FAMILY

Dimensions roughly nineteen inches by thirteen inches. Aged and a tad grubby, but in very good condition overall. Small piece, roughly one inch square, cut away from bottom left hand corner. Government five shilling stamp in top left-hand corner.

Scottish historian (1762-1818), friend of Charles James Fox and Sir Walter Scott. 1 page, 8vo. Bifoliate, in very good condition, addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Mr. John Mounsey | Furrier | Sunderland'. Difficult handwriting. 'Dear Sir. | <?> the beginning of March I sent to Lowth, by Mr Sir Joseph Banks, to be forwarded to you at Sunderland, Two matts or packages of Rabbit skins, containing 2127 Skins.

On a piece of yellow wove paper roughly 565 x 455 mm. Text and illustrations clear and entire on creased and spotted paper with some wear to extremities. The order of the procession is given in three columns, divided by decorative rules. At the foot is an illustration (120 x 195 mm) of the queen's coach reaching Westminster Abbey, with crowds and a banner reading 'LONG LIVE VICTORIA'.

12mo bifolium, 4 pp. Good, on aged, laid paper. Good, on lightly aged paper. Addressed to 'My dear Charles', and from a collection of papers belonging to Charles James Manning. From the context may well be written by the wife of William Manning's eldest son Frederick (Charles's brother, as well as Cardinal Manning's). The author has 'been quite stunned with the sad & awfully sudden news' [of William Manning's death]. The author's uncle, 'Col ' agreed 'that it would alarm [Frederick] to see me [at 'Pangburn']'.

12mo, 1 p. Slight damage and loss at head, affecting one line of text. The seal, with a clear impression of a crown above the letters 'A R'., in a rectangle roughly 1 x 1.5 cm, adheres to the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium, which also carries the name of the recipient, and has been repaired with tape along one edge of the recto. The letter is of 15 lines, and consists of directions as to where to place guests. For example 'Miss Murden Maid of honours room. her maid next to her. Miss Mitchell Bedroom up Stairs, her maid in the Closet within her room.'

4to, 2 pp, 14 lines of text. On aged and creased paper, with traces of cream paper mount adhering at foot of reverse. Showing the grammatical indifference of the English eighteenth-century upper classes. '[...] nothing but indisposition shall prevent my attendance at the meeting you was to good as to inform me that is to take place on Monday next of all the Catholicks of great Britain'. He is 'ill with a violent Cold sore Throat and fever' and doubts whether he will be 'well enough to undertake the journey to Town so soon'.

One page, quarto. On aged and lightly creased paper. He is sending the signature with 'one or two others'. 'Possibly the work I have done for South Africa (I have been upholding the Imperial cause for a quarter of a century) is your reason for paying me the compliment.' Thinks he recognises from Freeman-Matthews' crest that he is 'a descendant of the Llandaff Mathews family'.

4to: 1 p. Good, though lightly stained and ruckled, and with seal removed from bottom right-hand corner. 18 lines of text. The document describes part of a previous agreement by 'Edward Wenyefe of Brottenham' to buy the Manor of Harleston Hall from 'Richard Muskett of Walpoole in the County of Suffc', and states a new agreement by Muskett that 'the sd Edward Wenyefe shall from the day & day hereof take the wholl proffitt of the sd Tenement [...]'. Signed 'Richard Muskett' and witnessed by 'Richard Walker', 'Tho: Sparrow' and Ed: '. J. J.

4to and 8vo. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition otherwise. The six items, all addressed to Messrs Coutts & Company, are, in chronological order: ITEM 1, 5 manuscript pages, 4to, headed 'Duchy of Cornwall, | Buckingham Gate, S.W. | 1912.

The Dictionary of National Biography states that T. J. Dibdin (1771-1841, closely associated with Sadler's Wells, Drury Lane and the Surrey Theatre) wrote 'nearly two thousand songs and about two hundred operas and plays'. This list, which covers the whole of his life from his earliest known work in 1789 to his death in 1841, is compiled with considerable care on the rectos and some of the versos of 79 bound and numbered leaves (most being the letterhead of the North-East Coast Exhibition, of which E. Rimbault Dibdin was the Director).

An important piece of local history. Neatly engrossed on one side of piece of stained and discoloured parchment, dimensions approximately 24 inches by 22 inches. Signed at foot by Lediard and with his seal (in poor condition). Signatures of five witnesses on reverse. In poor condition but with text mostly legible. Four holes, two of them affecting text, at intersections of folds in document.

Scottish aristocrat and translator (died 1944). Dimensions roughly four and a half inches by three and a half inches. Very good, but with two small staple holes (not affecting text). Docketed and bearing red date stamp. Reads 'Dear Sir - | I have your letter of March 4th - I enclose £3. 3 & agree to your request to nominate me | yours truly | J E Dunedin'.

The Midgley family were notable Lancastrian Quaker industrialists (cf. the Midgley Reference Library in the John Rylands University Library Manchester). Touching and detailed account ('at about 8.20? PM our little Darling was born - she soon told us she had a good pair of lungs') of the author's daughter's early years, preceded by a painstaking tabulation of the figures for the cotton market in fourteen columns ruled with red lines and spread over two pages. In a ruled notebook halfbound in green leather and with marbled boards. Heavily rubbed at extremities but sound and tight.

The pictures, which vary in size from 3 inches by 5 inches to 3 inches square, are crudely pasted to a piece of grey card, beneath a heading made up of three pieces apparently cut out of newspapers or magazines and reading 'Royal Wedding Day | 23 July | Andrew & Sarah 1986'. All seven pictures appear to be cropped, and several bear traces of glue. Corners dogeared. In pencil on reverse 'Photographs by Gerald Guttman (= photographer)'. Four pictures, apparently taken from the television, feature the royal couple.

Three pages, 12mo. Creased, foxed, and with traces of archival tape adhering to blank reverse of second leaf of bifoliate. Formal letter in the third person, requesting the return of 'Mr. Charles Cathcarts clothes, when they have been disinfected, directed to Prince of Wales Terrace Scarborough'. He is 'pretty well, and she thinks the change & sea air at Scarborough will most likely restore him to his usual health'. He 'would be glad to get his clothes as soon as they are considered quite free of infection'.

English aristocrat (1785-1847). The recipient, Sr James Graham (1792-1861) was Home Secretary under Sir Robert Peel. One page, 4to. In good condition, but with traces of brown-paper mount adhering to reverse and causing ruckling, and some creasing to one edge. He forwards a 'Dutiful and Loyal Address from The Inhabitants of the Town of Alnwick and its Vicinity on the late Providential escape of the Queen', and asks that it be presented to her at 'an early opportunity'. Signed 'Northumberland'. There were two assassination attempts on Queen Victoria in 1842.

Divine and author (1806-82). One page, 12mo. In poor condition: creased and ruckled, and with some damage from removal from mount. Paper border attached to reverse. 'We can have you for a few days on Thursday next (the 25th.) & shall have pleasure in receiving you. I will forward the parcel to Mr. Hardman tonight.' Signed 'F: E: Paget'.

The seventh Duke was born in 1885 and died in 1972. Two pages, 4to. In good condition although creased and dusty. He thanks the Mellershes for their hospitality during a lecture at Cheltenham. He also thanks Mellersh for 'the cutting from the "Echo": 'There are a good many inaccuracies in it some of which are fairly [rather] misleading, but I do not think it is worth while putting in a correction. They give me a very large space which is very kind of them.'

4to. [vi] + 131 pages. In original yellow binding, grubby and stained, gilt on spine faded. Handsome production on fine paper. Frontispiece, 18 illustrations and pedigree. PRESENTATION COPY from the editor (the subject's son) to his mother-in-law, with accompanying letter (1 page, 16mo, 29 December 1939, on letterhead 'NEASHAM HALL, NR. DARLINGTON.').

Possibly the Henry R. Potter, of the Office of Works, who corresponded with Gladstone in 1885 and 1894. 4 pages, 16mo. In good condition: neatly folded twice, with traces of stub along one edge of verso of second leaf of bifoliate. Apologises for 'the numerous omissions of which I have been guilty' in his lecture. His only excuse is that he 'submitted the lists to two or three persons resident in Nott[ingha]m and consequently, as I concluded, conversant with its "Notables" '.

Presumably the Thomas Smyth (b. c. 1799) whose Roman Catholic marriage to Margaret McAleagh took place on the Isle of Man on 27 April 1839. Dimensions roughly 4 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches. Creased and discoloured, with a number of spike holes at foot, not affecting text. Reads: 'Douglas Isle of Man | April 1/53 | Mr. John Whittle | To Thomas Smith | To a Horse & Gig 4 days 1 . 4. 0 | [signed] Thomas Smyth'.

1 page, dimensions roughly 8 inches by 6 1/2 inches. Creased and with one closed tear, but in good condition overall. A bill containing 9 items (various quantities of beef, mutton, fouls, ham, geese, puddings, cheese & butter, bread sauce & dressing, liquor), separately charged, and with a total cost of £6 0s 8d. Beneath this '30th. Novr. 1777 | Recd. ye contents ff me [signed] Ralph Stanley'. Typewritten at the head of the page: 'STANLEY, Ralph, 1777.', and with 'CLAYTON MSS.' typewritten on the reverse, which also bears 'No. 200' in a contemporary hand.

English equestrian artist (1753-1812). 1 page, 8vo. In poor condition: creased, frayed and torn. He has that morning received from his correspondent's servant 'the sum of sixteen Pounds nine shillings payment for your Pictures'. He will send them 'by the first conveyance' and hopes they will please. 'If any alteration should be necessary should be glad to make it at any time'. Signed 'J. Boultbee'. A postscript states that he has returned 'by your servant the Ballance from the Bill of twenty Pounds'. Docketed on reverse with date of receipt, sum paid to 'J.

Diplomat (1844-1915), Secretary of the British Legation at Athens, and scion of the noted banking house. 2 pages, 8vo. In good condition. Presumably written on Scott's appointment as chaplain to the Legation. As Mr Stuart was absent from Athens, Scott's letter of 28 September was opened by Baring. 'It was the first intimation received here of your appointment, though I had heard from Mr Stuart that there was a possibility of your coming out, & the letter which I forward strengthened this opinion.

All 3 items are in very good condition. Item 1 is an Autograph Letter Signed of 7 October 1910, 1 page, 8vo, from George Okell, solicitor of Ross, on his letterhead, to 'F. R. James Esq | Hereford'. He is enclosing 'circulars relating to a Landowners Society, which several Landowners in this district wish to form in the County. The main object is to assist members financially in disputes with public authorities in cases, where a principle is involved, which affects all the members'. The idea was suggested by 'Mr.

Wordsworth (1807-85) was made Archdeacon of Westminster in 1865 and Bishop of Lincoln four years later. 1 page, approximately 3 inches square. In good condition. Neat tight handwriting. 'With Archdeacon Wordsworth's compts. requesting a receipt for 5 - 13 - 0. | enclosed'.

English ecclesiastic (1729-77; DNB). 2 pages, 8vo. On paper stained and discoloured, with several small closed tears. Amusingly bad-tempered missive.

1 page, 8vo. Grubby but in good condition. 'In case you have not already seen it, I beg to enclose you a leaflet relating to my new book. | I shall be grateful for any help that you can give it.' Signed 'G. E. Manwaring'. The book was 'My Friend the Admiral. The life, letters, and journals of Rear-Admiral James Burney' (Routledge, 1931).

Humourist, actress and radio comedienne, originator of the Buggins Family. All three letters are 8vo, and in good condition, but all have damage to one corner caused by rusting paperclip. In the first letter she thanks her correspondent for 'the little books [...] I am a great lover of poetry, and like learning verse by heart. I used to do it in the early days of war to keep myself from worrying too much'. She has visited Stationers' Hall. Letter 2 is a note declining an invitation to a party.

Aristocratic Tory politician (1780-1855). Frank on front of envelope, dimensions approximately 3 inches by 5 inches. In good condition with remains of blue paper mounts on blank reverse. No postmarks. Reads 'To | The Lord Downes. K.C.B. | &c &c &c | Ordnance Office | Pall Mall. | Strangford'.