GEOGRAPHY

1p., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Monsieur Bennis a la librairie Anglaise Rue Neuve St Augustin No 99'. In fair condition, on aged and lightly-worn paper. He had believed that he had a reciprocal agreement with Bennis, allowing him to borrow 'quelques volumes du Cabinet Cyclopedia', but he has now learned that Bennis has, 'contre ordre', cancelled his 'demande de Carnets'. As a consequence, 'par reciprocité également', he is returning the four volumes that he last borrowed, and he asks him to close his account.

In his history of the school Christopher Tyerman points out that Laborde came to Harrow in 1919 after Colonial Service employment as a Head Master in Fiji.

32pp, 8vo. In very good condition, on lightly-aged laid Whatman paper with watermarked date 1830. Ruled in pencil by Campbell, and written out in his attractive calligraphic hand. With occasional emendations, and with an entire revision of the twentieth page made by overlaying another leaf of paper over the top of the original with wafers in each corner. (The two versions can be separated from one another with ease.) Campbell's essay was the leading article in the first issue of 'The Metropolitan', published in London by James Cochrane and Co.

341pp., foolscap 8vo, typed onto rectos only, and with the main text paginated in blue pencil to 252pp. Six black and white illustrative photographs laid down, two with the stamp of 'The Scotsman' newspaper on the reverse. A substantial volume, bound with string and staples, with thumb index. In brown wraps, with typed label on front: 'DIGEST GAZETTEER | OF | SCOTTISH LOCHS & | RIVERS'. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn wraps.

8vo, 6 pp. Two bifoliums sewn together. On laid paper with Britannia watermark. Text clear and complete. Neatly written out at approximately 38 lines to the page. On aged paper, with slight damage to the first bifolium, the leaves of which are detaching at the spine. Some of the items have been lightly scored through in pencil, but are still legible. The inclusion of such items as '149 Blank Silk Paper for copying Maps' would appear to indicate that the document is an inventory (for probate?) of a cartographer's stock. Last two entries read '165 Blank Sheets of Paper for copying Maps.

The fifty-two items (in various formats) are in very good condition. Texts clear and complete. On lightly-aged paper. A cordial correspondence regarding the business of the Society, Holdich's close association with which is not noted in his entry in the Oxford DNB. On 21 February 1917 Holdich writes to 'accept the honour of appointment to the office of Vice President of the Society of Arts'.

12mo, 1 p. Good, on lightly aged paper. Asking Pingard, as Secretary of the Institut de France, to convene a meeting of the members of the 'Section de Géographie et Navigation'. Postscript: 'P.S. Je suis, connais vous, près <?> une Jambe.'

12mo, 3 pp. Very good on lightly aged paper. Asking whether Gladstone would consent to the placing of his name on the list of the Institute's Council, 'to fill one of the vacancies'. 'You would be of great service to us in so doing - and the calls on your time would not be numerous - about a dozen times a year'. Six lines in shorthand (by Gladstone?) on the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium.

4to, 1 p. Addressed in autograph on the reverse of the second leaf of the bifolium. Good, though lightly creased and a little grubby. He is sending a notice (not present) announcing the courses for the term 1825-1826 at the Faculté, and asks for it to be inserted as soon as possible 'en totalité ou par extrait dans votre journal'.

All six items aged, but in reasonable condition overall. ITEM ONE: Cloth (British army?) map, roughly thirty-six inches by twenty-three wide, in colours, of 'SIAM (THAILAND) (EXTREME SOUTH) MALAYA (F.M.S.) SUMATRA (CENTRAL), with 'SIAM (THAILAND) (PART OF) SUMATRA (NORTH)' on reverse. With pin holes in corner borders (not affecting map). ITEM TWO: Dutch cloth-backed map, roughly twenty-two inches by thirty-five, in colours (Lith: G. Kolff & Co. Batavia'), for the 'Java Motor Club', of 'MIDDEN [middle] JAVA'. With a little damp staining to reverse.

Map-maker, geographe, geographer. (One page, folio,some creasing and soiling, mainly good, clear and complete. This is a formal document in his best hand, in which he requests the opportunity to exhibit at "l'exposition" his latest work, "une carte de la France industrielle indiquent la position de tous les lieux qui ont fournis quelques produits aux 5 expositions, la designation de ces produits . . . ." He says how far he is advanced. An important letter.

British geographer and Labour politician (1911-94), son of the antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. One page, quarto. Very good. Folded three times. Docketed in red ink. He must decline the invitation to become a Fellow of the Society. 'It is certainly an honour and I would have liked to accept this invitation, but I have lately had to cut down on the membership of various societies since, as you can imagine, the subscriptions do mount up. This is frankly the reason, for I have become very well aware of the importance of the work of the Royal Society of Arts.'