Dickens: Manuscripts & Paper Collectibles, Letter (55 results)

Pamphlet. 7p., stapled wraps, 5.5 x 8.25 inches, small sticker scar on front wrap else very good condition.

Pamphlet. 7p., stapled wraps, 5.5x8.5 inches, very good condition.

thanking her for writing, and returning her bookplate signed, 1 side 8vo., 3326 Volta Place, N.W., Washington, D.C., no date, c. Eileen Cond was a book collector who sent out her bookplate to her favourite authors, many of whom signed and returned them to her. Among the most notable was Ian Fleming.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On one side of 9 x 6 cm piece section from a letter and laid down on slightly larger and thicker piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: '[.] / to subscribe myself / Your faithful Servant / W. Harrison Ainsworth. / Kensal Manor House, / Harrow Road. / March Four. 1843.' See IMage.

12mo, 1 p. 10 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The recipient 'had better be in Town for the Choral Meeting on the 4th. June'. Gives details of when the recipient will 'generally find' Hullah there.

1p., 12mo. Bifolium. On aged and worn paper, diagonally folded with remains of red wax seal on reverse of second leaf, which is addressed to 'Richard Eales Esqre | &c &c &c | Exeter'. The letter begins: 'Sir Peter Laurie presents his compliments to Mr Eales & request his acceptance of the accompanying pamphlet'. He asks Eales 'to place (at his convenience) the other two copies in the hands of the Gentlemen to whom they are officially directed'. The pamphlet referred to is '"Killing No Murder:" or, The effects of separate confinement on the bodily and mental condition of prisoners in the government prisons and other gaols in Great Britain and America.' (1846). For more on Laurie see his entry in the Oxford DNB.

12mo, 2 pp. Bifolium. 12 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He would 'much like' to show him a song he has written for 'Exeter Hall', and proposes dinner the following day. In a postscript asks if he has 'learnt anything about R. J. S. Stevens'.

On one side of 8 x 18.5 cm piece of paper, torn from the end of a letter. In fair condition, aged and worn, with traces of brown paper from mount adhering to the blank reverse. The item would appear to be entirely in the hand of the Earl, but the matter is not quite certain, and it may be in a secretarial hand, with only Cork's signature in autograph. It reads: '[.] | Sir | Your Royal Highness's | very obedient | and very humble Servant | Cork | Col | [Som.?] Reg.] Addressed to 'His R. H. | The Duke of York | &c &c &c'. Annotated, in two separate contemporary hands: 'Novr. 1795' and 'Nov. 1795.'.

1p, 16mo. On 14 x 11 cm piece of paper, with margins apparently cut down. Aged, and with slight damage to two words of text caused by removal from mount.At the time of writing Faucit's successful career had been interrupted by the recurrence of a lung condition, necessitating recuperation at a seaside resort. She has evidently asked Talfourd to contribute to an autograph album, soliciting the following response: 'Mr. Serjeant Talfourd presents his best compliments to Miss Helen Faucit and has endeavoured to comply with her flattering wish by adding to her collection of admiring tributes some poor verses which express sincere wishes; - and only regrets that her present state of health should impart more earnestness to these wishes than consists with entire pleasure in expressing them. He trusts, however, that he shall very soon have the satisfaction of knowing that in her perfect restoration to health his wishes and those of all who know her are fulfilled.'.

See his entry, and that of Pettigrew, in the Oxford DNB. Easthope was a difficult employer, nicknamed 'Blast-hope'. Dickens worked for him as a parliamentary reporter between 1834 and 1836. 1p, 12mo, on recto of first leaf of a bifolium. In fair condition, aged and discoloured. Reads: 'My dear Pettigrew / Will you please to leave out Lancaster letter which I'll send for tomorrow / haste / Yrs. / J E / Sunday'. The letter is addressed on the reverse of the second leaf, with slight loss to one corner from the breaking of the red wax seal. Black 'BARNET' postmark and customary frank in red. Franked in the customary fashion: 'Barnet June five / 1831 / T. J Pettigrew Esqr / 8 Savile Row / London', with the signature at bottom left: 'Sir J Easthope'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'My dear Sir/ | I think it is the 28th. thar you proposed to come to me & I hope that you & Mrs. Farrer may find it not interfering with more agreeable please to stay at least till the following Monday or Tuesday Aug 1st'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged. He writes that he has had 'a very fine p' sent to him, and asks if Pearson might accept it. 'If you dont care about it yourself you may have friends here to whom you might like to give it. Only, unluckily, I must have back the top'. He ends with a complaint regarding a 'Bronchial cough'.

See the two men's entries in the Oxford DNB. The present item, is on one side of an 11 x 6.5 cm slip of paper, cut from a letter and laid down on a 12.5 x 8 cm piece of card. In good condition, lightly aged. Very slightly smudged by Leech. Reads: '[.] very low. until I see / you Believe me / Yours Ever Faithfully / John Leech. / Martin . F. Tupper Esq / &c. &c. &c.' See Image. Leech illustrated at least one book by Tupper ("The Crock of Gold").

An amusing and entertaining letter from a man destined for 'une triste vie et une triste ministère' (see his entry in the Oxford DNB). 3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. Thirty-seven lines of text, neatly and closely written. In fair condition, worn and grubby. Folded twice for postage. Signed 'Fred: W: Robertson'. Begins: 'My dear Miss Smith / Could you but see the piles of books & papers that are as yet only partially disinterred from their temporary coffins you would conceive my dismay and despair at your question. I will become a disciple of Comte to please you. Nay - even believe in Mesmerism to appease your Sister - provided it implies merely the profoundest conviction of her magnetic powers - only do not press this terrible demand.' He asks her to assure her 'clerical friend' that 'Monsieur Comte is an atheist - & that Dr. M's niece has demonstrated Mesmerism to be Satanic'. Once he has got his 'things in order', he will do his best to 'assist you in your atheistical & your Sister in her demonological investigations, by sending you the treatises on those interesting subjects which are missing'. In the meantime he throws himself upon the 'well-known clemency of the celestial sex'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. The letterhead has been cut away from the first leaf, taking with it the number of the month, but not affecting the text; otherwise fair, on lightly-aged paper. Marston invites Cole to 'a pleasant little meeting of some of our friends and contributors at the Office': 'We are altogether a Bachelor Party and as free from formality as a set of Australian Bush Men or Gold-diggers'. Saunders has also written 'begging the pleasure' of Cole's company. He ends by sending his regards to Cole's daughter, whom he hopes has 'recovered from her cough'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Attached by one corner to a leaf from an autograph album. 23 lines of text in a difficult hand. He thanks him for his 'notice in L, & for the long & valuable as well as kind & flattering notice of my Novels'. He considers that the review is 'written with great talent - & is altogether the best of the kind notices of these works which I can remember to have seen'. He invites him down to Knebworth and asks whether he has 'succeeded with Lord Malm[esbur]y'. He offers help, adding 'I have never interfered about our journals, finding my general views as to the conduct to be adopted with regard to them were not accepted'.

12mo, 2 pp. 24 lines. Text clear and complete. He finds, 'upon reconsideration', that the conversation he referred to that afternoon took place two days later, and regrets that he gave Barrow 'the unnecessary trouble of sending for papers in error; & possibly attributing an inattention to the Gentleman employed at the time as a Reporter'. If there is any 'Sketch of the Debate in question' in the 'Mirror of Parliament' Inglis 'expects to see it: - if none be given, He encloses a sketch of what he believes himself to have said; with a memory of something said by Mr Grattan, & Mr Spring Rice.' Dickens worked on Barrow's staff at the 'Mirror of Parliament' for four years in the 1830s.

3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with traces of paper from mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. Written in his usual difficult hand. He begins by stating that her note was forwarded to him from Knebworth. The letter continues: 'I had previously requested my Sol[icito]r. to arrange some plan, if possible by which the [tenets?] of the Deed might be performed without your intervention, or occasioning you any personal [trouble?] &c.' The solicitor has informed Lytton that he has 'not quite effected that object in a mode which will [?] you from all anxiety.' A reference to 'Mr. Greene' follows, and he continues by explaining why he was 'desirous of this', with a possible and only partially-legible reference to his long-suffering wife (as 'Lady L'?) and 'the mother'. He ends in the hope that she will visit him at Knebworth. From the papers of Lady Ann Cullum (1807-1875), wife of Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (1777-1855) of Hardwick House.

The present item gives an indication of the high spirits, though hardly the 'brilliant wit', which, according to Quin's entry in the Oxford DNB, afforded him a welcome to high society. 3pp, 16mo. Bifolium, with second leaf slightly damaged at foot by removal from mount. The body of the letter reads: 'Dear Jesse / Don't you or your fair friends forget Supper at Vun Undred and Vunety Vun Mount Street tomorrow Saturday night at 11 oclock or as soon after it as you can come. / N.B. "No Dogs admitted on these premises under a severe fine & penalty." / thine & my unhappy Country / God save the Quin.' Longish postscript asks to know when he is 'likely to arrive - so that a hot dish I have ordered may not be spilt by waiting. Do you understand Eh?' See image of pp.2/3.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to 'Leicester Buckingham Esq'. Bentley writes that the matter of Buckingham's life of Mary Queen of Scots is 'just now brought to [his] attention'. 'If you are passing this way any day between 12 and 2 o'C you will be sure to find me, or my son, who will be able to discuss the subject with you'. He finds that he 'paid to Mr Wageman for a copy of the Miniature of the Queen executed for yuou at your desire, £3 . 3. 0', and asks to be sent this. Bentley had published Buckingham's 'Memoirs of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland' in 1844, and it may be that at the time of writing a second edition was contemplated.

2 SS. 8vo. An den Maler, Kunstautor und Sekretär der Society of Graphic Arts Frank L. Emmanuel (18651948): In turning over my papers, which had been sadly disarranged by the hand of a new servant, I have this morning come across a letter from you in which you convey the kind invitation of the Society of Graphic Art that I should become an Original Honorary Member. Although the communication had been opened, I fear I must have failed to read its contents or to grasp its purpose, otherwise I certainly should not have delayed in accepting this invitation and thanking the members of the Society for the honour they propose to offer me [.]". Auf Briefpapier mit gedr. Adresse.

According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, 'In 1844 Lover abandoned miniature painting as a result of failing eyesight but continued to paint and exhibit landscapes. He invented a new form of entertainment which he called Irish Evenings, a monologue of songs, recitations, and stories, all of his own composition. These he performed at the Princess's Concert Rooms, London.' Between 1846 and 1848 he toured North America with great success. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice. The letter begins: 'Mr. Lover, with much respect and sincere thanks to Sir Thomas & Lady Cullum for the honor they so kindly propose to him, regrets that the shortness of his stay and urgency of his occupation interfere to prevent his enjoying the pleasure which the acceptance of Sir Thomas and Lady Cullum's invitation would cause him.' He explains that he has sung 'at Hanover Square Rooms on Monday at Cambridge last night and, after travelling to-day and his exertion of this evening, with an early entertaintment [sic] tomorrow, before him an immediate retirement to rest after this evenings exertion is indispensible'. Consequently he must 'content himself with the Hotel of Bury instead of enjoying the honor of the hospitality of Hardwicke [sic]'. He hopes that 'Sir Thomas will assure Mr. [Petre?] how sensible Mr Lover is of the honor of his invitation, but as Mr. Lover, is obliged on his days of public engagement to dine very early, and very sparingly, he cannot have the pleasure of being made Mr. [Petre's?] guest'.

Both items in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE (letter): 1p., 12mo. In a neat and elegant hand, it reads: 'Tuesday Night | Dear Laura | I send the tickets; as Goldsmith sent the portion of Lord Clare's haunch of venison to Sir Joshua - | "To paint it or eat it, whichever he pleased" | I am glad you like the Philharmonia | Your affecte. Friend | John Hullah'. TWO (cutting of sheet music): Written in pencil on one side of a 6.5 x 15 cm piece of paper, docketted 'Written by John Hullah 1861 | for '. With a few words in Hullah's hand at head.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged, with tissue labels from mount adhering to the blank reverse. Tinsley Brothers of 8 Catherine Street, Strand, were Ainsworth's publishers during this period. The letter begins: 'Dear Mr. Tinsley, | You are quite incorrigible.' Ainsworth complains that Tinsley has sent him a letter, 'delayed since Novr. 11th. last', and that he has 'been obliged to write a long letter of explanation and apology'. He hopes that 'the lady for the writer is a lady will be satisfied'. In a postscript he complains that the printers Savile & Edwards 'seem to have come to a stop. No proofs reach me.'.

Toole's entry in the Oxford DNB describes how 'Toole was desolate, and his health broke', after the Tooles' twenty-two year-old daughter Florence died from typhoid fever on in November 1888, contracted a week before when visiting her parents who were performing at Cork. Her mother, Toole's wife Susan, died three and a half months later, in February 1889. Both letter and card are in good condition. They are enclosed in a grubby envelop, with stamp and postmarks, addressed to 'David Cunningham Esq / Belmont / Antrim / Ireland'. Letter and envelope have thick mourning border. ONE: ALS. 1 March 1889. 1p, 12mo. Signed 'J. L. Toole'. He thanks him for his 'kind and sympathetic letter - the loss of my dear Wife and Daughter has been a terrible blow to me', and he is going abroad for a few weeks. TWO: Lithographic portrait of Toole in character, on 7.5 x 11 cm card. Publishers' slug at bottom left, in tiny capitals: '"INK PHOTO." SPRAGUE & CO. LONDON.' It depicts Toole dressed as a Victorian schoolmaster, with wing-collar shirt and mortar board, with right hand holding up pince-nez to his eyes. Beneath the photograph, in a facsimile of Toole's handwriting: 'Yours truly "The Don" / J. L. Toole'. See image.

LETTER: 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged and worn paper. Kitton writes that he has received two copies of the Book Buyer for March, and is 'much interested' in it for two reasons: 'Mrs. Garlands flattering comments upon myself and my work', and 'a very generous notice of my latest Dickens production'. He finds illustrations 'excellently reproduced', and praises 'the careful attention that has obviously been bestowed upon the preparation of both blocks and letterpress'. Turning to another matter, he notes 'a query (no. 346)' on p.151, and wishes to provide 'an adequate reply': 'The satire to which "D. M." evidently alludes assumed the form of an unsigned article entitled "Who Wrote Dickens?", published in Macmillan's Magazine, June 1886.' He describes it as an 'elaborate jeu d'esprit' which 'satirises a paper that appeared in the Nineteenth Century of the previous month, the writer of which endeavoured to prove that Bacon confused Shakespeare's Plays.' He adds that the reply, the authorship of which 'has been attributed to Mr. Andrew Lang', 'declares with apparent seriousness, that Dickens was but the amanuensis of Mr Herbert Spencer, and that the latter (not Darwin, as intimated by "D. M.") was the actual author of "Pickwick," etc.' CARD: With postage stamp and three postmarks. Addressed 'To the Editor of The Book Buyer, | Messrs. C. Scribner's Sons | New York City | U. S. A.' Headed 'Reply to Query 352.' Regarding the 'meaning of Thackeray's expression "my yellow books"', he writes that it is 'traceable to the fact that when his novels originally appeared in serial form each number was contained in a yellow wrapper, to distinguish them, probably, from Dickens's stories, which were similarly published in parts with green wrappers.'.

The subject of this article is discussed by William M. Johnston, in his article 'William Kinglake's "A Summer in Russia": A Neglected Memoir of Saint Petersburgh in 1845' (TSLL, Spring 1967). The memoir was published anonymously by Ainsworth in the New Monthly Magazine, of which he was editor and proprietor, in three parts, but a German translation in the same year revealed Kinglake's identity. See the entries for Ainsworth and Kinglake in the Oxford DNB. An interesting letter, casting light on Victorian journalistic practices. 4pp, 12mo. Forty lines of text. On a bifolium. In fair condition, aged and worn, with strips of paper adhering to blank areas at head and foot of the reverse of the second leaf. Folded for postage. The recipient is not named. Signed 'W. Harrison Ainsworth.' Begins: 'My dear Sir. I received your Russian Tour at breakfast this morning, and since then I have read it with great interest - an unusual instance for me, for extensive familiarity with manuscripts has not tended to increase my partiality for them. But your paper is not only well written, but very lively and amusing, and I have got through it with great satisfaction to myself. Under these circumstances you will not wonder that I gladly accept it for the New Monthly; and I only regret that I cannot, owing to the Mag[azin]e. being already made up, commence in next No.' He will however 'send the paper incontinently to the Printer, with directions to him to forward proofs' to the writer's address. He suggests dividing the paper 'into chapters with separate headings'. He asks how he proposes to 'entitle it', and whether he wishes to attach his name to it. He would be pleased to make his acquaintance, and suggests that they dine at the Parthenon Club in Regent Street the following Friday, 'when we can talk matters over'. If that is not possible, he suggests that they dine 'here, en famille, on Sunday next at six, likewise'. See Image.

Talfourd's entry in the Oxford DNB notes that he was 'particularly loved' by Dickens, and that he 'provided the archetype of the idealistic Tommy Traddles in David Copperfield; his children Frank and Kate gave their names to two youngsters in Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby.' The subject of the letter is the actor Henry Thomas Betty (1819-1897), son of 'the young Roscius' Henry Betty (1791-1874), whose entry in the ODNB also see. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged, and with slight traces of mount on reverse. Folded for postage. Begins: 'My dear Sir, / Mr. Henry Betty, the Son of the sometime famed young Roscius, is about to perform in your Town; - and, among other parts, proposes to try that of Thoas in my Play of "The Athenian Captive". He is a very meritorious youth; - and if you should know any play-going people (now alas! a small remnant) in the neighbourhood whom you could inspire with a wish to see him either in that or in better parts, you would very much oblige, My dear Sir, / Your's most truly / T N Talfourd'. See Image.

See Wendy Trewin, 'The Royal General Theatrical Fund: a history, 1838-1988' (1989), and Macqueen-Pope's entry in the Oxford DNB. ONE: Carbon copy of letter from Macqueen-Pope to Allen, 15 May 1953, with three drafts of advertisement. 4pp, 4to. On four leaves. The letter, on the first page, is somewhat grubby, with rust spotting from paper clip, the other three leaves, each of which carries a proposed version of the advertisment, in good condition, lightly aged. The letter begins: 'Dear Jack Allen, / Herewith three rough samples for the proposed advertisement concerning the Fund. We should of course add the name of Leslie Henson as President, wherever you think best. I will try and knock out a few more. They are intended as basic ideas only and can be altered by the Board or discarded altogether.' He is 'down with a sharp attack of bronchitis' and is 'Not by any means out of the wood yet'. He believes the 'lack of new recruits' is because 'they do not think the Pensino good enough. People today think in very different terms of money to those we knew. And that I fear is our great problem.' One draft begins: 'You Belong to the / Most Precarious Profession in the World / You Cannot Do Anything about that / BUT / You Can Provide for Yourself and / Face the Future. [last word deleted and replaced in MP's autograph with 'Years to Come'] / That is the reason for / The Royal General Theatrical Fund / It is the Profession's Own Way of / Safeguarding the Future / Get into touch with the Secretary at / 11 Garrick Street. London W.C.2 / Phone / The Younger You Join the Less You Pay / And there is a Secured Income for you at Sixty / Not only that - you never lose what you have paid in. / Youth's A Thing Will Not Endure - so Shakespeare said / but / The Royal General Theatrical Fund will take care of / Your Old Age.' Another version begins 'You Are Young Now. Old Age Seems a Long Way off. / But is it? / You will be surprised how quietly and relentlessly it approaches. / Old Age is a serious thing to those who belong to / The Theatrical Profession.' It ends '[Pr]ivacy. Proficiency. Providence.' TWO: Corrected draft of circular, 27 November 1957. 1p, 4to. Typewritten letter, with list of 'BUSINESS.' Reads 'Dear Sir or Madam, / The usual monthly meeting of the Directors will be held here on Wednesday, 4th December, 1957, at 12 noon. / Trusting you will be able to be present, / I am, / Yours faithfully, / J. MAYHEW ALLEN, / Secretary.' The 'BUSINESS', which include ' "My Fair Lady" benefit performance' and 'Elsie Coram', have been deleted in pencil and replaced in MP's autograph with 'Wolfit / Robert [Ormsby?] / Peter Ustinov / Richardson / Michael Redgrave'. Above this is written 'Mrs Long'. After the body of the letter MP has written, in ink, 'W. Macqueen-Pope Esq'. See Image.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. With Cruikshank's splendid sprawling signature. Addressed to 'C. Le Motte Esq' and beginning: 'Sir, | Professor Wheatstone did not lay the wire across the Thames as he proposed to do, on account of the "Trawling" in that River and also finding some trouble in obtaining permission from the Lord Mayor as "Conservator of the Thames" - In 1840 he had all the plans and apparatus ready and in 1844 he in company with the Member for Swansea [i.e. John Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810-1882)] laid down a "Submarine Telegraph" in the Bay of Swansea.' The letter ends with a brief description of the method employed 'with perfect success'. See Cruikshank's long letter in The Times, 15 October 1866, describing, as 'a friend of Mr. Wheatstone', 'his part in the discovery and introduction of the electric telegraph'.