CABLE

Pamphlet, 11pp., 8vo, disbound, library marks on titlepage, fold mark, good condition. "Reprinted by permission of the Editor. from Celebrities of the Day for December, 1881". No copy currently on market, four copies on COPAC (not BL), one USA.

Clifford was introduced to the laying of Atlantic telegraph cables by Sir Charles Bright, whose wife was his cousin. He served as an engineer on all the Atlantic cable expeditions from 1857 to 1866, designing the paying-out machinery used on the Great Eastern in 1865 and 1866. He worked at Greenwich as chief engineer for the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company until his retirement in 1894. ONE: From Blackheath; 6 April 1892. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Signed 'H. Clifford.' In good condition, on lightly-aged paper.

Two fragments: ONE: Half of a letter, 11 x 10cm, tipped onto album page, fair conditionn, text as follows: "PS | We expected some difficulty in carrying out the Telegraph between Europe and America - but are notr at all disappointed with the present stoppage - Bruce's spider made many swings beforee he fatened his liune to the other side. - Weshall make anther swing next May or JUne - then [underlined] I think we shall get over [small loss her?] In the meantime we are busy in the Mediterranean and towards the East.

A large collection of charts,over 70 (seventy), mainly 38 x 27", relating to the routes of submarine cables across the Atlantic, mainly to the cables laid by the Mackay-Bennett (of Titanic fame) between 1884 and 1901, but also drawing in other cables going back to 1866. The routes appear as coloured lines, dotted lines indicating assumed routes. There is considerable information about repair operations by such vessels as CS Faraday, and good detail about the routes.

More than 60 photographs of various sizes from 2 x 2" to 10 x 8", of the staff and cable station (interior, inclduing equipment, and exterior) at Fayal on Madeira. One photograph is dated 1903. WITH: related ephemera (non-telegraphic). The collection,