All illustrated by Pauline Baynes, the seven books had been launched in 1950 with The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe and completed in 1956 with The Last Battle.
Other lots presenting letters sent home to their relatives by members of the McNab and Hunter families, dealing with their early to mid-19th century travels in Australia and South America, proved popular with bids peaking at £900.
An unusual feature from the Carlisle sale was one of several lots bearing the name of Hugh Robert Duff of Muirtown (1771-1832). First and foremost a military man, Duff was also the discoverer and editor of what are known as the ‘Culloden Papers’. His wife, Sarah Louisa Forbes of Culloden, was a lady over whose honour the last recorded duel in Scotland was fought.
Sold at £1400, this was a lot that among other items contained a copy of Radiger, or The Hall of Odin, an anonymous work whose 52pp were printed in Inverness in 1819 but were here pasted into a sketchbook with manuscript notes and annotations by Duff.
The lot also included a manuscript poem ‘To the Gentlemen… of Drury Lane Theatre Royal’, what were described as 11 rather crude and small watercolours and drawings, and two copies in original wrappers of Hannibal, a tragedy in five acts by Duff. Quite a mix.
