Manuscript Archive (6 results)

A collection of works by James Laver, CBE FRSA (18991975) an English author, art historian, and museum curator. About 100 loose leaves (205 x 325 mm), handwritten ink, usually on the the recto only; most of them paper-clipped into distinct compositions (though a few stragglers will require careful reading to see where they belong). In excellent condition, some light wrinkling and dust-soiling along the edges. Laver's penmanship is a bit sloppy, but consistent -- once you learn its idiosyncrasies, its perfectly legible. The works include: "Waiter," "The Revival of Art Nouveau," "The Evolution of the Nocturne," "The Ommeganck of 1615" (an essay on Denis von Alsloot, c.1570-c.1626, Flemish Baroque Painter), 5 leaves of bibliography, and the longest piece, perhaps a work-in-progress or broad outline for comprehensive study, "Religious Dress and Vestments." Laver acted as Keeper of Prints, Drawings and Paintings for the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1938 and 1959. He was also an important and pioneering fashion historian described as "the man in England who made the study of costume respectable". To supplement his pay whilst at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Laver dedicated his free time to writing magazine articles, book reviews, play translations, dramatic criticism and light verse. It was typical of Laver that he might decide to take an interest in random subjects. During the Second World War, he determined to read all the books on occultism in the London Library. As a result, he became an expert in the field, writing a book on the prophet Nostradamus. A rich collection, worthy of further study.

First Edition. All items are in a very good condition. Some minor fading and edge-dulling as with age. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 10 pages; A small collection of letters and documents regarding the vicarage in the village of Brize Norton in West Oxfordshire, dated 1896-1897. Contents: 4 letters addressed to Mr. Butler, signed John W. Wynd [or Wynde] -- Letter addressed to Mr. Butler from a Mr. Whittick. -- 'Churchwarden's Account of Receipts and Payments, Easter 1896 to Easter 1897' in pencil -- 5 documents of related material. Subjects: Brize Norton, West Oxfordshire -- Local history -- Church history -- Churchwarden -- England -- Great Britain -- late 19th century. 3 Kg.

First Edition. All items are in a very good condition. Some minor fading and edge-dulling as with age. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 10 pages; A small collection of letters and documents regarding the vicarage in the village of Brize Norton in West Oxfordshire, dated 1896-1897. Contents: 4 letters addressed to Mr. Butler, signed John W. Wynd [or Wynde] -- Letter addressed to Mr. Butler from a Mr. Whittick. -- 'Churchwarden's Account of Receipts and Payments, Easter 1896 to Easter 1897' in pencil -- 5 documents of related material. Subjects: Brize Norton, West Oxfordshire -- Local history -- Church history -- Churchwarden -- England -- Great Britain -- late 19th century. 1 Kg.

12mo. sized 3 x 5 in. up to 8 x 11 in. 4to. 81 separate pen & ink drawings, intended for text illustrations, and page illustrations, many with paginations, some for during printing mock-ups, while most appear in storyboard format, others are just image montages, most on translucent paper, with a couple on ruled paper, some with fold creases from mailing, and 1 w/ portion burned at margin, still a remarkable set of original artwork. This exceptional archive original illustrations reflect the artist's interests in whimsical fairy tale and folk tale settings, and exotic locales he embraces from his many travels. Several of the first grouping within this archive depict a rural thatched roof farm and family with animals, while another group focuses on a Japanese folktale. About 25% of the illustrations are focused on his book Raminagrobis and the Mice, including notes on colours, assorted stages of a few of the illustrations, and others. The remainder appear focused on "Kassim's Shoes" and others, including his "Mother Goose," with inventive portrayals of animals, and nicely executed storyboarding. As a sociologist, and folklorist, Berson actively sketched, and drew from his surroundings in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa to create inventive and engaging worlds for young readers. Berson (1926-1986) was born in Los Angeles, served at the end of World War II, and was an avid traveler. He graduated from UCLA with a BA in 1953, and spent most of the next two decades traveling in Europe, studying art in Paris, and then living in Spain, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Turkey, North Africa, and after 1958 together with his fellow artist & wife Paula Winter Berson (1929-2003). His first illustrated book was "Loretta Mason Potts" by Mary Chase in 1958. He is perhaps best-remembered for his whimsical fairy tale creatures in his Henry Possum, Mabel Watts's "The King and the Whirlybird," "Mother Goose Treasury," "Raminagrobis and the Mice," "King Midas and the Golden Touch," and many others.

Varies. Thirty hand drawn political cartoons on different stocks of paper. Some have close margins. Some have wormholes or loss. A handful have margin tears. Size 18 x 14 Inches. A collection of 30 manuscript political cartoons, many with cartographic content, drawn by Frank 'Ket' Kettlewell for the Oakland Tribune . As a group, they constitute a unique comic record of world events c. 1916 - 1935. Each hand-drawn cartoon is a visually striking San Francisco-centric commentary on domestic or international affairs. 'Ket' has signed each, with many most featuring his signature tiny bird (which occasionally comments). Themes and Events The earliest cartoons in the archive date to World War I (1914 - 1918). A handful discuss the U-boat threat. In one, a sea serpent labeled 'U-Boat' is composed entirely of submarines. Other cartoons deal with World War I and its aftermath. Still others focus on the Atlantic convoys, 'dislodging' the war in Belgium, the need for a west coast naval base, and the chaos in postwar Russia and Germany. 1920s themes include remembrances of WWI, domestic politics, and local Bay Area concerns, etc. Finally, six cartoons relate to the tense international situation in the 1930s, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and German President Paul von Hindenburg's (1847 - 1934) ongoing problems with the Nazi Party. Publication History and Census Each cartoon represents a unique work of art by Frank Kettlewell. Most were subsequently published in Oakland Tribune . Individual examples of Kettlewell's work appear on the market occasionally, but rarely large archives, as here. Signed by Author(s).

The Administration of a Small New Hampshire Town, 1783-1815 [Manuscript Archive]. [New Hampshire]. [Documents Relating to the Town of New Ipswich, 1783-1813]. New Ipswich, NH, 1783-1813. 7 stab-stitched manuscript volumes, 1 is 6-1/4" x 4" (18 pp.), 1 is 12-1/2" x 8" (12 pp.), 1 is 14" x 12-1/2" (16 pp.) and 4 are 7-1/4" x 6-1/2" (6 pp., 8 pp., 14 pp., 18 pp.). Manuscript in ink to most rectos and versos. Moderate browning, somewhat lighter in places, foxing, some leaves have dampstaining, tears or chips, with loss of text in a few cases. An interesting archive. $850. * New Ipswitch is a small New Hampshire town on the Massachusetts border, about 40 miles north of Worcester. The volumes in this archive record the daily operations of the town government, such as lists of taxes collected from residents and payments for selectmen, constables and building expenses. It is, on the whole, an interesting collection of source material concerning the inner workings of small New England town government in the post-Revolutionary period.