History

Three pages, 12mo. On aged and lightly spotted paper, with loss at head of crease (not affecting text) resulting from removal from spike. Letter of introduction for 'Mr Davison', [William Davison, discoverer of the Andaman Pale Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela davisoni)] 'who is on a visit to explore for its birds. He has been working with Mr. A. O.?>

Octavo: twenty pages. Unbound and stitched. Good, but with outer leaves a little grubby and creased. The word 'rack-rent' on page six has been underlined and three exclamation marks placed beside it in ink. As well as important botanical works, Clarke numbered political economy and education among his interests.

Dimensions roughly four and a quarter inches by eight wide. Good on lightly aged paper, and with traces of previous grey-paper mount adhering to reverse, which is docketed, in a nineteenth-century hand, 'Handwriting of the Author of Lorenzo de Medici'. Also docketed in left-hand margin of recto. Begins 'One of the most fatal enemies to the tranquility & happiness of human life is that jealous & timid apprehension which foresees evils at too great a distance, & often imagines them when they do not exist'. Initialled in top left-hand corner.

Arranging the three in what appears to be chronological order, the first (good, roughly four inches by two and three-quarters wide) has 'Josiah C. Wedgwood' in copperplate beneath a straightforward Victorian armorial design, with shield, coronet and motto 'OBSTANTIA DISCINDO'. The second (three and a half inches by three wide) dates from after Wedgwood's election as a Member of Parliament in 1906, having 'EX-LIBRIS JOSIAH C. WEDGWOOD, M.P.' on a scroll beneath a more modern armorial design, with helmet and leaves. It has slight damage to the bottom right-hand corner.

American-born British journalist (1864-1948), editor of the Daily Express, 1904-32. One page, quarto. Good, but on slightly discoloured paper, with slight staining to the four corners from previous mounting. Reads 'As one printer to another I want to tell you what I think of your magazine "Change". It does you all great credit. It is exceedingly well produced, presented with remarkably good taste, and I am astonished at the knowledge and technique.

Director of the Imprimerie Royale, Paris, and later met his end on an "echafaud revolutionnaire" (1794). One page, 8vo, good condiiton "M. Anisson Duperon, Directeur de l'Imprimerie Royale, a l'honneur de presenter son respect a Monsieur le President de l'Assemblee Nationale"; il a celui de les prevenir qu'en vertu du Decret de l'Assemblee il a fait remettre au M. Baudouin son [to the Assemblee] Imprimeur Douze cents Soixante Exemplaires de cinq nouvelles Lois, dont il [joint..?] Deux Exempls de chacune pour la disposition particulaiere de Monsieur le President."

In French. Three pages, 4to, poor condition but little of text lost or obscured. There is a note, probably in Smith's hand, on the address panel "acknowledgment of the letter by Genl Macaulay". He wants to revisit England and is grateful for the hospitality expended to his wife. by the Smith family. A "M. Guillon negociant de bourgogne et l'ami de mes amis" is to visit England and de Bassano asks for his good offices on his behalf.

12mo, eight pages. Very good, with slight wear to inner margins from removal from stubs (not affecting text). An informative discussion of the commercial prospects in the vilayet of Adana. He has 'been absent a great deal travelling', hence the delay in answering Haynes-Smith's questions. Begins by discussing the 'titles to property &c. here in Cases of improvement schemes &c.' Next comes the 'population of the vilayet' ('about half a million [...] The language generally is Turkish all over').

Three pages, octavo. Very good on lightly aged paper. Kenyon's paper was 'much enjoyed' when read on Saturday, and there was 'a good attendance'. '[T]he pleasantries were not missed': '1. the confusion of the inexhaustible emender; 2. the thrift of the canny Odysseus in his role of wooer; 3. Burne Jones's Law.' 'At the end some interesting questiosn were asked', for example, 'why second-rate Greek annalists shd. seemingly have been preferred to Herodotus & Thucydides'.

[Title continued] . . . Divided into Centuries and Millennial Periods, from the Creation to the Present Time., Broadsheet, 32 x 41cms, some marking, nicks tears at folds, text complete and clear comprising approximate dates and events during six millennia, during three "Dispensations" - the "Patriarchal", Mosaic", and Christian. An aid the a child's learning of history. BBTI records Wilson and Douglas but expresses doubt whther he was a publisher and restricts his activity ot 1827 (now by this item, [1832]. No copy found on COPAC or BLC.

Pamphlet, 8pp., 8vo, not bound, some faint foxing. William Tayler outlines the experiences he had during the Mutiny when he feeels he reacted to events with greater prescience than Halliday, the Lieut.-Governor of Bengal. Halliday, however, was rewarded for his mistakes and Tayler maligned. He seeks "public recognition of his achievements, quoting distinguished supporters.

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.'

In French. Two pages, fol., secretarial hand, signed by Decazes. He is appoijmting Inspectors ("travail" and "surveillance" to ensure the proper operation of the Exposition "des produits de l'industrie francaise, qui doit avoir lieu au Louvre le 25 Avril prochain". He recalls that his correspondent was responsible, at the Exposition of 1806, for "toutes les operations concernant la classification des produits, et leur distribution . . .".

British Liberal politician (1879-1924), Secretary of State for India, 1917-22. Jewish opponent of the Balfour Declaration. Untidy collection, discoloured with age and crudely mounted on leaves taken from autograph album, with cuttings pasted over parts of letters, etc. All three of Montagu's letters signed 'Ed S Montagu'. LETTER ONE (9 February 1915, 24 Queen Anne's Gate, S.W., one page, octavo): Is grateful for a letter and cutting.

Dimensions of paper roughly fifteen inches across by nine; dimensions of print roughly eleven and a half inches by seven. On laid paper, watermarked 'VI' or 'IV'. The image and text clear and complete, though the paper aged, and with some fraying and damp staining to extremities. A jubilant mob in front of a burning Newgate, with hats and axes held high, throwing the Keeper's domestic possessions onto a bonfire. A woman to the right, along with a 'No Popery' flag.

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.')

Dimensions of paper roughly one and three-quarter inches by five and a quarter wide. Aged, ruckled, and with traces of glue from previous mounting on reverse. Reads 'Your very faithful | servt | Lansdowne', and on reverse, '<...> as if I did so I shou<...> | be referred to the answer <...>'.

EXCESSIVELY RARE. Apparently not present in the National Portrait Gallery collection. The portrait is on a piece of India paper roughly four and a half inches by three and a half wide, mounted on a piece of thick wove paper roughly eleven inches by eight and a half wide. The mount bears the text. Good, though somewhat grubby, and with the mount lightly creased and foxed. While Sayers is best-known as a Pittite caricaturist this image is certainly not a caricature.

Statesman and writer (1788-1850). 3pp., 8vo. He has heard that his name has been used in the prospectus for the Gwennap mining company. H explains that he was approached but decioded not to allow his name to be used or to buy any shares in it. He hopes the Lord Mayor will take any opportunity of saying this.

A Collection of approximately 40 items, both printed and manuscript from the papers of J. Calder Macphail, Minister and activist, in good conditon, all with fold marks. The printed material includes: "Statement by the Educational Endowments Committee of the Free Presbytery of Edinburgh of their objections to the Draft Scheme for the Administration of the Fettes Endowment . .

Politician and maritime administrator (1836-1918). 3pp,12mo. "If you could postpone the date for a week, it would afford me the greatest pleasure to present the testimonial to Canon Simpson. Kindly send me list of a few leading subscriptions as a guide, addressed to Chapel Wood / Nutley / Uckfield. / I am at Milan International Maritime Conferrence last week Septr / Yours faithfully / Brassey"..

[Title continued] "Comprising an attempt to vindicate him from the vindication published by I. D'Israeli". Pamphlet, 15pp., 8vo, soiled and chipped, not sewn or stapled. According to the BLC "Being art,23 of Corney's 'Curiosities of Literature by I. D'Israeli . . . Illustrated.'" Scarce.

Manuscript, 221pp., 4to, recased, qtr lea., marbled boards, worn. The Index in the front lists the preferments in the bestowal of twenty-six Bishops from Canterbury to Durham (pp. 1-123), the Dean of Lincolnshire, the Duke of Devonshire, Earl of Burlington, the Duke of Rutland (pp.124-129), Royal Patronages in forty-eight Counties, pp.131-221 (incl. "Dignities in the Royal Patronage", pp.135-141). The body of the work gives details of the above including columns of figures headed "First Fruits". Two printed works have a relationship with this manuscript.

Part printed, a decree in the name of Napoleon, one page, folio, slightly chipped, faintly foxed but clear and complete, decree in manuscript as follows: La nomination faite par L'Archeveque de Paris de l'abbe [Bour?](Michel), aumonier de Ste Perine a Chaillot, au canonicat vacant dans son eglise metropolitaine par la promotion de M. L'abbe Ravinet a l'Eveche de Troyes, est agree." WITH: an official copy of the confidential letter from the Archbishop of Paris describing the circumstances of the promotion and recommending Bour.

12mo. In original worn red morocco binding, gilt, with loose front free endpaper. Good, with EXTENSIVE MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS. Eight blank leaves bound in front and back, on which are laid down forty-nine illustrations of arms of London livery companies, each approximately one and a half inches square, and apparently dating from the mid-eighteenth century.

Author/translator of "La Muse ottomane ou chefs-d'oeuvre de la poésie turque" (Paris, 1853). Three pages, 8vo, good condition. He thanks his correspondent for a copy of "l'Anthologie arabe de M. Grangeret de Lagrange" [first published 1828]. He explains his great interest in the book and the excellent job done by the compiler. He praises his correspondent for enriching the book with Latin and notes which derive from their discussions.

Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, British diplomat (1786-1880; DNB), for many years Ambassador to the Sublime Porte. The recipient, James Finn (died 1872), was British consul at Jerusalem from 1849–1858, also representing the U.S.A. 3 pages, 8vo. Creased, but in good condition. Reads 'The bearer of this letter is Miss Harriet Larrimore, a native of the United States of America, and a religious devotee, going for the third time to Jerusalem. She has a passport from Her Majesty's Minister at Athens, to which I have added my visa.

Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe, British diplomat (1786-1880; DNB), for many years Ambassador to the Sublime Porte. The recipient, James Finn (died 1872), was British consul at Jerusalem from 1849–1858. 2 pages, 16mo. In good condition. He has sent his correspondent's 'memorandum respecting Abyssinia' to Lord Stanley, 'who is a better judge than I can presume to be of any advantage which might result from putting into practice the suggestions it contains'. He has 'a due sense of the confidence you have shewn me'. Signed 'Stratford de R.'

One page. Dimensions of paper roughly thirteen inches by eight. Very good on aged paper, with slight loss at head and small closed tear (neither affecting text). Headed 'Annuity for Life, 1746.' '[...] Received the [19] Day of [July] 17[70] by me [William Earl of Radnor Asse. to Robert Lord Romney] Of George Grenville, junr. Esq; One of the Four Tellers of His Majesty's Receipt of Exchequer, the Sum of [Three hundred pounds] in full for [Six] Months Annuity, due the [fifth] Day of [July] last past, of [£600] per Annum, during the Life of [me William Earl of Radnor] [...]'.

Wife of Prime Minister. 2-5pp., 8vo. Extensive eulogising of her husband, H.H. Asquith, and condemnation of his enemies. (Asquith was replaced by Lloyd George in 1916.) Three items,