22 Nov 2011
10:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street
Books, Maps, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs, including the Property of the late Michael Silverman
Back to auction 18992
Books, Maps, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs, including the Property of the late Michael Silverman
Back to auction 18992
DARWIN (CHARLES)
Letter signed ("Ch. Darwin"), the text in the hand of his wife Emma, to "Gentlemen", regretting that as the state of his health will prevent his attending the proposed concerts in aid of the Rifle Corps he must decline the honour of being a patron; wishing them nevertheless all success in the undertaking, one page, tipped at the top edge of the second page (just touching the next) onto an album leaf, 8vo, Down, 23 April 1872
Sold for
£1,375
inc. premium
Footnotes
- The Rifle Corps had been established in 1859 during growing fears, exacerbated by the Crimean War, that the British army was overstretched by the Empire and amidst fears of a French invasion. At the time this letter was written they had been taken over by the War Department, having until then been local county establishments. They were finally to see active service in the Boer War. Darwin's eldest boys, along with his devoted valet Parslow, drilled with the High Elms Rifle Corps, established by their neighbours the Lubbocks (see E. Janet Brown, Charles Darwin: the Power of Place, 2003, p.458).
Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts
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