1479 DAYS: THE SIEGE OF UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO : A Documentary Overview of Events 1992-1995. Written by scholars of the University of Sarajevo, and edited by Professor Faruk Caklovica, President of the University of Sarajevo.

Published by the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, second edition, 2010

Hardcover Book, no dustjacket as issued, 8.5x12 inches, 211 pages. Illustrated throughout with color and b&w photographs, drawings and reproductions of documents.

During the Serbs war against the Bosniaks, the University of Sarajevo found itself torn in two. The Serb nationals who were part of the University either left or joined the Serbian aggressors, while the Bosniaks stayed to fight and to try to keep the University operating. The siege of the University of Sarajevo lasted 1479 days.

VERY GOOD condition, cover corner tips are bumped, otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A solid, nice, very presentable copy.

About the SIEGE of the UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO (from the Internet sources):

******About half the professors, lecturers and employees of the University of Sarajevo turned their backs on the University at the beginning of the Bosnian war in April 1992. Most of them had Serb nationality. Many fled the city to save themselves and their families, but a considerable number joined the Serb besiegers and supported the siege. This is the sobering conclusion of the book "1479 days - Siege of University of Sarajevo", which was prepared by scholars of the University and presented to the public in the Bosnian capital. In spite of the constant shelling, in spite of the snipers, in spite of hunger and cold, training and teaching were maintained by the professors and students who stayed at the risk of their lives.******

Manuscript Document Signed (or marked) by eight parties, addressed "Right Worshipful," comprising depositions in several different notarial hands. Concerns two parcels of land adjoining Harsfold Manor, "Willms the freehold" and "Willms the copyhold", apparently involved in some sort of dispute.

Folio, single-sheet folded to make four pages, writing on the front page and one of the inner pages.

ENGLAND: No date, but circa 1600.

GOOD condition, folds from where the document was once folded to a small size, some small tears and holes to the spine fold and some of the folds but holding together well, some wear to the edges, light soiling, overall amazingly solid and bright with writing that is bold and clear. Note that this early English handwriting is difficult to read.

ITALIAN MANUSCRIPT Accounts Book kept by LUCIDO SPARAPANI. Handwritten Italian text. Dates appear to be from 1669 to the 1680s. Possibly Trento, Italy.

Contains 156 leaves completely filled with handwritten text. The leaves are hand numbered in two sections 1-71 and 1-85, with some blank leaves between the sections. Contemporary plain pasteboard covers, three cord binding, 5x7.5 inches (13x19 cm).

The names I was able to identify include: Giuseppe Brunelli, Felice Vergelli, Andrea Pittore, Francesco Benigni, Giovanni Cortini; but there are more.

Condition: Surprisingly GOOD condition, the pages are firm and well bound. The handwriting is sharp and clear but the small calligraphy and the iron in the ink makes it rather difficult to read (especially if, like me, you don't read Italian). The covers have wear and a piece missing at the bottom of the pine. A wonderful, very presentable copy.

My research shows that the SPARAPANI family was a renowned family of nobility from the Trento province of Italy. The family held a number of noble titles. The family was apparently affluent, socially connected, and produced many notaries.

I found that LUCIDO SPARAPANI wrote a book about Saint Vittorino in 1701 titled:

"Notizia compendiosa della vita di S. Vittorino confessore, descritta dal conte Lucido Sparapani da Camerino nell'anno 1701. A cui furono aggiunti il panegirico composto per il sudetto santo, la narrazione della traslazione del suo corpo, e molti componimenti poetici..."

(Compendium of the life of St. Vittorino confessor, described by Count Lucido Sparapani from Camerino in the year 1701. To which were added the panegyric composed for the aforementioned saint, the narration of the translation of his body, and many poems.)

Because of the difficulty I have with Italian and the handwriting, there are likely errors in my description. Please correct me when you find them.

A LETTER to the EARL of O--d, Concerning the BILL OF PEERAGE. By Sir R----d S----le (Sir Richard Steele). LONDON: Printed for J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, 1719. The Second Edition, so stated. Paper item, 4.5x7 inches, 32 pages. Condition: Completely disbound, all signatures and a few leaves are loose but all are in their proper order; the first page has a 2 inch closed tear starting at the middle of the top edge, the first few pages have a blackened and chipped upper corner (not affecting text), the pages are lightly toned, the first and last page are lightly soiled. Despite its flaws this is a complete copy, with printing that is clear, bright and fully legible. About SIR RICHARD STEELE (from Wikipedia and elsewhere on the Internet): ******Sir Richard Steele (bap. 12 March 1672 - 1 September 1729) was an Irish writer and politician, remembered as co-founder, with his friend Joseph Addison, of the magazine The Spectator. Steele became a Whig Member of Parliament in 1713, for Stockbridge. He was soon expelled for issuing a pamphlet in favor of the Hanoverian succession. When George I of Great Britain came to the throne in the following year, Steele was knighted and given responsibility for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. He returned to parliament in 1715, for Boroughbridge. While at Drury Lane, Steele wrote and directed the sentimental comedy The Conscious Lovers, which was an immediate hit. However, in 1719 Steele found himself in agreement with Lord Oxford regarding The Bill Of Peerage, and wrote: A LETTER TO THE EARL OF O--D, CONCERNING THE BILL OF PEERAGE. This pamphlet and Steele's subsequent speeches caused him to fall out with Addison and, in 1724, he retired to his wife's homeland of Wales, where he spent the remainder of his life.******

WESTMONASTERIUM: OR THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE ABBEY CHURCH OF ST PETERS WESTMINSTER.

Two Folio Volumes. Filled with plates illustrating the funeral monuments of Westminster Abbey.

LONDON: Printed & sold by James Cole engraver in Hatton Garden... (et al) [1723-1727]. First Edition.

Hardcovers, leather covered boards, 10x16 inches (26x40 cm). Pagination:

VOLUME I: [2] blank front leaves, [1] frontispiece engraving, [1] title page, [2] Dedication, [2] Preface, [5] Coats of Arms of Subscribers, [1] engraved portrait of the author John Dart, XLII Westminster Abbey a Poem, IV List of Subscribers Names, 195 pp., [1] Errata, [1] blank leaf.

VOLUME I ILLUSTRATIONS: Frontispiece + 70 plates. Plates printed on one side only. Plus engraved headpieces, tailpieces, vignettes, and initials.

VOLUME II: [2] blank front leaves, [1] fold-open frontispiece, [1] title page, [1] subscribers names, [2] subscribers coats of arms, 146 pp., [4] Names of Persons buried in this Church, XLIV Lives of the Abbats of Westminster, 24 pp. History of St. Peter's, XVI Appendix, [1] blank rear endpaper.

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATIONS: Frontispiece + 63 Plates. Plates printed on one side only. Plus engraved headpieces, tailpieces, vignettes, and initials.

CONDITION: The pages and plates of both volumes are all present and suitable for rebinding, but the bindings are in poor condition and the books need to be rebound. The books are split into many sections, with many loose signatures, pages, etc. The front and rear boards are original and present but worn with peeling leather. The spines have split at numerous places and are in disrepair, and their leather coverings are chipping and flaking easily. The front and rear boards could be used in a rebinding with a new backing.

VOLUME I Condition of Pages and Plates: The first and last few pages have edgewear, soiling and some spotting, as do some pages here and there. The gutter edge of many pages of this volume have browned because clear tape (that browned with age) was applied to that edge to try and keep the pages bound in, some old tape still remains in many places, and there are brown tape ghosts on the blank rear endpapers. There is toning and foxing mainly to the pages facing the plates and the blank verso of the plates and to the first and last few pages, but some here and there throughout as well. Some (perhaps 1/4) of the plates have browned, and have dark areas in the margins. (Perhaps smoke damage from long ago? But no smoke smell, just the nice old paper.) A few of the plates and the pages facing them are heavily foxed. Despite the flaws to some of the plates, all the plates present, and are quite rare.

VOLUME II Condition of Pages and Plates: The pages and plates of this volume are in good condition. A few pages have some tape and/or tape browning at the left edge; there is a bit of foxing throughout but nothing significant on the pages or plates; there is no significant browning of the plates or margins; there is some offsetting, spotting, soiling, and edgewear to the first and last few pages. The fold-open frontispiece is splitting at the bottom of the fold, has some old tape repair on the backside, is toning and has some shorelining on the gutter margin. There is a pagination error following page 99, the facing blank backside of a plate is counted as a page. I have collated this book and all is present. Though many sections, signatures, and pages are loose, the volume is complete, and the plates are bright and clear.

There is a large old signature and inscription dated 1782 on a blank prelim of each volume and a very small one at the top of the title pages: "Given to me this day by my Mother / (?) Stephenson Junior / 10th April 1782".

These 300 year old books are complete including 133 plates. Despite their flaws these books are well deserving of preservation.

PLEASE NOTE: These heavy books will be expensive to ship internationally.

HANDWRITTEN "LETTRE DE CHANGE ET QUITTANCE" - An Official Signed Document, Written and Signed by a "NOTAIRE ROYAL". The document is written on both sides of an 7.5x10" piece of laid rag paper. WRITTEN IN FRENCH. The letter begins "A Limoges Le Deuzieme jour des mois de Novembre mil sept cens vente quatres apres midy..." (Limoges, November 2, 1724, afternoon) There is an Official Stamp of the Seal of Limoges, France on the backside, below which is the signature of the official "Notaire Royal". GOOD condition. The letter has a number of horizontal folds and a vertical fold, all from where it was folded to fit into a small envelope (no envelope is present). There is some edge and corner wear, and a few closed tears at the edges of some of the folds. Overall a sturdy copy with writing that is clear and legible.Would look great framed. Please see the provided images to get a good idea of the letter, its contents, and its condition.

Georgii Buchanani [George Buchanan]. OPERA OMNIA, HISTORICA, CHRONOLOGICA, JURIDICA, POLITICA, SATYRICA & PEOTICA. Volume One only (of Two Volumes). Lugdunum Batavorum (Leiden), Johannem Arnoldum Langerak (Johan Arnold Langerak), MDCCXXV (1725). Early edition. (the printer Joh. Arnold Langerak was active from 1710-1750). Contemporary VELLUM BINDING, blind-stamped design and framing on the front and rear covers, 5 raised spine bands, handwritten title on spine, 8" x 10". Pagination: [140] prelim pages including life of George Buchanan, 732 Text, [96] Index, [6] prelims to JURE REGNI Apud Scotos, 116 Text. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece and a fold-open chart. CONDITION: The Vellum covers are split at the folds but holding well with the five cord bindings; the vellum from the top spine compartment has broken off (i.e. is missing), there is an edge piece of vellum missing from the second compartment (the compartment with the hand-written title) that partially affects one letter, and there is some cracking to the spine vellum; the front and rear vellum covers have some soiling, age toning, and spotting; overall the vellum covers show wear, but are still quite attractive in a Harry Potter Hogwarts Library sort of way. Internally very nice, some age foxing, corner creasing, toning and soiling here and there throughout, but overall the inner pages are complete, tight, bright, clean and unmarked. A quite impressive copy. An Important 289 year-old book by an Renowned SCOTTISH Writer and Scholar. With its vellum binding, the book looks impressive on and off the shelf. A snippet about GEORGE BUCHANAN (from a much longer Wikipedia article): ******George Buchanan (February 1506 - 28 September 1582) was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. Brown says that Buchanan was "the most profound intellectual sixteenth century Scotland produced." His ideology of resistance to royal usurpation gained widespread acceptance during the Scottish Reformation. Brown says the ease with which King James VII was deposed in 1689 shows the power of Buchananite ideas.******

UNIVERSAL REGISTER ÜBER die SECHS THEILE der WESTPHÄLISCHEN FRIEDENS HANDLUNGEN und GESCHICHTE, IMGLEICHEN Über die ZWEEN THEILE der NÜRNBERGISCHEN FRIEDENS-EXECUTIONS-HANDLUNGEN und GESCHICHTE. Von JOHANN LUDOLPH WALTHER. (UNIVERSAL REGISTER on the SIX PARTS of the WESTPHALIAN PEACE ACTS and HISTORY, and likewise about the (TWO?) PARTS of the NUREMBERG PEACE PLANS - ACTS and HISTORY. By JOHANN LUDOLF WALTHER.) GOTTINGEN (Germany): Universitaets-Buchhandlung, 1740. First Edition. THICK FOLIO SIZE BOOK, four spine binding cords, plain uncovered card (thick layered paper) front and rear boards (it appears as if the book had its original covering (vellum?) removed and was being prepared for recovering), 9" X 13.5" (23cm x 34cm.) Pagination: [4] half-title page, title-page, blank versos; IV Forward, [2] Dedication (laid-in loosely); [4] Author's Preface with half-page engraving; XCVI Instrumentum Pacis; 104 plus 3 fold-open Genealogical Charts and several unnumbered Genealogical Plates; + 686. Illustrated with a lovely half-page engraving, a title-page engraved crest, some facsimile signatures, and an engraved Printer's device at the bottom of the last page. CONDITION: Covers are plain layered-paper card boards lacking their leather over-covering, as noted above. They are well-worn along the edges, but look suitable for recovering. The text block is in good shape, the dedication leaf (following the title-page) is detached and laid-in loosely, there are creases and edge wear, here and there throughout, pages show light age toning, overall the pages are very well maintained, still complete, tight, bright, clean and unmarked. Collated with an online digitized copy of this book held at the Bavarian National State Library. VERY RARE and IMPORTANT GERMAN BOOK of EARLY ACTS, PEACE DECREES, and GENEALOGY.

A SUCCINCT and IMPARTIAL HISTORY of all the REGENCIES, PROTECTORSHIPS, MINORITIES, and PRINCES of ENGLAND, GREAT-BRITAIN and WALES, that have been since the CONQUEST. With a proper dedication to a great DUKE. Anonymous. A historical survey of Royal Succession. Written soon after the death of Frederick, Prince of Wales, who surprised the commonwealth when he, on his death bed, made his son heir to the British throne. This Royal Succession booklet determines that Frederick's son was indeed entitled to be heir apparent to the Crown, but was not entitled to certain benefits due the Prince of Wales. LONDON: Printed for M. COOPER, at the Globe, in Pater-Noster-Row. 1751. First Edition. Booklet, disbound but now bound in recent marbled paper wrappers, 5x8", 60 pages. GOOD condition, toning, soiling and some spotting to the first and last few pages, the last page almost disbound, otherwise the pages are bright, clean and unmarked.

CLAUDE FAUCHET - FRENCH BISHOP who STORMED THE BASTILLE and EULOGIZED BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - HANDWRITTEN, SIGNED, WORRIED LETTER dated 1783 - HE was GUILLOTINED on HALLOWEEN in 1793

SIGNED, HANDWRITTEN LETTER from the French Bishop CLAUDE FAUCHET to a M. CHEVIN, Fils. Dated May 15, 1783. In French.

Single page letter written on a single fold sheet of laid, watermarked paper, with an address leaf and wax seal on the backside. The letter measures 8.5x12 inches (20x31.5 cm). A typed translation is provided on a sheet of paper that has browned and is a bit brittle with age (1940s?).

The letter is written to a close friend, M. Chevin, fils. It is warm and intimate. Fauchet tells that his life is beset with "thorns" and "grief", likely troubles related to the bubbling 1789 French Revolution. Though a Revolutionist himself, Fauchet was tried and guillotined by the Revolutionists in 1993. The letter begins:

"I am very touched, my dear friend, by the part you take in my trouble and for all the evidences of affection you have shown me...for some time my life has been beset with thorns and every day brings me new grief. If the consolations of friendship did not sweeten the bitterness which pours into my heart, I would consider it a great blessing to withdraw from this world and to live only with God and my conscience."

Condition: Age toning, several original folds, tear where the letter was opened not affecting text. Overall this 1783 letter remains in GOOD condition, the writing is bright and clear, the wax seal shines, the paper's watermark is visible.

RARE FRENCH REVOLUTION ERA DOCUMENT by a BISHOP who STORMED THE BASTILLE WITH the REVOLUTIONISTS and was THEN GUILLOTINED BY THEM.

About CLAUDE FAUCHET (from Wikipedia):

******Claude Fauchet (22 September 1744 - 31 October 1793) was a French bishop.

He was born at Dornes, Nièvre. He was a curate of the church of St Roch, Paris, when he was engaged as tutor to the children of the marquis of Choiseul, brother of Louis XVs minister, an appointment which proved to be the first step to fortune. He was successively grand vicar to the archbishop of Bourges, preacher to the king, and abbot of Montfort-Le Carre.

HE WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE ATTACK ON THE BASTILLE, and on 5 August 1789 he delivered an eloquent discourse by way of funeral sermon for the citizens slain on 14 July, taking as his text the words of St Paul, 'Ye have been called to liberty".

He blessed the tricolor flag for the National Guard and in September was elected to the Commune. In 1790 he wrote France's Eulogy to Benjamin Franklin (Eloge Civique De Benjamin Franklin). He retired from the Commune in October 1790. During the next winter he organized within the Palais Royal the Social Club of the Society of the Friends of Truth, presiding over crowded meetings under the self assumed title of procureur général de la vérité. Nevertheless, events were marching faster than his opinions, and the last occasion on which he carried his public with him was in a sermon preached at Notre Dame on 4 February 1791.

In July 1793 he was imprisoned on the charge of supporting the federalist movement at Caen. He was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal on 30 October, and was guillotined on the following day, October 31 (Halloween!!!)."******

Beskrivelse over den kongelige danske Residentsestad Kiøbenhavn og de kongelige Slotte paa Landet. Oversat efter det tredie tydske Oplag, forøget og forbedret. (Description of the Royal Danish

City of Copenhagen and the Royal Castles in the Country. A printing of the Third Edition, enlarged and improved.) By E. C. HAUBER. Published by Rothes Forlag, København / Copenhagen, 1783. TEXT in DANISH. The book which first was published in 1770 gives a detailed description of the Danish capital before the great fire of 1795 and the destructive British attacks of 1807. Hardcovers, leather spine and corners with paper covered boards, spine has five raised bands, gilt lining, and a leather label titled in gilt, 4x6.75 inches (10x17 cm). Pagination: [8], 232 pages. Includes a FOLD OPEN MAP of COPENHAGEN at the front. CONDITION: The covers are worn through at the edges and corners, rubbed, and scraped; 1/4 inch of the spine leather is tearing away at the top, the spine title leather has a corner chip; nonetheless the covers are doing their job and are attractive in a Harry Potter Hogwarts Library way. Internally, there is a small number written on the top margin of the front free endpaper; the fold open map has edge wear to its left edge, not affecting the image; there is light foxing throughout, lacks its rear free endpaper and rear pastedown. Overall a solid, nice copy, complete with its folding map.

HANDWRITTEN WILL of RICHARD DODD, RECTOR of COWLEY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY. DATED MAY 13, 1798. Single-Fold Sheet to make four pages, handwritten on the front page and on the two inner pages. Written on laid-paper with the WATERMARK "ALLEE 1796". The writing is bright and clear, though the calligraphy is somewhat difficult. There are numerous folds from where the will had been folded into a small size, there is some edge wear including a few small closed edge tears. Still a solid, clean, manuscript Will. Here is my transcription of the manuscript Will (pardon my errors): "I Richard Dodd Rector of Cowley in the County of Middlesex revoking all other wills, do make this my last will and Testament.

Imprimo:

I appoint my dear wife Eliz. Dodd & the Revd. Philip S. Dodd my second son the joint executors & the administrators of this my said will desiring & ordering that they will within

in one twelve month of my decease or before of they think proper buy & transfer & place two thousand pounds ________ in the name &

for the use of my son William Dodd & likewise that they buy & place the same sum in the same stock in the name of & for the use of my daughter Frances Margaret Dodd. That they assign and make over

to them likewise these shares.

In the Middlesex _______________ that_______________ / _______________ / names of William / _______________, Dodd _______________. The rest & residue of my property, be it of whatever kind I leave to my dear wife desiring that she will

leave it to her children.

Elizabeth Philip & Charles such shares & proportions as she shall think right & proper (trusting she will not whilst living or at her death leave any improper partiality of

she regards the memory of a Dear affectionate husband who look unwearied pains to save her of them from the distrust she in early life experienced from.

The inability of a most excellent Father and afford him any _______________

I sign this on the thirteenth of May in the Year of our Lord

one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. - Rich Dodd."

The HISTORY of the RISE, PROGRESS and ACCOMPLISHMENT of the ABOLITION of the AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE by the BRITISH PARLIAMENT. By Thomas Clarkson, abridged by Evan Lewis.

WILMINGTON [Delaware]: Printed by R. Porter, 1816. One volume abridged edition, first thus. Originally published in a two volume unabridged edition in Philadelphia in 1808.

Hardcovers, professionally rebound in brown cloth covered boards with gilt titling to the spine, 4.5x7 inches, 348 pages.

FAIR Condition: The modern covers and endpapers are in fine condition. Internally, there is an early previous owner's signature on the title page (William Edmondson), the pages are toned/browned and have shorelining here and there, and some of the latter pages have edge chips (not affecting text). Overall, the pages are showing their age but are nonetheless complete, legible, and attractively rebound.

Antique German booklet, a Rare "Dienstbuch" (literally translated as "Service Book") from the year 1848 (with later notations from 1850), stipulating the status of the individual bearing this document as "servant class", and stating conditions of their legal employment. Official Document / Booklet, string bound with a portion of the string sealed with wax on the back page, 4.75x7.5", 32 pages. This particular booklet has been given the number 1019 and is made out to a young woman, aged 18. I cannot decipher, from the handwriting, the name and particulars of the girl whose book this was. The servant was required by law to carry this Official Statement of Employment, and had to be shown when proof of employment was required by Police or other authorities. This small publication consists of 32 pages (no covers as issued). Only 9 of the pages have writing or printing, the rest are numbered but blank (kind of like a mostly unused passport). The first page has handwriting and printing, providing points of identification of this Dienstbuch holder. The next 7 pages (2-8) contain printed matter only, including warnings, rules, and governing servitude ordinances. Page 9 is filled in with handwriting, including a couple "1850" dates. I don't know what the writing says, but I have tried to provide a clear image for those of you who might be able to read the it. The bottom of page 9 has an ink stamp that bears bears the name of the town of Gerstungen in Thuringia. The back page (page 32) has an Official Wax Seal. The wax seal is stamped over the binding threads, making it very difficult for pages to be removed so that false ones could be entered. Condition: Toned, foxed, some soiling, but still solid, clear, and fully legible. A wonderful historic document relating to Young Servant Girls in 19th Century Germany.

The Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern, by Rev. Anthony Cogan. DUBLIN: John F. Fowler and J. Dollard, 1862 - 1870. First Editions. COMPLETE THREE VOLUME SET. Hardcovers, Volumes I & II in their original cloth covered boards with gilt printing to the spines, Volume III professionally rebound in cloth covered boards with a gilt title label on the spine, 5x7.5 inches (12x19 cm). Pagination: lvi, 427; xv, 560; xxiii, 681, respectively. Reverend Father Anthony Cogan was a priest and scholar of the Diocese of Meath, Ireland. His three volume diocesan history made use of the incredible Meath archives, including many manuscripts from the early 17th century. Unfortunately, MUCH of the ARCHIVAL MATERIAL used in the work WAS DESTROYED in the MEATH PUBLIC RECORDS FIRE of 1922. Condition: VOLUME I is in GOOD condition, the covers show some rubbing and the gilt lettering on the spine has faded

away, but the covers remain sturdy and attractive; internally there is the stamp of ST. TERESA'S COLLEGE / GEORGE'S HILL / DUBLIN on the front free endpaper, and a label that reads: LORETTO HOUSE, NAVAN, on the front pastedown;

there is a number written on the front free endpaper; there is a spot or two here and there; overall tight, bright, clean and unmarked. VOLUME II is in FAIR condition, the spine covering is worn and weary, it has been amateurishly glued tight to the spine text block causing it to be flat rather than curved at the spine; the spine covering is also creased and is fraying at its ends; the front and rear boards are rubbed but solid and doing their job well; internally, the front and rear free endpapers are lacking but the pastedowns are present; the front and rear inner hinges are fully split, exposing the inner netting, but are holding; the inner text pages are complete and are in good condition, some edgewear here and there, otherwise bright, clean and unmarked. VOLUME III is in VERY GOOD condition, its professional rebinding is bright and sharp, inner pages have some light foxing here and there, a blank endpaper has a few small numbers written at the upper corner, otherwise the pages are tight, bright, clean and unmarked. This COMPLETE, FIRST EDITION, THREE VOLUME SET is historically important, especially after the destructive fire of 1922. It is quite hard to find in its complete state. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This three volume set will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

SIXTY-TWO (62) ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT INDENTURES relating to the PORTOBELLO ESTATE / PORTOBELLO ROAD AREA in NOTTING HILL, LONDON, accompanied with 62 HAND DRAWN COLOR PLAT MAPS, a CONVEYANCE and LEASE SCHEDULES. ALL are SIGNED by various notable individuals. These important real estate transactions took place in 1868 and 1869. Bound in hard covers.

The main SELLER of the properties was CHARLES HENRY BLAKE and the main BUYERS were THE FREEHOLD SECURITIES COMPANY LIMITED, JOHN PARSON, and THE LAND AND HOUSE INVESTMENT SOCIETY. Sixty-one of the 62 indentures were transactions where C. H. Blake was the seller. Other individuals named in the indentures and conveyance include HENRY BESSEMER, Henry Hyde, William Honeywood, William Burchell the Younger, and other wealthy, movers and shakers of the day. Frank Richardson, Solicitor for both The Freehold Securities Company and The Land And House Investment Society, signed many of the indentures as a witness.

The indentures and conveyance are bound in a book that was presumably made to hold them. Hardcovers, textured cloth covered boards with leather spine and corners, five raised spine bands, gilt title "PORTOBELLO ESTATE" on the front cover, 10x15 inches (25x38 cm), 147 pages (74 leaves). The indentures are all printed on watermarked laid paper.

The first item is a long manuscript CONVEYANCE titled: "PORTOBELLO ESTATE In the parish of Saint Mary Abbott Kensington in the County of Middlesex - Copy of the CONVEYANCE of the above property to HENRY BESSEMER ESQUIRE and of the LEASES for which said property is subject". The INDENTURE that is part of the Conveyance is dated the 16th day of December 1869. It is 21 pages long and includes a FULL PAGE HAND COLORED PLAT MAP showing the properties on Golbourne (Golborne) Road between Portobello Road and Wornington Road, and a LEASE SCHEDULE that fully describes each parcel. Numerous signatures at the end of the Indenture / Conveyance.

The subsequent 61 INDENTURES are between CHARLES HENRY BLAKE of Stanley Crescent, Notting Hill, in the County of Middlesex, and either JOHN PARSON, or THE FREEHOLD SECURITIES COMPANY LIMITED, or THE LAND AND HOUSE INVESTMENT SOCIETY. Nineteen are dated in 1868, the others in 1869.

Each Indenture has a hand drawn plat map of the property in question, all presumably part of the Portobello Estate. Most of the indentures are 2 pages long, some longer.

Condition: The covers have some old water staining / shorelining, scrapes, rubs, and general wear; the gilt title "Portobello Estate" is rubbed; else the covers are solid and doing their job well. The front and rear endpapers are recent. The bound in indentures have gray and brown stains, substantial on many of the pages, present on all the pages. Perhaps these are ink blotter stains, or offsetting from where these indentures were originally stored, or simply caused by unstable ink and colors, I do not know. The good news is that the manuscript writing is FULLY VISIBLE AND LEGIBLE beneath all the stains. The first two leaves have a 2x2.5 inch (5x7 cm) area of tearing, mostly in the blank spine gutter area but affecting some text words. The tears could be archivally repaired. The first two leaves, and a couple other pages, have a pea size hole that affects some letters. There is 1/2 inch (1 cm) of worming to the bottom blank margin of the last 3 leaves. The last leaf has a quarter (the U.S. coin) size hole in its center affecting some words. This last leaf is blank on the verso, so the affected words are only on the recto.

An incredible group of important historic indentures with plat maps showing the Victorian Era property sales of the PORTOBELLO ESTATE that led to the development of the fashionable PORTOBELLO ROAD / NOTTING HILL region of London that we know today.

This archive of PORTOBELLO ROAD indentures belongs in a museum, imho.