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MAXIM HIRAM: (1840-1916) American-born British Inventor of the Maxim Gun, the first portable, fully automatic machine gun. Fine scientific A.L.S., Hiram S. Maxim, four pages, folio, n.p., 7th February 1897, to Mr. Littledale. Maxim discusses some thoughts that have occurred to him with his correspondent, `I find that the Americans in their specification for a smokeless powder take into consideration the degree of nitration. With nitrocellulose having 11% of nitrogen, they allow 40% of nitroglycerine; when the nitrocellulose has 12% of nitrogen, they allow 25% of nitroglycerine and with 13% of nitrogen, only 10% of nitroglycerine. It will therefore seem that when Nobel started out to use di-nitrocellulose and made it about half and half he was not wide of the mark. Di-nitrocellulose is completely dissolved in nitroglycerine. They combine in all proportions and the nitroglycerine does not ooze out no matter in what proportions they may be mixed. But it is altogether different when we use a nitrocellulose with a high degree of nitration. I never attempted to use any form except that which is highly nitrated and I find it advisable from actual experiment and from what I found out was taking place in other countries, that it would not do to use a large quantity of nitroglycerine with a highly nitrated cotton and I feel certain that the Government will have to abandon the 58% nitroglycerine compound now employed. The proportions which the Americans have fixed upon as the maximum nitroglycerine allowed have been determined by long and careful experimenting by highly trained engineers in a country where the extremes of heat and cold are very great. I think a good illustration as to how the two compounds compare-that is, Maximite and Cordite-is that we might liken nitroglycerine to American cane sugar and nitrocellulose to European beet-root sugar. Suppose that one man should sweeten his coffee with one piece of cane sugar and two pieces of beet-root sugar and that another man should use two pieces of cane sugar, and only one of beet-root; this would be about the proportion of difference between the government powder and our own and the difference between the two kinds of sugar is quite as great as the difference between the explosive effects of nitroglycerine and those of nitrocellulose.` Maxim further expresses his desire that expert chemists should examine the two powders and their components and suggests that the results be shown in a table, `This would serve to show the judge in a graphic manner that the finished compounds, as far as the necessary elements of explosion are concerned, are very nearly the same thing.` The penultimate paragraph has been neatly crossed through by Maxim, although remains largely legible. A rare letter with excellent content. VG
WORDSWORTH WILLIAM: (1770-1850) English Romantic Poet. Poet Laureate 1843-50. A charming small 12mo album containing an original unpublished verse by Wordsworth, in full, `Fairy still, Fairy`s hand, And a quill, From fairy-land, Album small! Are needed all, To write in you; So adieu`, signed with his initials W. W. at the conclusion. Wordsworth`s verse appears as the first written entry in the album, which also features a selection of original poems and signatures by Wordsworth`s family and friends, including Frederick Faber (1814-1863, British Hymn writer and Theologian) autograph verse signed, Frederic Faber, penned across two pages of the album and entitled A Little Sermon for a Little Lady, in full, `Hearts good and true, Have wishes few, In narrow spaces bounded:, And hope that lives, On what God gives, So Christian hope well founded!, Small things are best -, Grief and unrest, With pomp and power are given, But little things, On little wings, Bear little souls to Heaven!`; Robert Southey (1774-1843, English Poet Laureate 1813-43) Dark ink signature and date, Ambleside, 18th January 1839, in his hand; Hartley Coleridge (1796-1849, English Writer, son of Samuel Taylor Coleridge) autograph verse signed, Hartley Coleridge, penned over four pages, beginning `Behold the boy, And see the joy, with which he eyes them, Bubble bubble, Not for trouble`, accompanied by a fine, small pen and ink drawing of a young boy stood at a table blowing bubbles from a pipe; Agnes Strickland (1796-1874, English Writer and Poet) Dark ink signature and date, Ambleside, 25th September 1843, in her hand; Edward Quillinan (1791-1851, English Poet, son-in-law of Wordsworth) autograph verse signed, with initials E. Q., on one page of the album, entitled On a dead Infant, in full, `The Glass of Time was glittering in the sun; The Rose around the glittering glass was wreathed; But ere the lapsing sand an hour had run; The Flower, alas, its fragrant life had breathed`, dated Rydal Mount, 2nd December 1839 in his hand. At the head of the page appears a pencil drawing (light stain affecting the drawing, but not verse). The album also includes two other unsigned entries, in unidentified hands, one dated Rydal Mount, 1st October 1839, making reference to the earlier entries by Wordsworth and Faber and the other accompanied by a small, original watercolour of a flower. A few pages loose and the binding a little weak. Some light age wear, G
ROOSEVELT ELEANOR: (1884-1962) First Lady of the United States 1933-45. Vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of the happy, smiling Roosevelt seated in a half length pose at a table. Photograph by Gary Wagner of New York. Signed in blue fountain pen ink to the image, partially across a darker area although completely legible. A few slight surface creases, otherwise VG
LIMBU RAMBAHADUR: (1939- ) Nepalese Captain in the British Army, Victoria Cross winner for his actions in Borneo, 21st November 1965. An attractive folio printed table, being a list of the Gurkha recipients of the Victoria Cross, providing details of their names, rank, date of action etc., beignning with Tytler and ending with Limbu, featuring a colour image of the VC at the head. Signed by Limbu to a clear area in blue ink. Professionally matted in burgundy and framed and glazed in a plain wooden frame to an overall size of 14 x 22.5. Accompanied by an unsigned booklet entitled My Life Story by Rambahadur Limbu. VG, 2
Black Japanned Table Cabinet With Late 17th Century Crewelwork Panels To The Interior. The cabinet comprises of a hinged cover with two front opening doors enclosing two drawers and a lift out tray, with crewelwork panels to the doors and drawer fronts. Each door has an embroidery panel of a lady in 17th Century style dress with a tree in the background, one is playing the lute and the other holds some paper (possibly a sheet of music). The top drawer embroidery depicts a hunter seated with his dogs playing a musical instrument and a fisherman catching a fish from his boat, the remaining two drawers have foliate designs using bullion thread. 36cms by 28cms by 22cms,
Quantity of folding and fixed fans to include a parakeet feather and marabou fan, two Chinese bone and painted feather fans, plus others; A Chinese paper parasol, a quantity of vintage perfume bottles and atomisers; A Roger & Gallet fixed advertising fan, a silver dressing table mirror, exhibition catalogue and three fashion prints
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