FIRST

A collection including an autograph notebook, photographs, receipts, circulars, received by Mrs Amy Mary Irving Driberg (d.1939) [née Bell], of Uckfield Lodge, Crowborough, wife of J.J.S. Driberg, and mother of Labour politician Tom Driberg (Baron Bradwell) (1905-76), in connection with her efforts on behalf of allied prisoners of war. An interesting and informative collection, casting light on a generally-overlooked aspect of the Great War. In good overall condition, on lightly-aged paper.ONE. Notebook in the autograph of Mrs A. M.

Card, 7.5 x 3.5cm, good condition. Printed name and address ("R.C. Sherriff. | Rosebriars, Esher") with Signature on verso ("Yours sincerely | RCSherriff").

2pp., 4to. 53 lines. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor traces of previous mounting at head, and a light and unobtrusive water stain. The letter is headed by Rose 'Y.M.C.A. B.A.P.O.2 B.E.F. France'. Regarding Sheppard's recently-published 'Quest of Ledgar Dunstan', Rose writes: 'You have a wonderfully keen mental eye which sees everything with extraordinary sharpness, & you have a literary hand which etches with just & delicate touch. The book is also one of singular intensity of feeling which carries the reader along fascinated & thrilled.

The collection of seven items is in fair condition, lightly-aged and with slight rust staining to a few pages. The material is from the archives of an Anglo-German firm of City of London stockbrokers (see the list of clients in Item One below, all with German names), and is valuable for the material it contains revealing the impact of the First World War on the firm's own business (see Item Two below, regarding the 'Enemy [i.e.

The three items come from the papers of an Anglo-German City of London stockbroker, with Item One, below, indicating that he was based in Germany between 1898 and 1909, and that he had moved to England by 1917. A major point of interest is the fact that the material has been assembled by an educated, intelligent and well-informed individual with good knowledge of both German and English economic realities, at a time of high conflict between the two nations. ONE: 94pp., folio. In black cloth quarter-binding with brown marbled boards, and label of W. Harneit, Hamburg. Consisting of 88pp.

Vol. II: 8vo, 465 pp., good condition. Inscription on fly-leaf: 'To | Guy Repp | from | [signed] Henry Miller | 3/4/42'. With R. J. Stanewick's ownership inscription in pencil on reverse of front wrap. (Miller signatures from this period are uncommon. The recipient Guy Repp was an actor associated in the 1930s with Orson Welles's Mercury Theater of the Air, who also featured in 'Citizen Kane'.) Internally tight and sound on aged paper, in worn and chipped wraps, with broken spines.. A few light pencil underlinings (by Stanewick?). The second volume is scarcer than the first.

1p., landscape 12mo. With circular purple stamp of the Magistrate of the District, Belgaum. The magistrates name is faded and difficult to decipher (''). Completed in manuscript (in square brackets in the following transcription): '[Lieut. Peacock, Officer in charge Disinfection and Central Segregation Camps,] Supervisor of Circle No. [last four words crossed through] is hereby appointed a plague authority under the Moffussil Plague Rules in the town and suburbs of Belgaum.'
With related newspaper article.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. Fair, on aged and lightly-creased paper. An excessively scarce piece of First World War ephemera, with the only copy traced at the Imperial War Museum.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The letter is written in pencil, and begins: 'Sir, | I am awfully sorry to say that I have just been ordered to report tomorrow to G. H. Q. where I shall very probably receive the order to go to the Yankee Army. | I am really very sorry to leave you without having even been able to present to you my respects and my thanks for the kindness you have always shown to me during the time I have been attached to this brigade which is now exactly a year ago.

1p., 4to., with vertical perforation dividing the circular (upper part) from the form (lower part). Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper. The fourteen-line circular begins: 'It is appreciated that every British Subject wishes to return at once, but all will not be able to get in the first train. | The British Committee will have to select the order of going by the various degrees of urgency. [...] Persons in Government service, men going to mobilisation, and persons in distress, have special claims to priority.' The form, completed in pencil by 'Mr & Mrs R.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In pencil. Lightly-aged and worn. In pencil, with deletions and emendations. Docketed in another hand on reverse of second leaf: 'MS. speech delivered at Guildhall Banquet by Lord Northbrook, First Lord of Admiralty - 9th Novr. 1883.' And with the following in the second hand at the head of the first page: 'Lord Northbrook's Speech - Nov. 9. 1883 at Guildhall'. A very short speech, well reported in The Times of 10 November 1883.

The eleven issues are: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15. Each issue is 32pp., small 4to, with a further 4pp. of plates on two leaves, and numerous illustrations in text. The last six issues, from no.7 (June 1915) to no. 15 (June to October 1916) are in fair condition, in their original worn printed wraps; the first five are in poorer condition, with issues 1 and 2 lacking wraps and with stained outer pages, and issue 3 with the covers loose and separated from one another; in addition, issue 2 has a jagged closed tear to the first leaf.

10pp., 12mo. Stapled and unbound as issued. Worn and stained, but with contents complete. Signed in type at end: 'ARNOLD LUPTON.

The letters provide a fascinating insight into the development of the transatlantic publishing industry. They are closely typed with single spacing, and both centre around Walton's employment situation and his complaints about the sending over from America of 'Mr. Russell', about whose 'absolute worthlessness to the business' he complains. Adair's letter: 2pp., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper.

99pp., in 'Army & Navy Octavo Scribbling Diary (with a week on an opening) for 1910'. Good, on aged paper, in worn boards, with some preliminary leaves torn out, and a few childish scrawls by Irene and Pauline Knott (grandchildren of the author?) at beginning and end (not affecting text) . The author is intelligent and well-educated, pious and with a keen interest in sport, but there are few clues regarding his identity: his family is from Staines, and he trained at the Royal Naval College, Osborne. The itineraries of the two ships mentioned in this diary are as follows.

1p., 8vo. Fair, on aged and lightly-worn paper. The letter begins: 'If the only son of a widow, upon whose earnings the mother depends, does not volunteer, he will, if unmarried, and of military age, be entitled to appeal for exemption from the Military Service Act. Mr. Walter Long expressly stated in the House of Commons that it was the intention of the authorities to exempt such cases.' Simon goes on to discuss the position of 'the Local Tribunal', and to point out the position of those who attest. He has added in pen: 'Appeal must be made before March 2nd'.

Two pages, cr. 8vo, bifolium, punch-holes in white space, good condition. "The efforts which you have made in the furtherance of recruiting in this country have been brought to my notice and I desire at this stage of the campaign to place on record my appreciation ... duty of the first importance at this crisis of the country's fortunes. |The recent exclusion of Ireland from the scope of the Military Service Bill has placed upon the eligible men of Ireland, alone among the European nations ...

3pp., 12mo. Fair, on aged and worn paper. Wilde explains that he had previously written regarding the case, but 'by some accident the Letter has been mislaid (I believe) among my mass of papers, and I therefore fear it may not have reached you as I cannot learn who among the Servants dispatched it'.

12mo, 18 pp (paginated 21-38) + one engraving (facing p.24). Good, on lightly-aged paper, with the engraving somewhat foxed; in good modern grey card wraps, marbled endpapers, and printed label on front. First appearance in printed form. On nine leaves disbound from 'The Keepsake for MDCCCXXXII', edited by Frederic Mansel Reynolds. Mary Shelley's story is on the seventeen pages 22-38, with the drophead title 'THE DREAM. | BY THE AUTHOR OF FRANKENSTEIN. | Chi dice mal d'amore | Dice una falsità. | ITALIAN SONG.' The engraving, by Charles Heath from Miss L. Sharpe, is titled 'Constance'.

Five manuscript items, all in the same pencil hand. The name and address of Jean B. Maclachlan written twice on Item One indicates the identity of the notetaker. All texts clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper (but see slight damage to Item Two). Item One: Manuscript notebook. 12mo, 61 pp. Stapled. In original blue wraps, 'SUPPLIED FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE'. Repeatedly and untidily stamped in red ink on front cover 'PLYMOUTH', with 'CAPTAIN, R.M. | ASSISTANT PAYMASTER' and 'ROYAL MARINES | PLYMOUTH'.

On both sides of the card, which is not addressed, having fitted inside an envelope. Aged, but with text clear and complete. Inviting Constable to play golf with him at Littlehampton. He can be there at 12.28 pm. 'I go to Coates on Friday'.

One page, 12mo, bifolium, fold marks, good condition. Tamarton [sic for Tamerton] Church Tower & other Poems are now included in a volume called 'Amelia and other Poems.' It is published by Geo. Bell & Co. York Stret, Covent Garden. I do not know Mr Palgarve's address, but a letter to Macmillan & Co, his publisher would reach him.

4to, 2 pp. On bifolium. Twenty-two lines. Text clear and complete. In good condition, on aged paper. Lady Popham has written her opinion of the letter on the reverse of second leaf: 'Lord Melvilles cold hearted answer -'. To modern eyes the letter would appear to be a model of tact. Melville begins by expressing 'deep regret' at 'the late most afflicting addition to the loss you had already sustained' (the Admiral had died three weeks before).

Two pages, 12mo, good condition. "I think everything is in train. I have just seen Philippe & we are off in the morning. | I can't thank you enough for all you have done to help us, & your assistants too. | I am sorry to hear that David has damaged himself and that they won't now be coming out." Note: Hope's only apparent claim to fame is that he signed the Armistice at the end of World War One.

Total 3pp., folio, fold marks, good condition. He asks the Scretary of the RSA to "draw the attention" of members to "to the fact that the Munitions Inventions Department, which ...

It is the most comprehensive archive of military letters that I have come across, physically or in research, covering as it does every phase of Potter's distinguished career - India, Ireland, South Africa, the Sudan, the Great War, Ireland (eventually as "British Military Chief" in Belfast). I have selected his Irish and First World War letters to demonstrate that the letters are substantial and interesting, with valuable perceptions and comment.

The five posters, presumably produced for the classroom, are scarce, with no reference to them on the internet or elsewhere. They are attractively painted in a bold and vivid panoramic frieze style. Each carries a single illustration showing two (counting the Cabot brothers as one) explorers in front of groups of men, with a merged background behind them.

Each print is in black and white, landscape and 17.5 x 23 cm. They are lightly-worn and in fair condition. Part of a series of British official war photographs (one was published on 26 January 1918 on p. 469 of Part 180, Vol. X, of 'The Great War' magazine), and each numbered between S480 and S501. Shots of troops marching past the Chateau, of a large body of men in battledress standing in grounds, being addressed by the General and a padre, standing at a rostrum draped with the Union Flag and other allied flags, with officers seated beside it.

Each print is in black and white, landscape and 17.5 x 23 cm. They are lightly-worn and in fair condition; one has a short closed tear and another a vertical crease at one side (neither of these in the panorama). Part of the same series of British official war photographs (one was published on 26 January 1918 on p. 469 of Part 180, Vol. X, of 'The Great War' magazine), and each numbered between S480 and S501.

Both good, on aged paper. Both docketed and with the Society's stamp. ONE: 14 October 1915. Folio, 1 p. Regarding a 'special examination in English, for Belgian refugees'. TWO: 21 October 1915. 4to, 1 p. Headed 'Examination for Belgians in the English Language'.