AUTOGRAPH

(1788-1883) Arctic explorer, soldier, astronomer and magnetic surveyor. Three pages, 8vo, good condition, date "1825" written in pencil. Text as follows: "Copies of my book have been ordered by the Board of Longitude to be sent to Members of the Board, and to Institutions, in different parts of the United Kingdom. Perhaps if the eleven copies, addressed as on the following page, are sent to you, you will have teh kindness to frank them to their several destinations. I shall call at the Admiralty myself with this note to spare you the trouble of writing an answer.

Artist and illustrator (1878-1957). (Complete letter, 1919) Three pages, 4to, fold marks, sl. damage but text complete and clear. A detailed letter giving information about Wood's post-war activities and "busyness"), current projects, his toy manufactory, etc. He received this letter from a prospective collaborator via his agents, Messrs Francis <& Hills?>. He asks if he has left "Valley"[?].

Naturalist and miscellaneous writer. One page, 8vo. He says that he is about to leave for the Sudan and apologises for his discourtesy in not replying sooner. With: holograph list, 2pp., 8vo, of works by Robinson and key dates, events, and positions in his life, including a professorship in India, work for newspapers, authorship of a fishing brochure. His adventurous life was thought to have ended in the bush on Cuba where he was to have reported on the Spanish-American War.

Wood-engraver, illustrator, painter. Two pages, 4to, with woodcut of house in heading. He has just returned from a caravan "where I have been painting. April showers may bring forth May flowers but the watercolour painter must be very wary. He had heard that he had two paintings at the RA but had missed the varnishing day "on which artists have the opportunity to meet. Several of our R.W.S. numbers are well-represented. Your letter to Mr Carter has already I am glad to hear borne fruit in the 'Daily Mail'.

Traveller in Spain and elsewhere, and author. 2-4pp., 8vo. He discusses extensively his work on "a Handbook on Russia & Great Britain in Central Asia", giving a resume of chapters and asking for copies to be sent to various places. "No question is more important at present". FOUR ITEMS,

Printed., 13"(w) x 26" (l), fold marks, sl. chipped, good. SIGNED "Reginald Blomfield R.A./ Sept. 1916/ New Court, Temple". Apparently a new a station which was never built. Instead the site eventually became the setting for the Festival Of Britain.

Newspaper editor (1846-1932). One page, 8vo, acknowledging good wishes for his 70th birthday.

Sidgwick and Jackson/Leroi Jones, 4pp., fol., punch-holes sl. damaged, mainly good, marked "File copy", revisions in biro, additional clauses attached and initialled by Jones, document signed by Jones. Stapled to document: letter from Jones's agent, Ronald Hobbs, to Sidgwick and Jackson, clarifying the payment of advance payments on the book.

Novelist. Part of an autograph letter, 4.5 x 3.5 ins, probably 8vo when intact. Surviving text as follows: "34 De Vere Gdns,/ W./ Oct. 29th// Dear Florence./ The acquaintance that I have been [fragment of page concludes but crosswritten text continues as follows]" int) & believe the [...?]/[...?] faithfully yours/Henry James". On verso as follows: "3// al - Tinsley Bros. or V[?] R. Maxwell (Miss Braddon's.) I don't know [word underlined] any of these people, but" [fragment ends.

Noyes is in a printed list of 8 Harvard Library staff members at the top of this letter commencing "William C. Lane, Librarian". He appears as "Editor Quinquennial Catalogue". Letter, one page, 8vo, good condition. He ask Bellows for four things: i.details of the degrees he has received from other institutions; 2. memberships of learned societies etc.; 3. "professorial appointments" with details; 4. orders or decorations. Perhaps Bellows is looking for a job.

Playwright (1855-1934), knighted in 1909. One page, 8vo. "19th May, 1900. / Dear Mr Burton, / Many thanks. / Yours very truly / Arthur W. Pinero". In bad condition, with tear through signature and paper and glue from mount stuck to reverse.

Groom in Waiting and Equerry to Queen Victoria (d.1897). Gardiner says that Currie's arrangments for the King of the Belgians cannot be bettered. He will order the carriages for 11 and meet at Westminster Bridge. Currie has added a list of names, English and Belgian, presumably of people involved in the visit.

Three pages, 12mo. Grubby, and with one corner of second leaf of bifoliate dogeared. Neat strip of stub along edge of verso of second leaf of bifoliate. The recipient (1775-1858) was a botanist, antiquary and collector of autographs. An interesting letter, revealing Blundell's involvement in the publication of a little-known magazine called 'The Wrangler'.

The title "Ghouls Jan 25" appears at the bottom and Furse's name and a date in the 1920s appears in the right-hand margin. Size circa 21 x 35cms, small tear on left, some creasing, mainly good condition, laid down on same-size paper. On the tombstone (blank in the middle until written in), the artist has inscribed his name in pencil over the final part of a faintly written (but mainly decipherable) menu which starts with "Hors d'oeuvres" and goes through fish, meat and icecream dishes. The inscription is as follows: "to my friend H. Brabazon. / Charles W. Furse".

Hubert Smith was a man of many parts: local historian, town clerk of Bridgnorth, Shropshire; author of a book which combines a mountaineering interest with a gipsy interest ("Tent Life with English Gipsies in Norway"); linguist; etc. He was also a passionate pursuer of information about the Guitar and guitar music at a time when the instrument was not popular. [Smith kept autograph copies of all his correspondence.] Letter , 3 pages, 8vo, soiled but clear and complete. He thanks them for the latest payment of royalties on "Tent Life".

Westminster Bank Ltd, £3, Countersigned on back "Borys Conrad". One of the last cheques signed by Conrad, obviously one of the last things "written" by him. Seven cheques were found by a fellow dealer in a book from Conrad's Library ("an 1830s book on Napoleon", one of which he sold on eBay, the other six coming to me. I have consigned one to a colleague, and am offering out the others individually, including a cheque made out to his wife, Jessie (and countersigned by her) dated 28 July 1924 which, since he died on 3 August 1924, is arguably the last thing he wrote. See item 2137.

Five lines, 4to, some foxing not affecting clarity of text, as follows: "Jerome addresse cette despesche pour Mr des [?] fougeraire[?] que je vous prie de luy faire tenir en tout diligence Louis de Bourbon"

"Ancien auteur dramatique". One page, c.7 x 12", good condition. He requests charity from them again, being ill and unable to work, about to lose his "domicile", debts, etc. In the substantial margin [?] Taylor (poss. I-J-S- Taylor, patron of literature[?]) has supported Rozet's application (3 December 1847) in a note to the Commission.

Map-maker, geographe, geographer. (One page, folio,some creasing and soiling, mainly good, clear and complete. This is a formal document in his best hand, in which he requests the opportunity to exhibit at "l'exposition" his latest work, "une carte de la France industrielle indiquent la position de tous les lieux qui ont fournis quelques produits aux 5 expositions, la designation de ces produits . . . ." He says how far he is advanced. An important letter.

Editor of "Le Siecle", economist and politician (see Wikiberal). One page, 4to, some foxing, one edge badly trimmed, text clear and complete. "Je vous remercie de las marque de sympathie que vous avez donnes a la [France?] en envoyant votre sousscription pour les vistimes de la Martinique. Je l'ai deposee au [?] qui a ouvert une sousscription que nous n'avons pas un [?] ouvrier, en ayany trop ouvert du temps de l'affaire Dreyfus. . . "

Etcher. Four pages, 8vo, good condition, sending his warm appreciation of her ‘Reminiscences’,mentioning Kate Greenaway ("artistic merit and sweet disposition") whose Christmas cards Lady Dorothy has kept, and also mentioning that he had sent a Card [copy enclosed] to the King which the King had admired greatly. Enclosed: a print of the original etching by Lawson after the cartoon by Tenniel which had featured in the Punch Almanack of 1874 and was commended by the King, INSCRIBED "Lady Dorothy Nevill, / a token of / the Etcher's great appreciation / of her 'Reminiscences'.

Dramatic author, critic, and translator (see DNB). On epage, 8vo, vestiges of the laying down process, mainly good condition. "My "Virginie" [underlined] is from the Virginie [underlined] of M. Latour de St Ybais - and is the peice in which Rachel played during her first engagement at the St James' - Are you sure there is a Virginie by Ronsard. - He wrote a lucrece [underlined]."

Author and editor (see DNB). One page, 8vo, sl. discoloured, laid down on another piece of paper, text clear as follows: Before leaving town I requested a friend who is very intimate with publishers to take charge of your M.S. and as a favour to me, to do anything in his power towards procuring its publication." He made enquiries about progress but found that his friend was out of the country for a spell. He is usng black-margined paper because of the death of Mrs Brooks's mother.

The invoice, one page, 4to, good condition, lists 16 items, total amount £14.2.0, from "a second hand single gun" for £10 to powder flask (5s 6d), powder, crest on stock etc. The receipt acknowledges payment and is in the hand of Jackson and signed by him.

Miscellaneous writer (see DNB). One page, 12mo, good condition, printed slip with biographical detail laid down at base. "I have left a [retrospection?][undelrined] and there are four reviews, tied up [?] with the Landlord. Please send a boy for the ms . . . I go home on Wednesday & by Saturday will send up more reviews [underlined]: if you have any books, send them to Benhall."

Dean of Rochester and author (see DNB). Three pages, 8vo, minor soiling, good condition. He discusses the prospect of a special service for soldiers in the Cathedral [presumably from the Boer War].

Novelist (see DNB). Page trimmed with loss of correspondent's name etc., laid down on stiff paper. "Lady Charlotte Bury earnestly requests to have proof sheets sent ot her." Note: Perhaps proofs of ‘‘The Three Great Sanctuaries . . ." published in 1833.

Maiden name was Margaret Harries 1797-1846, author (DNB). One page, minor defects, text clear and complete. "After due consideration, tho' I think the enclosed Poem very good, I fear it may offend some of my readers - and I therefoe, return it you - The rest shall be made use of - I believe one has already appeared. . ." Note: In 1834 she was editing "The New Monthly Belle Assemblée".

Cary, clergyman, translator of Dante and librarian (see DNB). Two pages, 8vo, some soiling, mainly good.He is not in the habit of accepting dinner invitations and will be "taking [his] evening walk" at the time suggested. Postscript: "I trouble you with another key supposed to belong to the cellar under the colonnade [at the British Library?]" WITH: his calling card, soiled,name and place of work (British Library) printed (the latter with a line through it), address in Westminster added in his hand.

Novelist (see DNB). Two pages, 8vo, minor defects, text clear and complete. She asks them to republish some of her periodical work in book form. "The first story wd be a volume in itself (it is called 'At the Seaside'). The others wd be short ones from 'London Society', 'Tinsley', 'Belgravia', 'The Argosy', 'St. James' . . ." She will await a proposal and leave the terms to them.