Autograph Letter Signed from George Combe to W. E. Hickson, 7 May 1857
Scope and Contents
Autograph Letter Signed from Scottish Scottish phrenologist and lawyer George Combe to educationist W. E. Hickson, praising his book 'History of Sunday' and discussing his 'broken down' health. Edinburgh, 7 May 1857.
Addressed to "W E. Hickson Esq". Combe thanks him for his "kind remembrance", and for "sending me your "History of Sunday"; It is a most valuable, & from its small compass & cheapness, a most serviceable, contribution to the great cause of human emancipation from superstition". He states that he has himself "lately published a work with the same end in view". As he does not know how to send Hickson a copy he is enclosing "an order for one on the Publishers, hoping that you will find it easy to procure it". He begins the final paragraph by enquiring how Hickson's health "stands the influence of time. I am now much broken down by chronic congestion of part of the left lung, & 69 years of age; but by care & doing very little, still enjoy life."
Dates
- Creation: 7 May 1857
Creator
- Combe, George, 1788-1858 (Phrenologist) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 letter
Custodial History
From the autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased in April 2025. Accession no. SC-Acc-2025-0059.
Physical Description
2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Second leaf, blank except for endorsement, with traces of glue from mount.
Processing Information
Catalogued by Aline Brodin in September 2025, using information provided by the seller.
Subject
- Hickson, William Edward, 1803-1870 (British educational writer) (Recipient, Person)
Source
- Hunter, Richard Alfred, 1923-1981 (British psychiatrist) (Former owner, Person)
Genre / Form
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk