LONDON

[ Winifred Gordon, W. J. Barwick of Truslove and Hanson, and C. F. Cazenove. ] Autograph Letter Signed by Gordon, two Autograph Letters Signed and Autograph Note Signed by Barwick, and three copies by Cazenove, on her book on Romania.

Author: 
Winifred Gordon [ Winifred Monckton Campbell Gordon ] (d.1957), author; W. J. Barwick, director, Truslove and Hanson, London publishers; Charles Francis Cazenove (1870-1915), London literary agent
Publication details: 
Gordon's letter on letterhead of the Hotel d'Angleterre, Copenhagen. 24 June 1912. Barwick's three items on letterheads of Truslove and Hanson, 6a Sloane Street, London. June and July 1912.
£280.00

Gordon is described in The Times, 20 August 1958, as a 'traveller, lecturer, and author', and a resident of Lausanne at the time of her death. All seven items in fair condition, on aged paper, with some rust spotting from a paperclip. The book referred to is 'Roumania, Yesterday and Today' (1918), which has an introduction and two chapters by the Queen of Romania. ONE: Gordon's letter to Barwick. 24 June 1912. 3pp., 8vo. She writes that she has already tried to place 'the little book' with 'Geo. Bell - Jacks - & Gay & Hancock. As to yr.

[ Sir William Tite, architect. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('W Tite') to an unnamed recipient, regarding the unfitness of a 'young Friend' for an appointment.

Author: 
Sir William Tite (1798-1873), architect of the Royal Exchange, London
Publication details: 
Place not decipherable, on inverted letterhead of 17 St. Helen's Place, E.C. [ London ] 'Friday' [ no date ].
£40.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. He does not think the recipient's 'young Friend' would stand much chance gaining 'the Appointment', but does not see why 'he should not try & make himself known'. He continues: 'We want an experienced Man up to all the workings of the Acts for compulsory Purchases & the Tricks of fradulent Claimants'. Tite is afrait that the 'young Friend has this unpleasant Part of his Profession yet to learn'. He concludes by stating that there is 'but little Chance of my being in London at the Election'.

[ Sir William Tite, architect. ] Autograph Note Signed ('William Tite') to J. Cole of Woodford.

Author: 
Sir William Tite (1798-1873), architect of the Royal Exchange, London
Publication details: 
London. 24 December 1845.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of mount still adhering to reverse. From the context a response to a request for an autograph. Reads. 'Sir / | I beg to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter & thus to answer it. | I am | Sir | Your obed Servant | William Tite'.

[ Renn Dickson Hampden, Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. D. Hampden') to the London publisher Richard Bentley, responding to an invitation to write

Author: 
Renn Dickson Hampden (1793-1868), Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford and Bishop of Hereford, subject of the Hampden Controversy of 1836 [ Richard Bentley (1794-1871), London publisher ]
Publication details: 
Ewelme Rectory. 21 July 1846.
£56.00

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition. Addressed to 'R. Bentley Esq'. Having explained that the delay in replying is due to his absence from Oxford during the vacation, he turns to Bentley's proposal. 'I am much flattered by your applying to me, under the high recommendation which you state, for the work in question. And I cannot but admire your spirit in desiring that a work of that kind should go forth to the world under your auspices.

[ Davies Gilbert, President of the Royal Society. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Joseph Banks, praising him fulsomely, while explaining why he cannot attend a meeting on 'the forgery of Bank Notes'.

Author: 
Davies Gilbert [ born Davies Giddy ] (1767-1839), mathematician, President of the Royal Society [ Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), naturalist ]
Publication details: 
'East Bourn' [ Eastbourne ]. 19 July 1818.
£220.00

2pp., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly aged paper, with slight damage to a few words along one edge due to removal from album. On his return to Eastbourne he has 'found a note announcing the Commission under the Great Seal for appointing Commissioners to inquire into the best mode of preventing the forgery of Bank Notes', and requiring his attendance the following day.

[ E. A. Smith of the Natural History Museum, zoologist and malacologist. ] Five Autograph Letters Signed and two Autograph Cards Signed to H. J. V. Lynge of Copenhagen

Author: 
E. A. Smith [ Edgar Albert Smith ] (1847-1916) of the Natural History Museum, zoologist and malacologist [ Herman Johannes Vilhelm Lynge (1862-1945), Danish antiquarian bookseller and zoologist ]
Publication details: 
Five on letterheads of the British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London. Between 1903 and 1910.
£280.00

The seven items in good condition, showing light signs of age and wear. Four signed 'Edgar A. Smith' and three 'E. A. Smith'. The letters totalling 10pp. A learned correspondence, with Smith attempting, not always successfully, to identify Lynge's specimens, passing comment and suggesting publications.

[ Robert Lynd, Irish journalist and essayist. ] Copy of Typed Letter to the Editor of 'Now and Then' protesting against an article by Jonathan Cape criticising the 'Daily News' literary page, of which he is editor. With copy covering letter to Cape.

Author: 
Robert Lynd [ Robert Wilson Lynd ] (1879-1949), journalist, essayist and Irish Nationalist, literary editor of the 'Daily News' [ Herbert Jonathan Cape (1879-1960), London publisher ]
Publication details: 
Both letters dated 21 November 1924.
£100.00

The two items in fair condition, on aged and spotted paper with slight damage to one corner and minor water staining. ONE: Copy of Typed Letter to 'Jonathan Cape Esq., | 11, Gower Street, | LONDON, W.C.1.' 1p., folio. He begins: 'Dear Cape, | When you told me at the Devonshire Club that you were going to criticise the "Daily News" Literary page, I was charmed, as I always welcome attacks within reason.

[ Bookseller's catalogue. ] First Editions of Jack London, Thorne Smith, Erskine Caldwell, William Saroyan, John Steinbeck, Illustrated.

Author: 
The El Dorado Bookstore, San Francisco, California [ props Roskie & Wallace of Oakland; Philip M. Roskie (1921-93) ] [ Jack London, Thorne Smith, Erskine Caldwell, William Saroyan, John Steinbeck ]
Publication details: 
Catalogue No. 1, 1948. The El Dorado Bookstore, 309 Kearny Street, San Francisco 8, California.
£120.00

32pp., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. A previous owner has thought well enough of this item to have it put in a sturdy binding of black cloth, with title in gilt on spine. The binding is in very good condition, but a bookplate has been removed from the front pastedown. An interesting catalogue (especially when compared with the staid British book catalogues of the period), with each of the 108 items presented, four to a page, each with accompanying photograph of the covers of the book. The most expensive item, at $100, is a 1902 first edition of 'The Cruise of the Dazzler'.

[ Alberto Randegger, composer. ] Autograph Note Signed to 'Miss Elphick'.

Author: 
Alberto Randegger (1832-1911), Italian composer who from 1854 lived in England.
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 10 Lower Seymour Street, Portman Square, W. [ London ]. 16 July 1891.
£35.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dear Miss Elphick | I shall be happy to see you on Wednesday the 22nd. inst at 10.45 a.m. | With kind regards | yours truly | Alberto Randegger'.

[ Charles E. Robinson of the University of Delaware. ] Duplicated typed 'List of Charles Ollier Imprints (1817-23; 1846-49) and Works'.

Author: 
[ Charles Ollier (1788-1859), publisher, author and editor; Professor Charles E. Robinson; Percy Bysshe Shelley; John Keats ]
Publication details: 
Dated July 1985 by Robinson with his details: Prof. Charles E. Robinson, College of Arts and Science, Dept. of English, 204 Memorial Hall, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
£65.00

Robinson is the author of Ollier's entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, in which he discusses the 'fifty titles' that Ollier and his brother James published between 1817 and 1823, and the others dating from his second stint as publisher between 1846 and 1849. The list is 10pp., 4to. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Subtitle: '(*Indicates that U. of Delaware Library has in original, microform, or photo rpt.)' Robinson has given the date and his details in autograph at the head, and has starred items in 'urgently need' in red ink.

[ Steamship in Greek War of Independence. ] Autograph Letter Signed by Nicholas Robilliard, and Autograph Note Signed by Thomas Whitmore, concerning the Karteria: 'the Man of War Steam-ship (supposed to be built & fitting for the Greek Committee)'.

Author: 
Nicholas Robilliard; Thomas Whitmore [ London Greek Committee; Greek War of Independence ]
Publication details: 
Both Letters dated 8 December 1825. Robilliard's letter without place; Whitmore's note from the Custom House [ London ].
£220.00

The subject is clearly the Karteria, the first steam-powered warship to see active service. The Karteria was built in 1825 for the Greek insurgentsd by Daniel Brent Shipwrights in the Greenland South Dockyard, Rotherhithe, London. It was financed mainly from the proceeds of the 2nd Greek Loan raised by the London Philhellenic Committee, but also from the private funds of Captain Frank Abney Hastings. Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: Robilliard to 'Thos Whitmore Esq | Secretary &c &c &c'. 1p., 4to. Headed 'Confidential'. Signed 'Nis Robilliard'.

[ Samuel March Phillipps, legal writer and civil servant. ] Three Letters in a secretarial hand, all signed by him ('S M Phillipps'), to Seymour Teulon, regarding his attempts to present an 'Address of the Borough of Southwark' at a levee.

Author: 
Samuel March Phillipps (1780-1862), legal writer and civil servant, Permanent Under-Secretary for Home Affairs [ Lord John Russell; Seymour Teulon, chairman, Southwark Reform Association ]
Publication details: 
All three from Whitehall. 18 and 22 July 1837, and 10 February 1838.
£80.00

The three items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The first two, both on black-bordered paper, are each 1p., 4to; the third is 1p., folio. In the three letters Teulon's address is given as Dean Street, Southwark. The first two appear to be in Phillipps's hand, but the matter is uncertain. Phillipps writes on behalf of the Home Secretary Lord John Russell, to whom he acted as private secretary.

[ E. Rimbault Dibdin, art critic and curator. ] Five Typed Letters Signed (all 'Edwd Rimbault Dibdin') to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, regarding the Liverpool artists Richard Wright, Peter Perez Burdett and William Tate.

Author: 
E. Rimbault Dibdin [ Edward Rimbault Vere Dibdin ] (1853-1941), art critic, curator of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool [ Sir Henry Trueman Wood (1845-1929), Secretary, Royal Society of Arts ]
Publication details: 
The five on letterheads of the Walker Art Gallery, City of Liverpool, and dating between 27 November 1915 and 23 February 1916.
£220.00

The letters total 5pp., 4to; and 1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. With stamps of the Royal Society of Arts. On the reverse of one letter are pencil notes, presumably by Wood.

[ Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, playwright. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Arthur W. Pinero') to the actor-manager Arthur Cecil Blunt, explaining that he cannot dramatize the novel of 'Mr. Wigram'.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934), playwright [ Arthur Cecil [ Arthur Cecil Blunt (1843-1896), actor-manager and playwright ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 64 St John's Wood Road, NW [ London ]. 26 May 1887.
£60.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'Arthur C. Blunt, Esq', with salutation to 'My dear Cecil'. With regard to 'Mr. Wigram's letter' he writes that he 'would rather not dramatize a novel, and did I feel an inclination to do so I don't think I am at all a good man for the work'. He nevertheless asks the recipient to inform Wigram that he is 'complimented by his and Lord Desart's proposal'. The postscript is mildly amusing: 'P.S. I hope I am not liable to misconstruction in enquiring after your Housemaid's Knee'.

[ Printed item. ] A Catalogue of a Choice Collection of Books, Ancient and Modern, in English and Foreign Literature, selected from the Stock of J. Bellchambers, 10, King William Street, West Strand, London.

Author: 
Jonathan Bellchambers, nineteenth-century London bookseller
Publication details: 
[ J. Bellchambers, 10, King William Street, West Strand, London. ] Printed by W. Blanchard & Sons, 62, Millbank-street, Westminster. December 1846.
£50.00

16pp., 12mo. Stabbed and unbound. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The books, from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, are such as would adorn the shelves of a gentleman's country mansion. BBTI only has Bellchambers active in 1846, and there is a hint of desperation about the pricing, with the published price often given along with Bellchambers', and Ritson's 'Ancient Poetry' being offered at 'a very reduced price'. Scarce: no copies traced either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC.

[ Printed item. ] Catalogue of Choice Books including a Collection of First & Rare Editions of the Works of Oscar Wilde. [ Including reproduction of caricature of Wilde by George Finch Mason. ]

Author: 
H. Gray & Co., London booksellers [ Oscar Wilde; George Finch Mason (1850-1915), English illustrator ]
Publication details: 
[Number Sixteen, New Series, 1930. ] H. Gray & Co. 188 Lewisham Road, London, S.E.13, and 8 Royal Parade, Blackheath, S.E.3.
£60.00

24pp., 8vo. Pagination includes the wraps, which carry the last two pages. With frontispiece plate: 'Oscar Wilde | Unpublished Caricature | By Finch Mason | [item 31]'. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn and chipped wraps. Wilde's name has been underlined in red pencil on cover.

[ Printed item. ] A List of Choice Books on Sale by J. Bohn, 66, St. James's Street.

Author: 
J. Bohn [ James Bohn; James George Stuart Burges Bohn (1803-1880), London bookseller ]
Publication details: 
[ J. Bohn, 66, St. James's Street, London. ] J. Tuck, Printer, 6, Helmet Court, 338 1/2 Strand [ London ] ] [ December 1846. ]
£50.00

16pp., 12mo. Stabbed and unbound. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Dated in pencil in a modern hand at head of first page. Eighteenth and nineteenth century items in alphabetical order between A and G (but complete, nineteenth-century booksellers' catalogues often being issued as parts of series), The entry for the new edition of Dugdale's 'Monasticon Anglicanum', offered at £31 10s 0d, takes up more than half a page of small print. For more on Bohn see his entry in the Oxford DNB. Now scarce.

[ Printed item. ] Catalogue of Books published by Charles Cox, 12, King William Street, Strand. [ Including 'Knight's Shilling Weekly Volume', 'A Valuable Library of 150 Volumes for 150 Shillings.' ]

Author: 
[ Charles Cox, London bookseller ] [ Charles Knight (1791-1873) ]
Publication details: 
[ Charles Cox. ] '12, King William Street, Strand [ London ], February 1, 1847.'
£35.00

8pp., 12mo. Stabbed and unbound. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The main descriptions are for 'Knight's Shilling Weekly Volume' (covering the first four pages), and 'The New Orbis Pictus' (covering three pages), the latter described as '12,000 Engravings on Wood, 72 on Steel, 40 Illuminations, and 13 Coloured Maps.'

[ University College, University of London. ] Printed ticket of admission to lectures for BA student Edward M. Lake, signed by his professors Sir William Ramsay, A. W. Porter, M. J. M. Hill, N. T. M. Wilsmore, F. T. Trouton and W. G. Hartog.

Author: 
University College, University of London; Sir William Ramsay (1852-1916), Nobel-prize-winning chemist; M. J. M. Hill; Alfred William Porter; N. T. M. Wilsmore; Frederick Thomas Trouton; W. G. Hartog
Publication details: 
University of London, University College. Session of 1909-1910.
£120.00

On both sides of a 11.5 x 15 cm piece of card. Printed in black ink, and completed in manuscript. An interesting piece of University of London ephemera. Aged and worn. The front is headed 'UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. | UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.' and records that Lake has paid his fee of thirty-six guineas. At bottom left: 'This Ticket must be presented for signature to the Professors of the Classes for which it is issued.' On the reverse is a grid, with the signatures of: 'M. J. M. Hill' [ Micaiah John Muller Hill (1856-1929) ] for 'Pure Mathematics'; 'Alfred W.

[ Sir John Murray V, London publisher. ] Six Typed Letters Signed and one Autograph Note Signed (all 'John Murray | (junr)') to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, about the publishing of 'A History of the Royal Society of Arts'

Author: 
Sir John Murray V (1884-1967), London publisher [ Sir Henry Trueman Wood (1845-1929) and G. K. Menzies, successively Secretaries, Royal Society of Arts ]
Publication details: 
All seven on the letterhead of John Murray, 50A Albemarle Street, London W.1. All seven dating from 1913.
£200.00

The seven items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, and total 9pp., 8vo. Three carry the Society's stamp. The correspondence concerns the production of Wood's 'History of the Royal Society of Arts' (1913). Topics include price, binding, design, layout, reviews. An eighth item is also included: a letter in the third person from 'Mr. Murray', dated 20 January 1914. This does not appear to be in the hand of either John Murray IV or John Murray V

[ Sir William Fergusson, surgeon. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm. Fergusson') to 'My dear Jane' [ 'Miss Bell | Bromley' ] (his wife's sister?), giving news from Spittlehaugh.

Author: 
Sir William Fergusson (1808-1877), Scottish surgeon
Publication details: 
On his letterhead, 16 George Street, Hanover Square, W. [ London ]. 11 November 1874.
£50.00

3pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition. He begins by thanking her for her 'pretty and considerate gift' which, as winter approaches, will see her 'more frequently kept in memory'. He regrets her recent indisposition, her absence from Spittlehaugh (the Peeblesshire estate of his wife's family) having been 'often felt'. He gives news of 'the Colonel & Mrs. Thompson' and 'Fordyce'

[ Sir John Murray V, London publisher. ] Autograph Letter Signed to [ G. K. Menzies ] the Secretary of the Royal Society of Arts, discussing his deafness on declining an invitation to a discussion.

Author: 
Sir John Murray V (1884-1967), London publisher [ G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of John Murray, 50 Albemarle Street, London W.1. 20 February 1939.
£40.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for the invitation to the Society's 'discussion on extended copyrights'. He must decline, not only because of a prior invitation, 'but also because I am unfortunately too deaf to take any satisfactory part in debate or discussion, as I miss so much that is said & get some of the rest wrong!' His infirmity is 'a bar to my pleasure on such occasions'.

[ John Debrett, London publisher. ] Printed catalogue of 'Books printed for J. Debrett'.

Author: 
John Debrett (d. 1822), London publisher, responsible for the celebrated 'Debrett's Peerage'
Publication details: 
J. Debrett [ John Debrett, 178 Piccadilly, London ]. Undated [ 1794 ].
£100.00

8pp., 8vo. Unstitched (stabbed). Unopened, so that the four leaves unfold into a single strip with four pages on each side. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. First page headed 'BOOKS Printed for J. DEBRETT.' Numerous works are described in no particular order, in small print, beginning with 'PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER, 1794. | This day is published, | NUMBER XII. of the DEBATES of the PRESENT SESSION, [...]'. For more information on Debrett, see his entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. BBTI states that he was active before 1781, and went bankrupt in 1804.

[ Frederick Andrew Inderwick, lawyer and antiquary. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('F. A. Inderwick') to

Author: 
F. A. Inderwick [ Frederick Andrew Inderwick ] (1836-1904), divorce lawyer, antiquary and Liberal Party politician
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Winchelsea, Rye, Sussex. 20 September 1894.
£40.00

1p., 8vo. In good condition, lightly aged. He is enclosing a contract, and asks to be sent a copy of 'some work on the antiquities of the Exchequer by Mr Hall'.

[ Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Shaftesbury') to 'Miss Faithful' [ the publisher and suffragist Emily Faithfull ], explaining his reasons for being unable to attend a lecture.

Author: 
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury (1801-1885), Liberal politician and social reformer [ Emily Faithfull (1835-1895), London publisher and campaigner for women's rights ]
Publication details: 
No place. 28 April 1871.
£50.00

2pp., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, and slightly creased at foot. He apologises for being unable to attend a meeting, 'which I had given up, hearing that Sir C. Trevelyan had, already, promised to undertake the duty'. As president, he must attend 'an important Lecture' at the Victoria Institute, 'the Committee having fixed the day, supposing me to be free'.

[ 'Pneumonia Evening' at the Osler Club, London. ] Signed Typed Circular from L. Carlyle Lyon, Assistant Secretary to the Osler Club, addressed to Dr Nehemiah Asherson, regarding the 'Pneumonia Evening' and the Club. With annotations by Asherson.

Author: 
L. Carlyle Lyon [ Dr Louis Carlyle Lyon (d.1970) ], Assistant Secretary, Osler Club, London [Nehemiah Asherson (1897-1989), English physician and Librarian of the Medical Society of London ]
Publication details: 
From Lyon's private address, 42 Corringway, Ealing, W5 [ London ]. 29 December 1951.
£80.00

1p., folio. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with leaf from diary tipped in onto blank reverse. Signed 'L. Carlyle Lyon', addressed by Lyon to 'Mr. Asherson' with seasonal greetings in autograph. Heavily annotated with notes by Asherson. Begins: 'You are cordially invited to attend (with a friend or friends) the "Pneumonia Evening" of the OSLER CLUB (President, Mr. V. Zachary Cope, F.R.C.S, in the Chair) on FRIDAY, January 11th, at 7.45 p.m. at the Medical Society of London, 11, Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, W.1. | Speakers: Lord Horder, G.C.V.O.: "Osler and Pneumonia".

[ Tolstoy in English. ] Printed advertising handbill by London publisher Walter Scott, beginning with the first collected edition of 'Count Tolstoi's Works', with the first volume 'A Russian Proprietor And other Stories. By Count Lyof N. Tolstoi'.

Author: 
Walter Scott, London publisher; Nathan Haskell Dole (1852-1935), American editor and translator; Count Leo Tolsoy [ 'Count Lyof N. Tolstoi' ], Russian novelist
Publication details: 
London: Walter Scott, 24 Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row. Regarding the Tolstoy edition: 'Vol. I ready October 25th.' [ 1888 ].
£80.00

The handbill is 4pp., 8vo. on a bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper. The upper half of the first page carries the advertisement for 'Count Tolstoi's Works', headed 'Vol. I ready October 25th.' With coloured illustration of the book's design, captioned 'Reduced fac-simile of binding'. Regarding what is the earliest edition of Tolstoy's collected works in English (predating those of Wiener and Garnett by more than ten years), the publisher writes: 'Mr.

[ Henry Southgate, auctioneer and anthologist. ] Autograph Letter Signed to E. D. Girdlestone

Author: 
Henry Southgate (1818-1888), London auctioneer [ Southgate & Barrett, 22 Fleet Street ] and anthologist [ E. D. Girdlestone [ Edward Deacon Girdlestone ] (1829-1892) ]
Publication details: 
Woodbine, Sidmouth, Devon. 11 May 1878.
£56.00

4pp., 12mo. Two pages on bifolium with two-page postscript on loose leaf. In good condition, lightly aged. He thanks him for his 'kind note and opinion respecting my "Many Thoughts" [ anthology of 1857 ] of which nearly 267 - tons have been sold, an odd way of putting it you will say, but such is the fact.' He is working on a 'curious and suggestive book now on Aphoristic Wisdom'. He thinks he may 'gather something' from Girdlestone's 'Collection', which he undertakes will be 'most carefully and thankfully returned'.

[ George Grossmith, Victorian humourist. ] Dictated Letter, Signed ('Geo: Grossmith') with autograph postscript, to 'George R, &c.' [George R. Sims], describing their first meeting, and commenting warmly on their thirty-eight years of friendship.

Author: 
George Grossmith (1847-1912), humourist, author, actor and singer [ George R. Sims (1847-1922), journalist and bon vivant ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 55 Russell Square, W.C. [ London ] 22 June 1908.
£80.00

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Aged and stained, with creasing along one edge. A wonderful letter, linking two notable figures in late-Victorian society, beginning: 'Do I remember it? how can I ever forget it, considering that we introduced ourselves to each other, without any introduction; & that casual acquaintanceship has developed into a friendship (without a discordant note) which has lasted for about 38 years.' Regarding their first meeting he writes: 'I was not subpoenaed as a short hand writer, as no such functionary was engaged at Bow St.

[ Dame Marie Tempest, actress. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Mary') to 'My dear Cyril', discussing his 'amusing and witty play' and the one in which she is acting.

Author: 
Dame Marie Tempest [ Mary Susan Etherington ] (1864-1942), English singer and actress ('the queen of her profession')
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 'Miss Marie Tempest'. 'Monday' [ no date ].
£35.00

1p., 8vo. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight loss to one corner and creasing to another. Strengthened on reverse with a small piece of tape. Letterhead in red, with Tempest writing in green ink. She writes warmly: 'I've read your Play, and I think it charming up to the point of the two people who are crooks! It suffers from the same thing that our present Play suffers from. Too sudden a jump!' She invites him to go and see the play, 'and you will gather what I mean'. She ends by describing his play as 'amusing and witty'.

Syndicate content