Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 132

MONTAGU and BOWER

22 November 2011, 10:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £312.50 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Books & Manuscripts specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

MONTAGU and BOWER

Autograph letter signed by Archibald Bower, to Elizabeth Montagu ("Carissima Madonna"), thanking her for a letter and hamper, praising her generosity, comparing her to Cleopatra (whom she surpasses in every excellence), and adding: "I hope to lay the last volume of my History [of the Popes] at your feet, as a Tabula Votiva, before, or soon after Christmas", one page, integral leaf, address-panel ("To Mrs Montagu"), seal-tears (repaired), 4to, [1760s]

Footnotes

A FINE LETTER TO 'THE QUEEN OF BLUESTOCKINGS', from an ardent if unreliable admirer: "Nothing is difficult to my dear Madonna, who has plainly shown, that the most exquisite delicacy of modern politeness may be united with the hearty generosity of more ancient times. Of this her Letter and basket are a convincing proof. We, who pretend only to the latter quality, must be contented with thanking you in the old homely style for having feasted us and our friends so magnificently. We drank your health, and were perhaps as gay in Woodstock Street [his home, off Bond Street], as the more brilliant company at Memphis. Cleopatra had no such eel, else she would never have put her poor Lover off with an anchovy. You have not imitated, you have surpassed her as much in that, as you do in every other excellence. I hope the dear Madonna has enjoyed her health all this summer in the pure air of Sandleford [her Berkshire estate], as I have enjoyed mine, thank God, amidst the smoke of London".

The author of the letter was Archibald Bower (c.1686-1766), the disreputable, supposedly anti-Catholic, supposedly Jesuit, historian and supposed plagiarist, author, among other works, of the History of the Popes (1748-1766). He had been introduced to Elizabeth Montagu, the author and literary hostess, by Gilbert West, and they corresponded for some years in fervid Italian, both Bower and his erstwhile friend George (Lord) Lyttelton calling her 'Madonna'. For Bower's hand, see his letter of 1754, BL Add MS 4234, f. 125.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

ADVERTISING POSTERfor 'The Suffragette' newspaper, [c.1913-1914]

ARCHITECTURE - STUART (JAMES) AND NICHOLAS REVETT The Antiquities of Athens, 4 vol. bound in 2, 1825-1830

ILLUMINATED ADDRESS – CLARA CODD Illuminated printed address signed by Emmeline Pankhurst, [1909]

ARMENIAN - HISTORY, THEOLOGY AND PRINTING. Group of books/a map in Armenian, c.1825-1901 (12)

MUSIC & RECORDINGS – ETHEL SMYTH Collection of printed music, song sheets and records, [c.1911-1912]

BANK NOTES - MANUFACTURING BRADBURY (HENRY) On the Security and Manufacture of Bank Notes, FIRST EDITION, Bradbury and Evans, 1856