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A rare silver and enamel vesta case formed as a book, the enamel plaque with hand painted with the form of the front cover of a book entitled "Crosby Fun" with advertising, the hallmarks rubbed but the engraved dedication dated 1889 and believed to be of that period, 40mm x 30mmProvenenace - a similar example by B.H. Joseph sold at Bonhams Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu sale on 19th July 2005 for £660

BANKSY - Complete Black Books Series - Set of all three volumes included in Banksy's "black books" series, accompanied by a copy of Marc Leverton's "Banksy Myths & Legends".Banksy self-published the black books between 2001 and 2002. Each book features his stencil art, quotes, public images, and personal commentary, providing a rare chance for close interaction with the artist.Existencilism has a page count of 58, with its title a play on words with existential, the type of themes the book explores, and stencil, the artistic technique Banksy employs in this exploration.Cut It Out has 76 pages and showcases Banksy's works that, like the book's title, forthrightly challenge the status quo.As the title implies, Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall, with a page count of 50, focuses on the frustrations caused by society and its structures. Myths & Legends is 92 pages long.As Banksy remains famously incognito, these books, as well as the works they cover, offer the most vivid insights into the personal views and philosophy of this globally famous artist.The books are adhered to a piece of card for display purposes.Existencilism has four pages that have fallen out but remain with the book, while Cut It Out has one loose page.Dimensions: 42.5 cm x 32 cm x 1 cm (16.75" x 12.5" x 0.5")About the Artist:Arguably the most famous individual in street art, Banksy is an anonymous British artist whose work has gained international fame. Not only does his art spark frequent conversations, but the artist's identity remains a subject of speculation. He is predominantly known for commenting on social and political issues, with dark humour usually incorporated. Banksy's iconic street art is often achieved using spray paint and stencils, but he also has used other mediums, including creating his own currency and modifying street signs.VAT Status: † ARR

1951 Sunbeam-Talbot 90 ConvertibleRegistration number PPA 690Chassis number A3000365HCOEEngine number A3000365HCOAGreen with a red interiorUnderstood to have been restored some 20 years agoHistory filesA rare surviving 90 ConvertibleFrom the owner: rear wheel covers, old wheel hubs and tonneau cover are in boot, and two very extensive history files are on back seat, almost full history from day 1, along with old buff log book.  Also has had a brand new battery fitted only this week.

Erotica.- Flagellation.- Meibom (Johann Heinrich) A Treatise on the use of flogging in venereal affairs: also of the office of the loins and reins, engraved frontispiece, lower margin of title trimmed away, final leaf with short tear within text and remains of previous blue paper binding verso, with loss of a few letters, but no loss of sense, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, modern marbled wrappers, small 8vo, Henry Smith [i.e. William Dugdale], 37, Holywell Street, [c.1850].  *** Rare. The book collector and bibliographer Henry Spencer Ashbee described the publisher Dugdale (1800-1868) as 'one of the most prolific publishers of filthy books'. He was one of the main targets of the Obscene Publications Act of 1857. Yet, despite numerous police raids on his shops and spending many years in prison, he remained in the book trade for over forty years.

First Edition of "The Defence of London, 1915–1918" by A. Rawlinson published by Andrew Melrose, London, 1923.This book is a compelling first-hand account detailing the organisation and execution of London's aerial defences during the First World War. Written by Brigadier-General A. Rawlinson, who played a key role in the city’s anti-aircraft operations, this volume offers a rare contemporary perspective on Britain's response to German Zeppelin and aircraft raids. An important source for military historians and collectors of WWI aviation literature. / AN32

Four Great Classic Real Tennis Books: de Garsault: THE ART OF THE TENNIS-RACKET-MAKER AND OF TENNIS; this is the first English language translation, in small 4to red hard boards with 45 pages plus 5 engravings. Printed in 1938 specially for the Royal Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace in a print run of 200 copies, of which the first 150 were reserved for the RTC members; this is No 185. The book was translated by Catherine W Leftwich; contains original tissue guard. de Garsault; THE ART OF THE TENNIS-RACKET-MAKER AND OF TENNIS; USA edition of 1977 in small 4to red hard boards with 45 pages and 5 plates, in a red card slip-case; in a print run of 750 numbered copies; the book is dedicated to the International Lawn Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum. This is a near facsimile of the 1938 edition above. Danzig, Allison; THE RACQUET GAME; 1ST edition of 1930 in small 8vo hard boards with 283 pages, and the fold-out plate at page 53. Danzig was a notable sports journalist of the period and an expert in the racket sports as played mostly in the USA. He discusses Court Tennis, Racquets, Squash Racquets, and Squash Tennis, this latter game is virtually unknown in the UK, though it was played at Moreton Morrell. Lonsdale Library volume 16; RACKETS, SQUASH-RACKETS, TENNIS, FIVES AND BADMINTON; Lord Aberdare (editor); 1933; London; Seeley Service; in large 8vo hardboards and photographically decorated dust-wrapper and with 328 pages. This superb racket sports history succeeded the Badminton Library volume of 1890. Each sport is covered as to history, technique and rules of play, and has a very rare offering on Fives. (4)Provenance: This lot is part of Mr Alan Chalmers Collection.

A Rare 1822 Bound Volume; The General Short-Horned Herd-Book: Containing the Pedigrees of the Short-Horned Bulls, Cows & C. of the Improved Durham Breed from the Earlier Account to the Year 1822 by George Coates. Otley: Printed by W. Walker at the Wharfdale Stanhope Press, Top of the Marketplace. (Condition Not Perfect with Binding Issues also Foxing and Loss to Pages Edges)

A rare novely hip flask in the form of a book, presented to the members of the cast (14) on the opening night of Noel Coward’s operetta Bittersweet at His Majesty's Theatre - 18th July 1929, of course construction with leather cover and gilt tooled inscriptions.

Book 'Collection de Costumes de tous les ordres monastiques suppressed à différentes époques dans la ci-devant Belgique' rare edition (1er cahier) from the late 18th or early 19th century, printed in Brussels by Joseph Maillartet Soeur, consisting of an illustrated collection of clothing and vestments of suppressed monastic orders in the former Belgian provincesBoek 'Collection de Costumes de tous les ordres monastiques supprimés à différentes époques dans la ci-devant Belgique' zeldzame uitgave (1er cahier) uit de late 18e of vroege 19e eeuw, gedrukt te Bruxelles door Joseph Maillartet Soeur, bestaande uit een geïllustreerde verzameling van kleding en gewaden van opgeheven kloosterordes in de voormalige Belgische provincies22 x 17.5 cm

Two Rare 1930's Quality Control Booklets from Alcon Printers, containing a collection of sweet and chocolate foils (1932-1935) to include: Terry's Chocolate Orange, Cherry, Lemon, Strawberry, Apple, Shuttleworth - Humpty Dumpty, Fry's - Red Riding Hood, Pixie, Marshmallow, Turkish Delight, Duke and Rabbit, Fish, Duck and Chick, Tom Smith Christmas wrapping paper, Duncan's - Starwberry, Orange Rum, Cadbury's, etc and a miniature book 'Coriolanus' by William Shakespeare. (3)

Meccano Circa 1929 Special Inventors Outfit, rare example that has been re-strung, complete with original backing card, price label and box, together with 1929 Book of New Models and Joys of Inventing Leaflet,

William of Orange.- Whittel (John) Constantinus Redivivus: or, A Full Account of the Wonderful Providences, and Unparallell'd Successes...of the Heroical Prince, William the 3rd, Now King of Great Britain, &c, first edition, imprimatur f. (upper outer corner torn away and repaired), bookplate of Swansea Training College, ownership inscription "Job Lousley's Book, Hampstead Norris, Berks 1844" to title and rear pastedown, few marginal stains, scattered foxing and browning, contemporary mottled calf, rebacked, corners quite worn, covers rubbed, [Wing W2040], 8vo, Printed, and sold by Tho. Harbin, 1693.  *** Rare at auction, we cannot trace a copy since 1983. 

Vermin.- "W.W.". The Vermin-Killer. Being A very necessary Family-Book, containing Exact Rules and Directions for the Artificial killing and destroying of all manner of Vermin, &c, first edition, lacking 2 blank ff. at end, trimmed close at head affecting some headlines, bound slightly tight with letters very occasionally just disappearing into gutter, some light spotting, lightly browned, modern antique-style speckled calf, [Westwood & Satchell, p. 215; Wing W155], 12mo, for Samuel Lee, 1680. *** Rare, with only a few copies recorded at auction. There is a curious typesetting omission affecting leaf B9: text on B9v begins with the heading "Another" whereas the catchword on B9r is "toge-". Presumably, the verso text should have read "ther, approved". 

Shakespeare, Bacon inter alia.- Wither (George) The Great Assises Holden in Parnassus by Apollo and his Assessours, first edition, title with typocraphic border (soiled), some ink underlining and notes probably by a 'Baconian', modern green morocco, gilt, by Riviere, t.e.g., others uncut, preserved in cloth chemise, [Wing W3160; Grolier 1048], 4to, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Edward Husbands, 1645.*** A very good copy of this rare work which seldom appears at auction. Includes mention of several important early English writers. In the work the newspapers are arraigned and condemned before Apollo and a jury. Wither is foreman and other jurors include Shakespeare, Beaumont, Fletcher, Haywood, Davenant and Massinger; the judges include Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Philip Sidney, Erasmus, Selden, Grotius and Barclay; Ben Jonson is the jailer and Edmund Spencer the clerk. Provenance: John L. Clawson (morocco book label); E.M. Cox (bookplate); Kenneth Rapoport (bookplate).

TWELVE OTTOMAN AND PERSIAN LEATHER MANUSCRIPT BINDINGS WITH GILT, TOOLED AND EMBOSSED DESIGNS Ottoman Turkey and Provinces, and Iran, 17th to 19th centuryA rare and impressive group of twelve Ottoman and Persian morocco and calf leather bindings, each cover richly decorated and occasionally painted in polychromes, featuring tooled, stamped and embossed geometric and arabesque motifs, some with intricate floral patterns, central medallions and corner-pieces, most with characteristic envelope flaps, several incorporating marbled endpapers, a traditional hallmark of Ottoman bookbinding, the vibrant crimson and deep ochre tones highlighting the luxury materials and the refined skills of Islamic master bookbinders.The largest 33.3cm x 24cm, the smallest 21cm x 15cm Ottoman bookbinding developed as a distinct art form from the 15th century, blending Persian and Islamic influences with unique Turkish styles. Craftsmen employed complex techniques, including gilding, burnishing, delicate tooling, and sometimes lacquering, to create covers that were both protective and highly decorative. The use of envelope flaps is a distinctive feature of Islamic bookbinding, serving to protect the manuscript edges. Bindings such as these would have been commissioned for Qur’ans, poetry, and scholarly works, underscoring the owner’s wealth and cultural refinement. The survival of a matched group in such variety and quality is unusual, illustrating the evolution and breadth of the Islamic decorative arts of the book in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The largest 33.3cm x 24cm, the smallest 21cm x 15cm Qty: 12

A RARE BOW TEAPOT AND COVER, CIRCA 1752-56. of compressed globular form, painted in bright underglaze blue with an anglicised pattern of Eastern derivation, the gently domed cover similarly decorated, incised X mark to underside, 13cm high and 16cm wide (2) Footnote: See similar example in the Frank Tilley F.R.S.A Teapots & Tea book, plate XXI no.68,m from AT Morley Hewitt collection. CR* Generally very good condition, minor knicks to the spout, hairline to rim, no restoration.

Harris (John, publisher). The Prettiest Book for Children; Being The History of the Enchanted Castle; Situated in one of the Fortunate Isles, and Governed by the Giant Instruction. Written for the Entertaining of Little Masters and Misses, By Don Stephano Bunyano, Under-Secretary to the aforesaid Giant, London: Printed [by E. Hemsted] for J. Harris, (Sucsessor to E. Newbery) the Corner of St. Paul's Church-yard, circa 1799, 122 pp., wood-engraved frontispiece, full page plate and 14 in-text illustrations, 1 leaf of publisher's advertisements at end, laid down to rear pastedown (without the following 2 leaves of advertisements called for), contemporary ownership inscription 'Margaret Meux 1799' to top of title, minor hole with tiny loss to text to B leaf, original Dutch floral paper wrappers, light edgewear, 16mo in 8's (113 x 76 mm)QTY: (1)NOTE:ESTC N38937; Marjorie Moon, John Harris's Books for Youth 1801-1843, 91.Rare chapbook. The dated ownership inscription in this copy suggests that this edition was actually published in 1799 or slightly earlier, whereas Moon dates the edition to circa 1803, and the British Library and New York Public Library entries state '[1800?]'. This edition has the corrected version of the misspelling 'accordiug' on page 8 as listed in Moon, making this copy a possible variant issue. Only 3 institutional copies according to Moon (British Library, New York Public Library and University of California).

* Indian playing cards. Tortoiseshell Mogul Ganjifa, probably Hyderabad, India, 19th century, three rectangular playing cards (of 96): 3 and 7 of chang, and 2 of shamsher, hand-painted in gold and colours on tortoiseshell, each card depicting a seated lady holding a book/reading tablet and with a hookah, the suit signs above, surmounted by a 4-point ogee arch, versos with a central gold flower within a single line gold border, 2 of shamsher and 7 of chang each with small corner chip and some minor paint loss (the latter card with some rubbing to gold), 3 of chang somewhat edge chipped and rubbed, with much loss of paint, each card 58 x 42 mmQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Collection of Dudley Ollis.Rare survivals in this (or any) condition. See Leyden (1977) 43 & 44 for similar examples: without the golden foliage backgrounds, but the versos with the central golden flower within a single gold line border.Please note: Overseas buyers must check the rules relating to export prior to bidding, as we are unable to ship outside of the UK or apply for an export license for this item.

Ransome (Arthur). Peter Duck,1st edition, 2nd impression, London: Jonathan Cape, December 1932, illustrations by the author, advertisement leaf at rear, a few minor spots, original cloth (head and foot of spine faded) 3rd printing dust jacket, printed in red and black, lightly restored with a few repairs (a few letters in pen facsimile), contained in modern cloth slipcase, 8voQTY: (1)NOTE:Signed by the author to half-title. Rare 3rd printing dust jacket, printed in December 1932 (the first impression was issued in November 1932) with the three-dimensional title in red to the front panel and endorsement by Hugh Walpole, instead of the usual pictorial jacket.An example (probably the same) is illustrated on p. 69 in John Cowen's bibliography A Ransome Book-Case.

* Belgian playing cards. Socialist Internationale, unknown maker, circa 1930, the complete deck of 32 colour printed playing cards (French suits), double-ended courts, kings and queens each portraying two named socialist personalities from various countries, jacks representing workers of different professions, double-ended aces show 3 different People's Houses from around Belgium, political slogan to each pip card, captions and slogans printed in French and Flemish, lighty dusty, some minor spotting, king of diamonds with fingermark to one side, queen of diamonds with small brown mark to blank area, 4 indices, rounded corners, versos red-brown pattern with central double-ended Victory goddess?, each card 89 x 57 mm, 20 cards mounted with photo corners onto a display board (54.5 x 40 cm), encapsulated in clear plastic (none examined out of board), the remainder in a plastic bagQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: Bassenge Art and Book Auctions (Berlin), Auction 90, 12 December 2007, lot 9018; Collection of Dudley Ollis.A rare pack of cards celebrating the socialist movement internationally. Possibly made by Mesmakers Frères of Turnhout (some similarities to their later L’Union fait la Force deck).

A rare Irish book. 3rd Edition with dust jacket. Young Tom by Forrest Reid. 1945.

[Anderson, James] The Constitutions of the Free-Masons Containing the History, Charges, Regulations, etc. of that most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity. For the Use of the Lodges. London: by William Hunter, for John Senex, and John Hooker, 1723. First edition, 4to, viii 91 [1] pp., half-title, engraved arms to head of dedication, without frontispiece, retaining contemporary panelled calf rear board (detached), front board absent Rare. Published six years after the foundation of the first Grand Lodge in England, the work was reprinted in Philadelphia in 1734 under the auspices of Benjamin Franklin, becoming the first masonic book printed in America: Franklin's edition has recently been described as ‘the seminal work of American Masonry, edited and published by one of the founding fathers, and of great importance to the development of colonial society and the formation of the Republic' (Paul Royster, ‘The Constitutions of the Free-Masons (1734): An Online Electronic Edition’, UNL Libraries: Faculty Publications, no. 25, 2008).

Australia. Arrowsmith (John), Detailed Map of Dr Ludwig Leichhardt's Route in Australia from Moreton Bay to Port Essington (upwards of 3000 Miles performed in the Years 1845 & 1846)..., Adjusted and Drawn to the Maritime Surveys of Captains Flinders, King, Wickham, Stokes, Blacked &c. 1847, engraved map with contemporary outline colouring, on three sheets, not conjoined, old folds, very slight spotting, occasional short split where old folds cross, each sheet approximately 640 x 790 mm, contained in a contemporary cloth boards, lacking spine, size 230 x 145 mm QTY: (1)NOTE:Abbey Travel 579. Ludwig Leichhardt was a German explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia. Leichhardt produced his very rare 'Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia, from Moreton Bay to Port Essington..., ' detailing his expedition into the interior, which took fourteen months, causing search parties to be sent out in the belief that he and his men had all died. The book was published with this separately bound map, and both are considered scarce.

Leigh (James Henry). Poems on Several Occasions, 1st edition, London: T. Hookham, 1790, contemporary inscription in ink to title-page following author's name 'M. P. of Adlestrop House Gloucestershire & - Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire', occasional contemporary ink marginalia and one or two corrections to text, some scattered foxing, final leaf (with publisher's advertisements on verso) with short tear in fore-edge, paper fault crease to several leaves, bookplates of Frederick Leigh Colville and Julia Leigh on front pastedown, contemporary ink inscription on front free endpaper 'By my Grandfather - F.LC', sprinkled edges, 19th century brown half calf, rubbed, slim 4to QTY: (1)NOTE:Rare book of poems by a cousin of Jane Austen, James Henry Leigh, once owned by Leigh's grandson; only Oxford University located on COPAC, and no other copy traced at auction.Jane Austen was related to the Leighs of Adlestrop Park and Stoneleigh Abbey through her mother, Cassandra Leigh. James Henry Leigh inherited Adlestrop Park in 1774 when he was only nine years old. His uncle and guardian, Reverend Thomas Leigh, was Cassandra Leigh's cousin, and he held the living of Adlestrop. The Austens were close to Reverend Leigh's family, and Jane Austen visited the Adlestrop estate at least three times: in 1794 for the first time, when she was 19; five years later, in 1799; and then in 1806, when she was 31. Much of what Jane experienced during her interactions with her Leigh relations was woven into her writings. Reverend Thomas, for example, employed Humphry Repton to landscape the grounds of Adlestrop, paying him five guineas a day, a detail Jane later wrote with great comic effect into Mansfield Park. One subject which is a recurring theme in Austen's novels is of course the thorny matter of inheritance, and one which came to the forefront during what one relative called the 'palpable scramble for Stoneleigh'. In fact, during the Austens' visit to Adlestrop of 1806, the subject of who was to inherit magnificent Stoneleigh Abbey was under hot debate, the Honourable Mary Leigh having just died. Reverend Leigh was the main contender to succeed, and he travelled with Mrs Austen and her two daughters to stay at the Abbey. On arrival Jane's mother counted the windows of the west front - much like Mr Collins, who in Pride and Prejudice tells Lizzy Bennet how many windows Rosings has. Mrs Austen and her two unmarried daughters had great hopes that the distribution of wealth from Stoneleigh would benefit them, but alas, despite there being riches on an almost unimaginable scale - and Stoneleigh under the stewardship of Reverend Leigh and his nephew James Henry became even more prosperous - Jane and her sister did not receive a penny. (Lucy Worsley, Jane Austen At Home, Hodder & Stoughton, 2017)

Mataja (Victor). Der Unternehmergewinn. Ein Beitrag zur Lehre von der Gütervertheilung in der Volkswirthschaft, 1st edition, Vienna: Alfred Hölder, 1884, ink dedication copy stamp (‘Dedications-Exemplar’) to title, contemporary cloth-backed boards, gilt-titled spine, slightly rubbed and spine faded, 8voQTY: (1)NOTE:Provenance: This book is from the same collection as the preceding three lots, and it is very plausible that this book was also in the library of Isidor Singer.Viktor Mataja (1857-1934) was an Austrian economist and social politician. A student of Carl Menger, and part of the Austrian School of Economics, this is a good copy of his rare first book, (‘Entrepreneurial Profit. A Contribution to the Theory of the Distribution of Goods in Economics’). According to Mataja, entrepreneurial profit is the income which ‘results entirely from economic exchange and which furthermore accrues to the owner of the business venture absolutely and exclusively’.

[Montmort, Pierre Rémond de]. Essay d'Analyse sur les Jeux de Hazard, 1st edition, 1st issue, Paris: Jacque Quillau, 1708, 24, 189, [3] pp., engraved vignette on title, three engraved headpieces showing gambling scenes, and two engraved figures in text showing a backgammon board, errata to final leaf verso, later ink ownership inscription at foot of title, ‘Ex libris Philippi-Laurentii [?]Zaumit Medicorii Doctoris de Jena Zurici’, author’s name added at end of preliminary leaves, possibly in the same hand, occasional damp-staining and browning, heavily wormed throughout with tracks affecting all four margins, rarely touching text except for one vertical track affecting the first seven lines of the final three leaves and mostly with the loss of one letter per line, inner hinges weak and a few leaves slightly sprung, marbled endpapers, edges stained red, contemporary mottled calf, gilt-decorated spine, some wear to extremities and loss at head of spine and near foot of upper joint, 4to (254 x 180 mm)QTY: (1)NOTE:Tomash & Williams M121. The rare first edition, first issue of the first book on probability. Published anonymously with uncorrected text and without the three folding plates of the second issue of the same year. Based on the problems set forth by Huygens in his famous treatise De Ratiociniis in Ludo Aleae (1657), this book greatly influenced the work of Nicolaus Bernoulli, with whom Montmort corresponded, as well as that of Abraham de Moivre. Though there are significant marginal worm tracks to this copy, remarkably, and against all probability, only a handful of words on the last three leaves are affected, with no loss of sense.

Devan (Thomas T.). The Beginner’s First Book in the Chinese Language (Canton Vernacular), Prepared for the use of the House-keeper, Merchant, Physician, and Missionary, 1st edition, Hong Kong: Printed at the China Mail Office, 1847, [2], vi, 161 pp., text printed in Chinese and English, marbled endpapers, recent black half morocco over green cloth boards (by Paul East, bookbinder to the Foreign Office), green morocco gilt spine label, 8voQTY: (1)NOTE:Bibliotheca Sinica 1686; Lust, Western books on China 1061.Rare. No copy at auction since 1896.Thomas T. Devan (1809-1890), an American Baptist medical missionary who arrived in the newly-established British colony of Hong Kong in 1844, published his Beginner’s First Book in the Chinese Language for the use of housekeepers, merchants, physicians and missionaries in South China, covering Cantonese grammar, medicine, and religion to aid Western medical missionaries (like himself) in communicating with the Cantonese. The text is divided into sections covering numbers, divisions of time, relations of life, buildings, furniture, dress, and food, under which English entries are aligned with Chinese characters followed by Cantonese pronunciations. The work went through three editions.

WW1 Merchant Navy 1917 Confidential War Instruction Book. A rare example of the "War Instructions for the British Merchant Navy August 1917". This with led inset to the cover, for tossing overboard in the event of capture The inside page with original label stating this book was issued to the Master of the SS Hostilius. GC Clean condition. Payment by Bank Transfer ONLY

A rare printed silk commemorative rectangular needle book by Miller, the cover with head and shoulder portrait of HRH The Duke of York (b.1763 – d.1827), below title and crown within a wreath and with ‘Pub by R. Miller …..’, the reverse with biographical details and appreciations, silk inevitably worn at edges, pink paper interior with mothed flannel, 7.5 x 5.5cms.

A rare needle book, the covers in fish scales, the outline in the form of a shell, ribbon bow, green silk interior, 9.5cms.                                                                                                  From a Connoisseur’s Collection

A rare Coalport figural candlestick, circa 1825-35, the candlestick and picked out in turquoise and gilt, with a male figure suspending a garland of flowers below a winged putto, unmarked, 23cm highLiterature: For a similar marked example, one of a pair, see Godden, Geoffrey 'Coalport and Coalbrookdale Porcelains' (The Collector's Book Club, Cirencester, 1973) pl. 175.Condition:The top of the scone and the putto have been both broken and re-attached, with restoration to the body and arms of the putto. Some of the foliage from one end of the trailing garland is missing. The male figure also looks to have been broken off at some stage, with restoration and retouching to both feet, and signs of re-attachment to his reverse wrist and the upper section of the garland at the front—other nibbles and losses to the foliage and petals, including some restoration to the green leaves. The restoration has generally been done to a good and sympathetic standard, but it has yellowed slightly over time.

A collection of nine Halcyon Days enamel boxes, all with floral decoration, four boxed (may be incorrect boxes), including National Trust Rothschild Collection Waddesdon Manor Sevres style box, three other National Trust related boxes, a cylindrical box with a design from Winerthur's Rare Book Collection, etc (9 = 5 in wooden case & 4 in boxes)

BERG ALBAN: (1885-1935) Austrian composer. A highly unusual signed hand-print, one page, 8vo (approximately 17 x 21 cm), n.p. (Berlin), 14th December 1925. The black ink print is of the composer´s right hand and clearly displays the palmar flexion creases of his palm and fingers. Signed (´Aban Berg´) in black fountain pen ink to the lower left and dated 14th December 1925 in his hand. With the purple ink stamp of M. Rachig´s Handarchiv to the upper right corner. A rare and visually appealing form of Berg´s autograph. Some light creasing and age wear, and with a few small tears to the edges (one close to, but not affecting, Berg´s signature). GThe extraordinary hand-print of Berg was taken in Berlin on the day of the premiere of Wozzeck at the Berlin State Opera on 14th December 1925. The composer´s first opera, Wozzeck is considered to be one of the most famous 20th-century modernist operas.The hand-print was taken by the palmist Marianne Raschig and used by her in her book Hand und Persönlichkeit. Einführung in das System der Handlehre, (1931).

MUSSOLINI BENITO: (1883-1945) Italian Fascist Dictator of World War II. A rare youth A.L.S., signed `Benito´, one page, 12mo, to an Italian postcard (Cartolina Postale Italiana), stamped and postmarkedn.p. [Dovia di Predappio], 25th October 1907, to his friend and studies companion Alberto Calderara, in Italian. Mussolini sends a friendly letter to his correspondent, wondering what could have happened as he did not receive a response to his previous letter dated 19th where he was enclosing five lires for the purchase of a comparative Italian-French grammar book. Mussolini states `Carissimo Alberto, ... to ho scritto una lettera col relativo questionario e con cinque lire per avere une grammatica comparata delle due lingue e una storia letteraria che oltre alla parte biografica e critica contenga brani delle opere... Scrivimi qualque cose, affinche se trattasi come lo temo di uno dei soliti disguidi passati io possa reclamare a chi ragione.´ (Translation: "Dearest Alberto, ... I wrote you a letter with the relative questionnaire and with five lire to have a comparative grammar of the two languages ​​and a literary history that in addition to the biographical and critical part contains excerpts from the works... Write me something, so that if it is, as I fear, one of the usual past misunderstandings, I can complain to whoever is right") In 1907 Mussolini passed his exams at the university of Bolonia and was appointed teacher of French, starting his career in 1908. But that same year 1908 and after having published anticlerical articles he was arrested and expelled from teaching, he then decided to become a journalist and a politician. GAlberto Calderara (1882-1938) Italian school teacher and education inspector who contributed to the education reform.

SUN YAT-SEN: (1866-1925) Chinese Revolutionary & Political Leader, a Statesman regarded as the founding father of Republican China. Sun Yat-Sen was a Physician and a political Philosopher who served as the first provisional President of the Republic of China and as the first leader of the Kuomintang. An extremely rare D.S., in Chinese characters, one page, large oblong folio (20 x 17), 15th October 1917, in Chinese. The attractive and colourful document being the appointment of Sun Guang Ming, as a member of the fund raising committee in Hong Kong. Signed by Sun Yat-sen in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Chinese armed forces. Also bearing to the recto the red ink seal of the Supreme Commander to the left border. Sun Wen seal alongside the Grand Admiral seal. Documents signed by Sun Yat-Sen in Chinese are of extraordinary rarity and seldom appear at auction. Some minor age wear and staining, otherwise G American Book Prices Current only record five letters, and no documents, signed by Sun Yat-sen as having appeared at auction since 1976.

GUNN BATTISCOMBE: (1883-1950) English Egyptologist and philologist who assisted with the translation of ostraca from the tomb of Tutankhamun. At one stage of his life Gunn became involved in the occult and formed a friendship with Aleister Crowley. By 1918 however Gunn lost interest in the occult and focused instead on Freudian psychoanalysis. An excellent A.L.S., Battiscombe, three pages, 8vo, Vienna, 28th December 1922, to [Albert t'Serstevens] ('Mon bien cher'), in French. Gunn wishes his friend good fortune for the New Year and continues 'Il m'etait une grande joie de recevoir ta lettre a Tell el-Amarna l'hiver passe. Deux ou trois jours apres que je t'ai ecrit j'ai acheve la lecture de ton livre et il m'a donne un sentiment bien singulier de trouver mon nom perpetue dans l'Elegie sur la Colline' (Translation: 'It gave me great joy to receive your letter at Tell el-Amarna last winter. Two or three days after I wrote to you I finished reading your book and it gave me a very strange feeling to find my name perpetuated in the Elegy on the Hill') also asking t'Serstevens not to judge him too harshly as a friend and commenting 'J'ai vecu toute me vie dans une prison psychologique, et je ne commence a me comprendre un peu que maintenant seulement. Je t'expliquerai un peu de cela - qui t'interessera peut-etre - quand ous nous reverrons. Qu'il suffise pour le moment de dire que justement parce que tu m'es un ami tres proche, il m'est tres difficile de t'ecrire. Chose paradoxale!' (Translation: 'I've lived my whole life in a psychological prison, and I'm only beginning to understand myself a little now. I'll explain a little about this to you - which may interest you - when we meet again. Suffice it for the moment to say that precisely because you are a very close friend to me, it is very difficult for me to write to you. Paradoxically!'), further writing 'Apres que les fouilles de Tell el-Armana se sont achevees, nous sommes alles passer deux semaines chez un ami anglais a Assiout, au Moyen-Egypte, et ensuite nous sommes alles a Thebes, ou j'ai passe plus de deux mois chez des amis, travaillant tout le temps. J'ai fait des fouilles pour Lord Carnarvon, duquel tu auras peut-etre entendu le nom tout recemment: J'ai copie 175 ostraka que le meme noble lord a trouve dans la Vallee des Rois; et j'ai etudie, copie et traduit des papyrus remarquables. Les lettres d'un fermier de 2300 av J.C. - trouve par les americains dans un autre endroit de Thebes. En toute, je suis reste en Egypte 7 mois, en travaillant tout le temps' (Translation: 'After the Tell el-Armana excavations were completed, we went to spend two weeks with an English friend in Asyut, in Middle Egypt, and then we went to Thebes, where I spent more than two months with friends, working all the time. I have excavated for Lord Carnarvon, whose name you may have heard lately: I have copied 175 ostraca which the same noble Lord found in the Valley of the Kings; and I have studied, copied and translated remarkable papyri. Letters of a farmer from 2300 B.C. - found by Americans in another place in Thebes. In all, I stayed in Egypt for 7 months, working all the time'), and informing his friend that when he left Egypt he was reunited with his wife in Rome and they then rented a small farmhouse with wonderful views over Florence, although as it was June and becoming hot they travelled to Vienna and spent six weeks there before returning to England, but now find themselves back in Vienna where they plan to stay for a good part of the next year, reflecting 'Aussi notre rencontre - toi et moi - est encore renvoye, et commence a devenir presque legendaire. Je ne peux pas te dire combien fut grande la deception de ne pas te vois en passant par Paris en octobre 1921' (Translation: 'Also our meeting - you and me - is postponed again, and begins to become almost legendary. I cannot tell you how great the disappointment was at not seeing you passing through Paris in October 1921'). Gunn concludes his letter writing 'Je ne travaille pas effrenement, mais tous les jours. J'ai acheve mon gros bouquin sur la grammaire egyptienne, et maintenant j'edite les inscriptions provenant des fouilles de Tell el-Amarna l'hiver passe. Ma femme etudie beaucoup la psychologie de l'ecole de Freud, sujet qui m'interesse beaucoup aussi' (Translation: 'I don't work frantically, but every day. I've finished my big book on Egyptian grammar, and now I'm editing the inscriptions from the excavations at Tell el-Amarna last winter. My wife studies the psychology of Freud's school a lot, a subject that interests me a lot too'). A rare letter of wonderful content and good association. VGAlbert t'Serstevens (1886-1974) Belgian novelist. George Herbert (1866-1923) 5th Earl of Carnarvon. English aristocrat who financed the search for and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, which was discovered by Howard Carter in November 1922.Gunn's first wife was Lillian 'Meena' Hughes who, during the 1920s, studied psychoanalysis with Sigmund Freud in Vienna and Sandor Ferenczi in Budapest. At around this time Freud invited Gunn to see his collection of Egyptian antiquities and, whilst he never said anything to Freud, Gunn was of the opinion that most were fakes.

VALENTINO RUDOLPH: (1895-1926) Italian actor, a sex symbol of the 1920s. An excellent, large vintage signed and inscribed sepia 13.5 x 16.5 photograph, the image depicting the Latin Lover in a profile head and shoulders pose in costume as Monsieur Beaucaire from the American silent romantic historical drama film Monsieur Beaucaire (1924). Signed in dark fountain pen ink to a clear area at the base of the image, 'To Audrey, with everlasting admiration, Rudolph Valentino´. A wonderful and rare signed photograph. Some very light, extremely minor age wear to the edges of the borders, VGProvenance: Valentino inscribed the present photograph for Audrey Evelyn James Coats (later Pleydell-Bouverie) (1902-1968) English socialite who was photographed by Cecil Beaton for The Book of Beauty. Through her mother she was the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII and herself was the illegitimate daughter of Sir Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon.

BAIRD JOHN LOGIE: (1888-1946) Scottish inventor & electrical engineer who demonstrated the world's first live working television system in January 1926. An excellent A.L.S., John L. Baird, two pages, 8vo, Crescent Wood Road, Sydenham, London, 28th August 1943, to Mr. Kellaway. Baird sends his correspondent a copy of an address given to the Roster Society in Sydney, and a few press cuttings (neither present) which he hopes will be useful, and continues ´An up to date book on television is greatly needed and I will be happy to give any help I can and will forward further press matters when this comes to hand´, concluding by extending an invitation to Kellaway, ´If you are coming to London and care to see the stereo and colour [televisions] I will be very pleased to show you what we have´. In a postscript, signed by Baird with his initials JLB, the inventor asks for the return of the Australian address when his correspondent has finished with it. Autograph letters of Baird are rare, and those in which he refers to televisions are highly desirable. Some light areas of age toning, only very slightly touching some words of text, but not the signature. About VG

SCOTT WALTER: (1771-1832) Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, two pages, small oblong 4to, n.p., n.d. (c.1825). Scott has written a series of manuscript notes on various topics, including a play about Queen Elizabeth I (´If You Know Not Me, You Know Nobody; or The Troubles of Queen Elizabeth´ by Thomas Heywood), inventions, universal corruption, and historical events, being extracts taken from Samuel Pepys's famous diaries, in part, ' They cannot for example but be delighted to learn that the account of the new play Queen Elizabeth's troubles and the history of Eighty Eight which is very curious as it seems to have consisted almost entirely in scenery.....The Queens Elizabeth and Mary appeared dressed in the costumes of their age and stood on the stage and explained the meaning of the action to the audience. Pepys was much affected with the sad story of Queen Elizabeth which he had sucked in from his cradle but fully as much as to see Krupp dance among the milkmaids and come out in the night-gown with no locks on but her bare face and hair only tied up in a knot.....The play as well as the very peculiar mode of representation seem to have escaped the industry of Isaac Rush......As a member of the useful arts may also remark that the introduction of the most successful inventions are not always successful in the commencement. Such was the case with the sort of carriages now most commonly in use and called at their first introduction glass coaches. Lady Ashly debated upon their bad qualities to Mr. Pepys......There were several men killed on the side of the French, one or two on that of the Spaniards & an Englishman by a bullet.....a similar commotion during the protectorate Cromwell brought to trial and cut of[f] the head of Don Pantaleon for the brother of the Portuguese ambassador. Corruption was universal. All offices were made subject to open traffick.....The slightest promise of service required such an acknowledgement and which round sums of money, silver porringers, gold cups and so forth were.....among the rich and noble, the ´smallest donation´ accepted and expected from those who had no more to give. Upon a bare civil speech from....Sir George Downing, Pepys dispatched a porter for his best fur cap that he might bestow it on Sir George as in duty bound. But the porter tarried so long on the way that the principal had sailed before his arrival and so the cap returned its place in Mr. Pepys wardrobe......What should we now think of the courtesy of a clerk who in return for some favourable speech of his master made his willing principal in the abundance of his gratitude a present of his best beaver hat.....Such were ´Good King Charles´s golden days´. However such great Scourges upon the land to punish as it served their enormous wickedness. War, pestilence and conflagration ravaged England by turns. Of these.....calamaties many and highly curious particulars are preserved in the Memoirs, Pepys having been called upon by situation to exert himself actively during them all and having uniformly displayed both sagacity and firmness. If quitting the broad path of history we seek for.....information causes may account manners & customs the progress of arts and sciences and the various branches of antiquity we have never seen a source so rich as the volumes before us absolutely resemble the general cauldrons at the wielding of Camacho....´. Rare in this form. Some light age wear and minor staining, and a small strip of former mounting to the upper left edge, otherwise about VGSamuel Pepys (1633-1703) English writer and politician, most remembered today for the diary he kept for almost a decade.In July 1825 Scott had acquired a copy of the Diary of Samuel Pepys, which had just been published for the first time. Scott´s son-in-law John Gibson Lockhart declared that he had not seen Scott ´more delighted with any book whatsoever´. Inspired by Pepys´s diaries, and an 1821 journal by Lord Byron, Scott began his own new diary on 20th November 1825 and, with a few breaks, continued to make entries in it until April 1832. Since its first complete publication in 1890, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott has attracted high praise, being considered by many critics one of the finest diaries in the English language.

COOK JAMES: (1728-1779) British explorer, cartographer, and Royal Navy officer, famous for his three voyages to the Pacific and Southern Oceans between 1768 and 1779. Captain Cook completed the first recorded circumnavigation of the main islands of New Zealand and was the first known European to visit the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. An extremely rare ink signature (´Jam: Cook´) on a small 12mo piece (approximately 7 x 4.5 cm) most likely clipped from a document. Slightly irregularly trimmed to the right edge and with some minor traces of former mounting to the verso, about VGSignatures of Captain Cook, who died at the hands of Hawaiian natives at the age of 50, are of the utmost rarity. The Auction and Book Sales Archive (ABSA), which incorporates the records of American Book Prices Current (ABPC), record only three A.Ls.S. and three Ds.S. by Cook as having been sold at auction since 1980, the most recent example being a document of 1759 sold at Christie´s in 2019 for $30,000.

REMIZOV ALEKSEY: (1877-1957) Russian Modernist Writer and expert Calligrapher. An excellent, attractive and rare A.L.S., `Aleksey Remizov´, in Cyrillic, a very flourished signature, signed twice, at the heading and conclusion, in bold attractive calligraphy, two pages, blue paper, oblong 4to, Berlin, 20th November 1921, to Isaak Mikhailovich, in Cyrillic. To the heading Remizov writes his name in German, Alexej Remisow, above his Berlin address. A very attractively and artistically penned letter in fountain pen ink. Remizov responds from Berlin to his correspondent´s letter dated 17th November, which he received 20th November, and states in part `I have neither books nor manuscripts, and there is nothing I can do about it. I ask, they promise, I wait. I got Tsar Maximilian for a time, will ask to have it copied and will send it to you. I asked you to request my book Vesennee Poroshie ("Spring Trifles") there is a story about Petka, who appears in “The Cockerel”. Further Remizov reports on personal and familiar issues saying `We have many misfortunes again, including with our apartment, and besides that, I become terribly weak. I do everything with great effort... If you were here, everything would go differently... No one from Berl. Tag has written anything. We don't know anything about our belongings yet. I am waiting for two books from Reval ["Tallinn"], published there, which I will send to you. They even bear an inscription stating that the translation rights remain with the author. Serafima Pavlovna sends her regards. We often think of you.´ With two hole binder to the bottom border, not affecting the text or signature.VG.

STRAUSS RICHARD: (1864-1949) German composer. A highly unusual signed hand-print, one page, 8vo (approximately 16.5 x 21 cm), Berlin, 21st April 1925. The black ink print is of the composer´s right hand and clearly displays the palmar flexion creases of his palm and fingers, and with a few light brown paint marks to the edges. Signed (´Dr. Richard Strauss´) in black fountain pen ink to the lower left, adding the place and date, Berlin, 21st April 1925 in his hand. With the purple ink stamp of M. Rachig´s Handarchiv to the lower right corner. A rare and visually appealing form of Strauss´s autograph. Some light creasing and age wear, and with a few small tears to the right edge, GThe remarkable hand-print of Strauss was taken by the palmist Marianne Raschig and used by her in her book Hand und Persönlichkeit. Einführung in das System der Handlehre, (1931).

WEDGWOOD JOSIAH: (1730-1795) English potter, entrepreneur and prominent slavery abolitionist. A rare L.S., Josiah Wedgwood, Chairman (of the General Chamber of Manufacturers of Great Britain), one page, folio, Great George Street (London), 6th June 1785, to James Hebden. Wedgwood writes, in full, ´I take the liberty of inclosing a copy of the Reolutions printed so as to shew what is omitted of the original ten Resolutions, and what has been added to them, & how they now stand in the House of Lords. From the first days debate in the house of Lords upon these Resolutions we may, according to appearances, promise ourselves a more impartial hearing than we have hitherto met with; and that their L[ordshi]ps will if applied to, modify some of the resolutions, which certainly bear too hard at present upon the British manufacturer. Indeed it is too evident, that whatever may be the object wished for by government in this treaty, the manufacturing interest is to be the sacrifice and price for that object. The committee will be glad to know if you wish them to continue their communications to you upon any future occasions. They will be glad to receive your instructions in this respect, as they would avoid being either troublesome or expensive where their correspondence may not be acceptable´. Accompanied by the (now detached) address leaf, incorporating a postscript to the verso by Wedgwood, and signed by him in the third person, ´Be so good to present this to Mr. Clapham with Mr. Wedgwood´s compliments´, and also dated at Great George Street, 6th June 1785, in his hand. The address panel to the recto appears to be in the hand of William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland, and signed (´Free, Wm. Eden´) by him to the lower left corner of the panel. Some light age wear and minor staining, most evident to the address leaf which also has a small area of paper loss caused by the original breaking of the seal. About VGIn January 1785 Thomas Walker, a cotton merchant and political radical, and one of his associates were brought before the Committee on Trade and Foreign Plantations and questioned concerning Irish relations, in an effort to secure from them, without their knowledge of the object of the questioning, statements which would commit them to the policy later presented to the public in the form of the Irish Resolutions. Walker and his associate were later repeatedly confronted with quotations from their statements, and cross-examined, and treated in a manner which was characterised by a member of parliament as ´most scandalous´. By such methods the government defeated its own ends with respect to the Irish Resolutions as well as the cotton tax. Manchester manufacturers were needlessly embittered, and were forced to associate the government´s fiscal policy at home with its commercial policy toward Ireland. The Irish question, ever a thorn in the side, was rendered acutely piercing in the case of William Pitt´s government (1783-85). Pitt, recognising Ireland´s newly acquired legislative independence, was at once confronted with the problem of economic reorganisation. His policy, formulated in the so-called Irish Resolutions or Propositions, came from the Irish parliament for consideration in the English House of Commons in February 1785. According to Pitt´s own interpretation, his policy embraced two ´capital points´, namely, the admission of Ireland to participation in England´s colonial and foreign trade (with certain restrictions) and the mutual reduction of tariffs on manufactured goods to the rate in that kingdom where existing duties were the lower. The Irish Resolutions, like the cotton tax, encountered the fierce hostility of the newer manufacturers. Pitt himself, in his private letter of 6th January 1785, to the Duke of Rutland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, quite frankly admitted the probability of the shifting to Ireland of certain English industries in consequence of the Resolutions. The most important of the various arguments urged against the Irish Resolutions by the manufacturers was the contrast in the tax policies of the two kingdoms. Pitt himself admitted the force of the argument, first in private, and at length in consenting to the modification of the cotton tax. The vital connection between the Irish Resolutions and the question of taxation, particularly the excise laws, was set forth in the resolutions of Manchester manufacturers on 11th April 1785. Out of this situation, which gave to the manufacturers a feeling of common interest, arose the General Chamber of Manufacturers of Great Britain. This organisation was not limited to the new capitalistic manufacturers, but the initiative and the moving force were with them. The new capitalistic industries consisted in the main of three groups: Wedgwood´s Staffordshire potteries; the iron foundries and plants about Birmingham; and the manufacturing and printing of cotton centering at Manchester. The part played by Josiah Wedgwood seems to have been the result of his hostility to the Irish Resolutions. On 21st February 1785, he wrote to Matthew Boulton, saying that he intended to recommend the organisation of ´a Committee of Delegates from all the manufacturing places of England and Scotland to meet and sit in London all the time the Irish commercial affairs are pending´ and he was not without hope that such a body would be useful ´upon others as well as the present occasion´. Results were soon manifest. On 12th March, it was reported that ´manufacturers are assembling´ at London from various parts of the kingdom. A meeting had already been held in London, at the London Tavern, on 7th March. During the succeeding week, a committee was appointed, with Wedgwood as chairman. On 12th March this committee met and issued a call for another general meeting for 14th March. At the meeting convened on the 14th, there was organised a definite body to be called the Chamber of Manufacturers of Great Britain, and to consist of ´each member of a commercial committee, being a manufacturer´. It was resolved unanimously that the society ´do not cease with the present business´. At the various meetings of the Chamber, the chairmanship was held by different men. The chairman of the meeting of 14th March was Wedgwood, who, though not a member of the aristocracy, was nevertheless invested with a respectability denied to the more ´vulgar´ and less artistic textile manufacturers. The committee recommended that the Chamber promote, by means of circular letters and in other ways, the organisation of local bodies of manufacturers, whose common interests should find expression in the central body. To distinguish the local chambers from the national organisation, it was recommended that the word ´general´ be prefixed to the title of the Chamber (extracts from The Rise of the Great Manufacturers in England 1760-1790 by Witt Bowden, 1919).Provenance: Formerly part of the collection of Ray Rawlins, author of The Guinness Book of World Autographs (1977) and bearing his small circular Collection label neatly affixed to the lower corner of the address leaf. Indeed, the signature on the present letter was used as a facsimile in The Guinness Book of World Autographs. The letter was also offered by Sotheby´s in their sale of the Rawlins Collection on 2nd, 3rd & 4th June 1980 (lot 873)OWING TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED - PLEASE CONTACT IAA EUROPE DIRECTLY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

PENIAKOFF VLADIMIR ´POPSKI´: (1897-1951) Belgian Lieutenant-Colonel, the founder and commanding officer of No. 1 Demolition Squadron, PPA (´Popski´s Private Army´) during World War II. A fine and extremely rare book signed and inscribed, being a hardback edition of Private Army by Peniakoff, First Edition published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1950. The book, an account of the Lieutenant-Colonel´s daring exploits with his highly successful special forces unit during World War II, is complete with four fold-out maps and numerous black and white photographs. Signed (´Popski´) by Peniakoff to the front free endpaper with a remarkable presentation inscription, ´For Menina, who has done much more work on this book than I have, very gratefully, Popski´, and dated London, 13th February 1950, in his hand. Bound in the publisher´s original brown cloth with gilt title to the spine and gilt emblem (featuring an astrolabe) of the No. 1 Demolition Squadron to the front board. Accompanied by the dust jacket (some very light, minor age wear and a little faded to the spine). A unique presentation copy. VGMenina Mesquita - secretary to the British publisher Jonathan Cape who was tasked with the responsibility of typing the manuscript of Popski´s Private Army.The present copy is probably the only surviving presentation copy in existence. We are aware of only one other signed copy (without a presentation inscription, and dated May 1950) and the Auction and Book Sales Archive (ABSA), which incorporates the records of American Book Prices Current (ABPC), do not record any other signed copies of Private Army by Popski as ever having appeared at auction.

KRUPSKAYA NADEZHDA: (1869-1939) Russian Bolshevik, wife of Vladimir Lenin. Following the 1917 Revolution Krupskaya was at the forefront of the political scene. She was appointed deputy education Commissar 1929-39 with strong influence over the Soviet educational system. Rare A.L.S., `N. Krupsk´, two pages, 4to, n.p., 1923, to Elizabeta Borisovna, in Cyrillic. Krupskaya states in part `I was very touched by all the letters received from…..Menzhinskaya, Lunacharsky, and by the fact that the fifth book has been published. Say hello to everybody. Also to Mikhail Nikolaevich, and to Blonsky. I send the programmes and corresponding materials. Everything is fine. Show Timiryasev´s note to Mikh. Nik. I kindly ask Blonsky and Mikh. Nik. to get the job done. Forward the attached letter from Grinberg to Blonsky and transmit my kind request to continue the work…´ Although she would later fell out with Stalin, at the time of the present letter, Krupskaya was aligned with Stalin, Zinoviev and Kamenev against Trotsky´s opposition. Folded. With blank integral leaf. G to VG Anatoly Lunacharsky (1875-1933) Russian Marxist revolutionary. After the 1917 October Revolution, he was appointed as People´s Commissar for Education in the first Soviet government 1917-29. Lunacharsky is associated with the establishment of the Bolshoi Theater in 1919 together with Maxim Gorky, Alexander Blok and Maria Andreieva.

EISENHOWER DWIGHT D.: (1890-1969) American General of World War II. American President 1953-61. A good, rare A.L.S., Ike, one page, 4to, n.p. (Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Allied Force Headquarters), 27th December n.y. (1942?), to his wife, Mamie Doud Eisenhower (´Darling´). The General explains that an officer will be heading back to the United States in a few minutes with his letter, remarking ´I had thought I´d have time for a long letter - but no - everything is normal; no time for anything. However, even with this poor excuse, you´ll know that I´m still struggling - and always think of you´ and further sends thanks for a gift of an item of clothing, ´Last night I received a lovely note from London, which, it seems you had Bob Littlejohn send to me. It´s the nicest thing you ever saw. Perfectly beautiful, light & warm, which is most necessary. Thank you so much & it´s a bit grand for a theater of operations, but I´ll use it all the time, just the same´. Eisenhower also reports of having received other letters, including one from their son, John ´written at W[est] P[oint] on the day of the Navy Game´, and concludes by stating ´One of your letters showed your concern because of failure to hear from me. I try to write every few days....´, and wishes his wife ´good luck & much love´. Accompanied by the original envelope. VGAutograph letters of Eisenhower are rare and desirable. Larry Vrzalik and Michael Minor state in their book From the President's Pen (1991) 'Eisenhower is one of the rarest of all presidents in A.Ls.S. for all periods, particularly of presidential date.'

MUSIC CLUB HOUSE: RARE DUKE ELLINGTON COLLECTABLES including, The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1927-1973) 24 CD Set, 09026-63386-2, The Complete 1932-1940 Brunswick, Columbia and Master Recordings of Duke Ellington and his famous Orchestra, limited edition (1731/5000) 11 CD Set, Mosaic Records MD11-248, The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion and Okeh Small Group Sessions, 7 CD Set, Mosaic Records MD7-235 together with Duke Ellington 'A Listener's Guide - Studies in Jazz No.26', Eddie Lambert, hardback, complete with two typed letters of correspondence between John (Chilton) and Eddie (Lambert), dated March and September 1983 (4)Provenance: private collection GwyneddComments: All box sets complete, minor storage marks, complete with booklets, first two pages of book creased otherwise excellent, inspection advised

Good and mixed selection of music memorabilia to includes approx 70+ cassettes, approx 89 Mojo Magazine issued CDs, a collection of Goldfrapp memorabilia, books, magazines and programmes. Goldfrapp memorabilia to inc: Goldfrapp Mail On Sunday Magazine 22/01/2006 Goldfrapp Supernature Tour Programme Various Artists T Magazine Goldfrapp 2 large Goldfrapp stickers Goldfrapp 4 7" Picture discs (unplayed) Goldfrapp Black Cherry box set - 2 CDs and sticker Goldfrapp Supernature Press Kit Goldfrapp Little Black Book (extremely rare) Goldfrapp Southbank Centre Magazine Goldfrapp Supernature outer sleeve signed by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory Goldfrapp Various flyers, stickers, postcards Goldfrapp Christmas Card Goldfrapp Goldfrapp Playing Cards (still sealed).

THE WHO AND RELATED - LP PACK. A smashing pack of 17 LPs by The Who and related. The Who titles include A Quick One (593002, record VG+/ sleeve VG+), Quadrophenia (booklet detached from sleeve), Tommy (non-numbered book), Who Are You (pic disc), Direct Hits, Two's Missing, Who's Missing, Best Of The Who, My Generation, The Best Of The Who, Live At Leeds (red text sleeve with 12 inserts, including the poster), Instant Party, Exciting The Who, Who's Next Outtakes, Who's Rare 1964-1968 (M/ Sealed). The High Numbers inc Who The Fuck and Maximum R&B: Live At The Marquee Club. Condition is generally VG to Ex+, odd one may drop below.

A rare Raid Spotters Notebook with 1940 pencil dates in rear, the book is designed to assist identifying friendly aircraft from Axis ones, lots of great silhouettes of German and British planes, good condition, with a 3d stamp book

JOSEF KOUDELKA 'Reconnaissance Wales', dated 1998, a very rare Welsh photographic book by Cardiff: Ffotogallery in association with Cardiff Bay Arts Trust, The National Museums & Galleries of Wales and Magnum Photos, 1989. Oblong quarto, original concertina folded pages in self heavy card wrappers with cloth spine, titles in black to the front cover. Published in a limited edition of 1000 in November 1998. Condition Report: Generally good condition. Some small marks to the cover and page edges, some sun discolouration with a more distinct line on the rear cover. Corners are undamaged, no tears or missing pages.

JOSEF KOUDELKA 'Reconnaissance Wales', dated 1998, a very rare Welsh photographic book by Cardiff: Ffotogallery in association with Cardiff Bay Arts Trust, The National Museums & Galleries of Wales and Magnum Photos, 1989. Oblong quarto, original concertina folded pages in self heavy card wrappers with cloth spine, titles in black to the front cover. Published in a limited edition of 1000 November 1998. Condition Report: Generally good condition. Some small marks to the cover and page edges, some sun discolouration to the cover. Corners are undamaged, no tears or missing pages.

A signed copy of 'In Our Time: The World As Seen By Magnum Photographers'. Signed by approximately 40 of the world famous Mangum Photos agencies photographers. Including household names such as Steve McCurry, Elliott Erwitt and Martin Parr. The signatures were collected over a period of time by an ex-employee of the angency, as and when the photographers would visit their London branch. A rare opportunity to own a comprehensive collection of signatures within a book that represents the collective work of Magnum Condition Report: Generally good condition. Some signs of wear to the dust jacket edges and discolouration to the page edges. No tears or missing pages.

An important pre-War Sea Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Able Seaman G. W. Garlinge, Royal Navy, for the rescue of the Royal Party from the wreck of the S.S. Delhi off Cape Spartel, Morocco, on 13 December 1911; together with a signed copy of Princess Alexandra’s book ‘Egypt and Khartoum’, which includes a chapter on the wreck of the Delhi, the inside cover inscribed ‘For Mr. Garlinge, from Alexandra, 1957’ Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (George W. Garlinge. “Delhi”, 13. Dec. 1911.); 1914-15 Star (232332, G. W. Garlinge, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (232332. G. W. Garlinge. A.B., R.N.) minor official correction to surname on BWM, the SGM heavily polished, with minor edge bruising, this fine; the rest better (4) £700-£900 --- William George Garlinge was born in Nonington, Kent, on 3 January 1888 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 20 September 1904. Advanced Able Seaman on 12 April 1907, he served in H.M.S. London from 16 October 1911, and was serving aboard London when the ship went to the aid of the stricken S.S. Delhi on 13 December 1911. The 8,090-tonne Peninsular and Oriental liner Delhi, with 85 first class passengers on board, including the Duke and Duchess of Fife (H.R.H. the Princess Royal) and their two daughters, Princess Alexandra (later Princess Arthur of Connaught) and Princess Maud, was bound from London to Bombay via Marseilles. At about 2:00 a.m. on 13 December 1911, the ship ran ashore in very rough weather some two miles from Cape Spartel. There was a strong westerly wind and very heavy rain. A wireless call was immediately sent out and was picked up by the station at Cadiz and within a short time several men-of-war were speeding to the wreck. Amongst the first ships to arrive were H.M.S. London and H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh. At about 11:00 a.m. Rear-Admiral Sir C. Cradock brought a boat alongside and with great difficulty took off the Royal Party from the Delhi. On her way back, the boat was swamped not far from shore and everyone thrown into the water, Princess Alexandra having a narrow escape from drowning. Eventually all came to land safely. 7 silver and a number of bronze Sea Gallantry Medals were awarded for this action, including the Bronze medal to Garlinge, for his service in the cutter despatched from London to take part in the rescue operations. He saw further service during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, and was shore demobilised on 1 July 1919. Sold with a rare copy of the book ‘Egypt and Khartoum’ written by Princess Alexandra (and which was printed only for circulation within the Royal Family), which includes a chapter on the Wreck of the Delhi, the inside inscribed ‘For Mr. Garlinge, from Alexandra, 1957’; together with an accompanying letter (this in relic condition) typed by Princess Alexandra's private secretary which indicates that Mr. Garlinge wrote to Princess Alexandra in 1957 offering sympathy for her current illness and as a result of this, the signed book was sent to him as a gift from Alexandra, presumably on account of Garlinge having been a member of the S.S. Delhi rescue party.

A rare 1938 ‘inter-war’ military division B.E.M. group of four awarded to Vickers Vincent Wireless Operator Aircraftman 1st Class, later Pilot Officer, F. W. Holden, 55 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Commissioned as Pilot Officer and Observer in 1940, Holden went on to serve operationally in Hampdens with 61 Squadron - being killed in action on a raid to Cherbourg, 18 April 1941 British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (516362 A.C. Frederick W. Holden. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted on card for display, good very fine (4) £800-£1,200 --- B.E.M. London Gazette 9 June 1938. The Operations Record Book for 55 (B) Squadron, Habbanyia records: ‘June 1938. No. 516362 A.C. 1. Holden, F. W. Wireless Operator of this Squadron was awarded the Medal of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for meritorious service, the award was published in the Special Supplement to the London Gazette dated 9th, June, 1938. The medal was presented to A.C. 1. Holden by the Commanding Officer on a full parade.’ The above Operations Record Book also recorded the following for October 1937: ‘Twelve aircraft led by the Commanding Officer left Dhibban on the 4th on an Inter-Command Colonial Development Flight to Aden, via the Persian Gulf, the Sudan, Egypt, Palestine and Transjordan, and returned according to itinerary on 26th. No forced landings occurred and no trouble of any nature was experienced during the flight. A total distance of 5840 miles was covered, the average flying time per aircraft being 63 hours.’ Holden’s commanding officer, Squadron Leader (later Air Commodore) G. W. Hayes added the following: ‘The decoration awarded to Holden at Habbaniya, Iraq 8th August 1938, was for an act of Extreme Bravery in regard to an incident concerning an aircraft of No. 55 Squadron, at Heliopolis, Egypt on 23 October 1937. At the time Holden was a W/T operator, a member of the crew of my aircraft, a Vickers Vincent No.K6338 of 55 (B) of which I was the pilot, and incidentally Officer Commanding the Squadron. The Squadron was on an Inter-Command Colonial Development Flight, leaving Habbaniya, Iraq on the 4th October 1937 and landing at Heliopolis, Egypt on 21st October 1937, via various landing grounds around the Arabian Peninusla, Aden, Port Sudan, Khartoum and Cairo, Egypt. It was customary in those days, prior to landing at a strange location, to fire a cartridge from a Very Pistol to obtain from the smoke, the direction of the wind, if not otherwise discernible and I ordered my crew to prepare to fire the pistol. In fact I saw the wind direction from dust blown on the wind and cancelled the firing of the Very Pistol outright. Unfortunately, as it later transpired, the Very Pistol was not unloaded prior to landing at Heliopolis, where we landed the same day after some 2 hours of flying. On 23rd October, all 12 aircraft were refuelled prior to completing the long distance flight to Habbaniya and engines were started in order to make a short ‘test flight’ prior to the initial take-off for the last leg of the flight. It was then that I heard a loud report behind me and realised that by accident the Very Pistol had discharged inside the aircraft, and that an unfortunate and potentially dangerous onboard fire was likely. I immediately taxied my aircraft clear of all others, and on reaching ‘open space’ Holden in an act of extreme bravery and total disregard of injury to himself, threw the burning signal flare out if the aircraft using only his bare hands to do so. It was most unfortunate that the Very Pistol had been left loaded, but no member of the crew can be blamed for that, and it most certainly does not detract in any way from the great act of bravery and extreme courage displayed by Holden, which prevented a more serious incident. After arranging for Holden to be taken to hospital for treatment to his badly burned hands, I reported the incident to the Station Commander, Heliopolis and strongly recommended that Holden should be awarded a decoration for his extreme act of selfless Gallantry. As the incident occurred in Egypt, it was left to the Station Commander to submit a recommendation to the Air Ministry through proper channels, leaving me free to complete the ‘special flight’ to Habbaniya. After visiting Holden in hospital and wishing him well, the Squadron completed it’s task, landing at Habbaniya on 26th October 1937, minus, unfortunately, Holden who was a most efficient W/T Operator, and popular member of the Squadron, and had on that flight and at all times, carried out his duties most efficiently and energetically. He was a very worthy member of the Squadron.’ Frederick William Holden was born in Brasted, Kent in June 1914. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in May 1933, and trained as a Wireless Operator. Holden was mustered as a Wireless Operator (Air Gunner) in October 1935, and was posted as such to Iraq to join 55 (B) Squadron in April 1936. Despite neither his subsequent entries in the London Gazette with regard to his advancement in rank, or his appearance on the CWGC website’s failure to list his post-nominals as B.E.M., there appears to be an Air Ministry record (P/A39 12 Sep 1938) which authorises him for the use of the post-nominals ‘E.G.M.’ (Empire Gallantry Medal). There is also an extant photographic image of him in his officer’s uniform taken after his commissioning in December 1940, which shows Holden wearing the riband of the B.E.M. but with the emblem signifying that the award was an E.G.M. Holden is, however, gazetted for a B.E.M. for Meritorious Service. It is a possibility that the original recommendation may have been for an Empire Gallantry Medal, but at some stage prior to gazetting was changed for a medal for meritorious service. Regardless of the above Holden’s B.E.M. is a rare ‘inter-war’ award, especially to such a junior airman. Holden returned to the UK to carry out Observer training, and was promoted Acting Sergeant in October 1939. He was commissioned Pilot Officer in December 1940, and posted for operational service with 61 Squadron (Hampdens) at Hemswell. Pilot Officer Holden was killed in action carrying out a raid on Cherbourg, 18 April 1941. Hampden I AD732 QR piloted by Flight Lieutenant S. E. Aldridge, D.F.C.: ‘T/o 1520 Hemswell to attack an airfield near Cherbour. Shot down by flak in the target area. Those who died are buried in the Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery.’ (R.A.F. Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War 1941 refers) Of the crew of four, only one survived to be taken prisoner of war. Holden was the husband of Lottie Evelyn Holden and had resided with her in Seaford, Sussex. Sold with copied research.

RARE VINTAGE CIRCUS POSTER- LORD JOHN SANGER'S 'DICK TURPIN'. RARE VINTAGE CIRCUS POSTER- LORD JOHN SANGER'S 'DICK TURPIN'. A vintage pictorial circus poster, 'Lord John Sanger's Dick Turpin, Death of Black Bess', published by Stafford & Co, Netherfield. Behind a perspex cover. Poster 76cms by 51cms. *Ken Rattenbury (1933-2024) Circus Collection. *Illustrated on the front of the book, 'Lord John Sanger's Circus, a National Institution' by King Pole. *CR There are crease lines to the poster, one of which has a tear at the bottom (10cms long), some small tears to the edges and small losses, paper has discoloured over time with some foxing to the edges in places.

AN EXTREMELY RARE IZNIK POTTERY TILE FROM THE CINILI HAMAM OTTOMAN TURKEY, CIRCA 1540 of hexagonal form, underglaze, the main field decorated in white against a dark blue background, with details picked out in turquoise, the primary element of the design is an asymmetrical prunus tree in blossom, growing from a bunch of fleshy saz leaves at the base, from this base also sprout two other stems in the saz style, the right one with a large rosette as well as buds and leaves, and the left stem ending in a distinctive three-petalled tulip decorated with dark blue dots and turquoise teardrop shapes, at the top right is a Chinese-inspired cloud motif, and the borders are of turquoise with a repeat pattern of rosettes in two different sizes 28.3cm diameter max.Provenance: Baron Leon van der Elst (Belgian, 1865-1933).Count Frederick van der Steen de Jehay (Belgian, 1858-1916).Henriette de Jourda de Vaux (Belgian, 1865-1946).Marie-Noelle Kelly (Belgian, 1901-1999); thence by descent. Each of the following three Iznik tiles (lots 43-45) are accompanied by handwritten notes dated to 1905. The note reads in French translates to:‘Three pieces of pottery from mosques that were given to me by the mother of the young Marcel van der Elst, and that came from the collection of his grandfather. Constantinople 14 June 1905.’Two of the notes are written in the hand of Count Frederick van der Steen de Jehay (1858-1916), the recipient of the Iznik tiles, who served as a distinguished politician and diplomat. Most notably, he was posted as special envoy to Istanbul from 1897-1905. The end of his appointment coincides with the year these tiles came into his possession, suggesting that they may have been given to him to mark the end of his tenure.After his tenure in Istanbul, he was made Chief of Cabinet of the Belgian Ministery of Foreign Affairs. His wife, Henriette (1873-1957) was lady-in-waiting to Queen Elisabeth, wife of King Albert I of Belgium. Frederick and Henriette bore no children, and the tiles would have been inherited by her sister, Jeanne Snoy (1878-1955) who married Count Charles de Jourda de Vaux (1865-1946). It is through this line that the tiles were inherited by the late Sir Bernard Kelly’s wife, Marie-Noelle Kelly, niece of Jeanne Snoy, and have remained in the family since.The grandfather of Marcel van der Elst is named as M. v. d Elst within a note written in a different hand (see fig. 1a). The name is likely to refer to Leon Baron van der Elst (1865-1933), a highly distinguished diplomat, negotiator, and was most notable for being the foreign affairs advisor to King Leopold II of Belgium from 1906 to 1918. In an historical biographical account, (see www.ars-moriendi.be), Baron van der Elst put Count ven der Steen de Jehay forward as chief ‘ad interim’ of the King’s cabinet from 1916 up until his death, highlighting the esteem the Baron held for the Count.Although there are no further provenance details for the other two tiles, the prior history of the piece from the Çinili Hamam, lot 43, is known. An anonymous document addressed to Sultan Abdülhamid II states that a French antiques dealer, Ludovic Lupti, had stripped the hamam of its tiles around 1874 and subsequently taken them to France, paying pennies for each of them. From Paris he sold them to museums and collections across the continent for the princely sum of 24 francs each. This appears to have been the sole point of dispersal for all the tiles from this group, which can now be found in major collections in France, the UK, and Türkiye (see Özbay and Şengozer, Barbarossa’s Cinili Hamam: A Masterpiece by Sinan, 2023, pp. 52, 266).Note:  This tile is one of only three complete tiles bearing this pattern. The example in the Victoria & Albert Museum was made by cutting two damaged tiles and fitting the remaining parts together (see Atasoy and Raby, Iznik: The pottery of Ottoman Turkey, 1989, fig. 501). The third of these tiles is in the Ömer Koç Collection, Istanbul (see H. Bilgi 2015, no.15). Although the overall design of each is the same, suggesting the use of stencils, there are subtle alterations in details of colour and patterning between the three. During the conservation of the Çinili Hamas which took place from 2010-23, fragments of tiles were found under and above the wall plaster, including several pieces of the same design as this tile (see Özbay and Şengozer,  Barbarossa’s Cinili Hamam: A Masterpiece by Sinan, 2023, figs. 4.6e and 4.7 pattern 20). Exactly where this tile design was placed within the hamam is unclear, it is certain that both the men’s and women’s sections were decorated in this fashion, and hexagonal tiles appear to have been used side-by-side to create uninterrupted walls of a single design (opp, cit, pp. 192-7). The basic design of the tile was clearly popular among the potters of Iznik and their clients. With a pattern spread over two tiles rather than one and with mossy green added to the palette, a contemporary tile panel in the David Collection employs the same elegant prunus along with the non-natural serrated leaves and tulips at the base, and both may have been inspired by the arts of the book (see Atasoy and Raby 1989, figs. 229-30, pp. 134-5). A blue-ground dish in the British Museum, made half a century later, uses a slightly simplified version of the same design (see J. Carswell, 1988, fig. 56 pp. 80-1).The Çinili Hamam’s patron was none other than the great kapudan-i derya (Admiral) Hayreddin Pasha, better known in the West as Barbarossa. He was one of the most important characters of the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent, leading Ottoman naval forces across the Mediterranean from around 1510 until his death in 1546. That his hamam was constructed in the prestigious Zeyrek district of Istanbul was a testament to his importance, with the endowment deed of 1534 stating that the Sultan himself had reserved access to the nearby aqueduct’s water for the Hamam’s use (see opp. cit, pp. 78-9). As a key figure at the Ottoman court, Barbarossa was given access to both Sinan, the greatest architect of the time, as well as the Nakkaşhane (imperial painters’ workshop) which provided designs for the tiles. The baths were adjacent to the mansions of palace dignitaries as well as easily accessible from nearby main roads, making it an easy source of money to be provided to Barbarossa’s charitable foundations elsewhere in the city (ibid, pp. 181-4). Sinan himself was a pioneer in including tiles within the overall architectural scheme of buildings, as seen in the Çinili Hamam, and may even have been in charge of the Iznik ceramic industry in this period [Necipoğlu 1990, pp. 154-5].Originally named after its patron or his titles as Admiral, the name by which the hamam is now known derives from the extensive tilework (‘Çinili’ means ‘tiled’), which distinguished it from other baths of the period which lacked extensive tile decoration. Such was the impression made by the tiles that one of the leading Ottoman poets of the day praised them on the occasion of the Hamam’s opening, suggesting that they had overcome even the ‘beautiful ones of China’. Although it was considered one of the preeminent baths of Istanbul during the 16th and 17th century, the Çinili Hamam was damaged by fires during the 18th century and finally destroyed by fire in 1833, passing through multiple hands thereafter (see opp. cit,  2023, pp. 82-91). After an extensive process of restoration, the hamam has now reopened, along with a small museum including both archaeological finds and the tile fragments found under the plaster. In its new state, it truly reflects the sentiment of the poetry found on some of the surviving tiles:“The area of the bath is like Paradise/Although its foundations are made of clay and bricks” (see opp. cit, p. 43]. 

AN ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM A DISPERSED MANUSCRIPT OF FIRDAUSI'S SHAHNAMEH: RUSTAM SAVES BIZHAN FROM A WELL CENTRAL ASIA, BOKHARA, CIRCA 1670 ink, gouache heightened with gold on paper, the image set within four columns of nasta'liq text with gold rules, two lines above, and three lines below, the text continues on the reverse, within a mountainous landscape under a moonlit and starlit sky, Rustam is wearing his characteristic tiger-striped tunic and holding the lid of a well up high in his left hand with a look of triumph, three soldiers are peering in the well, whilst three figures on the right are standing, one holding a spear looking impressed, mounted, glazed and framed 25.1cm x 16.8cm  Formerly, the collection of Octave Homberg (French, 1876-1941).Sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, Collection de Octave Homberg, 3-5 June, 1931, no. 103. The Shahnameh or Persian Book of Kings, an epic that recounts both the mystical and real history of Persia, contains many tales of the hero Rustam in which he meets a series of challenges and fights a variety of demons and monsters. Here he is taking the lid off a well to save Bizhan, who has been imprisoned within it. Bizhan was the son of Giv, a friend of Rustam’s. The princess Manizha had drugged her lover Bizhan and taken him to her palace. This annoyed her father Afrasyab, who put Bizhan in chains and threw him into a well. Later Manizha was able to lead Rustam and his followers to the pit. The extremely heavy rock covering the well had belonged to the div (demon) Akvan whom Rustam had killed. Rustam mustered the strength to lift it and hurl it back to China and the lovers were reunited.This miniature comes from a manuscript that was offered for sale in Paris in 1931 as part of the collection of Octave Homberg, the pages of which have since been dispersed. This manuscript was described in the catalogue as a collection of “Epopees du Cycle Saitanais”. The manuscript took the very rare form of extracts from the main epics of Persian history, the Shahnameh of Firdausi; the Faramouznameh; the Bahman Nameh and the Nariman Nameh. The manuscript originally had a frontispiece decorated with eighty-five paintings, the main ones signed by Mohammed Moqim and Mohammad Salim. Some other miniatures from this manuscript reappeared at auctions in Paris and London. Other paintings by the two principal artists of this Homberg manuscript can be seen in a manuscript illustrating the lyric poems of Nizami, copied and illuminated in Bokhara in 1670 for the library of Sultan ‘Abd-al Aziz Bahadur Khan (1945-1680), now in the collection of the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.For a recent study on the painters of Bokhara, see Y. Porter, Farhad the Painter, in connection with the painting workshops of Bukhara in the time of ‘Abd-al Aziz Khan, 1645-1680, in The Timurid Heritage: Iran, Central Asia, India, XVth-XVIIth centuries, Cahier d’Asie Central, IFEAC, 3-4, 1977, p. 267.

A CHORUS LINEStage Manager Jake Bell’s annotated cue script, corrected master and blocking scripts, and promotional materials from A Chorus Line. A fantastic group of items from the first Broadway production of this legendary musical. The annotated cue script is noted in type as "Revised: March, 1976" has handwritten in the upper corner "Jake Bell/Cue Book," the script being heavily annotated in pencil and ink with blocking, lighting, and other technical cues with various pages added and taped-in, 79 pp. held in a binder, with a cast photo laid-in, a cast list at rear, some pages relating to the U.S. National tour, etc. Some spotting and wear from use. The Blocking and Corrected Master scripts are both photocopied and dated March 1976 but both are signed in ink by Jake Bell, the blocking script with copies of previous handwritten annotations.Promotional items include a satin crew jacket with the show logo on the back and "Jake" embroidered on the front, minor wear and soiling; a framed silver printed poster from early in the show's Shubert Theatre run; a long printed "timeline" poster celebrating A Chorus Line becoming longest running show in Broadway history in 1983, poster approximately 60 x 12 inches, rolled in a tube, some edgewear; the silver printed invitation and ticket to performance 3389 in 1983 in which A Chorus Line became the longest running show in Broadway history; a desk weight cast/crew gift presented following the 2008 National Tour signed by Bob Avian; early Playbills, programs, and a large format promotional booklet. Minor wear.An important archive of one of the best-loved Broadway musicals about Broadway musicals, A Chorus Line opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on July 25th, 1975 and closed after a record-setting 6,137 performances on April 28th, 1990—a record that stood until surpassed by Cats in 1997. As evidenced by some rare materials here, A Chorus Line became the longest-running show in Broadway history in 1983 and celebrated with a special performance. A Chorus Line was directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett (1943-1987), the seven-time Tony Award-winning choreographer and director of Follies and Dreamgirls. A classic look within the experience of Broadway performers, A Chorus Line was based on the workshop audition process pioneered by Bennett. Unfortunately, Michael Bennett died of an AIDS-related illness in 1987 (Bennett can be seen seated in the foreground of the photograph present here).No condition report? Click below to request one. *Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and Doyle New York shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available. Request a condition report

Christie (Agatha) The Road of Dreams, first edition, scattered foxing, original cloth-backed boards, mottled fading to covers and spine, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, endpapers renewed, dust-jacket price at 5s., spine a little browned, small patch of discolouration ?resulting from the removal of a label, spine ends and corners a little chipping, slight creasing and fraying to upper edge, faint marking to panels, light rubbing to extremities, a very good example, [Cooper & Pike pp.82-9], 8vo, Geoffrey Bles, [1925].*** Christie's first book of poetry, and indeed one of her earliest works in any genre. It was printed at her own expense with sadly negligible sales. Rare in the dust-jacket.