ENGLISH

[ John Caley, English antiquary. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Dr Adam Clarke, admonishing him regarding engravings for a new edition of Rymer's 'Foedera'.

Author: 
John Caley (1760-1834), English antiquary, Secretary to the First Record Commission [ Dr Adam Clarke (1760-1832) of Milbrook, Lancashire, Methodist minister and antiquary ]
Publication details: 
Grays Inn [ London ], 19 March 1811.
£40.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged paper, with negligible traces of mount adhering to the blank reverse of the leaf. Addressed to 'Dr Clarke | Harper St.' After explaining that the Commissioners of the Public Records want lists of the new plates for the first volume of 'Foeder', and another list of 'the old ones necessary to be re engraved', reminds him that he promised the latter list 'in September last'.

[ 'Spacecraft lands in Sauchiehall Street', Glasgow. ] Autograph Letter Signed from publisher F. J. Stewart ('John') to Don Malcolm, with spoof newspaper article by him: 'Viking Spacecraft lands in Sauchiehall Street | Is There Life In Glasgow?'

Author: 
F. J. Steward, publisher with New English Library and Science Fiction conference organiser [ Don Malcolm, Scottish science fiction expert; Glasgow, Scotland ]
Publication details: 
Letter from 67 Abbey House, Abbey Road, London NW8. 11 July 1977.
£150.00

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter is 2pp., 4to, and is written in a playful tone. Escaping the accompanying spoof Steward writes: 'Your remark that Glasgow was as alien to you as Mars got me thinking along the lines of the attached headline . . . . . It would be a good idea for a story if it hadnt been done about three thousand times already (See Robert Bloch (Report on Sol III) and others).

[ Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn, Georgian politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('C W Williams Wynn'), regarding outstanding business since his departure from the office of President of the Board of Control.

Author: 
Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn [ C. W. Williams Wynn ] (1775-1850), English politician, War Secretary under Earl Grey, 1830-1831
Publication details: 
6 Clarges Street [ London ]. 20 March 1828.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter, addressed to an unnamed recipient, begins: 'My dear Sir | Before I quitted Office I communicated to the Court of directors the Draft of an Insolvent Bill & some letters on the subject which I had received from the Judges in India, together with a request that they might be laid before you for your opinion & observations.' He should like the opportunity to talk over the subject with him, as he considers himself 'pledged to bring the measure forward [in the House of Commons]' with the approval of the present Board.

[ Angela Burdett-Coutts, Vitorian philanthropist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss Duff Gordon', with studio photograph.

Author: 
Angela Burdett-Coutts [ Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts, born Angela Georgina Burdett ] (1814-1906), Victorian philanthropist
Publication details: 
Letter from Holly Lodge [ Highgate, London ]. 20 May 1896. Photograph undated and unattributed.
£65.00

Letter: 1p., 12mo. In good condition. Written in a difficult hand, regarding 'Tickets' for a 'really remarkable Show'. Photograph: 9 x 6 cm. Sepia. In good condition, laid down on paper removed from album. Depicts Burdett-Coutts, in Victorian finery with bustle and veil, seated at a table, with gloved right hand pressed to her cheek (not found on Google images)..

[ Francis Browning Bickerstaffe-Drew, English author. ] Typed Letter Signed ('John Ayscough') to an unnamed editor, offering republication of his novel 'Two Fair Ladies', on reverse of letter from J. S. Wood, editor of the Gentlewoman.

Author: 
'John Ayscough', penmame of Francis Browning Bickerstaffe-Drew (1858-1928), English author, Roman Catholic priest and papal count; J. S. Wood [ John Snell Wood ] (1853-1920), editor of the Gentlewoman
Publication details: 
Wood's letter, on letterhead of the Gentlewoman, Arundel Street, Strand, WC. 3 January 1894. Bickerstaffe-Drew's letter from 6 Holyrood Place, Plymouth. 4 January 1894.
£100.00

Each letter 1p., 4to, Bickerstaffe-Drew's on reverse of Wood's. In fair condition, on aged leaf of paper with strip torn from head. The two letters cast an interesting light on English publishing practice in the late nineteenth century. Wood's letter, signed 'J. S. Wood', is written by a secretary, and addressed to 'The Right Rev Mgr Bickerstaff Drew'.

[ Sir Francis Bernard Dicksee, Victorian artist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Frank Dicksee') to Shirley Slocombe, thanking him for his congratulations on his appointment as President of the Royal Academy.

Author: 
Sir Frank Dicksee [ Sir Francis Bernard Dicksee ] (1853-1928), Victorian painter and illustrator, President of the Royal Academy [ Charles Llewellyn Shirley Slocombe (1872-1935), portrait painter ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Greville House, 3 Greville Place, Maida Vale [London]. 3 January 1924.
£33.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition. In stamped envelope addressed by Dicksee to 'Shirley Slocombe Esq. | 27 Warwick Gardens | Kensington | W.14'. He apologises for his late reply to Slocombe's 'kind congratulations', explaining that he is 'faced by over 500 letters all needing answers'. Dicksee was knighted the following year.

[ Sir Oswald Walters Brierly, English marine artist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('O S Brierly') to Walter J. Fawcett

Author: 
Oswald Brierly [ Sir Oswald Walters Brierly ] (1817-1894), English marine artist [ Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1833-1891), Admiral in the Royal Navy, and sculptor ]
Publication details: 
38 Ampthill Square, NW [London]. 10 February 1873.
£40.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He acknowledges receipt of a cheque for 35 guineas, for 'the small drawing of Constantinople', adding that 'Prince Hohenlohe called and saw it here today, and liked it very much'. He ends with the news that he has engaged 'Heffer to call here for it, & pack & send it to its destination'.

[ George Cruikshank, artist and illustrator. ] Contemporary manuscript catalogue of 264 books with illustrations by Cruikshank, and newspaper cuttinng of long obituary ('Death of George Cruikshank') from the Daily News, and two other cuttings.

Author: 
George Cruikshank (1792-1878), English artist and illustrator [ Charles Dickens ]
Publication details: 
The catalogue without place or date. [London, 1860s?]
£350.00

12pp., 4to. On the twelve leaves of a ruled notebook, stitched into buff wraps. Internally in good condition, in heavily-worn wraps, with 'G Cruikshank' in the same hand on the front cover. The entries are arranged in eight sections: 1811-1821 (61 items); 'No Date' (36 items); 1826-1830 (23 items); 1831-1840 (51 items); 1841-1850 (45 items); 1851-1861 (33 items); 1862-[1867] (7 items); and a final section of eight items from between 1811 and 1824. The penultimate section is headed '1862 to [blank]', indicating that the catalogue was a work in progress, and the latest items are dated 1867.

[ 'Mrs. Cecil Chesterton' on her brother-in-law G. K. Chesterton. ] Typescript of an article ('sketch') titled 'G. K. C. IN FLEET STREET. | by | Mrs. Cecil Chesterton.'

Author: 
'Mrs. Cecil Chesterton' [ Ada Elizabeth Chesterton, née Ada Eliza Jones ] (1869-1962), journalist and sister-in-law of the writer G. K. Chesterton [ Gilbert Keith Chesterton ] (1874-1936)
Publication details: 
Without place or date, but after the demise of the 'New Witness' in 1923, and before G. K. Chesterton's death in 1936.
£80.00

3pp., 4to. In fair condition, on aged, worn and browned paper. Ada Chesterton worked with her brother-in-law while assistant editor of the 'New Witness'. Her admiration for his talents was fully reciprocated, G. K. Chesterton describing his sister-in-law as 'brilliant'. It begins: 'Very much has been written and said of G. K. C. the poet, the pamphleteer, the genius of paradox, who holds the attention of his listeners by his dazzling sleight of words. I am going to write of him from a different angle - G. K. C. the journalist as he is known and gauged in Fleet Street.

[Printed volume.] The Pythouse Papers: Correspondence concerning the Civil War, The Popish Plot, and A Contested Election in 1680. Transcribed from MSS. in the possession of V. F. Benett--Stanford, Esq., M.P.

Author: 
William Ansell Day, editor [ The Pythouse Papers, 1642-1680, of V. F. Benett-Stanford, Esq., M.P. ]
Publication details: 
London: Bickers & Son, 1 Leicester Square. 1879. [ Wyman and Sons, Printers, Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. ]
£150.00

A total of 211pp., 8vo, paginated vii + xcviii + 105 + [1]. In red leather quarter-binding, with a coat of arms stamped in gilt on the green cloth front cover, and the title in gilt on the spine. Internally in fair condition, on lightly aged paper, in shaken and worn binding, with damage at head and tail of spine. Tastefully printed in a heavy style by Wyman and Sons. Day's 98-page introduction concludes by explaining thaht 'the documents now printed are in possession of Mr. Benett Stanford, the collateral descendant of Colonel Benett, and present member for Shaftesbury.

[ Walter Jerrold, English writer. ] Humorous manuscript address to him, signed by nine authors including Arthur St John Adcock, Alfred George Gardiner ('Alpha of the Plough'), William Archer, George Sampson and Keighley Snowden, on reverse of menu.

Author: 
[ Walter Jerrold [Walter Copeland Jerrold] (1865-1929), English author and journalist] Alfred George Gardiner ('Alpha of the Plough'); William Archer; A..St John Adcock; George Sampson; C. E. Lawrence
Publication details: 
On letterhead menu of the Wayside Inn, 2 & 3 Bishops Court, Chancery Lane, WC [London]. Dated 4 June 1919.
£80.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The menu is written out in faint pencil on one side, beneath the letterhead. On the other side, and headed with the date 4 June 1919 is the following playful address: 'Dear Jerrold, | "Carry on"! | This has no reference to the food we have just eaten. | You Walter [pun on 'ought to'] be here because you're a Jerrold [pun on 'dear old'] fellow. | And so say all of us.' Beneath this are nine signatures, two of which are undeciphered.

[ Two Devon circulating libraries. ] Printed labels of 'Knighton's Circulating Library, Dawlish.' and of the 'Circulating Library, Dawlish' of 'Crowther, Bookseller'.

Author: 
Knighton's Circulating Library, Dawlish [ John Knighton; Devon; Devonshire ]; Ann Gildburn Crowther, Circulating Library, of The Strand, Dawlish
Publication details: 
ONE: [ John Knighton, Permont [now 'Piermont'] Row, Dawlish, Devon. ] Circa 1830. TWO: Ann Gildburn Crowther, The Strand, Dawlish, Devon. Circa 1850.
£56.00

ONE (Knighton): 3 x 6 cm. In fair condition, aged and worn, laid down on a small piece of cream paper. A workmanlike production, within a wavy border. Reads: 'KNIGHTON's | Circulating Library, | DAWLISH.' BBTI records Knighton as active between 1828 and 1830. TWO (Crowther): 7 x 9.5 cm. In fair condition, lightly aged. Within decorative border, and reading: 'CIRCULATING LIBRARY, | DAWLISH. | CROWTHER, | BOOK-SELLER, | AND DEALER IN ALL KINDS OF | FANCY STATIONERY, | Toys, Berlin Patterns, German Wools. | Brushes, Fancy Turnery, Cutlery, Perfumery, &c.

[ S. Gertrude Ford, poet and suffragist. ] Holograph poem ('Compensation') and four Autograph Letters Signed to editor ('Wilson') and illustrator ('Robinson') of 'B. M. T[elegraph].' Topics include her writing, publication, and views on bereavement.

Author: 
S. Gertrude Ford, poet, journalist, suffragist and methodist, born in the Rossendale Valley, Lancashire [ probably sister of Cicely Ford (1876-1960) of Girton College, social worker and deaconess ]
Publication details: 
The first three letters from Chelmsford Cottage, Pine Rd, Winton, Bournemouth. 20 November 1905, and 4 and 11 January 1906. Fourth letter from Heather Cottage, Withermore Rd, Winton, Bournemouth, 20 July 1907. Poem dated October 1903.
£180.00

Ford's first book of verse was 'Sung by the Way', published in Blackburn in 1905. She published several volumes of patriotic poetry: 'Poems of War and Peace' (1915), 'A Crown of Amaranth' (with Erskine Macdonald, 1915), 'Our Heroes' (1916); 'A Fight to a Finish' (1917). Other volumes include 'Lyric Leaves' (1912) and 'The England of my Dream' (1928). She edited the series of 'Little Books of Georgian Verse', 1915-1916. Her 'Lessons in Verse-Craft' was published in 1919 with a second edition in 1923. Her song 'In the Twilight' (1923) was set to music by Harry Brookes.

[ The Society of Friends (Quakers). ] Printed document: 'The Epistle from the Yearly-Meeting, [...] To the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings of Friends and Brethren, in Great-Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere.' ['The Yearly-Epistle, 1761.']

Author: 
'William Fry, Clerk to the Meeting this Year' [ The Society of Friends; Quakers ]
Publication details: 
'Held in London, by Adjournments, from the Adjournments, from the 11th Day of the Fifth Month 1761, to the 18th of the same, inclusive.'
£85.00

4pp., folio. Paginated 1-4. Unbound bifolium. On aged and worn paper, with chipping to extremities and closed tears along folds. Docket title: 'The Yearly-Epistle, 1761.' Marginal subtitles include: 'Theh Salutation', 'State of the Meeting', 'Account of Sufferings', 'Account of fthe Prosperity of Truth' and 'The Conclusion'. Ends: 'Signed in and on Behalf of the Yearly-Meeting, | By William Fry, | Clerk to the Meeting this Year.' No copy in the British Library, and now scarce.

[ Sir George Alexander Macfarren, composer and musicologist. ] Autograph Note Signed ('G A Macfarren') to 'Miss Macerone', apologising for not being able to attend her concert.

Author: 
Sir George Alexander Macfarren (1813-1887), English composer and musicologist [ Miss Macerone, pianist and composer ]
Publication details: 
11 Alpha Road, NW [London]. 18 May 1862.
£32.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Reads 'Dear Madam, | I am sorry I cannot have the pleasure of attending your Concert, but wish you every success. | Yours very truly | G A Macfarren'. Little is known of Miss Macerone, but on 26 October 1846 the Boston 'Musical Gazette' reported: 'A young lady, Miss Macerone, who excels as a pianist and composer ! recently gave her first concert in London. She performed Mendelssohn's trio in D, ( in which Messrs.

[ Mrs Humphry Ward, English novelist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mary A. Ward') to 'My dear Violet'

Author: 
Mrs Humphry Ward [ Mary Augusta Ward, neé Arnold ] (1851-1920), English novelist, born in Tasmania
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Stocks, Tring. 12 March 1895.
£38.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. She apologises for the delay in writing, explaining: 'my hand has been dreadfully lame, & I have no secretary'. She explains that she has spoken to 'Mr. Craufurd' regarding the cottage, but that there is 'an old lady here, the widow of a farmer, a certain Mrs. Mead, who is supposed by Mr. Craufurd to have a prior claim'. She discusses whether Mrs Mead truly wants the cottage, and the possibility of making alterations to it, ending with remembrances to the recipient's father and mother.

[ George Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Warwick') to Sir George Scharf, regarding five paintings (including a Rubens and a Canaletto) which he has at Stable Yard in London.

Author: 
George Guy Greville (1818-1893), 4th Earl of Warwick and 4th Earl Brooke [ Sir George Scharf (1820-1895), art critic, illustrator and Director of the National Portrait Gallery ]
Publication details: 
19 Stratford Place, Oxford Street [London]. 27 October 1856.
£100.00

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium on grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. He has received Scharf's 'private list' (of paintings to borrow?) and will let him know 'which I can spare immediately'. In the meantime, as Scharf is in town, he suggests that he go and see 'what I have' in 1 Stable Yard, St James! - The pictures there belonging to me are a Canaletto - view of Venice - a Rubens - His own daughter - an Original of Mrs. Siddons, by Sir W. Beechey & a View of Jerusalem by D. Roberts'.

[ Edwardian police. ] Original black and white photograph showing 22 policemen posing in four rows in uniform.

Author: 
[ Edwardian police (in Kent?) ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date. [Kent? 1900s?]
£80.00

15 x 21 cm print laid down on 17.5 x 23.5 cm piece of card. Faded and aged, with wear to extremities of card (not print) and staining to reverse. The men are posing in four rows, in front of a large window in a brick wall. They are hatless, and wear single-breasted jackets with seven gilt buttons at the front, with black belt and metal buckle. Four numbers embroidered on either side of collars. In the centre of the group is a sergeant. Most of the men sport moustaches, and many pomaded hair and centre partings. From the papers of the gunsmith C.

[ Thomas Hood, English poet. ] Autograph Inscription, signed 'Thos: Hood', to Lord Jeffrey.

Author: 
Thomas Hood (1799-1845), English poet and humourist, a contributor to the London Magazine [ Francis Jeffrey (1773-1850), Lord Jeffrey, Scottish judge and critic, editor of the Edinburgh Review ]
Publication details: 
Without date or place.
£20.00

On piece of 9 x 14.5 cm card. In fair condition: aged, lightly-stained and with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Reads: 'To | Lord Jeffrey | With Kind regards from | Thos: Hood'.

[ Sir Patrick Moore. ] Typescript of 13 scripts for South African radio (series title 'Into Space'), with covering note from the South African Broadcasting Corporation and copy of letter from Rhodesia Broadcasting Corporation.

Author: 
Sir Patrick Moore [Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore] (1923-2012), English astronomer and writer and populariser of astronomy
Publication details: 
Moore's typescript without date or place. [Selsey, England, 1972.] The note and letter dating from 1972.
£165.00

ONE: Typescripts of 13 radio talks. 65pp., 4to. On loose leaves. Titles: 1, 'Our Earth in Space'; 2, 'Dreams of other Worlds'; 3, 'Rockets into Space'; 4, 'Man-made Moons'; 5, 'Man in Space'; 6, 'Space Research and Ourselves'; 7, 'Contact with the Moon'; 8, '"One small Step . . . ."'; 9, 'Space Stations and Lunar Bases'; 10, 'Mariners to Mars'; 11, 'Into the Hot Regions'; 12, 'The Grand Tour'; 13, 'Flight to the Stars'. TWO: Typed Note, signed on behalf of T. Van Heerden, Head of External Services, SABC. 16 March 1972.

[ Sir Patrick Moore. ] Typescript, with Autograph corrections, of 13 scripts for South African radio (series title 'Into Space'), with version rewritten for publication, and four Autograph Letters Signed, and Autograph Card Signed to H. David Lloyd.

Author: 
Sir Patrick Moore [Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore] (1923-2012), English astronomer and writer and populariser of astronomy [ H. David Lloyd of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) ]
Publication details: 
Moore's correspondence on his letterhead, Farthings, 39 West Street, Selsey, Sussex. Dated between 11 November 1972 and 5 February 1973. The talks undated, but from shortly before this.
£600.00

Collection of eleven items. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Typescripts of 13 radio talks. 65pp., 4to. On loose leaves. Titles: 1, 'Our Earth in Space'; 2, 'Dreams of other Worlds'; 3, 'Rockets into Space'; 4, 'Man-made Moons'; 5, 'Man in Space'; 6, 'Space Research and Ourselves'; 7, 'Contact with the Moon'; 8, '"One small Step . . . ."'; 9, 'Space Stations and Lunar Bases'; 10, 'Mariners to Mars'; 11, 'Into the Hot Regions'; 12, 'The Grand Tour'; 13, 'Flight to the Stars'. With a few manuscript emendations by Moore in black felt-tip pen, and other editorial emendations.

[ Sims Reeves, English operatic tenor. ] Autograph Signature ('J. Sims Reeves') with note to autograph hunter.

Author: 
Sims Reeves [ John Sims Reeves ] (1821-1900), English operatic tenor
Publication details: 
'En route | Royal Hotel Cardiff'. 21 April 1876.
£28.00

1p., 12mo. In very good condition, lightly-aged, with parts of red wax wafer at each corner. Reads 'En route | Royal Hotel Cardiff | Sir | Here is my autograph according to your wish. | Yours faithfully | J. Sims Reeves | April 21st. 1876.' Good, strong signature, with a final flourish continuing in a circle, and enclosign the whole of it.

[ The Royal National Lifeboat Institution. ] Transparencies of two charming illustrations, one a ragamuffin boy fisherman, and the other his sweetheart waving goodbye to him.

Author: 
[The Royal National Lifeboat Institution; RNLI ]
Publication details: 
'Sold in aid of the R.N.L.I.' Without publishing details or date. [England. 1920s?]
£80.00

Both transparencies negatives on plastic sheets. The two images attached by a thin vertical strip of Scotch tape. On the right (22 x 14.5 cm) the image of the ragamuffin boy fisherman, with net and rod, looking to the left. On the left (22 x 16.5 cm) his young sweetheart, with fishing nets aand lace apron, waving a lace handkerchief. His image with caption (old Breton poem): 'Dear God be good to me | The sea is so wide | And my boat is so small | Sold in aid of the R.N.L.I.' Her image with the same caption, but with the word 'his' replacing 'my'.

[ John Seymour Lucas, RA. ] Four Autograph Letters Signed (all 'Seymour Lucas') to 'Mr Slocombe' [ the artist Shirley Slocombe ], written in a light-heared and affectionate tone.

Author: 
John Seymour Lucas (1849-1923), English artist and Royal Academician [ Shirley Slocombe (c.1873-1906) ]
Publication details: 
All on letterhead of New Place, Woodchurch Road, West Hampstead. 1902 (2), 1904 and 1908.
£120.00

The four letters all in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: 22 July 1902. 2pp., 12mo. Rearranging a meeting, following his absence 'at my cottage in Norfolk'. TWO: 6 August 1902. 3pp., 12mo. Regarding a drawing titled 'The little Chest', which 'Mr Macquarie' would like Slocombe to being at once. With postscript signed 'S. L.' THREE: 4 June 1904. 2pp., 12mo. He was 'on the point of writing', to ask when he could 'buy those delectable pipes', when Slocombe's 'most acceptable present' arrived. He ends by asking to be reminded to send him a 'soiree ticket'. FOUR: 1p., 12mo.

[Carlisle; Byron] Autograph Letter Signed "Carlisle" to unnamed correspondent (""My dear :Lord").

Author: 
Howard Frederick, 5th Earl of Carlisle (1748-1825), diplomat.
Publication details: 
No place or date, [watermark 1805].
£400.00

One page, 4to, bifolium, damp-stained, one leaf partly stuck to second blank leaf, text clear and complete. "Under the present state of politics I am not to suspect you have any altered sentiment respecting our sapient Rulers, & that I do any thing injurious to your feelings when I propose to you to continue yr support to yr old friend by renewing your proxy. I should have submitted my name instead of Ld [Sd's?] but I am too uncertain an attender to be intrusted with your vote.

[ Printed pamphlet; Walter Crane ] On the Study and Practice of Art: An Address delivered by Walter Crane, to the Art Students of the Municipal School of Art, and the Municipal Technical School, Manchester, Saturday, March 4th, 1893.

Author: 
Walter Crane [ Municipal School of Art, Manchester ]
Publication details: 
Manchester: "Manchester Guardian" Printing Works, Blackfriars Street, 1893.
£180.00

19pp., 12mo. Stapled. In grey printed wraps. Internally in good condition, on lightly-aged paper; in wraps with stamp and label of the Education Department Library. Marginal headings include: 'Motives for following an Artistic Career', 'Primal Important of Facility of Hand', 'Triumph of Commercialism', 'The Worship of the Ugly', 'Art: Pictorial, Creative, Pot-boiling' and 'Decorum in Decoration'. Uncommon: only four copies recorded on OCLC WorldCat.

[ Eugène Ionesco, 'Theatre of the Absurd' playwright. ] Typescripts of two translations of his plays by Donald Watson: the 'original text' of 'The Bald Prima Donna. A Pseudo-Play in one act', and 'The Motor Show'.

Author: 
Eugène Ionesco (1909-1994), Franco-Romanian 'Theatre of the Absurd' playwright; Donald Watson, translator
Publication details: 
Neither translation dated, but both 'Copyright by DONALD WATSON, | 13 Oakley St., Chelsea, London.'
£300.00

Watson's translation of 'La Cantatrice Chauve' (1950) was first published in London by Calder in 1958, and his version of 'Le Salon de l'Automobile' (1951) by the same publisher in the fifth volume of Ionesco's plays in 1963. The two scripts typed in uniform style, on rectos of leaves, and stapled together. ONE: 'The Bald Prima Donna'. 19pp., 8vo. In good condition, on aged paper, with somewhat-appropriate child's markings in black ink on blank parts of first page.

[ Edward Hogg, doctor and travel writer. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edwd. Hogg') to 'Dear Dyer' [ George Dyer ], written while en route to 'Mr. Fry's'.

Author: 
Edward Hogg (1783-1848), English doctor and travel writer, a friend of poet laureate Robert Southey [ George Dyer (1755-1841), author and political reformer ]
Publication details: 
'Hendon, Saturday.' No date.
£45.00

16mo. 1p. In fair condition, with slight traces of glue from mount. He has received Dyer's 'parcel p[er] Coach', and informs him that his party is 'expected at Mr. Fry's' on the following day. He is returning with the letter 'all the Books you first forwarded for Mrs Jacksons inspection'.

[Printed pamphlet.] The New Interest display'd: or A Second Dialogue between a Curate and a Cobler. Address'd to the Freeholders of Oxfordshire.

Author: 
[ C. Warburton of Amen-Corner, London bookseller ]
Publication details: 
London: Printed for C. Warburton, in Amen-Corner; and sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster. 1753.
£100.00

22 + [1]pp, 8vo. Unbound, and stabbed as issued. Last page carries an advertisement for five books 'Just publish'd in Octavo'. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with wear to fore-edge, and loss to bottom outer corner. Text entirely undamaged, apart from a tear through two words on the last page. The dialogue between the well-spoken curate and the dialect-spouting cobbler, on the subject of 'the Election-Business', takes place at 'the Cobler's Shop'. Seven copies on COPAC, but now uncommon.

[Richard Jenkyns, Master of Balliol College, Oxford.] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. Jenkyns') to former Balliol Fellow 'Marshall' [William Marshall] on personal and college matters.

Author: 
Richard Jenkyns (1782-1854), Master of Balliol College, University of Oxford [Rev. William Marshall]
Publication details: 
Balliol College [University of Oxford]. 4 December 1823.
£200.00

2pp., 8vo. 29 lines of neatly-written text. In fair condition, on aged paper, with two 5 cm closed tears to leaf. Addressed to 'My dear Marshall'. He regrets that his letter should contain 'so truly painful an account of the state of your family & affairs in the West Indies', but was 'glad to receive it, since after my last communication I was at a loss, not seeing you in Oxford, to explain your silence - I hope at some future occasion, I shall see you again under my roof'.

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