[Rarebooks] FS: Fine Thomas Carlyle Letter with much on tobacco, 2-1/2 pages

Charles Agvent chagvent at ptd.net
Tue Aug 9 14:36:24 EDT 2011


One of many interesting 19th Century American and British Literary items 
on our website: http://www.charlesagvent.com including signed pieces by 
William Wordsworth, Mark Twain, and many others.

CARLYLE, Thomas. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS). Chelsea, 16 Dec. 1843. 
Fine letter (4-3/4" x 7-1/2") consisting of @275 words on 2-1/2 pages on 
an integral sheet of paper addressed "My Dear Sir" dated 16 December 
1843, 5 Cheyne Row, Chelsea, and SIGNED "T. Carlyle." Carlyle thanks the 
unknown recipient for samples of tobacco sent to him--"one of black 
common shag, the other of plain brown American leaf, unadulterated by 
any British manufacturing whatsoever"--and goes on at some length 
describing the qualities of the tobacco with several mentions of his 
wife, Jane. In part: "...all this [the black shag] I smoked, not without 
satisfaction, as a kind superior to any I could procure in these parts. 
The second specimen I am now engaged in,--and, alas, nearly thro' it; I 
write to you now for a further supply of this. It comes the nearest to 
smokeable tobacco of all I have had since last year when some invaluable 
smuggled Cavendish[?] was ministered to me.... You have great things on 
the anvil, we hear, at present! May the Destinies will it all to 
happiness for yourself and another. We are well; at least, well for us, 
poor [?], ever-afflicted creatures." Carlyle's name in another early 
hand at the top of the letter. Minor wear at creases; some mounting 
traces on verso. Fine. (#012002)        $1,500.00

See images of this letter here:

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/012002.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/012002a.JPG

http://home.ptd.net/~chagvent/012002b.JPG

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