9th Jul, 2025 10:00
DREAMS | A Unique Private Collection
257
John Ruskin (1819-1900)
a collection of twelve signed letters, comprising
1) a letter addressed to 'Boyce', stating he had 'written to Rosetti' for his address,
2) a letter addressed to 'My dear Sir' responding to a gentleman 'enquiring for a Turner autograph',
3) a letter addressed to 'Mr Hall' (S.C. Hall, Esq.), worrying that he 'caused Miss Virtue some trouble by not presenting the enclosed cheque' and he sees 'the Palestine exploration people are in want of funds, perhaps Miss Virtue will be kind enough to write a new cheque for them',
4) a letter addressed to 'Calverly Hotel, Tunbridge Wells', stating he enjoyed the poems he had received which 'must be the case with every faithful lover of Derwent water - which in spite of a rather - in full consistence with - a more recent devotion to the Alps, I still claim to be - as one loves one's nurse faithfully',
5) a letter addressed to 'Mr Mackay' (Charles Mackay Esq.), apologising for a delay in response and wishing to chat to him on his return to England,
6) a letter addressed to 'Mr Smith', discussing plates 'just published, - plate 4. 12 guineas. I think this an exorbitant price - I wish you would ask one or two lithographers here what they would estimate it at',
7) another to S C Whitworth Esq., thanking him 'for the gift of your book, with every word of which I concur', complete with its envelope,
8) a letter address to 'My dear Madam', thanking the recipient for the book and commenting 'the Flaxmann designs become very interesting in this direct association with the text',
9) a letter addressed to 'Dear Mrs Barnard', stating 'You needn't come to Oxford, but you must write out the Charter, and sign it & send it to me',
10) a letter to Alexander Edmonston Esq., explaining he 'wanted the second part of Sir Charles Grandison - and on sending the first to the library from which I saw it had been purloined, it was claimed as private property - I must therefore refer again to you - and I send back the Blackwood too',
11) a letter to Benjamin Vincent Esq., stating his 'letters are all in arrears - I suppose I can be of no service now about the abstract - If it is not printed yet - just put - Can Grande della Scala for Castruccio Castracani',
12) a letter addressed to 'My dear Sir', explaining he is 'now done with Walker and Burnet'... 'but I want to see the other three parts of Burnet's work, if I can.', later wanting 'to know the price of 'Collection of Ancient Fragments', by J. P. Cary, 1832', and
a further signed letter by J Rosa Barnard,
addressed to 'Dear Madame, stating she has received one of her 'mother's letters from John Ruskin which I enclose. It seemed a pity to cut the signature so I send you all of it & am glad for you to have & keep it. Believe me' (13)
Browse the selection of John Ruskin Letters featured in our 9 July 'Dreams | A Unique Private Collection' auction.
£1,000 - £1,500
Buyer's premium: 30.00% (inclusive of VAT, where applicable)
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Auction: DREAMS | A Unique Private Collection, 9th Jul, 2025
Viewing
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 4 July, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 6 July, 10am - 1pm
Monday 7 July, 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 8 July, 10am - 4pm
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