GIFT FROM CHARLES DICKENS TO 'Little Lucifer Box': a Victorian figured walnut and gilt brass combined writing slope and stationary casket, the hinged upper section retaining original key, with central plaque engraved 'Happy Birthday Little Lucifer Box 20 Oct 1859', lid of lower section with circular plaque engraved 'Catherine Elizabeth Dickens', the whole approx 36 x 26cm, some damages and loss to lining, two similar (non-matching) glass inkwells present.
about Lot 62
(THH) A large and impressive pair of bronze recumbent lions, each on a Breccia marble base, 35.5cm high x 54cm wide.
about Lot 1862
A large and impressive Italian carved limestone urn, probably 17th century or earlier, decorated with a shield incorporating a coat of arms and acanthus leaves in relief, 64cm high x 62cm diameter.
about Lot 1140
UNRECORDED: RELIEF OF THE POOR IN JACOBEAN LONDON: 'Great Cryes, turned into Great Joyes; with Bountifull Helpes, and Good Hopes, to increase the same, that is; the Cryes of the Poore in the Cittie of London, and elsewhere, turned into Great Joyes..', London, printed by John Dawson for John Bellamie, and are to be sold at his shop at the Three Golden Lyons in Cornehill, neere The Royall Exchange, 1624: 80pp, rubricated borders, stab-sewn, some waterstaining round lower edges, initial leaf a bit chipped and creased, a few wormholes and tracks to initial quires but without any loss of sense, external pages dustsoiled but a good crisp copy overall, small 8vo. A rare late Jacobean tract on the relief of the London poor: we have been unable to trace any copy of this book in auction or library databases. (1)
about Lot 541
A 24fl.oz. bottle of green Chartreuse, 96 proof, 1970s bottling.
about Lot 111
Britains: a rare circa 1900 "The New Genuine Horse Race" two horse gyroscopic toy, in original box, (lacking one end).
about Lot 110
A rare antique Blue John, slate and marble urn, 27cm high.
about Lot 1667
ANNOTATED BY PETER COLLINSON, FRS (1694-1768): MARTIN (Martin): 'A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland. Containing a full account of their situation, extent, soils, product, harbours, bays, tides, anchoring places, and fisheries...': London, printed for Andrew Bell, 1703: FIRST EDITION. Large folding map of the Hebrides (neatly repaired) and folding plate of heathen temple: this copy extensively annotated by naturalist and antiquary Peter Collinson (1694-1768) over some 90 pages, with 5 pages of manuscript index and additional notes at end. He relates, for instance, the experience of General Wade, who saw an eagle kill a deer by picking out its eyes and then hovering until the deer stumbled over a precipice. He also includes information given him by Dr Walker, who visited the islands in 1765, and who conveyed to Collinson his scepticism of the reputed second sight of some islanders as well as reporting that there were 'neither wild horses or buffaloes in Scotland as Mr Buffons asserts in his nat:hist: taken from ignorant writers': title leaf cropped at upper margin, some toning and scattered spotting, occasional light waterstains but a very good copy, later full calf gilt by Kerr & Richardson of Glasgow, teg, 8vo. (1)
about Lot 51
A pair of Victorian white painted cast iron four tier semi-circular plant stands, in the manner of Coalbrookdale, 96cm high x 120cm wide.
about Lot 1717
IN MEMORIAM T E LAWRENCE, LIMITED TO 8 COPIES: WILLIAMSON (Henry): 'The Gold Falcon or The Haggard of Love': printed for the author, 1933: No.3 of 8 copies privately produced, inscribed 'No.3' and with initials 'TES' underlined in Williamson's hand below printed dedication to the author, full vellum gilt, teg, remainder untrimmed.
about Lot 122