Manuscript material

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An engraved Victorian mother of pearl scrimshaw nautilus shell. Incised on the shell are the words 'A present for Elizabeth Ann from Llandudno N. Wales' and also with the ship, The Great Eastern and the words 'The Great Eastern Stm. S laying the Atlantic Cable, July 27th 1866 completed , shore and landed and spliced messages passed rapidly betwee Ireland and New F. land.'

Approx 12cms x 8.5 cms, fitting in the hand, a beautiful object.

sold

Guiseppe Mazzini [1805-1872]. Autograph letter signed to 'Dear Madame' (Mrs Wedgewood), announcing that 'the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of our Italian School will take place on the 11th (Monday) at 8 o'clock in the evening, when the prizes will be distributed and accounts rendered. Could we be favoured with your and Mr. Wedgesood's presence, we would all feel happy as we all feel grateful for what you have done for the school.'

Regretting he has not called upon her recently but 'things in general, and our Italian affairs especially, have been torm enting me much all this time, that really the few who sympathize with me ought to hold me as unanswerable for all that I do or do not.'

1 page octavo, integral leaf black, headed paper of the Scuola Italiana Gratuita in Londra, 5 Greville Street, Hatton Garden, [but written from 40 Hatton Garden, 'Thursday' [n.d. but 1844. Light wear.

Mazzini was an important voice in the nineteenth century in the cause of Italian reunification. His political activiites led him into exile in London where he founded an Italian School for poor Italian expatriates in the city.

Pascoe Grenfell [1761-1838] Autographed letter signed to Aaron Vail, charge d'affaires of the United States legation in London [1832-36] regretting his impending return home & saying 'our two countries ought [and as I really believe are now beginning] to be united by Feelings an Associations - by Impressions, and Usages common to both - and which do not apply to any two other Countries in the World - and my fervent wishes are, that the good Understanding, that, I trust, so happily subsists betwixt the United States and Great Britain, at present, may never be interrupted!'

Adding in a postscript; 'when you have an opportunity, be so good as to bring me to the Recollection of Mr. Van Buren.'


4 pages 4to, address panel, seal tears [affecting two words] Ryde, Isle of Wight, June 10, 1836.

Pascoe Grenfell was an industrialist, politician and evangelical. MP for Great Marlow, Penryn, 1820-26. he was a friend and supporter of William Wilberforce in his campaign against slavery.

George Byng, Viscount Torrington (1663-1773) Document signed 'G Byng', a warrant addressed to captain O'Brien, commander of HMS Rippon, appointing Christopher Spickett Master Cook of the Rippon 1p folio the text in a secretarial hand, integral leaf, docketed 'Cook's Warrant for the Rippon for a man onb<Actinic:Variable Name = 'oar'/>d the Superbe'. Naples, February 5 1719, browned and dust-marked, central fold of integral leaf split and repaired.

In March 1718. Admiral Byng was sent to the Mediterranean in command of a fleet, entrusted with preventing a Spanish invasion of Italy or Sicily. In August he routed the Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro, delivering a major blow to Spanish ambitions in Europe.

Charles James Fox (1749-1806) Autographed memorandum signed with initials [to the Duke of Portland, then Prime Minister] about Mr. Lawrence Coxe's request for a baronetcy, asking

'what answer am I to give him? certainly not a promise for I believe nothing would be so improper as to give it to him; but may I say that none are going to be made?'

1 page 4to St James' [docketed June 13 1783] tipped to guard, old bookseller's description laid to blank margin, light soiling.

Hugh Carleton, Viscount Carleton 1739-1826. ALS [to Lord Keith] pointing out that he does not have the right to vote to fill vacancies in the ranks of the representative Irish peers at Westminster & explain the procedure he must follow in order to establish such a right. 1 ½ pages 4to, integral blank [n.p.] July 30 [n.y. paper watermarked 1801]

'The right of Voting on the elections of Irish peers to sit and vote on the part of Ireland in the House of Peers of the United Parliament is confined to those Irish Peers who had sat in the Irish Parliament or whose claim to a right of voting had been allowed previous to the union by the House of Peers of the Irish Parliament, or since the union by the House of Peers of the United Parliament. Your Lordship never took your seat in the Irish Parliament & probably your claim never was allowed by either House of Peers...'

The Act of Union [Great Britain and Ireland] establishing the United Kingdom, had come into force on January 1st 1801. The Irish Parliament was dissolved, & Ireland was was henceforth to be represented at Westminster by 28 peers and 100 members of the Commons.

Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson, Lord Berners, [1883-1950] a copy of Percy Wallingford and Mr. Pidger. The first edition 8vo original printed wrappers, pub. Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1941. Wrappers a touch grubby, with some small marks, some spotting, prelims and edges, internally clean. Overall a nice copy of a fragile publication. INSCRIBED by Berners in ink to half title 'Juliet [Lady Juliet Duff] with love from Gerald October 1941. WITH an ALS by Berners to Lady Duff loosely inserted; 'Here are the two stories. I hope they will amuse you...' 1 page 8vo headed paper Faringdon House, Berkshire, October 16, 1941, little bit of wear to edges.

Berners was a composer, novelist and aesthete , friend of William Walton & Cecil Beaton the original of Lord Merlin in Nancy Mitford's The Pursuit of Love.

Lady Juliet Duff [1881-1965] daughter of the Earl of Lonsdale, married to Sir R Duff [ob. 1914] then to Major kenneth Trevor [diss. 1926] society hostess, friend of Churchill. Waugh thought her a bore, Nancy Mitford wrote 'Just off to see Gerald (Berners). His heart is too high and they are lowering it in a nursing home, so they come in every five minutes and say thing like lady Juliet Duff is outside to make it sink, or so we suppose.'

Ouch. [letter to her mother oct 1945]

A cabinet photograph of General Gordon [1833-1885] c. 162mm x 109mm photographer Adams & Scanlan dated 1884 to verso signed C G Gordon to photographer's mount at base. Bit of spotting to photograph. However, I believe this signature may be a facsimile. Difficult to say so I am selling simply as a rare cabinet photograph.

Sir William Sydney Smith [1764-1840] Als to an unnamed correspondent ['My Dear Lord' possibly Lord Henry John Spencer British Minsiter to the Hague] informing him that Lord Grenville, agrees with his proposal to undertake a secret diplomatic mission to Constantinople. Smith discusses the desirability of establishing a means of communication 'some method of conveying letters between England Holland when despatch is required'.

2 pages 4th, Jan 14th 1792. Paper guard obscuring a few words in gutter of first page.

in 1792 Grenville sent Smith with an allowance of £1500 overland to Constantinople to assess the political situation in the Ottoman Empire.

ALS to Stratford Canning [Plenipotentiary to Switzerland] touching ona number of matters including 'the destitute situation of certain Swiss soldiers who have lately been discharged from His Maj.'s Service'

march 28 1817.

Stuart ambassador to Paris.

A letter from Arbuthnot Emerson regarding his brother who has 'put me over head and ear in debt.' The letter is to R J Tennent.

'I knew from the moment he took his baggage sea stores (which put me in debt 10.16.8 that I borrowed to send to Mccan and still owe) Bibles medecine chest &c from on board the Genii that he would make a nice kettle of fish (as the old saying is) but let him sport away in Paris, Florence, Rome, &c &c &c &c if he...then returns after squandering away & costing his friends upwards of £300 since June last..see how cordially & affectionately they will receive the newspaper puffed enlightener & Liberator of Greece, but I'll say no more, assure you, you cannot conceive how I am wounded and disappointed......I myself cannot command a 6d but at the will of others & am head in ears in debt to keep him at a Parisian hotel gorging wines, fruits & luxuries which as he says himself costs him only (5 or 6 franks for his dinner with champagne) whilst mine at home here does not cost one & completeley satisfies me without champagne or Burgundy.'

James Emerson travelled to Greece in 1824 and was an enthusiastic supporter of Greek independence. He became MP for Belfast in 1832.

Letter from Ethel Snowden, suffragette to W Haydon , Golders green 11 March 1921.

'I think it is practically certain that there will be a By-election in east Leicester and if so, I shall certainly stand. I wrote to Mr. Flower some time ago to say that, until the election is over, the new book cannot even be begun. But I am a rapid writer and once that is out of the way, the book will soon be done.
...
P.S. A special advertisement of Bolshevik Russia should sell copies all over the country. The matter (Bolshevism) is sure to be raised during the election and the eyes of the whole country will be on Leicester!'

Military Music

Letters from Capt Chisholm and others to Greenwood Cox & Co. (Army Agents) about the band fund of the 2nd West India Regiment including a long list of subscriptions due and an order for musical instruments for the band. Sierra Leone 21 June 1821.

The agents are also requested to find a 'Master who can arrange music' who would receive the pay of a Sergeant with supplement from the band fund.

ALS April 18th 1800 explaining to an unnamed correspondent that he is putting off his voyage to the West Indies [where he was to take the post of vendue master in Trinidad] due to the 'necessity of being on the spot to watch over my daughter's interests while the great steps about Boyd Benfield & Co.'s bankruptcy are taking...'

Swinburne's eldest daughter was married to Paul Benfield when her husband's fortune collapsed.

ALS to an unidentified correspondent about Mission work in China asking him to support Mr Murray's work [William Hill Murray (1843 - 1911) who had founded a school for the blind in peking in 1874. 3 pages octavo Feb 6th n.y. Edinburgh.

Millicent Fawcett Garrett 1847-1929 ALS to A. E. Skeen

'I am here in order to see what I can of the Unionist strength in this part of Ireland' & commenting on a letter Skeen had sent her 'There is a pension Society for the aged poor in the Tower Hamlets worked by voluntary contributions. Private effort ought to supplement the Poor Law in cases of the kind you mention.'

Written one side of a postcard 74mm x 121mm Belfast April 6 1893.

Dame Millicent Fawcett, a leader of the Women's Suffrage Movement, was the sister of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson.

David Livingtsone 1813-73 carte de visite photograph by Mayall (identified to verso) showing head and shoulders in semi profile. Sepia print 90 x 59mm laid to card 103 x 63mm n.d. unsigned. VG condition.

W. R Forster 1818-86. Cabinet photograph signed by Forster, by Elliott & Fry of London. Sepia print 148 x 105mm signed on the photographer's card mount 162mm x 109mm overall. n.d.

Forster wasa Liberal politician of Quaker stock, formerly a woollen merchant in Bradford, who introduced the 1870 Education Act. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland 1880-82

A 2 and 1/2 page ALS by Elizabeth Campbell, nee Gunning [1733-1790] famous society beauty and hostess to an unnamed recipient thanking them for their congratulations upon the marriage of her daughter, Lady Bett to Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby 4to bifolium. Her daughter was to be unhappily married to the Earl and she abandoned him and her childre. She was painted by George Romney - a portrait which evidences her beauty. She died young, only 44. In the letter her mother expounds on Lady Betty's merits and says that she could have taken the name of Granby[?] possibly Charles Manners, Duke of Rutland for whom she formed a serious attachment.

Burgoyne [1782 - 1871] to Stratford Canning, ambassador at Constantinople discussing the peace negotiations after the Crimean War and the award of the Mejidiye [an Ottoman award for their allies during the war] 4 pages 4to War Dept, pall Mall March 6th 1856.

"The progress of the negotiations for peace is, as your lordship may imagine, at this moment predominant in the minds of the public in England; - but even that is not string enough to deter them from the rabid hold, which like a bulldog on a bunch of tow, they cling to & would tear to pieces, all the military & and other authorities that 'our own correspondents' & others have hallooed them on to; - it is only to be compared to the illiberal conduct of some of the miserable old Greek Republics towards their Generals & Statesmen; - they seem however to have discontinued very much, to take liberties with your Lordship's name.'

Burgoyne served in the Crimea under Raglan but was recalled to England when the conduct of the war was severely criticised though he was later honoured.

Burges [1752 - 1824] ALS to Sir William Hamilton introducing a 'Mr. Small, who means to reside for some time at Naples, with a view to perfect himself in Music. he has from nature a very fine voice, and has been diligent in acquiring knowledge here and in Ireland; but as he is somewhat of an Enthusiast, he has determined to try what nmay be got in Italy, where he very properly thinks the only really good instruction is to be obtained.'

Burges recommends Small 'not only as a young man of Talent and Genius, but as one of a most excellent character and great personal worth, who may be very safely introduced into any society'


He hopes that Small will also find favour with Lady Hamilton, 'whose patronage will undoubtedly be of the greatest service to him.'

April 21, 1794.

Burges was a poltiician and a fine musician. Lady Hamilton was a talented amateur singer.

Levinus Munck c. 1568-1623 born in Ghent he came to England before 1592 entering the household of Robert Cecil (later 1st Earl of Salisbury) as secretary. After becoming a naturalized citizen ihe entered parliament as an MP in 1601.

This letter is addressed to Lord Willoughby de Eresby ( 'Lord Generall of the armed forces to be imploied f<Actinic:Variable Name = 'o'/>r the service of the King of Denmark'), recommending the unnamed bearer as suitable for employment as a lieutenant in the service of Denmark. 'his experience in the warr does merit some better place; but his means being so small, he must accomodate his fortunes unti it: I hope he will geve yr l<Actinic:Variable Name = 'ordshi'/>p. contentment in any thing you shal be pleased to impose upon him, and execute it with discretion and dexterity.'

1 page folio, address panel to reverse, red wax seal, seal-tear, [n.p., n.d., 1612] pencil annotation to foot "Bertie Family Papers, Sotheby's 23rd June 1970, lot 320".

Munck's correspondent Robert Bertie 1582 - 1642 14th Baron Willoughby de Eresby afterwards 1st Earl of Lindsey (1626) was the eldest son of Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron, the 'Brave Lord Willoughby of popular fame a loyal soldier of Elizabeth I, twice special ambassador to Denmark in 1582 & 1585. Robert would be mortally wounded fighting for the Royalist cause at Edgehill in 1642..

"In October 1611 Willoughby wrote to Christian IV of Denmark, James I's brother-in-law congratulating him on hiis recent military success over the Swedes and to offer his services to Christian, who authorized him to raise and command 1500 men. The troops were embarked in May 1612 but probably saw little action as most of them had perished from sickness before the end of the summer. Following the conclusion of peace Willoughby returned to England." ODNB.

Christian was a remarkable monarch, restorer of Kronberg (Elsinore) who visited England in 1606.

A marvelous little document 7" x 5" on thin vellum-like material the receipt of annuity from the Duc d'Orleans Paris, Jan. 6th 1780. A printed codument with manuscript insertions, the latter shown here in italics.

Life annuities assigned Monsiegneur the Duc d'Orleans. In the presence of the undersigned notaries of Paris, M. Jean Francois de St. Lambert , chev. of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, living in Paris rue Faubourg St Honore, parish of the Magdelaine Laville L'Eveque, swears before the said notaries, that he has received from M. Loyseau de Berenger, Equerry, General Treasurer of H.R.H. Monseigneur the Duc d'Orleans, first Prince of the Blood, the sum of seven hundred and fifty livres for the first six months of fifteen hundred and eighty as partial payment of the fifteen hundred livres of life annuity settled on him by H.R.H. by the contract drawn up by M. Vauin, notary of Paris, on October second, seventeen hundred and sixty seven. Which receipt is drawn and signed in chambers in Paris on January sixth of the year seventeen hundred and eighty. Signed St. Lambert, L Mau, L'Homme.

Jean Francois de St Lambert 1716 - 1803 was a soldier and a mediocre poet but he is most famous as the lover of two women. The first, Emilie de Chastellet was the amie particuliere of Voltaire, but she fell heavily for St Lambert and the two had an affair producing a child at the age of forty three. Although, at first she appeared to have managed the birth without problems she died only a few days afterwards.

A couple of years later St Lambert embarked on an affair with Sophie d'Houdetot. Later, while on service with the army Sophie became the object of fascination of JJ Rousseau, though their relationship appears to have remained chaste. St Lambert and Sophie remained together in an amiable menage a trois with her husband for fifty years until St Lambert's death in 1803.

A rare autograph of a man who played through love rarher than art or philosophy a central role in the French Enlightenment.

An album of c. 40 humourous handmade valentines and other billet doux almost all addressed to a young woman called 'Daisy' (actually, a Miss Margaret Hand) c. 1860's- 1870's in the Staffordshire area. Many, perhaps rather ungallantly refer to 'Daisy's' size - she appears to have tended to the Amazonian end of the scale.

"I know a big Daisy,
A very big Daisy,
All other big Daisies above"

Also mentioned are 'Richard', 'Arthur Hand', 'W.A.', 'Ted'.
Places mentioned include 'Green Hall', 'Forebridge', 'Rowley Hall'. 'Weeping Cross' (all in Staffordshire), 'Ty Gwyn Newydd' ( a house in North Wales).

This appears to be Daisy's album, a collection of the material sent to her by her admirer(s) over a period of years in 1860's - 70's. Utterly charming, many of the pieces are lively parodies; one in a riddling 'made up' language, cod German or faux medieval.

For more photographs please apply.

A large 30" x 50" manuscript broadside, possibly originating in a school in the immediate years after Nelson's death. Linen backed the ms has pen and ink plans of the Battle of the Nile and Copenhagen, showing the ships in line. Engraved medallion portrait of Nelson laid on. Watercolour of a tree with a lion and anchor. The tree with small details of Nelson and his admirals. The remainder of the manuscript being in a copper plate hand, copies of letters, lists, etc all relating to Admiral Nelson. Extracts from the Hereford Journal suggest a possible geographical provenance? Nelson visited the city in 1802, and a monument was erected there in 1809 so perhaps the manuscript is related to the latter?
The manuscript has recently undergone conservation and the studio motes outlining the work undertaken are included with the item. A unique item of Nelson memorabilia.

Around 130 page WW1 diary of a soldier in the 25th Garrison Battalion Middlesex Regiment. The diary follows his joining up in Ashford through his training and subsequent deployment on the Tyndareus ship for Hong Kong. The Tyndareus was nearly sunk by a mine off the coast of South Africa - fortunately without loss of life - and the diarist gives an eye witness account. After a period in South Africa the regiment re-embark for Hong Kong, where the writer also witnesses the terrible fire at the Happy Valley racecourse in 1918. A lively account of Hong Hong during the first war. Includes a postcard of members of the regiment throwing their solar topees in the air after the OC had delivered an address from the King congratulating them on their conduct during the evacuation of the Tyndareus. An interesting diary of a theatre of the first war little covered. Written in a legible hand.

Inventory of household furniture, brewing utensils, casks etc of Mrs Rebecca Asheton of Pope's (farm) Essendon in Hertfordshire..taken on the 17th & 18th days of July 1789. A fine and rare example of a household inventory (including a brewhouse) in a legible hand notable for being a detailed list of the possessions belonging to a woman. On her death the farm passed to her son who sold the farm to the Marquess of Salisbury thus becoming part of the estate of Hatfield. The inventory shows that this was a fairly prosperous house and brewing business. Such detailed insights into the lives of the 'middling folk' in the eighteenth century are exceptionally rare. 8pp in original marbled wrappers. Folio.

A marvelous diary kept by a private soldier in the 13th London Regiment (The Kensingtons) between August 1914 and March 1915 detailing his joining up, training, despatch to France and the first few months in the trenches. A real view from 'Tommy Atkins' of life in the trenches. The soldier, a B. Howard writes well in a very legible hand. Wryly amused, he has a good eye for telling detail. The diary ends when he is invalided back to England with a bronchial problem. Some photos, newspaper clippings pasted in along with other pieces of ephemera. Howard has also made several drawings of trenches and small maps. A marvelous evocation of what it was like to be an ordinary soldier before the terrible war of attrition really began. For more information see my blog.

THIS ITEM IS NOW SOLD

A unique series of documents from 1752 detailing the treatment (sadly unsuccessful) of a domestic servant, Michel Surlavie of the Marquiese de Barbancon's household. A number of bills detail the extensive course and cost of the treatment including the final burial. Interesting, perhaps that a domestic servant should be treated by such a famous doctor and that he appears to have been given such extensive treatment?