There are 86082 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe17th c receipt manuscript receipt dated 1634 signed by Sir William Russell in the sum of £50 payable to the Earl of Pembroke – to whom with his brother the First Folio of Shakespeare was dedicated. Sir William Russell, of Strensham Court, Worcestershire was at this time treasurer of the Navy.
London – the ‘New River’ printed document with ms insertions dated September 13th 1693 being an agreement to supply water to a London house owned by Edmund Phillips from the supply known as the ‘New River’, on a single leaf of oblong folio vellum in good condition. The ‘New River’ was a remarkable construction project for the time – being the creation of an artificial channel of fresh water from Chadwell and Amwell in Hertfordshire, into the heart of London. Those who could afford it could pay for a direct supply piped to their own homes. In this case the homeowner paid a rental of £4 per year which in today’s money would be about £350. The New River is still a feature of the London area today, with water still supplied from the Chadwell Spring, with features of the channel providing picturesque areas of parkland in suburban London. Documents of this age relating to the New River are uncommon on the market.
Maritime – Yachting a sumptuous logbook for the Yacht Pleiad – the pride and joy of Lt Col Richard Leslie Birkin DSO, for the years 1912-14, large oblong folio, red morocco binding with gilt title. The log is written in a number of hands and provides a very full account of the day to day activities during the Yacht’s many voyages. Incidents include inspecting the yacht belonging to Winston Churchill, encountering the Royal German Yacht, an account of a Yacht Regatta, and an account of the King’s Review of the Fleet at Spithead. There are many photographs of people connected with the yacht and places they visited, mainly on the south and south west coasts.
A locksmith’s apprentice indenture on a single leaf of oblong folio parchment dated 1854 being an apprenticeship indenture for Thomas Smith to be apprentice to the famous Wolverhampton based locksmith John Chubb, partially printed document with ms insertions, signed and sealed by Chubb, as well as Thomas Smith and his father John. A famous name in locks, which is still a leading name today.
WWII – German propadanda – ‘Germany Calling’ an original programme sheet for the notorious ‘Germany Calling’ broadcasts made by the Germans throughout the war and featuring the broadcasts of William Joyce – ‘Lord Haw-Haw’. This one covers January 19-25 1941 and features broadcasts by Joyce and other Nazi sympathisers and British Fascists. Printed on one side of a folio sheet, some minor fraying but otherwise good – and of exceptional rarity.
WWII – The ‘Canadian Fuhrer’ discusses his imprisonment during WWII – British, American and Canadian Fascists long typewritten letter signed by Adrien Arcand, the Canadian ‘Fuhrer’ dated July 1946, to Beamish, 1.5 pp folio, with further typescript addition by Arnold Leese. An important letter discussing his arrest and incarceration during WWII : ‘...apart from a few individual outbursts of meanness , narrow mindedness and nastiness which I never bothered about reporting, the general treatment given us was fair on the whole, though within the strict regulations of jail and concentration camp. For me it were five God-sent years of thought, meditation, prayer, pondering and rest...’
Military – Scotland manuscript document dated November 26th 1796 being a petition from the West Lowland Fencibles and the Royal Westminster Militia to the Duke of Gloucester, Major General Commanding Sunderland Barracks, expressing their heartfelt sorry at their ‘very un-soldier like conduct and unmanly behaviour’ and humbly begging that they may once again be allowed to go to town as usual. 2pp folio some slight water staining but totally legible throughout. The West Lowland Fencibles were a military unit now somewhat obscure to history. They were formed along with other similarly named regiments to form a Lowland Military barrier in the wake of the Highland Rebellion in 1745. From the nature of this document there appears to have been some sort of affray between the Fencibles and an English regiment of Militia also stationed at Sunderland. The Fencibles were moved after this to Newcastle where the following year exactly the same thing happened this time involving the Cheshire Militia – the following day the Cheshire men were completely absolved of any blame.
Crime and Punishment – Westminster 18th c – the Night Watch. A Proposal for regulating the nightly watch within the City of Westminster and to make those that are now of little service and a great burthen upon the Housholders the most useful men and the best night guard in the Kingdom and to prevent the frequent Robberies and Riots committed in the Streets. Printed document on 4pp folio, no date, but 18th c, fine condition. An important step forward in developing what was eventually to become the Police Force. Although this document is unsigned, it is written as a personal proposal with fully costed accounts at the end. It is quite possible that the author of this document was Henry Fielding, the celebrated author and the founder of the Bow Street Runners. A similar proposal known to have been made by Fielding emerged at around the same time as this document, and it is coincidental to say the least that two such documents would have emerged from different proposers.
Ephemera – Customs and Excise – Maritime – Liverpool – printed Bill of Entry for the Port of Liverpool Customs dated May 2nd 1825, on two sides of a large folio sheet, listing all the ships that entered the port on that day with cargo, trading companies etc, together with similar details on goods outwards, one small hole and two small stains but otherwise in good condition. Providing considerable information on trade at the time. Together with two engraved prints c early 19th c showing the Custom House in London.
Ephemera – Customs and Excise volume dated 1726, issued during the reign of George II entitled The Book of Rates, and containing every Act of Parliament with associated printed documentation issued since the reign of Charles II, detailing all the laws concerning customs and excise with rates payable etc etc. Folio, 944 pp plus alphabetical index, original leather binding, covers in an ‘as used’ condition, but interior contents good.
London Churches printed document, no date but probably early 18th c entitled ‘An Account of the Endowments by a Pound rate of Churches in London and of such New Churches within the Bills of Mortality, the Parishes whereof have been taken out of the larger Parishes’, 1p folio fine condition, listing various churches in London with remarks on income received by them. Together with a printed copy of ‘His Majesties Commission for building fifty news churches’ [1727], blue wrappers in fine condition, 11pp 8vo.
Popish Plot – Ecclesiastical – Roman Catholics 17th c The Papists Bloudy After Game or a Vindication of the High Court of Parliament in their Proceedings and sentence upon William late Viscount Stafford in answer to a scandalous and traitorous libel called Stafford’s Memoirs. London 1682. Folio 32pp. An important pamphlet on the Popish Plot. Stafford, a Royalist had been implicated by Titus Oates, and was put on trial for Treason. His show trial – at which he was denied counsel and also many of his own witnesses had been imprisoned so they couldn’t testify – condemned him to hanging drawing and quartering, but this was commuted to beheading by Charles II.
The beginnings of the English Civil war – James I and the Wars with Spain an Act for the Grant of three intire subsidies and three Fifteenes and Tenths granted by the Temporaltie. 1624. Printed black letter Act of Parliament, early calf binding, with contemporary annotation throughout, 40pp folio. An important Act in the last year of the Reign of James I. After the disastrous envoy to Spain by Buckingham, the King’s homosexual favourite and Charles Prince of Wales, a Parliament was summoned in order to vote supplies for a war with Spain. The costs were enormous, and Lord Treasurer Cranfield objected. As a result, Buckingham offered Cranfield to Parliament and he was tried mainly for corruption, convicted, degraded, fined and made to make over his favourite house in Chelsea to Buckingham. With Parliament in the ascendency – because the King needed the money – various reforms were put through which were to provide some of the bases of Parliamentary muscle in the advent of the Civil War. The King asked for the necessary, but exorbitant and unprecedented amount of six subsidies from Parliament – prompting the reaction that Elizabeth I had only asked for two to fight to Armada in 1588. In the event both sides compromised, and three were eventually requested and granted. This moment in history, however, can be seen as one of the pivotal events which were eventually to lead to the bloodshed of the Civil War.
English Civil War – Oliver Cromwell A Catalogue and Collection or all those Ordinances, Proclamations, Declarations &c which have been printed and published since the Government was established in His Highness the Lord Protector (viz) from Decem. 16. 1653 unto Septemb.3. 1654 With their several Dates and Dependencies, comprised in a less volume than afore for the better use and benefit of the Reader. London, printed by William Du-Gard and Henry Hills 1654. Boards showing weakness but interior contents generally good. Folio 255pp. Scarce. We have not located another copy of this highly important document on the market at present. The first part of the publication lists all of Cromwell’s laws by date. This includes the text of the declaration of Parliament which set the constitution and also the oath which Cromwell took to become Lord Protector (see lot 348). Other matters include the disposal of sequestered estates (belonging to Royalists), a definition of Treason, an Act forbidding the planting of Tobacco in England, the Act of Pardon for the Scots (following Cromwell’s successful military campaigns, the Ordinance for uniting Scotland into one Commonwealth with England, the Ordinance banning horse racing, and the Ordinance establishing the postal service.
English Civil War – State protection for Oliver Cromwell An Act for the security of His Highness the Lord Protector His person, and continuance of the nation in peace and safety. Dated September 17th 1656. Folio 11pp unbound in good condition. An important Act following several plots to assassinate Cromwell. The text lists a considerable number of names of people who had been appointed to undertake the examination and judgement on those apprehended in connection with any plot against Cromwell.
English Civil War – Oliver Cromwell An Act and declaration touching several Acts and Ordinances made since the Twentieth of April 1653. Folio disbound, 20pp. Wing E976. An interesting Act whereby measures brought in by Cromwell which he hadn’t bother to get ratified by Parliament became effectively ratified. These included the Act banning cock fighting, the Act unifying Scotland into one Commonwealth with England, an Act banning duelling, as well as measures aimed at former Royalists and their estates.
English Civil War – an excessively rare printed handbill demonstrating the chaos which followed the fall of Richard Cromwell The Engagement and Remonstrance of the City of London, subscribed by 23500 hands, dated 1659. One side of a folio sheet, neatly laid to an album page, in good condition. A remarkable and excessively rare document. This was almost certainly secretly printed and recent research has ascribed it to the mercurial Sir Roger L’Estrange, who about this time was responsible for the production of what can be reasonably regarded as the world’s first newspapers. This is in effect a desperate plea from the Citizens of London to have the excessive numbers of troops and militia companies apart from those that properly belonged to the guard, removed from the City within 12 hours. It is estimated that this was issued in December 1659, at the very end of the brief rule of Richard Cromwell as Lord Protector when the country was in turmoil and in real danger of falling into marshal law. The troops had not been paid during the time of Richard’s rule and were understandably furious. In the political vacuum which hastened the end of Richard’s rule, thousands of troops had converged on the City of London and their presence was badly affecting trade. The chances of a military coup were imminent, and it was only the swift actions of George Monck who engineered the return of King Charles II that the crisis finally was stabilised.
English Civil War – Charles II – The Restoration – The Act of Free and General Pardon for the Civil War An Act of free and general pardon indemnity and oblivion dated April 25th 1660, Printed Act of Parliament in the name of Charles II, folio 16pp unbound good condition. Perhaps the most important Act of the whole Restoration. This is actually dated before Charles II returned to his Throne, and was a major part of the agreement the exiled King had with Parliament in order to effect his return. By this Act, Charles extended a free pardon to anyone who had taken up arms against the Royalist cause in the Civil War and thus brought total closure to the strife which had riven the country since 1642. However, there were to be exceptions and those who were to face the full force of the King’s retribution were listed in this Act. The first on the list were the ‘Regicides’ those who had signed the death warrant of Charles I. Then, unusually, the two executioners were also to be condemned, as were the Judges at the King’s trial – but the King’s vengeance didn’t end there. Also excluded from this Act are those who acted against Charles I and who were by this time dead – and chief of these was Oliver Cromwell, who is named in this document. On his return, Charles II had the body of Cromwell exhumed from his tomb in Westminster Abbey and had it displayed on a spike in the City of London until whatever remained of it, rotted away. Together with An Act for the more speedy and effectual bringing those persons to accompt whose accompts are excepted in the Act of Oblivion.
Scotland – Reign of Queen Anne – The ‘Scottish Plot’ The Earl of Bute’s own copy The Humble Representation of the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual & Temporal in Parliament Assembled, Presented to Her Majesty on Tuesday the Eighteenth day of January 1703 and Her Majesties most gracious answer thereunto, folio small stain on title page, 12pp unbound, bearing the bookplate of James Earl of Bute to inside cover. This is devoted entirely to what became known as ‘The Scottish Plot’ – yet another intrigue involving France and the Jacobites – by this time embodied in the son of James II, known to the Jacobites as ‘James VIII’ and to the non-Jacobites as ‘The Old Pretender’. The intrigue also involved Simon Frazer, who, later in the century was, as Lord Lovat, one of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s major supporters – and who lost his head after Culloden as a result.
An important manuscript on Kingship [James II] – Autograph – Sir Edward Lutwyche manuscript signed ‘E Lutwyche’ being his opinion over whether a Sovereign has the power to overrule an Act of Parliament, no date but c1686. Folio, 3pp written in a sloping hand with integral blank page, modern boards. This opinion was almost certainly prompted by the case of Sir Edward Hales, a Catholic, who had not received Sacrament within three months of being admitted to the rank of Colonel of a foot regiment, not taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. James II issued Hales by way of letters a dispensation from these laws. A collusive action was then launched in the King’s Bench before Sir Edward Herbert to test the power of the Sovereign to overrule and Act of Parliament by way of dispensation. Lutwyche, in this manuscript, comes to the same conclusion as Herbert, that a Sovereign may overrule an Act of Parliament in a particular instance. On his conviction, Hales appealed the judgement by pleading the King’s dispensation and the conviction was overturned and by this act it asserted dispensation as part of the King’s prerogative – and important distinction in the relationship between Monarch and the Rule of Parliamentary Law which still exists in theory at least today.
Middle East – Sir George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood, Anglo-Indian naturalist manuscript volume entitled ‘Historical Notes in elucidation of development of commerce and arts of the East’, written in his hand on about 250pp folio, original boards. Comprising extracts from known sources in reference to Egypt, Assyria, Chaldaea etc. Boards a little loose and spine defective but interior contents in good order.
India – outstanding letter of Gandhi – written while in detention in 1943 – and instigating his secret negotiations for Indian Independence – autograph – M K Gandhi, father of the Indian nation an outstanding typewritten letter signed dated Detention Camp October 26th 1943, on 2.25 pp folio, with two textual corrections in Gandhi’s hand, signed by him at the end. This is unquestionably one of the most important letters of Gandhi ever to be offered for sale. Addressed to the Additional Secretary of the Government of India in New Delhi, Gandhi makes a typically reasoned plea for his own and his followers’ release from house arrest: ‘...it is unthinkable that when India’s millions are suffering from preventable starvation and thousands are dying of it, thousands of men and women should be kept in detention of mere suspicion when their energy and the expense incurred in keeping them under duress could at this critical time, be usefully employed in relieving distress...the huge place in which I am being detained with a large guard around me, I hold to be a waste of public funds. I should be quite content to pass my days in any prison...’ However, crucially the letter also refers to the resolution of the All India Congress held on August 8th 1942 where Gandhi had himself given a clarion call of ‘Do or Die’ for Indian independence. He adds: ‘ ...as the Government are aware I offered to meet the member of the Working Committee in order to discuss the situation and to know their mind. But my offer was rejected. I had thought and still think that my talk with them might have some value from the Government stand-point. Hence I repeat my offer. But it may have not such value so long as the Government doubt my bona fides. As a Satyagrahi however, in spite of the handicap, I must reiterate what I hold to be good and of immediate importance in terms of war effort. But if my offer has no chance of being accepted so long as I retain my present views, and if the Government think that it is only my evil influence that corrupts people, I submit that the members of the Working Committee and other detenus should be discharged...’ Gandhi knew that there were two clear cut factions in the Congress – the first believed in non-violence, as was Gandhi’s philosophy, while the second believed in armed struggle. This second group had already gone underground, splitting into two splinter groups – the ‘Indian National Army’ of Netajee Subhashchandra Bose which had allied itself to Hitler’s Germany and was supported by General Tojo in Japan, and the Azad Dastas of Babu Jaiprakash Narayan which was bent on an armed campaign within India. This letter, couched in coded diplomatic terms therefore signifies Gandhi’s desire to achieve a diplomatic strategical struggle for independence, and eventual successful establishment of the State of India. The letter comes with research notes and letter of provenance prepared by the present vendor.
An impressive WWI MC & DSO medal group and two sets of miniatures, awarded to Major R. Nicholson D.S.C M.C R.A, comprising a Distinguished Service Order, a Military Cross with one bar, a 1914-15 star, a British War and a Victory medal with oak leaf, in presentation case, together with two sets of miniatures, both cased, a silver cigarette case, an Officer’s Record of Service folio, and some further paperwork (9) Major Nicholson was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain in 1918 and then from Captain to Major in 1919. The other paperwork includes two fascimile photographs and research material regarding the Major
Published as the Acts direct October 23rd 1767, a folio of engravings after Franco Smith, taken from the collection of the Rt Honourable Lord Baltimore, a plan of Constantinople, places adjacent and canal of the Black Sea, titled plates The grand Vizirs, Mufti chief of the Mahometan church, Kishar Aga chief of the Black Eunuchs and various other plates, published 1786-1769 (23)
* Jackson (Samuel, 1794-1869). View of St. Vincent’s Rocks and the Old Hotwell House, pub. Rowney & Forster, 1823, hand coloured lithograph, printed title in aperture mount, image size 23 x 32.5cm (9 x 12.75in), framed & glazed. Very scarce. Published in a financially unsuccessful folio of three prints titled ‘Three Views Illustrative of the Scenery of Bristol and its Vicinity’, the other two prints being by Francis Danby and James Johnson. (1)
* Cooper (Anthony Ashley, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury). Six Etchings of Landscapes [titled to upper cover], 30 May 1799, six soft-ground etchings on wove, with tissue-guards, plate dimensions 23 x 27cm (9 x 10.5ins), a little fraying to foot of spine, orig. paper wrappers with printed label to upper cover, oblong folio (28 x 45.5cm), together with the second series published 1st August 1800, containing six soft-ground etchings and similarly bound (2)
* Preissler (Johann Justin, 1698-1771). Fortsetzung der durch Theorie erfundenen Practic. Oder Grundlich-verfasste Reguln derer man sich als einer Unleitung zu beruhmter Kunstlere Zeichen-Wercken bestens bedienen kan, Vierter Theil, Nuremberg, Johann Joseph Fleischmann, 1778, printed title and 6 pp. of preliminary text, eighteen copper engraved studies of the human figure, some minor marks and light waterstaining, contemp. plain boards, somewhat worn with backstrip partly def., slim folio. The fourth part of this reprinted edition issued in four parts in Nuremberg between 1778 and 1783. (1)
Walcot (William, 1874-1943). The Arteries of Great Britain, pub. H.C. Dickins, 1922, five drypoint etched plates, each signed in pencil to lower margin, plate sizes 10 x 27 (4 x 10.5ins), 15 x 19.8cm (6 x 8ins), 12 x 33.3cm (4.75 x 13ins), 11.5 x 33.3cm (4.5 x 13ins), plates and commentary text by Neil Munro loosely inserted in original covers with cloth spine strip, folio. Includes images of the Clyde, Forth, Tyne, Mersey and Thames. (1)
* Woodforde (Millicent Lisle, 1880-1962?). Four sketch books, c. 1900-16, all filled with pen or pencil sketches of the human figure, including nudes, anatomical studies plus sketches of dogs, birds, horses, rabbits, occ. landscapes and a few buildings, largely unsigned and undated, but two albums with ownership autograph and one oblong folio album signed and dated Paris, 13th January 1904 to front pastedown, a number of figures in this album being dated and some identified as drawn at Atelier Grande Chaumiere or Atelier Colarossi, some excisions, many leaves detached and occ. fraying, a total of approx. 180 leaves, the majority with sketches to recots and versos, various bindings, somewhat worn, 35 x 23cm (14 x 9ins) and smaller . The illustrator and artist Millicent Woodforde is best known for her portrait of the composer Gustav Holst at work in his composing room at St. Paul’s Girls’ School (1910), now in the National Portrait Gallery. (4)
Original Leaves from Famous English Books, London, The Folio Society. Nd. Elephant folio. Green cloth case with twelve original leaves tipped in at the margin and mounted in large card frames. Original leaves as follows : Pynson's 'Froissart', 1523; Foxe's Book of Martys, 1575; The King James Bible, 1611; The Second Folio Shakespeare, 1632; Clarendon's 'History', Oxford 1701-4; Dr Johnson's Dictionary,1756; The Baskerville 'Virgil', 1757; The Foulis Press 'Pope', 1785; Bulmer's 'History of the River Thames', 1794-6; Chiswick Press: Book of Common Prayer, 1844; Kelmscott Press: The Well at the World's End, 1896; and The Doves Press 'Milton', 1902-5. CONDITION REPORT: Condition : Some leaves have become loose within card mounts - otherwise all vg., near fine.
Loading...
![An important manuscript on Kingship [James II] – Autograph – Sir Edward Lutwyche manuscript signed ‘E Lutwy](http://lot-images.atgmedia.com/SR/3114/2874103/383-201313014111_468x382.jpg)
![* Cooper (Anthony Ashley, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury). Six Etchings of Landscapes [titled to upper cover], 30 May 1799, six soft](http://lot-images.atgmedia.com/SR/10729/2868860/199-2013126101417_468x382.jpg)
