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A rare Meissen underglaze-blue-ground teabowl and saucer, circa 1735-40Each painted with with figures and cattle in landscapes within elaborate quatrelobe gilt trellis and scrollwork cartouches with gilt animals on pedestals, fine gilt scrollwork border to the rims, the teabowl interior with a vignette of flowers issuing from rockwork in Kakiemon style, the reverse of the saucer with gilt scrollwork and line borders on the underglaze-blue ground, crossed swords marks in underglaze-blue, incised 3 inside footrim of teabowl (2)Footnotes:Provenance: With Angela von WallwitzOther pieces from this service - the coffee pot, teapot, tea canister, waste bowl and two double-handled beakers and saucers - were in the Fritz Buckardt Collection, Berlin, sold by Cassirer & Helbing, Berlin, 8-9 October 1925, lot 83. According to the catalogue, the pieces had long been in an English collection and were in a fitted case together with a letter indicating that they were a gift from Augustus III.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen dish, circa 1735Painted with sprigs of indianische Blumen and scattered insects, the well with a border of iron-red scrolling foliage reserved with blue and gilt flower-heads, the wavy rim edged in brown, 34.5cm across, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blueFootnotes:This pattern appears to have been first made for the French merchant Lemaire around 1730 and produced into the 1740s; see J. Weber, Meißener Porzellane mit Dekoren nach ostasiatischen Vorbildern, II (2013), nos. 143 and 144.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen dish from the Japanese Palace, circa 1730Superbly painted in the Kakiemon style with three sprigs of indianische Blumen, 25cm diam., caduceus mark in underglaze-blue, incised Japanese Palace inventory number N=65-/ WFootnotes:Provenance:The Royal collections of Saxony, Japanese Palace, Dresden, delivered in 1731;Anon. sale, Sotheby's London, 27 November 1979, lot 10;Anon. sale, Christie's Geneva, 10 November 1986, lot 132;The Hoffmeister Collection, Hamburg, sold in these Rooms, 26 May 2010, lot 21Literature:D. Hoffmeister, Meissener Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts, I (1999), no. 160;J. Weber, Meißener Porzellane mit Dekoren nach ostasiatischen Vorbildern, II (2013), no. 126, n. 3Exhibited:Hamburg, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, 1999-2009The 1770 inventory of the Japanese Palace in Dresden records under no. 65 'Dreyßig Stück weiße runde Schaalen, inwendig mit Blumen gemahlt, 2. Zoll tief, 10 1/2. Zoll in Diam: No. 65. 1. St. different nur 29 (thirty white round bowls, painted inside with flowers, 2 Zoll deep, 10 1/2 Zoll diam. No. 65. 1 different only 29)' (quoted by C. Boltz Japanisches Palais-Inventar 1770 und Turmzimmer-Inventar 1769, in Keramos 153 (1996), p. 74). This dish was among '63 große und kleine Confect-Schalen' made for the Paris merchant, Lemaire, that were found in Count Hoym's palace in April 1731, confiscated and removed to the Japanese Palace. This decor appears to have been only produced for Lemaire: only five other examples of various sizes are recorded in the literature, including two in the Dr. Ernst Schneider Collection in Munich, one in the National Museum in Stockholm, one in the Ariana Museum in Geneva and one in a private collection (Weber, p. 157).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A very rare large Meissen octagonal bowl and cover, circa 1730Each painted in Kakiemon style with elaborate meandering flowering branches of indianische Blumen and scattered insects, the octagonal finial embellished in gilding, 15.5cm high; 18.5cm across, crossed swords mark in blue enamel (2)Footnotes:Part of the large order of Meissen porcelain mostly copying Japanese originals that was placed by the Paris merchant, Rudolph Lemaire, much of which was subsequently seized and incorporated into Augustus the Strong's collections in the Japanese Palace. No other examples of this shape appear to be recorded in the literature.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A very rare large Meissen Augustus Rex vase and cover, circa 1730-35Of slender ovoid form with a flared foot, painted with four different panels depicting flowering plants, including peonies, hibiscus and water-lilies, two including a bird and butterfly, reserved on a ground pattern of iron-red overlapping circles enclosing four dots between borders of ochre and manganese petals, the top with a foliate border around the neck, the foot reserved with six rectangular panels of flowering plants and grasses, the domed cover with six similar panels below a border of petals, gilt-edged rims, mounted on a gilt-metal wreath of berried foliage on a square base, 69.5cm high overall, AR monogram in underglaze-blue (neck and finial replaced, restored hole and crack to side, small hole drilled through base) (2)Footnotes:Provenance:Anon. sale, Christie's London, 30 June 1980, lot 300;Anon. sale, Christie's London, 6 April 1981, lot 173AFor further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen plate, circa 1740Painted in underglaze-blue with a squirrel and a dragon amidst flowering prunus and bamboo and stylised rockwork, the barbed rim edged in brown, a band of foliate scrollwork to the reverse of the rim, 25.2cm across, pseudo-seal mark within a circle in underglaze-blue, impressed 10Footnotes:A similar dish in the Dresden porcelain collection (Spitzner Collection) is illustrated by K.-P. Arnold et al, Meissener Blaumalerei aus drei Jahrhunderten (1989), no. 83; another is in the Wark Collection (U. Pietsch, Early Meissen Porcelain in the Wark Collection (2011), no. 70), where other examples in museum collections are listed.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen tureen and cover, circa 1730Of cylindrical form with moulded rims and applied with fish handles, each painted in an expanded Kakiemon palette on either side with indianische Blumen issuing from banded hedges, the scaly fish handles embellished in blue and iron-red and with gilt terminals, the cover with a brown-edged rim, 30cm across handles, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to inside of tureen (small flat chip to rim of tureen, two restored chips to flange of cover) (2)Footnotes:Provenance:Korthaus Collection, Frankfurt (sold at Christie's London, 21 September 1992, lot 22);Purchased by the present owner in the above saleThe form is based on a Böttger stoneware shape without handles similar to silver pie dishes and was initially referred to at the Meissen manufactory as a 'Pasteten Napff' [pie dish] (J. Weber, Meißener Porzellane mit Dekoren nach ostasiatischen Vorbildern, II (2013), pp. 75-76). Porcelain examples were embellished with fish-shaped handles based on Chinese porcelain and were generally referred to as tureens. Numerous fish handles are recorded in the Meissen manufactory work records for 1725, 1727 and 1728, and similar tureens with Imari-style decoration are recorded in the inventories of the Dresden warehouse in 1730 and 1731 (Weber, p. 76).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A very rare Meissen gilt-metal-mounted circular pot and cover, circa 1740Finely painted with battle scenes, separated on the pot by gilt shaped trellis panels with a purple wash enclosing a mask on a tapering column on a pedestal and flanked by scrollwork, on the cover by gilt scrollwork motifs edged in black, surmounted by feathers and enclosing a lustre-like oval medallion, gilt finial and rims, the pot mounted on the rim and foot and fitted with a gilt-metal liner, 13cm high; 15.3cm across, crossed swords mark in blue (the pot cleanly restuck through the middle) (2)Footnotes:Another example of this very rare form, decorated with landscape and Kauffahrtei scenes in more conventional scrollwork cartouches and with a different finial, is in Schloss Belvedere, Weimar (R. Müller-Krumbach, Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts Die Sammlung in Scloss Belvedere (1973), ill. 16). A similarly decorated bowl is in the Dr. Ernst Schneider Collection, Schloss Lustheim, Munich (published by C. Bodinek, Rafinesse im Akkord, II (2018), ills. 279a, 312b, 313b and 315a and b; the scenes after engravings by G.P. Rugendas and Johann Andreas Thelott).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen gold-ground sugar bowl and cover, circa 1747Of lobed, quatrefoil form, each reserved with two panels finely painted in shades of copper-green and in black with Watteauesque scenes depicting elegant figures in landscape settings, the burnished gold ground reserved with foliate borders and finely painted green flower sprigs, the bowl with a band of gilt scrollwork and shell motifs below the rim, the cover with a gilt ball finial, the insides of the rim gilt, 14.5cm across, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue (2)Footnotes:Provenance:Charlotte and Gustav von Klemperer Collection, Dresden (by 1926);Thence by descent;Confiscated in December 1938;Staatliche Porzellan-Galerie Dresden-Zwinger from 1943;Porzellansammlung Dresden, inv. no. P.E. 1136;Resituted to the heirs of Gustav and Charlotte von Klemperer, by whom sold at Christie's London, 30 September 1991, lot 151;Purchased by the present owner in the above saleLiterature:L. Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Porzellansammlung Gustav von Klemperer (1928), no. 231, pl. 34;G. Reinheckel, Meissener Prunkservice (1989), no. 65 (illustrated)This type of decoration was reserved for porcelain made for members of the Saxon royal family and for royal gifts, such as to the Dauphin and Dauphine in 1747 (S. Schwarz and J. Munger, Gifts of Meissen Porcelain to the French Court, 1728-50, in M. Cassidy-Geiger (ed.), Fragile Diplomacy (2007), p. 161).The teapot and milk jug from the same service were also in the von Klemperer Collection, Dresden (Schnorr von Carolsfeld, nos. 229-230).For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A rare Meissen vase, mid 18th centuryOf ovoid form on a flared foot, the shoulder rising to a knopped neck with flared rim, applied with natutalistically modelled and coloured flowering branches, issuing on each side from above the footrim and extending over the rim at one point, also applied with a bee on the foot, gilt-edged rims, 39cm high, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, impressed 21 (minor restoration and chips)For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

A collection of rare pre-war books and sale catalogues and a facsimile edition of the Schulz CodexComprising:Auction cataloguesAlt-Meißener Porzellan, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 22 March 1904;Sammlung des Freiherrn Adalbert von Lanna, Prag, I. Teil, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 9-16 November 1909;Sammlung des Freiherrn Adalbert von Lanna, Prag, II. Teil, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 21-28 March 1911;Sammlung des königl. ungar. Hofrats Gustav von Gerhardt Budapest, Rusolph Lepke's Kunst-Auktions-Haus, 7-9 November 1911;The King Collection of Dresden Porcelain, Christie's London, 5 May 1914;Sammlung C.H. Fischer - Dresden, Hugo Helbing, 14-15 May 1918;Porzellane und Waffen aus den kgl. Sächsischen Sammlungen in Dresden, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 7-8 October 1919;Porzellan/Gemälde Elfenbeinskulpturen Waffen aus den Sächsischen Staatssammlugen, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 12 October 1920;Sammlung Darmstaedter Berlin, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 24-26 March 1925;Keramische Sammlungen Friedrich Girtanner, Zürich, Dr. Aurel von Dobay, Budapest, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 9-10 December 1926;Sammlung Gustav Seligmann, Koblenz und Köln, Paul Cassirer/Hugo Helbing, 27-28 March 1928;Sammlung Dr. Paul von Ostermann, Darmstadt-München, Paul Cassirer/Hugo Helbing, 30 October-2 November 1928;Porzellansammlung Siegfried Salz - Berlin, Paul Cassirer/Hugo Helbing, 26-27 March 1929;Sammlung Baron von Born - Budapest, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 4 December 1929;Glas und Keramik, Sammlung J.E.-Berlin und Berliner Privatbesitz, Paul Cassirer/Hugo Helbing, 4-6 December 1929;Porzellane aus schweizer Privatbesitz und aus dem Nachlass Dr. Karl Lanz, Mannheim, Hugo Helbing, 8 May 1930;Altes Porzellan aus ausländischem Staatsbesitz, Sammlung Dr. Witte-Rostock, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 21-22 October 1930;Die Sammlung Erich von Goldschmidt-Rotschild, Hermann Ball/Paul Graupe, 23-25 March 1931;Die Sammlung Prinz Friedrich Leopold von Preussen, Hermann Ball/Paul Graupe, 27-28 November 1931;Niederländische Gemälde, Kunstgewerbe des 16.-18. Jahrhunderts, Hermann Ball/Paul Graupe, 28 June 1932;Nachlaß Louis Jay und Nachlaß Conrad Binding, Frankfurt a.M. et al, Hugo Helbing, Frankfurt a.M., 31 May-2 June 1934;Möbel und Kunstgewerbe des 16. bis 19. Jahrhunderts, Ostasiatische Kunst, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 15-16 November 1934Sammlung Frau Margarete Oppenheim, Julius Böhler, Munich, 18-20 May 1936;Kusntsammlung Geheimrat W. - Dresden, Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, 24-26 February 1937;Die Sammlung List, Hans W. Lange, 28-30 March 1939;Gemälde und Kunstgewerbe aus einer bekannten Privatsammlung, Verschiedener Kunstbesitz, Hans W, Lange, 22-23 June 1939;Sammlung List, Magdebutg, II. Yeil, Chinasammlung Prof. Wegener, Berlin, Verschiedener Kunstbesitz, Hans W. Lange, 25-27 January 1940LiteratureHermann Schmitz, Generaldirektør Ole Olsens Kunstsamlinger, vol. II, F. Bruckmann A.-G., Munich, 1927;Carl Albiker, Die Meissner Porzellantiere im 18. Jahrhundert, Deutscher Verein für Kunstwissenschaft, Berlin, 1935;Rainer Behrends, Das Meissener Musterbuch Für Höroldt- Chinoiserien, Musterblätter aus der Malstube der Meissener Porzellmanufaktur (Schulz-Codex), 132 loose leaf illustrations, clothbound, 3 slip cases, folio, Munich, 1978, 3 vols (30)For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com

[ALEXANDER III & ROMANOV FAMILY]: An excellent and rare original 9 x 6.5 photograph, unsigned, [c.1893], the Jongh Freres image showing twenty four Russian Royal family members related to Emperor Alexander III and his wife Empress Maria Feodorovna, including Alexander III (1845-1894) Emperor of Russia 1881-94; his spouse Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928) Empress of Russia 1881-94, Princess Dagmar of Denmark; their children Grand Duke Nicholas (1868-1918) future Tsar of Russia Nicholas II. Assassinated; Grand Duke Michael (1878-1918) Heir presumptive 1894-1904. He deferred acceptance of the throne when Nicholas abdicated in 1917; Grand Duchess Xenia (1875-1960) and Grand Duchess Olga (1882-1960); also including Olga Constantinovna (1851-1926) Queen Consort of Greece 1867-1913. Regent of Greece in 1920. Grand Duchess of Russia; Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (1847-1909) son of Emperor Alexander II and brother of Emperor Alexander III. He was the senior Grand Duke of the House of Romanov during the reign of his nephew Nicholas II; Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich (1860-1919) youngest child of Tsar Alexander II and brother of Alexander III; Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich (1891-1942) son of the last. Through his friendship with Yusupov, he took part in the assassination of Rasputin. He lived in Paris where he lived during the 1920s a notorious affair with the famous French fashion designer Coco Chanel; Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna (1830-1911) wife of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich; Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich (1869-1918), etc… Matted in grey, glazed and framed in wood, to an overall size of 17 x 13. Framing being easily removable. Very small overall age wear and few creases. G

COUBERTIN PIERRE DE: (1863-1937) Charles Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin. French Educator, Founder of the International Olympic Committee. Widely known as the father of the modern Olympic Games. Rare A.L.S. `P.C´, one page to a postcard, Lausanne, 12th August 1929, to Hector Barbe, in French. Coubertin explains that he has just received his correspondent´s letter and states in part `I have the hope to meet you on Saturday but have not been able to respond to you in time that I was waiting for you. I will leave again in a few days. I congratulate you for having achieved this project of summer camps which are real temporary health factories..´ Post-stamped and postmarked to the verso. With two binder holes only partially affecting two words, and not the signature. Small overall age wear and toning. G   Hector Barbe, French Educator. Barbe was a passionate Hebertist. Editor of the popular education magazine "La Synthèse Pédagogique".

FUNES LOUIS DE: (1914-1983) French Comedy Actor. An excellent and rare vintage signed and inscribed 5 x 7 photograph by Funes. The image shows the comedian outdoors, in a half length pose, in costume as French gendarme and corresponds to a scene of the film Le Gendarme en Balade (1970), fourth instalment of the Gendarme series. Signed in bold blue ink `Pour Jean Paul Gonzales, amitiés de la Gendarmerie, L. de Funes´, to a clear area of image, also dated 1970 in his hand. The present photograph and inscription relate to the day De Funes was awarded by the French Gendarmerie. Vintage photographs of Funes, even more in costume as Gendarme, are rare and desirable. About EX  Jean Paul Gonzales, French Comedian, also known as Floridor.

FRENCH CINEMA: Selection of vintage signed postcard photographs and some slightly larger, a few letters etc., by various French film actresses including Marcelle Derrien, Daniele Delorme, Blanchette Brunoy, Jacqueline Gauthier, Simone Paris, Madeleine Robinson, Odile Versois, Claude Nollier, Marie Glory, Marcelle Chantal, Huguette Duflos, Claude May, Viviane Romance, Blanche Montel, Michele Morgan, Claudine Dupuis, Jeanne Moreau, Francoise Christophe, Simone Simon, Etchika Choureau, Nicole Berger (rare as a result of her untimely death at the age of 33 in a car crash; signed to the verso), Line Renaud, Genevieve Kervine, Marina Vlady, Nicole Courcel, Simone Renant, Dany Carrel, Dany Robin, Micheline Presle etc. Generally VG, 42

DEMONGEOT MYLENE: (1935- ) French Actress. A rare signed 8 x 10 photograph by Demongeot, the image depicting the French actress in a sensual three quarter length pose. Signed in bold blue ink, with her name alone, at the base of the image. VG

FORMULA ONE : A rare multiple signed 6 x 9 page removed from a Formula One programme. The page shows four head and shoulders photographs signed by the four Motor Racing Drivers, GRAHAM HILL (1929-1975) English Racing Driver, Formula One World Champion 1962 & 1968; DENNY HULME (1936-1992) New Zealand Racing Driver, Formula One World Champion 1967; JEAN-PIERRE BELTOISSE (1937-2015) French Motorcycle and Formula One Driver, and PETER GETHIN (1940-2011) British Racing Driver.Individually signed by the four of them, in blue inks, alongside their images, Monaco, 14th May 1972. G  On 14th May 1972, the Monaco Grand Prix saw the only Formula One Championship victory in Jean-Pierre Beltoise´s career, and the last for BRM.

PRESLEY ELVIS: (1935-1977) American Rock and Roll Singer. A rare signed 33rpm LPM record sleeve. The RCA Victor record being Loving You (1957), the first soundtrack album by Elvis. The album accompanied his also first starring film Loving You. The colour front image depicting Elvis in a close-up head and shoulders pose. Signed in black ink `All the very best from Elvis Presley´, to a clear area of the sleeve. Record still present. VG

FERRARI ENZO: (1898-1988) Italian Motor Racing Driver & Manufacturer, founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team. Rare T.L.S., Ferrari, one page, 4to, Modena, 14th December 1936, to Tazio Nuvolari, on the printed stationery of Ferrari, in Italian. The letter bears to the upper left corner  the attractive colourful Ferrari letter-heading “Scuderia Ferrari Modena-Italia”. Signed in bold purple ink at the base of the letter. Enzo Ferrari refers to the recent meeting held with his correspondent in Modena, and to the collaboration agreement with representatives of the Alfa Romeo racing team for the years 1935, 1936 & 1937. Further requesting Nuvolari´s acknowledgement of a payment. A letter of good content. Very small overall minor age wear, VG Tazio Nuvolari (1892-1953) Italian racing Driver. Knicknamed “Nivola”, also known as “Il Mantovano Volante” (“The Flying Mantuan”). Winner of 24 Grand Prix and a Le Mans 24-hour race, among many others. Ferdinand Porsche called him “The greatest driver of the past, the present and the future”. Nuvolari drove for Enzo Ferrari´s team, Scuderia Ferrari. The relationship with Ferrari deteriorated in 1937, very shortly after the present letter was signed. 

PINK FLOYD: An extremely rare vintage signed 3.25 x 2.25 newspaper photograph by all four members of the English rock band Pink Floyd individually comprising Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright, the image depicting the four band members in head and shoulders poses together shortly after their formation in 1965. Signed by each in blue inks with their first names only, most with slightly poorer contrast. Neatly laid down to a portion of a page removed from a feint ruled notebook. About VG

PIAF EDITH: (1915-1963) French Singer. Rare vintage signed and inscribed 5 x 7 photograph of Piaf, the promotional image for Polydor records, depicting a very young Piaf in a half length attractive pose (c.1936-37). A very unusual youth signature, `Piaff´, with two `f´, and inscribed in blue fountain pen ink to a clear area to the upper part of the image. Inscribed to Raymond Asso `Cette gueule là, c´est pour Raymond Asso, l´Hauteur´ (“That gob is for Raymond Asso, the Hauthor”(sic).An amusing inscription to her lover, with errors, related to Asso´s songs Tout fout le camp and Mon Légionnaire. An inscription with very interesting association. Pinholes to the corners and one to upper edge, with extremely small area of paper loss to the upper left corner. G   Raymond Asso (1901-1968) French lyricist and artistic agent. Piaf was Asso´s mistress for a short period in 1937, when she was only 22. Asso is credited as the creator of Piaf the artist, the one who took care of her, the one who put discipline and distance between Piaf and her former life and her not recommended friendships, the one who guided and taught her how to perform, to dress, to express and even to eat as he would say “A rough diamond I had to size..”  Provenance from Asso´s personal collection.

MEYERHOLD VSEVOLOD: (1874-1940) Russian Theatre Director and Actor. Best known for his provocative experimental works and symbolism in an unconventional theatre. Creator of the acting system called biomechanics. Meyerhold was arrested, tortured and executed after a forced confession during the Great Purge. A rare and excellent A.L.S., `V. Meyerhold´, in Cyrillic, two pages, folio, Hendaye, France, 26th July 1930, to Vladimir Lvovich, in Cyrillic. Meyerhold on a lengthy letter first refers to a scrapbook stating in part `Argus de la Presse is a robbery. I beg you to refrain from ordering the scrapbook from them. I am sorry to bother you with this matter. But you will surely agree that….this book is too expensive (600 fr). When I will be in Moscow, I will try to get to an agreement with the museum and convince them to order a full scrapbook. Being objective, maybe it is not that expensive, taking into account that the compilation must be done post factum. But as I have not received money yet from Moscow, I cannot afford such costs.´ Meyerhold further refers to his visa permits and his stay in France, and states in part `When you and I were at the Police Prefecture, myself and Zinaida Nikolaevna made a petition to the Minister in order to extend the visa for two more months. But at the Secretariat of Isnard, we were only given papers (Récépissé de demande de carte d'identité) that are valid only until the 7th of August… The day we had left Paris, we received a notification to go to the office of Le Chef du Service des Étrangers… When we received our Récépissé at the Secretariat of Isnard (7-7-1930), we were given a right to stay in France, so we went to Hendaye-Plage, basing on what the Secretary had said, that we should come to the Prefecture on the 7th August 1930.´ Meyerhold tries to extend his stay in France, further saying `Could it be possible, dear, Vladimir Lvovich, not to leave the Hendaye-Plage harbour before the 11th August (expiry date for our aller et retour railway tickets). I enclose a piece of paper with our signatures and ask you to submit a petition for extension of stay to the Secretary of Isnard… Greetings from Zin[aida] Nik[olaevna].´ Meyerhold concludes his letter adding last sentences to the borders. VG  Zinaida Nikolaevna Reich (1894-1939) Russian Actress. One of the main figures of the Meyerhold Theatre. First married to Russian poet Sergey Yesenin. She married after divorce Vsevolod Meyerhold in 1922. Zinaida Reich died after being brutally stabbed in her apartment by NKVD agents.

PAGANINI NICCOLO: (1782-1840) Italian Violinist and Composer. Rare D.S., Nicolo Paganini, being a signed receipt, Paris, 11th July 1838. The partially printed document, completed in another hand, in French, acknowledges the receipt of 3000 Fr from P. Dufour. With several ink strokes, serving as cancelations, partially running through the text and signature, Paganini´s signature remaining legible at the foot. Also bearing several annotations and cancellation to the verso. Some light overall age wear and two small, minor holes to the left and right edges. About VG

229      ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. A rare and excellent D.S., `Gioachino Rossini´, two pages, 4to, thin paper, Paris, 15th March 1866, in Italian. The partially printed document being the official application form presented to register the copyright of one of his operas Le Siege de Corinthe in Milan, Italy. The document states in part `Gioachino Rossini intending to formally reserve the rights due to the author, according to the law from 25th June 1865, presents the opera with grand score for orchestra..´ Rossini signs beneath the opera title `L´assedio dil Corinto´, and the date of the premiere "1826". Signed at the base by the prefect secretary. Bearing an official taxation stamp to the upper left front corner and two ink stamps of the Italian ministry to the front and verso. Also bearing to the verso a contemporary registry annotation related to Rossini and his opera, dated in Florence, on 1st of May 1866. Very small hole not affecting the text or signature, and very small tear to the bottom edge, otherwise G   Le Siege de Corinthe (1826) is a three acts opera by Rossini premiered in Paris in 1826, andwas Rossini´s first French opera.

ROSSINI GIOACHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. Rare A.M.Q.S., Gioachino Rossini, one page, oblong folio manuscript paper, Florence, 3rd June 1853. In bold dark fountain pen ink, Rossini has neatly penned a quotation for piano forte comprising ten bars of music across two staves, with small annotations, which he identifies as A[ndanti]no. Signed and dated by the composer immediately beneath the quotation. The document bears a watermark. Some light creasing and minor overall age wear, VG

GLAZUNOV ALEXANDER: (1865-1936) Russian Composer, Conductor and music Teacher. Dmitri Shostakovich was his best-known student. Rare A.L.S., A. Glazunov, one page, folio, Berlin, 31st January 1931, to Ivan Grigorievich, in Cyrillic. Glazunov refers to his late response, and also for not having received his correspondent´s promised news, further stating in part `I waited for your letter until my unexpected departure for Berlin on December 23rd and I concluded that nothing had been arranged for Athens. But then I learned that you had been ill and that your letter had been returned to you. Unfortunately, that is the way they always handle registered mail in France. Not knowing any of that, I initiated negotiations for a tour of the Baltic countries..´ Folded. Large tears to the centre folds with trimmed edges. F to G

TIPPETT MICHAEL: (1905-1998) English Composer. Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed, Michael Tippett, one page (manuscript paper), oblong folio, n.p. (1984). The manuscript, in bold pencil and comprising an extensive number of bars of music, are Tippett's rough manuscript sketches for part of his oratorio The Mask of Time. Signed by Tippett in black ink with his name alone at the foot. Together with two T.Ls.S. by Nicholas Wright, Tippett's assistant, each one page, 4to, London, n.d. and 7th December 1984, concerning the manuscript and also providing some interesting biographical content relating to Tippett, in part, 'He first decided to become a composer while at Stamford School and when he was aged about fourteen. He had heard an orchestral concert in Leicester, conducted by Malcolm Sargent and he was having piano lessons with a local teacher, Mrs. Tinkler, and decided that nothing would stand in the way of his becoming a composer! The composer to whose work he is very close is Beethoven, although he does not necessarily have one particular favourite piece of music. In answer to your question about where his ideas come from, he asks me to tell you 'from everywhere!' For example, in his Triple Concerto he is obviously influenced by music from the Far East which he heard on a tour over there…..I am also sending you a bit of rough MS, which has sketches for his new work The Mask of Time, which receives its first UK performance as the Proms on July 23rd…..' Rare. VG, 3

[TOSCANINI ARTURO]: (1867-1957) Italian Conductor. Rare baton, being one of Toscanini´s batons during his NBC orchestra touring in 1950. An 11.5 baton (30cm), with wooden handgrip, attractively displayed beneath a 9.5 x 7 photograph, the image showing Toscanini standing, in a half-length pose and wearing his hat, alongside James Dolan. Framed in black, and glazed (plastic) to an overall of 12 x 15 (30cm x 38cm). Together with a 12mo clipped piece, bearing a seven bars of music with annotations in Toscanini´s hand. Also including an original unsigned 7 x 5 photograph of Toscanini showing him during rehearsals, two admittance cards to the late Toscanini´s services at the St. Patrick´s Cathedral in New York on 19th January 1957, and two original typed pages listing the honorary pallbearers. The list included among many others, Italian Ambassador Manlio Brosio, Mayor of New York Robert Wagner, Composer Samuel Barber, Director of the Metropolitan Opera Rudolf Bing, Tenor Giovanni Martinelli, Rudolf Serkin, etc… VG, 5    Provenance, the present baton comes from the estate of the late James B. Dolan (1915-2006) Librarian and Archivist of the NBC Orchestra under Toscanini 1942-54 and a friend of the Italian conductor. Dolan took care of all Toscanini´s scores and batons during and after his 1950 touring with the NBC Orchestra. Dolan would later be the Los Angeles Philharmonic´s librarian for 32 years.Dolan traveled with Toscanini on the symphony's 1950 cross-country tour. He was personally responsible for five large trunks of music for the 110 musicians who would perform 50 works during 21 concerts. On the special 12-car train, Dolan commanded an entire car for the music library. He was also the custodian of Toscanini's batons, which a Philadelphia dentist made by hand from the finest materials. Being in charge of them was no easy task, considering that the temperamental conductor could break several batons in anger during the course of a rehearsal. Dolan developed a hobby of making copies of scores with the conductor's notations, “all the editing and markings of his genius,” Dolan wrote in a 1967 article. Other conductors have studied Dolan's copies to understand how the man considered the most brilliant conductor of his era shaped a particular piece of music.

NIJINSKY VASLAV: (1889-1950) Russian Ballet Dancer. Fine, rare blue fountain pen ink signature ('Waslaw Nijinsky') on an oblong 12mo white card, dating from the late 1940s when the dancer lived in England. About EX

HUMBOLDT ALEXANDER VON: (1769-1859) German Natural Scientist, Geographer & Explorer. A very fine, rare manuscript line chart signed, A v Humboldt, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p. (Spain), 1799, in French. In his typically small, neat hand Humboldt has recorded a profile of Peninsular Spain from the southeast to the northwest, from the coast of Valencia to that of Gelice, recording several major towns and cities including Medina del Campo, El Escorial, Madrid and Aranjuez and their height above sea level, also recording some of the latitudes and noting that the scale of distance is 1:100. Signed and annotated by Humboldt beneath the chart, also noting a comparison with the height above sea level of several other European cities and landmarks including Munich, Brocken, Schneekoppe (Snezka) and Mount Vesuvius. Rare in this form. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and two very small areas of paper loss to two corners, not affecting the chart, text or signature. About VG In the first half of 1799, at the time of preparing the present chart, Humboldt (accompanied by the botanist and physician Aime Bonpland) found himself in Madrid where he sought authorisation to travel to Spain's realms in the Americas. Receiving a positive response to his proposal, Humboldt was presented to King Charles IV and subsequently granted access to crown officials and written documentation on Spain's empire. Armed with authorisation from the King, Humboldt and Bonpland set sail on 5th June 1799 on their Spanish American expedition which would last until 1804.  Humboldt's historic expedition is now regarded as having laid the foundation of the sciences of physical geography, plant geography and meteorology. On a personal level, the geographer's decades' long endeavour to publish the results of the expedition resulted not only in multiple volumes, but also drew him to the attention of the reading public with popular densely illustrated, condensed versions of his work in multiple languages. Importantly it also secured Humboldt's international reputation in scientific circles.

SCHILDKRAUT JOSEPH: (1896-1984) Austrian Actor, Academy Award winner. A rare vintage signed and inscribed sepia 11 x 14 photograph of the actor in a head and shoulders pose. Photograph by Irving Chidnoff of New York and bearing his credit stamp to the verso. Signed by Schildkraut in bold green fountain pen ink to a clear area of the background, 'To Neta - with love and kisses - Joseph Schildkraut'. Two very small, extremely minor tears to the right white border, otherwise about EX

BURTON RICHARD F.: (1821-1890) English Explorer. A rare set of illustrated manuscript notes by Burton, unsigned, seven pages, 8vo, n.p. (London?), n.d. (c.1868-70), on the blind embossed stationery of the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall. Burton's miscellaneous notes, in his typically small (and at times indecipherable) hand appear to be references made from The Life of Prince Henry of Portugal by Richard Henry Major, Burton noting that Prince Henry 'declared his object was to “acquire wealth, knowledge of the world and, if possible, fame”', and also recording references to various countries including Santiago (noting that it was not discovered by Antonio de Nolle but by the Portuguese Diogo Gomez), Sierra Leone, Cape of Good Hope, Venezuela, China, Ceylon, Germany and others, as well as hippopotamuses (described by Cadamosto as a horse-fish), the Pillars of Hercules and various other explorers including Christopher Columbus (who had endured 'twelve years hardship & fatigue'), the cartographer Martin Behaim etc. To one page of the notes Burton has drawn a detailed map of the region of Africa covering Tanzania, Mozambique, the Congo and Kenya in which Burton has identified various lakes including Lake Albert, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. An interesting manuscript linking two of history's noted explorers, albeit centuries apart, and enhanced by Burton's wonderful illustration of African lakes. Some light age wear and a few small, neat professional repairs to splits at the central vertical folds, none of which affect the text. About VG The Life of Prince Henry of Portugal by Richard Henry Major was published in London in 1868 and is an account of 'the discovery, within one century, of half the world' by Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), the main initiator of the Age of Discovery, and included Major's summary of 'new facts in the discovery of the Atlantic Islands, a refutation of French claims to priority in discovery, Portuguese knowledge (subsequently lost) of the Nile Lakes and the history of the naming of America' drawn from 'authentic contemporary documents'.

FRESNEL AUGUSTIN-JEAN: (1788-1827) French Physicist & Civil Engineer whose research in optics led to the almost unanimous acceptance of the wave theory of light. Fresnel is best known for inventing the catadioptric Fresnel lens for lighthouses, saving countless lives at sea and thus labelled 'the invention that saved a million ships'. An interesting and exceptionally rare A.L.S., Fresnel, two pages, 4to, Paris, 15th January 1827, to the Prefect of Vendee, in French. Fresnel writes in regards to a letter of the 14th December addressed to the Director General of Engineering in which the Prefect had reminded the Director General of the authorisation of the delivery of a lightning rod and the addition of a fourth reflector to the lighthouse at Sables, to which the Director General had subsequently replied to the Prefect that the Secretary of the Commission of the Lighthouses had to agree with the Chief Engineer of Vendee for the installation to be made. Fresnel states that he  regrets the delay which the matter has suffered and further continues to justify his position, informing the Prefect that, in another letter from the Director General, he did not at all invite Fresnel to authorise the simple installation of a fourth reflector, and that the matter would have been dealt with during his last inspection tour of the west coast in autumn 1825, remarking 'I have talked to Mr. Richer about all the details relative to the amelioration of the lighthouse at Sables. We had agreed that one of the spare reflectors would be added to the lighting machine and lit as soon as the Director General would have allowed it' and further commenting 'If the phrase in the sentence contained in the letter he sent you has made Mr. Richer suppose that he had to wait for my instructions before installing a reflector which position and direction have been automatically indicated by its position then he should have written to me and not let a year go by without profiting from the authorisation that had already been granted by the Director General'. Fresnel also states that he 'would never have suspected that the fourth reflector that had been requested with so much insistence and that was immediately available was not yet installed' and that the lightning rod, that should have been constructed in Paris, was sent to Mr. Richer on 12th March the previous year and the remittance was also announced by letter on the same day, adding that he does not recall if receipt of the lightning rod was confirmed 'but I would have thought if he hadn't received it he would have informed me'. In concluding Fresnel asks the Prefect to excuse the length of his letter and hopes he will regard it as displaying only 'the very natural desire of justifying myself in your eyes'. Autograph letters by Fresnel are exceptionally rare, not least as a result of the physicist's premature death at the age of 39 from tuberculosis, and the present example is particularly desirable for its references to lighthouses and their reflectors. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, otherwise VG American Book Prices Current record no examples of Fresnel's autograph in any form as having ever appeared at auction.

HERTZ HENRICH: (1857-1894) German Physicist. Hertz was the first who conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves. The unit of frequency Hertz is named after him. Rare A.L.S., `H. Hertz´, one page, 8vo, Bonn, 27th October 1891, to Mr. Henry Cerew, Astronomer at the Lick Observatory, California, in English. Hertz states in part `..By the same post I send you a set of the required papers. You will only find the first paper wanting, of which I am sorry I have no copy left. The French résumé which I added will do for it…´ A cleanly written letter, unusually in English. With blank integral leaf. VG

BECQUEREL ANTOINE HENRI: (1852-1908) French Physicist. Becquerel is credited as the first person to discover evidence of radioactivity. Awarded for his works in this field with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, together with Marie and Pierre Curie. An extremely rare manuscript document by Becquerel, being scientific notes, including formulas and calculations, one page, oblong 4to, ruled paper, n.p., n.d., in French. The manuscript includes Becquerel´s notes concerning X-rays, electrolysis, atoms and electrons, with formulas and equations. A document of very rare and interesting scientific content. Uneven bottom edge, otherwise VG

FERMI ENRICO: (1901-1954) Italian Physicist, also known as the “Architect of the nuclear age” or “Architect of the atomic bomb”. Fermi was the creator of the world´s first nuclear reactor, the Chicago Pile-1. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1938 for his works on induced radioactivity by neutron bombardment. Fermi coined the name “neutrino”, and the particles that obey the exclusion principle are called “fermions” after him. Fermi worked on the Manhattan Project during WWII. Rare A.L.S., `Enrico Fermi´, two pages, 4to, Rome, 24th April 1929, on the “Istituto Di Fisica della Universita di Roma” letterhead, to a Doctor, in Italian. A cleanly written letter by Fermi, asking several questions to his correspondent, and stating in part `What is the net compensation, inclusive of travel expenses, for Professor Michele Cantone of the Royal University of Naples for only one session held in Rome?..´, further asking similar question regarding Senator Professor Antonio Garbasso at the University of Florence. In excellent condition. EX

BICHAT XAVIER: (1771-1802) French Anatomist and Pathologist, regarded as the father of modern histology. An extremely rare A.L.S., Xav. Bichat, one page, small 4to, Poncin, n.d.,in French. Bichat thanks his correspondent for their kindness and states `it is with very great pleasure that I will give my name to your son…..a thousand matters are overwhelming me on my return after a few days away, and only allow me to write a few words to you..´ further referring to some employment he will try and secure for his correspondent, remarking `because nothing has been organized yet for the new appointments of the new constitution, I cannot take care of your request, but as soon as there will be anything…I will find something for you in the department…´ and also writing `Tell my father that he will push my aunt in order to not delay any longer the sending of the little amount of money which represents almost all his income´ In a postscript Bichat reminds his correspondent `do not forget to obtain all the information available regarding the posts which are available and at the government disposal´ With integral address leaf in Bichat´s hand, addressed to citizen Bichat son. Autograph letters of Bichat are extremely rare as a result of his tragically early death from typhoid fever at the age of 30. Some age wear and creasing, largely to the edges and address leaf and with remnants of former mounting to the address leaf. G

PAVLOV IVAN: (1849-1936) Russian Physiologist. Best known for his works in classical conditioning. Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine in 1904. Pavlov was the first Russian Nobel laureate. Very rare A.L.S., `I. Pavlow´, two pages, 8vo, St. Petersburg, 21st December 1904, in German. Pavlov is back to Saint Petersburg after having received his Noble Award, and states in part, `Dear Sir and Colleague, Right now I have returned to St. Petersburg where I found your friendly congratulations telegram. Receive my deepest thanks for…. and for the good memory of our kind acquaintance in St. Petersburg. I wish you with all my heart that you will finally get the independent position you have been aiming since long, and on which you already have the most thorough rights.´ The present letter is written only days after having received the Nobel award, explaining his correspondent´s congratulations. With blank integral leaf. Folded, with overall creasing, otherwise G

CURIE MARIE: (1867-1934) French Physicist and Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1903 (with her husband, Pierre Curie), and Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1911. The first person to be honoured with two Nobel prizes. A very interesting and rare D.S., M. Curie, as director of the laboratory, one page, folio, Paris, 20th July 1931, on the printed stationery of the "Institut Du Radium - Laboratoire Curie - 1, Rue Pierre-Curie, Paris" in French. The partially printed document being a Certificate of "Dosage de Radium par le Rayonnement" ("Radium Dosage by Radiation"), and refers to all the tests done to the samples received from the Belgium Radium on 1st of July and returned on 21st of July, with hand-written annotations referring to thickness, gamma radiations, weight, etc… This radium came from the Belgium mines in Katanga, Belgium Congo, and at today´s date the Democratic Republic of Congo. An excellent document of good association. Extremely small creases to some corners, otherwise about EX

DIRAC PAUL: (1902-1984) English theoretical Physicist. Widely regarded as one of the most important physicists of the 20th century. Nobel Prize in Physics 1933. He formulated the Dirac equation. Among Dirac´s works, his contributions to quantum mechanics and electrodynamics, and also the new forms of atomic theory and general relativity. An unusual character described by Einstein as `This balancing on the dizzying path between genius and madness is awful´. Very rare signed 4 x 5.5 card `P.a.m. Dirac´, beneath a 2 x 3 photograph of Dirac in a head and shoulders pose, neatly affixed, with his full printed name Paul Adrien Maurice Dirac. Matted in black, beneath a 7 x 5 photograph showing Dirac standing before a blackboard with mathematics formulas, to an overall size of 8 x 12. Accompanied by an unsigned 5 x 7 photograph of a young Dirac in a head and shoulders pose. VG

FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish Biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. A rare manuscript D.S., Alexander Fleming, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (annotated 4th September 1949 in ink in an unidentified hand at the foot). Fleming responds to a researcher's questionnaire featuring their questions at the head of the page, '1. Were your scientific “debuts” easy or difficult? 2. Did means of living (another profession or a private income) enable you to make yourself known in science?.......3. What work (or what discovery) made yourself more famous? Which do you consider as your master piece (sic)?' The biologist provides his answers below, in full, '1. Merely the result of years of hard work and observation. 2. No. 3. Penicillin because this has been useful to mankind. Perhaps best work was on the action of antiseptics or on lysozymes.' Documents or letters in any form signed by Fleming in which he refers to penicillin are rare and desirable. Some light age wear and minor creasing, largely to the extreme edges, a small area of paper loss to the upper edge and some ink show through from a few annotations in the hand of the researcher to the verso, only very slightly affecting a few words of Fleming's text and not the signature. G

WRIGHT ORVILLE: (1871-1948) American Aviator who, with his brother Wilbur, invented and built the world's first successful airplane and made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on 17th December 1903. A rare French Postcard signed `Orville Wright´, a bold black ink to a clear area of the front postcard. Post-stamped and postmarked to the verso, sent to Antony Mors, from Dayton Ohio, on 13th January 1912. The front image shows the Wright brothers airplane flying, a four cylinders 28HP, also depicting to the upper left corner a small photograph of Wilbur Wright in a head and shoulders pose, with a printed signature beneath. A rare signature to the French postcard showing their first flight. VG 

VEDRINES JULES & LATHAM HUBERT: Two attractive signed postcard photographs by French Pioneer Aviators, comprising Jules Vedrines (1881-1919) First Aviator to fly at more than 100 mph. Winner of the Gordon Bennett Trophy race, 1912. Rare vintage signed postcard photograph (`J. Vedrines´) to a clear area of the front image. The image showing Gilbert Le Lasseur de Ranzay (1885-1912), a French pioneer aviator, who died at the very early age of 26, flying on a Bleriot monoplane, with a small inset head and shoulders portrait of the pilot. Autographs of Vedrines are rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 37 in an air crash; & Hubert Latham (1883-1912) The first person to attempt to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane. Latham also set several altitude and airspeed records. Signed postcard photograph by Latham `H. Latham´, in bold black ink.The imageshowing Latham flying in the Antoinette monoplane, with a small inset head and shoulders portrait of the pilot. Postmarked and Post-stamped, 30th April 1910. Latham died at the very early age of 29, in Africa, under unclear circumstances. G, 2 

SAINT-EXUPERY ANTOINE DE: (1900-1944) French Aristocrat, Pioneer Aviator and Writer, author of The Little Prince. A very fine, poignant Autograph Sentiment signed, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, in the form of a letter, one page, oblong 8vo (evidently removed from an album or visitors book), n.p. (Portugal), n.d. (annotated 2nd December 1940 in an unidentified hand at the foot of the page), to Pereira de Carvalho, in French. Saint-Exupery explains that he was already aware of Carvalho through two of his best friends, Jean-Gerard Fleury and Henri Guillaumet, who had included the Portuguese in their worship of his country, continuing 'And now I meet you by an inconceivable chance on the very day when we both lose Henri Guillaumet, a friend we loved' and further adding 'Allow me therefore to also declare myself your friend because the kindness of your welcome has moved me and it is now my turn to include you in my worship of Portugal - Also because Guillaumet was, in aviation, my eldest comrade and my guide, just as he had been in friendship'. A charming and beautifully written sentiment in honour of Guillaumet and a rare autograph document linking the great French aviators at a significant date. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Jean-Gerard Fleury (1905-2002) French Businessman, Aviator, Journalist & Writer. Henri Guillaumet (1902-1940) French Aviator, regarded by some as the best pilot of his age.  Whilst carrying the mail between Argentina and Chile Guillaumet crashed his plane in bad weather conditions and, having survived, walked for a week over three mountain passes before being miraculously rescued. To his friend, Saint-Exupery, who had come to find Guillaumet, the pilot famously declared 'What I have done, I swear to you, no animal would have done'. Saint-Exupery went on to tell the remarkable adventure of his friend in his book Wind, Sand and Stars (1939).  Guillaumet was shot down by an Italian fighter plane over the Mediterranean Sea on 27th November 1940 whilst en route to Syria with Jean Chiappe, the new French High Commissioner to the Levant.  Saint-Exupery's statement is dated a few days after his friend's tragic death at the age of 38 although, given the circumstances, it is understandable that Guillaumet's death would have taken a few days to be confirmed.

[BISHOP WILLIAM] : (1894-1956) Known as Billy Bishop. Canadian flying Ace of World War One and Air Marshal. A Victoria Cross recipient. Bishop was credited with 72 victories, and is considered the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war. Rare Combat Report, D.S. `K.L.Caldwell´, one page, folio, France, 28th of June 1917, signed in his capacity as Captain of the O.C. 60 Squadron, R.F.C. The partially printed document is a typed letter report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by Captain W.A. Bishop following his action in a Nieuport Scout B1566 Aeroplane in the La Bassée Canal, France. The combat report features as `Hostile Machine, Type, Armament - 4 Albatros Scouts´, stating, in part, `Seeing 4 E.A. under the clouds I climbed above them and dived through, hoping to surprise the E.A. When 150 yards away the top one saw me and turned. I fired on him from 100 yards range and my tracers seemed to hit around his engines, The E.A. put his nose down turning sharply…I saw the E.A. 500 ft. under me, both of his left hand planes having come off, he was falling vertically. I then climbed through the clouds and flew home.´ An excellent signed document relating directly to Bishop´s 31st Aerial Victory (from a total of 72 confirmed Victories). Extremely small file hole partially affecting the upper edge, otherwise G    Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell (1895-1980) New Zealand fighter Ace of the Royal Flying Corps. Caldwell rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during WWII.

BOWMAN GEOFFREY HILTON: (1891-1970) Also known as Geoffrey “Beery” Bowman. British First World War fighter ace credited with 32 victories. Rare D.S., G.H. Bowerman Capt., being a combat report, one page, folio, Houlthulst Forest, near St. Julien, 16th September 1917, in French. The partially printed document is a typed letter report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by Captain Geoffrey Hilton Bowman following his action in a S.E.5. Aircraft, stating in part, `Crossed the lines with SE.5 formation at 11,000 ft. Whilst S.E. of Houlthulst Forest saw three E.A. above us and three E.A. below us and to the East. I turned West and the three E.A. above followed. Leader of E.A. formation dived on Lt. Maybery… Pulled down my Lewis and fired 40 rounds at just 100 yds. range… The two E.A. above came down to the three E.A. below. I dived on E.A. and fired forty rounds from both guns at one E.A. but had to clear owing to my Lewis drum being empty and my Vickers stopping (no.3) E.A. cleared steeply East…´ An excellent signed document relating directly to Bowman´s 29th Aerial Victory (from a total of 32 confirmed Victories). Upper and right edges very slightly trimmed, otherwise G 

[BEAUCHAMP-PROCTOR ANDREW]: (1894-1921) South-African leading flying ace of First World War. Recipient of the Victoria Cross. Rare D.S., being a Combat Report, by Sholto Douglas `W.S.Douglas´, in his capacity as Major Commanding Squadron 84 of the Royal Flying Corps, one page, folio, Moreuil, Somme, France, 5th of June 1918, signed in pencil at the base. The partially printed document is a typed letter report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by Captain Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp-Proctor following his action in a S.E.5. Aircraft, stating in part, `..Over MOREUIL, at about 12,000 ft. I observed an E.A. two-seater about 1,000 ft. above my formation. Observing another flight of S.E.5 near at hand I attempted to draw their attention.. I started to climb up beneath H.A., and opened fire at about 300 yards. While still firing I observed H.A. to dive vertically, and continued firing until his right wing crumpled up…Wreckage fell about 8,000 yards West of Moreuil..´ An excellent signed document relating directly to Beauchamp-Proctor 23rd Aerial Victory (from a total of 54 confirmed Victories). Few file holes not affecting the text or signature, otherwise G   William Sholto Douglas (1893-1969) 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside. Marshal of the Royal Air Force, former Pilot, flight Commander and Squadron Commander during the First World War. Douglas played an important role in the Battle of Britain air fighting strategy. He would further be appointed Commander of the British Zone of Occupation after the war.

ARMSTRONG NEIL: (1930-2012) American Astronaut, Commander of Apollo XI (1969). The first man to walk on the moon. A rare, early A.L.S., Neil, two pages, slim 4to, n.p. (Cleveland, Ohio), n.d. ('Monday'; 7th March 1955), to Carl Bleschmidt. Armstrong enquires as to how his friend is in the Far East, asking 'Have you managed to completely de-structure the structures lab as yet', and continues to send news of his own activities, 'My time is split between flying and general rocket engineer. The flying is fine - we have an F8H, F2H, F82E, F82B, R4D, C47 & C82 with possibilities of a few other planes coming. In my first week I've made trips to Wash. D.C., Norfolk, VA, Chincoteague & Detroit, Mich. The missile work is both Aerodynamic & Structural or multi-stage test missiles. We fly them out over the Atlantic & launch them from the F82B & F2H.' Armstrong concludes by referring to his correspondent's wedding photographs and explains that he will be happy to forward them once he has confirmation of the correct address. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Armstrong to Bleschmidt at the Structural Test Laboratory of the Martin Aircraft Co. in Baltimore and also signed ('N. A. Armstrong') by Armstrong in the return address to the upper left corner. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few creases, otherwise VG At the time of the present letter Armstrong was working as a research test pilot with the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland from where he made his first test flight on 1st March 1955, just a week before writing to his friend. Armstrong's spell at Cleveland only lasted a couple of months before he was able to secure a position at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) High-Speed Flight Station at Edwards Air Force Base, beginning on 11th July 1955.

GREGORY XIV: (1535-1591) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1590-91. His tenure lasted only ten months. Gregory XIV, during his brief pontificate, excommunicated King Henry IV of France, modified the Apostolic Constitution so that the penalty for abortion did not apply until the foetus become animated, and bestowed the red cap upon the Cardinals who before wore only a hat. Very rare Autograph Manuscript by Gregory XIV, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., n.d., in Italian. An excellent document comprising ten lengthy lines where Gregory XIV refers to respect to traditions and relics, mentioning the ones kept in the San Pietro Martire church at Trigolo, Cremona, where Gregory XIV was appointed Bishop 1560-90, stating in part `..che quelle forze non solo si portavano per rispetto de le Imagini grandi, per avere Sante reliquie riposte in una cassetta che stá a´piedi della Madonna..´ Accompanied by a full transcription of the text. With slightly irregular edges and few stains mainly due to age wear and former affixing to the verso, otherwise G.

DE SALES FRANCIS: (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva 1602-22, canonised as a Saint in the Catholic Church by Pope Alexander VII in 1665. A lengthy manuscript list of indulgencies and confessions of the Saint Joseph religious society, prepared in Latin in an unidentified hand for presentation to De Sales, three pages, slim 4to, n.p. (Geneva), n.d. (January 1609), with a rare autograph statement signed ('Franc[i]s Ep[i]s[copi] Genevensis') by De Sales, as Bishop of Geneva, to the fourth page, n.p. (Geneva), 8th January 1609, in Latin. In the seven lines of holograph text De Sales confirms the validity of the indulgencies and confessions. With a blind embossed paper seal affixed beneath the statement. At the foot of the page appears a further, later autograph statement signed by Jean d'Arenthon d'Alex (1620-1695) in his capacity as Bishop of Geneva, also in Latin and dated October 1662. Some light overall damp staining, only very slightly affecting the text and signature (all of which remain perfectly legible) and with some professional restoration to a few areas of paper loss in the upper corners, G

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Extremely rare L.S., `Vincent de PaulI[ndigne] P[retre] D[e] l[a] M[ission]´, (''Vincent de Paul, Unworthy Priest of the Mission''), one page, 4to, Paris, 11th January 1658, to Firmin Get, in French. The written text is in the hand of Saint Vincent de Paul´s secretary Bertrand Ducournau. Saint Vincent de Paul refers to two persons who have recently passed away and states in part `The grace of Our Lord be with you for ever... God has decided to call to His side one of our good brothers named François Hémet, who passed away the day after, on the 5th of this month, aged 45 or 50 years old. His death responds to his life, because he has been in both cases ready and full of good feelings, and we cannot expect better from a pious man…´ further referring to a box sent by his correspondent `We have learned that the box you sent to M. Le Vacher and which is waiting for, has left Lyon, and he will be able to receive it in the next two or three days.´, and further again saying `One of your good brothers has arrived to Paris to sort out matters, we are waiting for him today to start few days of retreat...´ With addressee to the verso, also bearing an attractive blind embossed seal. Small overall age wear, with very few and very small pinholes, otherwise in very fine condition. About VG Firmin Get (1621-1682) Superior of the Mission in Marseille.Bertrand Ducournau (1614-1667) Saint Vincent de Paul´s secretary since 1645. By his devotion, tact and love of work, this good brother rendered inestimable services to Saint Vincent and his Congregation. Through his preparation of materials and his personal notes, he contributed to the first biography of Saint Vincent.Philippe Le Vacher (1622-1679) Vicar General of Carthage. In 1661 he went to Algiers, and a year after left Barbary accompanied by seventy captives he had ransomed. He was then sent to Fontainebleau where he led a most exemplary life.

NEWMAN JOHN HENRY: (1801-1890) English Cardinal, canonised as a saint in the Catholic Church in 2019. A charming A.L.S., John H Newman, one page, 8vo, Oriel College [Oxford], n.d. ('Monday'; annotated 30th August 1840 in another hand at the head of the page), to Miss. Edwards. Newman informs his correspondent that he will take care to be at St. Ebbe's at eight o'clock, adding that it will give him pleasure to have the assistance of Mr. Bennett and continuing 'Will you give my best thanks to Mrs. Eykyn for her kind wish that I should take breakfast at her house, which I hope she will excuse my doing in consequence of an engagement I already have on Thursday morning'. With blank integral leaf. Autograph letters by Newman have become increasingly rare in recent years, and the present example has particularly charming associations. VG Newman's visit to St. Ebbe's Church, in the centre of Oxford, on Thursday, 2nd September would have been in preparation for a marriage ceremony that he presided over the following day, 3rd September 1840. The marriage took place between a couple whom Newman had introduced to each other, Thomas Combe (1796-1872, English Printer, Publisher & Patron of the Arts, the 'Printer to the University' at the Oxford University Press) and Martha Howell Bennett Edwards (1806-1893, British Art Collector, an influential promoter and supporter of the work of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood). One of the witnesses at the marriage ceremony was Joseph Bennett, presumably the gentleman referred to in Newman's letter.

BOSCO JOHN: (1815-1888) Also known as Don Bosco. Italian Roman Catholic Priest, Educator and Writer. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method known as the Salesian Preventive System. Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Canonized as a saint in 1934. Rare A.L.S., `Gio. Bosco´, two pages, 8vo, Torino, 1871, to `Benemerita Sig. Contessa´, in French. On the printed stationery of the Salesian Oratorio of Turin, Saint John Bosco thanks his correspondent and benefactress stating in part `Today, on the festivity day of the Holy Virgin, I send you the first letter for the new church to be built, with our Archbishop blessing, and I addressed to you as the first and most important benefactress on the purchase of the site location. Works will start next month of April…´, further and referring to funds-raising, Bosco says `.. if you can tell me if I can count on a fixed amount every year and for the next three years.. As you can see I write to you openly as a son waiting for the frank response of his mother..´ Before concluding Bosco reports on the new edition of the small story, having sold more than fifteen thousand copies over the last month, and comments that they are working on a new edition, and invites Countess Callori saying `On Sunday afternoon we have the grand-theatre performance, and you are invited as well as any other persons you will wish to invite, just mention my name…´ On a post-scriptum Bosco mentions that he is sending an additional invitation for her husband, Count Federico Callori di Vignale. With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG. Countess Carlotta Callori di Vignale (1827-1911) one of the most important financial benefactors of Bosco´s projects. Bosco considered Countess Callori as his second-mother.In 1871, the year of the present letter, John Bosco founded a group of religious sisters to do for girls what the Salesians were doing for boys. They were called the "Daughters of Mary Help of Christians."

POLE REGINALD: (1500-1558) English Cardinal of the Catholic Church, the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury 1556-58 during the Counter Reformation. Rare L.S., Reg Carlus. Polus, one page, folio, Carpentras, 16th April 1539, to 'Your Holiness'. Pole states that he received the letter from his correspondent 'through which I learnt that the letters which I wrote from Toledo on the 22nd February only arrived on the 7th April, which I find astonishing' and continues 'I don't know what could have caused such delay. Through no fault of my own, I must appear negligent towards Your Holiness in this extremely important matter, about which I am most anxious and solicitous, as I should be in any case. This will have some bearing on my letters….and then, in relation to the Abbot, who left here on the 8th, and very much hoped to be reunited with Your Holiness before my letters arrive, concerning everything that has been deduced from their two Majesties, regarding the English negotiation.' The Cardinal further comments 'As for me, I needed to record this material. Nothing else has happened, except that I am waiting here for the opinion of His Holiness on my loyalty and obedience. Moreover, I am struggling hard to elect what I must do for the service of God, and to gain his benediction.' With integral address leaf, bearing the original paper seal. Some very slight, minor staining, otherwise a bold, attractively penned and clean letter, VG At the time of writing this letter Pole had been attainted in absentia following his disagreement with King Henry VIII, to whom he had not offered his support in his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, despite the King's offer of the Archbishopric of York or the Diocese of Winchester.

BARNARDO THOMAS JOHN: (1845-1905) Irish Philanthropist, the founder and director of homes for poor children. A very fine, rare manuscript D.S., Thos. J Barnardo, four pages, folio, Stepney Causeway, Ratcliff, London, 13th January 1877, on the printed stationery of the East End Juvenile Mission. The document is in the form of a letter to Orlando Reeves Prankhard and outlines his contract of employment as the Medical officer of the Infirmary in Stepney Causeway and Medical Superintendent of the Mission and states, in part, 'The practical and thorough oversight and professional care of the Infirmary for sick children in Stepney Causeway and of the girls in Church House Home Bow Road whenever that last Institution shall be placed under your care. Your duties will include at least two professional visits to the Infirmary and Home each day…..Upon the occasion of each visit each patient will be seen and attended to and if no dispenser be appointed the medicines dispensed by you…..You undertake….to lose no opportunity of speaking earnest words of Christian exhortation to the patients whom you shall see in private and also to undertake the responsibility of the daily address to be delivered to the patients collectively…..You will undertake the periodical inspection (say once a month) of the sanitary arrangements of our various Institutions…..In the event of epidemics prevailing…..you will of course feel it to be your duty to give unceasing personal attention to the special necessities of the case. You will institute and carry out under my direction a thorough system of registration and “case taking” of all patients admitted to the Infirmary…..These services….will I am sure be conscientiously rendered by you more for the Lord's sake and for the Work's sake than for the sake of any pecuniary consideration but you have consented to receive in return for them a salary of two hundred pounds per year……You are I think fully aware that the East End Juvenile Mission…..about to be established….is carried on by means of faith and prayer and is wholly dependent under God on the free will offering of the Christian Public…..' A highly unusual document of excellent content. One small spindle hole to the upper left corner of each page, not affecting the text or signature, and some light age wear. About VG

DUNANT HENRI: (1828-1910) Swiss Promoter and co-Founder of the Red Cross. Dunant was a Humanitarian social Activist. The 1864 Geneva Convention was based on Dunant´s idea for an organisation to take care for wounded soldiers.Dunant was awarded with the first Nobel Peace Prize, being also the first Swiss Nobel laureate. An excellent and very rare A.L.S., H. Dunant, four pages, Heiden, 6th June 1902, to Madame Severine, Hotel Beau Rivage, Luzern, in French. The letter bears to the heading two large written underlined words `Personal´ and `In a Hurry´ , Dunant stating in part `Do you want details about the very first origins of the Red Cross? I can give you some; different to the ones which have been published by various newspapers..´, further saying `Three months ago I was asked to write an article to be published in an important American journal. I started the first pages, but the whole remained there…´, and further again `It is thirty years now that “A Memory of Solferino” is out of print; nobody and nowhere it is known except by its name. This week the new edition has been published..´. A letter of very good content. Accompanied by the original envelope in Dunant´s hand, postmarked and post-stamped, bearing two black seals to the verso. Small overall age wear, with tears to centre folds and a very small area of paper loss to the bottom edge, not affecting the text or signature. G

HOYLE EDMOND: (1672-1769) English Authority on the rules and play of Card Games. Rare book signed, a hardback edition of Mr. Hoyle's Games of Whist, Quadrille, Piquet, Chess and Back-Gammon, Complete Fourteenth Edition, including the laws of the several games and 'To which is now first added, Two new Cases at Whist, never before printed; also The New Laws of the Game at Whist, As played at White's and Saunders's Chocolate-Houses', printed for Thomas Osborne in Gray's Inn and Henry Woodfall and Richard Baldwin of Pater-noster-Row, London (1765). Signed ('Edmond Hoyle') in bold ink with his name alone to the lower margin beneath an advertisement declaring, in part, 'No Copies of this Book are genuine, but what are signed by the Author'. The small 8vo edition has the original tan calf boards and spine (a little distressed and worn) with raised bands and gilt lettering ('Hoyle's Games'). Contained in a handsome custom designed brown quarter leather and beige cloth clamshell box. Some light age wear and staining, G 

FORD HENRY & CITROEN ANDRÉ: Henry Ford (1863-1947) American Industrialist and business magnate founder of the Ford Motor Company & André Citroen (1878-1935) French Industrialist and founder of automaker Company named after him. Rare signed 7 x 5.5 photograph by both car companies creators, the image showing them standing outdoors, talking to each other in a half length pose. Individually signed in bold black ink at the base of the image `Andre Citroen´, and `Henry Ford´, to the light lower border. With remnants of former affixing to the verso. G

AUTOGRAPHS: A large accumulation of closely clipped signed pieces by a wide variety of Victorian individuals, mainly British and most associated with Scotland, the vast majority removed from the conclusion of letters, featuring political leaders, nobility, scientists & explorers, jurists, industrialists, military and naval leaders (many of whom served in the Crimean War), artists, writers, musicians and other famous men, and some women, including Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., William Muir, Henry James Sumner Maine, Richard Vary Campbell, John Marshall Lang, Henry Drummond, William Edward Forster, William McOnie, Rawson W. Rawson, Walter Bentley, Patrick Colquhoun (founder of the first regular preventive police force in England, the Thames River Police), Lyon Playfair, Thomas Sutherland (founder of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation - HSBC), Edward William Watkin (made a failed attempt to dig a channel tunnel under the English Channel to connect his railway empire with France), Henry Edward Landor Thuillier (responsible for the first printing of postage stamps to be valid throughout India, 1854), Thomas Somerville, William Fife, Andrew Dalgleish(government agent during the Great Game; murdered), James Grant Wilson(served as a Colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War), James Heywood, Richard Paul Amphlett, Kuno Meyer, Donald Currie, Bennet Burleigh (Scottish-born pirate & Confederate spy), Henry Calderwood, James John Cooper Wyld (map publisher), Charles Eyre (Archbishop of Glasgow), John Tulloch, Henry Fawcett, Charles Pearson(promoted London's Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway in the world which led to the development of the London Underground network), Robert Murdoch Smith, Andrew Kennedy Hutchison Boyd, Leon Say, Henry Alleyne Nicholson, William Henry Flower, Douglas Galton, Thomas McCall Anderson, John Kirk (Scottish physician & companion to David Livingstone), George Birdwood, Morell Mackenzie, Arthur Mitchell (Scottish physician & specialist in mental illness), Ralph Copeland (Astronomer Royal for Scotland), Archibald Geikie, Hector Cameron, Joseph Thomson (explorer; rare), John Bennet Lawes (agricultural scientist, a pioneer of chemical fertilizer), George Husband Baird MacLeod (surgeon to Queen Victoria when in Scotland), William Macewen (pioneer in modern brain surgery), Allen Young, Joseph Whitworth, Andrew Douglas Maclagan (toxicologist), James Risdon Bennett, George Buchanan, Howard Craufurd Elphinstone (Victoria Cross winner for his actions at the Siege of Sebastopol in 1855 during the Crimean War), James Edward Alexander (driving force behind the placement of Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames Embankment), George Henry Richards, William Houston Stewart, Claude Buckle, General Mark Kerr, Charles Shadwell (Commander-in-Chief, China Station 1871-74), Thomas Montagu Steele, William Codrington, Edward Selby Smyth, John Dalrymple-Hay (commanded HMS Victory from 1854), Charles Beresford, Garnet Wolseley, Edward Bruce Hamley, Alexander Armstrong (naval surgeon & explorer), George Willis, Lintorn Simmons, Walter Besant, Friedrich Max Muller, William T. Stead (died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic), Thomas Hughes, Jerome K. Jerome, John Everett Millais, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, David Murray, Frank Dicksee, John MacWhirter, James Hedderwick, Samuel Ferguson, Grant Allen, Charles Reade, Algernon Borthwick, Herbert Oakeley, Douglas Sladen, William Black, William Howard Russell, Richard Claverhouse Jebb, John Strang, George Alexander Macfarren, Samuel Smiles, Andrew Lang, Samuel Neil, Colin Hunter, James Gowans, Gerard Baldwin Brown, Thomas Mayne Reid, R. M. Ballantyne, Charles Rogers, Edward Russell, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, Arthur James Balfour, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Herbert Gladstone, Charles Dilke, John Bright, Joseph Chamberlain, George Curzon, Earl of Shaftesbury, Robert Cochran-Patrick, William Jacks, James Caird, Rutherford Alcock (the first British diplomatic representative to live in Japan), Edward Colebrooke, Francis Sandford, Frank Lockwood, Arthur Hayter, George Trevelyan, Alexander Asher, Madge Kendal, J. L. Toole, Charles Wyndham, Richard D'Oyly Carte, Justin McCarthy, G. A. Henty, Alexander Mackenzie, Francis Galton, Thomas Henry Huxley, Henry Thompson, Joseph Dalton Hooker and many, many others. The majority of the pieces bear small numbers in an unidentified hand to the corners. A few of the signatures are slightly faded and with some other minor faults, generally G, 469

CEZANNE PAUL: (1839-1906) French Artist & Post-Impressionist Painter. A good and rare A.L.S., Paul Cezanne, two pages, 8vo, n.p., Wednesday April 1881, to Monsieur Huijsmans, in French. Cezanne states in full, 'I received before yesterday in the evening the volume you kindly sent to me. I deeply thank you for your kindness. Together with your parcel was attached the one of monsieur Ceard. In the ignorance that I find myself of his address because of my negligence, I would ask you to send to him my gratitude for the testimony of his esteem towards me for the matters related to the mind..´ The paper bears an Original Oxford Mill watermark. Accompanied by the original envelope in Cezanne´s hand. Overall age wear and foxing stains, otherwise G Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848-1907) French Novelist and art Critic. A founding member of the Academy Goncourt and an early advocate of Impressionism.