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Click here to subscribeA collection of vintage toys and comics, to include a Triang Gyro-Cycle; two Fisher-Price toys, comprising a Music Box/Record Player with records and a Music Box TV; a a group of mainly 1970's 'The Dandy' comics, with further examples including Bunty, Mandy and similar; a box of Britains and similar diecast military figures, and others.
Dolls House: a large collection of vintage (some circa 1930's) dolls house furniture and accessories, to include: two dressers, settee, tables, chairs, silk 'rugs', pottery and porcelain cups, teapots, plates, metal items including high chair, crib and fireside tools; an armorial fireplace by Arcadian, 11cm high; together with a small quantity of Britains and similar vintage lead farmyard figures and animals, with a few military examples.
KANMAN: A RARE EBONY NETSUKE OF A TREE FROG ON A MUSHROOMBy Tsuramitsu (Kanman, 1793-1859), signed Iwami-no-kuni Kanman to and with a kakihanJapan, Iwami Province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published:Earle, Joe (2000) The Robert S. Huthart, p. 275, no. 244.The frog squatting with its hindlegs bent on the radial gills of an upturned mushroom, the boldly carved stalk trailing to the side, the amphibian’s eyes double-inlaid in pale and dark horn. Note the superb treatment of the individual textures of the carving, including the subtle use of ukibori on the frog. The base signed Iwami-no-kuni TSURAMITSU to (carved by Tsuramitsu [Kanman] of Iwami Province) with a kakihan. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the base.LENGTH 5.9 cmCondition: Good condition with typical wear. A small repair to the back of the right leg.Provenance: Ex-collection Robert S. Huthart.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related netsuke by Kanman, dated early 19th century, at Bonhams, The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke, 15 May 2019, London, lot 113 (sold for 4,812 GBP).
Hallmarks: 585. Maker's mark: M*A. Amelsfoort n.v./b.v., van / Amelsfoort Fabricage Vught / Sieradenshop V.A, Vught / s'-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 1966/1988. Set with 5 cabochon cut red corals (1x Ø approx. 4.5 mm, 4x Ø approx. 2.5 mm). In good condition. Necklace length: approx. 40.5 cm. Width red coral beads: approx. 5 mm. Weight: 66.48 grams.
A Decorative Three Piece Coalport Cruet, on fitted plated stand; Together with A Decorative Hallmarked Silver Christening Spoon, WB&S, London 1935, the decorative handle detailed with a stork, engraved "Geoffry Michael Rodgers Riberdene Matlock July 4 1936" also detailing time and weight", stamped to the reverse "Barrett & Son 9 Old Bond Street London W.I.", in original Barrett & Son fitted case; a pair of plated salad servers, a bead pattern cheese knife (boxed, Hiram Wild butter knife (boxed), pair of planished nut crackers, a serving knife and fork (incorrect fitted case), etc.
A Hallmarked Silver Pair Case Pocketwatch, the white dial with black Arabic numerals, the movement with highly decorative scroll pierced balance cock and engraved decoration, signed "S Roberts London" and numbered "5505", within case inscribed "Robt Wheatley 1821", London 1809, within plain pair case, London 1809.
An archive of letters circa 1870's-1900 relating to the Peppé family of India, of Ranchi and Chota Nagpur, Jharkand, the numerous autograph letters signed and documents mainly relating to Thomas Fraser Peppé (1834-1907), A.J.[?]/A.T. Peppé (possibly Arthur Tosco Peppé), Alice Peppé (1879-1949), Frank B.G. Peppé, W. Peppé, the tea industry etc, many letters sent from/to Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Arrah, Kudea Estate, Ratu, others mention Salthill Darjeeling, Benares, Calcutta etc etc, letters include various testimonials dated 1892-1896 for Arthur Peppé/A.J.[?] or A.T.[?] Peppé from managers at various tea estates and other business concerns vouching for Arthur Peppé's hard work, intelligence and knowledge of local languages and habits of local peoples, including letter headed "Ranchi 15th Jany. 1892 This is to certify that Arthur Peppé worked under me while I was --- manager for the B-- and Western Bengal Prospecting Syndicates. During the six months that Mr. Peppé was with me I found him a hard working intelligent and most useful assistant, so much so that I strongly recommended him to mr Octavius Steel when asked if I knew of any likely young man for a D--- Garden. I may mention that I have known mr Peppé ever since he has been India + I have always found him sober and well behaved. M. Driver", another similar "This is to certify that A.J.[?] Peppé was an assistant --- with me for six months. During which time he conducted himself --- to my satisfactions. He knows the native language well and was a great help to me in the garden. He is hard working honest and strictly sober. John --- Manager Looksan Tea Estate 29th --- 1896", another similar "...Mr Peppé has acted as my assistant on this estate for four years. I have always found him active and willing in the discharge of his duties as assistant and when left in charge during my absence he has --- his capacity for carrying on the work of the garden to my satisfaction. His thorough knowledge of the vernacular and habits of the people in the district in and around Ranchi should be of great service to any requiring his services for recruiting purposes, in which capacity he was employed for this and a neighbouring company's gardens with good results for both concerns. D.P. Thompson Manager Looksan TE", dated 1896, etc, ALS Alice Peppé "Hazaribagh 16 March 82 My Dear Uncle, I was so pleased to get your letter. I am afraid I can not manage to get the tiger claws for you at present as they say this is not the time to get them. Tosco has gone off into camp I do hope he will make a good thing of this business he writes very hopefully but of course nothing can be decided yet. --- seems to be better somehow. His --- is now going away. I think her lamb[?] would take the place & perhaps he would be much more likely to stay on for good being a family man with two children + I believe he is ver badly off at present so I daresay would jump at it. Give my love to all at home. Let me know when you sail + in what steamer. --- is not going home. We have got him at Ranchi, he is looking for Tosco + a real good --- he is...Yours affectionately Alice Peppé", T.F. Peppé certificate Doomraon Agricultural Exhibition 1st prize for raw silk 1885 certificate (a/f), Frank B.G. Peppé letters home to his mother about his children etc, Grant of Letters of Administration to the estate of a deceased person 1900, property and credit of Toma Allen Braidwood Peppé, late of Ranchi, deceased, granted to Thomas Fraser Peppé, father of the deceased, m/s document with 100 Rupees India Court Fee at top and attached m/s lists of properties belonging to the deceased and their approx values, various inkstamps and signatures, many letters documents relate to Kudea Tea Estate, many letters in Bahar Opium agency printed envelopes. Large quantity of letters/items in total (100's)
A good quantity of Lincolnshire Land Tax Assessments c.1786-1836, mainly historic South Kesteven district, including Aslackby, Walcott, Hacconby, Horbling, Falkingham, Bourn, Dowsby, Dunsby, Osbournby, Dyke, Swaton etc etc, each a printed bifolium with manuscript entries for names of Proprietors, Occupiers, Description of Estates or Property, Rentals and futher columns of figures, mainly signed by an assessor and with confirmation signatures of commissioners (100's)
Denys Watkins-Pitchford 'BB': 'The Shooting Man's Bedside Book', London, E&S, 1948, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper (VGC/VGC), plus another 1st edition copy of the same title in a slightly smaller format varient full soft leather gilt binding, 'The Fisherman's Bedside Book', 1959 reprint, original cloth, d/w (VGC/VGC), 'The Sportsman's Bedside Book', 1948 reprint, original cloth, d/w (4)
William Taylor: 'The History and Antiquities of Castle Rising, Norfolk', Lynn and London, [1850], 1st edition, subscriber's list, 12 plates as called for, 4to, contemporary half calf, spine gilt titled; together with Edward Preston Willins: 'Castle-Acre Priory, Norfolk', [1880], original wraps bound in, loosely inserted author's prospectus dated 1877 and 2 engraved prints of Castle Acre loosely inserted, handsomely rebound modern three quarter calf, spine gilt titled, scarce. Both formerly from the library of the late Ron Fiske of North Walsham and Morningthorpe Manor, esteemed local historian, bibliophile and collector, and sold in the Morningthorpe Manor Country House Sale, September 2016, with his bookplates and small quantity m/s pencil notes by him at front. Subsequently from the collection of Father Peter Harris, with his bookplates (2)
Denys Watkins-Pitchford 'BB':, 7 titles: 'The Countryman's Bedside Book', L, E&S, 1941, 1st edition, 'The Idle Countryman', L, E&S, 1943, 1st edition, 'The Wayfaring Tree', 1945, 1st edition, 'Letters From Compton Deverell', 1950, 1st edition, 'A Child Alone', 1978, early reprint, 'Manka the Sky Gipsy', 1951, 2nd edition, 'Recollections of a Longshore Gunner', 1979 reprint, all original cloth, all in dust wrappers (7)
A group of 19th & 20th Century letters and documents relating to family descendants of the German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), items including manuscript document dated 6th June 1860, naming Caroline Beethoven, Maria Weidinger, Caroline Weidinger etc, 4 double sided sheets of manuscript with wax seal, the Caroline Beethoven in question presumably Karoline Johanna Weidinger (van Beethoven)(1831-1919), daughter of Karl van Beethoven (1806-1858), Beethoven the composer's nephew, and his wife Caroline Barbara van Beethoven (née Naske)(1808-1891); some 19th Century manuscript van Beethoven family trees/genealogical tables; manuscript correspondence appears to possibly be to/from Ludwig van Beethoven (i.e. Ludwig Johann van Beethoven (abt. 1839 - bef. 1916)); a 19th Century cabinet card photograph depicting a plaque of Ludwig van Beethoven (composer), inscribed verso, appears to be inscribed to Raoul, i.e. Raoul Emil Weidinger (1884-1924), great grandson of Karl van Beethoven, Beethoven the Composer's nephew and heir; two other 19th Century Cartes de Visite by Vienna photographers; other letters and m/s documents with Vienna addressed headed paper, etc etc; plus other 20th Century documents relating to Beethoven Heimler branch of family including Third Reich/Nazi period documents etc. Ludwig van Beethoven never got married and did not have children, in his family seven children were born, but only three survived childhood: Ludwig, Kaspar and Nikolaus. From the three brothers only Kaspar had children, a son named Karl. After the death of Kaspar in 1815, Beethoven sought legal action against the mother of Karl, wanting sole custody of the boy. He regarded Johanna (the mother) not suitable for custody. As his brother in his last will appointed both of them as co-guardians, the bitter legal battle lasted for years. He finally won, but irreparable emotional damage had been done to the boy, who later in his life committed an unsuccessful suicide. Kaspar died in 1815, Ludwig in 1827 and Nikolaus in 1848. Karl, the only remaining Beethoven, despite his uncle’s wishes joined the army in Bohemia, in December 1826. Soon, Ludwig van Beethoven died (1827) and in his last will left everything to Karl.Karl remained in the army till 1832, then married Caroline Naske with whom they had five children, four girls and a boy who was named Ludwig after the famous uncle. Ludwig Johann van Beethoven had education in the Piarist Gymnasium of Vienna, then he joined the army, just as his father did.This man was not worthy for the name of the family. In 1862 he stole money from his regiment, then six years later he had to flee Vienna, running from creditors and criminal court. In both occasions his mother helped him out. He settled down in Munich, Bavaria.Here he was introduced to Richard Wagner and through him to the king of Bavaria, who happened to be another Ludwig, King Ludwig II. To gain favors he falsely claimed himself the grandson of Beethoven, the composer. The trick worked as the King was so impressed that he paid him a monthly income to live on. For some he represented himself as a Baron, cheating money out from them.
A collection of ten 17th Century antiquarian classical/latin works, all published at the Elzevier Presses at Leiden and Amsterdam, all 12mo or 16mo, all with engraved title pages, including Ubbo Emmius: 'Graecorum respublicae ab Ubbone Emmio Descriptae..', Lugd. Batavorum [Leiden], Ex Officina Elzeveriana, 1632, parts 1 & 2 bound together in 1 volume, pt 1 engraved title page dated 1632, pt 2 printed title page dated 1644, 413,[3],300,[3]pp, 16mo, contemporary vellum; Julius Casear: 'C. Iulii Cæsaris quæ extant. Ex emendatione Ios. Scaligeri.', Amstelodami [Amsterdam], Ex officina Elzeviriana, 1635, engraved title page, 3 folding engraved maps depicting Roman Empire, Galliae [France], Hispaniae [Iberian peninsula], plus wood engraved illustrations and printers device, 561pp + index, 12mo, contemporary calf gilt; Philipp Clüver: 'Philippi Cluverii Introductionis in universam geographiam tam veterem quàm novam libri VI.', Lugd. Bat., Ex officina Elzeviriana, 1629, engraved title, engraved multi-folding plate, printers woodcut device, 16mo, contemporary paper covered boards, m/s title label to spine; John Barclay: 'Io. Barclay Argenis', Lugd. Bat., Officina Elzeveriana, 1630, engraved title, 12mo, contemporary calf gilt (slightly worn); George Buchanan: 'Geor: Buchanani Scoti Poemata quæ extant', Amstelodami, apud Danielem Elsevirium, 1676, engraved title page, 531,[11]pp, 16mo, old calf gilt; plus 5 others similar, some with boards slightly worn/loose (but present). The Elzevir family printing dynasty was founded by Lois Elzevir, who issued his first book in 1593. They produced neat, attractive, inexpensive books for more than 100 years, expanding the book buying market. Their business was located in Leiden and reached its peak between 1592 and 1649 when the Elzevirs were the official printers of the university. Branches of the Elzevir's printing business were also located at the Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht. The books they produced were consistent, of good quality, and in multiple languages, for they employed editors, who produced texts in Latin, English, French, German, and Dutch (10)
A large box of assorted vellum and other documents circa 17th-20th Century, including folder of paper deeds etc Dullingham, Cambridgeshire, c.1733-1804; plus other deeds, leases, mortgages, George III Parliamentary Acts, large vellum roll of m/s documents "Rolls from the xvth: of King...or King Charles"; King Charles II large 17th Century document on vellum with inhabited initial engraved portrait of King Charles, 20+ velluem leaves (a/f worn with some losses at right hand side of first leaf with engraved portrait), etc etc
Pollock's Toy Theatre, a quantity of scenery and characters for various plays circa 1880's/1890's, including soldiers, characters for Don Quixote with the original 16pp printed booklet/script, Nelson, Fairies, King & Queen, 16pp booklet for 'Harlequin Jack the Giant Killer', c.1880's, with scenes and some characters, foreign type scenes, sheet of clowns, English forest scenery, underwater kingdoms/sea scenes and related characters, etc etc, housed loose in envelopes/box
Denys Watkins-Pitchford "BB" two titles: "The Little Grey Men", London, E&S, 1946, 2nd edition, eight coloured plates after watercolours by BB as called for, original cloth, dust wrapper (10/6 price intact). BB's classic children's story about the last gnomes in Britain; "Down the Bright Stream" L/ E&S, (1948), 1st edition, 16 colour plates by BB as called for, original cloth, d/w (10/6 price intact) (2)
Stanhope ALfred Tollemache (b.1855, Helmingham Hall, Debenham, Suffolk, d.1934, Bentley Manor, Ipswich), a large folio scrap album containing 95 pages of mounted manuscript letters/correspondence, cuttings and manuscript notes etc, circa 1870's-1920's, much content relating to local Suffolk agriculture and estate management, Helmingham and environs, as well as Ham, Cheshire, Grantham etc, due to connection with other Tollemache family estates, items include Autograph Letter signed from Sir John Bennet Lawes (1814-1900), agricultural scientist, to Stanhope Tollemache, December 29 96, Rothamsted St Albans headed paper, 2 1/4pp, content re agricultural matters; ALS Charles Hanbury-tracy, 4th Baron Sudeley, to Stanhope Tollemache, 1916, Ormeley Lodge, Ham Common headed paper; manuscript letter on Royal Gardens Kew embossed headed paper dated 17 August 1898 "Dear Sir, The cones sent for identification are those of the "Cluster Pine", Pinus Pinastera native of South Europe, not of New Zealand. The plant in question must have introduced in the latter country", with another leaf with some books on trees written in the same hand mounted alongside, and another letter from Royal Gardens Kew similar, some other pencil notes on plants and flowers below, and at foot of page m/s not "the plants recommended by Lady Agnes"; other notes, entries, cuttings etc on a wide range of subjects, mainly relating to natural history and agriculture, Helmingham cricket, sale of brewery, Suffolk licenced Victuallers annual dinner, Bentley Manor inspection of rams, electrical lighting, cost of thatching, manuscript notes headed "John 1st Baron Tollemache notes on his policy in respect to Estate Management", tithes, family marriages and deaths, letter from Ipswich solicitors re estate water rights, letters/notes about Dodnash Priory Farm, Bentley, and the Austinian Friars, on headed paper, notes on statue of Perseus, Helmingham Garden, funeral lieut B.H. Tollemache killed great war cuttings, death of John 1st Baron Tollemache cuttings, large folding printed document Royal Commission on Agriculture Particulars of Estate Expenditure estate of Helmingham Rt Hon Lord Tollemache 1872, with manuscript entries, letter from Ipswich solicitors regarding if liable to pay a servant "Re Gertrude. cook. who was taken from Ipswich to Bournemouth", leases, surrenders, etc etc, manuscript index page at front, bound in 20th century half cloth over patterned paper covered boards, calf label attached to spine with S.A.T. (Stanhope Alfred Tollemache) initials in gilt
A circa late 19th Century photograph album containing approximately 18 albumen print and other photographs of India, in the historical regions of Bengal/Jharkand/Bihar, images include Jubilee day at Berhampore (3); grand colonial house/villa captioned 'Surda' [Jharkand]; image captioned 'Darjeeling from Jellapahar Road', with houses amongst hills and trees visible in foreground and snow capped Himalaya in distance (approx 23 x 19cm), plus 4 others Darjeeling including from Botanical Gardens and 'Darjeeling, sunset on Kinchinjunga [Kangchenjunga]', these images all with neat contemporary m/s pen & ink captions beneath, all relatively large size (sunset Kangchenjunga aprox 18 x 30cm); others uncaptioned colonial mansion/estate scenes; plus 12 images of Venice; 3 of Tenby, Wales; 1 of Suez canal, these all captioned beneat, mainly 22 x 28cm, folio, old calf gilt album (slightly worn), all edges gilt
A collection of books on Norfolk church architecture & ecclesiastical art, etc, including: Richard Taylor: 'Index Monasticus, or, The abbeys and other monasteries, alien priories, friaries, colleges, collegiate churches, and hospitals with their dependencies : formerly established in the Diocese of Norwich and the ancient kingdom of East Anglia / systematically arranged and briefly described, according to the respective orders and denominations in each county, and illustrated by maps of Suffolk, Norfolk, and the city of Norwich, and the arms of religious houses', London, 1821, large paper copy, folding engraved view of Norwich + plate of arms + folding engraved plan of Norwich + 2 flding engraved maps hand coloured in outline of Norfolk & Suffolk as called for, large folio, contemporary half calf gilt, rebacked retaining backstrip. Scarce; MAURICE DRAKE: THE COSTESSEY COLLECTION OF STAINED GLASS, FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF GEORGE WILLIAM JERNINGHAM, 8TH BARON STAFFORD OF COSTESSEY IN THE COUNTY OF NORFOLK, intro Aymer Vallance, Exeter, William Pollard, 1920, 1st edition, 25 plates including 6 coloured as called for, folio, original cloth backed boards gilt, formerly from the library of the late Ron Fiske of North Walsham and Morningthorpe Manor, esteemed local historian, bibliophile and collector, with his bookplate to front pastedown. Scarce; 'Ranworth Rood Screen, Norfolk. Drawn by R.O. Pearson; Hawtrey J. Enraght, vicar.', [Ranworth , c. 1910?], 23 unnumbered leaves of plates, housed loose in old card folio, mounted illustration to front cover. Scarce; FARRER, Rev. Edmund: 'List of Norfolk Monumental Brasses', Norwich 1890, large paper copy, limited to 40 copies only, author ALS loosely inserted stating 40 large paper copies at 5/- each etc, headed Rickinghall, Diss, original printed paper covered boards, rebacked (not recent), m/s title to spine; Edward F. Strange: 'The Rood-Screen of Ranworth Church', Ranworth Vicarage, The Rev. Hawtrey J. Enraght, [1902], original cloth backed boards; plus 4 others including Norwich Cathedral Medieval Roof Carvings etc. From the colelction of Father Peter Harris (9)
A victorian photograph album circa 1860's/ 70's containing approx 75 mounted albumen print photographs of India & Ceylon (Sri Lanka), some images of Ceylon by Skeen & Co, including waterfront/ harbour view, numbered 1219, plus portrait photo of lady captioned in pencil to mount 'Kandian Lady' numbered 1203, others portraits of people including 'Singhalese Man', 'Tamil Girl', etc, some topographical views including 'kandy from Lady Horton's Walk;, Grand Hotel Mt Lavinia, near Columbo, 'View from Mount Lavinia hotel' showing railway line hugging coastline, group photograph of local musicians in tribal / ceremonial dress, rural scenes depicting tea plantations and factories, several group photos depicting European colonial inhabitants, in Eastern India, large colonial Estate, Birdpore Estate, Piprahwa, India, Estate of William Peppe and family neat the Nepal Franker, on which a Buddhist Stupa was found containing Buddhist relics, possibly of the Buddha himself, or those of his Kingsmen, images include view villa with gentleman posied in tennis court, group photos depicting colonial and and indigenous inhabitants together, military etc, images approx 7 x 9cm- 22 x 27cm, mainly larger images, a few with pencil captions to mount, oblong folio album, contemporary decorative calf (a/f), some areas of insect damage causeing large losses to front cover
Warwick Goble (illustrated): 'The Complete Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Now First Put into Modern English by John S. P. Tatlock and Percy MacKaye', New York, The Macmillan Company, 1912, 32 coloured plates as called for, with captioned tissue guards, pictorial endpapers, royal 8vo, original blue cloth, richly decorated in gilt, t.e.g., a VGC or better copy
Agatha Christie, collection of titles, including 'At Bertram's Hotel', L, Collins Crime Club, 1965, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper (slightly worn, 16s price intact), 'By the Pricking of My Thumbs', L, Collins Crime Club, 1968, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper (slightly worn, 21s price intact), 'Murder in the Mews, and other stories;, L, Odhams, C.1937, original cloth gilt, duct wrapper (some closed tears and small part losses), 'Poirots Early Cases', L, Collins 1974, 1st edition, original cloth gilt, dust wrapper (some closed tears and small part losses), plus 6 Collins Crime Club 1st editions 1940's-50's in original cloth, including 'Sparkling Cyanide', 1945, 'Crooked house', 1944, etc, plus two 1st Penguin paperback editions, 3 other paperbacks and one other (16)
Denys Watkins-Pitchford 'BB': 'The Fisherman's Bedside Book', London, E&S, 1945, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper (VGC/VGC), 'Confessions of a Carp Fisher', London, E&S, 1950, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper, 'A Stream in Your Garden', London, E&S, 1948, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper, Arthur Applin: 'Philandering Angler', :, Hurst & Blackett, (1946), 1st edition, 11 full page scraperboard ills and head of tail pieces by BB, original cloth, dust wrapper (4)
Denys Watkins-Pitchford "BB" and others: "5 More", Oxford, Basil Blackwell, 1957, 1st edition, black and white ills. throughout by BB, original cloth gilt (VGC), dust wrapper (VGC, 8/6 price intact). Collected edition of five scarce titles illustrated by BB, comprising "Alexander", "Sailors All", "The Long Night", "The Secret of Orra", "The Long Bow", d/s design by BB. Very scarce; together with "Alexander, Brockhampton, 1973, re-print, ex-lib, original cloth, facsimile dust wrapper (2)
Double Crown Club, a large collection of menus, invitations and other ephemera circa 1950's-2000's, housed in plastic wallets in ring bound folder. The Double Crown Club is a dining club and society of printers, publishers, book designers and illustrators in London that was founded in 1924. Among its early members was the typographer Stanley Morison
A collection of letters and photographs relating to Agatha Christie, specifically mainly relating to Lily Belson housekeeper, cook and companion to Agatha Christie for 23 years at Winterbrook House, Wallingford, items include Sir Max Mallowan typed letter signed, dated 17th January 1976, just a few days after the death of Agatha Christie, to the daughter and son of Lily Belson:“My dear Betty and Donald,Thank you very much for your generous letter of sympathy. Your mother was loved by my dear Agatha to whom she was so wonderfully kind and gentle in her last illness and I shall never forget what she has done for her, and we have long thought of Mrs Belson as a member of our family. You can imagine what this loss means to me but I am sustained by the kindness of so many friends and by memories of a perfect partnership in marriage for forty five years. Few men have been so fortunate.Yours very sincerelyMax Mallowan”Plus [2]pp autograph letter signed by Rosalind Hicks, daughter of Agatha Christie, to Mrs [Betty] Paine, daughter of Lily Belson, offering condolences on Mrs Lily Belson’s death:“Dear Mrs Paine,I was so sorry to hear of your mother’s death…My mother was very lucky to have her at Winterbrook so long. She was certainly a very good cook & also looked after my mother & Sir Max with great devotion and kindness, particularly during the last years of my mother’s life which wasn’t easy. I know my mother was very fond of her. Your mother always took an interest in all the family & we have many happy memories of our visits to Wallingford while your mother was there & she always told us all about her family with great joy…Yours Sincerely Rosalind Hicks”; typed letter signed by Janet Morgan, biographer of Agatha Christie, to Mrs Lily Belson, July 25 1981, and typed letter signed of condolence by Janet Morgan to Mrs [Betty] Paine, daughter of Lily Belson, January 15 1982; large colour photograph of Lily Belson in the kitchen at Winterbrook House, Wallingford; typed letter signed from Jeanne, Lady Camoys (1913-1987), who was briefly engaged to Max Mallowan after Agatha Christie’s death, to Lily Belson, dated 31st October 1978; plus some snapshot colour photos of Winterbrook House and garden circa 1960’s/70’s, including one of Agatha Christie and Betty Paine, mounted monochrome photo of Agatha Christie circa mid 20th Century, Max Mallowan black & white photo etc.Mrs Belson cooked, kept house and looked after Agatha Christie from 1953 until the author’s death in 1976, and stayed on to look after Sir Max for over a year before retiring, and became a much loved family friend. Dame Agatha left her valued housekeeper £2,000, the largest cash bequest she left to any non-family member. In a January 2012 Archant news article, Betty Paine (née Belson), daughter of Lily Belson, recounted some interesting insights into her mother's story as Agatha Christie's housekeeper and cook:"Mrs Paine, 87, recalls that her mother only applied for the job because she was attracted by the flat on offer, and was unaware of her prospective employe's identity. "She had the shock of her life when she found out it was Agatha Christie," she said. The house - Winterbrook...turned out to be un-modernised, dank and dark. Dame Agatha...never carried out renovations, said Mrs Paine, who visited her mother at Wallingford on many occasions. "She had to cook on a big, old fashioned range - I don't know how she managed" But Mrs Paine remembers Dame Agatha as a kind woman who came to regard Mrs Belson as a friend...And it was Mrs Belson, trusted companion through Christie's declining years of physical and mental health, who was with her at the moment of her death. After helping the frail 85-year-old with her lunch on January 12 1976, Mrs BElson was wheeling Dame Agatha to the sitting room when she died. She stayed on to look after Sir Max for over a year before retiring. She died in 1981"From the collection of Lindsay Spalding and Don Birch, former owners of the Beechwood Hotel, North Walsham. From the mid-1930s to 1967 The Beechwood was known as The Shrubs and was the country house home of Doctors Peter and Margaret McLeod who were close friends of crime writer Agatha Christie, having previously befriended her and her husband Max Mallowan at an archaeological dig in Mesopotamia in 1928. Dame Agatha was a regular visitor to The Shrubs, staying with the McLeods in room number 9 for a month at a time, writing her novels in a summerhouse in the grounds. She dedicated her novel Sad Cypress to the McLeods and it is possible that she wrote it while staying in North Walsham. Evenings were often spent discussing the finer points of poisons and the precise time it took for rigour mortis to set in. In a condolence letter from Dame Agatha after the death of Doctor Peter McLeod the author remembered that “he gave me lots of wonderful medical ideas for my books”. In another Christie connected coincidence, Betty Paine (née Belson), daughter of Dame Agatha’s housekeeper Lily Belson, retired from Bedfordshire to North Walsham in the 1980’s, unaware the town was once regularly visited by Dame Agatha, and through a mutual acquaintance met and befriended Lindsay Spalding and Don Birch, then owners of The Beechwood Hotel.
Lucien Boucher (illustrated), Mario Meunier (translated): 'Guillaume au Faucon et a' sa suite,' Paris, Marcel Sehuer, 1921 (but 1922), limited edition, numbered 140 0f 250 copies on papier d'Arches, numerous Pochoir coloured illustrations throughout, with an extra suite of uncoloured plates, original printed paper wraps, Lucien Boucher was a French illustrator who had studied ceramic painting, and is best known for the advertising posters and planispheres he created for Air France in the 1950's.
Seven titles on Castle Acre and Castle Rising, Norfolk, including W.H. St. John Hope: 'Castle Acre Priory, Norfolk', from Norfolk Archaeology volume 12, 1895, 53pp, 4 folding plates/map (of which 3 coloured, including large folding map in rear pocket), bound in fine contemporary half morocco gilt, marbled end papers/pastedowns, top edge gilt; Rev. J.H. Bloom: 'Notices of the Castle and Priory at Castleacre', London, 1843, 1st edition, frontis and 11 plates and 4 plans and illustrations in text as called for, original cloth gilt, rebacked retaining original backstrip; William Taylor: 'The History and Antiquities of Castle Rising, Norfolk', Lynn & London, 1850, engraved frontis + 11 engraved plates as called for (by William Taylor & William Pickford), original cloth gilt; H.L. Bradfer-Lawrence: 'Castle Rising, A Short History of the Castle, Honor, Church, and Borough', King's Lynn, 1932, 2nd edition, illustrations throughout, contemporary brown cloth boards, rebacked, m/s title to spine, part of original printed top wrap attached to upper board; H.J. Dukinfield Astley: 'A Short Historical Guide to the Ancient Village of Castleacre, in the County of Norfolk', Swaffham, William Gould & Son, 1908, ex King's Lynn library, 16 illustrations from photographs as called for, 60pp, later plain paper wraps, plus a 3rd edition revised of the same title, [nd], 16 ills. as called for, 64pp, original printed wraps (worn); plus 1 other. From the collection of Father Peter Harris (7)
Sir Arnold T. Wilson: 'The Persian Gulf', London, George Allen, 1954, 2nd impression, portrait frontis, large folding map at end as called for. Copy of Sir Gawain Bell, with his pencil ownership signature/inscription to FFEP "Gawain Bell Kadima Nov. 1958", some passages of text underlined by him in pencil, and his corresponding m/s pen & ink notes/annotations to inside rear flap of dust wrapper. From the estate of Gawain Westray Bell (1909-1995), British colonial administrator who became the Governor of Northern Nigeria. Bell served in Sudan between 1931 and 1954, with secondments to Palestine in 1938 and the Arab Legion during the Second World War. In 1956, he was appointed political agent in Kuwait, surviving an assassination attempt, before serving as governor of Northern Nigeria between 1957 and 1962, where he oversaw the end of British rule. In 1965, following failed talks and an Adenese walkout from the Federal and Federal Supreme Council, Bell and Sir Ralph Hone (1896-1992) were approached by the federation's leadership travelled to Aden to act as constitutional advisors. During the course of their visit they recommended that Aden become the capital of a new United Republic of South Arabia, with enhanced representation in the legislative and executive branches. Following his work in south Arabia, he led other missions to Oman (1966 and 1974) and the Trucial States. Provenance by descent
Denys Watkins-Pitchford 'BB': 'The Forest of the Railway', New York, Dodd Mead & Co, (1955), 1st US edition, colour front and black and white ills by BB throughout, original pictorial cloth, dust wrapper (VGC/ VGC), together with a 1984 4th impression, London, H&S, original pictorial boards
Dame Agatha Christie, Lady Mallowan (1890-1976), autograph letter signed, to Donald and Betty, children of Mrs Lily Belson, housekeeper to Agatha Christie and Max Mallowan at Winterbrook House, Wallingford, for over 23 years from 1953, [1]pp, on Greenway House, Churston Ferrers, Brixham, Devon headed paper:“September 14th 1974Thanks to both of you – Betty & Donald for the handsome birthday card it was so nice of you & its such a kind thing to do. We shall be coming home on Tuesday & are looking forward to seeing Mrs Belson again. Yours with best wishes from Agatha Mallowan”Together with three original colour photographs circa early 1970’s of Agatha Christie and Mrs Lily Belson and her daughter Betty Paine at Winterbrook House garden, in a montage, mounted and framed and glazed, the first image depicting Mrs Lily Belson holding her baby grand daughter, with Dame Agatha in background, in Winterbrook garden, approx. size 17 x 12cm; the second image depicting Dame Agatha and Betty Paine, daughter of Lily Belson, in Winterbrook garden, approx.. size 15 x 10cm; the third image a view of Winterbrook House and Grounds/Driveway, approx.. size 15 x 20cm.Mrs Belson cooked, kept house and looked after Agatha Christie from 1953 until the author’s death in 1976, and stayed on to look after Sir Max for over a year before retiring, and became a much loved family friend. Dame Agatha left her valued housekeeper £2,000, the largest cash bequest she left to any non-family member. In a January 2012 Archant news article, Betty Paine (née Belson), daughter of Lily Belson, recounted some interesting insights into her mother's story as Agatha Christie's housekeeper and cook:"Mrs Paine, 87, recalls that her mother only applied for the job because she was attracted by the flat on offer, and was unaware of her prospective employe's identity. "She had the shock of her life when she found out it was Agatha Christie," she said. The house - Winterbrook...turned out to be un-modernised, dank and dark. Dame Agatha...never carried out renovations, said Mrs Paine, who visited her mother at Wallingford on many occasions. "She had to cook on a big, old fashioned range - I don't know how she managed" But Mrs Paine remembers Dame Agatha as a kind woman who came to regard Mrs Belson as a friend...And it was Mrs Belson, trusted companion through Christie's declining years of physical and mental health, who was with her at the moment of her death. After helping the frail 85-year-old with her lunch on January 12 1976, Mrs BElson was wheeling Dame Agatha to the sitting room when she died. She stayed on to look after Sir Max for over a year before retiring. She died in 1981"From the collection of Lindsay Spalding and Don Birch, former owners of the Beechwood Hotel, North Walsham. From the mid-1930s to 1967 The Beechwood was known as The Shrubs and was the country house home of Doctors Peter and Margaret McLeod who were close friends of crime writer Agatha Christie, having previously befriended her and her husband Max Mallowan at an archaeological dig in Mesopotamia in 1928. Dame Agatha was a regular visitor to The Shrubs, staying with the McLeods in room number 9 for a month at a time, writing her novels in a summerhouse in the grounds. She dedicated her novel Sad Cypress to the McLeods and it is possible that she wrote it while staying in North Walsham. Evenings were often spent discussing the finer points of poisons and the precise time it took for rigour mortis to set in. In a condolence letter from Dame Agatha after the death of Doctor Peter McLeod the author remembered that “he gave me lots of wonderful medical ideas for my books”. In another Christie connected coincidence, Betty Paine (née Belson), daughter of Dame Agatha’s housekeeper Lily Belson, retired from Bedfordshire to North Walsham in the 1980’s, unaware the town was once regularly visited by Dame Agatha, and through a mutual acquaintance met and befriended Lindsay Spalding and Don Birch, then owners of The Beechwood Hotel. (2)
Nice assorted children's & illustrated books including Beatrix Potter; 'The Pie and the Patty- Pan', 1905, 1st edition,mottled lavender end papers (lacks FFEP, 10 coloured plates as called for, small 4to, original boards (worn, lacks backstrip, boards and leaves loose, Cecil Aldin (illustated): 'An Old Fashioned Christmas Eve', L, H&S, (1910), 6 coloured plates act, original pictorial boards, Alice B Woodward (ill): 'The Peter Pan Picture Book', L, G. Bell, 1919, 28 coloured plates acf, 4to, original pictorial boards, plus Kate Greenaway 'Little Ann' & 'Almanack for 1883', Ernest Nister 'A Family Party', F. Langbridge 'Leafy Lanes & Sunny Wings', (ND), c.1900, pub. Raphael Tuck, squirrel shape book, scarce, etc (9)
Francis Blomefield & Charles Parkin: 'An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk', London, William Miller, 1805-1810, large paper edition, 11 volumes, mezzotint portrait frontis plus 3 folding engraved maps/plans (Norwich, King's Lynn, and Map of Marshland that is often lacking) plus 33 engraved plates (many folding) plus 14 pedigrees on 15 folding sheets as called for, half titles, 19th Century ownership signature/inscription at front of vol I of Nathaniel Micklethwait, of Beeston Regis and later Taverham Hall, 19t Century armorial bookplates to front pastedowns, plus mid 20th Century presentation bookplates to Charles L.S. Linnell, Rector of Wiveton, North Norfolk, 1956-58, from the Parishioners, to front pastedowns, 4to, contemporary diced calf gilt, professionally rebound/recased retaining backstrips by J.S. Wilson & Son of Cambridge, with 2016 invoice loosely inserted, together with John Nurse Chadwick: 'Index Nominum; Being an Index of Christian and Surnames, (with Arms,) Mentioned in Blomefield's History of Norfolk', King's Lynn, Privately Published, 1862, 348pp, 1932 typed letter signed by H.L. Bradfer-Lawrence FSA, secretary and editor of The Norfolk Record Society, tipped in at front, small number of interleaved pages of contemporary m/s notes, ownership signature of Charles LS Linnell, Rector of Wiveton, to front pastedown, contemporary polished buckram, calf gilt label to spine. From the collection of Father Peter Harris, with his bookplates (12)
Denys Watkins-Pitchford 'BB': 'Confessions of a Carp Fisher', London, E&S, 1950, 1st edition, scraperboard frontis plus black and white ills throughout by BB, orginal cloth gilt, dust wrapper. It was as a result of this book that the revolution in modern carp fishing largely came about, indeed it has been said that BB was the father of modern carp fishing.
(RAF WW2 Battle of Britain Pilots, 41 signatures), Kenneth G. Wynn: 'Men of the Battle of Britain. A Who was Who of the Pilots and Aircrew, British, Commonwealth and Allied, who flew with Royal Air Force Fighter Command July 10 to October 31 1940', Norwich, Gliddon Books, 1989, signed on front free end paper (recto and verso) by 41 pilots involved in the battle of britain, all having been awarded the Battle of Britain clasp, and whose biographies feature in the book, signatures include Group Captain William Dennis David CBE, DFC & Bar, AFC (1918-2000), Welsh Royal Air Force flying ace credited with 11 aerial victories during the Battle of France, including Bf109's, Ju88 etc, Robert Rutter, Christopher John "Mickey" Mount, Pete Brothers, Jack Rose, John Beazley, Geoffrey Page, Ronnie Hay, John Cunningham, Tom Neal, H. Bird-Wilson, Roy Ford, Jan Kowalski (1916-2000), Norman Hancock, Jim Bailey, John Keatings, etc etc, the signatures conceivably obtained at one of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association reunions, these formerly held annually at RAF Bentley Prior, original cloth lettered in silver, dust wrapper
(Essex, Audley End), Henry Winstanley: '[Ground Plans, Elevations & particular Prospects of the Royal Palace of Audley End]', 21 magnificent engraved views of Audley End, (of which 5 double page or large multi-folding approx 51 x 57cm-51 x 86cm, and 16 single page approx 30 x 51cm), this comprising a complet set of the Kip restrikes [c.1725], lacking as always 3 plates of the original and dedications, many plates with the original Littlebury imprint, and without the Kip numbering (33-53) which Upcott, Essex XII says was applied to restrikes, a few margins just trimmed, folio (51 x 32.5cm), old drab wrappers, rebacked, m/s pen & ink title "Audley End" to top wrap. Born in Saffron Walden, Essex, in 1644, Henry Winstanley is best known for building Edystone Lighthouse and accumulating a bewildering array of gadgets and designs at his house in Littlebury, Essex. Winstanley developed an interest in engraving after a grand tour of Europe between 1669 and 1674, where he was impressed by Continental architecture and the engravings in which it was portrayed. On his return he is believed to have studied engraving with Wenceslas Hollar, and was employed at Audley End House as assistant to the Clerk of Works. In 1676 he embarked upon a detailed set of architectural engravings of Audley End House, which took him ten years to complete. First published in 1686 from his house at Littlebury, and later reissued as a supplement to the Britannia illustrata of Johannes Kip c.1725 as here, they form an important early record of English Manor House Architecture. His greatest work proved fatal to himself, as he completed the lighthouse for Edystone Rock but lost his life during the night of 26 November 1793, when a storm broke and carried the structure with Winstanley in it off the rock. The fine engravings comprise the multi-folding 'A General Prospect of the Royal Palace of Audlyene','A full Prospect of the Innermost Court', 'The Prospect of the South Side of the great Court', and 'The Prospect of the Bowling-greene side', etc. A very scarce work that seldom appears at auction, only very minor foxing to some plates, else generally plates very clean/VGC condition
Denys Watkins-Pitchford 'BB', six countryside & road titles, of which 4 signed, including 'Tide's Ending', London, hollis & Carter, 1950, 1st edition, signed to half title, 16 colour plates as called for, 4to, original cloth, 'The idle Countryman', E&S, 1943, 1st edition, signed to half title, original cloth, dust wrapper (slightly worn); 'Summer Road to Wales', Kaye, 1964, 1st edition, proof copy, signed to title page, original car wraps; 'Indian summer', 1984, 1sr edition, signed to FFEP, original cloth, d/w; plus 'The Countryman's Bedside Book', 1941, 1st edition, original cloth and 'The White Road Westwards', 1961, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper (6)
Richard Avedon: 'The Sixties', L, Jonathan Cape, 1999, 1st edition, photographic illustrations throughout, original pictorial boards, dust wrapper (slightly worn); John Christopher [i.e. Sam Youd]: 'The World in Winter', L, E & S, 1962, 1st edition, original cloth silvered, dust wrapper (16s price intact). 1962 post-apocalyptic science fiction novel dealing with a new ice age caused by a reduction in the output of the sun; Roderick Macleish: 'A Time of Fear', L, Frederick Muller, 1958, 1st edition, original cloth, dust wrapper; plus 5 other modern first editions etc (8)
1920's Art Deco 14ct gold ladies manual wind wristwatch, the reverse engraved and datd 19'21, Swiss hallmark,on black leather strapCondition Report:Approx 10.5gm (excluding movement), bottom crown wind at 6 o'clock missing), engraved on the reverse To Eva from Tom 3-10-21, case diameter = 17mm
Shapland & Petter, Barnstaple, Arts and Crafts oak desk, circa 1900, the superstructure with shelved spindle filled galleried back and heart-pierced downswept sides, above rectangular moulded top with inset tooled leather skiver and slide, frieze drawer over kneehole and bank of three drawers over shelf all with copper ring handles and shaped escutcheons, raised on square section stop baluster supports on block feet united by stretcher, locks stamped 'S & P', 97cm x 58cm x 100cm highThe desktop has ink stains in multiple places, a high level of wear, and the leather has damage mainly to the front. The righthand side of the gallery support has cracks near the joint of the lower side and the shelf has ink stains. All of the drawers have ink stains in them, and the middle drawer is missing part of the escutcheon around the keyhole. The low shelf has water stains on the front.
Late 19th Century French lacquered brass oval four-glass mantel clock - Vincenti, Paris, with white Arabic dial, two-train movement with Vincenti Exposition stamp (1855-70), additionally stamped for S&H Paris and numbered 4786 4 11, striking on a coiled blued steel gong, in bevelled glazed case with two-jar mercury compensating pendulum, 27.5cm high
Black opal ring, the yellow mount stamped '18ct' and 'J.M.B', the oval shallow cabochon of green/yellow colour play measuring approximately14.5mm x 11.5mm x 4.4mm deep, size S, 4.2g gross approxThe opal with a dark background and green/blue flashes of colour. No obvious signs of damage, chips, cracks etc, but some light surface scratches and wear to the edges. The yellow metal shank with stamped marks. Claws are all present but possible evidence of re-tipping at some stage. **General condition consistent with age and use.
Rare George III brass telescope, Joshua Springer of Bristol, (fl. 1759-1809), the 19-inch x 3-inch main signed 'J. Springer Maker Bristol' to shoulder (lacking lens), on gun-barrel stem and folding tripod support, 58cm long, unboxedGloria Clifton, Directory of Broitish Scientific INstrument Makers 1550-1851, NMM 1996 records Joshua Springer as operating from three addresses in Bristol between 1759 and 1809.
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