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Author, Title, Summary Price
John Van Voorst, publisher (1804–1898)

[ John Van Voorst, publisher ] Autograph Note Signed "John Van Voorst" to "Foster" [Birket Foster, illustrator] asking for a "design on wood".

One page, 12mo, bifolium, second leaf (with address and postal marks) sl. damaged. Text: "If it will be convenient to you to supply me a design on wood as a frontispiece to a volume I am about to publish I shall be glad if you will meet the author here at 3 o'clock tomorrow."

£56.00
The Stephenson Centenary, 1881; Thomas Pumphrey, Grocer, Newcastle-on-Tyne; George Stephenson (1781-1848), engineer, 'Father of the Railways'

[The Stephenson Centenary 1881'.] Well-designed lithographic poster, 'Presented as a memento of the Centennial Commemoration' by Thomas Pumphrey, Newcastle grocer, with central portrait of Stephenson surrounded by seven related engravings.

An extremely attractive memento, no other copy of which has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or COPAC. Lithographic printing in black on 57 x 44.5 cm piece of wove paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight creasing to margin at one edge, and the merest of spotting. Folded...

£250.00
Edward Dalziel (1817-1905) of the Brothers Dalziel, wood-engravers associated with the Pre-Raphaelites and Lewis Carroll [Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899), illustrator]

[Edward Dalziel of the Brothers Dalziel, London wood-engravers.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Edward Dalziel') to 'B Forster [sic] Esqr', i.e. illustrator Birket Foster, advising him to lay prints in the sun, and giving the address of printers.

A very nice association between two central figures in Victorian book illustration. 2pp, 12mo. Bifolium addressed on reverse of second leaf, with Penny Red stamp and three postmarks, to 'B Forster [sic] Esqr | Cavendish Villa | Carlton Hill | St Johns Wood'. Endorsed with date. In good condition...

£250.00
Sir James Anderson (1824-93), captain of SS Great Eastern during the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866 [Joseph Charles Parkinson; Isambard Kingdom Brunel]

[Sir James Anderson, captain of SS Great Eastern.] Autograph Letter Signed to J. C. Parkinson of the Daily News, on his return from laying first transatlantic cable, complaining of 'amateur advisers'. With East Indian Railway, Special Tourist Ticket

Four items from the papers of Joseph Charles Parkinson (1833-1908), journalist, civil servant and social reformer, contributor to the Daily News, All the Year Round, Temple Bar, and associate of Dickens and Wilkie Collins. The material relates to Parkinson's book 'The Ocean Telegraph to India: A...

£450.00
'F. G.' [marriage of the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, 1863; The Book Society, Paternoster Row, London]

[King Edward VII: marriage to Princess Alexandra, 1863.] Printed souvenir booklet titled: 'Come to the Marriage! A Memorial of the Marriage of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, to H.R.H. The Princess Alexandra, of Denmark, March 10th, 1863.'

No other copy of this royal memento has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. It is 29 + [3]pp, 32mo. Stitched with white thread into shiny white paper covers, with title duplicated within border in black on front, and back cover carrying an advertisement for a 'New Series of Packets...

£120.00
Mrs Robert Southey

[ Mrs Robert Southey] Autograph Letter in the third person, "Mrs Southey is [...]", to a Miss Robson ordering two "girls packs" (clothing).

One page, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. "Mrs Southey is so little satisfied with the pattern of linen sent her by Miss Robson - that she has decided on having the two girls packs made of [?] like that for the Infant - She wishes the packs to be made of a very good material - with a little...

£180.00
General William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart (1755–1843), Scottish soldier and diplomatist.

[ Earl Cathcart; William Rae Wilson the "popular traveller" ] Autograph Letter Signed "Cathcart" to W.Rae Wilson, on various matters.

Five pages, 12mo, a little grubby, with selltape securing the bifolium, text clear. P.4 docketing with details of contents. Text: He thanks Wilson for his letter but says he can't "render you any efficient Service in facilitating your arduous and most interesting remarks. | I certainly used my...

£180.00
William Farren (1786-1861), leading Georgian actor [James Robinson Planché (1796-1880), dramatist, antiquary and Somerset Herald; Olympic Theatre, London; George and John Smith of Yarmouth]

[William Farren, leading Georgian actor.] Joint (William & John) Autograph Letters Signed (both 'W. Farren') to George Smith of Yarmouth Theatre & his brother John, encouraging John to work on a play for J. R. Planché at the Olympic Theatre, London.

Farren's entry in the Oxford DNB concludes by describing him as 'a theatrical sophisticate, equally at home in period comedy and modern plays; he was, besides, one of the finest actors of his century'. From around 1821 Farren lived with the actress Mrs Faucit (Harriet Elizabeth Savill, née...

£120.00
Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet of Applegarth (1800-1874), Scottish naturalist, editor of 'The Naturalist's Library' [Maule, Edinburgh]

[Sir William Jardine, Scottish naturalist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm Jardine'), regarding his need to travel to Edinburgh because of 'the Dangerous illness of Mr Maule'.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice. Endorsed by the unnamed recipient on the reverse of the second leaf. The subject of the letter, 'Mr Maule', was presumably a relation of Jardine's, whose mother's maiden name was Maule. Begins: 'Dear Sir, I received...

£65.00
The Cato Street Conspiracy, 1820; Arthur Thistlewood (1774-1820); Lord Liverpool, Prime Minister

[The Cato Street Conspiracy, 1820; Arthur Thistlewood and Lord Liverpool.] Printed handbill: 'Conspiracy | A Particular Account of the Treasonable Plot formed, for the destruction of His Majesty's Ministers!!!'

For information regarding the conspiracy to murder Lord Liverpool and his entire cabinet, see Thistlewood's entry in the Oxford DNB. A rare item, with no other copy found either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC, and intended for distribution in the streets of the North-East of England as the...

£1,200.00
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