AUTOGRAPH

(British Army: Ist Volunteer Rifle Battalion (Devon) in 1901). A small collection of letters and printed ephemera relating to the Ist Volunteer Rifle Battalion, Exeter, comprising: ALS, 2pp., 8vo, William C.Richards to Colonel Sir Dudley Duckworth-King, 17 Sept.

Spanish author. Two pages, 4to. He writes concerning the World Unity Movement of which Polak is a sponsor, criticising the Chairman, James Avery Joyce. With: a TLS, 2pp., 4to, from Joyce to Polak referring to a note he has received from de Madariaga (copy enclosed) and describing his difficulties in finding a speaker. He also asks for his expenses from an American trip which de Madariaga found offensive.

Writer on natural history (1780-1868). One page, 8vo, good. He thanks his correspondent for his “interesting pamphlet” and discusses rough drawings of swans he is sending him.

Collector (1760-1830). One page, 8vo, good, giving himpermission to view his pictures.

Politician (1821-1899). 2pp., 8vo, reporting that Gladstonehas given their “resolution” a positive response and that expressions of“strong feeling” from the north create a good effect in Parliament.

Governor-General of India. 5 & 2pp., 8vo. Some illegible. (1830) he asks himself whether the "Board" should reply to "the Statements and Assumptions of the . . . Secret Committee in the subject of the Secret Letters relating to the Treaty with . . .(?)". He continues on the theme, concluding that ther documents in question had been perused by Lord Clare, the intended successor of Sir John Malcolm" (Governor of Bombay). (1841) he is trying to arrange a meeting.

Novelist, dramatist and journalist (1831-1894). One page each, 8vo, good. In the first, he is sorry that “Fred” has been bothered in a particular“matter”. In the second, he says simply “Here is the Valentine you askfor”.

Professor of Chemistry, Cambridge University (1827-1924). 2pp., 8vo, good. He finds “syllabuses” a reflection of what was considered important at a certain time, and is pleased to have been sent a plan of Wollaston’slectures. He goes on to discuss Wollaston (a predecessor of his in theChair) and the change wrought by his becoming Jacksonian Professor.

(Peace Society (1893)). 2pp., 8vo, H.(?) Evans Darby to the Chevalier Dr Karl de Scherzer, He informs his correspondent that the last “universal Peace Congress” in Chicago decided to invite eminent jurists “to form a Committee for thepurpose of considering the question of an International Court of Arbitration”. As a member of the provisional committee, he has beenasked to prepare a list for this committee for Europe. He invites hiscorrespondent to join it (“I should not think that it would involve muchlabour or responsibility”).

Physician and savant, compiler of the Thesaurus (1779-1869). One page, 8vo,small chip, good. He accepts an offer of two dozen bottles of port and promises to return the same number of bottles.

Extensive corrections in Clementine Churchill's hand.The notes simply acknowledge firstly, a letter about a legal matter in which she cannot intervene, and secondly, she displays sympathy for someone's son who is doing "dangerous work". Two items,

Scottish novelist (1800-1864). One page, 8vo, good. She quotes Shakespeare’s “What’s in a name?” and appends hersignature.

1758-1816, miscellaneous writer (DNB). Two pages, 4to, tears on folds and chipping, but text complete. She had hoped to find out how her friends at Jesmond were oby a morning visit but cannot do so. She is forced to "make an unwarrantable demand upon [her] hospitality and invite herself and two young friends ("the companions of my journey") to Mrs Losh's family dinner, staying overnight in Newcastle. {The correspondent is prob. Cecilia, wife of lawyer/philanthropist James Losh - see DNB.]

Assistant to Albert Schweitzer. Two pages, folio, minor defects, text clear if slightly faded, some pen markings to clarify text. She is finding it difficult to secure Schweitzer's signature because he is busy or tired. She has tried on a Sunday when he writes letters and receives visitors but has still failed so far. Schweitzer has prmoised but has put the paper in a drawer. She describes his life, the effects of old age, and has enlisted the help of an old friend of his. She describes in detail her own rolein the hospital, and the background to her joining Schweitzer.

Primate of Australia, miscellaneous writer (DNB). Clipped signature, , on paper, c.3.5 x 1.5", laid down on similar sized card. Text as follows: "Yours truly / Alfred Barry / W.H. Dynham Esq", the latter being the correspondent.

Librarian at Windsor Castle. Three pages, 8vo, good condition. "I am one of hte unfortunates of the earth . . ." He is unable to accept an invitation to Britwell (hence the identification of Samuel Christie-Miller as the correspondent) because he "cannot keep off the demands of the printers any longer, & I must work." He hopes, however, to welcome him to the Library (Windsor) and to have the invitation to Britwell repeated. He adds a paragraph about "the great loss all Bibliophiles have experienced in the death of Mr Thomas Watts of the British Museum.

Actor then Theatre Manager (see DNB). "unexpected circumstances" oblige him to postopone the opening of the Adelphi Season until June next. The cast will not assemble until the 12th June. It appears to be in a secretarial hand signed by Murray.

Chemist, Inventor of water-proof material. See DNB. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. He asks for news about the Duke of Montrose. He describes his current illness, caused by the rupture of of a small artery in the lung - "we have got it soldered up however, but I am leaft weak from very copious bleeding".

Author. Two pages, 8vo, good condition. She can't accept an invitation because she and her sister are going away the following day. Her other sister has sent an enclosure to him. And her sister Undine thanks him for thinking of her. She concludes "Please forgive a rather muddled note. My head is stupid with work & the fog has not helped to clear it."

Singer (DNB). Bold, underlined Signature, c.3.5 x 1.5". Other side the following few words, "towns, will tempt me [to] make a trial, so I do [not?] think I shall visit".

(1777-1869), Principal Librarian of the British Museum. Three pages, 4to, fold marks, some marking but text clear and complete. He asks Reade to welcome a friend (Sir Reginald Warren) should he visit Tunis after visiting Egypt. He reports on a young man who will send a letter to Reade via Warren probably mentioning his progress in the Museum ("in the Arrangement of our Geography") and his important discovery of "a bird's eye view of your country [Tunisia]" which includes a view of the Palace in which Reade is living.

Ballet. Fletcher was a bookseller specialising in Performing Arts and founder of the Society for Theatre Research. One page, 4to, chipped, four small tears, fold mark, punch-holes, small hole in centre, but complete and legible. He thanks Fletcher for submitting a print to "us" (Leslie and Niles?) but they decline regretfully, requesting others from the Romantic Period as they occur. "The 'Pas de Quatre' is most beautiful and now graces our walls." He requests an English translation of "Stepanow alphabet les Mouvements du Corps Humain".

Colonial secretary , Van Diemen's Land. 1.5pp., 8vo. He discusses the physical composition of a necklace. (Bicheno's works on Law and the Irish economy are listed on the reverse in a different hand.)

Novelist. One page, 8vo, fold mark, good condition. "I cannot refrain from writing to thank you for two kindly notices of my work that you have given in recent numbers of "The Sphere"; & I trust you will not consider me troublesome for doing so, or for saying that it gave me much pleasure to see this recognition. . . ."

Novelist. One page, 8vo, good condition. "I am quite willing that you should use the extract from my book "The House of the Arrow", but you should, I think, get also the consent of Mesrs. Hodder & Stoughton before using it."

Restaurateur/entrepreneur. One page, 4to, "Please forgive me for not having answered your letter earlier. It eally is most generous of you to promise to make our plans widely known, and I shall of course be very grateful for anything you will do in this respect."

The address panel only, 4 x 2", of a letter with the address "Mrs Davidson/ Milner's[?] Lodgings/ Green Street/ Scarborough/ Yorkshire" in Mitford's hand. Partly laid down. Mary Mitford's name and address are written in another hand on the reverse.

Miscellaneous Writer (Poetry Society). Total 4pp., 8vo. He is enlisting Wilson's aid in selling his new book (favourably reviewed by Evelyn Waugh) and requesting a list of distinguished visitors to Bumpus's (bookshop) (Walter) Scott {Centenary] Exhibition to establish who was interested in Scott at that time. Frank Mumby describes Wilson as "one of the outstanding booksellers of the day" (1956 ed., p.235). Four items,

Divine and poet (1780-1825). Three pages, 4to, heavily water-stained but still all legible, tear and nick not affecting text. He tells her that he has at last got round to sending her a book (a postcript reveals that it was a "french Book" which his wife had promised ot loan a long time before). He had hoped she was going to visit. He discusses the parlous health of his son and his wife's "maternal anxiety". He had seen a mutual acquaintance, looking better, and hopes she received his letter of thanks for the drawings of the tesselated pavement she had given as a present to him,.

Publisher, Oxford University Press. One page each, 8vo (2) and 4to (2), one grubby, fold marks, minor defects, but texts clear and complete. Two are goodhumoured, brief, and concerning social trivia. The one sent in 1932 goes: "This is to introduce Sir Wallis Budge. I have told him you are the best bookseller in London, and would be able to get him all he wanted." (one ms. correction and one ms. addition). The letter dated 1943 discusses the works of Mark Rutherford: "I remember in very old days you were a devoted admirer of my late brother-in-law, Mark Rutherofrd.