OFFICE

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Signed ('J. Henniker Heaton') Letter, in a secretarial hand, to A. M. Tapp.

Author: 
Sir John Henniker Heaton (1848-1914), English Member of Parliament and postal reformer [Post Office]
Publication details: 
9 July 1891; on embossed House of Commons letterhead.
£100.00

12mo: 3 pp. Good, but with the leaves of the bifolium separated, and reattached with three tissue mounts. 'It is impossible to trace the obstructiveness of the Postal department to any particular officials; they stand shoulder to shoulder, defiant and impenetrable, like a square of infantry'. Nevertheless Heaton has 'succeeded in getting some reforms of importance inserted in the Post Office Acts Amendment Bill'. Mentions 'permission to send circulars in unclosed envelopes' and briefly discusses the postage of newspapers to the Colonies.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Stanley') to Lord Henry George Charles Gordon-Lennox (1821-1886), Conservative Member of Parliament.

Author: 
Edward Henry Stanley (1826-1893), 15th Earl of Derby [as Lord Stanley], English Conservative politician
Publication details: 
5 September 1868; Paris.
£56.00

12mo: 2 pp. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Headed 'Private' and addressed to 'My dear Henry'. Describes Lennox (a close friend of Benjamin Disraeli) as 'a sanguine man'. 'If you thought as I do of the result of the "hundred days" between the present time and the trial of strength in Dec. you would hardly care to move.' He has 'heard nothing from Disraeli of his intentions about the Irish office', but if the opportunity arises he will do what he can to help Lennox. In 1866 Stanley had become Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his father's third administration.

Signed Letter ('Onslow') in a secretarial hand to 'Raglan' (George FitzRoy Henry Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan, 1857-1921), on behalf of Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Author: 
William Onslow (1853-1911), 4th Earl of Onslow, British Conservative politician (as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies) [Joseph Chamberlain; Sir Alfred Milner]
Publication details: 
15 March [1901]; on Colonial Office letterhead.
£56.00

4to: 2 pp. Mourning border. Good, though a little grubby with fold lines and tear from spike hole at inner corners. Date, address and signature by Onslow, the rest in a secretarial hand. He received Raglan's letter of 25 February, 'forwarding an application from Mr. Llewllyn Phillips for employment in South Africa'. 'Mr. Chamberlain has hitherto refused to forward applications for employment to the High Commissioner, except in cases where Sir Alfred Milner has specially asked for candidates'.

Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Francis Freeling (1764-1836), Secretary to the Post Office.

Author: 
Rev. R. H. Whitelock [Whitelocke] of Manchester [Sir Francis Freeling; Lavinia Robinson; Suicide]
Publication details: 
[March 1814; Manchester.]
£85.00

Two pages, quarto. On slightly stained, aged paper, with a few closed tears and some wear to extremities. Black wax seal adhering to second leaf of bifolium. Docketed 'March 1814 | Manchester | Revd. R. H. Whitelocke', but the signature appears to read 'Whitelock'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Mitford') to his cousin Margaret.

Author: 
J. Mitford [Walter Horsley (b.1855), illustrator]
Publication details: 
2 June 1885; on embossed Post Office letterhead.
£50.00

Two pages, 12mo. Good. Horsley has 'promised to do the illustration as soon as he possibly can'. Mitford has 'told him the sort of thing which was needed, and he seemed to take it in quite clearly, and I also impressed upon him that the time is short for the completion of the book.' Hopes he will see her at 65 Prince's Square.

Printed Circular ('To Her Majestys Consul') Signed 'Aberdeen'.

Author: 
George Hamilton Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860), Scottish Tory politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1852-55
Publication details: 
Foreign Office, [London]; 30 April 1846.
£60.00

One page, large octavo. Aged and with light staining. Docketed on second leaf of bifolium: 'Requesting Consuls not to receive Copies of books as presents to Her Majesty'.

Handbill headed 'STOLEN POSTAL ORDER FORMS | STOLEN POSTAGE STAMPS NEGOTIATED BY MEANS OF STAMP SAVINGS SLIPS'.

Author: 
E. H. Bourne, Director, Investigation Branch, Personnel Department [THE POST OFFICE; ROYAL MAIL; POSTAL HISTORY]
Publication details: 
[London,] 20 January 1939.
£56.00

Two pages. On both sides of a piece of paper roughly twelve and a quarter inches by eight inches wide. Illustrated on both sides. An unusual piece of Post Office ephemera, and something of a period piece, on aged paper, with fraying to extremities. Begins 'The object of these instructions is to secure the apprehension of men and women who are negotiating stolen postal order forms and stolen penny stamps, the proceeds of thefts from Post Office. [...]'.

Arab News Bulletin.

Author: 
The Arab Office
Publication details: 
A fortnightly publication issued by The Arab Office, 92, Eaton Place, London, S.W.1)', no. 68, 30 July 1948.
£25.00

Four pages, quarto. Unbound. Grubby and creased. 'Editorial' ('Arabs' distrust of UNO', 'Arab conditions for the truce'); 'North Africa' ('Morocco', 'Algeria', 'Tunisia', 'Libya'); 'Holy places damaged by Zionists'; 'Stop press' (beginning 'We learn as we go to press that the Four Power Commission on the former Italian Colonies has decided that Libya is not fit for self-government.')

Printed Receipt, with Manuscript Insertions, Signed by the 2nd Marquess, for rent on two Mayfair properties.

Author: 
Richard Grosvenor (1795-1869), 2nd Marquess of Westminster [Grosvenor Estate Office; Mayfair; Richard Jones]
Publication details: 
Grosvenor Estate Office, 9 Davies Street, Grosvenor Square; 30 March 1849.
£45.00

One page. Roughly nine inches by four. Aged and creased, with one small closed tear and one spike hole (neither affecting text, which is clear and complete). An attractive document, embossed with a government one shilling stamp, and bearing the Westminster coat of arms, supported by two dogs, engraved by Warrington, 27 Strand, in top left-hand corner. Reads (MS additions in square brackets): '[Imp: Hopkinson] | Grosvenor Estate Office, | 9, Davies Street, Grosvenor Square | Received the [March 30th] 184[9] of [Richard Jones Esqr.

Circulars to Surveyors

Author: 
The General Post Office
Publication details: 
1876-1883
£650.00

Disbound, worn and some pages chipped, but text complete, worn leather spine with title "Circulars to Surveyors 1876 [-1883]", first six pages comprise a manuscript index to contents. The contents comprise a presumably comprehensive collection of the circulars sent to "Heads of Departments and Surveyors" of the General Post Office between 1876 and 1883, some folded (some of those with tears but still complete).

Autograph Letter Signed 'To Mr Cooper'.

Author: 
Sir Henry Cole
Publication details: 
19/02/35
£150.00

English civil servant (1808-82), postal reformer, and archivist. Instrumental in the creation of the Victorian and Albert Museum and prominent in organizing the Great Exhibition. Two pages, octavo. Good, but on discoloured, foxed paper. An important letter, showing the chaos out of which the Public Record Office was formed.

Three manuscript orders authorising payments, and three typewritten orders cancelling payments.

Author: 
The Duchy of Cornwall [ MESSRS COUTTS & CO., BANKERS ]
Publication details: 
All dating from 1912.
£250.00

4to and 8vo. Somewhat grubby and creased, but in good condition otherwise. The six items, all addressed to Messrs Coutts & Company, are, in chronological order: ITEM 1, 5 manuscript pages, 4to, headed 'Duchy of Cornwall, | Buckingham Gate, S.W. | 1912.

Autograph Manuscript Signed, giving accounts of three cases in which he was involved: 'Mistaken Identity', 'The Missing Cheque' and 'A Narrow Escape'.

Author: 
Robert William Peacock, under Solicitor to H. M. Post Office [BRITISH POSTAL HISTORY]
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but mid to late nineteenth-century, on twelve leaves of paper all embossed with governmental crest.
£225.00

At the Old Bailey Sessions of 16 May 1833 Peacock stated 'I am brother to the solicitor of the Post-office. I assist him in his business'. Thirty-four pages, quarto. Unbound and crudely stitched. Grubby and with stains to first and last leaves. Apparently unpublished, but with a few pencil emendations. Each item initialed at the end by Peacock. First account begins 'Mrs. Rawlinson, the wife of a Merchant in the City, resided at Brixton in the County of Surry - She had in her employ a Servant Girl named Mary Burton, [...]', and ends 'Mrs.

Typed Letter Signed to Sir Harry Lindsay, Chairman of the Council of thte Royal Society of Arts, together with unsigned carbon copy of letter to which it is replying.

Author: 
Sir David Taylor Monteath [INDIA OFFICE]
Publication details: 
Letter: 11 March 1948, on letterhead of the 'Commonwealth Relations Office, | King Charles Street, | Whitehall, S.W.1.'; carbon copy: 9 March 1948, no place.
£125.00

Monteath (1887-1961) was Under-Secretary of State for India and for Burma, 1941-7. Both items are lightly creased and dusty, but in good condition. CARBON COPY (one page, quarto): Lindsay writes that at the previous day's meeting of the R.S.A.

Printed notice, with manuscript insertions, 'respecting additions to Policies'.

Author: 
W. Feetham Junior [Arthur Morgan; Equitable Assurance Office; Life Insurance]
Publication details: 
EQUITABLE ASSURANCE OFFICE, | NEW BRIDGE STREET, NEAR BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE. | JUNE 15, 1848.'; addressed, with postmarks.
£30.00

One page, quarto. On grey paper. Addressed, with postmarks, on second leaf of bifoliate, which is damaged from breaking of wafer, to 'W. Feetham Junr. Esqr. | 4 Millbank Street | Westminster'. Informs Feetham that policy no. 6026 'has become one of the oldest 5000 Policies in this Office'. The addition brings the £2000 assured up to £2100. Docketed by Feetham 'Equitable Notices respecting additions to Policies'. Postmarked in rd 15 July 184<?>, with another postmark stating 'Chief Office | 1D. PAID'. Signed in type, 'ARTHUR MORGAN, Actuary.'

Autograph Letter Signed to William Haines.

Author: 
John N. Rhodes
Publication details: 
18 October 1838; '2 Maddox St. Bond S London'.
£46.00

English artist (1809-42). One page, quarto, with the second leaf of the bifoliate bearing the address ('To | William Haines Esqr.. | Sol[icito]r. | Cannon Street | Birmingham'), with the remains of a red wax seal, and two postmarks. Discoloured, and with damp stains causing discoloration and damage to the paper, but not affecting the legibility of the text. Small spike hole through both leaves, not affecting text. Having been 'from home yestereday on a painting expidition' he could not acknowledge Haines' letter sooner.

Autograph Letter Signed to Robert Rising.

Author: 
John Preston Neale
Publication details: 
Bennett Street Blackfriars | Sept. 19th. 1828.'
£200.00

Architectural draughtsman (1780-1847). Three pages, quarto. Good, but heavily folded and with some loss to second leaf of bifoliate from breaking of red wax seal, the remains of which still adhere. Addressed, with postmarks, on verso of second leaf of bifoliate 'Robt. Rising Esq | Horsey. | To the Care of Robert Cory Junr Esq | Yarmouth'. Rising, of Horsey Hall, was a Norfolk landowner, and Cory (1776-1840) an antiquary. A long and interesting letter. He regrets that he has been unable to spend 'a few happy hours with you and of doing justice to the Chief Magistrate of that Gt.

Autograph Frank with address to R. Byham.

Author: 
Sir Thomas Nicholas Redington
Publication details: 
Undated, but with dated 6 and 7 December 1846 on postmarks.
£18.00

Irish administrator and Member of Parliament (1815-62). Consists of the front of the envelope, the dimensions of which are roughly five inches by three. Addressed to 'R. Byham Esq. | Ordnance Office | Pall Mall | London', and signed 'Th Redington'. Two postmarks in red ink: the first, in a circle, appears to read 'PAID | NW | 6 DE | 1846'; the second, in a circle topped with a crown, appears to read 'PAID | DE 7 | 1846'.

Three Autograph Letters Signed, Three Typed Letters Signed, to Sir Harry Lindsay and C. Buchanan-Dunlop of the Royal Society of Arts, together with three carbons of replies and a newspaper cutting.

Author: 
William Ernest Frank Ward [GHANA]
Publication details: 
1948-9; Ward's six letters on Colonial Office letterheads.
£45.00

English educationalist (born 1900) and authority on West Africa. Various formats from 12mo to quarto. Very good. Some items stamped or docketed. Mainly relates to a lecture to the Society by Ward, provisionally entitled 'Mass education in the colonies'. Letter of 1 November 1948: 'I am leaving for Beirut in a fortnight to attend the UNESCO conference, and am straining to get the next issue of 'Overseas Education' off to the press before I go.

Eleven Autograph Letters Signed to Sir Henry Trueman Wood (10) and G. K. Menzies (1), Secretaries, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Rev. Peter Hampson Ditchfield
Publication details: 
1915-18; ten on embossed letterheads, 'BARKHAM RECTORY, WOKINGHAM.' and one on letterhead of the British Archaeological Association.
£120.00

English antiquary (1854-1930), writer on topography, history and architecture. All items 12mo, and good, though on slightly discoloured paper. All docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. Regarding the Society's business, and in particular a lecture given at Wood's invitation. 1 March 1916: 'Sir Sidney Lee, whom I know, slightly[,] would be an admirable chairman - quite the best. Failing him I think Sir Henry Howarth, who is a friend of mine, would be excellent. If he cannot come - Lady Howarth has been very ill lately - Mr.

Typed Letter Signed to 'Miss J. Scott Rogers, | Acting Secretary, | Royal Society of Arts'.

Author: 
Julian Mockford [SOUTH AFRICA]
Publication details: 
11 September 1943; on letterhead of the 'OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA, | Trafalgar Square, | LONDON, W.C.2.'
£28.00

South African author and journalist (1898-1950), Public Relations Officer at the South African High Commission. One page, octavo. Very good if somewhat grubby. Docketed and stamped. 'Herewith the translation by a colleague, as asked for in your letter dated September 9. I hope "Here are South Africans" does not bore you too much!'

Two Typed Letters Signed to [G. K.] Menzies[, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Clyde Young
Publication details: 
21 November 1934 and 21 June 1935, both on letterhead '6, NEW SQUARE, | LINCOLN'S INN, W.C.2.'
£56.00

British architect (born circa 1872), the son of Sir William Young (1843-1900), whose most important commission, the War Office, Whitehall (1900-1906) he completed. Both items one page, octavo, and very good, though on slightly discoloured and creased paper, one piece bearing pin holes and the other paperclip marks. Both items docketed and one bearing the Society's stamp. ITEM ONE: 'You will be interested to see the enclosed copy of Lord Iveagh's reply.

Unsigned Colonial Office duplicate copy of typed surrender between the British Trusts Association Limited, the Magadi Soda Company Limited, and His Most Gracious Majesty King George the Fifth.

Author: 
[KENYA COLONY AND PROTECTORATE]
Publication details: 
20/03/28
£25.00

Folio bifoliate. 3 pages. In good condition, though somewhat grubby and with minor loss to one corner and some fraying to extremities. Supplemental document (to indenture of 16 May 1919) by which the Magadi Soda Company surrenders to the Crown the hereditaments and premises comprised in a lease to land at Kilindini on the Island of Mombasa in the Mombasa District of the Seyidie Province of the East Africa Protectorate. Neat Colonial Office accession stamp at foot of recto of first leaf, with 'DUPLICATE' stamped at head of same leaf.

Autograph Letter Signed, 4pp., 4to, to A. Winburne

Author: 
J.N. Dancer
Publication details: 
01/08/09
£250.00

The Examiners' Office in early C19th England. Winburne has made suggestions for improving the Examiners' Office. Dancer replies with a review of the nature and problems of the Office, the nature of witnesses (unclean, diseased), the place of interview (a prison room, etc.). Dancer describes the onerous nature of the examiner's job, the need for experience, and finally refers to the "most eligible plan" which is in minutes supplied to Winburne.

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mayhew'.

Author: 
Sir Stephen George Tallents
Publication details: 
14 July 1935; on embossed Post Office ('ST. MARTIN'S LE GRAND, | LONDON, E.C.1.') letterhead, deleted and replaced by '<Sutton-at-Hove | Dartlow?>.
£38.00

British civil servant (1884-1958), controller of public relations at the BBC from 1935 to 1940. Two pages, 4to. Very good, but with minor traces of tape adhering to two edges. Marked 'Private & Personal'. He thanks his correspondent for writing so fully and heartily sympathizes. 'Practically, I am not at all clear what the issue of the delay will be so far as I, and so far as Ryan, are concerned. The B.B.C. job [...] has been announced sooner than was intended & has not lightened my day's work.

Autograph Letter Signed to Count D'Antraigues.

Author: 
Culling Charles Smith
Publication details: 
Foreign Office | Novr. 12. 1811.'
£45.00

Commissioner of Customs (circa 1775-1853), husband of Lady Anne Wellesley. The recipient is Emmanuel-Louis-Henri de Launay, Comte d'Antraigues (1753-1812). Two pages, 12mo. Folded twice. Somewhat grubby and discoloured with age, but in good condition overall. He was directed by the Marquess Wellesley to request that the Count call on him that day, in order to 'satisfy the object of your recent communications'.

Autograph Letter Signed to E. J. Wheatley.

Author: 
Henry R. Potter [David Love, the Nottingham poet]
Publication details: 
Wymeswold Sat[urda]y AM.'
£50.00

Possibly the Henry R. Potter, of the Office of Works, who corresponded with Gladstone in 1885 and 1894. 4 pages, 16mo. In good condition: neatly folded twice, with traces of stub along one edge of verso of second leaf of bifoliate. Apologises for 'the numerous omissions of which I have been guilty' in his lecture. His only excuse is that he 'submitted the lists to two or three persons resident in Nott[ingha]m and consequently, as I concluded, conversant with its "Notables" '.

Fascicle from the facsimile photozincographed by Her Majesty Queen Victoria's command.

Author: 
Domesday Book: commencement of Surrey
Publication details: 
No title, but the whole published by the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton, Colonel Sir Henry James, director, 1861-3.
£95.00

Folio. Unbound and in original plain brown wraps. Thirteen plates, each with tissue guard. Foliated 30 recto to 36 verso. Plates clean with very minor spotting, but wraps stained, frayed and dogeared, with head and foot of spine creased and torn. Nevertheless an interesting survival in its original state of part of an important example of Victorian official publishing.

Signed Frank.

Author: 
William Huskisson
Publication details: 
31 August 1829; Kendal.
£45.00

English politician (1770-1830). 1 page. Dimensions approximately 3 inches by 5 inches. Front of envelope, mounted on piece of card. Discoloured by glue and age. Reads 'Kendal, thirty first August | 1829 | T. Lack Esqr. | &c &c &c | Board of Trade | London | W. Huskison'. Two oblong postmarks: one, in red, 'Kendal | Py Post'; the other, in black, 'TO PAY <?>'. Docketed 'Huskisson' in top left-hand corner.

Autograph Note Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Edward John Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley and 1st Baron Eddisbury of Winnington
Publication details: 
12 May 1849; F[oreign]. O[ffice]., [Whitehall].
£45.00

English whig politician (1802-69). 1 page, 12mo. Not in good condition: ruckled, discoloured, with one closed tear and with the remains of brown card mount adhering to the reverse. Magnificently curt. 'Sir | I beg to return your letter and remain | Yr Obednt. Servt | E J Stanley | To prevent any mistake however I may inform you that I have changed my name and am now | Yr Obt Sert | Eddisbury'.

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