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TATE R.  Plan of Shilbottle Colliery also Shewing a Part of the Allotments on Shilbottle Common in the Working Direction of that Mine. Rolled pen, ink & manuscript plan with some colouring. 1814, & an OS plan with pencil notes re. collieries.  (2).

TUNNICLIFFE C. F.  (Illus).  Walking With Fancy by E. L. Grant Watson. Wood eng. illus. Signed to front free endpaper by both author & illustrator & with a laid in manuscript letter from Tunnicliffe's wife, Winifred, all dated 1955. Quarto. Orig. blue cloth. 1944.

BYRON LORD.  A folio vol. in quarter calf with marbled brds., containing very well written manuscript transcriptions from Byron`s works including from Bride of Abydos, Childe Harold, Don Juan, The Adieu, The Setting of the Sun in Athens, Oscar of Alva, The Girl of Cadiz, Sun of the Sleepless, To Ellen, Farewell to the Muse, The Corsair & others, including the original footnotes (a few in Spanish) in a smaller hand. Concludes with a translation from the Memoirs of Chateaubriand (initialled F.A.M.) and a Poem by Pope.  An attractive manuscript item, early 19th cent.

Easington Glebe, Murton Colliery, etc.  An Account of the Workings in the Hutton Seam & Leadings from Murton Colliery, in a folio manuscript vol. with royalty details for Easington Glebe, Murton Colliery, South Hetton Coal Company, transactions, etc. 1850's/1860's; also a written Memorandum ref. the South Wingate Coal Company, 1845.  (2).

Hetton Colliery.  Manuscript account details of Bargain Work in the Lyour Pits, Hetton Colliery & related information, c.1830's; also a Surveyor's Lining Book for Lumley, Pittington, Cocken Pits & others, about one quarter filling a vellum vol. with clasp, c.1832.  (2).

Northumberland Miners' Mutual Confident Association.  12 copy letters c.1919/early 1920's; also a folded manuscript letter re. Jesmond Coal, 1826.

Blyth & Tyne Railway.  Form of Tender & Schedule of Quantities for the Newbiggin Branch. Manuscript. Folio. March 1871; also a few other ephemeral items re. North Eastern railways, etc.

PARKER AGNES MILLER (Illus).  Down the River by H. E. Bates. Wood eng. illus. Miller Parker's autograph laid onto title & with a tipped in two side manuscript signed letter from her. Quarto. Orig. dark blue cloth. 1937.

FRYER JOHN.  Plan of Lands in the Manor of Ravensworth & Lamesley in the Parish of Chester-le-Street Surveyed for Sir Henry George Liddell Bart. 2 rolled pen, ink & manuscript plans with notes on their acquisition. September 1785, & another from the same source.  (3).

Michael Colliery, Fife.  Fire Report. Orig. prntd. wrappers with plans in pocket. 1968; a similar report re. explosion at Weetslade Colliery, 1951; also Durham Division, Beamish  Mary Colliery Support Rules, illus. in orig. wrappers, & Inspector of Mines Labour Report, 1920.  Beckermet Mine, Cumbria.  19pp typescript history & details; with an interesting bundle of typescript & manuscript historical information on Northumberland Collieries, with related ephemera.

ATKINSON MATTHEW HUTTON.  Four manuscript diaries kept by engineer & amateur watercolourist Matthew Hutton Atkinson (1843-1917), for the years 1875-1888, containing personal anecdotes (including references to his father George Vaughan Atkinson, friend & biographer of Thomas Bewick); Egypt; where he served as torpedo instructor to the Government; angling; walking expeditions, etc; plus sketches & technical diagrams relating to personalities, inventions & experiments. Folio, in worn cond.

Great Plague.- Burgess (William, Clerk to Sir Robert Long, Auditor of the Reciept in the Exchequer) Autograph Letter signed to Sir Robert Long, asking that the Exchequer be removed to Windsor because of the Plague, bifolium, 1p., 4to, London, 20 July, 1665, asking permission to remove the Exchequer to Windsor or another suitable location "for the Towne is dangerous...[and] We doe not nor dare not stirr out of the Gate", autograph reply signed by Sir Robert to verso, ½p., "I know for the present noe better place than Windsor for the Exchequer, or if it be not there I suppose it will be at Oxford where probably the Parliament will meet", addressed by Burgess to final verso, folds, remains of seal, blank piece missing from foot of second f., some staining, lightly browned, tipped-in to a large piece of card with related 20th century manuscript text mounted at foot.  *** The practicalities of State during the time of the Great Plague. Sir Robert Long (c.1600-1673) became auditor of the lower Exchequer in September, 1662. 

India.- Northern India and Nepal.- Anthology of Vedic texts and Brahmanical literature, manuscript in Sanskrit and Newari on native paper, in a good clear Devanagari script, 40 leaves, text within border of black rules with red wash, 16 painted illustrations of deities of the various chakras, with paper tissue-guards, some other diagrams in ink, some fraying and singeing to leaf edges, some soiling and staining, heavier to outer leaves, bound with cord through 5 holes in stiff covers made of single piece of leather, some of cord now decayed with contents loose within binding, leather worn, large 8vo (leaves c.265 x 163mm.), [Northern India or Nepal], 1865. *** The text opens with 31 riddle verses from the Garland of Questions and Answers by Shukadeva, 13 verses in praise of Krishna from the Mahabharata, and 23 sections on ritual, the Mantrastana. The following 16 pages each contain a painted illustration, including 2 of the 1000-petalled lotus, the 8-petalled lotus, an interesting stylised Om with 5 deities depicted in its body, and multi- and single-headed and armed divinities, including Ganesha holding his radish. There follows a text called Five Mudras, a page of ritual diagrams, 10 pages of tables, pages of Newari, and many pages of quotations from Upanishads. A colophon dates the completion of the manuscript to 1865 (samvat 1923, i.e. Vikram Samvat, the Indian Era), the second day of the dark half of Chaitra (March-April). The rest of the colophon is in Newari. The text begins on the verso of the second leaf and ends on the recto of the second to last leaf, the outer pages written on in a variety of later, coarser hands. Provenance: ex Clifton Missionary Society. 

Bible, New Testament. Bifolium from Acts of the Apostles, manuscript in Latin, 4pp., on vellum, double column, in black ink, in  a small regular gothic bookhand, chapter headings and initials in red and blue, some glosses in margins, head and side of two columns cut with some loss of text, 2pp. silked, margins repaired or replaced, large 19th century ink ownership inscription in one margin, 238 x 180mm., [Paris], [c. 1250]  Bible, Old Testament. Single leaf from 1 Maccabees 47-67 (opening "et placationes..." to 2 Maccabees 64, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in black ink, in a regular gothic book hand, double column, 51 lines, headline (just trimmed) and chapter number in red and blue, one long initial extending over half the length of the column in blue and gold depicting a serpent, one small red ink decoration outline of a devil's head in preparation for another initial, some pepper-pot worming within text, small stains at head and tail, 220 x 142mm., [France], [13th century], v.s., v.d. (2).

Economics.- Keynes (John Maynard) The End of Laissez-Faire, first edition, single manuscript line marking in ink to p.39, a couple of leaves with faint stains, original cloth-backed boards with paper label to spine, a little discolouration at edges, dust-jacket, some toning and light soiling, spine ends slightly chipped, and some other light rubbing to extremities, small tape repairs to verso, 1926; The Economic Consequences of Mr. Churchill, original green printed wrappers, discolouration along spine and edges, some light rubbing and creasing, 1925; A Short View of Russia, original white printed wrappers, light finger or dust-soiling, joints a little rubbed, 1925, all first editions, [Woolmer 97; 66; 67], The Hogarth Press, 8vo (3) *** A trio of 1920s important works by this famous economist, published by the Hogarth Press. 

China.- Photograph Album of China and Hawaii, 128 original mounted photographs plus a few postcards, all with manuscript captions beneath, from c.70 x 115mm. to 223 x 280mm., some with fading but the larger images generally in excellent condition, original cloth, lettered in gilt on upper cover "5. China 1912", oblong folio, 1912.*** The 116 views of China include Hong Kong, Canton, Mukden (including dead bodies following the mutiny of troops on June 21st), Peking, Great Wall, Hankow, Hanyang, Wuchang, Nankin Soochow and Shanghai; the 12 views of the Hawaii Islands show panoramas of Honolulu and surfers on Waikiki beach.

Aeschylus. Tragoediae sex, edited by Gian Francesco Torresano, collation: a-n8 o10, italic and Greek letter, title in Greek and Latin, 'to the reader' in Latin, text in Greek, woodcut printer's device to title, initial spaces with guide-letters, final f. colophon recto and woodcut printer's device verso, some ink marginalia in Greek and underlining, spotted, occasional staining (including some marginal water-staining at end), 19th century panelled calf, gilt, covers with Aldine device centre-pieces, rebacked in modern calf, spine titled and dated in gilt, little rubbed and marked, 8vo (157 x 89mm.), [Venice], [House of Aldus & Andrea Torresano], [February, 1518].  *** Editio princeps of the plays of Aeschylus, which is scarce at auction. The edition was edited by the humanist Francesco Torresano, and includes his 'to the reader', which highlights the continuation of Aldus' programme of publishing Greek and scientific texts. The source manuscript was derived from the early Byzantine Codex Mediceus and lacked the leaves containing the last 500 lines of Agamemnon, and the opening of Choephoroi, so that here the two are merged as a single play. It was not until the Henri Estienne edition of 1557 that this was rectified. Literature: Adams A262; Ahmanson-Murphy 164; Renouard 85:9; EDIT 16 CNCE 328. 

Middle East.- Collection of Islamic calligraphy, a private Ottoman calligraphy collection of 98 pieces, mostly single sheet calligraphies on colourful or decorated card, with a few cut from larger pieces of albums, each with a gold border and small embellishments surrounding the calligraphy, using a variety of colours, predominately gold paint, a handful of manuscript book specimens, the occasional crease and slight scuffing or staining to some of the pieces, with the occasional worn edge and card with worming, some water damage but overall in good condition, [17th-19th century]; and 19 additional sheets of calligraphy in similar style and decoration listed (117)*** A beautiful and vast collection of Ottoman calligraphy produced between the 17th and 19th centuries, each piece written and decorated with detail and precision. Items of particular note in the collection are as follows:no.30, which has a later note in gold ascribing it to Shayk or Sheikh Hamdullah (D.1520) perhaps the foremost Ottoman calligrapher. no.51, Darwish ‘Ali.no.82, Muhammad Amin Shirazi with an example of cut-paper / decoupage calligraphy.no.94 Yusuf Khwaja with material copied at the Imperial Seray (Seray-i Humayun).

St Domingue (Haiti) & England.- [Touzi (Lucinde Maria Louise Antoinette) & Zébée Ann Rose Touzi] The Twins..., manuscript, title and 131pp., original straight-grained morocco, blind stamped border, 2-line gilt borders, a few black marks, gilt spine, red and gilt morocco label on spine, g.e., sm. 4to (222 x 185mm.), watermark dated 1830. *** An autobiographical work, originally published as Les Jumelles; or, the Twins by Lucinde M.L.A. Touzi and Zébée A.R. Touzi, J. Barfield, London, 1828.  The story of twin girls who were at Vue du Cap Français in St. Domingue (today Cap-Haïtien, Haiti) in 1799, and orphaned when both parents died within a year of each other in 1809. They narrowly survived the 1804 Haitian massacre and after time in America where their mother died, returned to Haiti to be with their father. The following year, British and Spanish forces began to besiege the French garrison. Desperate for food, François Touzi ventured outside the city walls and was fatally shot by the Spanish, leaving the children to fend for themselves in the city. Later, Lucinde made a dangerous crossing to Curaçao in an open boat, which was intercepted by a British warship. Lucinde was taken back to Britain by Captain Thomas Symonds who later married her and arranged for her twin to join her, and she married Major General Alexander Gordon in 1822, a younger son of the Marquess of Huntly and Duke of Gordon.

Charles I (King of England, Scotland and Ireland, 1600-49) Warrant to Sir William Uvedale, Treasurer of the King's Chamber that "John Harvey shall have all such allowances by us formerly granted unto him, in as lardge and ample manner as if no restraint had hym made by our said Comissioners,", manuscript on paper, bifolium, lacks seal, folds (with minute splits / holes, including to second line of text), browned, small private ownership blind-stamp to upper margin (see below), tipped-in to large piece of thick paper by second blank f. (the warrant itself free), 291 x 187mm., Whitehall, 23rd January, 1626.  *** Provenance: Robert Cole (small 20th century blind-stamp to upper margin). 

Office of the Dead.- [Prayers for the Dead], manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 15 leaves only of a larger work, in an attractive Gothic bookhand, text in black and red, single-line and 2-line initials in gold, blue and red, some marginal scroll work decoration, ruled in red throughout, some soiling in margins, old bookseller's description tipped-in verso of front wrappers, 18th century Dutch floral wrappers, slightly creased, marginal tears,  182 x 132mm., [France or Low Countries], [late 15th century].

Scotland, Aberdeen.- [Orem (Thomas, historian, d. 1730)] A Description of the Chanonry in Old Aberdeen... King’s College…, manuscript, 236pp., slightly browned, 18th century engraved bookplate of Alexander Leslie of Aberdeen on front pastedown, original calf, 2 gilt line borders, slightly rubbed, gilt spine, title with watermark of Royal coat of arms in Scotland used by King George I, George II and George III, a very good copy, sm. 8vo, [c. 1730]. *** "This account of the history and topography of St Machar's Cathedral and its precincts was later combined with similar accounts of the burgh of Old Aberdeen and of King's College. [Orem's]... works are based heavily on primary sources, and include extracts from key documents. They also provide a detailed description of Old Aberdeen in the early eighteenth century and remain a major resource for local historians. Copies of the accounts were circulating in manuscript in the eighteenth century, one of which was purchased by Richard Gough in 1771. In British Topography (1780) Gough attributed the manuscript to William Orem (d. 1692), town clerk of Old Aberdeen. This mistake was then repeated in the four editions of the manuscript that were published between 1782 and 1832." - Oxford DNB.

Catholic Church.- Council of Trent.- [A Sammelband of 69 Addresses, Decrees and other documents from the Council of Trent], in Latin, individual works ranging from 2ff. to 16ff. in length, many with woodcut papal arms of Pius IV to titles, nearly all other titles with woodcut printers' devices, one in red and black, a large folding woodcut illustration at rear (some light browning at folds, single tiny hole with verso paper repair), 6ff. ink manuscript index to rear likely in 18th century hand, very scattered minor spots or stains, a couple of individual works with damp-stains or foxing, but overall generally clean, eighteenth century vellum with gilt label to spine, somewhat toned and soiled, 4to (c.206 x 140mm.), Brixen, Padua, Riva del Garda, 1562-63.*** An incredible record of the third and final period of the Council of Trent, spanning 1562-63, this single-volume collection of 69 individual works is possibly historically unique.  With the highest number of attendees, including a significant delegation from France (now embroiled in its own religious civil wars), it was in these final sessions of the Council that many rules and reforms characteristic of the Counter Reformation were established. The majority of the 69 pamphlets here-bound are addresses ['Oratio'] to the Council, delivered by an array of pan-European theologians, Augustinians, Dominicans and Franciscans, ambassadors, arch-bishops, cardinals and oriental patriarchs covering a similarly wide array of topics.  Additionally present are the Decrees from the final five sessions, a detailed list of provincial Cathedrals and another of papal legates and various papal documents such as Bulls and Motuo Proprio. Also of interest are the imprints - nearly all published at the near-by provincial towns of Brixen (or Bressanone) in the mountains to the north and Riva del Garda to the south, today both in the Italian province of Trentino-Alto Adige but then in the Holy Roman Empire - which not only speak of the Council’s fascinating geo-political locating at Trent, but also suggest a desire for rapid print and distribution particularly north of the Alps, a recognition of and retaliation with the power of the printed word as a weapon in the arena of religious reform.

Aldrovandi (Ulisse) Quadrupedum omniu[m] Bisulcoru[m] Historia, second edition, engraved title, woodcut illustrations, scattered spotting, ex-Bologna with occasional ink-stamps, previous owner's small ink signature to front free endpaper, contemporary vellum, yapped edges, title in manuscript to spine, rubbed, remnants of small paper label to lower cover, [Nissen ZBI 76; Graesse I, 65], folio, Gian Battista Ferroni for Marco Antonia Bernia, 1641. *** Second edition of a ground-breaking investigation into hoofed (ungulate) quadrupeds, first published in 1621. Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605) is regarded as the father of modern natural history due to his pivotal contribution to zoology, botany and geology. An erudite scholar of wide-ranging interests, he was the first professor of natural science at Bologna University. There, he established a renowned botanical garden and gathered a steady amount of specimens and detailed drawings of faunal and floral rarities in his private museum. Everything was later bequeathed to the City Senate. The majority of his extensive essays were published posthumously by his pupils with the support of the Bolognese Commune. 

West Indies.- Sloane (Sir Hans) A Voyage to the Islands of Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica, with the Natural History..., 2 vol., first edition, titles in red and black, errata f., large folding engraved map, 284 engraved plates, double-page or folding and mounted on stubs, vol. 2 without 6B2 (seemingly blank), few minor tears to text margins or plate folds repaired, including very short tear to vol. 1 title lower margin, few corrections in ink manuscript and errata crossed through, occasional very light spotting or browning, some light marginal soiling, ex-library copies with bookplate, small ink-stamps to vol. 1 title and plates, 19th century half cloth, rebacked preserving original backstrips, library label to upper covers and small sticker to foot of spines, little rubbed, [Sabin 82169; Hunt 417], folio, B.M. for the Author, 1707-25.  *** Sloane's most important published work, containing the first illustrations of the flora and fauna of Jamaica and the neighbouring islands. Of the 2 volumes, one contains the text to both vol. 1 & 2, the other the plates. 

Physics.- [Opticks, Hydrostaticks, Mechanicks, Pneumaticks, Of Fortification, Notes about Light & Colours], manuscript, 196pp., one page at beginning and numerous pen and ink scientific illustrations in the text, last f. working loose, red wax seal on front pastedown, original calf-backed boards, extensively rubbed, corners worn, joints and spine cracked, edges uncut, 4to (263 x 196mm.), [18th century]. *** Perhaps a copy of a printed work. Last leaf, "The Explanation of the Plate for the Five Orders of Architecture", but lacking any such plate. 

*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed ***Hall (Fergus) Original drawings, layout and typescript text for 'Groundsel', 80pp., together with artwork and layout by other artists and authors for three unpublished works, v.s., 1975-82.*** The original text and artwork (comprising 16 pages of pen and ink drawings) for Hall's award-winning children's book, together with 28 pages of ink and gouache illustrations for his unrealised children's book An ABC of Bogies and Beasties and illustrations and mock-ups for two further unpublished works (totally 24pp. manuscript and artwork), The Perfect Princess and The Knight Who Lost His Head.This lot is sold subject to artist’s resale rights.

Craig (Edward Gordon) A small notebook/album, containing 44 wood-engravings including 11 proof impressions on india paper for 'Robinson Crusoe', all annotated by the artist in pencil, the remainder earlier illustrations for 'The Page' and 'The Mask', titled in manuscript "1902 from me" with two miniature photographs of the artist, with a small drawing and various manuscript lists "Portfolio A" with copies sold etc. at beginning and end, wood-engravings loosely inserted, original boards, initial "E" with monogram on upper cover, rubbed, spine a little worn with joints split, small 8vo.

India.- [Anvar-i Suhayli manuscript excerpts], Persian manuscript in black and red, c.200pp., some very occasional smudging, in overall good and clean condition, small embossed stamp in left of upper margin, bookplates of F. H. North to front and rear pastedowns, ownership inscription by Richard Campbell Stewart dated 1847 and ink ownership stamp of R. C Stewart to rear endpaper, contemporary morocco gilt, lacking backstrip, covers rubbed with some extremities, g.e., 4to, [probably Hyderabad], [1847].*** A sequence of didactic animal fables derived from the Sanskrit, Panchatantra written in Persian. This is a standard text used in official language examinations for British Officers serving in India, with this copy being made for its original owner at the very start of his career.

Chaucer (Geoffrey) The Ellesmere Chaucer, 2 vol., limited edition, original brown morocco-backed cloth, spines a little faded, folio, Manchester, The University Press, 1911.*** A fine facsimile reproduction of the15th Century illuminated manuscript of "The Canterbury Tales", owned at the time of this printing by the Earl of Ellesmere, now in the Huntington Library.

Shakespeare (William).- Spencer [married names Stanley, Egerton] (Alice, Countess of Derby, wife of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, 1559-1594, patrons of the company of players that joined the Lord Chamberlain’s Men with Shakespeare as chief playwright). Petition to Alice Countess of Derby from Alexander Bannyon and referencing the Earl of Derby, "whereas aboute a month past yt pleased the Ladie Stafford, and the Lady Digby to write their favorable lines unto ye La: in my fathers behalf, that in compassion of the poore of all of him, his wife and x children, most of them younge, yor honor would vouchsafe to extend yor goodness towards him in permitting him to enioy his his finale livinge of xxii s... whout paying... a lease graunted by the... late Earle of Derby...", manuscript on paper, 12 lines, 1p. with conjugate blank, folds, browned, folio, ?Dragon watermark, [c. 1595]. *** Shakespeare connection. Alice Spencer married Ferdinando Stanley, Lord Strange, heir to the earldom of Derby, secretly in 1579/80. Ferdinando was one of the richest noblemen in the country, sponsored actors and playwrights and wrote poetry. He succeeded his father as Earl of Derby in 1593, his playing company Lord Strange's Men renamed "Derby's Men". Scholars believe that Shakespeare was involved with this company as an actor and playwright. The troupe produced Titus Andronicus and the trilogy of Henry VI, Parts I, II & III. For a month after Ferdinando’s death in 1594, his company of players performed at their home of Lathom House, Lancashire as the Countess of Derby's Men. “This was the company of players that split with members joining the company that formed the Lord Chamberlain's Men in 1594, with Shakespeare as chief playwright.” - Oxford DNB“A beautiful, well-educated, and cultured woman, Alice entered the queen's household and became prominent at court . . . She encouraged the visitation of acting companies in the 1580s, when the Queen's Men, Earl of Leicester's Men, and Earl of Essex's Men appeared there many times.” - Oxford DNBBannyon had two powerful supporters in his petition, comprising, Dorothy Lady Stafford (1526-1604), daughter of Henry tenth Lord Stafford, by Ursula Pole; grand-daughter of George Duke of Clarence, brother of King Edward IV; married 154Os (second wife) Sir William Stafford (died 1556), his first wife Mary Boleyn was sister of Queen Anne Boleyn and Abigail Lady Digby (c.1552-1611), daughter of Sir Arthur Heveningham (d. 1557), by Mary Shelton (buried 1571), a first cousin of Queen Anne Boleyn, first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth I.

West Indies.- Jamaica.- Campbell (Sir Alexander, army officer, colonial administrator, Governor of Jamaica, 1739-91) A Memoir Relative to the Island of Jamaica, presentation copy from Campbell to William Pitt with his inscription at front, manuscript, title and 94pp. (including a dedication to George III and other preliminaries), slightly browned throughout, extensively annotated manuscript map over an engraved base, titled "Sketch of Jamaica, 1782", with manuscript lettered key identifying "mountain retreats" and with expertly delineated topographical information of the island (360 x 650 mm),  with a few small manuscript insertions and additions tipped in at end, map with folds (long brown mark along one fold and one small tear) and slight foxing, handsomely bound in full red straight-grained morocco, single gilt key border, slightly rubbed and marked, lower cover with some surface wear, fully gilt panelled spine decorated with flowers, slightly faded, g.e., 4to (303 x 242mm.), [?Jamaica], 1782.*** An unpublished account of the preparations of defence against a joint French and Spanish attack on Jamaica in 1782. The defences were rendered unnecessary by the defeat of the French navy at the Battle of the Saintes on 9-12 April.Campbell's plan for the defence of Jamaica with various different scenarios, including: "Retreat from Dallas Castle"; "Rock Fort"; "Situation of Port Royal"; "Improvements and Preparations at Port Royal"; "General description of the first ridge of Mountains" etc.Drummond's Hill. "Retreat from Drummond's Hill. The troops from Drummond's Hill when hard pressed and unable any longer to resist the Progress of the Invaders, were after destroying their Artillery to have retreated to Dallas Castle distant about two miles and a quarter; at which Plantation the main road through those Mountains terminates after passing often over the Fords of Mammee and Cane Rivers." - Campbell. 

Russia.- Orthodox Old Believer Service Book, manuscript in Church Slavonic, c.235pp. excluding blanks, 12 lines of text per page in black ink with musical notation above (words separated into syllabic motifs to match music), key to value of musical notes in red and black, one full-page illustration of St Luke in his scriptorium, 9 head-pieces and 16 decorative initials in red, blue, yellow and green gouache, some with gold, each section headed with one line of decorative interlocking script in red ink, headings, initials and articulation marks also in red, small printed label "Restauriert von Vera Creola 3006 Bern" to rear pastedown, first and last few leaves reinforced at gutter, few small wormholes at beginning and end, one within text of first c.20 leaves, the occasional marginal defect, some browning, soiling, some staining, generally light, original calf over wooden boards, blind-stamped in ornate panelled design, sympathetically rebacked preserving much of original backstrip, recornered and repairs to fore-edge, 2 brass claps ?leather renewed, 4 brass studs to lower cover, few small wormholes, some wear to covers, folio (each leaf 354 x 260mm.), [Tsarist Russia], [18th-early 19th century].  *** An usually richly decorated Orthodox service book, made by hand because the sect of the OId Believers were forbidden by the Tsarist government to use the printing presses. The paper has no watermarks, possibly suggesting manufacture in a remote territory or among the exiled Old Believers in Turkey.

Tibet.- Selections from the Perfection of Wisdom in a Hundred Thousand Lines, manuscript in Tibetan on mulberry paper, c.216 leaves, chapters 38, 40, 45 & 47, Tibetan script in silver ink, text area black and polished by rice powder for preservation purposes (polish often spilling over onto frame portion of leaves), lacking title page, some worming, some soiling or staining, leaves loose, housed in a modern cloth drop-back box, each leaf c.120 x 450mm., [Ladakh], [16th century].  *** A collection of passages from the Perfection of Wisdom, each section on average from 10 to 20 leaves. There is reason to believe that this manuscript has not been opened for a long time, since several of its pages are firmly joined together. The writing is in silver ink, the calligraphy with the ‘rough and ready’ appearance found in manuscripts from Ladakh. The state of conservation and medley of pages suggest that the manuscript never belonged to a well-organised monastic library, but was kept in private hands for occasional consultation or purposes of worship on the family altar. 

Maritime.- Ralfe (James) The Naval Chronology of Great Britain, first edition in original 12 parts, 60 aquatint plates, all but 2 hand-coloured, one frontispiece printed in 2 colours as issued, list of subscribers, publisher's slip in part 6 regarding missing plate (subsequently included in a later part), a few minor tears and creases to edges, original printed wrappers with part numbers, price and 'Col.' in manuscript to upper covers, some foxing and browning to wrappers and occasional chipping to extremities, preserved in cloth chemises in 2 full blue crushed morocco drop-back boxes, gilt, spines in compartments with gilt ship motifs (a little faded), [Abbey Life 342; Bobins 1290; Howes R-21; Sabin 67602; Tooley 392], 8vo, Whitmore and Penn, 1818-19.*** An exceptional set, as issued in the original parts, and in generally superb condition. Individual parts of the Naval Chronology were offered both uncoloured for 10 shillings, 6 pence and coloured, as here, for 15 shillings. A lesser copy was offered at Christie's as part of the Bobins collection last year, with backstrips renewed, some covers in facsimile, and one plate supplied and with ink stamp, supposedly the first coloured copy in parts since 1959.

Middle East.- [Manuscript, Arabic Miscellany], c.200pp., some staining occasionally heavy, occasional foxing and spotting, a few leaves closely trimmed affecting marginal notes, occasional "Bath" blind-stamp to margins, a few annotations, some in English, contemporary roan-backed boards, covers rubbed, some wear to extremities, 4to, [perhaps Egypt], [1800].*** An Arabic manuscript assembled for a European student of the language. The four works comprise of: animals from the Hayawan of Damiri, uncommon words with Arabic explanations, Arabic proverbs, and miscellaneous verses and notes on grammar and lexicon.

China.- Yangtze Valley.- Anonymous Chinese cartographer (probably late 19th century) Three strip maps surveying the waterways and environs of Soohow [Suzhou], Shanghai, and Chin Kiang [Zhenjiang], detailed maps of the canals, waterways, and environs within the lower Yangtze Valley, each inscribed extensively in Chinese, some annotated in Romanized Chinese, pen and inks, blue wash, some [?]later additions in pencil, on thin buff paper, each map approx. 305 x 3000 mm (12 x 118 in), several sheets conjoined and mounted on linen, several fine splits and repaired tears visible, even browning and surface dirt, folding concertina-style into blue cloth decorative endpapers, with manuscript label to upper cover of each in Romanized Chinese, worn and scuffed, oblong 4to, [probably late 19th century or slightly later] (3)*** Possibly related to the waterway surveys commissioned by the Imperial Maritime Customs from the Dutch cartographer Thomas Ferguson, who published two outline maps of waterways; one of the waterways surrounding Shanghai, the other of Suzhou. Ferguson invented the the 'hodograph', which mechanically collected data about the sailing direction and distance of a vessel, essentially allowing for automatic marine surveying.

Milton (John).- Martin (John) and others. Composite album with illustrations to Milton's Poetical Works, manuscript title with engraved vignette pasted on, manuscript contents, 24 mezzotint proof plates for Milton's 'Paradise Lost', the Imperial quarto edition, 28 engravings after Richard Westall for 'Paradise Lost', 'Paradise Regain'd', 'Sampson Agonistes', 'Comus', and 'Poems', 3 portraits of Milton and a folding plate of Milton and his Two Daughters, by Smith after Romney, and one engraving after Turner by Goodall, 'The Expulsion from Paradise', the Miltons bound in on original sheets, the Martins each platemark approx. 270 x 190 mm (10 5/8 x 7 1/2 in), or the reverse, all sheets each approx. 360 x 265 mm (14 1/4 x 10 1/2 in), tissue guards, minor spotting and surface dirt, nineteenth century dark green morocco with elaborate floral border tooled in gilt, signed “J. Mackenzie Bookbinder to the King”, spine gilt in compartments, calf label, g.e., rather rubbed at joints and edges, bookplate of Peter Carthew to front pastedown, large 4to, [circa 1797-1835]

Lancastrian France.- Piot (Michiel or Michael of Paris, clerk to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick and Henry VI's French secretary) Receipt from Michiel Piot, clerk to Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick (‘le Conte de Warewyk’) certifying that on Friday the 17th day of [January] Guillaume le Grant, messenger [messagier], presented certain letters close from the bailly of Caen [Sir Richard Harrington] to the earl, with a box of wood in which was a certain information, of which matters Guillaume had sought certification of their receipt, autograph manuscript signed document, in French, on paper, six lines in a rapid French secretary hand, light damp-stain in lower right-hand corner, two small holes in blank left-hand margin, some slight creasing, late eighteenth- or early nineteenth-century inscription ‘19. janvier 1437’ in upper left-hand corner, in very good condition. 80 x 292 mm., Witnessed by Piot’s sign manual (“mon seing manuel”) followed by his paraph, Rouen, 19th January 1437 [i.e. 1438]. *** Piot worked for the earl of Warwick in the 1430s and later as Henry VI’s French secretary, writing several letters on behalf of the king and Queen Margaret to Charles VII over negotiations for the surrender of the County of Maine. “… Henry VI engaged for his French business a number of French secretaries, who lived in England for considerable periods and probably brought with them families and households that swelled the immigrant population of London and its suburbs. Several of these secretaries chose to stay permanently in England and, like Gervase le Vulre in 1441, obtained letters of denizenship. They were encouraged to do so not only because of the nature of their work, but also because they fell victim to the Valois advance after 1436; some, like Michael de Paris and Jean Rinel lost lands and goods in France and sought recompense in England.” – Ralph A Griffiths. The Reign of King Henry VI, 1981. Sir Richard Harrington (c. 1399-1462), soldier, bailly of Caen, later controller of the Household of Henry VI. Provenance: This document is doubtless from the (Norman) Chambre des Comptes, many of the documents were dispersed in the nineteenth century.

Mediavilla (Richardus de) Commentum super quarto libro Sententiarum Petri Lombardi, collation: aa8 bb10 cc10 a-z10 ɿ10 ͻ10 ψ10 A10 B-D8, double column, 320ff., 50 lines, gothic type, a single 27 line initial in blue and red on a1, as well as 2-5 line initials and paragraph marks in red and blue throughout, manuscript chapter numbering and pagination in black ink to upper margins, a few scattered leaves lightly browned, and a few scattered instances of faint marginal damp-stains or finger-soiling, but overall clean and bright, in contemporary vellum, spine with manuscript title lettering in ink and later paper label at foot, spine head chipped and bumped, while foot and upper joint with some signs of wear, ink lettering to top and bottom edge, folio (c.265 x 183mm.), Venice, Christophorus Arnoldus, [not after 1477].*** First edition of a Franciscan commentary which addresses economic theory. Teaching at Paris university, Mediavilla was an active participant in the debate over 'poverty' which subsumed the Franciscan Order for much of the 13th century and eventually led to the breaking-away of the heretical Fraticelli sect in 1296. In his commentary on the fourth book of Lombard's Sentences, Mediavilla expounds some interesting comments on the ethics of contracts and annuities against those who viewed them as usurious, and draws out more elaborate arguments about wider economic systems.  Literature: BMC V 206; Goff M-423; HC(+Add) 10984*; GW M22509; BSB-Ink R-170; ISTC im00423000.

Caldecott (Randolph, British artist and illustrator, 1846-1886) Artist's drawing manual with over 180 leaves of original designs, manuscript contents list to front of album with categories for subjects including 'Male Figures', 'Heads. Male', 'Feet', 'Figures Riding', and many others, some possibly traced after prints, some possibly original in conception, pen and inks on thin buff-coloured tracing paper, leaves of various sizes but each approx. 250 x 185 mm (9 7/8 x 7 1/4 in), watercolour drawing of putto pasted onto front pastedown, otherwise leaves mounted on stubs or laid onto blue-grey album leaves, some numbering throughout, many with rough edges, handling creases, a few loose, various prints inserted throughout, half calf, rubbed and very worn, 4to, [mid to late 18th century]; together with two further Caldecott sketchbooks, with 12 drawings to each, pen and ink and pencil, each leaf approx. 200 x 235 mm (7 7/8 x 9 1/4 in), white paper covers, both with red ink inscription to upper covers 'Sketch book of Randolph Caldecotts', oblong 4to, [mid to late 18th century] (3) 

Middle East.- Sherley (Sir Antony) Sir Anthony Sherley his Relation of his Travels into Persia, first edition, title with loss to upper corner and paper repair (affecting one letter of text, supplied in ink manuscript), ink manuscript date to A4 and few instances of underlining or passage-marking, K1 tiny rust-hole within text, printed side-notes a few times cropped, few neat repairs, mostly to margins but affecting few letters to Sig. K, ex-library copy with bookplate, small ink-stamp to title, later morocco, quite worn, g.e., [STC 22424], small 4to, for Nathaniell Butter and Joseph Bagset, 1613. *** First edition of this important Elizabethan work on Persia. This copy is without the portrait of Sherley, which is seldom found with the book and appears to have been issued separately. Sherley left Venice in 1599 with his brother Robert and John Manwaring, journeying to Persia with the intention of promoting Persian trade with England. He returned to Europe in 1608 as an envoy of the Shah.

Prayerbook for the English Market.- Book of Hours, Use of Sarum, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, 147 leaves (plus an original pastedown and flyleaf at each end), bound too tight to collate and without catchwords, but wanting 7 single leaves (once with miniatures or significant decoration), and a leaf or so at end of main text, text in single column of 14 lines, red rubrics, one-line initials in gold or blue with red or black penwork, 2-line initials in gold on dark pink and blue grounds followed by a capital touched in red, significant breaks in text opening with larger initials in same colours enclosing coloured foliage on burnished gold grounds, these on pages with text frame on three sides of thin gold and coloured bars with foliate borders, three full-page miniatures by a follower of the Masters of the Gold Scrolls group, with sprays of foliage in the surrounding borders (i: the Kiss of Judas; ii: Christ before Pontius Pilate; and iii: the Flagellation of Christ), blank leaves and space often used for later additions (usually prayers, in Latin with occasional ones in Middle or Tudor English), some cockling, scuffed areas, small spots and stains, trimmed at edges with affect to border decoration in places, overall in good and presentable condition, in contemporary panel stamped binding with inscription “+Ihesus Maria” in dark brown calf over wooden boards, two large brass clasps at foredge, rebacked, small 8vo (112 x 78mm.), Southern Netherlands (perhaps Bruges), [probably second quarter 15th century].*** Provenance: Written for use in England, with SS. Augustine, Edward the Confessor, Alphege, Dunstan, Swithun (“Swichin”; also in Litany in same form), Mildred, Oswald, Cuthbert, Edmund of Abingdon (in red), Edmund the Martyr (in red) and Richard, bishop of Chichester (in red), in the Calendar. The presence of St. Erkenwald of London as an addition to the Calendar in a near-contemporary hand may suggest the book’s use in London or its vicinity. In the last years of the fifteenth century and the opening years of the sixteenth, a back flyleaf was used to record “The birthes of all the / [‘my’ crossed through] childryn of henry / Sad Leydr [Saddler]” (with the births of his sons John and ‘Rafe’, and his daughter ‘Annys’ all in the reign of Henry VII: 1485-1509). Apparently remaining in England throughout the Reformation, and set aside rather than adapted to comply with Protestant textual sanctions. Text: This volume comprises: a Calendar; the Hours of the Virgin, with Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce (mistitled as “Ad nonam”), Sext, Nones, Vespers and Compline; the Seven Penitential Psalms, with a Litany of Saints, prayers and collects; the Office of the Dead; and Psalms 118 and 138, introduced as the “Commendationes animarium” (wanting first few lines; the text of the first of these Psalms was often used alongside the Hours of the Virgin, and the two also survive as a separate text for the commendation of souls in a Rouen Book of Hours of c. 1420-30 recorded in a private Danish collection by E. Drigsdahl, his codex ‘cuj 1’).

China.- Juz' 18 of a Qur'an, manuscript in Arabic on paper, 52 leaves, 5 lines of black Rayhani script to a page, within red rules, black diacritical marks, gold rosette verse markers, corrections in red, verse header in blue on gold, opening and final bifolios with ornamental border of gold and polychrome with modern tissue-guard, very occasional flaking to gold, a few marginal repairs, lower corners neatly silked or repaired throughout, some staining, soiling, ?original red leather binding with flap, blind-stamped in an ornate panelled design, rebacked and joint of flap renewed in modern red morocco, covers with a few small portions of wear, new endpapers, 4to (each leaf 252 x 180mm.), [China], [18th century].  *** This Juz' or section from a Chinese Qur'an was once part of a multi-volume set of 30 Juz', this a more typical form of production for a Chinese Qur'an than a single volume codex. The script is a variant of Muhaqqaq script, similar to Rayhani but more accurately characterised as Sini (Chinese) script, the angularity and extended brush-like forms of the characters recalling the brush strokes of Chinese calligraphy. The gold illumination of the opening bifolio further illustrates the synthesis of Chinese motifs, such as peony blooms, with the distinctive Islamic aesthetics of the Qur'an. 

Defoe (Daniel).- Law (John).- Lovell (Sir Salathiel, Judge, Recorder of London, 1631/2-1713) Warrant signed to constables and other officers in Westminster, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex, for the arrest of a highwayman and recovery of the stolen goods, manuscript on paper, 1p. and conjugate blank, good impression of Lovell's seal, 12th February 1693/4, "on Tuesday last, there was feloniously stole from Robert Wescombe and Thomas Knight, upon the Kings highway a Dapple Gray Gelding, a Browne Nagg a Bright Gray Nagg, and other goods and Chattles of a Considerable value, And that hee [Robert Wescombe] hath in suspition divers lewd idle and disorderly persons within the Citties or Counties aforesaid to have Comitted the said Robbery...", note in another hand to foot "This Warrant to remaine in the hands of John Connell", light surface soiling, heavier on panel of conjugate blank, very slightly creased at foot.  *** Connections to Daniel Defoe and John Law. As Recorder of London, Lovell was one of the most prominent and controversial 'hanging' judges of his time with a reputation for corruption, largely because of his close association with ‘thief-takers’. Among the most notorious of these was John Connell, to whom this present warrant was given. Lovell presided over the trial of Daniel Defoe, an open critic of his, for seditious libel, sentencing him to a fine, public humiliation for days in a pillory, and an indeterminate term of imprisonment. In 1694, Lovell sentenced Scottish economist and financier John Law to death for the murder of Edward 'Beau' Wilson during a duel in Bloomsbury Square. Law was incarcerated in Newgate Prison but later escaped to Amsterdam and then Paris where he founded the Mississippi Company.

Calendar from a Book of Hours, Use of Utrecht, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 5 leaves only from a larger work (lacks March/April), in a Gothic bookhand, text in red and light brown ink, single-line and 2-line initials in gold, blue and red, ruled in red throughout, tissue guards, some bleed through from initials, last f. very small stain, soiling in margins, bookseller's description loosely at end and pencil note on lower pastedown, new endpapers, modern vellum, 195 x 152mm., [Utrecht], [late 15th century].

Pereyra (Abraham) Espejo de la Vanidad del Mundo, tears to title, laid down on paper, old manuscript notes to title verso now obscured, trimmed occasionally touching headlines, occasional ink marginal note, scattered spotting and staining, 2H4 & 4A4 with tiny hole affecting odd letter, 4B4 with large loss to bottom half affecting text, 4C4 with loss to bottom half not affecting text, laid down on paper, modern morocco, 4to, Amsterdam, Alexandro Ianse, 5431 [1671].

Irish soldier.- Carrol (William Parker, soldier, Lt. Col. of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot, acted as Governor of Malta, 1776-1842) Commonplace Book, autograph manuscript signed, 140pp. excluding blanks, printed "Peter Pangloss" notice tipped-in on front pastedown, text interspersed with gilded floral papers, watermarked "Lane & Co. 1825", original straight-grained morocco, gilt lettered direct "Sir Wm. Parker Carrol Kt. Royal Irish" on upper cover, rubbed and marked, corners worn, brass clasp, hinges splitting, g.e., sm. 4to (248 x 190mm.), dated in text 1814-37; and another, a copy of the Army List, belonging to Cudbert French, Captain in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, 1825, v.s., v.d. (2). *** Items including: "Prologue at Corfu"; "Lines to the Memory of William J. Robinson who died in America"; "The Monkey Martyr: A Fable"; "On a Lady who rejected an Officer (to whom he had been engaged in marriage) on  his returning from service after having lost an eye" etc. In 1821 Carrol was appointed as Lt. Colonel of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot and in January 1822 was posted to Malta. During the Governor of Malta’s frequent visits to the Ionian Islands of which he also had charge, Carrol, despite his purely military position, acted as governor during these periods. From 1825 he was posted with his regiment to the Ionian Islands, but having contracted Malaria, he was forced to return home in 1830. By the time of his departure he had achieved the rank of Major-General.

India.- Tanjore (now Thanjavur).- Thuljaji Bhonsle, also known as Tullasu Rasa, (1738–87) Memorial of the King of Tanjour to the Directors of the Honourable the East India Company, manuscript, 20pp., second f. small piece torn away, loose but present, several stains, folds, browned, unbound, folio, [late 18th century]; and another, a printed publication, East India Assets, 1836, folio (2). *** A contemporary manuscript copy of a letter first printed in 1777, a communication to the directors of the East India Company by the King of Tanjore a year after his restoration to the throne and the treaty making him a vassal of the company.

India.- Painting of Chariot, opaque pigment on verso of a Qajar Qur’an, Bifolium, 191 x 234 mm, laid onto window mount, minor surface wear, some handling creases, Northern India, [1800]; with a collection of largely 18th century leaves from various Persian manuscripts from Northern India, and painting of a woman dancing, v.s. (5)*** The Painting of Chariot is possibly from a Bhagavad Gita series. The leaves in this collection are from various sources, including a Mamluk Qur'an and a Persian cosmographical manuscript discussing insects, 

Psalms.- Single leaf from the Psalms, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 21 lines, in dark brown and red ink, large seven-line initial "S" in burnished gold, blue, red and green, 12 single-line initials in gold, red and blue, 200 x 142mm., [France], [c. 1400]; and 4 other medieval leaves from prayer books, including a leaf of musical notation with later decoration, v.s., v.d. (5 pieces).

Norfolk, Hainford, Frettenham & Spixworth.- [Court Leet book of the Manors of Haynford, Frettenham & Spixworth], manuscript in Latin and English, 168pp. excluding blanks, in several hands, 2ff. loose and a few others working loose, a few edges frayed slightly affecting some text, slightly browned, original vellum, lettered direct on lower cover, slightly soiled and creased, lacks head of spine, Pot watermark, folio (310 x 203mm.), 1645-63, sold subject to the Manorial Documents Rules, this manuscript may not be removed from England and Wales. *** Hainford, Frettenham and Spixworth, approximately 5 miles north of Norwich.

Middle East.- Sharh risala al-Wazir Ahmed ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Zaydun al-Makhzumi… Salah al-Din Khalil ibn Aybek. [Commentary on a treatise from a vizier to his sultan], Arabic manuscript, c.200pp., some damp-staining, with occasional smudging to text, worming with some slight loss to text, repairs to a few leaves with slight loss of text, a few annotations in margins, minor ink stains to bottom edge, blind-stamped morocco, worming to covers, patch of ink staining, a little rubbed, later endpapers, 4to, [probably Egypt], 1277 AH, [1861 CE].

*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed *** French or Netherlandish Workshop.- Single leaf from an illuminated Prayers of St Bridget, with arched miniature depicting the risen Christ in the tomb recalling his Scourging, from the first prayer of St Bridget, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, single column, 6 lines on recto and 25 lines on verso, in a Gothic bookhand, in red and black ink, all heightened with gold, full border composed of flowers and highly burnished gold ivy-leaves, in blue, red and other colours, 1 6-line initial, hole in lower margin, soiled, stained and creased, 190 x 147mm., [France or Low Countries], [15th century].

Cambridgeshire & Suffolk, Ashley & Silverley.- Charter, Alice wife of Thomas Randulf of Silverley has granted to Robert Swyft ten acres of arable in the fields of Ashley & Silverley that the same Robert was seized of Hugh of Gloucester by charter of feoffment, witnesses: John Coleman, John Randulf, William of Chieveley and others, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, 13 lines, in light brown ink, in a regular bookhand, folds, lacks seal, Ashley, 110 x 210mm., after the Feast of St Augustine [August], 1305.

India.- 'Ali (Majuma Qasaid Hazrat) [A Collection of Devotional Poetry on 'Ali and his attributes], manuscript in Persian, c.450pp., worming, affecting some text, some staining, occasional browning to text, the odd smudge, a few marginal chips and tears, occasional repairs, some to text, a few annotations and underlinings, ink inscription in Arabic on endpaper, contemporary calf, spine worn with loss, some wear to extremities, later endpapers, 8vo, [perhaps Lucknow, India, 1177 AH [1763 CE].*** A collection of poetry, gifted from Asaf-ud-Dawla, the Nawab of Lucknow, as recorded in the front note.

Cardanus (Hieronymus) Offenbarung der Natur und natürlicher Dingen auch mancherley wunderbarlichen und subtilen Wurckungen, second German edition, collation: ):(8 ):( ):(8 a-z6 A-Z6 Aa-Yy6 Zz8, title printed in red and black and with a woodcut portrait of the author within an ornate border verso, woodcut illustrations and diagrams within text, woodcut decorative initials and tail-pieces, colophon f. with woodcut printer's device verso, ):( ):(8 and final f. blank, title with small marginal repairs, the odd very small wormhole and some creasing, some water-staining to lower margins at start (including title where just touching the odd letter of printer's name), E3 short tear at head, just within text, but without loss, some spotting (including occasional ink) or foxing and staining, mostly lightly browned (occasionally darker in places, including title), later vellum, ink manuscript title to head of spine, lacking ties, spine chipped but solid, marked, lightly soiled, folio (312 x 210mm.), Basel, Sebastian Henricpetri, 1591.*** Rare second German edition of this important encyclopedia by the polymath Girolamo Cardano (1501-1576), who was one of the most influential mathematicians of the Renaissance. The present work includes, astronomy, astrology, alchemy, magic, geology, anthropology, geography, natural history, and technology.Literature: VD16 C 938; Ferguson I, 142; Wellcome I, 1303.

Scotland.- James IV (King of Scots, died at the Battle of Flodden, 1473-1513) Feu-charter from James IV to David Hoppringill of Smalehame and Margaret Lundin, his wife, of the lands of Redeheid lying in the lordship of Ettrick Forest and within the Sheriffdom of Selkirk, in feu-farm and heritage for ever, paying £26 13s. 4d. yearly... to find two horsemen for each £10 worth of the said lands, to serve the king in his wars and hosts..., witnesses: William, bishop of Aberdeen, Keeper of the Privy Seal; Lord Campbell and Lorn, Master of the Household; Lord Gray, Justiciar; George, Abbot of Aberbrotock, Treasurer, and others, manuscript in Latin, in bookhand, on vellum, 34 lines, in brown ink, small remains of Great Seal appended, folds, slightly browned, bookplate of Pringle of Whytbank on front pastedown of upper cover, laid in a large modern boards, rubbed, 270 x 490mm., Edinburgh, 28th August 1510.

Amulet or Prayer Roll against Disease and Demons.- Incipient nomine sancta Jhesu Christi, manuscript in Latin, on vellum, in a neat cursive hand, 86 lines, title in red, 11 2-line and 1-line initials in red and blue, cross signs in red, dark stain affecting 17 lines but still legible, slightly creased, small tears at tail not affecting text, E.P. Goldsmidt & Co. bookseller's description accompanying, 390 x 105mm., [France], [?late 14th or early 15th century]. *** An extremely rare Amulet, or Prayer Roll, worn wrapped around the arm as protection against the dangers of childbirth, maladies, sorcery and any other sorts of danger. This specimen begins "Incipient nomina sancta Jhesu Christi", followed by a string of names: "Messiahs"; "Sother";"Emmanuel"; "Saboath" etc. There follow eight further sections, some with headings specifying the disease against which help is sought ("contra fluxum sanguinis, Oratio Sci Sigismundi regis et martyris contra febresi...). The fourth section is to protect a woman in childbirth ("Si mulier laboret in partu", she is to put this "Breve" under right breast "et illico deo auxilliante liberabit se"). In section five the names of the "Seven Sleepers" are given as a magic formula, perhaps to induce sleep. For more on our roll and late medieval amulet rolls in general see Don C. Skemer (Curator of Manuscripts, Princeton University Library) 'Amulet Rolls and female devotion in the late Middle Ages' in Scriptorium, Vol.55, No.2, 2001, pp.197-227. Provenance: E.P. Goldschmidt & Co., of 45 New Bond Street, [c.1938-1940]; Private American collection.  

* Dagger. An Indo-Persian dagger, early 19th century, the 24 cm curved steel blade with double fuller, bone handle with steel rivets, overall length 36 cm, in its black leather scabbard applied with an old manuscript label, the tip of the scabbard missing QTY: (1)