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Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
Auction dates
30 Jan 2025 13:00 GMT
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There are 227 lots within this auction
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Bonaventura ( Saint ) Commentarius in secundum librum Sententiarum Petri Lombardi, editio princeps , collation: A-O 10 P-Q 8 R 10 a-f 10 g 12 h-p 10 q-r 8 334 leaves, complete, 49 lines, double column, Gothic letter, first recto and final verso a little soiled, slight fraying to lower edge of first leaf, some light water-staining, mostly marginal, light ink stain to a few leaves, occasional soiling and light foxing, some early ink marginalia, 19 th century pastiche of blind-stamped morocco-backed wooden boards, remains of clasps, slightly rubbed, chancery folio (282 x 199mm.), Treviso, Hermannus Liechtenstein, 1477.
*** A very wide-margined copy of the editio princeps of this work, one of seven printed by Liechtenstein in Treviso in 1477 before he moved back to Vicenza and then to Venice.
Provenance: Libreria Antiquaria Ulrico Hoepli (bookplate).
Literature: Goff B872; IGI 1884; BMC VI 892; GW 4658.
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4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Boccaccio (Giovanni) Genealogiae...cum demonstrationibus in formis arborum designatis. Eiusdem de montibus & sylvis, de fontibus: Iacubus: & fluminibus , collation: a-t 8 u 10 , 162ff., complete, 62/63 lines per page, Roman letter, 13 full-page woodcut genealogical trees, numerous woodcut initials, printer’s device on final leaf, lower margin of a6 cut away (no loss of text), slight worming to inner margin of first 10 leaves, just touching text block in places, title with ink inscription erased causing ink stain to verso, h1 with several words similarly inked out causing slight ink stain, some light marginal staining, occasional ink marginalia, later blind-stamped vellum, spine with raised bands and double morocco labels, yapp edges, in modern cloth drop-back box, folio (300 x 208mm.), Venice, Bonetus Locatellus for Octavianus Scotus, 1494.
*** Boccaccio's great work of mythography, including, in the last two books, his defence of poetry and much autobiographical matter. The genealogical trees of the pagan gods are found in the only surviving autograph manuscript and are regarded as the earliest secular ones.
Provenance: James Wyllie Guild and John Hadden Hindley (bookplates on rear pastedown).
Literature: HC *3321; GW 4478; BMC V, 444 (IB. 22904); BSB-Ink B-586; Klebs 190.3; Essling 799; Sander 1077; Goff B-753.
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![Statius (Publius Papinius) [Opera], first Aldine edition, [Venice], [Aldus Manutius], [November &...](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/eaf4acb2-9b28-4c3e-84d9-b26001076563.jpg?h=175)
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Statius (Publius Papinius) [Opera] , collation: a-e 8 a-z 8 A-F 8 G 4 A B 8 C 4 (here Orthographia (a-e 8 ) bound at end), italic type, initial spaces with guide-letters, i8 blank, 2 C4 colophon recto otherwise blank, final f. (e8 of Orthographia) with woodcut printer's device recto otherwise blank, occasional spotting, lightly browned, inner gilt dentelles, 19th century green diced calf, gilt, spine in compartments, spine faded, rubbed, gilt edges, 8vo (160 x 92mm.), [Venice], [Aldus Manutius] , [November & August, 1502].
*** First Aldine edition of the extant works of Statius, along with an orthography of Greek terms found in Statius; presented in Aldus' octavo format often used for his classical publications.
Provenance: Herbert Norman Evans (engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown); C.S. Ascherson (large book label to front pastedown); Bernard Quaritch, Ltd. (collated note in pencil to rear free endpaper); bought from Qs by our vendor 16/6/55 (pencil note to rear free endpaper).
Literature: Adams S1670; Ahmanson-Murphy 61; Renouard 35:7; EDIT 16 CNCE 36141.
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1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Sallustius Crispus (Caius) De coniuratione Catilinae. Eiusdem de bello Iugurthino , collation: a-s 8 t 4 , italic type, title and verso of final f. with woodcut printer's device, initial spaces with guide-letters, some faded early ink marginalia and passage marking at start, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, pink marbled endpapers, later vellum over boards, yapp edges, spine gilt and with black morocco label, little spotted and marked, 8vo (151 x 95mm.), [Venice], [House of Aldus & Andrea Torresani] , [April, 1509].
*** Rare first Aldine edition of Sallust's two historical works, accompanied by Cicero's speeches against Sallust and Catilina, and other pieces. The work is dedicated to Bartolomeo d'Alviano, a mercenary commander of the Venetian forces, who distinguished himself in March, 1508 with the defeat of the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I.
Provenance: 'Dono di D. Fortunato Federici' (18th century ink inscription to front free endpaper within a later ink bibliographical note); 'Purchased from M. Morton-Smith, Dec. 1959' (pencil note and cutting of the catalogue entry to rear endpaper); thereafter remaining with our vendor.
Literature: Adams S139; Ahmanson-Murphy 103; Renouard 17:4; EDIT 16 CNCE 373431.
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![Quintilianus (Marcus Fabius) M.F. Quintilianus. [De institutione oratoria], first Aldine edition,...](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/afd7ea5c-2ffc-4640-8631-b26001076711.jpg?h=175)
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Quintilianus (Marcus Fabius) M.F. Quintilianus. [De institutione oratoria] , [edited by Andrea Navagero & Giovanni Battista Ramusio], collation: *4 a-z A-E 8 F 6 , italic type, woodcut printer's device to title and final verso, initial spaces with guide-letters, *4 blank, some text marking with brown pencil, title with small worm trace in blank upper inner corner and with faded small armorial ink stamp in lower margin, some spotting or foxing and staining, lightly browned, 18th century vellum over boards, burgundy morocco label to spine, spine chipped and creased, but holding firm, little stained and marked, large 8vo (209 x 131mm.), [Venice], [House of Aldus & Andrea Torresani] , [August, 1514].
*** First Aldine edition of the complete text of this work on oratory. Here edited by the humanists Andrea Navagero and Giovanni Battista Ramusio, with Aldus dedicating the edition to the latter.
Provenance: Bibliotheca Giuliari (engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown); 'Purchased, Venice, chez Alfredo ?Rampi, 27/6/55' (pencil note to rear pastedown); thereafter remaining with our vendor.
Literature: Adams Q52; Ahmanson-Murphy 124; Renouard 68:5; EDIT 16 CNCE 54150.
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Sallustius Crispus (Caius) De coniuratione Catilinae. Eiusdem de bello Iugurthino , [edited by Gian Francesco Torresani], collation: a-t 8 , italic type, woodcut printer's device to title and verso of otherwise blank final f., initial spaces with guide-letters, t7 blank, some water-staining to final sig., occasional spotting or mostly light staining, lightly browned, later vellum over boards, some spotting, 8vo (149 x 89mm.), [Venice], [House of Aldus & Andrea Torresani] , [January, 1521].
*** Second Aldine edition, where the text of the 1509 edition has been corrected by Gian Francesco Torresani. Includes Aldus' original preface, along with a new preface by the editor.
Provenance: 'Purchased from H.E. Heineman, April, 1958' (pencil note to rear free endpaper); thereafter remaining with our vendor.
Literature: Adams S147; Ahmanson-Murphy 194; Renouard 93:16; EDIT 16 CNCE 53893.
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Antoninius Florentinus ( Saint ) Summa Theologica , 2 parts only (of 5) comprising Tabula nuper diligenter correcta and Prima Pars, woodcut illustration on each title and woodcut device beneath on first title, Prima Pars with inserted bifolium between a4 and a5 printed in roman type containing preface and laudatory verses praising both St. Anthony and Suardi by the Dominican Alberti Porletiensis, woodcut initials, a few leaves browned, some foxing and soiling, a few marginal repairs, old limp vellum of manuscript antiphnonal, new endpapers, 4to, Venice, Lazarus de Soardis, 1503.
*** Literature: EDIT 16 CNCE 2003.
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Martialis (Marcus Valerius) Epigrammata Libri xiiii, collation: A 10 B-R 8 S-T 6 complete, title within woodcut border and with vignette of St. George slaying the dragon signed FV (?Floria Vavassor), full-page woodcut of the author presenting his book to the Emperor on A10v, woodcut illustrations and initials, some worming affecting text, mostly at beginning and heaviest on title with loss to several words, water-staining, some foxing and browning, 18th century mottled calf with central panel onlaid, rebacked preserving original gilt spine, rubbed, small folio, Venice, Georgius de Rusconibus, 1514.
*** An attractively illustrated edition with commentary by the Italian humanists G. Merula and D. Calderino.
Provenance: Stewart of Glassertoun (armorial bookplate); C. Lucy Hulbert-Powell (ex libris sticker).
Literature: Adams M693; EDIT 16 CNCE 46785.
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1
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1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Anthologia Graeca.- Florilegium Diversorum Epigrammatum in Septem Libros, edited by Franciscus Asulanus, collation: A-Z 8 AA-MM 8 NN 10 , Roman and primarily Greek types, title in Greek and Latin, woodcut printer's device to title and verso of final f., initial spaces with guide-letter, title a little soiled with a few ink inscriptions, very occasional light marking or staining to margins, the odd ink note to margin in Greek, bookplate of Lord Sandys to front pastedown, 18th century calf, gilt, spine gilt in compartments, joints a little rubbed with slight splitting to head, [Adams A1183; Ahmanson-Murphy 195; Renouard, Alde, 93:17; EDIT 16 CNCE 1973], 8vo, [Venice], [House of Aldus & Andrea Torresani], [January, 1521 ].
*** Second Aldine edition of the earliest known anthology in Greek. The work was originally compiled by Meleager of Gadara. Aldus used his own annotated copy of Janus Lascaris' 1494 editio princeps as an exemplar for his first edition of 1503.
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Mercuriale (Girolamo) De arte gymnastica libri sex, second edition, collation: * 6 A-C 8 D 10 E-S 8 T 10 V 8 X 6 complete, title with woodcut device, woodcut initials, 2 full-page plans and 21 illustrations, all but one full-page, some repaired worming and some light soiling and staining, all mostly marginal, colophon leaf torn (repaired), modern vellum, [Adams M1320; EDIT 16 46968; G & M 1986.1; Mortimer/Harvard Italian 302], 4to, Venice, Giunta, 1573.
*** The first illustrated edition of this important work on exercise and health, first published in 1569. "One of the earliest books to discuss the therapeutic value of gymnastics and sports generally for the cure of disease and disability, and an important study of gymnastics in the ancient world". (Garrison-Morton).
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2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Spanish Dictionary.- Orozco (Sebastian de Corbarruvias) Tesoro de la Lengua Castellana, o Espanola, first edition, title with woodcut royal arms, ink inscriptions to title verso (some show-through), title with short tear into text without loss and repaired to verso, a few annotations, trimmed, occasionally affecting headline and few annotations, a few short tears into text, some staining in pink ink to upper margins, mainly to final c.30 leaves, occasional minor marginal staining, some light browning and occasional light foxing, ex-library copy with bookplate, small ink reference to foot of title, contemporary vellum, rebacked preserving original backstrip with title in early ink manuscript, surface soiling, some old creasing and tears, new endpapers, 4to, Madrid, for Luis Sanchez, by del Rey N. S., 1611.
*** One of the first monolingual dictionaries in Spanish, or any vernacular language in Europe.
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Ovidius Naso (Publius) Les Metamorphoses d'Ovide, en Latin et Francois , title in red and black with large engraved vignette, many half-page engraved illustrations by the Bouch é brothers after van Diepenbeeck and others, some foxing and browning, lacking half-title, contemporary red morocco over wooden boards, elaborately stamped in gilt, rebacked preserving original spine, recornered and repaired, rubbed and with a few worm-holes, folio, Amsterdam, Chez P.& J. Blaeu [&c.], 1702.
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Napoleon.- Andrieu (Bertrand, 1761-1822) Workshop of . Cased set of ten circular patinated lead 'Napoleon Medals' , comprising two large medallions presented in one velvet-covered and glazed section, and a removable section with 8 medallions, comprising 6 small and 2 medium, diameters between approx. 70 mm (2 3/4 in) and 135 mm (5 1/4 in), dark crimson coloured velvet-lined book-style case, gilt-tooled green morocco, spine titled 'Medals of Napoleon', spine with minor splitting and nicks, some signs of wear, small scuffs and losses, folio, [early 19th century]
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Catechetical School of Alexandria.- Titus Flavius Clemens, also known as Clement of Alexandria, Christian theologian and philosopher who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria, c. 150-215 AD) & Origen Adamantius, also known as Origen of Alexandria, Christian scholar, ascetic and theologian, c. 185-253).- [Fragment of a history of Catechetical School of Alexandria mentioning both Clement and Origen], manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in a Gothic bookhand, in brown ink, double column, 3 two-line initials in red and blue, red pen and ink scrollwork in margin, creased at tail, stained in margins, browned, 135 x 197mm., [?France], [c. 1250]; and 8 other fragments from medieval leaves, v.s., v.d. (9).
*** Includes a TLS from Gerard Bonner explaining his examination of the fragment. Titus Flavius Clemens, also known as Clement of Alexandria , is considered one of the first great Greek theologians of the Catholic Church, he was one of the founders of the catechetical school of Alexandria , one of the first great theological school s of the Christian faith. As his three major works demonstrate, Clement was influenced by Hellenistic philosophy to a greater extent than any other Christian thinker of his time, and in particular by Plato and the Stoics.
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Bible, Latin. [Langton (Stephen, attributed to, Archbishop of Canterbury, c. 1150-1228) Single leaf from the Interpretationes nominum hebraicorum [Interpretations of the Hebrew names], manuscript in Latin, on thin vellum, in black ink, in a small regular Gothic bookhand, double column, one two-line initial in red and blue and numerous one-line initials in red and blue, framed and glazed, 170 x 113mm., [Paris], [c. 1250]; and 5 other medieval leaves, all framed and glazed, v.s., v.d. (5 pieces).
*** First mentioned, a list, mostly in alphabetical order, of Hebrew names found in the Bible, attributed to Stephen Langton.
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5,000 - 7,000 GBP
Book of Hours , unidentified use, illuminated manuscript in gothic textura script, in Latin, on vellum, 13 lines on each page, ruled in red throughout, numerous one- and two-line initials, and large illuminated initials decorated with flowers and floral borders in gold, blue and red, (ff. 1r, 52r, 56v, 61r, 70r, 143v); , i + 155 + i leaves only, with catchwords, lacks calendar and other leaves with illumination, including miniatures, some leaves misbound, part of f. 96 excised, some smudging, vellum generally slightly cockled and marked, a few small holes and stains from rusted paper clips, a few leaves becoming loose, decorated gilt endpapers, burgundy morocco gilt book plate of W. A. Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey on front pastedown, 16th-century red velvet, covers with gilt metal corner- and centre-pieces (upper cover in the shape of a cross) and clasp, spine with pierced metal panel, velvet worn and faded, metal tarnished, sm. 8vo (108 × 78mm), [France, Angers], [c. 1460s].
*** Hours of the Virgin (f. 1r), Lauds followed by suffrages to Sts Michael, Peter & Paul, Sebastian, Nicholas, Mary Magdalene, and Catherine; Hours of the Cross (f. 47r) and of the Spirit intermixed; Seven Penitential Psalms (f. 78r); Litany (f. 92v); Of fice of the Dead (f. 101r); Obsecro te (f. 143v); the usual extract from St John’s Gospel (f. 148v); prayers (f. 151r), including one mentioning Angers saints, one to St Barbara in rhyming verse, and another to St Martin.
Provenance: The Library of the late Christopher Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey, lot 8, 27 September 2023, Dominic Winter Auctioneers.
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Cornwall.- Archive relating to Tregavethan, near Truro, including: Common recovery grant to Stephen Lagharn and Thomas Trafusys against Thomas Newerk and Alice his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Copeland of the Manor of Tregamadon alias Tregavethan of six messuages, one mill, two hundred acres, three vineyards, three hundred acres of pasture [etc], manuscript in Latin, on vellum, chancery hand, 22 lines, chancery seal (slightly smoothed and edges chipped, largely intact), blank space for initial H at beginning, document slightly yellowed and creased, 320 x 470mm., 12th February 1536; and 7 other indentures and documents relating to Cornwall (another relating to Stephen Lagharn), mostly relating to Tregavethan, from the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, all but one with good wax seals and fine impressions, v.s., v.d. (8 pieces).
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2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Henry VIII's longest serving minister.- Howard (Thomas, third duke of Norfolk , magnate and soldier , 1473-1554 ) Grant by Thomas Howard , third Duke of Norfolk to Sir Roger Townsend, of the Manor and Advowson of Kempston and the lands called Normansborowe, a cell to Castle Acre Priory, in Raynham, Norfolk, D.s. "T Norfolk", manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in black ink, 33 lines, fine red wax embossed seal, slightly creased in top left margin, minimal marks and one light brown stain not affecting the text, in fine condition, 310 x 470mm., 9th May 1543; and another, a manuscript extract relating to Kempston and Sir Roger Townsend's administering of the estate of Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk, attainted for Treason, 1547, v.s., v.d . (2 pieces).
*** Extremely rare.
"The third duke of Norfolk was a powerful regional magnate, the controller of parliamentary boroughs in Norfolk and Sussex, and the wealthiest English peer. He was a skilful gambler, not only in court politics, where he was above all a survivor, but also at cards and dice, on one occasion winning £45 from Henry VIII . Like many contemporaries he was publicly loyal and ingratiating, but underneath he was unscrupulous, guileful, and ruthlessly ambitious. His personal acquaintances, his relations, and above all the king's protesting or rebellious subjects could all have borne witness to his capacity for violence, even brutality. His considerable pride, however, was not matched by his ability, in which he was much inferior to both Wolsey and Cromwell ." - Oxford DNB.
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![Elizabeth I (Queen) Letters Patent grant in fee simple by Robert Morgan of Maplarton [Mapperton],...](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/328700e6-b916-47b3-984d-b26001078138.jpg?h=175)
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1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Elizabeth I ( Q ueen of England and Ireland , 1533-1603 ) Letters Patent grant in fee simple by Robert Morgan of Maplarton [Mapperton], Dorset, to Robert and John Morgan, his sons, of the Manor of Wytherston, Dorset, a free yearly rent of £7 18s 6d, now or late in the tenure of Walter Travers or Thomas or Nicholas Travers, his sons, all late of the monastery of Abbottesburye [Abbotsbury], yearly value £12 17s 2d, in fee simple for £321 9s 2d paid at the Exchequer to Roger Alford, a teller there, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, single sheet, in black and brown ink, large calligraphic initial 'E', enclosing a line-drawn portrait of the queen holding an orb and a sceptre, enthroned beneath a canopy bearing the inscription: "Elizabeth Regina", calligraphic initial line decorated by a lion and a griffin holding banners, a fleur de lys and leafy sprays, folds, slightly creased, lacks Great Seal, framed and glazed, document 472 x 683mm., 31st January 1560.
*** The Wytherstone estate was owned by Abbotsbury Abbey until dissolved in 1539.
Roger Alford (d. 1580), MP., secretary to Sir William Cecil.
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1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Golding family of Belchamp St. Paul, Essex.- A booke wherin is entred and Written divers Dedes of feoffment, Releases, Indentures of sale of lande, and other evidences, wylles, wrightine and notes..., concernyng chiefly the messages landes tenements and hereditaments situate lying and being in Paules Belchamp in the countie of Essex. Trulye copied out and agreing verbatim with the originalls. Collected in maner of a Register by the procurement of William Golding Esquier the third day of Januari Anno d[o]m[in]i 1584 , title and 58ff., manuscript on paper in a neat secretary hand, final f. (59) torn away along with two following blanks, 11 blank ff., some light damp-staining to lower margin, the odd spot, morocco book label of William Foyle, original vellum, remains of tie, "Essex" in manuscript to upper cover, portion excised from head of lower cover, preserved in morocco chemise, folio, 1584.
*** An extensive 16th-century record, in a fine legal hand, of deeds in Latin and English dating from 1297 to 1586 relating to Belchamp St Paul in Braintree, Essex. The Golding family feature prominently; William Golding (d.1587) was the brother of Margery Golding, Countess of Oxford (1526-68) who would marry John deVere at the church in Belchamp St Paul in 1548, giving birth to the poet and courtier Edward deVere (the subject of the Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship) in 1550.
Arthur Golding (1536-1606) was the half-brother of William and best-known as a translator, especially for his translation of Ovid a book much-prized, and used, by Shakespeare.
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Elizabeth I's chief minister.- Cecil (William, first Baron Burghley , royal minister , 1520/21-98 ) Letter signed to Thomas Greseley [Thomas Gresley], folio, ½p., "ffrom ye Co[u]rt", 26th May 1585, authorising him to hand over "certaine evidence and C[ourt] rolles" from the possessions of Thomas Paget, fourth Baron Paget ( c. 1544-90 ) (who had fled abroad in 1583 on the discovery of the Throckmorton Plot), text a little faded but still legible, folds, creased and browned.
*** An important letter. Paget, a supporter of Mary Queen of Scots had fled abroad in 1583 after discovery of the Throckmorton Plot. "His estates in England were quickly seized by the government and in 1587 he was convicted of treason by the act of attainder which also condemned the Babington plotters." - Oxford DNB.
Sir Thomas Gresley, Kt. (b. 1552, d. 1610), Sheriff of Staffordshire 1583-84 and played a part in the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots.
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Elizabeth I's chief minister.- Cecil (William, first Baron Burghley , royal minister , 1520/21-98 ) Agreement between Lord Burghley and Richard Kingesmill , Surveyor of the Liveries, on the one part, and John Aylwyn of the other part, stating that the general livery of all lands of his father are to be granted to Alwyn, with an attached Valor in Latin, specifying the lands in Heyshott and West Dean in West Sussex alluded to in the agreement, subsigned"Churchill" and "W. Cooke", 2 sheets, manuscript in English and Latin, on vellum, folds, slightly creased, lacks seals, 325 x 545mm. & 285 x 276mm., 2nd November 1596; and another, an engraved portrait of Burghley, v.s., v.d. (2).
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Shakespeare (William).- Underhill (Hercules, of Idlicote, Warwickshire, son of William Underhill who sold New Place to William Shakespeare in 1597).- Final Concord between Henry Gough and Hercules Underhill of pasture in Wolverhampton , manuscript in Latin, in chancery hand, on vellum, 9 lines, folds, 120 x375mm., 7th October 1636; and another Final Concord relating to the Leveson family (2)
*** Shakespeare Connection. Shakespeare purchased New Place in May 1597 from William Underhill, described as 'a subtle, covetous, and crafty man'. "Two months later Underhill died at Fillongley, near Coventry, after orally bequeathing 'all his lands to his first-born Fulke. In 1599 Fulke, still a minor, was hanged at Warwick for poisoning his father. The law took the forfeit of the of the Underhill estate for felony, but it was regranted to Fulke's younger brother Hercules [knighted in 1617] when he came of age in 1602. In Michaelmas term of that year, Hercules Underhill confirmed the sale of New Place to Shakespeare, who paid the prescribed fee, equal to one quarter of the yearly value of the property, to clear the title." - S. Schoenbaum. William Shakespeare: A Compact Documentary Life, OUP, 1980.
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Medical.- Pignatarus (Carolus) Disputationem de morbis in genere, de signis de methodo medendi, written by John Brunus as a medical student, manuscript in Latin, on paper, title, 10pp. index and 568pp., small hole in title, index and first f. and last 6ff. of text, not affecting text, later endpapers, 19th century boards, rubbed, rebacked in modern morocco, gilt, 8vo, 1653.
*** The text includes three "Disputationes", each divided into various "Quaestiones", in turn divided, in some cases, into various "Controversiae", which illustrate the different points of view on the medical topics discussed. Topics include: Quaestio I: "De morbi natura in genera"; II: "De natura Symptomatum", III: "An dentur symptomata causa"; IV: "De morbidrum differentijs" etc.
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Cromwell (Richard , L ord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland , 1626-1712 ) Letters Patent of common recovery by William Mayle and Thomas Pendred against John Smith and Edward Pente one messuage and two gardens in Wootton, Northamptonshire, D.s. "Robinson", manuscript in English, on vellum, in chancery hand, calligraphic "R" and decorated with flowers, some slight wear to decoration, folds, slightly creased in places, a little yellowed, half of the seal of the Court of Common Pleas, 470 x 690mm., 29th November 1658.
*** Documents from the brief reign of Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector are rare.
Sir Thomas Robinson (1618-83) was prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas.
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James II and VII ( as Duke of York and Lord High Admiral, K ing of England, Scotland, and Ireland , 1633-1701 ) Letter signed to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Ordinance "Whereas His Majesty's Shipp the Hound is now come upp to Deptford... These are... to... require you... to... receive from Walter Jones Master Gunner... an account of the expenditure on board the same during the last voyage...", D.s. "James", folds, slightly browned, tipped-in on card, folio, Whitehall, 6th December 1664; and another, an engraved portrait of James II, v.s., v.d. (2).
*** HMS Hound was an 18-gun ship captured in 1656 and expended as a fire ship in 1666.
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Auditor of the Receipt of the Exchequer.- Long ( Sir Robert, first baronet , politician and exchequer official , c. 1602-73 ) Autograph Letter signed to his clerk William Burges, 1p., folio (302 x 194mm.), 20th July 1665, "I send herewith Mr Sands his order with direction for the remaining £100 which is assigned by my lord thereupon the tenths of Rochester putt in the following name", folds, browned.
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Charles II ( K ing of England, Scotland, and Ireland , 1630-85 ) Order to create a commission made up of Prince Rupert, Lord Danby, James Duke of Monmouth, Lord Coventry and others to treat with Lord Peter Spane ambassador extraordinary of the king of Sweden concluding a treaty and renewing another treaty from 1664, D.s. "Charles R" & "H Coventry", manuscript, 1½pp., blind-stamp, loose, folds, folio, Windsor, 16th August 1674.
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House of Lords .- Remembrances for Order and decency to be kept in the Upper house of Upper Parliament by the Lords , when His Majesty is not there, manuscript in an attractive Italic hand, 73pp. excluding blanks, ruled in red throughout, slightly browned, original red gilt panelled morocco with the coat of arms of Queen Anne on both covers, upper cover slightly faded, g.e., 8vo, 7th May 1712 .
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House of Commons.- Callendar or Abstract of the Journals of the House of Commons from the year 1660 to the Year 1710, manuscript, title and 351pp. excluding blanks, ruled in red, some slight spotting, engraved bookplates of John Bowes 9th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and Sir Lucius O'Brien on front endpapers, contemporary calf, gilt, slightly marked, gilt faded, rebacked in later calf, folio, [18th century].
*** John Bowes, 9th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (1737-76), Scottish nobleman and ancestor of Elizabeth II.
Sir Lucius O'Brien (1731-95), Irish politician.
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Long life.- Cornaro (Louis, Venetian nobleman, writer on long life, 1475-1566) & Romilly (Peter, watchmaker and jeweller, of Frith Street, Soho, grandfather of Peter Mark Roget, the inventor of the Thesaurus, 1712-84) Conseils et Moyens tres faciles tres faciles & assurez pour vivre Plus de Cent Ans..., manuscript in French, translation of Cornaro's discourse on long life, title and 89pp. excluding blanks, slightly browned, autograph ownership inscription of Roget's "P.M. Roget", engraved bookplate of Peter Romilly on front pastedown, original calf, rebacked in modern calf, 8vo, London, 1745.
*** This translation unpublished. Romilly was a neighbour of the Mozart family in Frith Street, London.
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![Religious.- Evangelia [Notes on the Four Gospels], with references to Hammond, Grotius, Dr Clark ...](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/96178260-ec83-435b-b1c3-b260010809bd.jpg?h=175)
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Religious.- Evangelia [Notes on the Four Gospels], with references to Hammond, Grotius, Dr Clark and others, manuscript, c. 400pp., interleaved with a printed gospels in Greek, slightly browned and offset, bookplates of Rev Fred Ekins, Sir Lambton Loraine and Ron Fiske on front free endpapers, later half morocco, gilt, label in black morocco on spine "Evangelia", 8vo, n.d. [18th century].
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![[Comber (Thomas)] [Transcribed text from](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/965c89c0-4bc9-4193-98bb-b260010796a5.jpg?h=175)
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[Comber (Thomas, dean of Durham and liturgist , 1645-99)] [Transcribed text from "A Companion to the Temple; or, A Help to Devotion in the use of the Common Prayer"], manuscript, 190pp., dark brown ink, mostly relating to the Communion service, some ink show-through, browned throughout, marbled endpapers, contemporary black polished morocco, ornate gilt borders, gilt stamp on upper cover: "John Tilley, 1751", corners slightly bumped, gilt panelled spine, spine slightly chipped at head and tail, g.e., sm. 8vo, [ dated on cover 1751].
*** Contents include: "A Prayer when we offer our Alms"; "A Prayer immediately after the Consecration of the Bread and Wine"; "An Act of Commemoration"; "Thoughts proper to entertain our minds with while we are celebrating this Festival"; "A Meditation for Receiving the Holy Sacrament on Christmas Day" etc.
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Austrian Empire.- Leopold (Count, Captain of nobility ) Landmanns- Diploma to certify that Count Carl von und zec Stainach is a member of the landed gentry, D.s. "Leopold..." and others, calligraphic manuscript in German, on vellum, 5pp., text within gilt borders, wide printed floral borders, floral endpapers, original green velvet, slightly faded, original red wax seals in wooden skippets with original ties, g.e., in fine condition, 380 x 305mm., Graz, [Austria], 1770.
*** Count Carl was the adopted son of his uncle, Max Guidowaldo, Count of Steinach.
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1,000 - 1,500 GBP
Spain.- Charles III ( King of Spain, 1716-88) Charter decreeing acceptance of the resignation of the title of Grandeza (grandee) of Spain, 8 vellum leaves, interleaved with tissue, double endpapers of plain and floral paper, the text within a double border of gold and red, the intervening space decorated with floral designs in green, rose, yellow and blue, bookplate of W. A. Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey on front pastedown, modern endpapers and old floral paper, 20th century dark blue morocco, gilt, rubbed, joints cracked and upper cover near detached, g.e., by Riviere, folio (305 x 212 mm.) , 1785.
*** A decree of Charles III , king of Spain , accepting the resignation of the title of Grandeza (grandee) of Spain , first class, granted in 1730 to the Marquis de Brancas, French ambassador in Spain , by his son Don Luis Pablo de Brancas (1718-1802), Duque de Cereste Brancas, and its re-settlement on Don Luis Maria Buffile, Vizconde de Brancas, great-grandson of the Marquis de Brancas, with provision for the further descent of the grandeza should he succeed to a French peerage, 14 August 1785. The issue carried on until 1866, when it was established that women could succeed to Spanish titles.
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![Warwickshire, Coventry.- Gibbs (Joseph) [History of Coventry] Miscellaneous Warwickshire Scraps [...](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/6d27598a-de67-4d0d-837a-b26001079e12.jpg?h=175)
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Warwickshire, Coventry.- Gibbs (Joseph) [ History of Coventry] Miscellaneous Warwickshire Scraps [title from spine], 2 vol., William Reader's copy with his ink inscription and date, autograph manuscript signed, c. 630pp., mostly written on rectos with a few pieces of text in vol. I on versos, engraved maps of Warwickshire and Coventry, ruled in red throughout, browned, some slight foxing, original half calf, extensively rubbed, 4to (290 x 230mm.), [1820's and dated by William Reader 1830].
*** A chronological history of Coventry supplemented with extracts from documents and letters. Other items include Shakespeare's will, Dugdale's Correspondence, the Harleian Miscellany, Humphrey Wanley and Ayscough manuscripts. Also includes the poem Guy of Warwick and "Poem on erecting a Monument to the memory of Shakespeare".
Provenance: William Reader ( 1782-1852 ), newspaper proprietor, topographer and historian of Coventry.
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America, Philadelphia & New York.- Stopford (James Sydney, merchant, later Sheriff of Fort William, Calcutta, son of Rev R B Stopford, of Barton Seagrave, Kettering, Northamptonshire, 1808-85) Collection of c. 38 letters from Stopford to his parents in England, c. 110pp. & address panels, 4to & 8vo, mostly New York, Philadelphia, Liverpool & London, 1826-38, long letters detailing his merchant activities and his feelings about America, "Philadelphia improved upon further acquaintance... I would much sooner live here, than be promoted to New York. Here, there is not such an incongrous mixture of ragamuffins from all nations under the sun, as there is in our rival city... . The living here is capital, & very cheap, I am living in a vastly genteel boarding house", making a visit to Lebanon Spa with his friend, a "Birmingham Mechanic", "used to be the most fashionable watering place, but Saratoga has knocked it on the head", trouting in Long Island, visit to Montreal, life in New York working for a Mr Spooner etc., small tears where opened, folds, slightly browned, v.s., v.d. (c. 38).
*** Stopford's early years as a merchant in America.
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5,000 - 7,000 GBP
Wellington (Arthur Wellesley, first duke of , army officer and prime minister , 1769-1852 ) Extensive collection of letters and free franks by, to and relating to the Duke of Wellington, comprising: (1) 5 letters or documents written or signed by the duke (2). c. 30 letters addressed to him (3) c. 25 other letters (4) c. 70 Free Franks (c. 50 addressed to the duke & 2 from the duke, most laid down on album ff., ff. loose, v.s., v.d., 1828-47 (c. 130 pieces).
*** Collection includes:
(1) Duke of Wellington letters and documents: (1) ALs to the Rev George Pellew, 1p., 4to, 13th November 1828, conveying the King's appointment as Dean of Norwich.
(2) ANs ("W") to Mrs Apostles at Stratfield Saye, ½p., 8vo, 4th December 1846, asking her to prepare for his coming down tomorrow.
(3) Document signed, 1p., 4to, 21st July 1845, printed form for the recommendation of a patient (George Gower) for St George's Hospital.
(4) AL (third person) to the novelist GPR James, 1p., 8vo, 23rd May 1844, accepting the offer of his work.
(5) AL (third person) to Mr Poole, 1p., 8vo, 3rd March 1830, acknowledging his letter.
(2) Letters to the Duke of Wellington, including: Marquis of Douro, Henry Addington; Ernest, Duke of Cumberland; Thomas Campbell (sculptor; asking for a sitting for a bust for the King of Hanover, with Wellington's answer written crosswise); George Harcourt (postponing dinner for half an hour as the Queen and Prince Albert will be at the Sutherland baptism); Lord James Hay (killed at Waterloo); Countess of Jersey, Sir Robert Peel, Gore Ouseley; Emily Harriet, Duchess of Somerset ("Day of Waterloo", sending greetings and a bouquet); Lady Frances Shelley, Colonel Maxwell Wallace, Major General Wyndham, Angela Burdett Coutts (asking whether a German friend might see his pictures); Sir Alexander Cameron etc.
(3) Other letters, including: H W Paget, Marquess of Anglesey; Lord Charles Wellesley (younger son of the duke); Earl de la Warr, J Distin (entertainer; soliciting a performance by the Distin family on silver saxhorns at Apsley House); Earl Fitzwilliam (about the Orthopaedic Hospital); Lord Gosford (disclaiming knowledge of the shop Great Britain); General Lygon, Duke of Manchester, Lord Mount Edgecumbe (asking for a statement of case by Lord Brougham to be put before the duke); Charles Lennox, fourth Duke of Richmond (about the dismissal of Brigade Major Crawford); Lord Ripon, Lord Southampton, Lord Raglan, Sir Watkins Williams Wynn etc.
(4) Free Franks, including: the King of Holland, Lord Mornington, Gladstone, Prince Albert, Duke of Wellington etc.
A full list is available on request.
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3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Americana, Africana & Methodism.- Daniell (Marianne, compiler, probably a daughter of William Daniell , landscape painter and engraver, 1769-1837 ) Album of autograph manuscripts, watercolours and prints relating to England, Africa and America, including: "A verse in the Chippeway Langauge" by Peter Jones, once a Mohawk Chief; autograph inscription by Jabez Bunting, Wesleyan Methodist Minister after Wesley's; autograph hymn in native language by David Livingstone, Cairo, 1856; autograph fragments by both John Wesley and Charles Wesley ; drawing of Mount Orgueil by royal navy topographer, Captain Robert Elliot; watercolour wash of a scene near Bombay by Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland; numerous watercolours of Egypt, Constantinople etc. and autograph contributions by missionaries and divines, together c. 120 manuscript, watercolours and other pieces on c. 120pp., many laid down, original straight-grained morocco, gilt, extensively rubbed, spine loose, g.e., v.s. in a 4to album, 1831-56.
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Industrialists.- Mellor family, of Ardwick (Lime Works) Manchester and Hough Hole House, Cheshire.- Archive, including: lease of a coal mine to William Mellor, 1832; 5 Account Books (John and Ann Mellor rental of Hough Hole Farm and Mary Walker and family); Probate of Timothy Whillock's Will; Science Lectures of William Mellor ("General Laws of Fluids"; "Materality of the Air"), ephemera of Mechanics Institution (Syllabus lectures of Steam Engine, Meteorology etc.), numerous letters from Mary Arrowsmith of Anchorage, Des Moines, Iowa etc., folds, some soiling, v.s., v.d., 1832-1905 (qty 1 box).
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Arctic Explorer as Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land.- Franklin ( Sir John , naval officer and Arctic explorer , 1786-1847 ) Warrant signed authorising payment to J. King W. Lynn, W. Bramish, J.T. Pyke and others "for Supplies furnished by them to parties in pursuit of Bushrangers", amounting to £150-7s-11d, made out to the Deputy Assistant Commissary General Peter Roberts, D.s. "John Franklin", printed form with manuscript insertions, Registration docket in red ink at foot, laid down on an album leaf, 2 small holes at head of left margin, edges with small tears and trimmed, slightly creased, folio, Launceston, 3rd April 1839.
*** Franklin was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Dieman's Land, later Tasmania from 1837 to 1843. Bushranging began in Tasmania in the early years of settlement, when near starvation meant convicts were sent into the bush to hunt. Some remained there, living by stealing from or trading with settlers. Their numbers grew as more convicts escaped, and until the 1850s there were many bushrangers. Attempts made to suppress them included a proclamation in May 1814 and warrants for "parties in pursuit of Bushrangers".
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Cruikshank (George , graphic artist , 1792-1878 ) Archive of material by and relating to Cruikshank, collection comprises c. 60 drawings, sketches, letters and notes by Cruikshank (drawings and sketches in black ink and pencil, many sketches on random notes), letters, including: draft of a letter to John B. Gough, temperance lecturer, ("I am going to write something abt. you in a little book I am about to publish"); notes, including: ("The Worship of Bacchus or The Drinking Customs of Society"; "22 India Proofs of the Etchings of Proofs of the work - The Omnibus & also 80 India Proofs of the wood cuts..."; "Quarrels over the Social Glass"); [list of accounts], together c. 150 items, letters to Cruikshank on a variety of subjects, including: Charles Rogers (1825-90, Church of Scotland minister and historian ); W. Hopburn, William Essing, Abraham Jones Lebras, W. Malthouse, Thomas Tunbridge, John ?Ferdred ("I addressed a note to you on an Invention connected with Etching... it is by the Gentleman who engraves all the present Bank of England notes..."); Robert Hurst (forwarding some scenes in West Cornwall and hoping that Cruikshank will favour them with 2 of his pictures); Maria Louisa Parkman (asking Cruikshank for money); Mary Ann Phillipps (grateful acknowledgement in recommending her petition to the Artists General Benevolent Institution), Colnaghi ("Mr Colnaghi's compliments to Mr Cruikshank and begs to know for how much he would dispose of the drawings of the comfortables, reserving... the right of publishing them himself" and a reply at head saying that the drawings have not yet gone to headquarters), most invitations from various committees (including: King Robert the Bruce Monument, The Grampian Club, National Temperance League, The Waterloo Band of Hope etc.), invitations to meet, to preside over various meetings, to give lectures etc., large pencil signature of Cruikshank and a printed memorial card for Cruikshank, 1878; also ephemera, including: printed titles and preliminaries from Dickens' Oliver Twist and Harrison Ainsworth's Guy Fawkes and Jack Sheppard, all "Extracted from Bentley's Miscellany", 1837-9, 1839 & 1841 etc., Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square, printed handbill, 1862, arranged partly chronologically and partly transcribed. organized into three folders, v.s., v.d., 1843-78 (c. 150).
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Dickens (Charles novelist, 1812-70) Autograph Letter signed to Sir William Douglas, "I will not finish the subject, as I have no doubt that my helping the celestial gentleman to a little more notoriety on earth would be highly acceptable to him" , 1p., with conjugate blank, 8vo, Strand, London, Office of All the Year Round headed note paper, Tuesday, 24th April 1860, folds, a few surface marks to edges, light offsetting.
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44
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6,000 - 8,000 GBP
Rorke's Drift.- Chard (John Rouse Merriott, Royal Engineers, V.C., 1847-97).- Illuminated address presented by "The Borough of Langport, Eastover [Somerset], 1st November, 1879", manuscript on vellum, framed and glazed, 570 x 435mm., 1879; and the original silk-lined presentation case, 1879, v.s. (2).
*** The defence of Rorke's Drift fought in the aftermath of the British defeat at Isandlwana by the warriors of the Zulu nation. After the battle, Chard, who was tasked with defending the flying bridges on the river, organised the defence along with Lieutenant G. Bromhead of the 24th foot and J. L. Dalton , acting assistant commissary. After heavy fighting the Zulu army "fell back on the appearance of the British 3rd column . The number of Zulu killed was more than 370 out of about 3000—the wounded were carried off. The British force had fifteen killed and twelve wounded." - (Oxford DNB). Eleven Victoria Crosses and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to survivors of Rorke's Drift.
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2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Rorke's Drift.- Chard (John Rouse Merriott, Royal Engineers, V.C., 1847-97).- A ddress to John Chard V.C., from "the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Taunton", for his role in the defence of Rorke's Drift, manuscript on vellum, signed by Meyer Jacobs, Mayor of Taunton, and the town clerk, with the Common Seal of the Borough of Taunton in red wax, old folds, 365 x 285mm., 3rd October 1879.
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5,000 - 7,000 GBP
Rorke's Drift.- Chard (John Rouse Merriott, Royal Engineers, V.C., 1847-97).- Illuminated address presented to John Chard R.E., V.C. by the "Inhabitants of North Curry, Othery [Somerset] and Neighbourhood, with which you and your family have been and are connected.... expression our admiration of your self-devotion, talent and gallantry in the Zulu War... saved the Colony of Natal from destruction and defended the honour of your Country... Presented the 3rd Day of October 1879", manuscript on vellum, black ink, with heading and words picked out "To Major John Rouse Merriott Chard ... "Rorkes Drift", "Zulu War", "Colony of Natal", "Victoria Cross", illuminated in gold, red, blue and purple, text within border of red and blue, with decoration in each corner of a Zulu shield and assegais and army pith helmet with crossed Union Jack flags, signed by 32 people (including the Chairman, Rev. Browne) beneath address , mounted on original wooden rollers, within original purple morocco cylinder case, in very fine condition, 530 x 430mm., 1879.
*** Chard's homecoming as announced in the local newspaper, "The hero of Rorke's Drift met with a cordial reception yesterday at North Curry, near Taunton. Nearly 4000 people assembled to welcome his arrival on a visit to his brother-in-law, Major Barrret. An illuminated address of congratulation and welcome was presented to Major Chard by the rector... a procession was then formed, and its line of march led through the village, which was profusely decorated with flags, flowers and arches of garlands".
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Berkshire, Aldermaston.- Keyser (Charles Edward, stockbroker and authority on English church architecture, 1847-1929) & Mary Emma Keyser. Aldermaston Court Visitors Book, 2 watercolour plans of Aldermaston Court bound before title, watercolour title, 2 watercolour and calligraphic preliminary pages and 101 pages of accomplished watercolours and signatures, of views and interiors of Aldermaston Court and its surrounding countryside, Aldermaston Mill, Aldermaston Village and church, some signed by the architect Brightwen Binyon or his initials (also signed as a guest), Amelia A Henning and Frederick E Robertson, signatures of visitors, including: Agnes Keyser (mistress of Edward VII, 1852-1941), other members of the Keyser family, members of the Sperling family, Shand, Bagnall, Holland-Hibbert, Phipps, Ricardo etc., 2 calligraphic items commemorating the Golden Wedding of Charles Edward & Mary Emma Keyser loosely inserted, later bookplate of Peter West on front free endpaper, handsomely bound in full straight-grained brown morocco with gilt decoration and lettered direct "Aldermaston Court Visitors Book 1894" with red onlays on the initials on upper cover, inner gilt dentelles, g.e., folio (340 x 272mm.), 1894-1929.
*** Aldermaston Court was built for Daniel Higford Davall Burr and designed by the architect Philip Hardwick. The estate was bought by Charles Keyser in 1893 for £160,000, a stockbroker with an interest in church architecture. Keyser's attention was drawn to Aldermaston by his sister Agnes Keyser, a long term friend of Edward VII who said that the court reminded her of her stay at Sandringham House. Part of the grounds later became RAF Aldermaston and today houses the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
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First commissioned woman in the British Army.- Bennett (Agnes, Australian medical practitioner, of 36 Morpeth Mansions, London, 1872-1960) Diary excerpts sent to her brother during the First World War and some wartime correspondence etc. 1916-17, 8 parts, typescript with autograph corrections, numerous pp., some loose, others working loose, original wrappers, edges chipped and torn, 280 x 210mm., n.d. [c. 1916-17]; and a copy of the printed book, Doctor Agnes Bennett, by Cecil & Celia Manson, 1960, v.s., v.d. (9).
*** The excerpts cover the years 1916-17 when Bennett was in charge of a unit of the Scottish Women's Hospitals on the Serbian front. "I went to Salonique on Thursday, 18th, and returned on 20th. I fear some disaffection in the army. They are thoroughly discontented with French authority and there are rumours of a plot against the Crown Prince - one can hardly think there would be a party to go over to the Germans, but really the pressure on them is terrible." - Bennett.
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![Calligraphic Manuscript.- Church of England.- The Litany [&] Occasional Prayers..., finely illumi...](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/8ab26272-290a-4ee7-8e5e-b2600107bdd5.jpg?h=175)
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1
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6,000 - 8,000 GBP
Calligraphic Manuscript.- Church of England.- The Litany [&] Occasional Prayers..., [Dedicated] To the Reverend Haim Hillel de Medailliers Nathanson, finely illuminated manuscript in gold, blue, red and other colours, on thick vellum, 53pp., text in black and red ink, page of signatures as subscribers bound in at end, 1f. with small smudge and another f. browned, handsomely bound in full red morocco, gilt, crosses in black and gilt morocco onlays in each corner on upper cover, housed in a black morocco box, 322 x 247mm., n.d. [c. 1950].
*** An extremely fine calligraphic manuscript depicting King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and her young family and a host of other portraits, decorations and symbols.
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Theatre.- Marriott (Raymond Bowler, drama critic for The Stage, 1911-92) Archive, comprising: (i) a ringbinder containing 59 autograph and typed letters; (ii) card folder containing c. 85 letters and cards plus a few additional leaves of notes; (iii) 4to scrapbook with 7 leaves of news cuttings (remainder of vol. blank); (iv) small folio scrapbook, pp. [vi index], 17-74 [cuttings], 89-100 blank; (v) envelope of 23 printed V&A theatre cards, with 6 typed letters from V&A curators; (vi) envelope of 58 small photographs & 4 sketches; (vii) 8vo album containing 32 small photographs (and another 2 loosely inserted); (viii) inscribed photograph of Sheila Hancock, c. 21 x 16cm., signed books (including 4 presentation copies signed by John Osborne, comprising "The Entertainer", "Time Present and the Hotel in Amsterdam", "The End of Me Old Cigar" (paperback) and "Almost a Gentleman", vol. II (paperback), v.s., v.d., 1925-80 (1 box).
*** An archive of papers belonging to the highly respected theatre critic Raymond Bowler Marriott. ‘RBM’ was the Chief Drama Critic of The Stage for around thirty years and was renowned for his ‘fair, outspoken but never cruel’ reviews (Wendy Trewin in The Independent, 12 January 1993).
Included in the archive is a folder of letters from theatrical figures, most writing to thank him for reviews, including: Michael Crawford; Sir Edward Elgar; Sir John Gielgud (2 letters, "I hope I may prove worthy of everybody’s respect in good time"); Marius Goring; Dame Sheila Hancock (7 letters and cards); Sir Ronald Harwood; Frankie Howerd; Kenneth More; Dame Anna Neagle (2, one on the death of her husband, 1977); Sir Laurence Olivier (6 letters, including an account of a visit to Moscow, 1973 and thanks for coverage of the National Theatre in The Stage); John Osborne; J.B. Priestley (2, "I can’t begin to talk about the Nobel Prize. It is far too large a subject. But … I will talk to you about the theatre and possibly films", 1933); Sir Ralph Richardson; Dame Flora Robson; Dame Margaret Rutherford; Sir Donald Sinden (2); Sam Wanamaker etc.
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Anne of Cleves ( Queen of England ).- Anno XXXII. Henrici Octavi. In the Parlyamente Begon at Westm. the xxviii of Apryll, the xxxii yeare of the reygne of the most excellente, most hyghe, and moste myghty prynce Henrye the eyght by the grace of God, kyng of England, & France ... , woodcut initials, black letter, abrasion mark to title foot where label removed, occasional faint spotting, small neat marginal ink note to H3, modern calf-backed boards, folio, Thomae Bertheleti, 1540.
*** Including "An acte declarying the dissilution of the kynges pretended mariage wyth the lady anne of Cleves."
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Cranmer (Thomas, Archbishop ) An Aunswere by the Reverend Father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury, Primate of all England and Metropolitane, unto a craftie and Sophisticall cauillation, deuised by Stephen Gardiner Doctour of Law, late Byshop of Winchester ... , second edition, black letter, one wood engraved plate only (of 2), woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, woodcut illustration to imprimatur at end, early ink inscription to title, occasional very neat red ink markings, occasional faint pencil marginal markings, ex-Nottingham Mechanics' Institute with bookplate obscured by modern endpapers, faint abrasion mark to front free endpaper where label removed, later calf, rebacked and recornered retaining original backstrip and calf, gilt shelfmark to spine foot, rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, folio, by John Daye, 1580.
*** Stephen Gardiner (1483-1555) was the Bishop of Winchester, and served as Mary Tudor's Lord Chancellor during the persecution of the Protestants. Cranmer's Aunswere , part of a controversy between Cranmer and Gardiner on the sacrament of communion, was first published by Wolfe in 1551.
This copy bound with one of the two plates called for, both of which are often lacking.
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![Hooker (Richard) Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie, first edition, John Windet, [1594]-97.](https://portal-images.azureedge.net/auctions-2025/forum-10452/images/a94e34da-9215-43b8-bec7-b2600107d1ef.jpg?h=175)
Hooker (Richard) Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie, first edition, 2 separate works bound together, each with woodcut device and ornament on title, first work lacking final blank, first title with tiny rust-hole, some small surface abrasion and margins repaired affecting ornament to head, both works with very occasional underlining or correction in ink or pencil, headlines a few times trimmed, few small marginal repairs, occasional soiling or small staining, some spotting and light browning, ex-library copy with bookplates and small ink-stamp to first title, modern cloth with library labels to upper cover, [Pforzheimer 498 & 499; STC 13712 & 13712.5], small folio, John Windet, [1594]-97.
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2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Douai Printing.- Holie Bible [The] faithfully translated into English out of the authentical Latin , 2 vol., first edition , errata leaf for both vol., lacking vol. 1 Tt1-4 and vol. 2 title, printed side-notes trimmed, front free endpapers and vol. 1 title becoming detached, very occasional light worming and foxing, occasional repairs to margins, sometimes affecting text, some damp- and other staining, some browning, ex-library copies with bookplates, ink-stamps to first f. of each vol., nineteenth-century half morocco, gilt insignia of Leeds Library to upper covers, library sticker to foot of spines, quite worn, [Herbert 300], small 4to, Douai, Laurence Kellam, 1609-[1610].
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2,000 - 3,000 GBP
Virgilius Maro (Publius) The Thirteene Bookes of Aeneidos..., translated by Thomas Phaer & Thomas Twyne , woodcut printer's device to title, woodcut headpieces and decorative initials, black letter , lacking final blank, small ink marking to foot of title and very occasional passage-marking, V1 tiny rust-hole within text, trimmed with loss to some headlines and printed side-notes and many signatures/catchwords, very occasionally trimmed into last line of text, few small marginal defects, occasional spotting or staining, including some ink-staining to final few ff., browning, ex-library copy with bookplate and small ink-stamp to title, upper hinge broken, later vellum, library sticker to spine foot, soiled, [cf. Pforzheimer 1028 (first complete edition); STC 24805a], small 4to, Bernard Alsop, 1620.
*** A scarce edition of this important translation, the first complete edition published in 1573. "Though not the first, Phaer's was the most popular of all Tudor translations" (Pforzheimer).
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Coleridge (Samuel Taylor) The Fall of Robespierre. An Historical Drama, first edition, proposal f. at end, title with small ink number and pencil library reference to head, B2 repaired tears to fore-edge with loss to couple letters to verso, occasional small staining, some light surface soiling, some old stab-holes to inner-margin, bound with numerous blank leaves at end, library bookplate, 19th century half morocco, small library sticker to spine foot, wear to corners, joints and extremities rubbed, [Wise Coleridge 1], 8vo, Cambridge, Benjamin Flower, 1794.
*** The first edition of Coleridge 's first published work. Rare at auction, we can trace only 3 copies appearing since 1977, of which one without the final proposal leaf. The work started out as a sort of dramatic game or competition between Coleridge , Robert Southey and Richard Lovell: they undertook to produce a tragedy on Robespierre in three acts, in one day, with each working on a single act. Lovell failed to produce his act, but Southey and Coleridge did. Coleridge eventually completed the work, and the present published version is the first work to appear under his name - with the agreement of Southey, Coleridge 's was the only name to appear on the title page.
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Coleridge (Samuel Taylor) Christabel : Kubla Khan , a Vision; The Pains of Sleep, first edition, with half-title and all fly-titles but lacking 4pp. advertisements at end, half-title slightly creased at upper corner, C1 chip to lower margin, occasional underlining and a few marginal scribbles in pencil, some soiling and staining, bound with numerous blank leaves at end, library bookplate, 19th century half morocco, small library sticker to spine foot, some wear to corners, joints and extremities rubbed, [Wise Coleridge 32], for John Murray, 1816; and a uniformly bound third edition of Coleridge's Remorse (1813), 8vo (2)
*** The first printings of three of Coleridge's most celebrated poems.
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Chaucer (Geoffrey) The Workes , largely printed in black letter and double column, title within fine woodcut border, engraved portrait, woodcut divisional titles, full-page arms, illustration at head of Knight's Tale and numerous initials, foxed and browned, sig.3R misbound, 2 leaves in sig 4A duplicated, old manuscript notes on front free endpaper, lacking final leaf (?blank), small hole in c5, later calf, gilt, rubbed, rebacked, [Pforzheimer 177; STC 5079], folio, Geor. Bishop, 1598.
*** A handsome copy of the first Speight edition which was also the first to include a portrait of Chaucer. Speight's glossary is the first printed glossary of Middle English.
Provenance: James Bindley (armorial bookplate).
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1,500 - 2,000 GBP
Plinius Secundus (Gaius) The Historie of the World , 2 vol. in 1, first edition in English , translated by Philemon Holland, woodcut device on titles, vol.1 Aa5 lower margin repaired, vol.2 H4 tear just into text block, Y4 small hole with slight loss of text, occasional light staining, generally clean and crisp, contemporary calf, gilt, rebacked and recornered, rubbed, lacking ties, [STC 20029], folio, Printed by Adam Islip, 1601.
*** Provenance: John Renshaw (early ink inscription to title); J.A. Knowles Renshaw (later bookplate).
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Ammianus (Marcellinus) The Roman Historie... , translated by Philemon Holland, first edition in English, woodcut device on title, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces, title a little soiled, occasional light damp-staining, modern calf, some rubbing to foot of spine, [STC 17311], folio, Adam Islip, 1609 . *** The last major Roman history translated by the most celebrated Elizabethan translator of the classics.
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