WILBERFORCE, William (1759-1833); POLE, Thomas (1753-1829)

WILBERFORCE, William (1759-1833); POLE, Thomas (1753-1829)

WILBERFORCE, William (1759-1833); POLE, Thomas (1753-1829), A group of three interesting autograph letters from abolitionist William Wilberforce, each addressed to the Quaker physician and educationalist Thomas Pole. 

Letters dated Dec. 22 1814; Oct. 17 1815; Oct. 17 1815. 

The two earlier letters are in the hand of William Wilberforce, the third in that of his secretary; all three are signed by Wilberforce, and each has the original mailing envelope inscribed with his name and that of Dr Pole.

The letters mainly concern Pole’s influential book on adult education, ‘A history of the origin and progress of adult schools: with an account of some of the beneficial effects already produced on the moral character of the labouring poor’ (1814), which was arguably the first study on adult education and helped launch a national adult school movement in the United Kingdom.

It appears Wilberforce had previously received a request from Pole for an introductory letter of commendation for his book. In reply Wilberforce is highly complimentary and urges Pole to publish in America.  For example, at the end of the earliest letter Wilberforce writes, “Has yr book been sent to America (O for peace with our transatlantic brethren!!!) If not I should like to send it to a very worthy friend there.”

£2250

NEGREIROS, Jose Manuel de Carvalho e (1751-1815), Student workbook,  comprising original drawings, printed books, and engravings.

NEGREIROS, Jose Manuel de Carvalho e (1751-1815), Student workbook, comprising original drawings, printed books, and engravings.

Compiled circa 1770. Folio. The volume contains the following printed works and original drawings, all bound together:

AUDRAN, Gerard, Les Proportions du Corps Humain, mesures sur les plus belles figures de l'antiquite. 1st edition, Paris, 1683, [7]pp., 30 etched plates. Ownership signature of Jose Manuel de Carvalho e Negreiros to title page.

ARISET, R.M., Nouveau livre de principes de dessein receulli des etudes des meilleurs maitres tant anciens que modernes, Paris & Lyon, [1748?], additional engraved title, engraved vignette title, engraved text leaf and 29 (of 37) etched plates, manuscript folio numbers.

NEGREIROS, Nine red chalk drawings, twenty one pencil drawings by Negreiros.

HOLSTEYN, Cornelis, Verscheyde aerdig kinderspel. Amsterdam : Cornelis Holsteyn inventor, Michiel Mosyn sculpsit, Cornelis Dankerts excudit. [1630?]. Engraved title page. Six engraved plates (inc. title), 15 x 20 cm., depicting children at play, pasted to two blank leaves. OCLC locates only 1 known copy of this suite of plates, at the Harry Ransom Center, Texas.

THOMASSIN, Philippe (1562-1622), Antiq[uarum] statuar[um] urbis Romae. Liber primus / Philippus Thomassin[us] sculpsit, excuditq[ue] Romae. [Rome] : Gio. Iacomo Rossi formis Romae alla pace. [c1660]. Engravings numbered 1-50 (12 x 8 cm.) including title, each cut out and mounted on blank leaves. Each engraving captioned with name of statue and most with name of collection, principally the Borghese collection. OCLC locates 3 copies in the USA (National Gallery of Art Library, Yale Beinecke Library, University of Ontago) and 3 copies in Europe (TIB Hannover, SUB Gottingen, Universitatsbibliothek Rostock).

ENEA, Vico; ROSSI, Giovanni Domenico de, Ex gemmis et cameis antiquorum aliquot monumenta ab Aenea Vico Parmen[ensi] incis[a] perillustri et exccellent[issi]mo d[omin]o D. Dominico Panarolo Rom[an]o in patrio lyc[a]eo medicin[a]e professori Io. Dominicus de Rubeis d.d. [Rome] : Gio. Giacomo Rossi le stampa alla Pace in Roma alli insegna di Parigi, [1650?]. 34 engravings pasted to blank leaves.

There are also several other engravings of classical subjects that I have not identified.

The volume has been assembled by the influential architect Jose Manuel de Carvalho e Negreiros himself; he has inscribed the title page of the first book, and numbered the pages to the upper outer corners throughout in ink. So, although the book has been rebound relatively recently, it is clear that the collation of the various texts, sketches and suites of plates are in the order Negreiros originally arranged them.

This collection reveals important insights into the journey and learning of Negreiros in Florence and Rome – a period of his life otherwise undocumented - and how it influenced his work and Portuguese architecture. Negreiros was born in to a family of masons and architects, a dynasty that played a determining role in Portuguese architecture through the 17th and the 18th centuries. 1768 to 1776 was a formative period for Negreiros, when he spent his time learning in the major art centres of Italy.  In 1776 he returned to Portugal where he became known as an "expert in his profession" and, as city architect, his name is still inextricably linked to the reconstruction of Lisbon after the catastrophic earthquake of 1755. Up until now the details of his stay in Italy have remained almost entirely unknown.  This collection of texts, drawings and engravings reveals the cultural exchange that his journey entailed, allowing an understanding of how it influenced his work and the Portuguese architecture still standing today.

£12,500

[OLDROYD, Joshua, Wine-Merchant]

[OLDROYD, Joshua, Wine-Merchant]

A Catalogue of all the Genuine Household Furniture, Plate, Linnen, and China, of Mr. Joshua Oldroyd, Wine-Merchant, deceas'd, at his late Dwelling House on Tower-Hill, the corner of Tower-Street: Consisting of Damask, and other Furniture, Bedding, Chairs, Tables in Mahogany, and walnut-tree, Sconces and Chimney Glasses, Stove Grates, an Eight-Day Clock by Webster, two Lead Cisterns, a large Copper, Brewing Utensils, and Kitchen Furniture. To be sold by Auction, on Thursday the 9th Instant, Aug. By order of the Executor. The whole to be viewed on Wednesday the 8th Instant, and till the Time of Sale, which will begin at Eleven, all being sold in one Day. 

Catalogues to be had at the Place of sale the Day of viewing, and at Mess. Whiting and Macquistin, Upholsterers, in Watling-Street. Not one article in this Sale, but what was the property of the Deceased. Thursday, August 9, 1753.

Octavo. Original plain grey stitched wrappers, manuscript inscription to front cover "Mr. Hussey's Catalogue", very good original condition. 

Pagination pp. 8, interleaved.

The catalogue details conditions of sale, quite straightforward, noting increments and outlining conditions for payment and collection.

The catalogue is divided into sections by location or item:

Numb. I In the Garretts;

Numb. II. Two Pairs of Stairs backwards;

Numb. III. Two Pairs of Stairs forwards;

Numb. IV. Dining Room;

Numb. V. The Parlour;

Numb. VI. The Counting House and Passage; Jewells; Plate; Linnen; China;

Numb. VII. The kitchen;

Numb. VIII. In the Yard and Brewhouse.

The catalogue is interleaved throughout with items manuscript ruled sections, carefully noting prices paid and by whom; the results generally exceeding estimates and the names frequently repeated. A remarkably nice and evocative survival. The catalogue is unrecorded on ESTC.

[ref: 7192 ] SOLD