ORIGINAL DRAWINGS.-Cont'd. ginson. The Orphan of Baker Street. Vol. I." And below this a remarque sketch of a man shooting a large duck. The other drawing shows the Captain conversing with a darkeyed coquette; with the description: "And where meanwhile was the Captain? In the distant island of Tobago flirting with the black-eyed daughter of Molasses, the Mulatto Planter. Vol. II." On an oblong folio sheet, framed and glazed. 692. ORIGINAL PEN-AND-INK DRAWING BY THACKERAY, "British Valor defending Innocence." A British sailor defending "Rosetta" from a French Marshal and his Grenadiers. On an oblong sheet 414 by 11 inches. * Beside it Thackeray has written the following explanation: "Rosetta. Kyind Providence! protect the gallant stranger! Jack. Avast there you Swabs! What? Keelhauling that tight little frigate-and six on you!-for shame. But if jis too much for such a poor little cock boat as that-they aint more than enough for a British Sailor. Damn you. Come on you lily-livered lee scupper. Damn you & blast you and blast (the damns ad libitum). The Marshal. Sacre! the villian has disarranged my plans. Charge Grenadiers, Vive l'Omperure! 1st Grenadier. Sacre! We're not used to fight with such weapons. Let him lay down his fists and will charge fast enough. 2, 3, 4, Grenadiers (together) Yes Yes.'' Etc. 693. NINE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY W. M. THACKERAY sent to Edward FitzGerald, the translator of Omar Khayyam, to illustrate his letters. Inlaid to 4to, red levant morocco, gilt, gilt top. * Inserted in the volume is a letter from Edward V. Lucas, the author, which gives the history of the drawings. It reads: "The nine accompanying drawings were made by Thackeray— along in the early thirties-to illustrate his letters to Edward FitzGerald, the Translator of Omar Khayyam. After Thackeray's death in 1863 FitzGerald destroyed the letters and pasted all the drawings, numbering about one hundred, in an album . . . . Afterwards he sent all the drawings but the accompanying nine to Thackeray's daughter Mrs. Richmond Ritchie, who now has them. These nine he gave to Miss Churchyard with the remark that some day they would be valuable. Since then very few persons have seen them & they have never been reproduced," etc. On the backs of 2 of the drawings are fragments of letters to FitzGerald, in Thackeray's handwriting. Four of the sketches of George IV, Louis the 18th, Eros, and Anteros, are pencil drawings washed with colors; the others are in pen-and-ink or a single tone. 694. ORIGINAL PENCIL DRAWING. Signed by him: "Spanish Letter Writer, by W. M. Thackeray." 12mo, mounted to 4to, framed and glazed. ORIGINAL DRAWINGS.-Cont'd. 695. THREE ORIGINAL PEN-AND-INK DRAWINGS BY THACKERAY. The Falconer's Boy, with three captive falcons; A woman in Elizabethan costume seated at a table eating and a caricature of Queen Elizabeth, 'Dancing to amuse the Court.' All on a small folio sheet, mounted, framed and glazed. * Each has a short poetical description beneath, written in Thackeray's autograph. The one for the portrait of Elizabeth runs as follows: "And so accoutred, Bess the Queen, Old rouged and hideous might be seen. And dancing to amuse the court. Old rouged and hideous as she was The Courtiers gave the Queen applause; And howsoever old and ill, Herself she fancied charming still. Is no one vain besides old Bess? And flatterers and knaves I guess Have found King Hudson since Queen Bess." 696. ORIGINAL (See Illustration.) WATER-COLOR DRAWING BY THACKERAY. Portrait study of Isabella Getkin Creagh Shawe, afterwards Mrs. Thackeray. Half-length, with heavy cape. Autograph inscription on the back signed "H. Shawe"; "The likeness of my dear sister Isabella-The most gentle and amiable of women." 12mo, framed and glazed. * Accompanying it are two A. L. S. One from Mrs. Ritchie and the other from Esabel M. Shawe, in regard to the portrait. Mrs. Ritchie writes: "It is genuine but not very characteristic of my fathers sketching style, rather of his serious effort when he was working.” And, quoting from Miss Shawe's letter to Mr. Thompson: "The little sketch is by my uncle W. M. Thackeray, and is of my Aunt (and namesake) Isabella Shawe. I thought Lady Ritchie wd, like to have it, being by her father's hand but she possesses a larger one (for which this was a study),' 697. ORIGINAL SKETCHES IN INK. Three men in early English costumes, and a dog; with six lines in Thackeray's hand on different parts of the quarto sheet. The lines begin: "And so let us take a respectful farewell of Mr. Willis; remembering that he is a stranger come among us," etc. 698. ORIGINAL PEN-AND-INK DRAWING of a party at dinner, seven figures on a sheet of drawing paper of quarto size, mounted. * Beneath there are five lines in Thackeray's hand, beginning: "Mrs. D. For shame my Lord I beseech you to let go my hand.” |