respectful Servt. | Allan Cunningham'.'

[ Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Lawson') to 'Canon Farrar' [ Frederic William Farrar ] on matters including the Temperance Alliance and the Reform Bill.

Author: 
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet (1829-1906), radical Liberal politician, President of the United Kingdom Temperance Alliance [ Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903) ]
Publication details: 
From Brayton, Carlisle, on cancelled letterhead of the County Club, Carlisle. 19 December 1884.
£50.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair conditoin, aged and with central horizontal and vertical folds.The letter begins: 'What queer things people do write to you about.' On an unspecified question, Lawson doubts that Farrar 'can do anything in the matter', and thinks that 'the “Mrs. referred to in the plan is the Lady who gave £500 to the Alliance last October [...] she is worth conciliating if it can be done'. He thinks 'the Reform Bill ought to help an alliance crusade and feel – Hardly any publicans will be enfranchised by it, but numbers of their victims & their opponents'.

[ Sir William Smith, lexicographer. ]

Author: 
Sir William Smith (1813-1893), lexicographer and editor of the Quarterly Review
Publication details: 
On his 'Biblical Dictionary' letterhead, 31 Regent's Villas, Avenue Road, N.W.. [ London]. 21 January 1858.
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. He asks to be informed if the recipient has 'commenced any of your articles in C', as he 'may be able to restore some of the articles to you which have gone astray'. Clearly referring to an entry in the Dictionary, he offers to 'take Canticles off your hands'.

[ Canon Barnett, social reformer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Saml. A. Barnett')

Author: 
Samuel Augustus Barnett [ Canon Barnett ] (1844-1913), Vicar of St Jude's Whitechapel, Anglican cleric and social reformer associated with the Toynbee Hall university settlement
Publication details: 
On letterhead of St. John's Vicarage, Commercial Street, Whitechapel, E. [ London ] 22 April 1885.
£90.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Barnett and his wife will be 'up at Oxford on Saturday, May 2nd' and he gives their itinerary: 'We shall be Engaged on the Evening of Saturday: & on Sunday I preach in Balliol Chapel: & attend a meeting in Balliol Hall in the Evening.' If Wells could 'slip a meeting in, at any time, which would leave these times free', Barnett would be 'very glad to come to it'.

[ Graziado Isaia Ascoli, politician and linguist. ] Page of Autograph Corrected Manuscript, with presentation inscription signed 'Graziado Ascoli'.

Author: 
Graziadio Ascoli [ Graziadio Isaia Ascoli ] (1829-1907), politician and linguist
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£180.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and with central vertical crease. Consisting of a page bearing eleven lines of corrected manuscript, laid down onto an 8vo leaf, with the following presentation inscription at the foot: 'Vogliate sempre bene | al divotisso. vostro | Graziado Ascoli'. The manuscript begins: '[...] essi mettono in opera per chiarire diversamente il loro nazionalismo, [...]' and ends '[...] consequenti presenzoni delle cancellerie europee.' Ascoli was the first linguist to first to classify systematically the Italian dialects.

[ Edmond Warre, Head Master of Eton College. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Hugh' (a former pupil?), sending 'the usual Certificate', discussing his father's ill health, and with mention of 'Cyril' and the Hampton Court Tapestry.

Author: 
Edmond Warre (1837-1920), successively Provost and Head Master of Eton College, and outstanding rower
Publication details: 
Eton (on his monogrammed letterhead); 8 October 1882.
£60.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. He is sending 'the usual Certificate', and is sorry to hear of the recipient's father's accident. 'How did he do it? I hope he will have no ill effects from it.' He asks to be remembered to his mother. 'Cyril is staying out with a Cold to day but not much the matter.' He concludes: 'I hope you will get through the Exam all right at Balliol. Come & see us on yr way down'. A postscript refers to 'the Hampton Court Tapestry "The Fates" 3 pieces', and ends with a Latin quotation.

[ Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Lawson') to 'Canon Farrar' [ Frederic William Farrar ] on matters including the Temperance Alliance and the Reform Bill.

Author: 
Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 2nd Baronet (1829-1906), radical Liberal politician, President of the United Kingdom Temperance Alliance [ Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903) ]
Publication details: 
From Brayton, Carlisle, on cancelled letterhead of the County Club, Carlisle. 19 December 1884.
£50.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair conditoin, aged and with central horizontal and vertical folds.The letter begins: 'What queer things people do write to you about.' On an unspecified question, Lawson doubts that Farrar 'can do anything in the matter', and thinks that 'the “Mrs. referred to in the plan is the Lady who gave £500 to the Alliance last October [...] she is worth conciliating if it can be done'. He thinks 'the Reform Bill ought to help an alliance crusade and feel – Hardly any publicans will be enfranchised by it, but numbers of their victims & their opponents'.

[ Victorian penology. ] The Punishment of Crime. Paper. Read at Sion College, 19th November, 1895, by Sir Richard Harington, Bart., Chairman of the Herefordshire Quarter Sessions.

Author: 
Sir Richard Harington, Bart., Chairman of the Herefordshire Quarter Sessions [ Transportation ]
Publication details: 
Worcester: Printed by J. S. Cook, Reliance Work, Foregate Street. [ 1896. ]
£80.00

32pp., 8vo. Stitched pamphlet. In fair condition, aged and spotted. In small print, with footnotes. One minor manuscript emendation.

Programme for the Savoy Theatre production of 'The Emerald Isle or, The Caves of Carric-Cleena' ('New and Original Comic Opera, in Two Acts'), 'Written by Basil Hood. Composed by Arthur Sullivan and Edward German.'

Author: 
Sir Arthur Sullivan; Edward German; Basil Hood; François Arsène Cellier; Richard Barker; the Savoy Theatre, London [ Gilbert and Sullivan ]
Publication details: 
The Savoy Theatre, London. [ 1901 ] Printed by J. Miles & Co., Ltd., Wardour Street, W. [ London ]
£120.00

Printed on both sides of a 21.5 x 28.5 cm piece of thick paper, folded into a 21.5 x 9.5 cm packet, with three panels on the outside and a single page of text within. A nice piece of Savoy Theatre ephemera. Text in purple, with gilt borders, except on the front cover, and with 'The Ancient Arms of the Savoy' in gilt, black, green and orange. In fair condition, lightly aged and ruckled. Two panels of advertisements on the outside, with the programme on the inside also flanked by advertisements.

[ The 'Bottle Trade' in eighteenth century England. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos Dale') from Thomas Dale of Shields [ South Shields ] to Charles Wren of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, regarding the 'Bottle Trade', the Eden Treaty, and the 'Shields Houses'

Author: 
Thomas Dale of Shields [ South Shields ] [ Charles Wren of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Eden Treaty, 1786 ]
Publication details: 
Shields [ South Shields, Northumberland ]. 27 February [ no year, circa 1786 ].
£220.00

4pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. An excellent letter on an unusual subject, written in forthright style. The author – who like the recipient is a member of the local mercantile community – gets down to business immediately: 'Sir | The late great demand for Bottles in England was the effect of Mr Pits [sic] commercial Treaty with France.

[ Rev. Robert Whiston, inspiration for Trollope's 'The Warden'. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Robert Whiston') to the Mayor and Corporation of the City of Rochester, regarding an application to make a dock and use a creek in the River Medway.

Author: 
Robert Whiston (1808-1895), Headmaster of Rochester Cathedral Grammar School [ King's School ], 1842 -1877, inspiration for Anthony Trollope's 'The Warden'
Publication details: 
Rochester [ Kent ]; 16 June 1854.
£180.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn. Docketed: 'Application of the Revd. Robt. Whiston to make Dock & use Creek'. Written in a hurried hand.

[ Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Marchmont'), the second concerning the 'Great Seal' and the death of Andrew Pringle, Lord Alemoor.

Author: 
Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont [ Lord Marchmont; in youth styled Lord Polwarth ](1708-1794), Scottish politician, Governor of the Bank of Scotland, 1763-90 [ Andrew Pringle, Lord Alemoor ]
Publication details: 
Both from London. 18 February 1766; 18 April 1776.
£100.00

Both letters 1p., 4to. Both on bifoliums with second leaf docketed. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: London; 18 February 1766. He begins with reference to the sending of two bills to 'Mr. Fairholme', then turns to the question of a receipt for 'Rob: Minto', which he provides, with its own signature, at the end of the letter. He then states that as a result of 'Mr Pringles Letter' he has 'lost hopes of Lord Nisbet'. Finally he says that he has 'had a Letter of form from Billie notifying Widderburn's Death'. TWO: London; 18 April 1776. Docketed 'Great Seal'.

[ George Whyte-Melville, Scottish novelist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('G Whyte Melville') to 'Lady Violet' [ Lady Violet Greville ], declining a dinner invitation.

Author: 
George Whyte-Melville [ Major George John Whyte Melville ] (1821-1878), Scottish novelist and writer on field sports [ Lady Violet Greville (1842-1932) ]
Publication details: 
On his armorial letterhead, 22 Onslow Gardens, South Kensington, S.W. [ London ]
£35.00

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, aged and with bands of glue at head and tail on reverse. He thanks her for her note, but he cannot join her party. 'I wish I could!' Postscript: 'I hope you are quite well again!'

[ Cecil Lawson, landscape painter. ] Autograph Note Signed ('Cecil Lawson') to London art dealer C. W. Deschamps, regarding the Melbourne International Exhibition.

Author: 
Cecil Lawson [ Cecil Gordon Lawson ] (1849-1882), English landscape painter [ Charles William Deschamps (1848-1908), London art dealer ]
Publication details: 
Bolton Bridge, Skipton, Yorkshire. 21 July 1880.
£45.00

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, on aged paper with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Reads: 'Dear Sir | Will you kindly let me know the latest date for sending pictures to the Melbourne International Exhibition and Oblige | Yours very sincerely | Cecil Lawson.'

Syndicate content