ARISTOCRACY

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, but with damage at head of outer sides caused by removal from grey paper mount. While Seammen worked for him he found him to be 'good tempered, obliging & trustworthy - He left me last year owing to an illness which, at the time, precluded his having the same efficient control over the Household that he had hitherto exercised'. He explains the reason for making 'a change', and is sending 'an excellent Character with him, of 14 years, from Lord Ravensworth'.

Both letters in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Letter One (25 June 1883): 6pp., 12mo.

Aristocrat and Commander:Letters between Commander Frederick Greville Egerton and his parents, Admiral the Hon. Francis Egerton and Lady Louise Caroline Egerton, 1884-1899As grandson of both the Duke of Devonshire and the Earl of Ellesmere, Francis Greville Egerton (1869-1899) was placed at the centre of late-Victorian Whig society.

12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to close relation or agent. He agrees to 'the two sales in Sheffield of £52,000 and £90,000', but does not consider 'under £200 an acre' a good price. He wonders 'whether Sandford is inclined to give a bit to get a deal through without much trouble'.

12mo, 1 p. Eight lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. Begins 'The Queen has signed the Warrants, but things [sic] there is a mistake, as Duncan's Salary is but 80 L.' If her page's salary is £200, 'another Warrant must be made out [...] Mr. Rowland will do well to inquire about it.' The Queen's entry in the Oxford DNB stresses that she was never 'able to manage her money'.

12mo, 2 pp. Twenty-two lines. Text clear and complete. Regarding his footman Alfred McCloud, who has obtained with the recipient 'as Messenger'. I have taken no steps to fill his place till now & in the middle of the London Season it may be very inconvenient to be without a footman'. His butler is 'taking immediate steps to secure a man', but he would 'be glad to know how far you could meet my convenience in waiting for A. McCloud until I am suited'.

Scottish nobleman (1847-1900) and author. Two pages, folio. Folded twice. First leaf of a bifoliate. On very good paper watermarked 'J WHATMAN | 1897'. Very good, but second (blank) leaf of bifoliate somewhat grubby. Facsimile signature 'Bute'. Long letter announcing the completion of his 'Arms of the Royal and Parliamentary Burghs of Scotland' (Blackwood, 1897) and appealing for information for his forthcoming 'Arms of the Baronial and Police Burghs of Scotland' (Blackwood & Sons, 1903).

Scottish aristocrat (1789-1858). Sharp (1781-1849) was an antiquary of some note. Three pages, 12mo. In poor condition: folded twice and with considerable staining along the folds. Attached, by verso of second leaf of bifoliate, to larger piece of paper.

Scottish aristocrat and soldier (1871-1942). One page, quarto. Very good. Docketed in ink. The delay in replying is 'due to my having been extremely busy changing houses.' '[I]t is not possible for me to accept your invitation to take the Chair at Professor Stebbing's lecture [...] as I explained to you I am afraid I am almost certain to have to be away from London on that day.' Signed 'Atholl'.

8vo: 1 p. A bifolium (leaf dimensions roughly 270 x 185 mm), on thin wove paper, with the printed page on the recto of the first leaf, the rest being blank. Very good, on lightly aged paper. Attractive item printed in red, blue, black and gold. Text reads 'Vol I in the Press. Burke's Colonial Gentry. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Principal Families residing in the British Colonies by Sir Bernard Burke, C.B., LL.D., Ulster King of Arms.

King (1841-1910) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the British dominions beyond the seas, and emperor of India. The dimensions of the envelope are roughly 5 inches by 3 1/2 inches. Rather grubby and with damage to the flap, which is attached to a larger piece of paper. Carries a stamped one penny Inland Revenue stamp. Reads 'General The Rt. Honble. | Sir Henry Ponsonby K.C.B. | &c &c | Buckingham Palace | London | S.W. | A E', with the 'A E' (standing for 'Albert Edward', Edward VII's name before accession) between two lines.

4to: 1 p. On grubby, aged paper, with crease to one corner. Laid down on a leaf removed from an autograph album. Thanking the recipient for 'selling Roses in the Middlesex Hospital Area' on 'Alexandra Rose Day'. 'The total sum collected in our Area amounted to £680. 10s. 6d. which is most satisfactory, and I do hope you will feel rewarded for your trouble and fatigue by this very gratifying result.' Docketed at foot 'Viscount Astor'.

27 full page plates of Crests with 12 per page, one page of Helmets and of Crowns, Coronets, with a full index of the Gentry and Nobility at the end of the book. Bound in original boards, grubby and chipped, with original title labe on front, recently rebacked, foxing, new tissue guards, images good. Dedicated by permission to Edward Lodge, Esq, Norroy, King of Arms, F.S.A.

Irish peer (1903-75) and war correspondent. Two pages, octavo. On blue paper. Very good. Docketed and stamped and with staple holes to one corner. 'In reply to your letter of March 4th. I write to say that Art being one of my chief interests in life. I would appreciate very much being elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society.' Signed 'J. Donegall'. Postscript, on verso of second leaf of bifoliate, explains that the delay in replying is 'owing to absence in America' and ends 'Do you wish me to find any sponsors?'

One page. Dimensions of paper roughly eleven inches by seven and a half. Aged, and with fraying to extremities, but text clear and complete. 'Received by me [Elizabeth Countess Dowager of Kildare] Of the Right Honourable Thomas Townshend, Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Three pounds ten shillings] in full of all former Directions of the said Order, and for [Six] Months Annuity, due at [Lady Day] last past, of [Seven] Pounds per Annum [...]'. Signed 'Eliza Kildare'. Witnessed by 'Coms: Pye'.

12mo: 1 p. 8 lines of text. On aged paper somewhat grubby around signature at foot. Asks when he will be 'able to come to us to meet the d[uke] of Wellington'. They are 'at liberty any time between the 4th and 11th of January'.

Two pages, 12mo. Very good. A formal letter written in the third person. 'Lord Liverpool presents his compliments to Mr. Barker and in answer to your [sic] letter regrets that his father has been dead two years and therefore he cannot comply with Mr. Barker's request for his signature.'

The letter, two pages, 12mo; and the note one page, 12mo. Both on grubby, aged paper. The letter with small spike hole at head. LETTER: '[...] The only other things I go in for are Early English Furniture and Early MS. letters. If by any chance you come across any of these I should be very grateful indeed if you would let me know'. NOTE: 'Many thanks | I enclose 12/- for the two plates.'

12mo: 2 pp. Good. He is 'just now occupied with a new edition of my "Extinct and Dormant Peerage". Asks to be favoured 'with any emendations or additions that you think will improve the original Work. My apology for thus trespassing on you is my knowledge of the interest you take in historical & genealogical matters.'

One page. Dimensions of paper roughly thirteen inches by eight. Very good on aged paper, with slight loss at head and small closed tear (neither affecting text). Headed 'Annuity for Life, 1746.' '[...] Received the [19] Day of [July] 17[70] by me [William Earl of Radnor Asse. to Robert Lord Romney] Of George Grenville, junr. Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Three hundred pounds] in full for [Six] Months Annuity, due the [fifth] Day of [July] last past, of [£600] per Annum, during the Life of [me William Earl of Radnor] [...]'.

English aristocrat (1769-1859). Apparently cropped, but with no loss to text. Dimensions of paper roughly four inches square. Grubby and lightly stained. Docketed in pencil. A formal letter in the third person. Reads 'Lord Bristol presents his Compliments to the Duchess of Beaufort, & sends her Grace the enclosed Paper which came directed by mistake to him this Morning -'.

Scottish nobleman (1847-1900) and author. Long letter appealing for information for use in the forthcoming 'Arms of the Royal and Parliamentary Burghs of Scotland' (Blackwood, 1897). Two pages, folio. Folded twice. First leaf of a bifoliate. On very good paper watermarked 'J WHATMAN | 1893'. Very good, but second (blank) leaf of bifoliate somewhat grubby. Facsimile signature 'Bute'. Postscript asks for reply to be sent to Bute's collaborator on the book, 'J[ames]. R[obert]. N[icholson]. Macphail Esqr. 53, Castle Street, Edinburgh'.

English aristocrat and Whig politician (1721-1803). One page, quarto. In poor condition: grubby, discoloured and creased. Reads 'My Lord | Mr: Boothby of Ashbourne (who yr: Lordship may possibly know something of from his living in the neighbourhood of <?> forest has sollicited me much to apply to yr: Lordship for leave of Absence for his son who is a lieutenant in Ld: Drogheda's regiment to settle some family affairs, the time he wishes to have him with him [sic] is a month or two, if not unreasonable.

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'.

English writer (died 1887), traveller in the Middle East, and philanthropist. Four pages, 16mo. Good, but with traces of grey-paper mount adhering to verso of second leaf of bifoliate, to which adheres a cutting relating to the circumstances of Lady Strangford's marriage. She has been in bed for ten days, and although 'still in a state of great weakness - and non-writingness', writes to apologise for Lord Strangford's mistake: 'as he was expecting to be accosted by a lady much of your size he answered accordingly with an enquiry for her husband.

Aristocrat and politician (1780-1863). Two pages, 4to. Grubby, stained and creased. Several folds. Remains of mount adhering to one edge, and with small piece of glued paper at foot of verso. Formal letter in the third person. 'The Marquis of Lansdowne presents his compliments to the City Remembrancer, & will be happy to present the petition of the Corporation of the City this day as requested. The House of Lords in consequence of the event of yesterday is to meet this day at two oclock, & may possibly adjourn soon afterwards.

Irish aristocrat (1787-1856). One page, 12mo. In good condition, but with slight staining at head and traces of grey-paper mount on reverse. 'Lord Carew has this day received Mr Collins letter - | Mr. Holmes shall have every facility of engraving from Lord & Lady Carews Portraits, on his calling here.'

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.'

Anglo-German aristocrat (1837-1900), father of Queen Mary. Dimensions roughly 4 1/2 inches by 4 inches. In good condition, though somewhat grubby. Remains of glue and paper from previous mount on reverse. Addressed to his wife (1833-97) 'Her Royal Highness | the Princess Mary | Duchess of Teck | Richmond Park | East Sheen | Surrey | Teck'. Envelope carries stamped Penny Red in poor condition.

Sydney (1805-1890) became 1st Earl Sydney in 1874. The front part of an envelope, dimensions roughly 3 inches by 8 inches. In good condition, but with traces of previous mounting on otherwise-blank reverse. Circular crested seal in red wax, roughly 1/2 inch in diameter. Reads 'H M S. | The Secretary to the Board of Ordnance | Pall Mall | London | Sydney'.