BRITAIN

4to 'Royal Air Force. Notebook for use in Schools', with Anderson's notes in pencil on all but 11 of its 96 pp. Text clear and complete, written in a neat, tight hand, with diagrams and tables. Fair, on aged paper, with slightly dog-eared corners, in worn and creased wraps. Ownership inscription on front cover of 'A. H. Anderson L.A.C. | Deputy Controller's Course | Woodlands. 27.10.'41'. Providing important first-hand insights into the procedure of the RAF during World War II. Subjects include 'Fighter Command Organisation', 'I.F.F. (Identification friend or foe)', 'P.P.L.

12mo, 12 pp, and fold-out frontispiece of table showing the 'British National Debt, funded and unfunded, stated in millions of pounds sterling' from 1689 to 1843, with four other columns. Stitched and in original printed wraps. Text clear and complete. Several copies of varying condition. Usually Fair: lightly-aged and creased. Scarce: other than electronic reproductions, COPAC only lists copies of this second edition at the Bodleian and British Library.

Letter: 12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and complete. On aged and discoloured paper, with four pin holes to first leaf. Difficult hand. Discussing an article the proofs of which he has corrected. Poem: 8vo, 1 p. Headed 'David Harris (tom piscota) '. Five four-line stanzas, chorus, and footnote. Translation begins 'Of every sport thats in the world | Fishing is the best | And have to wind out of south | And to fish will jump on my hand'.

12mo, 12 pp. Unbound. Stitched as issued. Text clear and complete. On aged and worn paper. Ownership signature at head of title: 'Mr. Whittaker'. Ends: 'Signed on behalf and by order of the Conference, | John Scott, President, | John Farrar, Secretary. | Sheffield, August, 17th, 1852.' Scarce: no copy in the British Library, and none on COPAC.

On one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 25 x 35 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax under paper in top left-hand corner, embossed with the royal seal. Above this is the King's signature, in what Rawlins ('Four Hundred Years of British Autographs', p.53, no.4) describes as 'un uncommon form'. Three blue 2s 6d stamps in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on the reverse, which is docketed 'James Paterson Gent: | Lieutenant | In the Sixty Ninth Regiment of Foot commanded by Colonel Colvill.-' Text entirely legible on lightly discoloured vellum.

A curious document which, whether it emanates from the British Foreign Office or not, provides valuable insight into informed British opinion on China in the period following the First World War. Printed on fourteen 34 x 21.5 cm leaves, paginated 1-13 with title on fourteenth leaf. On paper with the Britannia watermark of Waterlow and Sons Limited, London. Stapled. Text clear and complete on aged and foxed paper.

12mo, 2 pp. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Macleod is 'certainly at liberty' to state Palmer's 'belief', founded on 'the Specimen Digest of the Law of Bills of Exchange' which Macleod prepared for the 'English Law Digest Commissioners', that Macleod is 'well qualified for the Professorship in Edinburgh which you seek to obtain'.

12mo, 1 p. The purple ink of the letter has bled, otherwise in good condition. He does not 'think it likely that we shall soon see this neighbourhood again'. They have had 'frequent bad weather, constant illness, & general discomfort'. The Yateses 'hope to meet you at Hamburg, where we expect to arrive on Wednesday 5th. August. So be it!' Mrs Perkins was the wife of the wealthy brewer Augustus Frederick Perkins.

The letter (8vo, 1 p) is foxed, but otherwise very good. Had he not been 'engaged for ten days past to dine three or four miles off with an old acquaintance', whom it is too late to disappoint, he would have been happy to avail himself of the kind invitation. Sends best wishes and prayers to the recipient's family, 'from the elder to the youngest'.

Scottish soldier and diplomat (1755-1843). Four pages, octavo. Good, though grubby on discoloured paper, and a little frayed about the edges. Concerns 'the Subject of Issues which are made by the Barrack Department in North Britain to the Forces stationed in this Part of the United Kingdom, but which are not sanctioned by The King's Warrant'. '[...] | I conceive the Establishment of Regimental Schools to be highly conducive to the good of His Majesty's Service, and peculiarly so in the case of 2d.

12 pp. Complete and clear, on browned high-acidity paper. According to one authority 'The People's Convention (P.C.) began life as the People's Vigilance Committee, set up by the Hammersmith Labour Party and Trades Council in July 1940. The leading figure was Denis Noel Pritt, a recently expelled Labour M.P., but the aims were very much in line with the policies of the Communist Party (C.P.) in that period of the Phoney War.' The Convention met in January 1941 and folded at the end of the year.

12mo: 1 p. Nine lines of text. Good, on lightly aged and creased paper. Suggests a convenient time for a meeting 'with you, Dr. Masters and Profr. Allman.' Looks forward to hearing from the recipient, once he has 'fixed the hour and the place'.

Title continues: '[...] Aldermen, and Common Councell of the City of London.' 4to: 8 pp, paginated [ii] + 6. Trimmed (leaf dimensions roughly 165 x 135 mm) causing loss of the last line of text (the publication details beneath the word 'LONDON') on the title. Stitched as issued. Unbound. In poor condition, on aged, spotted and creased paper, with chipping to extremities and with the lower part of the last leaf torn away causing loss of around a dozen lines of text. A few lines in a contemporary hand on the first couple of leaves.

An unusual, scarce and frail survival. Printed on one side of a piece of tissue paper, roughly 35 cm square. Surprisingly well preserved: heavily creased, with some wear to extremities, one small hole (not affecting text or image) and one closed tear of approximately 4 cm to coloured border.

Printed on one side of a piece of unwatermarked cream wove paper. Dimensions roughly 24 x 19 cm. Folded and lightly creased, and with some staining (not affecting the text, which is entirely legible) to left-hand margin and top left-hand corner. 24 lines of text. According to Churchill's memoirs, this 'admonition' was 'circulated throught the inner circles of the governing machine' and then read to the House of Commons the following day.

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.

8vo: 129 pp + 3 pp of advertisements at end, followed by fold-out map in black, red and blue, 'Published by Directorate of Colonial Surveys'. Four pages of plates at centre, consisting of eight photographs. In original buff printed wraps. The book very good on discoloured high-acidity paper, with map and plates very good on better paper. Scarce.

12mo, 2 pp. good, on aged paper, but with slight damage along the inner edge as a result of removal from stub. Text entirely legible. Docketed 'Professor Tyndall' in a contemporary hand at foot of second page. He wishes he 'could respond to half the invitations for which I am indebted to the kind acts of my friends'. The 'duties now pressing' on him 'render this literally impossible'. 'All I can do under the circumstances is to wish success to your young society'.

4to, 1 p, 9 lines. On behalf of his 'Committee' acknowledging his correspondent's 'kind letter with its generous contribution to the funds of our Campaign', adding 'a message of individual thanks from myself to you for your mostt encouraging support'. 'Our Campaign is prospering, and we hope soon to complete our success by the early expulsion of the Reds.' His correspondent's 'welcome help' is of 'great value'.

One of the letters is 4to, 2 pp; ten are 4to, 1 p; and one is foolscap, 1 p. The collection is in good condition, on lightly aged paper. Many of the letters are docketed and most bear the Society's dated stamp. Written in the capacity of Secretary of the Aeronautical Society, and editor of its 'Official Organ - The Aeronautical Journal'. Topics include the hiring of the Royal Society's hall for two series of talks to the Aeronautical Society. Faraday also discusses the details of a lecture by 'Mr.

One page, 12mo. Neatly mounted on card. Nine-line biographical newspaper cutting neatly laid down at foot. Ten lines from another newspaper cutting, relating to Madame Patti, at head. Reads 'Dear madam | I thank you for your flattering letter and subscribe myself, as you wish, | Yours truly | Henry Newbolt'.

12mo: 2 pp. Small embossed gilded crest in top left-hand corner of first page. On lightly discoloured paper, with several folds for postage and crease to one corner. Small square cut away from blank second leaf of bifolium, which also carries traces of previous mounting. A formal letter written in the third person. 'The Queen wishes the Members of the New Council for the Duchy of Lancaster to be sworn in at Buckingham Palace on Saturday the 13th. at 3 o'clock.

One page, 12mo. Very good. Unobtrusive trace of previous mount adhering to blank reverse. He is engaged to dine with Sir Alexander Grant [Sir Alexander Cray Grant, 1782-1854] on the day in question and 'cannot, therefore, have the Pleasure of dining with you & Lady Holland, to whom present my Respects, and Regret. | I fear before that day the Constitution in Church & State will be in a bad way - if I could have waited upon you, I am sure my Constitution & Spirits would have been much improved during my Visit.'

Two pages, 12mo. Very good, with the merest spotting at head. He 'will be at West Drayton by the train due there nearest to 4 o'clock'. He has no time-table to hand, 'but shall see one at Jermyn St. to-morrow'.

Grey (1804-1870) was successively Private Secretary to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. Three pages, 12mo. Good, on grubby paper discoloured with age. He acknowledges receipt of the letter of the twelfth inst. 'The recovery of any <?> which shd revert to the Crown, is, I apprehend, a matter for the Treasury to look to - as it is for the Gnt. to consider the provisions which it is expedient to adopt in any measure of the nature of that to which you allude.' He is commanded by Albert to thank his correspondent for the 'kind attention which has prompted you to make this communication'.

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.

Author and politician (1806-63). The recipient (1802-76) was author of a dictionary of English artists, and successively private secretary to several English statesman. Two pages, 12mo. An odd request. 'I have been asked by a friend to ascertain for him whether any person has ever been tried in England for suffocating a human being supposed to be affected by hydrophobia. If you shd. be in possession of any information which throws light upon the subject, would you have the kindness to enable me to answer the question'. signed 'G C Lewis'.

Two pages. Paper dimensions approximately seven and a half inches by twelve. An important and highly dramatic document, relating to the Prince's treatment of his wife Caroline of Brunswick in the period following the birth of their only child Princess Charlotte Augusta, with reference to the tensions caused by the Prince's Whig connections. 'GR' at both head and end of document. Begins 'The Propositions which you have Lately made in your Letters of your Particular Regard to me, are so Contradictory to all your actions, that I cannot suffer my Self to be Imposed on by ym.

British civil servant (1836-1909) and organiser of many international exhibitions. Two pages, quarto. Good, though a touch grubby, and with pin holes in top left-hand corners of both leaves. Ornate letterhead with lettering in front of clouds with sun rays behind and American eagle and flag to the left.

Octavo. 243 pages. Frontispiece illustration. In original red cloth embossed binding. Poor copy: rear endpapers split, binding grubby, pages foxed. Presentation inscription on verso of flyleaf dated October 1914.