AUCTION OF EPHEMERA AND OTHER COLLECTIBLES
THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 2000 AT 1.00 p.m.
SALE 592
* = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by one star are subject to V.A.T. at 17·5%.
** = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by two stars are subject to V.A.T. at 5%.
PLEASE NOTE: All lots in this auction are subject to the Buyers’ Premium of 15%(plus VAT where appropriate) on their hammer prices.
ALL BIDS WILL BE TAKEN AS EXCLUSIVE OF THIS PREMIUM.
MISCELLANEOUS ACCUMULATIONS
1 CARTON with the extremely varied accumulation inc. an interesting range of KGIII period acts, deeds, early newspapers, cuttings from the ILN, three pages from the 1848 Art Journal with Charles Whiting "essays", etc. A particularly eclectic mix which warrants careful examination. (Qty.). */*** £150
2 MISCELLANY: Early letters & documents from the 16th-18th Centuries inc. an early 17th Century letters from Norfolk, naval material, Gibraltar letters of the 1780s, an 1807 Enclosure notice, 1687 Oxford will etc. A fascinating bundle. (Qty). */*** £150
3 MISCELLANY inc. A.V.Roe signed postcard, two others of RFC airships & biplanes, 1874 fine programme card for Rye Regatta, engraving c1840 of the Conway Tubular Railway Bridge, 1836 El Salvador declaration signed 'Escobar', various billheads etc. Mixed condition. */*** £50
4 MISCELLANY: 1855-1900 accumulation of prints etc. inc. fine coloured plate of Hoopoes, snow-bound coaching scene, pages from various illustrated papers inc. ILN double page spreads, The Graphic's panorama of the Bombardment of Alexandria (faults) etc. An interesting lot mainly in fine condition. (Qty.) **/*** £25
5 EXHIBITIONS - 20th century selection of odds and ends with much from Belgium, incl. Liege 1930 ticket, member's card, photos, etc mounted on card; Ghent 1913, three Stereo cards of the British Post Office exhibit; Antwerp 1930 pack of 12 photos, Brussels 1958 booklets (3), New Zealand Dunedin Expo. photo cards in Official Mailing Wallet, 1929 Barcelona book of picture postcards. Also some unused vignettes from Holland, Belgium, Germany (Pforzheim 1914), Milan (1906 Philatelic Expo.) plus a ticket & label for the International Milan Expo of the same year., etc. A most useful lot for the exhibition specialist. (48 items). £48
6 EXHIBITIONS: Publicity booklets for Leipzig 1914 (Books & Printing Expo.) & 1939, Barcelona 1929, Japan 1912 & 1970 **/*** £30
7 GREAT BRITAIN - 1830s -1900 large number of Victorian prints inc. pages from Punch, ILN & The Graphic also quantity of fine steel engravings of provincial towns removed from travel books etc. Generally fine to v.fine condition. Large quantity. *** £75
GREAT BRITAIN - 16TH & 17TH CENTURIES
8 PAYMENT ACCOUNTS FOR BRITISH FORCES IN HOLLAND, 1596: 4pp document listing amounts paid to different groups fighting in the Low Countries: ''officers of fflushinge'', ''horsebands'', ''footebandes'' etc. and signed by Sir Thomas Shirley, Sheriff of Sussex & Surrey. Some paper loss but text intact and fresh. Great historical interest. **/*** £100
9 1599 WEST RIDING PROPERTY MORTGAGE: Vellum indenture (305 x 190mm) transferring ownership of a farm & land at Little Harewood from Thomas Thorneley to Edward Gelybond; folds & repaired split otherwise fine & attractive. ** £50
10 DUTCH WARS - REFITTING THE 'SWIFTSURE': 1653 (9 Sept.) Letter from Thomas Scott, master attendant at Deptford dockyard, to the Commissioners for the Navy concerning the refitting of war-damaged frigates & prizes. No address panel; light foxing & staining etc. A scarce Commonwealth period naval letter. **/***- £120
11 FIRST POST OFFICE ACT: "AN ACT FOR SETTLING OF THE POSTAGE OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND" (1656-57) 'black letter' act, 8pp. 10"x 7" disbound but fine. Passed by the the Cromwellian parliament, confirming the state postal monopoly and fixing postage rates. One of the major documents of British postal history. Also included in this lot is "Handbok ofver Sveriges Frankotecken 1855-1915" (1915) a finely bound handbook of Swedish postal history. *** £400
12 CROMWELLIAN PROTECTORATE NAVAL DOCUMENTS: 1656-59 trio of letters apparently to the admiralty, inc. one written from the ''Downes'' discussing water supplies for ships, another written on board the 'Marmaduke' off Kinsale concerning a refit and the third appertaining to troops and weapons being ferried across the Channel for the garrison of Dunkirk. Edge faults but rare Commonwealth material. (3 items). ** £100
13 KENT: 1659-1703 Group of vellum leases etc. relating to Norrington, Shepherdswell & Faversham, two of which date from the Commonwealth period; mainly v.fine condition but one seal is broken. *** £75
14 WINDSOR CASTLE : 1664 acknowledgement of payment due to William Davis, locksmith, for work carried out at the Castle, signed by Lord Mordaunt, Constable of Windsor. Faults but an interesting Restoration item. */** £50
15 'THE LONDON GAZETTE' 1669-1701: 18 different single-sheet issues between 26 April 1669 - 9 Oct. 1701 (the last announcing a reward for the score of Purcell's 'Fairy Queen', lost after his recent death!); age-toned but complete. (18 items). **/*** £90
16 ''THE LONDON GAZETTE'' 1672-1810: 75 Issues, predominantly 17th Century, mostly single sheets with edge wear; slight duplication and ageing. Fascinating historical content. ** £150
17 SUFFOLK LOCAL HISTORY: HORHAM 'TYTHE-CHEESES', AUCTIONS AT BURSTALL & CHATTISHAM AND SALE OF THE BOTESDALE WORKHOUSE (1672-1875) four items: a) Arbitration award concerning the number and size of tythe-cheeses, payable by local farmers to the rector of Horham (1672), secretarial manuscript in attractive calligraphy, watermarked paper 15"x 12". b) Sale poster 22"x 18" listing 200 lots (1840), comprising the contents of the Chattisham farmhouse of the late John Norman. c) Conveyance of the Botesdale workhouse (1858), vellum manuscript 18"x 28", signed and sealed by three Guardians of the Poor. d) Sale poster 20"x 15" for four cottages, at the Half Moon Inn, Burstall (1875), on the reverse a manuscript receipt for the properties, signed across a fine copy of the large 6d 'Inland Revenue' adhesive stamp (S.G. F17). *** £100
18 TOLLERTON (Notts): 1682 Probate inventory on vellum (135 x 265mm) of property belonging to Thomas Peacock of Tollerton, inc. horses, livestock, books and two fowling pieces. Folds; slight nick away from text. **/*** £50
19 THE LONDON GAZETTE - 22-25 Feb. 1685 issue of the London Gazette (2pp) with the Kings financial news, maritime plus adverts including "The House of William Goddard of East Woodhay in the County of Southampton was on the 7th last broke open by several persons who came on horseback and took from thence in gold and silver near 1000 l (£1,000)" - obviously a very rich (and foolish) man! Plus 18 March 1773 issues of The Star (4pp broadsheet) with article from the GPO about an escaped felon who had previously been a letter carrier at Hungerford. (2)**/*** £30
20 INDENTURE - 1688 Indenture (approx. 14" x 12") between "Edward Marshall of Derby in the county of Derby Yeoman.." and "William Buxton....of Ashover" giving details of the lease of Smarcroft for 16 years. Very slight damage to centre on folds but a locally interesting early document. **/*** £30
21 TITUS OATES'S ''EIKON BASILIKA'' (1696) - his attack on King James II - 3rd ed. worn but complete in modern card cover; also a range of titles inc. books on Sun Fire Assurance, Lloyd's of London (2), Romano-British buildings (Ward, 1911) etc. Mainly fine. (12 items).**/*** £30
GREAT BRITAIN - 18TH CENTURY
22 DEEDS - CONGLETON AND ENVIRONS: Box of 18th & 19th Century deeds relating to the Congleton area. Mixed condition but fascinating reading. (28). */** £60
23 ORDER TO DELIVER A PACKET OF ORDERS TO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF (1702): Letter addressed to Sir Stafford Fairborne ordering him to send a ship to Plymouth to collect and deliver military instructions; signed by the Earl of Pembroke, Lord High Admiral & President of the Council. No postal markings. Folds/light staining. ** £50
24 CHARLES SPENCER, 3rd EARL OF SUNDERLAND, SECRETARY OF STATE AND GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER OF PRINCESS DIANA (1704) signature in ink on receipt 4"x 7" for £2000 duties on alcoholic beverages. For a time, he was the most powerful man in the kingdom but was disgraced in 1721 by allegations of bribery during the South Sea scandal. His grandson became the first Earl Spencer in 1765. *** £40
25 LEASES, BONDS & WILLS, 1706-1823, Selection of Derbyshire-related documents inc. leases on vellum (5), wills (4) and two bonds, most with embossed or printed revenue stamps. (11) */** £50
26 JACOBITE PLOT: 1708 (9 August) letter from the Jacobite Earl of Panmure at Edinburgh concerning the return of the Old Pretender and the anathema of the 1707 Act of Union, referring to other sympathisers in code. Filing endorsement 'Ld Panmuir to Mr Levingstoun'. Discoloured & folded but a scarce - and dangerous (!) - survivor of Jacobite plotting. * £80
27 LONDON TRADE CARDS: Unusual early (1709) small trade card of Edward Jones, brush-maker of London Bridge with detailed, dated receipt on reverse; fine. Also 1770 receipted card of Wm. Mitchell, Hosier of ''Chandois Street'', Covent Garden and 1787 card (faults) of John Fairchild & Son of London Bridge, house-painters, with elaborate arms and details of various services - reverse has a list of ''off-the-peg'' inn signs! (3 items). **/*** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £120
28 COLLECTION OF 18th CENTURY NEWSPAPERS, EACH WITH POSTAL HISTORY INTEREST (1712-1795) ten newspapers, comprising: a) six issues 1712-1726, of the London newspaper 'The Postboy', each 2pp. 14"x 8", headed by wood engraved vignette of a mounted postboy. b) 'The Caledonian Mercury' (24 Feb. 1746), published in Edinburgh during the Jacobite Rebellion, reporting on the pursuit of the rebel army and the establishment of "flying posts" for the despatch of letters to and from Cumberland's forces. c) 'The Whitehall Evening Post' (18 June 1759) containing official notice that the post office at Witham, Essex has moved to the George Inn. d) 'The Morning Chronicle' (1 Dec. 1786) containing prominent, front page notice of the extension of Palmer's mail coaches to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh with long list of post towns served. e) 'The London Chronicle' (13 June 1795) containing front page official notice, inviting tenders for the Milford Haven to Waterford daily packet boat service. *** £150
29 FIRST YEAR OF NEWSPAPER TAX STAMP: 1712 (11 Dec.) issue of ''The Evening Post'', trimmed for binding, with partial impression of red tax stamp, also 1840 copy of ''John Bull'' and ''ILN'' issues No.1 & 28 (1842 - both with tax stamps). (4 items). **/*** £30
30 WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE: HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING A CHARTER ESTABLISHING A PROTECTION SOCIETY (1713-1849) six documents with appropriate duty stamps: a) Conveyance of a pew in Saddleworth Church (1713) vellum manuscript 12"x 16". b) Conveyance of premises at Knight Stainforth (1760) vellum manuscript 25"x 32", headed by portrait of George III. c) Grant of the liberty of making a weir across the Woodbrook Stream at Saddleworth (1804) vellum manuscript 28"x 36". d) Charter establishing a Protection Society at Uppermill (1809) vellum manuscript 27"x 32", signed and sealed by its 31 members, listing rules for prosecuting those accused of stealing or damaging their property. e) Auction poster 19"x 12" for the sale of the White Hart Inn, Little Town, Birstall (1814). f) Phoenix Fire Insurance Policy for a corn mill at Birstall (1849) 23"x 15", headed by large engraved vignette of fire fighters. Most interesting collection. **/*** £150
31 SOUTH SEA COMPANY, 1715-55: Group of documents relating to the investment company incl. 1737 warrant from Whitehall signed by Walpole, 1721-22 group of receipts/authorisations with signatures of Grantham, Aylesford, Chandos, Harborough, Uxbridge etc., stamped subscription papers, trusteeship, dividend payments etc. A most interesting group. (20 items). **/*** £100
32 EARLY LONDON TRADE CARD - c1720 large (91/2''x 71/2'') Instrument Maker's trade card depicting a celestial globe and various navigational instruments - ''Navigation, Merchants Accounts and other practical parts of the Mathematicks taught by James Atkinson at Cherry Garden Staires Rotherhith. Young Gentlemen Boarded.'' Fine copper engraving. Corner crease otherwise fine. *** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £100
33 LONDON BEADLES' ADVERTISEMENTS: 1726-30 Rare group of 5 small cards advertising thefts and lost property inc. an extremely detailed list of property inc. much silverware, stolen from the Hertford Carrier, jewellery lost at Garraway's Coffee House, a gold snuff-box lost at Tunbridge Wells etc. Fine condition but each with a spike hole. Most unusual. (5 items). *** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £100
34 DUKE of SOMERSET - 1727 (17 Sept.) letter to the Lord Chancellor (?) written from Petworth, concerning the shuffling of appointments after the accession of George II and reminding him to consult the Duke concerning new JPs; mentions the removal from office of Sir John Fortescue - personally disliked by the new King. No address panel; folds. Fine example of autograph letter. *** £40
35 TRADE CARDS: 1729 unusual, early advertising sheet (51/2''x 61/2'') of John Ball, chair-maker of the Minories, London with dated receipt on reverse ''Recd Nov ye 11 1729 of Cpt John Clark the sum of eleven shillings in full for one Elbow Chaire...''; faults. Also small (31/2'' x 21/2'') card c1760 of Nathaniel Frith, sword cutler, hat & stocking manufacturer of Piccadilly and c1840 (51/2'' x 91/2'') elaborate advert depicting Royal Arms, scrolls & cherubs etc. of I. Slater, engraver & printer of Manchester. Attractive. (3 items). **/*** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £90
36 DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE ESTATE OF WEALTHY WIDOW, SARAH MARSHALL OF TYLER STREET, HITCHIN, HERTFORDSHIRE, INCLUDING A LEGACY OF £5 FOR THE POOR OF THE PARISH (1729-1755) three manuscripts: a) Bequest signed and sealed by her husband, Nicholas "in Consideration of the Love and Affection which I bare unto my Wife", 7 Sept. 1729., with impressed duty stamps. b) Last will and testament, signed and sealed by Sarah, 11 Jan. 1745. c) "An Account of Mrs Marshall's effects, found in her House", 1755. *** £40
37 AMBASSADOR'S EXPENSE ACCOUNT: 1734 Six months' expense account of Charles Fane, HM Ambassador to Florence listing travelling expenses, postage costs etc. Folds. Unusual. **/*** £50
38 MISCELLANY : 1734 Sewn 36pp booklet (5''x 31/2'') listing Peers & Bishops, 1815 RN Commission to a Lieutenancy on HM sloop ''Falcon'', 1926 General Strike edition of The Times, 1935 ''Chemins de Fer Prince Henri'' poster timetable (torn), c1905British Electric Traction Co. agreements in original envelopes. (10) */** £30
39 SIBFORD GOWER (Oxon.) 1736/73 Pair of large vellum deeds relating to property in the village, complete with seals & tax stamps. Folded & a little dusty. *** £30
40 BIRTSMORTON COURT (Worcs.): 1738 (20 Dec.) letter to the Earl of Bellomont from his steward with Estate news; faint 'TEWKES/BURY' h.s. & Bishop Mark on reverse. Mainly fine. *** £40
41 COLLECTION OF REFERENCE BOOKS, CONTAINING POSTAL INFORMATION, EX WILLCOCKS LIBRARY (1741-1925) four volumes: a) "The Universal Pocket Companion" (1741) 241pp. including 8pp. postal information and 21pp. list of stage coaches and carriers. b) "The Royal Kalendar; or Complete and Correct Annual Register for England, Scotland, Ireland & America" (1777) 272pp. including 12pp. postal information. c) "The British Almanac & Companion" (1835) 96pp. & 263pp. including 7pp. of postal information and list of mail coaches. d) "Post Office Guide" (July 1925) 760pp. including complete list of post offices. The two earlier volumes need re-binding. £100
42 "THE OPERATIONS OF THE BRITISH AND THE ALLIED ARMS DURING THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1743 AND 1744" (54pp disbound) by an "eye witness". A little toning otherwise good. **/*** £30
43 CHELSEA HOSPITAL: Pair of copperplate engravings of the South & North Fronts, c 1750 (205 x 120mm). Fine and attractive. **/*** £20
44 JOHN MURRAY M.D. OF NORWICH & SHIP'S SURGEON ON H.M.S. 'CONQUEROR': MANUSCRIPT VOLUME CONTAINING DETAILED DAY-BY-DAY METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS ACCOMPANIED BY INTERMITTENT MONTHLY, MEDICAL OBSERVATIONS ON DISEASES LOCALLY (1751-1753, 1758-1759) comprising 54pp. of text 12"x 9". The good doctor was interested in the relationship between weather conditions and the prevalence of different diseases. In the entries for March & April 1752 he records the growth of small pox in Norwich and the consequent death of his own apprentice, John Spooner. The entries for 1758-1759 describe his treatment of the ship's crew on board H.M.S. 'Conqueror'. At a later date (1785-1808), his lawyer son Charles Murray, utilised some 280pp. of the same volume to record the text of many legal agreements which he compiled and notes on cases in which he was involved, concerning a wide variety of subjects. The volume is prefaced with a ms. note by John Murray's great grandson, concerning a fire in Clement's Inn, which resulted in some marginal damp staining. A most interesting, if somewhat worn volume. ** £200
45 SAMUEL SHARP: "A TREATISE ON THE OPERATIONS OF SURGERY, WITH A DESCRIPTION AND REPRESENTATION OF THE INSTRUMENTS USED IN PERFORMING THEM" (6th edn. 1751) lii, 236pp. 8"x 5" contemporary calf. Including 16 full-page, copper engraved plates depicting a wide variety of surgical instruments. An attractive, classic textbook of 18th century surgery by the surgeon to Guy's Hospital. One plate with slight ink smudge. ** £100
46 ADMIRAL BYNG - COURT MARTIAL: (Later) report of the Court Martial held on board the ''St George'' in 1756-57, inc. Admiral Forbes' refusal to sign the death warrant; six folio pages, filing creases. **/*** £40
47 'THE LONDON CHRONICLE': VOLUMES V AND VI (2 Jan. - 29 Dec. 1759) approximately 140 of the 155 issues of the thrice-weekly, evening newspaper bound together, marbled boards loose (the missing issues either never bound-in or neatly removed). Each issue 8pp. 11"x 8". Full of news and comment on national and overseas affairs. Particular features noted, include the 7-Years War in Europe and North America, the opening of the British Museum to the public, the arrival of General Wolfe's body at Portsmouth, the creation of militias to prepare for French invasion, etc., etc. Some dustiness and staining of individual issues with occasional frayed margin. ** £150
48 BRITISH NAVAL VICTORIES OVER THE FRENCH, IN LAGOS BAY, PORTUGAL AND IN QUIBERON BAY, BRITTANY (1759) detailed official despatches in complete issues of two newspapers: a) 'The London Gazette', single sheet 'Extraordinary' issue of 7 Sept. 1759, reporting the victory of Admiral Boscawen in Lagos Bay on 17-18 Aug. 1759, with list of wounded and killed. b) 'The London Chronicle', issue of 1 Dec. 1759, containing detailed official despatch from Admiral Hawke, reporting his victory in Quiberon Bay on 20 Nov. 1759. The two major defeats forced the French to abandon their plans for an invasion of Britain. **/*** £40
49 TURNPIKE ROADS & HIGHWAYS COLLECTION (1760-1868) five documents: a) Stockton, Darlington, Winstone & Barnard Castle Turnpike Trust (1760) mortgage of tolls signed by the trustees, manuscript vellum 21"x 28". b) Frankle (Stourbridge) & Northfield (Birmingham) Turnpike Trust (1771) mortgage of tolls signed by the trustees, manuscript vellum 20"x 29". c) Order of the Carnarvon Quarter Sessions authorising repair of Saint Bridge in Llanbeblig (1782), printed document with ms. inserts 13"x 8". d) Chadderton & Featherstall Turnpike Trust (1825) mortgage of the tolls signed by the trustees, manuscript vellum 26"x 31". e) Glamorganshire County Roads Boards (1868), printed poster 18"x 11" announcing the auction of the proceeds of the county's toll gates. *** £60
50 HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS (1761-1824) & FIRE-FIGHTING EPHEMERA (1902-1941) five complete newspapers: 'Edinburgh Evening Courant' (1761) the capture of Belle Isle; ''The General Advertiser' (1786) detailed notice on new mail coaches; 'The London Packet' (1814) Anglo-American War; 'The Sun' (1815) participant's a/c of battle of Waterloo; 'The Northampton Mercury' (1824) prevalence of cholera in London. Also included are 8 items of ephemera relating to fire-fighting. **/*** £40
51 CLERKENWELL BRIDEWELL: 1765 letter from the Earl of Northumberland to the Board of Justices at Hicks' Hall regarding the appointment of a Keeper. Folded; some dust marks on reverse; no address panel. Fine signature.** £40
52 CONTROL AND ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE, EMPLOYMENT OF BOY CHIMNEY SWEEPS. RELIEF OF THE POOR, ETC. (1766-1897) selection of 26 printed reports, acts, notices and miscellaneous ephemera. **/*** £40
53 LONDON TRADE CARD: 1767 Large (71/2''x 10'') elaborate trade card of Beckett and Bland ''Sword Cutlers & Belt Makers To His Majesty'' of St James' Street; fine baroque frame, Royal Arms, cannon etc. Reverse has receipted bill to the Hon. Augustus Hervey for several belts, scabbards and work on two swords. Faults but unusual and most attractive. **/*** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £100
54 WALPOLE, HORATIO: 1767 certification that Lady Rich was living in the parish of St George, Hanover Square; signed by the rector & two churchwardens, one of whom was Horatio, Baron Walpole. Toning. **/*** £24
55 EXPENSE ACCOUNT: 1769 Itemised account from Sir James Wright, British Resident at Venice 1766-74, inc. postage costs etc. Endorsed for payment by Viscount Weymouth. Faults. ** £50
56 FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF GLASGOW: 1769 hand-coloured certificate (10''x 10'')printed on parchment with a hand-written inscription investing Silvester Douglas as ''Burges and Gild brother'' of Glasgow; similar, elaborate City Arms on the reverse. Filing creases and surface dust to exterior. Unusual and attractive. ** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £40
57 LONDON TRADE CARD: 1770 card (6''x 9'') with design of an ornate roccoco scrolled frame for ''Jn. Deards, Toyman'' of Dover St., Piccadilly, dealing in jewellery, plate, ''Fine Toys'' etc. Reverse bears receipt for repairs to gold chain and toothpick case belonging to the Earl of Bristol. Two corners torn. Most unusual. **/*** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £80
58 WORKHOUSE & POOR RELIEF: 1775 Act of Parliament concerning Poor Relief and the building of a Workhouse at Shoreditch (14pp). Fine. *** £30
59 MARINE INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE VESSEL "GENERAL DALLING", SAILING FROM THE CLYDE TO JAMAICA, VIA TRANSATLANTIC CONVOY, DURING THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (13 Dec. 1781) printed document 17"x 13" with details in manuscript, signed by 12 Glasgow brokers. Impressed duty stamps. Part of one fold neatly reinforced with archival tissue on the reverse. The vessel, under the command of Captain Hartwell, was sailing via Cork, where it proposed to join a transatlantic convoy, as a safeguard against American and French privateers. Provisional peace terms with America were not agreed until Nov. 1782. ** £60
60 COL. ROBERT ABERCROMBY (1740-1827): 1784 Power of Attorney appointing as agent 'James Duff of Madeira Jamaica Coffee House, London'; printed paper tax stamp & two embossed revenue stamps. [Col. Abercromby had a distinguished military career, having returned recently from America to become aide-de-camp to King George]. *** £20
61 DERBY TO BURTON TURNPIKE ROAD: SUMMONS FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF STATUTE LABOUR FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE HIGHWAYS, ISSUED BY PARISH SURVEYORS (1786-1797) three examples, each approx. 4"x 6", printed with manuscript inserts, signed by the surveyors of Eggington, Littleover and Willington, respectively. *** £60
62 NEWSPAPERS 1787-1832: An interesting group inc. 'The Bath Chronicle' (1787), 'Kentish Gazette' (1791), 'The Evening Mail' (1801), 'The London Chronicle' (1801) & 'The Scots Times' (1832). Also a modern (c1950s?) 4pp 'newspaper' with extracts 1934-45 showing Hitler's rise to power. All in fine condition. (6 items). *** £50
63 VELLUM DEED 1788: Unusual, large three-sheet deed of an agreement between a Lombard Street banker and a Worcester woollen draper, complete with three blue revenue stamps with labels intact, an original 18th Century hand-made pin holding the pages together and an unusual advertisement for the stationer who copied the deed! Discoloration to the outside panel. ** £40
64 COUNTY DURHAM - 1788/91 Apprenticeship indentures concerning two young boys apprenticed to a file-cutter at Ryton. Both dusty with splitting etc. */** £25
65 MACCLESFIELD: 1788 Large vellum lease concerning property in Macclesfield, sealed & signed by Earl Cholmondeley; also a 1799 lease relating to Great Sanghall (Cheshire) with four blue tax stamps & a 'D.9d' h.s. **/*** £20
66 COACHES: 1788 Itemised account for repairs to a one horse chaise 'broke by an overturn' paid at Canongate; also a 1795 letter from Viscount Courtenay of Powderham Castle to his coachmaker, Leader of Leather Lane, London, regarding the design of a new landau and the sale of older coaches. Unusual. *** £20
67 SUMMONSES, WARRANTS ETC. 1696-1852 inc. 1696 printed release of prisoner (Surrey), 1748 letter letter from a debtor in the Marshalsea, small group of court documents from Somerset inc. the summons of a Mr Badman (!) to Bridgwater county court (1795) and two Assize jury lists from Devon (1794) & Cumberland (1852). Mixed condition. £80
68 SCOTLAND: 1789 Act of Parliament for the repair of roads in Perth with much concerning the erection of turnpikes, tolls, traffic etc.; foolscap 30pp disbound and stapled. Fine. *** £20
69 BRISTOL TO LONDON MAIL COACH TIME BILL (c.1790) printed document 15"x 9", headed by royal arms and issued in the name of Charles Bonnor, deputy to John Palmer. Detailing the itinerary and contractors for the 125 miles route, scheduled to take 15 hours. Travelling from the Bristol post office via Bath, Calne, Marlbro', Thatcham, Colnbrook and Brentford, to the G.P.O. London. Unused. *** £100
70 LONDON TO EXETER MAIL COACH TIME BILL (c.1790) printed document 15"x 9", headed by royal arms and issued in the name of Charles Bonnor, deputy to John Palmer. Detailing the itinerary and contractors for the 179 miles route, scheduled to take 25 hours. Travelling from the G.P.O. London via Staines, Bagshot, Basingstoke, Overton, Salisbury, Woodyeats, Blandford, Dorchester, Axminster and Honiton, to Exeter post office. Unused. *** £100
71 LONDON TO SHREWSBURY MAIL COACH TIME BILL (c.1790) printed document 15"x 9", headed by royal arms and issued in the name of Charles Bonnor, deputy to John Palmer. Detailing the itinerary and contractors for the 1651/2 miles route, scheduled to take 23 hours 34 minutes. Travelling from the G.P.O. London via Beaconsfield, Tetworth, Oxford, Shipton, Stratford on Avon, Hockley Heath, Birmingham and Sheffnal, to Shrewsbury post office. Unused. *** £100
72 BIRMINGHAM TO BRISTOL MAIL COACH TIME BILL (c.1790) printed document 15"x 9", headed by royal arms and issued in the name of Charles Bonnor, deputy to John Palmer. Detailing the itinerary and contractors for the 88 miles route, scheduled to take 12 hours 53 minutes. Travelling from the Birmingham post office via Bromsgrove, Worcester, Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Newport, to the Bristol post office. Unused. *** PHOTO - see plate no. 1 £100
73 THE DAILY JOURNAL: 1790 ''The Daily Journal or the Gentleman's, Merchant's and Tradesman's complete Annual Accompt Book for the Pocket or Desk'' - an early printed diary (61/2'' x 4'') kept by a farmer at Knightcote, Warwickshire. Lists Mail Coaches, Coffee Houses etc. ** £40
74 POST OFFICE ACTS - 1793 and 1838 original volumes in full leather bindings. 1793 (281pp + index) A Collection of the Statutes relating to the Post Office printed by Eyre and Strathan, printers to the King. 1838 (312pp + large index) Acts of Parliament relating to the Post Office, from 9 Anne to 1 Victoria. (2 vols.)**/*** £100
75 TRIAL AND SENTENCE OF DEATH ON LOUIS XIV, AND TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF MARIE ANTOINETTE (1793) extensive reports in the issues of the London newspaper "Lloyd's Evening Post", for 23 Jan. 1793 and 25 Oct. 1793 respectively. On 17 Jan. 1793, the National Convention voted for the execution of Louis XIV and he was guillotined 4 days later. Marie Antoinette was executed on 16 Oct. 1793. Historic newspapers, each 8pp. 12"x 9". The issue reporting on Marie Antoinette is roughly opened along the top margin. ** £100
76 'BOWLES'S NEW TWO SHEET PLAN OF LONDON' (1793) in worn case - sectional, linen-backed map, beginning to separate along some folds. Also 'Langley & Belch's New Map of London' (c1805) in worn case - attractive colour map with 24 vignette views. Included with them is a modern reproduction of a map of London Receiving Houses c1810. (3) ** £40
77 'THE MORNING CHRONICLE" (28 Nov. 1793) with reports on the situation in France, the readiness of the British Navy for war, outbreak of yellow fever in Philadelphia etc.; 'The London Evening Post' (28 Dec.1797 & 21 April 1798) with reports from France and the USA, war news etc. Also two copies of 'Cobbett's Political Register' (Jan. 1809) each with 16pp of news & comment on the Napoleonic War. Some wear but mainly fine. **/*** £30
78 LORD NELSON - 1794-1803 Group of documents & letters relating to Nelson inc. a contemporary (6pp) translation of the award of the Dukedom of Brontë, letters (2) re the division of prize money from the sale of captured French goods etc. One letter is to a later Lord Nelson (1822). Interesting and scarce. (7 items). **/*** £100
79 PRINTED HANDBILLS ISSUED IN THE NAME OF "JOHN GRANT, JOURNEYMAN WEAVER" OF EDINBURGH, MAKING EXTRAORDINARY ACCUSATIONS AGAINST DAVID HUME, NOTED JUDGE & JUDICIAL AUTHOR (1794) two different examples: a) Handbill 9"x 8" dated 11 July 1794, in the form of an appeal to the Magistrates of Edinburgh, accusing Hume of a variety of pernicious actions over 26 years. On the reverse is pasted an autograph signed letter from Grant, to Dr. Cleghorn, complaining that Hume was obstructing his admission to the Glasgow Infirmary. b) Handbill 71/2"x 6" dated 12 Nov. 1794, in the form of an open letter to the Rt. Hon. Charles Townsend, London, accusing Hume of, "seeking to destroy my life with impunity". Also an attractive, colour embossed "Proprietors Ticket" 5"x 31/2" issued in 1842 to Robert Cleghorn M.D. by the Royal Botanic Institution of Glasgow. *** £60
80 ''THE LONDON EVENING POST'' 1795-98: Thirty-nine copies, all with 1/2d or 11/2d tax stamps; some fascinating articles. Mostly in fine condition. **/*** £120
81 REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERING THE AGREEMENT WITH MR PALMER - 1797 Report by the Committee "Who were appointed to consider the AGREEMENT made with Mr Palmer, for the Reform and Improvement of the Post Office, and its Revenue; &c. &c". 260pp in quarter leather binding with 6 fold out Tables detailing Accounts, Productivity, Officers etc. Evidence was given by Mr Palmer, "...I demanded for my Life Two and a Half per Cent on the future increased Revenue of the Post Office beyond the present Net Profits,..."! Witnesses for the Post-Office included the joint Postmasters General, the Earl of Chesterfield and Lord Walshingham. *** £150
82 MR PALMER AND THE GOVERNMENT - 1797 (86pp) in original tooled leather binding (slightly damaged), the "Papers relative to the Agreement made by Government with Mr. Palmer for the Reform and Improvement of the Posts". Palmer's detailed appeal "To the Public", "The Memorial" etc. supporting his case for recompense from the Government due for his improvements to the Post Office. **/*** £150
83 "REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE WHO WERE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER OF THE AGREEMENT MADE WITH MR. PALMER FOR THE REFORM AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE POST-OFFICE AND ITS REVENUE" (1797, re-printed 1807) 168pp. 13"x 8", printed by order of Parliament. Plus, "Debates in both Houses of Parliament in the Months of May and June 1808, relative to the Agreement made by Government with Mr. Palmer, for the Reform & Improvement of the Post Office & its Revenue" (1809) 130pp., plus 38pp. appendix of documents, 8"x 5", compiled by the publisher of Cobbett's Parliamentary Debates. Both publications are a mine of information on Palmer's reforms and the dispute over his demand for compensation. (Ex Willcocks). *** £100
84 "HEALTH RESTORED TO THE SICK AND AFFLICTED, BY DRINKING THE WATERS OF BATTLE BRIDGE WELLS, COMMONLY CALLED SAINT CHAD'S": ADVERTISING HANDBILL FOR THE MEDICINAL WATERS OCCURRING NEAR THE SITE OF TODAY'S KING'S CROSS STATION (1797) letter-press printed 10"x 7" by Sabine & Son, Shoe Lane, London. Interesting content including recommendation by A.G. Sinclair M.D., concerning the waters efficacy in curing rheumatism, venereal complaints, seminal weaknesses, etc. On the reverse is a neat manuscript note by the recipient, concerning a visit to the wells on 31 Jan. 1802. Small piece torn from lower corner, not affecting the text, otherwise *** £100
85 INLAND LETTER-CARRIERS - 1797 (134pp) "A List of the several Divisions and Districts of the Inland Letter-Carriers, showing the order in which each District is served, and intended to facilitate the More Correct Sorting of Letters, also to enable any Officer to set the Letters on a Strange Walk, agreeable to a Survey taken in the year 1776". Leather bound (front cover separated); a fascinating and historically important Postal publication. **/*** £75
86 SUSPENSION OF BANK OF ENGLAND CASH PAYMENTS & INTRODUCTION OF £1 & £2 BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES (1797) "Report of the Lords' Committee of Secrecy" of 1797, ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, 6th Feb. 1810, 151pp. 13"x 8". In Feb. 1797 the Bank of England was on the brink of bankruptcy, precipitated by the threat of invasion and the run on gold. The secret committee appointed to investigate the suspension of payments in gold, pointed clearly to the need for a great increase in the issue of Bank of England notes and the introduction of smaller denominations. An important report not made public until 13 years later. *** £60
87 INSURANCE RATE BOOK: A quarter leather bound (approx. 32cmx20cm, cover faults) "RATES OF INSURANCE" book dated June 24, 1798. 48pp giving guidance to the Insurance premiums etc. of the day. A scarce record. Also 23 additional 19th century policies/receipts, etc. **/*** £70
88 1799-1800 Acts of Parliament (Military) concerning raising Volunteer Corps & Militia, amalgamation with Regular Army, allowances etc. Disbound. (15). *** £65
1-88 89-160 161-240 241-320 321-398 399-480 481-569 570-651
652-722 723-811 812-895 896-966 967-1038 1039-1103 1104-1174 INDEX