Engineering and Railways
BESSEMER‚ Sir Henry. 10934
Letter Signed ‘Henry Bessemer’‚ to M.Boutigny (of Evreux) in London‚ undertaking that if the manufactory is not established in England by the proposed company‚ “I will not disclose or make use in any way of the process or machinery exhibited to me at La Villette”. 1 page 10 x 8 inches‚ with the integral address leaf (franked 1d red) tipped on to an old album page‚ in good condition. London‚ 20 April 1852. Sir Henry Bessemer (1813–1898)‚ steel maker‚ engineer and inventor.
Price : £100.00
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Letter Signed ‘Henry Bessemer’‚ to M.Boutigny (of Evreux) in London‚ undertaking that if the manufactory is not established in England by the proposed company‚ “I will not disclose or make use in any way of the process or machinery exhibited to me at La Villette”. 1 page 10 x 8 inches‚ with the integral address leaf (franked 1d red) tipped on to an old album page‚ in good condition. London‚ 20 April 1852. Sir Henry Bessemer (1813–1898)‚ steel maker‚ engineer and inventor. Price : £100.00
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COMBES‚ Charles. 7404
Autograph Letter Signed ‘Ch.Combes’‚ to Pierre Hippolyte Boutigny‚ professor of chemistry‚ in Evreux‚ changing the date for their scientific discussion‚ on account of a meeting of the School of Mines. In French. 1 page 7½ x 5 inches‚ with the integral address leaf lightly mounted on an album leaf. In good condition. 18 October 1844. Charles Combes (1901-1872)‚ engineer‚ industrialist‚ professor‚ and administrator at the School of Mines in Paris. Author of Traité d'exploitation des Mines (1841-45) andother works.
Price : £65.00
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Autograph Letter Signed ‘Ch.Combes’‚ to Pierre Hippolyte Boutigny‚ professor of chemistry‚ in Evreux‚ changing the date for their scientific discussion‚ on account of a meeting of the School of Mines. In French. 1 page 7½ x 5 inches‚ with the integral address leaf lightly mounted on an album leaf. In good condition. 18 October 1844. Charles Combes (1901-1872)‚ engineer‚ industrialist‚ professor‚ and administrator at the School of Mines in Paris. Author of Traité d'exploitation des Mines (1841-45) andother works. Price : £65.00
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DUPIN‚ François Pierre Charles‚ Baron. 6186
Autograph Letter Signed ‘Ch.Dupin’‚ to Archibald Constable‚ bookseller in Edinburgh‚ thanking him for his kindness and the introductions to engineers‚ and particularly for his description of the Caledonian Canal‚ mentioning also the new lights and works which are much to the credit of “Monsieur Stevenson” [George Stephenson]. In French. 2 pp. 10 x 8 inches‚ tears to right margin where opened‚ folds. Glasgow‚ 27 September 1817. An interesting letter by Charles Dupin (1784-1873)‚ the French mathematician and statistician who made a study of the naval defences‚ political institutions and commercial prosperity of England. In one of his books on this subject‚ Memoires sur la Marine et les Ponts et Chaussées de la France et de l’Angleterre‚ he describes the mechanics’ institutes he found in Glasgow‚ suggesting that similar ones could be introduced in France. Dupin was the first to raise statistics to a science in France. He was president of the jury sent by the French minister of commerce to the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Price : £120.00
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Autograph Letter Signed ‘Ch.Dupin’‚ to Archibald Constable‚ bookseller in Edinburgh‚ thanking him for his kindness and the introductions to engineers‚ and particularly for his description of the Caledonian Canal‚ mentioning also the new lights and works which are much to the credit of “Monsieur Stevenson” [George Stephenson]. In French. 2 pp. 10 x 8 inches‚ tears to right margin where opened‚ folds. Glasgow‚ 27 September 1817. An interesting letter by Charles Dupin (1784-1873)‚ the French mathematician and statistician who made a study of the naval defences‚ political institutions and commercial prosperity of England. In one of his books on this subject‚ Memoires sur la Marine et les Ponts et Chaussées de la France et de l’Angleterre‚ he describes the mechanics’ institutes he found in Glasgow‚ suggesting that similar ones could be introduced in France. Dupin was the first to raise statistics to a science in France. He was president of the jury sent by the French minister of commerce to the Great Exhibition of 1851. Price : £120.00
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FAIRBAIRN‚ Sir William. 10278
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to James Samuelson‚ sending “a notice of Mr. Unwin’s recently published work Wrought Iron Bridges and Roof” for insertion in a journal. A good one page example 7 x 4½ inches‚ folded. Manchester‚ 8 September 1869. Sir William Fairbairn (1789-1874)‚ engineer‚ established ship building works in London (1835-49)‚ patented principle of wrought-iron girders for use in bridge construction. W.C.Unwin‚ engineer‚ was Fairbairn’s assistant.
Price : £65.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to James Samuelson‚ sending “a notice of Mr. Unwin’s recently published work Wrought Iron Bridges and Roof” for insertion in a journal. A good one page example 7 x 4½ inches‚ folded. Manchester‚ 8 September 1869. Sir William Fairbairn (1789-1874)‚ engineer‚ established ship building works in London (1835-49)‚ patented principle of wrought-iron girders for use in bridge construction. W.C.Unwin‚ engineer‚ was Fairbairn’s assistant. Price : £65.00
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FOX‚ Sir Charles. 5627
Letter Signed ‘Charles Fox’‚ to J.Samuelson‚ returning the proof of Fox’s paper on the projected Mersey Tunnel Railway‚ and asking for his opinion “in the matter of getting say 250 copies of the paper printed”. 1 page 8 x 5 inches‚ in good condition. 8 New Street‚ Spring Gardens‚ London‚ 6 March 1869. Sir Charles Fox (1810-74)‚ civil engineer‚ appointed by Robert Stephenson to be one of the constructing engineers of the London and Birmingham Railway‚ assisted Paxton with the Great Exhibition Building‚ built the first narrow gauge railway in India.
Price : £50.00
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Letter Signed ‘Charles Fox’‚ to J.Samuelson‚ returning the proof of Fox’s paper on the projected Mersey Tunnel Railway‚ and asking for his opinion “in the matter of getting say 250 copies of the paper printed”. 1 page 8 x 5 inches‚ in good condition. 8 New Street‚ Spring Gardens‚ London‚ 6 March 1869. Sir Charles Fox (1810-74)‚ civil engineer‚ appointed by Robert Stephenson to be one of the constructing engineers of the London and Birmingham Railway‚ assisted Paxton with the Great Exhibition Building‚ built the first narrow gauge railway in India. Price : £50.00
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GUEST‚ John Josiah. 11407
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to ‘My dear Kashmiri[?]’‚probably a daughter‚ containing an entertaining account of his travels in the North‚ incorporating a small sketch of a Highlander. 3½ pages 7 x 4½ inches‚ in good condtion. Aboyne‚ 16 September 1848. Sir Josiah John Guest‚ 1st Baronet (1785-1852)‚ Welsh engineer and ironmaster. He made many improvements in the manufacture of iron by applying his chemical and engineering knowledge. His public works included a school at Dowlais‚ designed by Sir Charles Barry. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was the first chairman of the Taff Vale Railway. His second wife was Lady Charlotte Guest‚ the editor of the Mabinogion. “...you probably do not exactly know what a kilt is‚ I have therefore asked Mama who is peeping at the letter over my shoulder to give you a sketch of a Highlander - here it is - but as she is indisposed to do it‚ I am obliged to do it myself.”
Price : £75.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to ‘My dear Kashmiri[?]’‚probably a daughter‚ containing an entertaining account of his travels in the North‚ incorporating a small sketch of a Highlander. 3½ pages 7 x 4½ inches‚ in good condtion. Aboyne‚ 16 September 1848. Sir Josiah John Guest‚ 1st Baronet (1785-1852)‚ Welsh engineer and ironmaster. He made many improvements in the manufacture of iron by applying his chemical and engineering knowledge. His public works included a school at Dowlais‚ designed by Sir Charles Barry. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was the first chairman of the Taff Vale Railway. His second wife was Lady Charlotte Guest‚ the editor of the Mabinogion. “...you probably do not exactly know what a kilt is‚ I have therefore asked Mama who is peeping at the letter over my shoulder to give you a sketch of a Highlander - here it is - but as she is indisposed to do it‚ I am obliged to do it myself.” Price : £75.00
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HAWKSLEY‚ Charles. 11126
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to E.W.Cooke R.A.‚ accepting an invitation. 3 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 22 Queensborough Terrace‚ Bayswater‚ 21 November 1878. Charles Hawksley (1839–1917)‚ civil engineer.
Price : £30.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to E.W.Cooke R.A.‚ accepting an invitation. 3 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 22 Queensborough Terrace‚ Bayswater‚ 21 November 1878. Charles Hawksley (1839–1917)‚ civil engineer. Price : £30.00
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HORNBLOWER‚ Jonathan. 11252
Original Bill‚ submitted by Jonathan Enys to Jonathan Hornblower‚ for materials and labour used at “Mr. Hornblower’s Mill” during the first half of 1796. 1 page 13 x 8 inches‚ marginal defects. 1796. Jonathan Hornblower (17531815)‚ pioneer of steam power. He developed a compound engine in 1781 but was prevented from pursuing his invention by litigation with James Watt His compound steam engine principle was not revived until 1804 by Arthur Woolf. Following the expiration of Boulton and Watt's patent‚ Hornblower's compound steam engine principle contributed significantly to the increases in steam engine efficiency. He invented the double-beat steam valve in around 1800. In other developments in steam technology‚ however‚ he was more successful and he died a rich man at Penryn in 1815. He is buried in St Gluvias churchyard.
Price : £100.00
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Original Bill‚ submitted by Jonathan Enys to Jonathan Hornblower‚ for materials and labour used at “Mr. Hornblower’s Mill” during the first half of 1796. 1 page 13 x 8 inches‚ marginal defects. 1796. Jonathan Hornblower (17531815)‚ pioneer of steam power. He developed a compound engine in 1781 but was prevented from pursuing his invention by litigation with James Watt His compound steam engine principle was not revived until 1804 by Arthur Woolf. Following the expiration of Boulton and Watt's patent‚ Hornblower's compound steam engine principle contributed significantly to the increases in steam engine efficiency. He invented the double-beat steam valve in around 1800. In other developments in steam technology‚ however‚ he was more successful and he died a rich man at Penryn in 1815. He is buried in St Gluvias churchyard. Price : £100.00
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LYSTER‚ George Fosby. 11325
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Mr. Braby‚ regretting he can not accept the tickets for the Albert Hall‚ but making other arrangements to meet. 4 pp. 6 x 4 inches‚ pinhole‚ traces of mounting. Athenaeum Club‚ 31 October 1882. George Fosby Lyster‚ engineer in chief of the Liverpool Docks. He installed the floating roadway in 1873-4.
Price : £30.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Mr. Braby‚ regretting he can not accept the tickets for the Albert Hall‚ but making other arrangements to meet. 4 pp. 6 x 4 inches‚ pinhole‚ traces of mounting. Athenaeum Club‚ 31 October 1882. George Fosby Lyster‚ engineer in chief of the Liverpool Docks. He installed the floating roadway in 1873-4. Price : £30.00
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MALLET‚ Robert. 6885
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to John Forbes Royle‚ asking how “a young acquaintance... whose energetic and cultivated mind‚ deserves a better worldly fate than he is placed in‚ and who has been educated a Surgeon in this City” should go about applying for a position with the East India Company. 3 pp. 8 x 5 inches‚ remains of guard‚ folds‚ with the original envelope (stamp removed). 28 January 1841. Robert Mallet (1810–1881)‚ Irish civil engineer and scientist‚ was engaged in many engineering works in Ireland. His foundry supplied the castings for the first Fastnet Rock lighthouse (1848–9). Mallet invented the buckled plate‚ which he patented in 1852 (No. 557). Such plates were used widely in structures‚ particularly for flooring‚ where they combined maximum strength with minimum depth and weight. Mallet's investigations in physical geology were directed towards four main areas: glacial flowage (1837–45)‚ geological dynamics (1835 onwards)‚ seismology (1845 onwards)‚ and vulcanology (1862 onwards). Between 1850 and 1858‚ he coined no less than eight terms with the prefix ‘seism-’‚ including seismology. His classic paper to the Royal Irish Academy in 1846 on earthquake dynamics is regarded as one of the foundations of modern seismology. His correspondent is J.F.Royle (1799-1858)‚ surgeon and naturalist.
Price : £65.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to John Forbes Royle‚ asking how “a young acquaintance... whose energetic and cultivated mind‚ deserves a better worldly fate than he is placed in‚ and who has been educated a Surgeon in this City” should go about applying for a position with the East India Company. 3 pp. 8 x 5 inches‚ remains of guard‚ folds‚ with the original envelope (stamp removed). 28 January 1841. Robert Mallet (1810–1881)‚ Irish civil engineer and scientist‚ was engaged in many engineering works in Ireland. His foundry supplied the castings for the first Fastnet Rock lighthouse (1848–9). Mallet invented the buckled plate‚ which he patented in 1852 (No. 557). Such plates were used widely in structures‚ particularly for flooring‚ where they combined maximum strength with minimum depth and weight. Mallet's investigations in physical geology were directed towards four main areas: glacial flowage (1837–45)‚ geological dynamics (1835 onwards)‚ seismology (1845 onwards)‚ and vulcanology (1862 onwards). Between 1850 and 1858‚ he coined no less than eight terms with the prefix ‘seism-’‚ including seismology. His classic paper to the Royal Irish Academy in 1846 on earthquake dynamics is regarded as one of the foundations of modern seismology. His correspondent is J.F.Royle (1799-1858)‚ surgeon and naturalist. Price : £65.00
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MANBY‚ Charles. 9836
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to C.Tomlinson‚ about Manby’s lecture‚ which his correspondent can not attend‚ and “I must draw largely upon your book for assistance in the description of various contrivances”. 4 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ in good condition. Institution of Civil Engineers‚ 21 February 1854. Chrles Manby (1804-1884)‚ civil engineer.
Price : £35.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to C.Tomlinson‚ about Manby’s lecture‚ which his correspondent can not attend‚ and “I must draw largely upon your book for assistance in the description of various contrivances”. 4 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ in good condition. Institution of Civil Engineers‚ 21 February 1854. Chrles Manby (1804-1884)‚ civil engineer. Price : £35.00
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PARKES‚ Josiah. 11313
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Charles Manby‚ the civil engineer‚ about the funeral of “our departed & illustrious colleague”. 2 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 11 Great College Street‚ 17 October 1859. Josiah Parkes (1793-1871)‚ agricultural and civil engineer‚ inventor of the deep-drainage system.
Price : £35.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Charles Manby‚ the civil engineer‚ about the funeral of “our departed & illustrious colleague”. 2 pp. 7 x 4½ inches‚ fine. 11 Great College Street‚ 17 October 1859. Josiah Parkes (1793-1871)‚ agricultural and civil engineer‚ inventor of the deep-drainage system. Price : £35.00
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RENNIE‚ Sir John. 11033
Autograph Letter signed‚ to Mr. Field‚ deploring his correspondent’s “meddling” and referring to the [London] Bridge Committee. A good one page example‚ 7 x 4½ inches‚ integral blank leaf. 27 August 1832. Sir John Rennie (1794-1874)‚ engineer‚ second son of John Rennie (1761-1821). Their most important commission‚ London Bridge‚ was opened in 1831. “In reply to your letter I cannot consent to your meddling with any of our work. The Responsibility must rest with yourself unless you can get the consent of the Bridge Committee.”
Price : £150.00
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Autograph Letter signed‚ to Mr. Field‚ deploring his correspondent’s “meddling” and referring to the [London] Bridge Committee. A good one page example‚ 7 x 4½ inches‚ integral blank leaf. 27 August 1832. Sir John Rennie (1794-1874)‚ engineer‚ second son of John Rennie (1761-1821). Their most important commission‚ London Bridge‚ was opened in 1831. “In reply to your letter I cannot consent to your meddling with any of our work. The Responsibility must rest with yourself unless you can get the consent of the Bridge Committee.” Price : £150.00
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SMYTH‚ Robert Brough. 6987
Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Mr.Hyde Clarke‚ anxious to meet “after I shall have got through the business that now wholly engages my attention”. 2 pp. 6 x 4 inches‚ fine. Morley’s Hotel‚ 24 September 1880. Robert Brough Smyth (1830–1889)‚ civil servant and mining engineer‚ arrived in Australia in 1852. The government published Smyth's compilation on Victorian mining‚ The Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria‚ in 1869. In 1871‚ the geological survey was re-established under Smyth's supervision. He compiled The Aborigines of Victoria‚ published in 1878.
Price : £45.00
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Autograph Letter Signed‚ to Mr.Hyde Clarke‚ anxious to meet “after I shall have got through the business that now wholly engages my attention”. 2 pp. 6 x 4 inches‚ fine. Morley’s Hotel‚ 24 September 1880. Robert Brough Smyth (1830–1889)‚ civil servant and mining engineer‚ arrived in Australia in 1852. The government published Smyth's compilation on Victorian mining‚ The Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria‚ in 1869. In 1871‚ the geological survey was re-established under Smyth's supervision. He compiled The Aborigines of Victoria‚ published in 1878. Price : £45.00
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