Parry, Sir William Edward (1790-1855). A Collection of Two Autograph Letters Signed "W. Parry "; With Two Engraved Portraits of William Parry: Sir Captn. W.E. Parry, R.N. Letters: 1) Mattishall, 17 April 1835.

Quarto (ca. 23x18 cm). 3 pp. Brown ink on watermarked laid paper, docketed on the 4th page. 2) Greenwich Hospital, 1 May 1854. 12mo (ca. 17,5x11,5 cm). Brown ink on laid paper, docketed in a different hand in the end of the letter. Both letters with fold marks, second letter slightly stained on the last blank page, otherwise a very good pair. Portraits: stipple engraved book plates, ca. 14x12 cm (from the European Magazine, London, 1821) and ca. 7,5x6 cm (by J. Limbird). Very good portraits.

These two original letters written by a renowned Arctic explorer William Parry relate to the time of his government service in the 1830s and 1850s - as an Assistant Poor-Law Commissioner in the County of Norfolk (1835-1836) and a governor of the Greenwich Hospital (1854 until his death). In the first letter addressed to some “R. Kerrinson, Esq.” Parry asks for the “Norwich Papers”, as well as “a Copy of a small publication I have seen, containing the Parliamentary Returns of the Population &c. Of the county, divided into Kindreds and Parishes.” He is also looking forward to hear about “what you have done in compliance with the Order for Relief in kind”. In the end Parry adds: “Will you ask the Governor to allow a Couple of the Copies of the Printed Notice to Overseas & to be pasted up in the Workhouse”. The second letter was written by Parry in the rank of a governor of the Greenwich hospital to some Rev. Reginald Smith (as seen from the docket). The letter regards the donation made by the correspondent in favour of “Sailors”, which needed to be forwarded to the Military Association.

The letters are supplemented with two stipple engraved portraits of William Parry, both based on the famous Parry portrait by Samuel Drummond (National Portrait Gallery).