Manuscript Below, Signed (4 results)

Folio (21.5 cm wide x 31.5 cm high). 242 pages of an alphabetized Ledger of which 48 pages are full of manuscript-entries and numerous other pages have been used to tip-in letters which Roberts received from clients. With numerous further letters, postcards loosely inserted. Original Hardcover. Binding in rough but still firm condition with stronger signs of external wear. Fantastic example of a Day-to-Day Order-Book of an irish Traditional Boat Builder, active in the war-years of 1939 and 1940. Captain R.E. Roberts Boat-building Business, being a direct relative of R.R.Roberts ("The Sirius"), is a great example of traditional succession in irish craftsmanship. The Day-book gives us insight into the wishes of clients, pricing, quotes and reason of orders and how on the one hand irish Traditional Boat-Building was revered abroad and also greatly supported and sought after by the local irish population. Roberts' Boat-Building-company also had contracts from overseas and the correspondence reflects the hard times and imminent outbreak of war, which plays a role in the worries of Robert's clients and must have had an enormous impact on his company. Client W.R.ffrench Mullen speaks in a letter from April 15th, 1939 of the fear of not being able to come and meet his boatbuilder: "I am (unless Europe boils up before in the next forty-eight hours) coming over on about a fortnights leave, leaving London Saturday next." In another letter from May 2nd, 1939, ffrench Mullen hopes "the boat is progressing well" and that the company of D.O'Brien Corkery & Co. can deliver it in their lorry to Kenmare. Roberts notes about this client in his day-book an important message to one of his builders: "My client says he knows nothing about sailing - would you suggest that the area of Sails be in the Small Side for Safety - the boat is for use on the Kenmare River". Roberts notes about another client, Mrs. Howell of Fountaintown, who ordered a 11ft boat for children on Sunday 4-9-38 for Easter 1939 - Quoted 22 per ft = £12 / Roberts notes about "Miss Hill from Monkstown (daughter of Lt.Hill Architect) ordered 7-1-39 Centre Board Boat, Spirit Sail (brown), oars, rudder, Name on transome "YOLDASH", varnished top sides painted underneath - agreed price £16 - To be ready for Easter Holidays - Took Boat away 7-4-39 - pleased". / More details on other orders below. Further interesting orders of Boats, correspondence and details in manuscript-drafts about his clients by Roberts include: 1. Correspondence from P.O'Keefe, Ardnagreine, Bantry, County Cork to Captain R.E. Roberts, "Simla", Passage West, County Cork - [P.O'Keefe was Managing Director of G.W.Biggs & Co. Ltd. - Corn Millers, Merchants and Manufacturers in Bantry, County Cork] The O'Keefe correspondence includes three letters (two MLS (Manuscript Letter signed) and one typed letter) between the 25th of January, 1939 and the 31st of March, 1939. Roberts notes his draft-answer on one of the letters regarding an inquiry by O'Keefe for Roberts' 8-foot Dinghy. The drafts in the Day-book are of particular interest because Roberts gets into detail in his answering letter from January 30th, 1939: "I note you are thinking of getting a punt specially built - to fit upside down on Cabin with moveable thurant to allow for Skylight - I appreciate your difficulty regarding obtaining height of boom until Mast is stepped - would it not be possible to get this from the mark of deck on Mast from the wedges or Canvas Collar to gooseneck. Since seeing you I have got three orders for centre board Sailing Boats - two for this harbour & one for Sneem ." 2. Postcard - Order from J.Kelleher, Ringabella, Carrigaline: "Have measured the boat mentioned to you about a week ago & find it is 10 ft. long. The same will do now I expect to get a good serviceable boat. Please let me know when ready. I would like to get it soon but if you can't procure the best of timber at once, I will wait until then - J.Kelleher" (c.1939). 3. Letter from M. O'Connor - Rossdohan, Tahilla, Killarney, County Kerry - Monday 10th, 1938: "Dear Sir, Pardon my delay in writing - I saw Mrs. Prettymans punt she is very nice, but is too fine for me. I want a strong built smooth sided seaworthy boat, best timber, galvanises fastening. If this do[sic] not convey sufficient knowledge you can suggest a boat you think would suit and state price roughly." The list goes on and on and includes interesting orders from other clients. The Day-Book includes notes on proposed repairs on Wolfe's Yacht "Marion" (purchased from W.Johnson in Kinsale) Sprache: english.

This volume is vellum-bound, the paper watermarked for C. HARRIS 1846, the stationer's label for FREDERICK WALLER, 49 Fleet Street, London, the front free end-paper with Gosse's name written as in plate 4 of FREEMAN & WERTHEIMER Bibliography, the front board with label 'INFUSORIA.4.', the rear board with 'Journal' in script. A pencil note in Richard Freeman's hand, signed by him, reads : 'Given to me on my sixtieth birthday. 1 April 1975.' *The major portion of the Infusoria comprises detailed descriptions of some 75 species of Rotifer, each entry dated, with reference to a figure, the location found [many from Hampstead Heath, Berger's Lily Pond, the fountains of Trafalgar Square, Kensington Palace]. Part 2 is primarily a list of approx. 31 species, most of which are ascribed GOSSE, some with the postscript 'n.sp.' [new species?]. SEE - FREEMAN and WERTHEIMER Bibliography, 1980, #169-172 (1886-1889) - 'The rotifers had early attracted Gosse's attention and he had published seventeen papers on them, the first in 1850. He had also accumulated a large amount of unpublished descriptions and drawings.' F & W also refer to Gosse's original manuscripts : 'One of Gosse's notebooks on rotifers which was used in his articles in the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society and then in this book, is in the Zoological Library of the British Museum (Natural History); another, entitled 'Drawings of Rotifera; by Philip Henry Gosse, F.R.S. Sept. 1886' is in the University of Toronto (see Nos. 399-401). A large bound folio volume entitled 'The original drawings of the Rotifera (Clifton, 1886)' at the Royal Society (MS 132) contains mostly original drawings by Hudson, some copies by him of Gosse's drawings, and some original ones by Gosse himself.' The rarity of this volume speaks for itself ! The ALS from Fred Dystan - 'Dear Gosse I am glad you are better, which I suppose I may assume from your writing. I think it is great humbug that you won't let me name my own beast. I use the word in a Pickwickian sense but I see no impropriety in your working on a beast I had already named. However I must leave it with you, as I cannot undertake to publish it myself.'. There is, in addition, a second letter from this correspondent, 7 sides, dated Oct.7th.1856, dealing with details of the Rotiferae.

Accompanied by a cabinet portrait photo of Eichberg (6 x 4 inches on a slightly larger card, Baldwin Coolidge, Boston), signed by him verso, a photogravure portrait of Eichberg (9 ¾ x 7 ½ platemark on a much larger sheet; Benjamin Kimball Photo), and an autograph note from Eichberg on his Boston Conservatory of Music letterhead, signed by him July 2, 1888, to an autograph collector forwarding the Doctor of Alcantara piece. Eichberg helped found and was the first director of the Boston Conservatory and was then longtime superintendent of music in the Boston public schools. All very good. For the four pieces,

Most of the letters are addressed to Olive Berry, the wife of Spicer Berry, a prominent businessman in Corning. Tying the threads together are ten letters to Olive from a niece, sister to one of the soldiers, keeping her abreast of all the family's activities. A poignant view of the effects of war on a northern family. All folded for mailing, but very good. For the archive of 31 items, (1) Barnaby, Nathan. Two autograph letters to Olive Berry, 1862 and 1863, one on patriotic letterhead, describing war experiences in the Virginia theater. 7 pages, approximately 400 words; accompanied by two mailing envelopes. Barnaby was Olive Berry's nephew. (2) Barnaby, Fannie. Ten autograph letters to Olive Berry, 1862 - 1865, all full of family news including mentions of Nathan Barnaby's experiences from enlistment through an account of his mortal wound at the Battle of Franklin in December, 1864, and of other family members active in the war and settling the west. 38 pages, approximately 5000 words; accompanied by seven mailing envelopes. Barnaby was Olive Berry's niece. (3) Berry, Richard W. Two autograph letters to Olive Berry, 1863 and 1864, describing war experiences in the western theater, the second written from Vicksburg. 5 pages, approximately 500 words; accompanied by two mailing envelopes. Berry was Olive Berry's son. (4) (Berry, Richard W.) Shiloh, Apr. 7th & 8th 1862 [caption title]. [In the field?, 1862]. Manuscript poem describing the battle, 17 stanzas of six lines each, written on five sheets of octavo line paper, signed "R.W.B." 'No cheer is heard at battle's close, / But all is still - a deathlike spell / Of silence - broods oer friends and foes." Folded (some beaks at folds); somewhat soiled). (5) Breese, Niles D. Four autograph letters to sister Hattie Breese, February - July, 1864, describing war experiences in the eastern theater, one written from New Bern, North Carolina. 14 pages, approximately 1250 words; accompanied by a mailing envelope and Breese's "will" appointing a friend to accept money on his behalf. The Breese's were Spicer Berry's sister's children. (6) A partly printed document, completed in manuscript 7 July 1865, and signed by Clara Barton (in a secretarial hand) informing Hattie Breese of her brother's death while a prisoner-of-war at Salisbury Prison Camp in North Carolina; with a three page autograph letter to Hattie Breese from an official offering details of Niles Breese's demise. (7) Breese, N.H. Two autograph letters to Niles Breese from his mother, March, 1864, offering concern for his well-being. 8 pages, approximately 1500 words; with photographs of Niles, Hattie, and the Breese family, a genealogical chart recording births, deaths, and marriages in the family, and a piece of Hattie's handiwork, "for her wedding clothes." (8) Letters from Charles Gillett to Lucy Berry, Olive's daughter, January 1865, and from George Meade to Olive Berry, June 1862, each with news of war experiences, either personal of other family members; accompanied by a mailing envelope and a carte-de-visite of Gillett in his uniform as a Union sergeant.