Envelope Addressed Unsigned Portrait (3 results)

Leading English novelist, poet and writer Mary Ann Evans (1819-80), a.k.a. "George Eliot," scandalized proper British society when she moved in with married critic/philosopher George Henry Lewes in 1843 and lived as husband and wife until his death in 1878; among her best-known novels are "Adam Bede" (1859), "The Mill on the Floss" (1860), "Silas Marner" (1861) and "Middlemarch" (1872). Daniel Deronda (1876). Two ephemeral items: A superb 9 3/4" X 13½" engraved portrait of Eliot, Plate V from "The Century Gallery of One Hundred Portraits" published by Century Magazine in 1897 -- a striking image based on W. Burton's sketch as engraved by Rajon that first published in that periodical in 1881. Fine. Lightly tipped below her likeness is an unusual and cryptic 3" X 1" slip, the address portion of an envelope addressed to Eliot by an unknown correspondent. Very good. Faintly worn, with mounting traces on verso. Penned in brown ink is: "Mrs. George Henry Lewes, / Priory = North Bank -- Regent Park / London." Eliot and Lewis purchased this home in 1863 and she lived there until her death. The identity of whoever penned this envelope remains unknown but warrants further research. An intriguing pair for the Eliot admirer who has everything.

The English painter and above all caricaturist and book illustrator achieved great fame for the Charles Dickens novels he illustrated. Signed and Addressed Envelope, 4½" X 2½", n.p., n.y. [verso bears postal cancellation in Glasgow, Scotland, 7 August 18(5)6]. Very good. Minor mounting traces on verso. In his usual large script in thick brown ink, Cruikshank addresses this to "George Mills Esqr. / Glasgow Advertiser Office / 104 Union St. / Glasgow," signing at lower left. Interestingly, George Mills (1808-81) was a long-time friend of Cruikshank's -- a steamboat builder who dabbled in journalism and novel-writing; in 1857 he founded the "Glasgow Advertiser and Shipping Gazette" copies of which he sold for one penny (ironically, same denomination as the stamp on this envelope), which move forced his competitors to do likewise and in turn put Mill's paper out of business after a year! Strange that Cruikshank addresses this envelope to a publication not founded until the following year. The artist befriended Mills in 1848 and corresponded with him for decades (letters archived today in the Mitchell Library in Glasgow). Accompanied by an outstanding heavy stock 8" X 10" printed caricature of Cruikshank, an original plate from "A Gallery of Illustrious Literary Characters (1830-1838) Drawn by the Late Daniel Maclise" (London, 1874). A nice autograph example with interesting story and a superb caricature of the caricaturist.

The career U.S. Army officer rose to the rank of Major General, commanding the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War and participated in many key battles, notably defeating the Army of Northern Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. On an envelope front, Meade boldly addresses it at center "Honl. H. Wilson / U.S. Senate" in brown ink, adding "Ford [Forward] Gen. Pennypacker / US Army" and at lower left signing "from Genl. Meade." 5½" X 4 3/4" with flap present and open (tipped to larger sheet). Near fine. Lightly age toned. Imprinted "Headquarters Military Division of the Atlantic, / Official Business" at upper left -- which dates this undated piece, for Meade took command of this division headquartered in Philadelphia in July 1865 and remained there until early in 1868. Henry Wilson (1812-75) served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to 1873 before becoming U.S. Grant's second vice president (1873-75). Galusha Pennypacker (possibly 1841-1916) gained fame as perhaps the youngest officer in the Union army to attain the rank of brevet brigadier general; he held several commands, participated in numerous major battles and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865. The envelope bears a lightly pencilled "7-1" at upper left, so assuming this means July 1st of 1866 it's feasible that Meade wrote to Senator Wilson (Chairman of the Military Committee) on behalf of Pennypacker and recommending his promotion, for in July of that year he was indeed commissioned a Colonel in the 34th U.S. Infantry. Just a theory, but intriguing and it makes sense. Accompanied by an outstanding 8¼" X 11" steel-engraved head-and-shoulders portrait of Meade in uniform, set within on oval border and this in turn set within a larger decorative border featuring a tiny vignette near the bottom of a battle scene (labeled "Gettysburg"). Miniscule copyright data at lower margin dates this 1864 as engraved by Virtue, Yorston & Company of New York. Near fine. Faint age toning only.