Published by On letterhead of 'Engineering: An Illustrated Weekly Journal Edited by William H. Maw and James Dredge' 35 & 36 Bedford Street Strand London W.C. 8 December, 1888
Manuscript / Paper Collectible
2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Letterhead in black and red ink. In fair condition, aged and worn, with creasing at head. A sensitive letter of condolence, beginning: 'Dear Willy | I was so shocked to hear on Thursday of the great loss you have sustained, and I hesitated to write to you, for letters of condolence are such empty useless things. But on the other hand I dont want you to suppose that I feel indifferent to anything that touches you so closely & deeply. We have been such sympathetic friends for so long, that tho I did not know your father, he too seemed almost like an old friend.' The letter concludes with a rumination on mortality, Dredge finding sympathy 'not wholly useless but [] a poor thing in the presence of death'. Note: This letter derives from a collection of letters of condolence to the Forbes family on the death of William Forbes, father of Stanhope Forbes, founder of the Newlyn School of Art whose brother was "William".
Seller: J. Patrick McGahern Books Inc. (ABAC), Ottawa, ON, Canada
Hardcover. 4to. 27.5cm, printed in double column format, several thousand illustrations, plates, diagrams, drawing etc from engravings, in contemporary half sheep, double red and black leather labels, gilt titles, standard french marbled boards, hinges cracked or shaken, some spines chipped, (needs re-backing) internally fine, very rare (cnds).