SIR

Eleven Autograph Letters Signed to Sir Henry Trueman Wood (10) and G. K. Menzies (1), Secretaries, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Rev. Peter Hampson Ditchfield
Publication details: 
1915-18; ten on embossed letterheads, 'BARKHAM RECTORY, WOKINGHAM.' and one on letterhead of the British Archaeological Association.
£120.00

English antiquary (1854-1930), writer on topography, history and architecture. All items 12mo, and good, though on slightly discoloured paper. All docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. Regarding the Society's business, and in particular a lecture given at Wood's invitation. 1 March 1916: 'Sir Sidney Lee, whom I know, slightly[,] would be an admirable chairman - quite the best. Failing him I think Sir Henry Howarth, who is a friend of mine, would be excellent. If he cannot come - Lady Howarth has been very ill lately - Mr.

Thirty-four Autograph Letters Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Vice-Admiral Sir (Henry) Percy Douglas
Publication details: 
1935-8; on letterheads including 18 Dealtry Road, Putney, and 34 Waterloo Mansions, Dover.
£180.00

British sailor (1876-1939), hydrographer of the Royal Navy (1924-32), inventor of the Douglas Protractor and the Douglas-Appleyard Arcless Sextant. Various formats from 12mo to octavo. Very good, some docketed and/or bearing the Society's stamp. Relating to the business of the Society, and in particular to a lecture by Douglas involving film of the Manchester Ship Canal.

Autograph Letter Signed to unknown male correspondent.

Author: 
Maria Acland [Sir Charles Abraham Elton; POOR LAW]
Publication details: 
Gloucester Row Clifton Feby 10th 1823'.
£56.00

Docketed in pencil at foot of page 'Authoress of book on Poor Laws &c'. One page, quarto. Creased, discoloured and stained, with the rear repaired with tape. Interesting letter, referring to the publication of an essay. She is gratified by her correspondent's approbation of her 'attempt' and accepts his offer. Had the essay been published she would have asked for proof-sheets. 'I believe I have made a mis-quotation about the 8th or 9th page, & have written "Whosoever hath not &c" instead of "If any man have not".

Typed Letter Signed to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, School for the Art of Theatre, 7, John Street, Adelphi, London.

Author: 
Sir Alfred Fernandez Yarrow
Publication details: 
12 January 1916; on letterhead 'HOMESTEAD, | HINDHEAD, | SURREY.'
£30.00

English engineer and naval architect (1842-1932). One page, 4to. Good, but lightly creased and slightly discoloured at foot. Bears the stamp of the Royal Society of Arts, of which Wood was the Secretary. Thanks Wood for his 'kind telegram of congratulation' (presumably on his knighthood).

Seven Typed Letters Signed and one Autograph Letter Signed to G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir James Fortescue Flannery, 1st Baronet
Publication details: 
1924-5; typed letters on letterhead of Flannery, Baggallay & Johnson, Ltd., consulting engineers; autograph letter on letterhead of the Grand Hotel, Harrowgate.
£150.00

Ulster unionist politician and civil engineer (1851-1943). The collection is in very good condition. The seven typed letters are quarto and the autograph letter 12mo. All signed 'J. Fortescue Flannery', mostly docketed and carrying the Society's stamp. Mainly concerns the delivery and publication of a 'Paper on Diesel Engines'. 2 February 1925: 'I note with great interest that you expect a large and influential attendance on the 11th inst.' 5 February 1925: 'it occurs to me that the name of the Rt. Hon. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu K.C.I.E.

Five Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed to G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Charles Herbert Armstrong
Publication details: 
1927-30; Elmhyrst, Guildford.
£120.00

British railway magnate and industrialist in India (1862-1949). The collection is very good. The five autograph letters are 12mo, and printed on letterheads. All items signed 'C H Armstrong'. Several items docketed and bearing the Society's stamp. Mainly concerned with Society committee matters, but two letters of interest. The first (autograph, 15 February 1928, 2 pages, 12mo): 'You will no doubt have seen the remarks of the Lord Chief Justice in the Mitchell Hedges case - Times of 14 inst page 5 column 2 - on "learned societies . . . .

Autograph Letter Signed to [G. K.] Menzies[, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Sir Frederick William Duke
Publication details: 
2 June 1923; on embossed letterhead 'INDIA OFFICE, | WHITEHALL, S.W.1.'
£35.00

British colonial administrator (1868-1924), Member of Council of India, 1914-19, and Permanent Under Secretary of State for India from 1919. Two pages, 12mo. Folded once. Very good, though lightly creased and a little discoloured. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. Referring to a previous letter he finds 'that the point that officials who have passed the advanced stage of your exam[inatio]n. in Book Keeping are exempted at the examination for Divisional Accountants in India is really not a new one,. You tell it yourself in your letter [...], so it was before the Govt. of India.

Four Typed Notes Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts and the editor of the R.S.A. Journal.

Author: 
Sir Francis Philip Armstrong, 3rd Bt [ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB]
Publication details: 
21 October, 21 November and 9 December 1927; 1 May 1929; all on Royal Automobile Club letterhead.
£76.00

General manager of the Royal Automobile Club (1871-1944). All four items one page, quarto. All four in good condition and signed 'F. P. Armstrong'. All four docketed and two bearing R.S.A. stamp. Note one asks for '100 stamped envelopes' for sending to 'Members of the Committee and others who would be interested in the papers that are to be read before the Royal Society'. Note two thanks the editor of the R.S.A. Journal for the 'copies of Mr. O'Gorman's paper'.

Four Typed Letters Signed to W. Perry and A. W. Luckhurst, Royal Society of Arts; and Typescript of 'Notes of Sir Philip Devitt's Speech at Southampton, 25th March, 1938.'

Author: 
Sir Philip Henry Devitt
Publication details: 
Letters: 18 January 1935; 14 and 17 March and 23 May 1938; on letterhead of 'THE DEVITT & MOORE NAUTICAL COLLEGE, LTD.'
£85.00

British mariner (1876-1947), 'Sole Partner of Devitt and Moore' (Who's Who). All five items very good. The four letters all one page, quarto. The typescript: seven pages, quarto. Three letters docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. LETTER ONE: He has received the letter informing him that 'any day about 12.30 will suit Captain Steele for the presentation of the Thomas Gray Memorial Shield. I presume that you have duly received the sheild and that it has been engraved and is being sent to H.M.S. "Worcester" [...]'.

Autograph Note in the third person to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Bartle Compton Arthur Frere [THE ZULU WAR; BECHUANALAND EXPEDITION]
Publication details: 
27 July 1919; on embossed letterhead '67 WESTBOURNE TERRACE, | HYDE PARK, W.2.'
£26.00

British soldier (1854-1933) decorated for service in the Zulu War. One page, 12mo. Creased, discoloured and with a few pin holes. Docketed and bearing the R.S.A. stamp. 'Sir Bartle Frere presents his compliments & begs to enclose an envelope wh has just reached him fm. P. Office | 27. 7. 19 | The Secy | R. Society of Arts'.

Autograph Letter Signed to unnamed male correspondent.

Author: 
Sir Courtenay Peregrine Ilbert
Publication details: 
7 November 1894; on letterhead '67, GLOUCESTER PLACE, | PORTMAN SQUARE, W.'
£36.00

Parliamentary legislative draftsman (1841-1924), Benjamin Jowett's literary executor. Three pages, 12mo. Very good, with traces of glue to blank verso of second leaf of bifoliate. Docketed in pencil. 'Miss Flora Shaw has asked me whether I could send you an early copy of the paper which I am to read at the Imperial Institute to-morrow afternoon. | The paper has not been printed, & the only spare copy which I have is the rouggh copy from which I had another typed for my own use. | I fear that this is very illegible.

Two Typed Letters Signed to [G. K.] Menzies[, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Clyde Young
Publication details: 
21 November 1934 and 21 June 1935, both on letterhead '6, NEW SQUARE, | LINCOLN'S INN, W.C.2.'
£56.00

British architect (born circa 1872), the son of Sir William Young (1843-1900), whose most important commission, the War Office, Whitehall (1900-1906) he completed. Both items one page, octavo, and very good, though on slightly discoloured and creased paper, one piece bearing pin holes and the other paperclip marks. Both items docketed and one bearing the Society's stamp. ITEM ONE: 'You will be interested to see the enclosed copy of Lord Iveagh's reply.

Two Typed Letters Signed and one Autograph Card Signed to the Secretary, 'Dominions & Colonies Section', Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Captain Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage [the Ashanti Campaign; the Gambia]
Publication details: 
The letters 31 August 1927 and 22 March 1928; the card, 2 July 1928; all three items 76 Jermyn St, St. James's (one letter on letterhead).
£125.00

British soldier and colonial official (1869-1933), Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, 1920-7. All three items very good. Both letters one page, quarto; both bearing the R.S.A. stamp, and one docketed. All three items signed 'C. A. Armitage'. LETTER ONE: Thanks the R.S.A.

Two Typed Letters Signed to [G. K. Menzies,] Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, together with unsigned carbon copy of 'Extract from a letter to Major Furse from Dr. A. C. Haddon, dated 15th December, 1925.'

Author: 
Sir Gerard Edward James Gent [ALFRED CORT HADDON; MALAYA]
Publication details: 
LETTER ONE: 31 December 1925, on embossed Colonial Office letterhead. LETTER TWO: 13 January 1926, on embossed Colonial Office ('NATIONAL SCHEME FOR DISABLED MEN') letterhead.
£106.00

British colonial administrator (1895-1948), High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya. One letter docketed and both bearing R.S.A. stamp. Both signed 'G E. J. Gent'. LETTER ONE (one page, quarto): Ormsby Gore has had forwarded to him a letter received by one of the Secretaries of State's Private Secretaries 'from Dr. A. C. Haddon, [Alfred Cort Haddon, 1855-1940; DNB] a Reader in Anthropology at Cambridge University', and thinks the R.S.A. may be interested in Haddon's proposal. This is outlined in the carbon copy (one page, folio): 'Prof. A. R.

Two Typed Letters Signed to [Sir] H[enry]. T[rueman]. Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Keysall Yapp [Y.M.C.A.; YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION]
Publication details: 
4 November 1915 and 13 January 1917; both on letterhead of the National Council of Young Men's Christian Associations, Incorporated.
£50.00

Evangelical churchman and preacher (1869-1936), National Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association. First letter one page, quarto; second letter one page, octavo. Both very good though dusty. Both signed 'A. K. Yapp'. One letter docketed, and both bearing R.S.A. stamp. LETTER ONE: '[I]t is most probable that we can render the assistance indicated in your letter, and I should be very glad to meet you at some time mutually convenient.

One Autograph Letter Signed and one Typed Letter Signed to W. Perry, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Arthur Leigh Bolland Ashton [Leigh Ashton]
Publication details: 
Typed letter: 19 November 1930; autograph letter, no date; both items on (different) Victoria & Albert Museum letterheads.
£75.00

Director (1897-1983) and Secretary, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1945-55. Both items one page, quarto. Both in very good condition. Typed letter bearing R.S.A. stamp. Both items concerning a projected lecture. TYPED LETTER: Perry will have a typescript by the end of the month, 'but as a good dea of my lecture is extempore you may find it rather shorter than you had anticipated. The written part will be roughly two thousand words.' Signed Leigh Ashton'. AUTOGRAPH LETTER: Perry will 'have to be content with the length of M.S. I send in. It may possibly run to 3000 but not more.

Two Autograph Letters Signed and one Typed Letter Signed to [K. W. Luckhurst,] Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Gilbert Thomas Morgan
Publication details: 
Typed letter: 11 Oct 1938, on letterhead of the Institute of Brewing; autograph letters: 11 Nov 1938 and 19 March 1939, both on letterhead '12, CATHCART ROAD, | REDCLIFFE GARDENS, | LONDON, S. W. 10.'
£100.00

British research chemist (1872-1940), Mason Professor of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, and author of numerous works. All three items very good; all three docketed and two bearing the Society's stamp. All three signed 'G. T. Morgan'. ITEM ONE (typed letter, one page, quarto, slightly creased, with one pin hole): His 'change of address and the recent crisis have both hindered my reply to your letter'. Would be honoured to be one of the Society's Cantor Lecturers, and suggests as title 'Achievements of British Chemical Industry in the last Twenty-five Years'.

Typed Letter Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir James Weir French
Publication details: 
27 July 1919; on letterhead 'ARDOCH HOUSE, | BEARSDEN, | DUMBARTONSHIRE.'
£28.00

British engineer (died 1953). One page, quarto. Very good. Docketed and bearing R.S.A. stamp. Signed 'James Weir French'. 'I should be very pleased to have the opportunity of supporting the Society and I would be glad if you would make the necessary arrangements as you have so kindly offered to do'.

Two Autograph Letters Signed and first leaf of Autograph Letter; all three items to Sir Henry [Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts].

Author: 
Edward North Buxton [BIG GAME HUNTING]
Publication details: 
29 April and 2 May 1901, 8 May [1901]; all three items on letterhead 'KNIGHTON, | BUCKHURST HILL.'
£120.00

Politician and director of Trueman, Hanbury, Buxton and Co. (1840-1924), whose entry in 'Who's who' describes his 'Recreations' as 'a keen follower of big game in four continents'. All three items 12mo and very good. The first two items on cream paper and bearing the Society's stamp; the last item on grey paper and docketed. First and last item signed 'E N Buxton'. ITEM ONE (two pages) addressed to 'Sir Trueman' [sic]: 'I have not forgotten that you asked me how my films stood the Climate & if I got any decent results in the Soudan'. Offers to show Wood 'a few' at the Athenaeum.

The names of those persons who subscribed towards the defence of this country at the time of the Spanish Armada, 1588, and the amounts each contributed. With historical introduction [...]; and index.

Author: 
T. C. Noble (intro.)
Publication details: 
London: Alfred Russell Smith, 1886.
£35.00

1st edition, 1886. 8vo. Pages: xxxv + 92. Original cloth blind stamped on front board. Paper browing with age, some fraying at head of spine and title leaf loosening; otherwise good copy. Variant spellings of some of the names in the list have been added in ink in a neat small contemporary hand.

Two Autograph Letters Signed to Sir Henry T[rueman]. Wood, [Secretary,] Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Alexander Joseph Finberg [THE WALPOLE SOCIETY]
Publication details: 
23 and 27 January 1917; both on Walpole Society letterhead.
£85.00

British art historian (1866-1939) whose papers are now in the Courtauld Institute, London; Turner specialist and founder of the Walpole Society. Both items one page, quarto, very good. Both docketed and bearing the Society's stamp, and signed 'A. J. Finberg'. First letter enquires whether 'a full list of the recipients of [the Society's awards] has been published, or whether the materials for the compilation of such a list are in existence & are accessible to research'.

Two Autograph Postcards Signed to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, [Secretary,] The Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Wyke Bayliss
Publication details: 
19 and 21 January 1893, '7 North Road | Clapham Park'.
£32.00

Artist and art historian (1835-1906), President of the Royal Society of British Artists. Both items very good, if somewhat grubby, and both stamped and docketed, and signed 'Wyke Bayliss'. Both postcards with postmark over printed stamp. POSTCARD ONE: 'I was dining last night with Dr Richardson and he said he should be glad if you could let him have some more cards of invitation for my lecture on the 25th. May I ask you (if you think proper) to send them a dozen, in addition to htose you have already sent.' POSTCARD TWO: 'I send by this post the MS of my paper, for the printer.

Note in a secretarial hand Signed to Sir H[enry]. T[rueman]. Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, together with compliments slip.

Author: 
Sir Benjamin Baker
Publication details: 
The letter, 11 June 1901; the compliments slip 17 June 1901; both on letterhead '2, Queen Square Place, | Queen Anne's Mansions, Westminster, S.W.'
£26.00

English civil engineer (1840-1907), who built the Forth Rail Bridge and worked on the Metropolitan and District Railways of the London Underground. Both items one page, octavo, on grey paper. Both in good condition, stamped and docketed. The note, signed 'B. Baker', reads 'I am sorry to say the Glasgow University Jubilee will prevent me and I have no doubt others from beingn at Marlborough House on the 14th.' The slip reads 'With Sir Benjamin Baker's Compliments.'

Two Autograph Letters Signed to [Sir Henry Trueman Wood,] the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir John Wolfe Wolfe-Barry
Publication details: 
Letter one: 28 June 1917; letter two: 29 October 1917; both on letterhead 'DELAHAY HOUSE, | 15, CHELSEA EMBANKMENT, | S.W.3.'
£45.00

British railway engineer (1836-1918). Both items very good, and both stamped and docketed, and signed 'J. Wolfe-Barry'. LETTER ONE: one page, octavo. 'I have much pleasure in accepting the Office of Vice President of the Society and shall be glad, as an ex-officio member of the Council to be summoned to its meetings'. LETTER TWO: one page, octavo (landscape). 'I want to propose William Archer Tait D.Sc Civil Engineer for admission to the Royal Sy of Arts. His address is 9 Victoria Street S.W. Please take the necessary steps'.

Four Autograph Letters Signed to the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Charles Stuart Bayley
Publication details: 
14 December 1917, on India Office embossed letterhead; 21 June 1927 and 15 July 1927, both on embossed letterhead '39, TREGUNTER ROAD. | S.W.10.'; 14 April 1928, on letterhead of 'THE FRESCO CLUB, | OLD FLUSHING INN, | RYE, SUSSEX.'
£56.00

Indian civil servant (1854-1935) whose posts included those of Under-Secretary to the Governments of Bengal and India. All four items signed 'Chas. S. Bayley'. All four items one page, 12mo. The last three, all on grey paper, very good; the first somewhat grubby and creased, and with two paperclip rust stains in one corner. LETTER ONE (addressed to 'Mr. Digby'): He is returning Menzie's letter (not present) and feels sure that 'the Indian Section Committee will be pleased to learn that the Council have agreed to appoint a joint committee to consider the question of the Birdwood medal.

Autograph Letter Signed to J. Samson, Assistant Secretary, Royal Society of Arts; together with carbon copy of the letter to which it is a reply.

Author: 
Sir Lawrence Gowing
Publication details: 
The letter 27 November 1962, on letterhead '17 PERCY STREET LONDON W1'; the carbon copy 15 November 1962.
£38.00

Painter and art historian (1918-91). The two items are both very good, attached to one another by a staple in a corner. The copy of Samson's letter (one page quarto, very good, on yellow paper) explains that the Society is 'endeavouring to arrange a course of three Cantor Lectures next Spring on modern philosophies - art, architecture and music', and invites him to deliver the first of these. Gives details of the fee, dates, etc. Gowing's letter: one page, octavo. 'I am honoured by your invitation to give the first of the Cantor Lectures next year. But I must refuse it - I'm very sorry.

Typed Letter Signed to the Secretary of the Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Hormusjee Cowasjee Dinshaw
Publication details: 
21 January 1924; on letterhead 'COWASJEE DINSHAW & BROS.', 'Steamer Point, | Aden'.
£25.00

Parsee shipping magnate (1857-1939). One page, quarto. Creased and discoloured, with a little spotting. Reads 'I am your Society's Life member since past many years | I shall feel obliged if you can procure me some recipe for making anti-fouling paint for use no steel steamers bottoms.' Signed ''. Docketed as answered over the Society's stamp.

Two Typed Letters Signed to [K. W. Luckhurst,] the Secretary, Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Edward Charles Dodds
Publication details: 
24 October 1938; 30 December 1947; both on letterhead of the Courtauld Institute of Biochemistry, the Middlesex Hospital.
£45.00

English scientist (1899-1973), Professor of Biochemistry at the University of London, and President of the Royal College of Physicians, 1962. Both items one page, 4to, and both good, though creased and with a few small staple holes. First item addressed to 'The Secretary' and second to Luckhurst. Both signed 'E. C. Dodds'. ITEM ONE: He has signed the form and is 'very glad to have an opportunity of being considered for Fellowship by your Council'. Asks whether his subscription is required with the application. ITEM TWO: Requests that 'the necessary forms' be sent to 'Mr.

Three Autograph Letters Signed to [G. K. Menzies,] the Secretary, The Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke
Publication details: 
12 February 1918; 14 June [mistakenly given as July] 1918; 18 June 1918; all on letterhead '5 WESTERN TERRACE, | BRIGHTON.'
£56.00

Dilke, the 2nd Baronet (1843-1911), was a disgraced politician and author. All items 12mo and very good. All three docketed, bearing the Society's stamp, and signed 'C. Wentworth Dilke'. The first item is addressed to Menzies personally and the other two to 'The Secty.' ITEM ONE: one page. He has received the letter of 9 February and is 'pleased to send you a subscription though not much in town'. ITEM TWO: two pages. Would like to know 'whether ladies are admitted as guests and how often'.

Signed Conveyance, with two coloured plans, of "Jesmondene", Lithos Road, Hampstead, and nos 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 High Road, Willesden, to Frederick Flood.

Author: 
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke and William Francis Hadgate
Publication details: 
26/04/97
£75.00

Dilke, the 2nd Baronet (1843-1911), was a disgraced politician and author. Engrossed in black ink on two large pieces of vellum. Ruled with red lines. Two-part schedule. Signed by Dilke and Hadgate to the left of two out of three red-wax seals on green ribbon at foot of document. Second sheet an indenture by Cartwright & Vintner of 51 Bedford Row, with two plans coloured in green, pink, orange and red, bearing stamps to the value of £22 15s. 0d. Witnessed on reverse of indenture, which also bears a memorandum of 16 March 1906.

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