ALS. 3pp. 4 ¼” x 7”. June 4, 1853. Albany [United Kingdom]. An autograph letter signed “T B MacAuley” to Lord John: “The Lord Provost [Duncan McLaren] and two Baillies from Edinburgh wanted or had Aberdeen [who was Prime Minister then] today on the subject of the Amnesty Tax. They wish to see you on Monday, and I hope that they will be able to do so. I am forced to go to Oxford, or I would accompany them. Their object it to induce you to let their bill be brought in as a government bill either by the Lord Advocate or by Charteris. If you could consent to this, you would make the ministry very popular at Edinburgh, and I think that you might do so with much less risk than you would have incurred six weeks ago. The Lord Provost will tell you his story very clearly and concisely, and I hope that you will be able to give him a satisfactory answer.” The letter has light mat burn around a couple edges and mailing folds.

ARCHIVE OF SIGNED LETTERS BY GASTON MASPERO, THE NOTED NINETEENTH CENTURY FRENCH EGYPTOLOGIST: “THESE IMAGES GIVE US VALUABLE INFORMATION BY SHOWING US PRECISELY IN WHAT CONDITION THE MONUMENTS OF UPPER AND MIDDLE EGYPT WERE FOUND SOME FIFTY YEARS AGO”

GASTON MASPERO (1846-1916). Maspero was the leading French Egyptologist of his generation and known for popularizing the term “sea peoples.”

This archive consists of thirteen letters written by Gaston Maspero during the first decade of the twentieth century. From 1881-1914, Maspero was the director-general of excavations and of the antiquities of Egypt. He helped pioneer the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, which still exists today as a center for the study of archaeology, history, and languages of ancient Egyptian civilizations. Notable actions during his tenure included the discovery of the eroded Pyramid of Amenemhet I, the clearing of the Luxor Temple, and properly dating the Great Sphinx. Thus, this archive would be significant to any Egyptologist or student of the modern Middle East. Six of the letters are written in French and seven are written in Arabic. Most are hand-written, though a few are typed.

Here is a sampling of the French letters:

1. TLS. 1pg. November 14, 1906. Cairo.  A typed letter signed “G Maspero” addressed to The Counselor of the Ministry of Public Works: “Mr. Counselor, Following up on your communication of this 7 November No. 7629 A.K., I have the honor to inform you that, having taken note of the proposals formulated by the Executive Committee, I have determined that the third of the proposed schemes would be best suited to rebuilding the staff of our Department.  Please accept, Mr. Counselor, the assurance of my profound respect.  The Director General.  G Maspero The Counselor of the Ministry of Public Works Cairo”.  The letter has a few file holes on the left side and markings from a rubber stamp.

2. TLS. 2pgs. March 19, 1907. Cairo.  A typed letter signed “G Maspero” written on “Executive Office Of The Antiquities Department” stationery.  Maspero wrote to the Counselor of the Ministry of Public Works: “Mr. Counselor, The Committee on Egyptology, at its session of the 13th of this month, authorized me to purchase from the widow Madame Beato a certain number of photographic plates that had been produced by the late Beato, the well-known photographer.  These images give us valuable information by showing us precisely in what condition the monuments of Upper and Middle Egypt were found some fifty years ago, and they deserve to be preserved at the Museum where we have already begun an important collection of images of the same type.  I therefore write to ask, Mr. Counselor, provided you have no objection to this acquisition, that you kindly direct the Ministry of Finance so that we may settle its price which, on the basis of 158 plates at 60 piastres each, and 150 plates at 40 piastres each, amounts to 154,800 Egyptian Pounds, to be paid from our extrabudgetary account (publications).  Please accept, Mr. Counselor, the assurance of my profound respect.  The Director General, G Maspero”.  The letter has punch holes in the left margin and markings from a rubber stamp.

3. LS. 1pg. June 5, 1900. Giza.  A signature “G Maspero” approving a request; he signed as The Director General of the Antiquities Department.  The French states: “Mr. Director General, I request that you kindly grant me three and a half months’ leave to go abroad, beginning this 13 July.  Please accept, Mr. Director General, the expression of my most faithful regards.  G. Daressy.”  The letter has a vignette of the Egyptian government in the upper left, a few file holes in the left margin and a stain, perhaps from a previous attachment.

All are in fine condition, with occasional minor folds and stains.

AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER BY HENRI MATISSE MENTIONING PAUL SIGNAC AND OTHER FRENCH MODERNISTS

HENRI MATISSE (1869-1954). Matisse was a celebrated French modernist artist.

ALS. 1pg. August 30, 1927. N.p. An autograph letter signed “H. Matisse” in French. Writing to artist Charles Thorndike (1875-1935) following what seems to have been an unfulfilling visit to Thorndike’s home, Matisse mentions several other Modernists. In translation, the letter reads: “Dear Friend – My journey was good and hot which suited me and the change of location has changed my disposition – the cold has descended on my throat and bothers me much less than in Kermouster. I am quite upset to have been such a bad guest and very touched by all your care – I do not dare think while seeing this beautiful weather about all the pleasure that I could have been able to take, prolonged walks and bathing as well as good humor, which would have been less unpleasant for you – I would not know how to live well lying down – I am touched by your kindness. I have asked Mr. Joly to instruct you to give the friends I was to see, Signac and Mr. Louis (Talek or Pahadi), my regrets and thanks to Dr. Brandes. I have fairly good news from Madame Matisse. While waiting for the pleasure of seeing you, then I will be tough I hope, please accept my best friendship. H. Matisse”. Signac was Neo-Impressionist painter Paul Signac (1863-1935), while Joly was probably Post-Impressionist Jean Joly (1900-1952). The recipient, Thorndike, was an American-born artist who lived in Kermouster in the Brittany region of France. There, he entertained several significant artists of the period. The letter is in very good condition.

ALS. 1pp. 6” x 7 ¼”. Jan 7 1887. Elmira, N.Y. An autograph letter signed “Justin McCarthy” on “Rathbun House” letterhead. He wrote to an unidentified correspondent: “I thank you very much for your kind invitation to the Clover Clubs anniversary dinner and I very much wish I could be there. But I fear there is not the remotest chance of my being anywhere near Philadelphia on the 20th of January, and so I can’t avail myself of your kindness.” The letter, penned in blue ink, is in fine condition overall There is a slight chip to the upper left corner that affects nothing.

TWO JUSTIN McCARTHY LETTERS CONCERNING HIS BOOKS

JUSTIN McCARTHY (1830-1912).  McCarthy was an Irish writer and nationalist.  He was elected to Parliament in 1879 as a representative for Ireland’s County Longford, and served until 1900.  He was a Home Rule supporter and a strong follower of Prime Minister Gladstone.

Two letters signed by Justin McCarthy regarding his literary efforts:

a) ALS. 3pg. 4 ½” x 7”. July 3, 1901. Ashleydene.  A lengthy autograph letter signed “Justin McCarthy”: “I feel quite sure that I may readily undertake to give my signature to any literary announcement issued by Dr. Albert Ellery Bergh and the Colonial Press.  I should be glad however to see each announcement before it goes forth as I might perhaps have some addition or alteration to suggest.  I may say that my agreement with Mr. Bergh was that I should act as an advising member of the Library Committee for the publication of ‘The World’s Great Classics’ for which a fee of one hundred guineas was to be paid to me.  That fee I have long since received and acknowledged.  It was also understood that I might be asked to write an introduction for one of the volumes at a separate fee.  My services therefore is advice, suggestion, and other such cooperation have been paid for in advance by the Colonial Press.  I shall be happy at all times to receive any communications or to offer any advice or lend any help in connection with your noble literary enterprise.”  The letter has mailing folds and is in fine condition.

b) TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. August 19, 1901. Ashleydene.  A typed letter signed “Justin McCarthy” to Albert Ellery Bergh, a prominent publisher: “I send with this the introduction to Voltaire’s Charles XII.  I hope it will reach you in good time and I think it is of suitable length for the purpose.”  He then handwrote at the bottom “I should like to see a proof of the Introduction, if that were feasible.”  The letter has mailing folds and is in very good condition.

QUEBECOIS POLITICIAN AND BUSINESSMAN PETER MCGILL MENTIONS THE NEWLY-CHARTERED BRITISH AMERICAN LAND COMPANY

PETER McGILL (1789-1860). McGill was a Scottish-born Quebecois politician and businessman. He was President of the Bank of Montreal and also founded Canada’s first railroad company. There’s a district of Montreal named for McGill, though McGill University is named for someone else.

ALS. 2pgs. March 26, 1834. Montreal. An autograph letter signed “Peter McGill”. McGill wrote to a James Baxter, McGill about the British American Land Company, an entity that was established in 1832 to purchase and develop lands in eastern Canada. “Dear Sir I am in receipt of your letter of 23 int for which I thank you. I am fully aware of the importance of the matters to which you advert, and you may rest assured that the Representatives of the Land Company will attend immediately to the ameleorations you suggest. They are deeply impressed with the necessity of good roads and much consideration will be given to the subject. Hoping for the disinterested cooperation of all the respectable part of the Eastern Community. There is every probability of Mr. Brooks being employed in a confidential situation in the Company. Will you give me your candid opinion in the most perfect confidence what the people would think, or what the effect would be if Mr. W. B. F. was employed in the Companys services?…Peter McGill”.  The Land Company had officially been chartered this same month, March 1834, and McGill was one of its first commissioners. At the time of writing this letter, McGill was also on the Legislative Council of Lower Canada. The letter is slightly wrinkled and in very good condition overall.