
WHITE (GILBERT) Autograph letter signed to William Richardson, Selborne, 7 September 1778
Sold for £2,040 inc. premium
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WHITE (GILBERT)
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.