Photographs, Autographs and Ephemera

AUSTRALIA. An important archive of approximately 183 manuscript letters from Captain Francis Starkie Clayton to his wife, Edith, while in command of the man-o'-war, H.M.S. Diamond, circa 1885-1888, the majority of letters 10pp., 20cm x 13cm, detailing his activities, thoughts and feelings, mostly centred around his duty as Captain while at the Australia station. Note: written almost daily, the letters Clayton refers to as 'little chats' form a diary of the Captain and provides a fascinating insight into life in the Royal Navy during the Victorian era. The Australia Station was centred on the harbour of Port Jackson at Sydney and was founded in 1859 to protect British interests in the colonies. It wasn't until 1885 that the British Admiralty focussed more attention on the Station, which was upgraded to flagship status in the same year after threats from abroad. The detailed letters discuss his duties which included following Admiral's orders, handling of the ship and its personnel, and peace keeping of the Pax Britannica. They also detail life on board the ship, in addition to the logistics of finances and provisions whilst travelling large distances, and matters such as homesickness. The archive is offered with a dissertation titled 'Captain Clayton and the Australia Station, 1885-1888' by Mary Jones and a copy of volume 41, no 3 of the Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers and Proceedings in which Mary Jones contributes an article about Clayton's work in Tasmania.

NAVY. An archive of approximately 345 manuscript letters from Lieutenant-Commander Ralph Clayton to his mother, Edith, wife of Captain Francis Starkie Clayton, written throughout his career, circa 1900-1916, the majority of the letters 4pp., 18cm x 12cm, detailing his various appointments on H.M.S. Britannia, H.M.S. Hannibal in the Channel, H.M.S. Grafton at the Pacific Station, and finally H.M.S. Queen Mary on whom he served from the outset of the First World War as torpedo officer. He was lost with her during the battle of Jutland. Note: the letters generally discuss his deployments in brief detail and often ask about life back in England and thanking various people for their gifts, including stamps, books and chocolate. The archive is offered with a group of letters from Ralph's parents whilst on their honeymoon.

H.M.S. M33. An archive of research material compiled by D. Whitfield Junior centred around his father's diary written in 1919 while on-board the M33, 24pp., 18cm x 11cm, the archive also includes approximately 64 postcards of ships and Russia, including photographic postcards titled 'Evacuation of Tuapse', 'Dead Horses' and 'Ships Sunk to Form Breakwater', newspapers, cuttings, photocopies, and a few books. Note: the diary covers a period directly after the First World War when British forces were still stationed on the Murmansk Coast and remained there in part due to frozen ports and also to protect the inhabitants of North Russia from the spreading ravages of Bolshevism. The diary does not really discuss the Russian Relief Force in any great detail but does provide an impressions of a young sailor, new to the Royal Navy as a Signalman. The diary does discuss the Russian use of mines as well as various bombardments. After the Russian expedition M33 was converted for the use as a minelayer training ship and in 1925 was renamed H.M.S. Minerva. In 2014 it was handed over to the National Museum of the Royal Navy and a programme of conservation was undertaken. The following year she was open to the public within the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. She is one of only three surviving Royal Navy warships of the First World War.

DIARY. A half-calf bound manuscript diary of Miss Drewry, Canwell Hall, Warwickshire, dated April 1833 - May 1835, 25pp., 22cm x 18cm, the diary detailing a tour from Falmouth around the Mediterranean on a steamer. Note: the diary includes snippets about the coastline that can be seen from the boat such as Cape Finisterre 'a bold shore with rocky barren hills and no signs of cultivation' and Gibraltar 'along the West side to the town which has a pretty appearance from the sea… [the] many excellent houses and public buildings to which the variety of their lively colours give a fine effect.' The diary also mentions the ship's engine failing and often the weather.

NURSING. A leather-bound album being a first-hand account of V.A.D. Nurse Evelyn Florence Sewell at the Lloyd Kade Clearing Hospital for First World War British prisoners-of-war in Rotterdam, Holland, from 28th December 1918 to 24th February 1919, 102pp., leaves 19cm x 16cm. The album includes numerous newspaper cuttings interspersed with her handwritten account of her life in general, sightseeing in Rotterdam, the terrible treatment of prisoners at the hands of the Germans, and messages of thanks from the soldiers.

BURN-MURDOCH, John (1852-1909). A leather-bound album of personal notes, letters, newspaper cuttings, and musings covering a broad range of subjects and personal interests, circa 1883-1885, leaves 24cm x 19cm. The album contains notes from various sources including the region and life in India (where he served with the Royal Engineers and with the India state railway), notes on Sir William Crookes 'Some Possibilities of Electricity', the Hebrew Hell, and military comments on subjects such as rifles and bullets. Note: Burn-Murdoch served in the Afghan War of 1878-1880 and the Egyptian War in 1882. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant colonel in 1900.

PHOTOGRAPHS. An album containing approximately 288 photographs, various formats, circa 1869-1875, leaves 30cm x 44cm, including portraits of H.M. George I of Greece, members of the Royal Navy, ships, scenes on deck, and topographical views of Britain, Italy, Spain, Malta, Gibraltar, Martinique, Bermuda, Jamaica, Haiti and Havanna.

PHOTOGRAPHS. An album containing approximately 198 small format photographs relating to H.M.S. Ajax compiled by Reginald W. Bevis, circa 1935-1937, photographs 8cm x 10.5cm, leaves 23.5cm x 27cm, The photographs cover the pre-war period from the ship's first actions, including her launch, her time in the West Indies, South America and South Georgia, all the photographs are captioned and include views of Malta, Spain, Trinidad, St Lucia, Egypt, Peru, scenes from crossing the line in September 1936 and whaling in South Georgia, the album also includes crossing the line certificates awarded to Bevis.

PHOTOGRAPHS. Two albums containing 34 cartes-de-visite photographs of notable people, including Lord Elgin, Thomas Carlisle and Viscount Sydney, together with 20 loose cartes-de-visite of people and 37 topographical cartes-de-visite.

PHOTOGRAPHS. A collection of photographs, the majority portraits, including an ambrotype of three men in an interior, within a leather case (defective), a tin-type of three young women in a studio, other ambrotypes and tin-types, 30 cartes-de-visites and 13 cabinet-size photographs, together with a group of 19 glass negatives of animals and other subjects.

PHOTOGRAPHS. A quantity of cartes-de-visite and cabinet-size photographs, the majority portraits, including a number featuring children, by various publishers (estimated 500).

EPHEMERA. A collection of various ephemera, including 'The Deathless Story of the Titanic', second edition issued by Lloyd's Weekly News, a group of greetings cards, a sheet of uncut 'The Girl's Own Picture Postcards', sale particulars for '50 Valuable Licensed Properties' in Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Northants & Bucks, a 1935 brochure on the South Manchuria Railway and sheet music for 'Back Home' by the England World Cup Squad '70.

GAME. A hand-coloured aquatint titled 'The Game of Twelfth Night', published Dec 7th 1820, 25cm x 41.5cm, within a stained wood and gilt composition frame.

GAME. A hand-coloured lithograph in 12 sections and backed onto linen titled 'Spooner's Pictorial Map of England & Wales arranged as an Amusing and Instructive Game for Youth', published Nov'r 5th 1844, 64cm x 51cm, folding and loosely inserted into original cloth case.

GAME. A hand-coloured engraving in 15 sections and backed onto linen titled 'The British Sovereigns from William the Conqueror to Victoria the First', 41cm x 45cm, folding within original cloth with alternate title 'Peter Marley's Victoria Game of British Sovereigns'.

AUTOGRAPHS. An autograph album including the signatures of Walt Disney, Tommy Lawton, Bobby Driscoll, Archie Camden and Jan Kerrison (on a single leaf), Denis and Leslie Compton (on a single leaf), Eric Williams, Jack Solomons, Allan Buxton, Eli Elandon, Randy Turpin, two other boxers and thirteen other signatures (some clipped and mounted), leaves 9cm x 12.5cm.

AUTOGRAPHS. A leaf from an East Cowes Isle of Wight Guest Book with the signature of Queen Mary to the blank side, dated 'Aug 2nd 1927', with overlaid sheet with the signatures of Princess Louise (sixth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) and Millicent Holden both dated 'July 11th to 15th 1927', and Princess Beatrice (ninth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert), Elizabeth Bulteel and Victor Corkran dated 'July 28th [1927]', overall 20cm x 17cm, within a paper mount.

AUTOGRAPH. A typed letter signed by Winston Spencer Churchill on '28, Hyde Park Gate' headed paper, addressed to 'Dear Mr. Copley' and dated 29 July 1948, 1p., 24cm x 19cm. The letter replying to previous correspondence, accepting an 'Honorary Membership of the Society' of the Royal Society of British Artists. Provenance: The Maurice Bradshaw OBE archive. Note: John Copley was president of the Royal Society of British Artists between 1947 and 1950 while Maurice Bradshaw was secretary.

AUTOGRAPHS. Two typed letters signed by Mountbatten of Burma on 'First Sea Lord' headed paper, addressed to 'Dear Mr Pears' and dated 27th May 1955 and 11th October 1956, each 1p., 20cm x 16.5cm, in connection with the opening the Annual Exhibitions of the Society of Marine Artists, together with a 1p. autograph letter signed by Montgomery of Alamein addressed to 'Dear Bradshaw' relating to a portrait commission and with the original envelope. Provenance: The Maurice Bradshaw OBE archive.