VICTORIAN

2pp., 12mo. He writes with aristocratic hauteur: 'Sir. | I shall return to London on or before the 20th & I shall be ready to meet the other members of the Site Committee any day after that date & It is quite indifferent to me whether we meet at the Society of Arts or in Pall Mall | Truly yrs | W Cowper'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper, with traces of mount on blank reverse of second leaf. The letter begins: 'My dear Edward Draper | In the name of "The Trombone" I solicit your advice & aid in the following matter. | Twelve or thirteen years ago a London bootmaking firm, hight Noguez & Wasselin, did work for me or my wife (I disremember which) to the tune of three pounds odd shillings. | I have no doubt that I paid for what I had - and having been my unbroken custom ever sincce I became a legally responsible person.

Printed on both sides of a piece of wove paper, 30.5 x 22.5. Text clear and complete, on aged paper with slight wear and a few short closed tears to extremities. The reverse consists of a list of prices for seven types of wine ('Selected from W & A Gilbey's List of 183 varieties.') and six types of spirit ('Selected from W & A Gilbey's List of 72 varieties.'). On the front, beneath the firm's heading (with tiny illustration of the 'Pantheon A.D. 1722') and Mead's details, are the five 'views', ranging in size from 4.5 x 18 cm to 4.5 x 5.6 cm.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Writing to an unnamed correspondent, he asks to be sent ('Raby Castle | Darlington') 'a copy of the D of Argyll's speech in Septr. last, & of his speech upon the Cretan insurrection in 1867'. He is enclosing '19s in stamps'.

Both letters 2pp., 12mo, and both in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The two items glued together along one edge. Letter One (3 February 1863): He is enclosing an account of her 'chiffres' from his colleague at the British Museum Vaux, and hopes they 'will be what you want'. He asks for more information regarding 'the drawings', and condoles with her on her husband's ill health: 'This has been a very unhealthy season.' Letter Two (19 December): Regarding his wife having the measles, which makes it impossible for them to accept her invitation.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He has heard that King is 'to preside at the dinner tomorrow' and so is writing to him 'what I wrote to Smith that I am very sorry I can not "support the Chair", as I had a previous inviitation - our friends gave me this time only a few day's notice'. In any case, he has 'such a miserable cold' and is 'so incapable' that he will be 'no loss to your party'. It is with difficulty that he has 'got through my numerous mail duties'.

1p., 12mo. In poor condition, aged and worn, with rust marks to margin and corners. 'My dear Sir | If you could conveniently look in upon me tomorrow (Wednesday) about 2 OC'K I should be glad to have some talk with you'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper. Addressed to 'Walter F. Stocks Esq'. He begins by pointing out that his daughter is not to blame for the late reply: 'it is my own fault my correspondence being somewhat in arrears'.

[3] + [80] + [1]pp. The eighty pages of the article paginated 283-362, and with the last twenty-four pages (339-362) containing the illustrations. In brown printed wraps. Very good, on lightly-aged paper, in worn and creased wraps. An attractive production, with presentation inscription ('no 94') to the publisher George Bentley, signed 'RB' and dated 7 June 1886. This offprint is uncommon: no copy at the British Library, and only six copies listed on OCLC WorldCat, only two of which in the United States.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of glue from mount on the blank reverse. Reads: 'The Secretary presents his compliments to Miss Kerr and begs leave to inform her the Composition fee of £35 has been duly paid to Drummond & Co'.

4pp., folio. In good condition, on lightly worn and aged high-acidity newspaper stock. Printed around the masthead are the names of the various locations: Biarritz, Saint-Jean-De-Luz. Guéthary, Hendaye, Cambo & Dax.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper, with a couple of short closed tears along creases. The body of the letter, written on 9 October 1897, reads: 'Dear Sir, | I have published only one small volume of verse which has long been out of print ['The Prophecy of Merlin and other Poems', published in 1870]. I will see if from some friend I can borrow a copy to send you. | I have written some occasional and other verse besides that of the little book, but for some years have done little expect writing for the press.' In a postscript of 18 October 1897, signed 'J.

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Strachey has written 'Mrs. Shorter' in the bottom left-hand corner, but the note is addressed to 'Dear Sir', and corrected by him to 'Madam'. It reads: 'I enclose with many thanks cheque [sic] for your contributions during the past month'.

The six items are all in good condition, with light age and wear. Each letter is docketted. Items One to Five below are by John Baptist Cashel Hoey, and Item Six is by his wife. An intimate, affectionate and entertaining correspondence, the background to which is given at the end of this entry. ONE: Signed 'Cashel'. From Campden Hill Road, on cancelled letterhead of 8 Victoria Chambers; 9 April 1887. 2pp., 8vo. The letter is on the first page, and begins: 'I told you last night I knew you had stolen that line, of course unconsciously.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. He begins: 'You would see that we found room for an extract from the Camden Society report in last week's Chronicle'. He asks Nichol to 'find space for the enclosed letter in the Gentleman's Magazine'. He is 'acquainted with the pedigree in question', but does not think that 'Sir Bernard Burke's statements are in all cases to bee relied upon'. The letter continues: 'I do not know whether you are in Mr Potter's secrets.

On both sides of the 11 x 9 cm card. Very good, with light signs of age. He feels he must thank him for 'two numbers of the North American Review, both containing interesting articles'. despite 'their anti English spirit'. He was glad to read 'Bryce's article' to which he feels 'some injustice has been done'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In frail state, on aged paper with chipping and closed tears, and loss at the head of both leaves. The letter is addressed to 'John Trotter Esq | The Bush | near Edinburgh' and begins: 'My dear Trotter, | My better Half having expressed our delight at being again as it were, in possession of our old friend Bush, in the very admirable representation which has, thro' your kindness just reached us, I have only to echo her acknowledgment & thanks.

Printed on one side of 9 x 13 cm card, with rounded corners, edged in silver. A tasteful example of Victorian printing, by a printer whose calling card boasted of his 'Specialities in the best class of work.' Very good, lightly-aged. The word 'Sonnet.' is printed at the head in gothic type, the rest being in roman. The poem begins: 'O GREATEST Poet of the living age! | For many a year to come thy fame will ring | Throughout the land. Grateful to thee, I bring | A simple tribute, writ on simpler page.' Beneath the sonnet, to the left, is the date 'June, 1892.', with 'E.

1p., 32mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The note reads: 'My dear Webster, | I have fasted all the week in joyful expectation of the 1st of December. | Every truly your's [sic] | Douglas Jerrold'.

1p., 12mo. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He assumes his correspondent refers to an article which 'appeared long ago in the North British Review'. He has only 'a slight recollection of its nature or contents', but the correspondent is 'welcome, so far as I am concerned, to any use of quotations from it that may suit your purpose'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. In a difficult hand. The letter reads: 'In reference to the last paragraph of your circular of May 27 I have to say that I have no "notable successes" of any of my students to report, since neither in any of the scholarships at Oxford or Cambridge for which our students compete do the subjects of my Lectures form any part of the examinations.'

5pp., 12mo. The letter proper is three pages long, on a bifolium, and is accompanied by a two-page 'list of times & places' on a separate leaf. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. With 18 x 23 cm letterhead, on the cover of which Thornton has written 'To | Sir Robert Head. Bart. | III | Zimmer Strasse 97 | Hier.', with his signature 'C. Thornton' in the bottom left-hand corner.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper. The note reads: 'Ld Liverpool encloses a draft value 57 .. 12. 2 to Mr Broster he begs Mr Browster will acknowledge the receipt of this by a letter addressed as above'.

Written on a 4 x 11 cm piece of paper, cut from letter. Laid down on a 6 x 14 cm piece of grey paper, annotated in a contemporary hand: 'Admiral Sir George Willes'. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads 'Yours v. truly | George Willes'.

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE (13 January 1934): 1p., landscape 12mo. The 'proposed article sounds the sort of thing', but Strangeways cannot accept it until he sees it. TWO (3 February 1934): 2pp., landscape 12mo. He thanks him for sending the article, regarding which he writes: 'if the musicians mentioned in it had been more important or there had been more about them, it wd. have been worth printing; but as it is I am afraid it is not of sufficient interest.' The writer's reference to 'Ranzini' is, Strangeways points out, 'almost certainly' a mistake for 'V.

The two items in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. ONE: To 'C. Lavers Smith, Esq'. 21 April 1903. 2pp., landscape 8vo. He asks 'whether prints are to be had of Nell Gwynne's reputed birthplace at Hereford'. He made enquiries about the house in Hereford on the previous Saturday. 'It was pulled down in 1861; but in 1858 two photographs of it were taken, and I found an old photographer who had negatives which he promised to lend to me for a small consideration.

[8]pp., 16mo (10.5 x 8 cm). Stitched into card wraps. In very good condition. An attractive production, wtih the light-blue card covers printed in dark blue ink, with the club's device, featuring a lion on top of a wheel, embossed and printed in red. A list of names of the 'Executive' is inside the front cover. With the sixteen 'Rules' on the first two pages, and the other headings: 'Racing Fixtures', 'Executive Meetings', 'General Meetings'; the fourth page carries general notes.

Printed in brown within a decorative gold border, on one side of a piece of 25.5 x 20.5 cm light-blue paper. Nearly fine. Heading in fancy type reading 'W. JAMES RAE & CO., | Coach Builders.', with 5.5 x 11 cm engraving of the Midland Works beneath it.

Printed in purple ink on both sides of a 9 x 11.5 cm grey card with rounded edges. In very good condition. One side attractively printed, with fancy type, decorative border and floral vignette. The other more businesslike, headed 'W. J. Little, Stationery, Library, and Useful Present Depot, Next London and South Western Bank, High Street, Harlesden, N.W.' and carrying a list of prices for 'Special Value Writing Papers'. The printers' details are not given, but the item comes from the archive of Cheney & Sons, 'General, Commercial & Artistic Printers, Banbury'.

Both items in very good condition, lightly aged. ONE: Printed in blue on a 26.5 x 21 cm piece of light-green paper. In very good condition.. In a variety of fonts and point sizes. Among a number of different products advertised are 'Smokeless Cartridges', with the notice: 'T. M. WATKINS has for many years given special personal attention to, and has been highly successful in, the filling of Cartridges and Nitro Compounds, and can confidently recommend his make as the very best, and for shooting qualities equal, or superior, to anything in the market.' Also 'Schultze, E.C., or S.S.