Science Primers: Astronomy

LOCKYER, Norman J., [Beatrix Potter]

Fifth edition; 8vo; original printed cloth. Beatrix Potter's copy, signed 'Helen Beatrix Potter' on the half title. This primer is one of a series which was aimed at introducing young children to the sciences. One of the editors of the series, which started in 1872, was Beatrix Potter's uncle, Professor Sir Henry Roscoe. Astronomy was published in 1877, when Beatrix would have been 10 years old, although her hand here seems to be from a few years later. The book also bears a bookseller's label "G. Stent 15 Gledhow Terrace South Kensington" which was just a stones-throw away from her family home in Bolton Gardens. Linda Lear in her biography of Beatrix Potter, states that she "could have become expert in any number of field of natural science: archaeology, botany, ornithology, mycology, geology or entomology .......only astronomy failed to attract her.... she had been fascinated by the brief flight of a night-time meteor. 'I was much impressed by it', she wrote, 'a strange visitor from the outside of the world. I do not often consider the stars , they give me a tissick [make me breathless]'. Very good light wear to the boards.

Holloway Jingles

Women's Suffrage: JOHN, Nancy A (editor)

First edition; 8vo; original pictorial printed wrappers, stitched with the original white, purple and green ribbon. Presentation copy, inscribed "Aunt Mary/ with much love/ from/ Margaret./ 27th June 1912" on half-title. A rare copy signed by one of the contributors, Margaret McPhun. Identified only by her initials, Margaret McPhun's poem, To a Fellow Prisoner, was dedicated to fellow-prisoner Janie Allan, a key figure in the Scottish suffrage movement. The poems in this anthology, along with the sketches for the front cover, were smuggled out of Holloway by two of the prisoners, one of whom was Nancy John, a member of the Glasgow section of the WSPU who edited the anthology: 'Miss John, one of our best speakers, bewailed the fact that she hadn't even hit the window, and yet she got two months' (unpublished memoir of Helen Crawford, Agnes Macdonald Collection, Edinburgh Central Libraries). The collection was '...born of shared prison experience...', writes Elizabeth Crawford, '...The title was well chosen, the poems themselves a still-intriguing mixture of retrospection and shared hardship lightened by limerick...' (Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928, 2001, p.646). The sixteen contributors include Emily Davison (the final piece, 'L'Envoi'), and 'Laura Grey' (Joan Lavender Bailie Guthrie, 1889-1914), who went on hunger strike whilst serving her six months' sentence, and was forcibly fed. A rare and fragile production, edges frayed, covers detached.

Autograph signed letter.

CONRAD, Joseph

Autograph signed letter; two pages; 4to. To Edward [Garnett] -´My dearest Edward´. Conrad writes to his friend following the death of Garnet's mother, ´Do not ascribe my silence to callousness. Indeed it has quite another cause; for I who have now not a single soul living in my past have been profoundly touched by your loss. I heard of it in Winchelsea where I had gone to work. I went on working, thinking of you my dear fellow and nor a little of your father - thinking and saying nothing because death, you know, takes all the virtue out of the words - the best meant the truest to the feeling. And now as you see I am saying nothing, taking refuge as it were in myself before your affliction´ and further writing ´But I hope and trust that you´ll find it not utterly distasteful to come here as we had planned in the fortunate ignorance of our hearts. Verily we who remain are most tenderly treated till the very moment of execution´. Conrad adds that he had heard a little news from Ford Madox Ford about Garnett and his family, although asks for more, remarking ´For your poor Father and your sister Olive my concern is the greatest - for him because of the great shock; and of her health I´ve heard an unsatisfactory account from Ford´, and concludes by expressing his affectionate regards to Garnett´s wife, sending his love to them all, and again extending an invitation, ´And come if you can, if you care to come´. Edward Garnett (1868-1937) English writer and critic was a reader for Unwins the publishers in 1894 when he met Conrad for the first time having been impressed by Almayer's Folly, the two became instantly friends. Garnet was later to introduce Conrad to Ford Madox Ford. Very good.

Blind Drawings

COX, Morris

Limited edition; 4to; quarter bound in vellum by Gemma O'Connor; acetate dust jacket; printed on Japanese mingei papers. With an introduction by Colin Franklin. Illustrated with 24 plates engraved from line drawings of animal and the human figure. Based on the principle of drawing done with the eyes closed whilst trying to hold a clear picture of the intention. This is number 42 of an edition of 75, signed by the artist and Colin Franklin. Loosely inserted is the original prospectus. Fine.

Autograph signed letter to Eric Gill's daughter Petra

JONES, David

Autograph signed letter; 4to; addressed Northwick Lodge, Harrow-on-the-Hill. Christmas 1948 to Petra Tegetmeier, the daughter of Eric Gill, written on the reverse of a calligraphic print by Jones 'Gloria in Excelsis'. Pera Gill and Jones was engaged for several years and Jones who made some beautiful paintings of her, but she married Denis Tegetmeier, letterer, engraver and cartoonist, in 1930. An affectionate letter of seasons greetings to Petra and Denis. He mentions that this copy of 'Gloria in Excelsis' is the only one he has as all the others were lost in an accident. He is very dismissive of the stained glass of Joseph Edward (Eddie) Nuttgens which fills the church he frequents.....' A pity: but one is not at all bad.... plain glass would be so much nicer'. Although he also states 'of course one might say that of a lot of my watercolours, plain paper would be be much nicer!' Signed much love David. Fine a few creases and marks.