NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY ELECTION – State Of The Poll From Each Booth – February 24th 1826

[Alnwick or Newcastle?], [24 February 1826].

Rare printed poll return from the famous Northumberland county by-election of 1826, giving the day’s polling by ward and candidate on 24 February 1826, the fourth day of the contest between Matthew Bell and Henry Thomas Liddell.

Single-sheet letterpress form, completed in contemporary manuscript. The printed table records the day’s poll from each booth: Bambro’ Ward, Castle Ward, Coquetdale Ward, Glendale Ward, Morpeth Ward and Tindale Ward. Manuscript totals give Liddell 171 and Bell 131 for the day, added to the preceding poll of Liddell 672 and Bell 720, producing a total poll of Liddell 843 and Bell 851.

Contemporary manuscript note to verso: “24 Feby 1826. State of the Poll at the end of the fourth day.”

The February 1826 Northumberland by-election followed the death of Charles John Brandling and became one of the most expensive and fiercely contested county elections of the period. The contest generated a substantial body of printed ephemera, including songs, broadsides, squibs, addresses and daily poll notices. This example is especially useful because it preserves not merely the running totals, but the distribution of the day’s voting across individual polling wards.

Sheet size approximately 22.3 × 18.5 cm.

Condition: Old folds, light creasing, minor handling wear and faint soiling; very good overall.

No exact institutional or commercial copy located. Apparently unrecorded as a separate item.

Why Buy from Hornseys?

Established in 1976, Hornseys specialises in rare books, signed editions, manuscripts, historical documents and works of enduring cultural importance. From our gallery in Ripon, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, we serve collectors, institutions and bibliophiles throughout the United Kingdom and internationally.

Our reputation is built upon careful scholarship, accurate cataloguing and a long-standing commitment to authenticity, provenance and condition. Every item we offer is selected not simply for rarity, but for its significance within the history of literature, art, politics, exploration and collecting.

Expertise and Authenticity

Each book, manuscript or historical item is thoroughly researched and professionally described. We carefully examine points of issue, bindings, dust jackets, inscriptions, provenance and bibliographical references to ensure accuracy and authenticity throughout our catalogue.

Curated Collections

Our stock is individually chosen for rarity, condition, historical importance and collector appeal. We specialise in literary first editions, children’s books, modern literature, signed and inscribed copies, Churchilliana, fine bindings, rare maps and unusual historical ephemera.

Provenance and Scholarship

We place particular importance on provenance and collecting history. Wherever possible, our cataloguing traces ownership, associations and historical context, allowing collectors to acquire objects with genuine bibliographical and historical significance.

Customer Service

We aim to provide a professional and straightforward buying experience, from detailed cataloguing and high-quality photography to secure packaging and prompt worldwide shipping. We are always happy to discuss condition, provenance or collecting advice directly with clients.

Returns Guarantee

All items are offered with an unconditional guarantee of authenticity. Purchases may be returned within fourteen days of receipt for any reason, provided items are returned in the same condition in which they were supplied. We simply request advance notice of any return.

Explore Our Collection

Discover exceptional rare books, manuscripts, signed editions and historical material at Hornseys. With nearly fifty years of experience in the trade, we continue to offer carefully curated material chosen for rarity, condition, provenance and lasting cultural importance.