PICTON

See the entries on the two men in the Oxford DNB. Above the half-title, in a large untidy hand Picton has made the ownership signature ‘Lieutenant General Sir Th Picton’, and there is the same signature by him in a much smaller hand above the illustration at the head of p.1. Facing the half-title, on the reverse of the front free endpaper, is the elaborate armorial bookplate of ‘Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley / of Wolseley County of Stafford / Baron Wolseley of Cairo’.

See E. A. H. Webb, 'History of the 12th (The Suffolk) Regiment, 1685-1913' (1914). Picton was the uncle of 'the illustrious Picton', Lt-Gen. Sir Thomas Picton (1758-1815), who was his sole executor and residuary legatee. The year of Picton's birth is variously reported, but the Monthly Magazine, December 1811, is among several sources reporting his death in Bond Street at the age of 87. 4pp, folio. Bifolium. In fair condition, aged and with closed tears along the three fold lines. Endorsed on reverse of second leaf: '12th.

38pp., 8vo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. In 'Note Book Made of paper Specially prepared in Japan'. On front cover: 'J. GROSE | British Equestrian Team | Yo-yogi Village | Olympic Diary'. Begins on 23 September with flight from London Airport via Bombay. In Hong Kong he dines with 'Algie (Lady O'Connor)' at Flagstaff House. In the Olympic Village at Yoyogi on 26 September he discusses problems 'in our hut (448)', before inspecting 'the Equestrian Centre (Baji-Koen)'.

4 pp, 12mo. Bifolium. 89 lines. Text clear and complete. She begins by apologising for the delay in sending an autograph: 'In atonement I give you Anthony Trollope's signature, which perhaps you have not got.' Reports that they 'went to the Italian lakes this summer. We aimed at Venice but gave it up because of the cholera.' She regrets that the recipient's 'friends book & chart do not prosper. Mr Bowes (the Macmillan of the shop) thought the chart a good plan and likely to succeed, except that the size would be against it'.

The piece relates to 'the death by starvation of Commander A. Gardiner and the whole of the party sent out by the Patagonian Missionary Society in September 1850, to Picton Island, the southern extremity of America'. '3 columns, each 13½ inches by 2¾, attached to a piece of grey paper, and a fourth column, 3¾ inches by 2¾, attached to another piece. Discoloured and with minor spotting but in good condition overall. The article consists exclusively of transcriptions of two letters from Captain W. H. Morshead, H.M.S.