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Click here to subscribeA Great War trio and Defence Medal to Lt. Jack Melhuish, Lord Strathcona`s Horse, and brother of Commodore Robin Avelin Melhuish; 19814-15 Star (2696 Tpr: J. L. Melhuish. Ld. S`cona`s R.); War and Victory medals (Lieut); WW II, Defence medal, brooch mounted; with miniatures for the Trio. Medals very fine, miniatures better. Commissioned 1st Lieutenant, 21 April, 1917, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, Section A, Cavalry Branch.
A George II provincial silver coffee pot, by John Kirkup, Newcastle 1754, tapering baluster form, scroll handle, domed cover with a cone finial, embossed with landscape scenes and foliate scroll decoration, engraved with an armorial, on a chased circular foot, scratch initialled `R` over A*E`, height 26.7cm, approx. weight 30oz. The arms are those of Walsh of Ireland.
DRINKWATER JOHN: (1882-1937) English Poet & Dramatist. Collection of seven A.Ls.S. & A.Ns.S., Daddy, four on picture postcards and three 8vo, various places (London, Venice, Constantinople etc.), 1934-35, all to his daughter, Penelope Ann Drinkwater. Drinkwater writes a series of affectionate letters to his young daughter, explaining where he is writing from, `We went to this [Caernarvon] Castle this morning, and the gate you can see is where the very first Prince of Wales was shown to the people when he was a tiny little baby by his father King Edward the First hundreds of years ago`, `This, my darling little Penny daughter, shows you the birds that fly about at a place called Venice in Italy, where the streets are all water and people go about in boats instead of motor cars and buses.`, also commenting on her mother`s efforts to find a house, referring to Music Hall comedian George Robey, `Mr. George Robey and your other friends at the theatre often ask about you, and what you said about Daddy and Mr. Robey was in the newspaper` etc. Together with a selection of printed ephemera relating to John Drinkwater and his daughter including a printed small 4to auction catalogue for a sale of Postage Stamps of the United States of America, being the collection of Drinkwater, offered by H. R. Harmer of Bond Street, 1931, an official 4to printed programme of the Jubilee Procession for King George V and Queen Mary, 6th May 1935, featuring printed text by Drinkwater and signed and inscribed to the front cover, `My darling Penny, This is the copy of the Programme that I bought for you when we went together to see the King`s Jubilee procession....your loving Daddy`, two family photographs annotated by Drinkwater, a small series of letters to Penny from other individuals, and also including a colour picture postcard of the Malvern Hills signed to the verso by over fifteen individuals including George Bernard Shaw, Charlotte Shaw, John Drinkwater, Barry Jackson, various relatives and friends of Drinkwater etc., dated 26th July 1934 and annotated `Penny`s 5th birthday, Bernard Shaw`s 80th Birthday`. Some light overall age wear and various (largely minor) faults, generally G to about VG, 31
TOLKIEN J. R. R.: (1892-1973) English Writer, author of the classic fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. T.L.S., J.R.R. Tolkien, one page, small 4to, Headington, Oxford, 16th June 1967, to Martin Hooton. Tolkien announces `Nobody regrets the delay in issuing The Silmarillion and other related works more than I do` although continues to explain `I have, however, had an overwhelming number of obstacles to cope with, the chief of which has been the trouble arising in early 1965 in U.S.A. There, owing to a peculiarity of their copyright law, my works were being published without any reference to myself at all.` He further remarks `I have already considered the idea that you mention of publishing some of the work in parts and getting out something before the whole is put in order. I will do my best.` Accompanied by a carbon copy of Hooton`s original letter to Tolkien, 14th June 1967, and a further T.L.S. from the publishers George Allen & Unwin Ltd., one page, 4to, London, 23rd May 1967, also to Hooton and discussing the publication of The Silmarillion, in part, `I would not be too optimistic of seeing it for another two or three years for the author is a perfectionist and although much is written the pattern of the whole work is still unclear.` VG, 3 The Silmarillion, a collection of Tolkien`s mythopoeic works, was eventually published posthumously by his son, Christopher Tolkien, in 1977.
COOPER JAMES FENIMORE: (1789-1851) American Writer of historical novels including The Last of the Mohicans. D.S., J. Fenimore Cooper, being a signed cheque, Cooperstown, 11th August 1840. The partially printed cheque, featuring an engraving of an eagle in flight, is drawn on the Otsego County Bank and completed in Cooper`s hand, made payable to R. Davis for the sum of $5.50. Together with a second, almost identical D.S., J. Fenimore Cooper, being a signed cheque, Cooperstown, 10th August 1840, made payable by Cooper to H. C. Gallop for the sum of $11.20. Both cheques have red circular bank cancellations which only slightly affect parts of Cooper’s signatures. VG, 2
LITERATURE: Selection of signed hardback books by various novelists and writers including Journeys End by R. C. Sherriff and Vernon Bartlett (Limited Edition number 97 of 600 printed on handmade paper) signed by both Sherriff and Bartlett on the limitations page, A Story like the Wind by Laurens van der Post (First Edition, 1972), Rabbit, Run and Pigeon Fathers and other Stories by John Updike, The Singer not the Song by Audrey Erskine Lindop, Room at the Top by John Braine (signed piece laid down to fly leaf), The Dark Half by Stephen King (First Edition, 1989) etc. All except one are accompanied by the dust jackets. G to VG, 13
LITERATURE: Selection of signed hardback and paperback (5) books by various writers and novelists, a few entertainers etc., including Imaginary Homelands by Salman Rushdie, The Apostle by George Moore, American Argument by Pearl S. Buck with Eslanda Goode Robeson, signed and inscribed by Robeson, Dark Quarter-The Story of the Brontes by Lynne Reid Banks, Boo, to my friends by Evelyn Laye, And They Shall Walk by Sister Elizabeth Kenny (also signed by actress Rosalind Russell) Europa`s Beast by R. H. Mottram (with accompanying A.L.S.), Two Under the Indian Sun by Rumer Godden, Angels & Insects by A. S. Byatt, English Eccentrics by Edith Sitwell (paperback), A Galaxy of Fathers by Frank Swinnerton, Master of the Moor by Ruth Rendell, The Daughters of Cain by Colin Dexter, Yellow Sands by Eden and Adelaide Phillpotts, Isle of Thorns by Sheila Kaye-Smith etc. Seventeen are accompanied by the dust jackets. FR to VG, 31
AUTOGRAPHS: Miscellaneous selection of signed cards, a few signed cheques, 8 x 10 photographs and smaller etc., by a variety of famous individuals, mainly entertainers, actors and singers, including Rod Steiger, Warren Beatty, Goldie Hawn, Sharon Stone, Brigitte Bardot, Peter Sellers (very weak signature), Larry Adler, John Hurt, Roger Lloyd Pack, Bernard Cribbins, Joanna Lumley, Barbara Windsor, Bertice Reading, Gabrielle, Tony Bennett, Gregory Hines, Cleo Laine & Johnny Dankworth, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Eartha Kitt, Gareth Gates, Edward Fox, Terry Moore, Christiaan Barnard, Gerald R. Ford, Dan Quayle etc. G to generally VG, 50
GEORGE II: (1683-1760) King of Great Britain and Ireland 1727-60. D.S., George R, as King, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at St. James`s, 4th April 1733. The manuscript document is addressed to Edward Hughes, Judge Advocate General of Our Forces, and is a Warrant following an Act of Parliament `for Punishing Mutiny & Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army & their Quarters`, declaring that a General Court Martial be held from time to time as necessary `for the Trial & Punishment of Mutiny, Desertion, False Musters, and also for the Trial & Punishment of any other the Offences....or of any Misdemeanour or Misbehaviour of any Officer or Soldier against the Rules of Military Discipline` and outlining the Rank of Officers who should preside over the Court Martials. Countersigned at the foot by William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington (c.1690-1756) British Statesman, Secretary of State for the Northern Department 1730-42. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. With blank integral leaf. Some extensive (although neat) splitting to several of the folds, and a few small areas of thinning, only slightly affecting a couple of words of text, but not the signatures. About G
GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. D.S., George R, (a good, bold example), as King, at the head, one page, folio, Court at St. James`s, 15th July 1791. The manuscript warrant refers to the augmentation of `one Serjeant, one Corporal and Twenty four Private Men` to each of the ten Companies serving under various Regiments of Foot (listed in the margin as the 36th, 52nd, 71st, 72nd & 73rd) in East India and instructs the General Officers of the Clothing Board `do pass and allow Assignments to be made by the respective Colonels of each of the Regiments of Foot...for the Clothing of the said Additionals viz: Ten Serjeants, Ten Corporals and Two Hundred and Forty Private Men in each Regiment...` Countersigned at the foot by Sir George Yonge (1731-1812) British Secretary at War 1782-83, 1783-94. Some very light, minor age wear, about VG
GEORGE III: (1738-1820) King of the United Kingdom 1760-1820. D.S., George R, (a `mad` example), as King, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at Saint James`s, 8th September 1808. The manuscript document is addressed to the Chairman and Justices of the Quarter Sessions for the County of Suffolk and is a remission document relating to Robert Tilley `now in confinement in the House of Correction at Beccles in the County of Suffolk, he having been committed to the said Gaol for wandering as a Pedler without Licences` and grants him Free Pardon `in consideration of some favourable circumstances presently represented unto us`. Countersigned at the foot by Lord Hawkesbury (1770-1828) Earl of Liverpool. British Prime Minister 1812-27, Home Secretary 1804-06, 1807-09. With blind embossed paper seal affixed. Some light overall age wear and a few minor, neat splits at the edges of the folds, about VG
GEORGE IV: (1762-1830) King of the United Kingdom 1820-30. D.S., George R, as King, at the head, two pages, folio, Court at St. James`s, 3rd June 1829. The manuscript document is addressed to The Governor of the General Penitentiary for Convicts at Milbank and is a warrant for the Free Pardon of Ann Lowance, Mary Beresford and Sarah Williams, all under sentence of transportation, `in consideration of some circumstances humbly represented unto us`. Countersigned at the foot by Robert Peel (1788-1850) British Prime Minister 1834-35, 1841-46, Home Secretary 1822-27, 1828-30. With blank integral leaf and a blind embossed paper seal affixed. The horizontal folds of the document have been neatly reinforced with clear tape to the verso, only very slightly affecting two lines of text on the second page. G
VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. D.S., Appd. Victoria R I, one page, slim 8vo (a folded 4to sheet, with two red wax seals intact to the verso), Admiralty, 17th September 1850. The manuscript document approves the outcome of a General Court Martial relating to John McGraw, a Private in the Chatham Division of Royal Marines, who was tried for desertion and neglect of duty and sentenced to seven years transportation as a felon. Signed by the Queen at the foot. Some very light, minor age wear, otherwise VG
MARY: (1867-1953) Queen Consort of the United Kingdom 1910-36, wife of King George V. Vintage signed 11 x 9 photograph, the image depicting Queen Mary stood outdoors in a full length pose alongside her daughter, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort and American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The group are lined together on the doorstep of Badminton House in Gloucestershire, the principal seat of the Duke of Beaufort. Photograph by W. Dennis Moss of Cirencester. Signed (`Mary R`) in fountain pen ink to the lower photographer`s mount and dated 1942 in her hand. Framed and glazed in the original frame to an overall size of 12 x 10. VG After America entered the Second World War in 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt took on the role of a "universal mother" while visiting U.S. troops at home and abroad. In the autumn of 1942, Queen Elizabeth invited the First Lady to England where she could observe the British women’s contribution to the war effort, and visit U.S. troops. Even Winston Churchill, with whom she often clashed, acknowledged her extraordinary impact on Great Britain. The photograph was presented to the vendor`s father who served as Queen Mary`s bodyguard during World War II
ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER: (1900-2002) Queen Consort of King George VI. Signed Christmas greetings card, the oblong 8vo stiff cream folding card featuring a colour photograph to the inside of Birkhall. Signed (`from Elizabeth R`) in bold black fountain pen ink beneath a printed greeting. With gold embossed crown to the front cover. One very slight, minor corner crease, otherwise VG
ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER: (1900-2002) Queen Consort of King George VI. Signed Christmas greetings card, the stiff white oblong 4to card featuring a colour photograph to the inside of the Queen Mother riding in a state carriage with two of her grandsons. Signed (`from Elizabeth R`) in black ink beneath a printed greeting, 1977. With gold embossed crown to the front cover. Some very light, minor age wear, otherwise VG
ELIZABETH II: (1926-) Queen of the United Kingdom 1952-. A.L.S., Elizabeth R, two pages, 4to, Buckingham Palace, 23rd November 1964, to Robert Marrington at Sandringham. The Queen thanks her correspondent for his letter and continues ‘I am sorry you should have been informed in a roundabout way of the possibility of your retirement, which was not what was intended. I am afraid that I am responsible for this approach to you, as I am most anxious that no-one should be kept working for me after the normal age of retirement, without some knowledge of the length of their extra service.’ She further states ‘I had meant to talk to you myself on this question, as I had felt you yourself might be wondering about your future or the possibility of being able to enjoy some leisure time to yourself and your family, after years of such faithful service to us’ and in concluding remarks ‘I am very keen that all who have served me and my family over the years should be able to enjoy some time of well earned retirement, and this I am trying to do on all my estates and to all my staff, even though it does mean losing their invaluable services…’ Accompanied by the original Registered envelope hand addressed by the Queen and signed (‘ER’) by her with her initials in the lower left corner. Some very light, minor creasing, otherwise VG
BRITISH POLITICS: Selection of signed pieces, cards, letterheads, T.Ls.S., some signed photographs etc., by various British politicians including Kenneth Clarke, Airey Neave, J. Enoch Powell, Merlyn Rees, Peter Shore, Michael Foot, Shirley Williams, Jennie Lee, George Thomas, Neil Kinnock, Jack Straw, Paddy Ashdown, John Nott, Leon Brittan, Norman Tebbit, John Prescott, Michael Howard, William Hague, Edith Summerskill, David Steel, David Owen, Anthony Wedgwood Benn, Lord Beeching, Roy Jenkins, Jeremy Thorpe, R. A. Butler, Christopher Soames, Duncan Sandys, Selwyn Lloyd, Julian Amery, Norman Fowler, Michael Heseltine, Norman St. John-Stevas, Lord Carrington, Quintin Hogg, Willie Whitelaw, Keith Joseph, Barbara Castle, Lord Longford, Jo Grimond, Denis Healey, John Stonehouse etc. Some have small, lightly affixed newspaper portraits. Generally VG, 122
HISTORICAL: Selection of signed clipped pieces (removed from letters or Free Front envelope etc.), A.Ls.S. etc., by various British politicians, nobility and other famous individuals including Queen Victoria (small piece cut from an envelope wrapper addressed in her hand to William Gladstone and signed The Queen), Henry Bartle Frere, Walter Long, Jesse Collings, Lord Halsbury, Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Milner-Gibson, James Lowther, Arthur, Duke of Connaught, John Burns, Margot Asquith, Lord Halifax, William Gladstone, E. Sylvia Pankhurst, Andrew Carnegie (2), Lord Curzon, Gordon Richards, Lord Salisbury, Eamon de Valera, Joseph Chamberlain, Ada Bodart (friend and associate of Edith Cavell), Louisa Molesworth, R. A. Knox, Sarah Biffin, A. P. Stanley, Lord Derby (signed Stanley), Robert Peel etc. Some are neatly laid down to pages removed from an album. G to VG, 103
BANDARANAIKE SIRIMAVO: (1916-2000) Prime Minister of Ceylon 1960-65, 1970-72 and of Sri Lanka 1972-77, 1994-2000. The world`s first female head of government. T.L.S., Sirimavo R D Bandaranaike, one page, 4to, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11th July 1986, to an unidentified recipient. Bandaranaike provides a short biography, giving details of her education, marriage and early political career with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which her husband had formed, in part, `In 1956 his Party swept into power reducing the opposing United National Party....My husband was therefore made the Prime Minister and the era of the common man was ushered. His assassination in 1959 was a severe blow to the progressive movement of this country. After his untimely death his party was left leaderless. It was at this stage that I had to assume leadership at the request of our people. In 1960 I was elected Prime Minister and thereby became the World`s 1st Woman Prime Minister....During my tenure of office as Prime Minister for 12 years I was able to solve several outstanding problems Sri Lanka had with India which were thought to be unsolvable....` Together with a signed 4 x 4.5 photograph of Bandaranaike seated in a half length pose. Signed in blue ink with her name alone to a clear area at the head of the image. Also including a 8 x 5.5 unsigned photograph. VG to EX, 3
TRUBSHAW BRIAN: (1924-2001) British Test Pilot, the first to fly Concorde, April 1969. Signed colour 10.5 x 8.5 paperstock photograph depicting Concorde taking off from an airport runway. Signed by Trubshaw in bold black ink with his name alone across a light area at the base of the image. Together with a T.L.S., Brian Trubshaw, one page, 4to, Bristol, 22nd May 1979, to R. W. Thornton, on the printed stationery of British Aerospace, forwarding the signed photograph. VG, 2
CHURCHILL WINSTON S.: (1874-1965) British Prime Minister 1940-45, 1951-55. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1953. A very fine Wartime signed 10.5 x 15.5 photograph, the image depicting Churchill seated in a half length pose. Photograph by Harrods and bearing their pencil credit to the lower photographer`s mount. Signed (`Winston S. Churchill`) in fountain pen ink by Churchill to the lower photographer`s mount and dated 1941 in his hand. Accompanied by a T.L.S. by R. E. K. Hill, on behalf of Churchill`s Personal Private Secretary, one page, 8vo, 10 Downing Street, Whitehall, 3rd July 1941, to Mrs. Stapleton, stating, in full, `I am now returning to you the photograph of Mr. Churchill, which he was glad to autograph for your husband`s ship, H.M.S. "Amaranthus".` An unusual, and desirable, image to find signed by Churchill. Some very light, extremely minor creasing to the corners and extreme edges of the photographer`s mount, otherwise about EX Lt. Nicholas Stapleton commanded HMS Amaranthus (K17) from January-August 1941. The Royal Navy warship, a Corvette of the Flower Class, was launched on 17th October 1940 and commissioned on 12th February 1941.
TIBBETS PAUL: (1915-2007) American Brigadier General of the United States Air Force, pilot of the Enola Gay, the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in the history of warfare. Signed 8 x 10 photograph, the image depicting the mushroom cloud following the bombing of Hiroshima. Signed by Tibbets in bold blue ink to a light area at the head of the image, adding Pilot, Enola Gay, in his hand beneath his signature. Also signed by George R Caron (1919-1995, Tail Gunner of the Enola Gay) in bold black ink to a clear area at the head of the image, adding Hiroshima 8/6/45 in his hand beneath his signature. Together with James H. Doolittle (1896-1993) American Pioneer Aviator, served in World War II as Commander of the Doolittle Raiders. Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph of Doolittle in a head and shoulders pose, wearing his uniform, in later years. Signed in blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the background. Also including an original 4to printed Proclamation to the People of the Philippines issued by General Douglas MacArthur and bearing his facsimile signature. VG, 3
TIBBETS PAUL: (1915-2007) American Brigadier General of the United States Air Force, pilot of the Enola Gay, the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in the history of warfare. Signed 10 x 8 photograph of Tibbets standing in a full length pose, in uniform, alongside the Enola Gay. Signed in bold blue ink by Tibbets to a clear area of the image and also signed by Theodore Van Kirk (1921-, United States Army Air Force Navigator of the Enola Gay) in blue ink to a clear area. Both Tibbets and Van Kirk have added their crew roles and the date of the Hiroshima bombing, 6th August 1945, alongside their signatures. Together with George R. Caron (1919-1995, Tail Gunner of the Enola Gay) signed 8 x 10 photograph, the image showing the mushroom cloud following the bombing of Hiroshima. Signed in bold blue ink to a light area at the head of the image, adding Hiroshima 8/6/45 in his hand beneath his signature. EX, 2
BICKERTON RICHARD: (1759-1832) British Admiral, served as Second-in Command to Lord Nelson, 1804. Ink signature (`R Bickerton`) on a 12mo piece neatly removed from the conclusion of a document, with several lines of text in another hand, indicating that the document was signed on board His Majesty`s Ship Royal Sovereign, 9th March 1805. Neatly laid down, G
CAMPBELL MALCOLM: (1885-1948) British Land & Water Speed Record Holder. An excellent signed and inscribed 13.5 x 10 photograph showing Campbell seated in the cockpit of Bluebird II at Daytona Beach, Florida. In the background two large groups of spectators and an aeroplane can be seen. Photograph by Le Sense. Signed by Campbell in black fountain pen ink to a clear area at the base of the image `To C.D. Browne, with sincere wishes from Malcolm Campbell` and dated Daytona, 5th February 193 in his hand. Campbell has also annotated the image in his hand `Speed over Kilometer 246.086 mph on Castrol R`. Some slight creasing to one corner and very light agewear. About VG Campbell set a new World Land Speed record in Bluebird II on 5th February 1931. It was this achievement which earned him a Knighthood and the coveted Lord Wakefield Trophy.
Edward I, silver farthing, Class 3de, Spink 1445A, no inner circles, bust to edge, obverse legend:- E R ANGLIE, reverse reads:- LONDONIENSIS, GF together with a halfpenny of Henry VI? of London mm. plain cross 7a, seems to have no marks other than saltire stops on obverse, nice portrait, NVF [2]
Edward the Confessor, silver penny, Pyramids type, Spink 1184, obverse reads:- EADPARD REX A, reverse reads:- +GODPINE ON GRANT, [`G` runs into `R`, `T` high with one arm over the initial cross], Cambridge Mint, moneyer Godwine, variety with pellet in second quarter, full, round, well centred, very slight bend, a rare issue and mint VF/GVF
REELS: (3) Anderson of Princes Street Edinburgh 2.25" all brass trout fly reel with raised front check housing, black handle, all original screws, retaining most original finish, a Carter of London 3.25" BI metal alloy fly reel, brass winding plate, alloy frame, constant check, horn handle, good and an Army & Navy London also stamped “R Heaton Maker”, 3" alloy dry fly reel, constant check, ivory handle, good dark lead finish.
REELS: (2) Pair of early brass crank wind winches, a 2" diameter example, face plate stamped “H Star R”, curved winding arm, turned ivory knob, single action, riveted foot with holes to either end for rod attachment, good finish and a similar unnamed winch, 1.75" diameter with black handle and early cord line.
British Political Medallion, copper d.31mm: NO EXCISE 1733 with foliage, countermarked R. REED / PAKINGTON FOR EVER with cup, bottle and pipes above, and roses either side, with a small countermark RR. This was a privately issued medalet to commemorate the withdrawal of the Excise Bill in the Commons in 1733, anticipating its defeat in the House of Lords due to protests and the burning of political effigies by the nation`s shopkeepers. The bill was meant to introduce inland taxes on tobacco and wine (as we have today). The `Pakington` in question may refer to the Pakington family, an aristocratic family who could have issued the medalets in celebration (aristocrats being consumers of much wine and tobacco). The countermarks are probably late additions to convert the medal into a copper-weight token. VF with a minor edge flaw. Unusual, interesting and most likely very rare. (with research and an old Seaby ticket)
GB & World Tokens (6): A pewter `tempest token` VF chipped, `The Lager Beer King` Cambrinus London copper token 19thC d.30.5mm pitted VF, Liverpool J. Carmichael & Co. Church St `The Establishment` unofficial farthing EF, Brass Guinea Coin Weight 1755 by I. Kirk F. featuring George II aVF surface flaw centre obverse, Canada Newfoundland R. & I.S. Rutherford copper halfpenny token 19thC VF, and Australia, Melbourne, Hide & De Carle penny token 1858 VF light scratches.
WW1 1914-15 trio 17088 Pte S. Hunter L.N.Lancs R Stanley Hunter also served with 2nd Suffolks and received a gunshot wound to the head for which after returning to the UK he was treated at Felixstowe Hospital. With full papers from PRO, discharged 1916. He had landed in France 3-6-15, medals NEF
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