COLLINS

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Headed '"Mark Lemon Fund."' Begins with communication from 'J. M. Montefiore, Chairman', dated 'Crawley, Oct. 1871', appealing for assistance for the 'Widow and unmarried Daughters of the late MARK LEMON - for thirty years Editor of "Punch"'', who are in 'straitened circumstances'. A list of 154 subscribers follows, each with the amount pledged, beginning with 'Joseph M. Montefiore, Esq.' (£35) and including 'Wilkie Collins, Esq.' (£5), 'Mrs.

The piece of vellum an irregular rectangle of about 4 x 17 cm. Smudged signature, with crumbling red wax seal to its right, beneath fragment of Latin text ending with date 1841. The engraving, with facsimile of signature, 'From a picture in his Lordship's possession | This plate, 28 x 19 cm on 4to leaf, is by express permission dedicated most respectfully to the Members of the Reform Club by their faithful Servant Thomas Collins'. It is in fair condition, aged and with strip of discoloration in margin at head.

20pp., small 4to (16.5 x 13 cm). Sewn in card wraps, illustrated in colours. In fair condition, lightly and spotted, in worn wraps, with two uncoloured illustrations on the inside wraps coloured in. With ownership inscription on half-title, dated 18 September 1927. Eight attractive full-page colour illustrations (two out of register) in text, in a range of styles, suggesting stock images by different illustrators, and two uncoloured illustrations on the inside wraps, coloured in (by a child?), with another two illustrations on the front and back covers. This item is something of a mystery.

Both photographs in black and white, and both 25.5 x 20.5 cm. One landscape and the other portrait. The two in good condition, showing light signs of age and wear. Both clearly taken at the same event, as in both Hawthorn wears the same suit. Both taken indoors. In the first (portrait) he is seen cutting a ribbon, while a group of smartly-dressed men and women look on approvingly behind him. Signs for 'Silver Exide' and 'Mobilgas Special' are mounted on a wall.

Both items in poor condition, with burn marks and damp damage [fire damaged much of the Society's archive]. Some of the text of the autograph letter has faded, and it may be that the signature to the typed note has washed away. Autograph Letter Signed: 2pp., 4to. He begins by offering to 'oppose anybody' in a debate that Mrs Roscoe is organising (at the Society of Women Journalists).

ONE (memorandum): Headed: 'Memorandum of an Agreement between Messrs: Henry S. King & Co: of 65 Cornhill London of the one part and Mortimer Collins Esqre. of Knowl Hill, Twyford, Berks of the other part.' 19 March 1872. 1p., folio. In fair condition, on lightly-aged and worn paper. Pencil annotations. Five stamps at head (four embossed and one ink).

Printed beige boards, hinge strain at front cover, condition mainly good., 3 or 4 days to the pages, additional space for notes not used. Mainly a record of times, dates, people involved in a busy life of professional and social engagements, and expenditure, at the beginning of Bonham-Carter's years with The House of Collins. He records the occasional "Edit. Meting" (3 Jan. possibly his first?). Information also includes phone numbers and addresses. His background obviously gave him access to many circles.

Both letter and pamphlet in very good condition. Letter: 8pp., 4to. Written a few days before Russell's death on 12 March 1956. On the first page he describes how the London esoteric bookseller J. M.

The production to which the first item relates was Toole's last before being forced by gout to retire from the London stage. Both items in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper; the first with short closed tear at head. Both printed on one side only. Item One: 33 x 21 cm. Headed 'Mr. J. L. Toole's Company. | THOROUGH-BRED. | PROPERTY PLOT.' Listing, under 'Stage' and 'Hand', all the props needed for the three acts, the last (and shortest) entry reading '[ACT III.] HAND. | Field glasses, cases. Race cards for all. Letter (WILHELMINA). Set of bones (TOSH). Coins (all). 2 tambourines.

6pp., 4to, good condition, IN IRISH, translation as follows: "(On top) Write to me soon! ||Deirdre, my dear friend – I was delighted to receive your letter. Thank you very much. Forgive me for not writing much earlier: we are all greatly upset here over the deaths of Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins – isn’t it terrible news! I cannot believe it is true – I don’t know what the country will do without them. It disgusts me to think of Michael Collinsand the way they killed him like a dog; a curse on them, may they choke, the dirty villains!

Apart from the card (12mo, 1 p), totalling 4to, 10 pp; 12mo, 2 pp. All items in good condition, with text clear and complete, on lightly-aged paper. All post-1960. Two of the eleven (20 January and 13 June 1974) are fully dated by Devas; another four have day and month. The card from 1960 is the earliest item; the three from Wetherby Gardens date from between this point and Devas's second marriage to Rupert Shephard in 1965, and the seven from Limerston Street from after the marriage. A good-natured correspondence, written in a chatty style.

8vo: [ii] + 69 pp. Stapled pamphlet. In original light-blue printed wraps. Text clear and complete. In fair condition, on aged paper, slightly dogeared and with rusted staples, in creased and worn wraps. A singular production of profound psychiatric interest. Carries the following announcement on the title: 'I have now cleared my character to the world from the aspersions (that I deserted my friend by going to America and that I soon after married) which my enemies cast upon it.

Fourteen pages, quarto. In letter book by Philpott & Collins (and with their label on front pastedown) On aged paper, with some chipping to extremities, but with text clear and entire, though faded in places. In heavily worn leather half-binding. The first five leaves carry Hale-Helps' dated oval despatch stamp, as Honorary Secretary of the 1896 Volunteers. In ONE (to Viscount Gladstone, 9 March 1914, two pages) Hale-Helps requests that his 'Rhodesian Medal for the 1896' is sent to him.

Letter: 12mo, 4 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and entire, but with the outer pages grubby. He has 'no wish to annoy other members of the Court family', so it will 'go no further'. 'It is cool of Miss Court to talk thhe confidence of her own home, when she made the statement to Mrs Bulkeley in her own drawing-room.' Suggests that Draper send 'the Postmistress' a 'reminder'. 'She is so accustomed to threatening letters from her creditors' lawyers that she possibly may disregard this.' Asks him to 'make her understand that withholding an apology may have sharp consequences'.

One page, in two 62-line columns. Octavo leaf with blank reverse. Good, on lightly aged paper with slight nicking and creasing to edges. Satirical account of 'simple soul' Michael James's dealings with his hypocritical neighbour Susan Elizabeth, who hands him a white feather when he refuses to enlist in the British Army during the Great War. On 'the Day' of the Easter Rising James fights and is wounded and 'thrown into the interment camp at Frongoch'. Susan Elizabeth then becomes 'a great Sinn Feiner.

The collection is in good condition. Three of the communications bear the stamp of the Royal Society of Arts, of which the recipient Wood was the Secretary.

English lawyer (1802-74) and Master of the Rolls, 1851-73. The recipient (1817-80) was a noted chemist. Two pages, 16mo. Very good, but sumwhat dusty and grubby. Reads 'My dear Sir Benjamin | I am much oblig'd to you for your kind. [sic] I am not aware of the circumstance, or rather the rule you mention or I should not have committed thte 'indiscretion' of asking you to sign my sons recommendation'. Signed 'John Romilly'.

Collins (1788-1847) and Ward (1769-1859) were all artists. Finden (1791-1857) was an engraver. Paper dimensions roughly five inches by four and a half inches. Folded once and with slight discoloration, but in good condition overall. Reads 'James Ward RA. | Edwd. F. Finden | William Collins. | Geo Hyde | Upper Norton St | Philip Hill | 6. Greek Street'.