GOLD

All six items in good condition, with light signs of age and wear. In 1886 Hester, the author of the first two reports, had been described in the London St James's Gazette as 'a miner of experience in the Quicksilver mines of California'. His two reports are crude in comparison with those of Mallett and Irvine. ONE: Autograph Report Signed by 'Sam L Hester | Manager'. Kilkivan, 8 April 1898, on letterhead of the Freehold Goldfields of Queensland, Limited. 3pp., 4to. Addressed to 'C E Morton Esqr | Secretary | D-Albevelle Estate'. Receipt stamp dated 12 April 1898.

The three volumes in folio, in their original printed blue wraps. First Report: viii + 364pp. With fold-out table. Second Report: viii + 276pp. Final Report: x + 157pp. All three aged and worn, with the final signature and back cover of the First Report detached, and the Final Report lacking its back cover, and with front cover detached and damage to last few leaves. Second Report with withdrawn label of Owen College, Manchester. The three volumes all 'With Minutes of Evidence and Appendices'. Containing an enormous quantity of information within the minutes and supporting material.

Both items are uniform in appearance, each 3pp., foolscap 8vo, with the texts printed in copperplate from engraved plates. Both in fair condition, on aged paper, and with loss along the spine where the two have been disbound. The reason for the printing of the two documents, as is clear from the text, is for their circulation to various banks. Baring's Letter: Facsimile signature reads '(signed) F. T. Baring', and is uniform with the copperplate text. The reason for the printing of the letter is for copies to be enclosed with Wickham's.

The bulk of Ross's papers is deposited in the Rhodes House Library at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The present collection derives from Ross's sister, Mrs Paterson.

Halse's report, to Messrs Bourke, Sandys & Co., London, is headed 'Malacate'. 16pp., 8vo. Neatly written out, with marginal chapter headings, beginning: 'Situation of Mines', 'Roads', 'Freight Rates', 'Mining Claims', 'Timber and Water', 'History of the Property and Titles'.

1. Physical Description: 8vo, 20 pp. Ten loose leaves of watermarked laid paper. Aged, and with chipping to extremities causing occasional minor loss to text. In a neat, close Chancery hand. The leaves would appear to be sequential, with no evidence that any are lacking from the series. Docketing in a modern hand in pencil at head of recto of first leaf, which also has laid down on it a fragment of a small type-written slip: 'B/26 | <...> AL - SERIES B. | <...> 1681 - DECEMBER 1681'. Pp.1-10 (on Leaves One to Five) concern gold; pp.11-20 (on Leaves Six to Ten) concern silver.A.

Written in green ink on one side of a piece of watermarked paper roughly 20 x 12.5 cm. Nineteen lines of text. Fair, on lightly-aged paper with a couple of pin holes. Heavily stylised signature with long gap between the 'O' and 'f' of 'Ofori'. He thanks him for the letter, and is 'very pleased to welcome you to Ryebi [capital of Akem]'. He was 'awfully delighted to hear that Mr. Myerstein has completely recovered from his recent serious illness' and is pleased to learn that they are 'starting work on the reef very shortly'.

The two items rolled into tubes. The 'Crown Deep Ltd. Insurance Plan' carbon printed on one side of a piece of cloth roughly 44 x 102 cm. In good condition: slightly discoloured and frayed. The keyed entries range from '1 No. 1 Headgear & all appurtenances' to '77 Shed near Feedwater tanks', and include '69 Coolie Compound at Dam' and '57 Stable Boy's House'. The table of results of the 'milling tests', approximately 37 x 74 cm, is clear and complete on discoloured paper with closed tears at head repaired with archival tape.

4to: 1 p. Good, on lightly aged and spotted paper. Regarding 'certain verses concerning this street', Walpole will 'find an explanation of the whole circumstance in this week's Notes & Queries'.

English educationalist (born 1900) and authority on West Africa. Various formats from 12mo to quarto. Very good. Some items stamped or docketed. Mainly relates to a lecture to the Society by Ward, provisionally entitled 'Mass education in the colonies'. Letter of 1 November 1948: 'I am leaving for Beirut in a fortnight to attend the UNESCO conference, and am straining to get the next issue of 'Overseas Education' off to the press before I go.

British soldier and colonial official (1869-1933), Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, 1920-7. All three items very good. Both letters one page, quarto; both bearing the R.S.A. stamp, and one docketed. All three items signed 'C. A. Armitage'. LETTER ONE: Thanks the R.S.A.

4 pages, 8vo. Pagination: [1] 2-3 [4]. A frail survival: paper grubby, discoloured and dogeared, with a few closed tears and some fraying to extremities, but the text clear and legible. A space at the beginning of the document for the insertion of the petitioner's name in manuscript has been left blank. Begins: 'The Petition of and all other Owners of Land subject to Mortgages, and other pecuniary payments charged on it before its depreciation in consequence of the return to the present Gold Currency, by which the value of every denomination of Money is so much increased'.

10 pages on 5 8vo leaves. In good condition, but with a few large blots. The first part of a letter by a writer who appears to be English. Straight out of B. Traven. The author wants Joan to join him and Gwen in partnership with Hamerly. 'Hamerly is down here from one of his expeditions & we became friendly through his having lived & travelled widely in the Paraguayan Chaco.

On two letterheads of the West African Writers and Artists Club, 129 Camberwell Rd. Major Shepheard has suggested that correspondent might supply contacts for the Club. Describes the Club's activities and lists the names of thirteen Gold Coast students from a recent British Council exhibition, whose addresses she asks for, along with the names of others from Nigeria. Two items,