COLE

Robin Wallace (1897-1952) was a well-known British painter in oils and watercolours, particularly noted for his landscapes. He was born in Kendal, Westmoreland, descended from a long line of hand-loom weavers. After working for local nurserymen, he served in the Royal Marines in the First World War. Soon after the war he set off for London, where he showed his work to Vicat Cole, principal of the Byam Shaw Vicat Cole School of Art in Kensington, who offered to teach him for nothing. His scholarship was renewed until 1926, the year of his first show, at the Rembrandt Gallery in Liverpool.

2pp., 8vo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Cole has received a request from Jephson, asking him 'to send the Poll-book of the County Fermanagh to the Library of the Carleton [sic] Club'. He explains that 'for the last two Elections for that County there has been no Contest.

On slip of 2 x 11 cm paper. Laid down on 8 x 14.5 cm piece of brown paper. The note reads: 'Jan: 26 1744-5 Had this Duplicate valued by ye. Bookseller, fr ye. Royal Library, according to an Order of ye. University | Wm. Cole'.

The Campden Hill Club was founded in 1907, 'in affectionate memory of Byam Shaw, and as a tribute to his teaching', and comprised, according to the Studio magazine in 1922, 'mainly of past and present students of the Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art, with which it keeps closely and stimulatingly in touch'. The three items are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn bindings. ONE (Visitors Book, 1958-1976): 190pp., 4to. Ruled notebook bound in red cloth, with 'Visitors' stamped in gilt on the front cover.

5cm. etched clear cut-glass figurine of the god Vishnu, for domestic worship. Wrapped in a 4 x 8.5 cm packet, made from a folded piece of 10.5 x 18.5 cm Whatman paper, with 'Penates' written on it in a Victorian hand (presumably that of Eleanor Avena Blackburne, see below). Both figurine and packet are in very good condition. On the inside of the unfolded packet, in the same hand: 'Penates from Nepaul | Mrs Legh of High Legh gave it to me who received 3 from Capt Everest on his return from thence'.

The archive contains around 280 letters, two packets and negatives, various postcards, brochures and a driving licence. It contains around 260 letters from Robert Cole to his parents in Littlehampton, Sussex, England during the time he took up a Government position with the Federation of Malaya Fisheries Department in 1952 (Penang and Malacca, where he worked, remained Crown Territories within the Federation); and about 20 letters from his wife Cicely to Rosalind Cole.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. The letterhead has been cut away from the first leaf, taking with it the number of the month, but not affecting the text; otherwise fair, on lightly-aged paper. Marston invites Cole to 'a pleasant little meeting of some of our friends and contributors at the Office': 'We are altogether a Bachelor Party and as free from formality as a set of Australian Bush Men or Gold-diggers'. Saunders has also written 'begging the pleasure' of Cole's company. He ends by sending his regards to Cole's daughter, whom he hopes has 'recovered from her cough'.

2pp., 16mo. On bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. After presenting his respects, Lane states that he'regrets that he is so engaged for three or four months that he must not undertake any more - / He has found the copying miniatures so injurious to his eyes and the drawings so unsatisfactory in the printing that he is at all times unwilling to engage in very small Drawings -'. He concludes by thanking her for 'her most kind & gratifying note'.

1p., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged grey paper. He notes an advertisement for Campbell's 'Lives of the Chief Justices' in that morning's Athenaeum. 'Had I been earlier aware of the preparation of the work it would have afforded me much pleasure in offering for your Lordships acceptance a Copy of the probate Copy Will of the Lord Chief Justice Fitzjames which I have in my collection of M.S.S. &c.' The will is very long and contains 'much curious matter'.

Both items in good condition on aged paper. A dramatic, almost novelistic correspondence, regarding 'the Signora' (named in the second letter as 'Mme Sineo', who is staying at her house in Torquay and is apparently too frail to return to her London house. Letter One: Docketed 'No 1'. 12mo, 4 pp. Peard states that she has not 'written of late about the Signora. She has got fairly well again, but she does not seem to us fit to return to London, & I hear that her doctor does not think she ever will be fit.

12mo, 1 p. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. He is 'unable to make an offer for the back Vols of The Athenaeum - our stock in house being sufficient to meet demands'.

12mo, 2 pp. 21 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks him for his 'letter (Copy of Flora Macdonald)', and asks which letters he gave him 'of travellers'. 'Richard Lander I cannot give you. Of John I can & of poor Stothard - who was murdered at Bokarra [Bokhara] & of [Alexander] Burnes - but my impression is that I gave you those'. He has 'not heard again from ' and thinks that 'Miss Cole had better have the ring in her own possession - tis better than nothing'.

Mimeographed typescript. Folio, 19 pp, each on a separate leaf. In worn green 'Ministry of Munitions of War. Branch Memorandum' folder. Text clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper, with slight damage to some corners from rusty paperclip. Signed in type 'ARTHUR HENDERSON, CHAIRMAN. | G.D.H. COLE, SECRETARY'. Headed in manuscript 'Memorandum by Mr. Henderson & Mr Cole.' A scarce, historic document in the history of British politics, addressing what its authors claim to be 'the most wide-spread and deep-seated unrest that has ever been known in this country'.

English civil servant (1808-82), postal reformer, and archivist. Instrumental in the creation of the Victorian and Albert Museum and prominent in organizing the Great Exhibition. Two pages, octavo. Good, but on discoloured, foxed paper. An important letter, showing the chaos out of which the Public Record Office was formed.

Octavo. 55 pages. Disbound pamphlet from the Churchill Babington collection. PRESENTATION inscription to Babington from author (dated February 1840) on light-brown printed front wrap. Very good, but with front wrap grubby and foxed, and rear wrap lacking. Scarce: only three copies on COPAC.

Australian magician and escapologist (1892-1978). One page, 8vo. Very good, but with some loss to edge by removal from mount. Letterhead reads 'THIRD WORLD TOUR | The Great Levante | FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN ILLUSIONIST | WITH HIS MAGICAL EXTRAVAGANZA "HOW'S TRICKS" | This Week: [Chelsea Palace, | London.] | Next Week: [Town Hall, | Pontypridd.]' He thanks him for his letter, returns his card, and encloses a photograph as requested.