GIBBONS

See his entry in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. A year before these letters Hodgkinson had become an assistant keeper in the Department of Architecture and Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert, where his first task had been to organize the display of the Hildburgh collection of English medieval alabasters. Also in 1946 Robertson had begun his long career at Edinburgh University, having worked through the war at Bletchley Park, before joining the unit assigned to track down works of art looted by the Nazis.

As the Great Depression hit Gibbons found himself over-extended, and was forced into bankruptcy. The present item is scarce. The only copy on JISC is at the Paul Mellon Centre Library. 68pp, 8vo. In grey printed wraps, and with purchase slip tipped in. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. At head of title-page: ‘By Direction of Lieut.-Col. SIR WALTER GIBBONS, K.B.E., D.L. Following the Sale of the Freehold, and the proposed conversion of the Property into high-class Residential Flats.’ ‘Conditions of Sale’ on reverse of title. 974 lots.

2pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. On single leaf, with first page with light diagonal clerical mark. Reads: 'Milward Rowe | Esqr. | Order is taken this 4th. Day of Novr 1779 By Virtue of his Majesty's General Letters of Privy Seal bearing date the 5th. Of Novr. 1760. And in pursuance of a Warrant under his Royal Sign Manual dated the 4 day of Novr. 1779. That You deliver and pay of such his Majesty's Treasure as remains in your charg Unto Milward Rowe Esqr.

60pp., 12mo. Stitched pamphlet. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with slight staining to back cover. Illustrated catalogue, with titles including 'Fifty Years of Philately' , 'Postage and Telegraph Stamps of British India' and 'The Stamp King'. No copy of this edition found on either OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC.

2pp., 4to. Printed in small type, with manuscript additions on both sides of the first leaf; addressed on the recto of the second leaf, with broken red wax seal: 'P. P. 9d | Mr Baldwin | Copper plate printer & | Birmingham | Sheffield | Oct 8th.' Great St Helens was a centre for firms concerned with bankruptcy and liquidation, and this interesting document offers banking services for 'needy Manufacturers and Tradesmen', with a use of Masonic imagery which is designed to reassure.

12mo, 8 pp. Staining and slight damage to first leaf from rust from staples, otherwise good on aged paper. (Two words of text are lacking, but easily supplied in the following: 'to die the struggle' and ve this message to my friends'). Slug carries code 'CP/C/29/4/43.', the last three elements indicating the date of publication. The front page carries a photograph of Clough, a twenty year-old 'reported missing from an operational flight', and reproduces a letter left by him for his parents.

Image roughly 7 x 9.5 cm, on piece of paper 8 x 10.5 cm, mounted on recto of second leaf of a cream card bifolium, with a window frame through first leaf. Printed label on reverse of second leaf reads: 'This photograph is copyright and mahy not be copied or reproduced in any way whatsoever. Legal proceedings may be taken against any infringement. | YVONNE GREGORY.' In very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Head and shoulders three-quarters profile, from Gibbons' right, showing the novelist in a tailored jacket with padded shoulders.