STEPHENSON (GEORGE) Series of six autograph letters signed (Geo. Stephenson) to Henry Belcher ...

STEPHENSON (GEORGE)Series of six autograph letters signed ('Geo. Stephenson') to Henry Belcher (first) and Thomas Clark at the Railway Office, Whitby, Yorkshire reporting from Stone (3 Jan. 1824) that 'Before I set off for Whitby I considered it necessary to spend time looking after the manufacture of the Rails' by visiting the Caponfield Works 'and those of Mr. Foster', and his discovery that the former 'have got nothing done except the rollers...'; from North Hotel, Birmingham (7 April 1834) asking the recipient to offer his apologies to the Chairman of Directors for not being able to journey to London, and offering his opinion on various matters relating to preparations for the Whitby railway ('With respect to the weighing machines the tender from Mr. Kitchin of Warrington appears to be the most eligible...'), providing specifications and costings, and advising 'With respect to the Rails &c Mr. Longridge's offer appears to be a very fair one, provided it is for iron of the quality mentioned in the specification...'; on 30 April 1834, further confirming that 'of the tenders recv. from Longridge and Mr. Foster Mr. Longridge's tender appears to be decidedly the more eligible', and advising he is the in the process of testing the Rails 'which are being prepared by the Capon Field Iron Iron Co.', and that he will shortly go the works to 'make a personal inspection of the Rails, and their progress in completing the order...'; on 28 May 1834 promising he will again visit Capon Field, and stating 'I am extremely anxious to visit Whitby but I am afraid I cannot be there at this time...', a sentiment echoed on 4 October 1835, whilst confirming he has had 'a good deal conversation with Mr. Swanwick about the incline plane, and I am not... satisfied with either the stationery engine or the water wheel. The stationery engine will be expensive to keep on account of the cost of coal. The water wheel will be too costly to put up unless there be more traffic on the line than I can at present forsee...', and that he is working on another plan which 'I shall have... prepared when I go down to Whitby. The machinery will not cost much in erecting and no time will be lost in turning to this arrangement....'; and in September 1835 thanking Clark for sending 'the minutes of the Directors', promising to visit shortly, and assuring him that 'it is my wish to have that great work set forward is possible, and you will please to inform my Whitby friends that no exertion of mine shall be wanting to give them a taste of the benefits of it...', each 4 pages (including integral address, with red postal stamp, 4 pages blank), old folds, age-dusted, small hole at head (touching a couple of letters to each), 4to Stone, 3 January 1834, North Hotel, Birmingham 7 April 1834, London, 30 April 1834, and Alton Grange, 28 May 1834, 4 October 1835 and 6 September 1835, loosely inserted into an album, with other letters and cut signatures - see footnote (quantity)Footnotes:'BEFORE I SET OF FOR WHITBY I CONSIDERED IT NECESSARY TO SPEND TIME LOOKING AFTER THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RAILS' - Series of six letters written by George Stephenson to the Railway Office at Whitby, Yorkshire in which he reports to the Directors of the Whitby and Pickering Railway for which he had been employed as engineer. Since his engine Rocket triumphed at the Rainhill trials in 1829 'Stephenson's life was a history of the railway progress of the country... there was hardly a railway scheme in which Stephenson was not consulted, or an important line built without his help and advice' (ODNB). Other material includes: autograph letters signed by Robert Stephenson (2 pages, relating to 'charges for the Leeds Extension', undated), Daniel Gooch (2 pages, offering his help to Mr. Crier, on G.W.R. headed paper, Nov. 6 1866), Sir Joseph Paxton (3 pages, noting '... my firm opinion is we are on the eve of great prosperity in Trade and Commerce all this must benefit Railways, the only drawback is the agricultural interest being in so depressed a state', Chatsworth, 1 Dec. 1849), Samuel Smiles (3 pages, to Mr. Crier, discussing matters relating to the South Eastern Railway for which he had recently been appointed Secretary, 20 Nov. 1854), George Parker Bidder (2 pages, 30 Dec. 1850); Benjamin Disraeli ('B. Disraeli, Downing St.', signed bank warrant, March 1852); cut signatures of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Charles W. Dilke, Lord Aberdare, and others; Mr. Crier's ticket to 'Great Western Railway. Queen's Jubilee, 1887'.Provenance: John Crier (1824-1897), clerk and registrar for the Great Western Railway, Paddington (see web illustration of Crier in his office); by descent to the present owner.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com