BONHAM-CARTER

The four items in good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: TLS by Spicer, 31 December 1943. 4pp., 12mo. With a couple of minor autograph emendations. A long and wide-ranging letter, discussing the aims of the group (in response to Item Three below). Topics include: 'intellectuals in the Group', whether it is 'disuniting the Party', 'the future of the Party', 'going into opposition', 'the position of the Liberal Party at the next General Election, or at the conclusion of the European War', and whether Radical Action is 'pin-pricking the Parliamentary Party'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, creased and lightly aged. Addressed to 'Mr. Mark R. Bonham Carter | c/o The Commonwealth Fund | 41 East 57th Street | New York 22, New York'. He writes having just returned 'from another trip to Paris', and has seen Bonham-Carter's 'note of farewell - with the conspicuous marks of the Wegener influence'. He is glad Bonham-Carter enjoyed his visit to Chicago, and looks forward to a visit to England by 'one or more of the McKeons', which will give him 'an opportunity to retaliate for some of the ragging that constitutes the American conception of hospitality'.

Charles Harry Lawrence (hereafter CHL) was perhaps the finest gunmaker of the twentieth century. At the age of 14 he joined James Purdey & Sons as an actioner's apprentice, and he remained with the firm for the rest of his life. For fifteen years, ending in 1970, he was the firm's managing director. He was twice (1954 and 1962) Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, and was Chairman of the Proof House Committee for 27 years from 1954. Having previously received an MBE for his war work, he was awarded an OBE in 1978.

4pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged. She is especially pleased that he has agreed to speak at 'our meeting', as the League is 'always so anxious to have our meetings all-party ones - this one more especially so'. The theme of the meeting is the role of the Poles in the Second World War, and she describes the plan of the meeting, which is to include a speech by 'Major Beamish' on 'conditions in Poland'; and a resolution by the Dean of Chichester ('our Vice-Chairman'), seconded by 'Mr. O'Brien M.P. (Labour)'.

2pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. In the letter the Duke of Edinburgh is referred to as 'the Sailing Master'. Addressed to 'The Director of the Operations Division, Ministry of Defence (Navy)', and beginning 'Dear Director of Operations Division (if indeed you are still called that!), | The Sailing Master (and I) are interested in whether we caused you any concern during Bloodhound's passage back from Brunsbuttel to this country.

1p., landscape 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-creased paper. He begins: 'This is just a line to say how very good I thought your answer to Quintin Hogg.' He next turns to his desire for a meeting and 'walk in the afternoon', although he knows 'this is a long way off and you are very busy'. He ends with transport information and the news: 'However I am going away on Monday for 3 weeks.' The valediction is in Murray's autograph: 'Yours sincerely, | G. M.'

4pp., 4to. 75 lines of neatly-written text. On creased aged paper, with a few closed tears (one of them 11cm long). He begins by praising Bonham-Carters 'objective & informed comments on American opinion' ('I hope you will feel encouraged to publish more of your findings'). 'But gratitude & a thirst for information & about American politics are not my only reason [sic] for writing. I wish you were in England, for I would very much enjoy an exchange of views with you about the position of the Party.

Printed beige boards, hinge strain at front cover, condition mainly good., 3 or 4 days to the pages, additional space for notes not used. Mainly a record of times, dates, people involved in a busy life of professional and social engagements, and expenditure, at the beginning of Bonham-Carter's years with The House of Collins. He records the occasional "Edit. Meting" (3 Jan. possibly his first?). Information also includes phone numbers and addresses. His background obviously gave him access to many circles.

Text of all three items clear and complete. All three on lightly aged paper, creased and with some wear to extremities. Letter One (8vo, 1 p; 20 lines of text): She thanks Bonham Carter for her 'kind and appreciative letter' and 'will see that through the English Embassy' she receives 'a copy of my short story: "I due prigionieri", of which your son is the protagonist'. (An officer in the Grenadier Guards, during the war Mark Bonham Carter had escaped from a prison camp in northern Italy.) Describes material she is sending relating to her 'literary career'.

American educator and philosopher (1921-2002), one of the key figures during the reorganization of the University of Chicago’s undergraduate college in the 1960s and 70s. All ten items quarto: five items one page in length and five two pages in length. Text legible throughout, but all items creased and some on paper discoloured with age. With occasional fraying to edges and a few closed tears. Several with pencil notes by Bonham-Carter on reverse.

English historian (1882-1959). All three items, two pages, quarto. All good, though grubby and lightly creased. Three intimate and revealing letters. ITEM ONE apparently sent to Bonham-Carter in America. 'You will soon be back, I think. Are you now occupied in assembling and correlating your observations? [...] I should guess it was quite impossible to think when a Presidential election is going on. | I have been spending a fortnight in Oxford and I asked some of the early-middle-aged dons what the undergraduates were thinking.

Barbara Hastings, daughter of the jurist Sir Patrick Hastings, married Nicolas Bentley (1907-78) in October 1934. In the 1940s she wrote a series of children's books which he illustrated. Two pages, octavo. good, but folded twice and with some creases. An important letter, in which she describes the circumstances of her husband's death. She is very grateful for his letter. 'It was an enormous pleasure to have you here with Kenneth and Billie [bookseller Kenneth Bredon and his wife], but do you know I think it was that dreadful fire that killed poor Nick - indirectly.