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Lot 32

WHITE (GILBERT)
Autograph letter signed to William Richardson, Selborne, 7 September 1778

29 March 2023, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,040 inc. premium

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WHITE (GILBERT)

Autograph letter signed ("I am your humble servant,/ Gil: White") to William Richardson ("Sir") of Mill-land, advising him he has not yet heard from Mrs Snooke and asking him to give her time to consider his claim ("...I only thought that the indenture which I produced released Mrs Snooke's farm from any claim to such payments; but I do not pretend to be a judge in such matters..."), integral address panel with black wax seal, one page on a bifolium, light dust-staining and creasing, horizontal tear and other small tears, old repairs, 202 x 160mm., Selborne, 7 September 1778

Footnotes

GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE ASSISTS HIS AUNT IN A LAND TRANSACTION.

Although a prolific correspondent, letters by Gilbert White rarely appear at auction. The subject of our letter is undoubtedly Rebecca Snooke (1694-1780), Gilbert White's aunt, once married to the Rev. Henry Snooke, but by this time a widow living in Ringmer, East Sussex. Aunt and nephew enjoyed a close relationship - 'Mrs Snooke is very well and a marvellous woman at 81' he wrote - and she left him her beloved tortoise on her death in 1780. White renamed him Timothy and his famous adventures feature frequently throughout his diaries and letters. After his death Timothy was found to be female and his skeleton may be seen at the Natural History Museum.

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