REGENCY

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Printed reward poster in English and Italian, headed 'Minute by His Honor the Lieutenant Governor' and 'Notificazione di Sua Signoria l'Onorabile Luogot. Govern.', by Richard Plasket, regarding a murderous assault on Giuseppe Pace of Casal Luca.

Author: 
Sir Richard Plasket, Chief Secretary to the Government, Palace, Valletta [Giuseppe Pace of Casal Luca, Malta]
Publication details: 
'Palace, Valletta [Malta], 30th October, 1823.'
£120.00

On one side of a 43 x 31.5 cm piece of laid paper, with 'JL GRAN | MASSO' watermark. On stained paper with slight wear along head and slight pitting affecting a few words of text. An attractive official communication, in two columns (English on left and Italian on right) beneath the British royal crest. Begins: 'WHEREAS it has been represented to HIS HONOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, that, Giuseppe Pace, of Casal Luca, having, about half-past eight o'Clock, on the evening of the Twenty-eighth instant, repaired to certain premises belonging to his family, situate in Strada St.

Autograph Letter Signed ('C: Philpot') from Charles Philpot, rector of Ripple, offering to publishers [Cadell & Davies] 'a MS volume intitled "An Introduction to the literary history of the fourteenth & fifteenth centuries"'.

Author: 
Charles Philpot (1760-1823), rector of Ripple, near Deal, Kent [Thomas Cadell (1773-1836) & William Davies, London publishers]
Publication details: 
Ripple near Deal [Kent]. 20 March 1798.
£135.00

2pp., 8vo. 39 lines of text. On aged and lightly-stained paper, with one chipped edge. Unobtrusively repaired with archival tape. Addressed 'Gentlemen', the letter begins 'Pardon me for recommending to your notice a MS volume intitled "An Introduction to the literary history of the fourteenth & fifteenth centuries", which will this day be forwarded to you by the Deal & Canterbury Coach. In taking such a liberty I have no excuse to offer but wha is supplied by your high reputation & extensive concern in every department of literature'.

[Printed card.] Inspection Exercise for the Brigade of Bucks Yeomen Cavalry.

Author: 
[John Seeley, printer, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire; Bucks Yeomen Cavalry; Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry]
Publication details: 
'(Seeley, Printer, Buckingham.)' [John Seeley, Buckinghamshire; circa 1825.]
£75.00

On both sides of a piece of 11.5 x 7.5 cm card, with rounded edges, and with the reverse paginated '(2)'. A nice piece of provincial printing, in very good condition, lightly-aged. The first page headed: 'INSPECTION EXERCISE | FOR THE BRIGADE OF | BUCKS YEOMEN CAVALRY.' , and with the slug '(Seeley, Printer, Buckingham.)' at the foot. The first page carries 23 lines of commands, from 'MARCH past by half Squadrons.' to 'Wheel on Centre of Squadron, by the Right.' The reverse carries 25 lines of commands, from 'ADVANCE, File from right of threes. Front form.' to 'General Salute.

Printed card of Richard Tuckey, Wine & Spirit Merchant, High Street, Fareham, advertising 'Wines' and 'Genuine Spirits'.

Author: 
[Richard Tuckey, Wine & Spirit Merchant, High Street, Fareham] [fine wines]
Publication details: 
[Richard Tuckey, Wine & Spirit Merchant, High Street, Fareham.] Undated [1820s].
£56.00

An attractive example of provincial printing, in letterpress on one side of piece of 9 x 6 cm card. Headed: 'RICHARD TUCKEY, | WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT, | High Street, | FAREHAM.' Giving prices in shillings and pence for four Wines (Fine old Port; Sherry; Maderia [sic]; White Cape) and six 'Genuine Spirits' (Cognac, Fine old; Jamaica Rum, old and soft; English Geneva; Hollands ditto. pure white; Porter; Cyder). Printed in roman, with four words in black letter ('FAREHAM', 'Wines' and 'Genuine Spirits') and two words in italic ('High Street,').

Four engraved caricatures on a single sheet, published by the Regency publisher and printseller Thomas McLean, whose London shop was next to the Haymarket Theatre, and possibly depicting theatrical characters.

Author: 
Thomas McLean (1788-1875), publisher and printseller, 26 Haymarket (next door to the Haymarket Theatre), established 1811
Publication details: 
London: Thomas McLean, 26 Haymarket. 1824
£180.00

The sheet is 38 x 27.5cm; and the dimensions of the plate are34 x 25cm. At foot of plate: 'London, Published by Thos. Mc.Lean, 26 Haymarket, 1824.' The engravings, each 11 x 8cm., are arranged in two rows of two. In good condition, lightly-aged and with a torn pin hole at head, presumably where the print was torn from its string. Moving clockwise from top left, the prints are as follows.

Autograph Letter Signed by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell, author of 'Gertrude of Wyoming', writing in memorable style on presenting a book to an American visitor about to return home.

Author: 
Thomas Campbell (1777-1844), Scottish Romantic poet, author of 'The Pleasures of Hope' and 'Gertrude of Wyoming'
Publication details: 
61 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. 16 July 1840.
£180.00

2pp., 4to. An excellent letter, stylish and charming, and a lucky survival. In poor condition, apparently as a result of fire damage: with wear and chipping repaired with archival tape.

[Printed parliamentary paper.] An Act for Inclosing Land in the Parish of South Moreton, in the County of Berks. [Royal Assent, 8 May 1818.] 58 Geo. III. Sess. 1818.

Author: 
[The South Moreton Inclosure Act 1818; John Sadgrove; Rev. William James; George Barnes of Andover; Joseph Lousley of Blewbury; Henry Dixon; the University of Oxford; English enclosure of common land]
Publication details: 
'Ley & Jones, House of Commons.' 1818.
£120.00

35 + [1] pp., 8vo. Stitched and unbound. Well printed, on good laid paper, watermarked 'IPING | 1813'. In fair condition, on aged paper and lightly-discoloured paper, and folded into a packet, showing the title on the reverse of the last leaf as quoted above. The drophead title reads: Sess. 1818 - 58 Geo. III. | An Act for Inclosing Lands in the Parish of South Moreton, in the County of Berks.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Astley Cooper') from the surgeon and anatomist Sir Astley Paston Cooper accusing Thomas Penrice of Great Yarmouth of being an 'Odd Fish'.

Author: 
Sir Astley Cooper [Sir Astley Paston Cooper], 1st Baronet (1768-1841), English surgeon, President of the Royal College of Surgeons [Thomas Penrice of Great Yarmouth, Surgeon to the Norfolk Militia]
Publication details: 
Without place or date [postmarked February 1824].
£56.00

1p., 4to. Fifteen lines. On aged paper and worn paper with loss to text, laid down on piece of card. Addressed to 'Mr Penrice | Gt Yarmouth'.

[Printed broadside ballad on the misfortunes of Caroline of Brunswick, wife of the Prince Regent (later King George IV), and addressed to his father King George III.] Caroline's Lamentation | A New Ballad | To the Tune of Hosier's Ghost.'

Author: 
[Caroline of Brunswick (1768-1821), Queen Consort of King George IV [Prince Regent] of the United Kingdom [Trial of Queen Caroline, 1820]; Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey; Sir William Hamilton]
Publication details: 
No place or date. [London, c.1818?]
£240.00

1p., on 29 x 7 cm piece of unwatermarked laid paper (probably cut down), with no indication of printer or date. Printed with the long s. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. 64 lines, arranged in eight eight-line stanzas. The first stanza reads: 'BRITAIN! brave and generous nation, | Listen to my plaintive strain, | Tho' exalted be my station! | Day and night I sigh in pain; | Here I came a helpless stranger, | With no friend to take my part, | Braved the stormy ocean's danger, | From home for ever to depart.' She appeals to her 'Good Uncle' (i.e.

Autograph Letter Signed ('R. K.') from the comic actor Robert Keeley to 'Mr Lee' at the Olympic Theatre, London, requesting payment of his salary (as he is 'entirely without money') and asking for a note to be sent to the manager R. W. Elliston.

Author: 
Robert Keeley (1793-1869), English comic actor [Robert William Elliston (1774-1831), theatre manager; the Olympic Theatre, London]
Publication details: 
[London.] 'Tuesday Morng' [1818 or 1819].
£38.00

2pp., 16mo. Bifolium, with the reverse of the second leaf addressed to 'Mr Lee | Olympic Theatre'. Fair, on aged paper, with minor damage to second leaf on removal from album. The letter begins: 'R. Keeley's Compts to Mr Lee, will thank him to send his Salary per Bearer - R. K. is entirely without money and will thank Mr Lee to present the accompanying note to Mr Elliston's notice'. He asks Lee to oblige him 'with the date of the 2d. Week of the Leicester Season when I first resume my Sal -'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Mitchell') from the classical scholar Thomas Mitchell to an unnamed editor ('My dear friend'), discussing his work translating Demosthenes.

Author: 
Thomas Mitchell (1783-1845), English classical scholar, who produced a number of editions of Greek authors for the Clarendon Press, Oxford University
Publication details: 
Ramsdon [sic]. 24 January 1822.
£150.00

2pp., 12mo. In a windowpane mount on a leaf removed from an album. The letter itself very good, on aged paper; the mount worn at extremities. He begins by informing the recipient that his 'last Letter has made ample atonement for the provocation of the preceding', and he has 'ever been the foremost, both in word & deed, to keep my wings in motion. I speak this seriously: my former note was only a temporary petulance'. The second paragraph begins: 'I must positively have another Paper for my Orators'. He has 'run to a fearful length, & yet have cramped myself all the way.

Autograph Note in the third person from Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, to 'Mr Blair', regarding a pass to the 'House of Peers' [House of Lords] and a 'Pamphlet on the Corn Laws'.

Author: 
Richard Plantagenet Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville (1797-1861), 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos
Publication details: 
17 May [without year, but on paper watermarked 1839].
£38.00

1p., 12mo. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with a creased corner. The note reads: 'The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos incloses [sic] an order for Mr Blair to the House of Peers for to-day, & begs to acknowledge the receipt of the Pamphlet on the Corn Laws. | 17th May'. The paper is watermarked '<...>YNSON | 1839'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('W. Trollope') from Rev. William Trollope, classics master at Christ's Hospital, offering the London publishers Cadell & Davies his 'Analecta Theologica'. Together with the a statement of account by Cadell & Davies.

Author: 
Rev. William Trollope (1798-1863), MA, Pembroke College, Cambridge, one of the masters of Christ's Hospital [Cadell & Davies, London publishers; Thomas Cadell (1773-1836); William Davies]
Publication details: 
Trollope's letter: Christs Hospital. 12 September 1827. The statement of account at 28 December 1829 (volume 1) and August 1835 (volume 2).
£166.00

Trollope's letter: 3pp., 12mo. 48 lines. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper. Addressed, with postmarks, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Messrs. Cadell & Co. | Booksellers | Strand.' Trollope begins by announcing that he has 'a work nearly ready for the Press, wh. may probably be worth your attention [...] It is designed as companion to Mr Horne's work on the Scriptures, of wh. as you are the publishers, you may perhaps have no objection to engage in another, wh.

Autograph Letter Signed from the Baptist Minister and essayist John Foster, to his unnamed London bookseller (J. Cox or James Nisbet, both of Berners Street?), discussing arrangements on the bookseller's retirement.

Author: 
John Foster (1770-1843), Yorkshire-born Baptist minister and essayist
Publication details: 
Stapleton, Gloucestershire. 26 January 1823.
£120.00

2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. 43 closely-written lines. An interesting letter, in which Foster closes 'a long and amicable communication' with the bookseller, the reason being given in the following passage: 'I am sorry for what you intimated, that your more recent undertakings have not been so advantageous as you had expected. From your hint of the possibility of a continued residence at Hastings I may conclude that you withdraw from business (that of books at least) altogether.

Autograph Letter Signed "Saml Romilly" to unnamed correspondent [Hans Francis Hastings. See note below, re. claim to peerage].

Author: 
Sir Samuel Romilly, law reformer and advocate (1757-1818).
Publication details: 
Tanhurst nr Dorking, 5 Oct. 1817.
£225.00

Three pages, 12mo. Good only: some staining but text clear and complete. He's been away and so has only just received his correspondent's letter. He continues: "It is impossible for me to give you any information as to the probable amount of the Expence of presenting your claim to the Earldom of Huntingdon before the House of Lords. As however the pedigree is a very long one & the attendance of many witnesses with the original parish Registers will be necessary I apprehend that it must be very considerable.

Autograph Letter, in the third person, from Sir John Hobhouse [later John Cam Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton], requesting tickets for an exhibition at the British Institution.

Author: 
John Cam Hobhouse [Sir John Hobhouse] (1786-1869), 1st Baron Broughton, Whig politician and best friend of Lord Byron
Publication details: 
Berkeley Square [London]. 26 June 1843.
£45.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium on mourning paper. In good condition, lightly-aged. Reads: 'Sir John Hobhouse presents his compliments and would be very much obliged to the Secretary of the British Institution to send him two tickets for the exhibition of this evening.'

Printed handbill by Thomas Gibbons & Co, Bishopsgate St, headed '(Important) Accommodation', offering 'good Mercantile Bills of Exchange' for 'needy Manufacturers and Tradesmen', with manuscript letter to James Baldwin, Birmingham copperplate printer

Author: 
Thomas Gibbons & Co., 6 Great St Helens, Bishopsgate St, City of London, 'General Merchants, Agents, and Factors' [James Baldwin, copperplate printer, Birmingham and Sheffield; Freemasonry; Masonic]
Publication details: 
Addressed in manuscript from 6 Great St Helens, Bishopsgate St [City of London]. 8 October 1831.
£220.00

2pp., 4to. Printed in small type, with manuscript additions on both sides of the first leaf; addressed on the recto of the second leaf, with broken red wax seal: 'P. P. 9d | Mr Baldwin | Copper plate printer & | Birmingham | Sheffield | Oct 8th.' Great St Helens was a centre for firms concerned with bankruptcy and liquidation, and this interesting document offers banking services for 'needy Manufacturers and Tradesmen', with a use of Masonic imagery which is designed to reassure.

[Poetical handbill, with handcoloured engraving.] Some Push Along With Four In Hand, While Others Drive At Random. Written by J. Pocock, Esq.; composed by Mr. C. SMITH; and sung, [...] by Mr. MATHEWS, [...] at the Lyceum Theatre, Strand.

Author: 
[Isaac Pocock (1783-1835), dramatist and artist; Charles Smith, singer and composer; Charles Mathews (1776-1835), actor-manager; Lyceum Theatre, Strand; London Stage; Regency buck; dandy]
Publication details: 
'Published 4th. April, 1810, by LAURIE & WHITTLE, No. 53, Fleet Street, London.'
£235.00

Printed on one side of a piece of laid paper 28 x 23.5 cm. The hand-coloured engraving (showing Mathews in riding garb with long whip in foreground, and a coach and four in the background) is 16 x 22.5 cm. Fair, on aged paper, with wear and slight loss to extremities (not affecting the engraving or text), and the reverse showing signs of removal from an album. Above the engraving are the words 'BANG UP - RANDOM, OR TANDEM.' and beneath are the publication details, followed by the full title: Some Push Along With Four In Hand, While Others Drive At Random. Written by J.

Two hand-coloured lithographic issues of Charles Jameson Grant's 'Every Body's Album & Caricature Magazine' (nos. 6 and 16), including caricatures on 'The Trades Unions. A General Strike.'

Author: 
[Charles Jameson Grant (fl.1830-1852), English caricaturist [John Kendrick, of Sidney-alley, and of No. 54, Leicester- square, printseller]
Publication details: 
London: Published by J. Kendrick, 54 Leicester Square. No. 6, 15 March 1834. No. 16, 15 August 1834.
£180.00

Grant's work has been undergoing a reappraisal of late. According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, 'Every Body's Album' forms a 'substantial body of work, using the tonal qualities of lithography in an extremely subtle manner, and constituting some of his finest work in the medium. The series often made use of a thematic, though not narrative, unity to picture a world in the grip of folly and distraction and can be read on more than one level—as harmless fun, meaningless nonsense, or social critique.' No.

[Children's book by Darton and Harvey] The Voyages and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: who was Shipwrecked on the Coast of America, and cast ashore on an uninhabited Island, where he resided twenty-eight years. Written by himself.

Author: 
[Daniel Defoe; Darton and Harvey, London children's booksellers and publishers; Joseph Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn Lane]
Publication details: 
London: Printed for Darton and Harvey, Gracechurch-street. 1837. [London: Joseph Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn-lane.]
£250.00

45 + [ii] pp. Frontispiece. Two pages of advertisements of the firm's books at end. In original pink printed boards with further advertisements for the firm on back. Lightly-aged in worn boards with wear to spine. Scarce: no copy of this 1837 Darton & Harvey edition on COPAC, which lists only four copies by them alone: one from 1831 (NLS), two from 1834 (TCD and Bodleian), and one from 1838 (V&A). This title does not feature in Linda David's catalogue of the 1992 Lilly Library exhibition of 'Children's books published by William Darton and his sons'.

Collection of early nineteenth-century red and black wax seals, mostly displayed on leaves of vellum paper, and presented in a wooden box, said to have been collected by Mary Ann Levin Smith, mother of Sir Archibald Levin Smith, Master of the Rolls.

Author: 
[Mary Ann Lee, daughter of Zadik Levin, wife of Francis Smith (1806-1872) of Salt Hill, JP, and mother of Sir Archibald Levin Smith (1836-1901), judge, Master of the Rolls, 1900-1901; sigillography]
Publication details: 
Apparently dating from the first half of the nineteenth century.
£450.00

The collection of 307 seals is in fair condition, with only a handful showing signs of loss. As with bookplates, the designs range from armorial to classical. Among the few carrying English texts, are the seal of the 'ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE ROYAL ARTILLERY D', the great seal of the Borough of Marlborough ('SIGILLUM MAJORIS BURGI DE MARLEBERG'), the seal of the 'ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE', the 'OFFICE FOR TAXES', the 'YEOMANRY OFFICE', and 'THE PATRON OF EDUCATION AND THE FRIEND OF THE POOR'. In original boxwood box, approximately 26 x 18 x 6 cm, worn and aged with lock but no key.

Initialled corrected Autograph Copy by George Colman the Younger for his brother-in-law David Morris, of a letter [to S. J. Arnold?], written during Colman's chancery dispute with Morris, his business partner at the Haymarket Theatre, London.

Author: 
George Colman the Younger (1762-1836), English dramatist, joint-manager of the Haymarket Theatre, London, with Thomas Harris
Publication details: 
'7 March 1815 | Melina Place Westr Road'.
£180.00

1p., 4to. 31 lines. Fair, on aged paper. On paper with watermarked date of 1814. Initialled 'G. C.'; with the words 'Copy to Morris' in the top left-hand corner. Docketed on reverse 'Copy to Morris March 1815'. Colman writes that is is now his intention, 'as it ever has been, to use every effort in my power for the interest of the Theatre, by carrying on the business in the best manner that the continual obstacles opposed to my plans will permit'. He states that he is 'in treaty with various Performers for the approaching Summer'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Charles A. Elton') from Sir Charles Abraham Elton, to John Taylor, editor of the 'London Magazine', submitting a contribution on 'Homer's Battle of the Frogs and Mice' and discussing his own and other contributions.

Author: 
Sir Charles A. Elton [Sir Charles Abraham Elton; Sir C. A. Elton] (1778-1853), English army officer, author and translator [John Taylor (1781-1864), publisher and editor of the 'London Magazine']
Publication details: 
'Clifton [Bristol]. [August?] 16th.' [1821].
£180.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by Elton, on reverse of second leaf, to 'John Taylor Esq.' (Taylor had assumed the editorship of the London Magazine on the death by duel of John Scott in February 1821.) Elton begins by informing Taylor that he has 'not been able yet to manage the Batrachomyomachia to my mind'. (Elton's translation of 'The Battle of the Frogs and Mice' would appear anonymously in the issue of October 1821, as the second of a series named 'Leisure Hours'.) He has instead 'sent some chit-chat to serve as an introduction'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('D Egerton') from the actor-manager Daniel Egerton to Pierce Egan, suggesting, on behalf of the managers of Sadler's Wells Theatre, that he write a farce continuation of 'Tom and Jerry', with a 'good part' for Robert Keeley.

Author: 
Daniel Egerton (1772-1835), English actor-manager of Sadler's Wells [Pierce Egan (1772-1849), author of 'Tom and Jerry'; Robert Keeley (1793-1869), actor-manager; John Fawcett (1768-1837), actor]
Publication details: 
Sadler's Wells; 27 June 1822.
£80.00

1p., small 4to. Very good: trimmed and neatly laid down on backing. Egerton has had 'some communication with our Managers', and if Egan will 'write a Farce, with a good part for Keeley, in his way, perhaps some sort of continuation of Jerry', he knows it will 'be accepted, & put into training'. He asks to hear from Egan by return, as he wishes to see the managers on the subject 'previous to Mr. Fawcetts leaving Town on Tuesday next, or the matter must rest three months'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Spencer') from George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer to an unnamed recipient [his agent?], requesting him to engage 'Mrs. Hope's house' and 'the stables at Mr. Wrights'.

Author: 
George John Spencer (1758-1834), 2nd Earl Spencer [Thomas Hope (1769-1831), connoisseur, and Hon. Louisa Hope (d.1851), his wife]
Publication details: 
'Spencer House Saturday [no date]'.
£38.00

1p., 12mo. On aged and lightly-spotted paper. Reads: 'My dear Sir, | Mrs. Hope's house will do & I shall be obliged to you to engage it for me, from the Saturday before the show for a week & the stables at Mr. Wrights also. | Yours most truly, | [signed] Spencer'. Mrs Hope is probably the Hon. Louisa Hope (d.1851), wife or widow of the connoisseur Thomas Hope (1769-1831), and one of the wealthiest women of England. If this is the case the letter was written before her second marriage in 1832 to her cousin Viscount Beresford.

Autograph Letter Signed ('G. Colman') from the playwright George Colman the Younger, defending his imposition of a financial penalty on the recipient [apparently an actress] for non-attendance [at a performance at the Haymarket Theatre].

Author: 
George Colman the younger (1762-1836), playwright and manager of the Haymarket Theatre, London [James Winston (1773?-1843), acting manager at the Haymarket Theatre]
Publication details: 
Melina Place, London; 21 July 1814.
£80.00

1p., 4to. On aged and grubby paper. The letter provides an interesting insight into the niceties of Regency theatrical practice. Colman peremptorily addresses it to 'Madam', before expressing his displeasure and defending his imposition of a penalty, as a result of the non-attendance of the recipient (apparently an actress) at a performance at the Haymarket.

Autograph Letter Signed ('N: Wm. Wraxall:') from the diarist and politician Sir Nathaniel William Wraxall congratulating Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville 'on the Event of the late Business [i.e. impeachment] in Westminster Hall'.

Author: 
Sir Nathaniel William Wraxall (1751-1831), diarist, politician and traveller [Henry Dundas (1742-1811), 1st Viscount Melville; Sir John Macpherson (c.1745-1821), Governor-General of Bengal]
Publication details: 
'Brompton. (Sir John Macpherson's) | Monday. 30th. June, 1806.'
£125.00

2pp., 4to. Bifolium. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with one minor damp stain. Dundas was the last ever British minister to be impeached. He was acquitted of corruption charges on 12 June 1806.

Autograph Letter Signed ('R. W. Elliston') from the actor Robert William Elliston to his uncle Rev. Dr William Elliston, Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, describing his plans to buy the Royal Circus, rebuilt by him as the Surrey Theatre.

Author: 
Robert William Elliston (1774-1831), actor and theatre manager [Rev. Dr William Elliston (1732-1807), Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; William Henry West Betty (1791-1874), actor]
Publication details: 
[London]; 15 December 1804.
£280.00

3pp., 4to. Bifolium, addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf, to 'Revd Dr Elliston | Sidney College | Cambridge'. Fair, on aged and worn paper. An interesting, informative letter, written to one of the two uncles who had acted as Elliston's childhood guardians. At the time of writing, Elliston, having thrived at the Theatre Royal, Bath, had moved to London, replacing Kemble on 20 September 1804 as leading actor at Drury Lane. The present letter shows Elliston's plans to branch out into management.

Autograph Letter Signed from the author and wit Sydney Smith to Colonel Bagot.

Author: 
Sydney Smith (1771-1845), author and wit
Publication details: 
[London]; 12 May 1842.
£75.00

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse, which carries traces of the wafer, to 'Colonel Bagot | Davies Street | Berkley [sic] Square | 34'. A short letter with a good, emphatic signature: 'My dear Sr. | I am very sorry you have so good a plea for absence - only remember on some future occasion that I shall not ask your Company as a favor but insist upon it as a right | ever yours | [signed] Sydney Smith | May. 12. 1842'. Perhaps concerning the same breakfast on 14 May 1842 to which Smith invited Georgiana Harcourt on 10 May 1842 (Letters, ed. N. C. Smith, vol.2, p.756).

Autograph Letter Signed ('T. Campbell') from Thomas Campbell, editor of the New Monthly Magazine, to fellow Scottish poet Allan Cunningham, introducing his 'Cousin and friend Mr Gray of Glasgow'.

Author: 
Thomas Campbell (1777-1844), Scottish poet and editor of the New Monthly Magazine [Allan Cunningham (1784-1842), Scottish poet and author]
Publication details: 
10 Seymour Street West, London; 3 September [no year].
£65.00

1p., 12mo. Fair, on aged paper, wtih two small unobtrusive closed holes to the paper. Placed in narrow paper windowpane border. The letter reads 'My dear Cunningham | This will be delivered to you by my Cousin & friend Mr Gray of Glasgow - He is ambitious of paying his respects to you - I need say no more - I am sure that you will soon be good acquaintances - With the greatest regard | Believe me | Yours truly | [signed] T. Campbell'.

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