Recently catalogued, autographs, letters, documents, manuscripts
This is a list of particularly fine items or collections. The thumbnail pictures provide links to longer descriptions.


Longer description and imageADDISON, Joseph (1672-1719). Essayist, poet & statesman.
Document Signed ('J. Addison' at the foot), 1 page large folio (slightly trimmed at the foot), 22 April 1709.

£685 / $1096 / €849 [No: 24565]

Longer description and imageBERLIOZ, Hector (1803-1869). French composer.
Letter Signed ('H. Berlioz' in pencil) to Jules Simon, 1 page 4to, (splits in folds professionally repaired), Paris, 28 August 1850.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 4403]

Longer description and imageBLUCHER, Gebhard Lebrecht von (1742-1819). Prussian field-marshal.
Autograph Letter Signed to Herr Schwenke (?), 2 pages 4to with integral address-leaf, B[erlin?], 19 October 1814.

£1150 / $1840 / €1426 [No: 22752]

Longer description and imageBRADBURY, John (1768-1825). Botanist and explorer of America.
Highly important Autograph Letter Signed to (Sir) James E. Smith (1759-1828, founder of the Linnean Society), 3 pages 4to with address (name only), St Louis, 22 August 1811.

£2750 / $4400 / €3410 [No: 23352]

Longer description and imageBROWNING, Robert (1812-1889). Poet.
Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs [Henry] Schlesinger, 1 page 8vo (very slight traces of former mounting), 19 Warwick Crescent, 15 June 1882.

£1150 / $1840 / €1426 [No: 24743]

Longer description and imageBURKE, Edmund (1729/30-1797). Politician and Author.
Letter Signed to the Secretary of War, Thomas Townshend, 1 page folio, Pay Office, 'July 1782 (note of receipt dated 1 July 1782).

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 24618]

Longer description and imageBURNEY, Frances [Fanny] (1752-1840). Novelist. Married name Fanny D'Arblay.
Fine Autograph Letter Signed (typically unsigned when writing to her brother) to 'my dearest Carlos', 4 pages 4to with integral address, Ilfracombe, 28 August-3 September 1817.

£3250 / $5200 / €4030 [No: 24701]

Longer description and imageCARUSO, Enrico (1873-1921). Operatic tenor.
Fine autograph self-caricature signed, dedicated to Lady Watts and dated at Monte Carlo 1915, on an album page, 176 x 120 mm. (7 x 5 inches).

£1250 / $2000 / €1550 [No: 24180]

Longer description and imageCHARLES II and Samuel PEPYS
Document Signed ('Charles R' at the head and 'S Pepys' at the foot), 1 page folio (rather foxed overall, the king's signature faint, laid down on board), 1673/4.

£2750 / $4400 / €3410 [No: 24015]

Longer description and imageCHARLES II (1630-1685). King of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Document Signed, 1½ pages folio with integral leaf bearing contemporary endorsements (some wear and weakness, tipped to a later sheet, Whitehall, 14 January 1679/80.

£1550 / $2480 / €1922 [No: 24703]

Longer description and imageDARWIN, Charles (1809-1882). Naturalist.
Autograph Letter Signed to Lady Holland (Saba, wife of Sir Henry Holland), 2 pages 8vo with autograph envelope, Down, Farnborough, Kent, 4 December 1854.

£3500 / $5600 / €4340 [No: 24741]

Longer description and imageDAVY, Sir Humphry (1778-1829). Chemist and natural philosopher.
Autograph Letter Signed to Dr Babington (probably William Babington (1756-1833, physician and mineralogist), 2 pages 8vo with address-leaf (name only), 16? October no year.

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 23379]

Longer description and imageDICKENS, Charles (1812-1870). Novelist.
Autograph Letter Signed to the dean [of St Paul's], 1 page 8vo with integral blank, in fine clean condition, Tavistock House, 29 May 1856.

£1450 / $2320 / €1798 [No: 24742]

Longer description and imageDISRAELI, Benjamin, earl of Beaconsfield (1804-1881). Prime minister and novelist.
Fine early Autograph Letter Signed ('D') to the Rev W.J. Fox, 1 page oblong folio (with postscript to the side and address on the reverse), 35 Duke Street, St James's, 16 April 1833.

£1150 / $1840 / €1426 [No: 24724]

Longer description and imageDODGSON, Charles Lutwidge (1832-1898). 'Lewis Carroll'.
Brief Autograph Letter Signed to Mr Rivington, probably of the family of publishers, 1 page 8vo (perhaps slightly trimmed at the top, laid down on an album leaf), no place, no date.

£1250 / $2000 / €1550 [No: 22496]

Longer description and imageDODGSON, Charles Lutwidge (1832-1898). 'Lewis Carroll'.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Your loving friend CLD') to a young-lady friend Ursula [Mallam], 1 page 8vo (oblong), Christ Church, Oxford, 17 March [1897].

£1350 / $2160 / €1674 [No: 23667]

Longer description and imageDOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930). Creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Autograph Letter Signed on two sides of a correspondence-card to General Enesy in Budapest, Bignell Wood, Minstead, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, 19 November no year.

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 21303]

Longer description and imageELIZABETH II (b.1926). Queen of England.
Christmas Card for 1954, signed by The Queen and Prince Philip (slight signs of mounting on the reverse only.

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 24247]

Longer description and imageFURTWANGLER, Wilhelm (1886-1954). German conductor and composer.
Typewritten Letter Signed to A. Roth of Boosey & Hawkes, 1 page large 4to, Clarens, 11 August 1948. With a full translation.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 23131]

Longer description and imageGEORGE II (1683-1760). King of Great Britain and Ireland. Elector of Hanover.
Document Signed (twice, at the head of each side), 2 pages large folio, St James's, 24 June 1737.

£585 / $936 / €725 [No: 24594]

Longer description and imageGEORGE IV (1762-1830). King of Great Britain and Ireland and king of Hanover.
Autograph Letter Signed ('George P') as Prince of Wales, to Lord Yarmouth (1777-1842, later Marquis of Hertford), 1 page 4to with blank leaf, Carlton House, 18 March 1808.

£625 / $1000 / €775 [No: 24534]

Longer description and imageGORDON, Charles George (1833-1885). 'Chinese Gordon'.
Autograph Letter Signed to his beloved sister Augusta, 1½ pages 8vo, Cairo, 29 March 1878.

£850 / $1360 / €1054 [No: 22436]

Longer description and imageGORDON, Charles George (1833-1885). 'Chinese Gordon'.
Autograph Letter Signed to his brother, Enderby, 1 page 8vo, Southampton, 31 January 1880.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 23996]

Longer description and imageGREVILLE, Fulke (1554-1628). Courtier, poet and author.
Document Signed, 1 page small folio (with integral second leaf bearing endorsements, two large brown stains), 17 February 1619/20. Bound in half-leather, gilt.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 24195]

Longer description and imageHASTINGS, Warren (1732-1818). Governor-general of India.
Autograph Letter Signed to Richard Cosway RA (ca 1742-1821, artist and collector), 2 pages 4to with integral address-leaf, Daylesford House, 15 January 1805.

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 24293]

Longer description and imageHENRY BENEDICT, Cardinal York. (1725-1807). Jacobite claimant to the English, Scottish and Irish thrones.
Letter Signed address to Nicolas Veigura, banker in Paris, ½-page 4to, Rome, 6 January 1773.

£1250 / $2000 / €1550 [No: 24715]

Longer description and imageHERSCHEL, Sir John Frederick William (1792-1871). Astronomer.
Small collection by or relating to Herschel and his family, 1 volume 4to and loose, ca 1809 to 1870.

£2250 / $3600 / €2790 [No: 22845]

Longer description and imageJAMES, Henry (1843-1916). American novelist.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Uncle') to his nephew William James ('Dearest Bill'), 4 pages 4to with original envelope (envelope torn on opening), Lamb House, Rye, 15 July 1907.

£1050 / $1680 / €1302 [No: 24744]

Longer description and imageJEKYLL, Gertrude (1843-1932). Artist and garden designer.
Good Autograph Letter Signed to [Logan] Pearsall Smith (1865-1946, literary scholar), 1 page 4to with sketches in the margin, Munstead Wood, 8 July 1926.

£825 / $1320 / €1023 [No: 21748]

Longer description and imageJEKYLL, Gertrude (1843-1932). Artist and garden designer.
Three Autograph Letters Signed to Miss Sevinge in Farnham, in all 4 pages 8vo with two envelopes, Munstead Wood, Godalming, 7 and 19 April 1931 and August 29 no year.

£1350 / $2160 / €1674 [No: 23517]

Longer description and imageJEKYLL, Gertrude (1843-1932). Artist and garden designer.
Autograph Letter Signed and a postcard to Mrs Cecil Mangles, the letter is 2 pages 8vo (slightly chewed at the sides), Munstead Wood, Godalming, 14 May and 6 June 1931.

£850 / $1360 / €1054 [No: 23518]

Longer description and imageTHE ARCHIVE OF FRANK LAFFITTE
An extensive correspondence of the Anglo-French pianist Frank (Francis) Laffitte.

£1850 / $2960 / €2294 [No: 24638]

Longer description and imageLEAR, Edward (1812-1888). Artist and nonsense poet.
Autograph Letter Signed to [Frederick W.] Gibbs, former tutor to the Prince of Wales, 3 pages 8vo, Pension Major, Serrabassa, Abetone, Pistojese, Italy, 24 August 1883.

£1250 / $2000 / €1550 [No: 24172]

Longer description and imageLEAR, Edward (1812-1888). Artist and nonsense poet.
Significant Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent [almost certainly Lady Waldegrave], 4 pages 8vo (two small pieces of mounting tape) , 65 Oxford Terrace, Hyde Park, 17 July 1853.

£1650 / $2640 / €2046 [No: 24745]

Longer description and imageLIND, Jenny (1820-1887). Swedish soprano.
Attractive Autograph Music Quotation Signed of four bars headed 'Swedish Polska' and 'In kind Remembrance, dated July 1863, 80 x 90 mm. (3¼ x 3½ inches) on decorative paper.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 22926]

Longer description and imageLISTER, Joseph (1827-1912). Surgeon. Founder of antiseptic surgery.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Joseph Lister') to an unnamed correspondent, 3 pages 8vo on black-edged paper, 12 Park Crescent, Portland Place, 13 August 1894.

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 24562]

Longer description and imageLISTER, Joseph (1827-1912). Surgeon. Founder of antiseptic surgery.
Autograph Letter Signed to Sir Archibald, 1 page 8vo on black-edged paper with blank leaf, 12 Park Crescent, Portland Place, 1 April 1898.

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 24563]

Longer description and imageLISZT, Franz (1811-1886). Hungarian composer and pianist.
Letter Signed in English (a bold but shaky signature) to an unnamed correspondent, 3 pages 8vo (slight thinning to second leaf), Weimar, no date.

£1250 / $2000 / €1550 [No: 23662]

Longer description and imageLISZT, Franz (1811-1886). Hungarian composer and pianist.
Autograph Letter Signed in German (name of recipient illegible), 3 pages 8vo, no place, 'Mardi Matin' [sic], endorsed in another hand with the date '1844'.

£1150 / $1840 / €1426 [No: 24325]

Longer description and imageLONGFELLOW, Henry Wadsworth (1807-1882). Poet.
Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent, 3 pages 8vo in the usual pale brown ink, Bowness, Windermere, 9 June 1868.

£585 / $936 / €725 [No: 24296]

Longer description and imageLUCAN, George Charles Bingham, Earl of (1800-1888). Field Marshal.
Correspondence between Lucan and his estate manager for Sutton Hall in Macclesfield, William Brocklehurst with additional estate papers.

£1500 / $2400 / €1860 [No: 7380]

Longer description and imageMARCONI, Guglielmo (1874-1937). Pioneer of radio.
Autograph radio telegram signed ('Guglielmo' plus initials) sent from his yacht Electra to his wife, 1 page folio (oblong) 13 October 1934.

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 22823]

Longer description and imageMARIA THERESA (1717-1780). Archduchess of Austria. Mother of Marie Antoinette.
Letter Signed to Leopold von Weingarten, her secretary at the Prussian Court, 1 page folio with address-wrapper, 18 February 1744.

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 22562]

Longer description and imageMARIE LOUISE (1791-1847). Empress of the French. Second wife of Napoleon I.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Marie Louise') in her characteristic small neat hand, evidently to a close servant or friend, 3½ pages 8vo, Amsterdam, 15 October 1811.

£1250 / $2000 / €1550 [No: 20049]

Longer description and imageMASSENET, Jules (1842-1912). Composer.
Large music manuscript, a page of the full score of his opera Bacchus on 22 staves with a pasted-on strip.

£850 / $1360 / €1054 [No: 22251]

Longer description and imageMILL, John Stuart (1806-1873). Philosopher and political economist.
Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed correspondent, 2 pages 8vo (slight staining and wear, but in good condition), Blackheath Park, 28 January 1866.

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 20206]

Longer description and imageMONTGOMERY, James & MONTGOMERY, Robert (1771-1854) and (1807-1855). Poets.
Collection of 15 Autograph Letters Signed, 1 Letter Signed and 2 poems (1 partial) of James, 1792-1853 and 12 Autograph Letters Signed and one partial autograph poem from Robert, 1830-1853.

£2500 / $4000 / €3100 [No: 23046]

Longer description and image[NAPOLEON I] (1769-1821). Emperor of the French.
Autograph Letter Signed to Napoleon from his stepson 'Votre Respectueux et tendre fils et fidel sujet / Eugene Napoléon', 1 page folio, Monza, 18 July 1807.

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 21200]

Longer description and imageNEWMAN, John Henry (1801-1890). Cardinal. Leader of the Oxford movement.
Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Mr Lewin', 1 page 16mo, no place, 2 February no year [watermark 1851].

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 23670]

Longer description and imageOFFENBACH, Jacques (1819-1880). French composer.
Autograph music manuscript, 1 page 4to (oblong) on 14-stave music paper, no place, no date.

£585 / $936 / €725 [No: 23425]

Longer description and imagePUCCINI, Giacomo (1858-1924). Italian composer.
Autograph Letter Signed to A[ntonio] Bettolacci, his personal business agent, 1 page large 8vo on a letter-form with address on the reverse, Torre del Lago, 16 March 1909.

£850 / $1360 / €1054 [No: 23444]

Longer description and imageRACHMANINOFF, Sergei (1873-1943). Russian composer and pianist.
Photograph (head and shoulders), 233 x 180 mm. (9 x 7 inches), signed diagonally and inscribed to William E Chamberlain, dated 1934.

£1650 / $2640 / €2046 [No: 24357]

Longer description and imageRACHMANINOFF, Sergei (1873-1943). Russian composer and pianist.
Signed photograph with his wife who also signs, 280 x 300mm (11 x 12 inches) including mount (the corners a little rubbed), 1938.

£1350 / $2160 / €1674 [No: 24538]

Longer description and imageRAVEL, Maurice (1875-1937). French composer.
Typewritten Letter Signed to Henry Prunières (1886-1942, musicologist), 1 page large 4to (small rust stain), Le Belvedere, Montfort l'Amaury, 6 March 1924.

£725 / $1160 / €899 [No: 23446]

Longer description and imageROSSINI, Gioacchino (1792-1868). Composer.
Autograph Letter Signed to Fossin, 1 page 8vo with address-leaf on headed paper of the Théâtre Royal Italien, Paris, 25 November 1833.

£850 / $1360 / €1054 [No: 21796]

Longer description and imageROSSINI, Gioacchino (1792-1868). Composer.
Autograph Letter Signed to Marquise de Las Marismas in Paris, 1½ pages 4to with address-leaf in French, Bologna, 29 May 1842.

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 23279]

Longer description and imageSCHUMANN, Clara (1819-1896). Pianist. Wife of Robert Schumann.
Fine Autograph Letter Signed ('Deine Clara') to her son Ferdinand (1850-1888), 4 pages 8vo, Frankfurt, 3 July 1884. With a transcript and full translation.

£1200 / $1920 / €1488 [No: 23450]

Longer description and imageSCOTT, Sir Walter (1771-1832). Novelist & poet.
Autograph Letter Signed to J.N. Hughes in Maidstone, 1 page 4to with address-leaf, Abbotsford, 10 October [1827].

£650 / $1040 / €806 [No: 23105]

Longer description and imageSHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950). Playwright.
Autograph Letter Signed on both sides of a correspondence card to H[oward] G[regory] Graham, 29 October 1943.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 24104]

Longer description and imageSHAW, George Bernard (1856-1950). Playwright.
Autograph draft of a reply to Alfred Russel Wallace in connection with a dispute in the pages of The Clarion, 7 pages 4to in pencil, ca 1900.

£4250 / $6800 / €5270 [No: 24678]

Longer description and imageSHERMAN, William Tecumseh (1820-1891). American general.
Lengthy Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs Julia K. Fish, 4 pages 8vo, Headquarters, Army of the United States, Washington, 11 July 1870.

£625 / $1000 / €775 [No: 24302]

Longer description and imageSOUTHEY, Robert (1774-1843). Poet.
Autograph Letter Signed to John Willis at the Hare & Hounds, 1 page 8vo with address-leaf, 'Wednesday Evening', with an Autograph Poetical Manuscript , 4 pages 8vo.

£1500 / $2400 / €1860 [No: 23675]

Longer description and imageSTAMPA, George L. (1875-1951). Cartoonist.
Amusing series of 7 Autograph Letters Signed, 5 of them illustrated, 5 to Newall and 2 to Mrs Newall, 10 Hodford Road, Child's Hill and Shaftesbury House, Cheadle Hulme,

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 24080]

Longer description and imageSTEPHENSON, George (1781-1848). Civil engineer. Founder of railways.
Letter Signed ('Geo. Stephenson') to John Ellis, 2 pages 8vo (the signature running on to the third side), Tapton House, 10 July 1848.

£1500 / $2400 / €1860 [No: 22574]

Longer description and imageSTRAUSS, Richard (1864-1949). German conductor and composer.
Fine photograph, boldly signed in ink on the mount, overall 182 x 122 mm. (ca 7 x 5 inches), no date.

£550 / $880 / €682 [No: 24564]

Longer description and imageSULLIVAN, Sir Arthur (1842-1900). Composer.
Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs Moore, 1 page 8vo (blank leaf removed), 1 Queen's Mansions, Victoria Street, 'Saturday', no date.

£525 / $840 / €651 [No: 23452]

Longer description and imageVERDI, Giuseppe (1813-1901). Italian operatic composer.
Autograph Letter Signed to Doctor Ercolano Balestra in Parma, 1 page 8vo with integral facing address-leaf, Tabiano, 1 July 1858. With translation.

£1750 / $2800 / €2170 [No: 23596]

Longer description and imageWAGNER, Richard (1813-1883). Composer.
Autograph Letter Signed in characteristic purple ink to a friend, 1 page 8vo with integral blank, no date [perhaps from Leipzig, 12 May 1871]. With a translation.

£2250 / $3600 / €2790 [No: 22975]

Longer description and imageWAGNER, Richard (1813-1883). Composer.
Autograph Letter Signed to Herr Schott (the music publisher in Mainz), 1 page 8vo with integral blank, Karlsruhe, 2 February ('62' added in another hand).

£1850 / $2960 / €2294 [No: 23135]

Longer description and imageWEBER, Carl Maria von (1786-1826). Composer.
Autograph Doc.S, 1 page 4to (lower part a little browned), Prague, 3 June 1815.

£1350 / $2160 / €1674 [No: 23598]

Longer description and imageWOLF, Hugo (1860-1903). Austrian composer.
Good Autograph Letter Signed to his friend and staunch advocate the pianist Heinrich Potpeschnigg, on a correspondence-card, 7 October 1895.

£1350 / $2160 / €1674 [No: 23460]

Longer description and imageWORLD WAR I
Series of 10 telegrams on Messages and Signals army forms, from King George V, Queen Alexandra, Kitchener, Joffre, Haig, and the 'Indian Cavalry Corps'.

£750 / $1200 / €930 [No: 24003]

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