[National Arts-Collections Fund, now known as the Art Fund] A Collection of Letters from Lord Balcarres to Arthur a Beckett Terrell (all signed 'Balcarres') re. the business of the fledgling National Arts-Collections Fund..

8 Typed Letters, 4to, 2 of two pages, others one page; 1 Typed Letter, 12mo, one page; one PC; one Autograph Letter, 12mo, one page; all Signed Balcarres with one TLS signed I Spielmann [Isidore Spielmann], writing on behalf of Balcarres. A. Postcard, 10 June [1909]: Asquith ]Prime Minister] will receive a private deput[atio]n next week - will write again Note: David Alexander Edward Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford and 10th Earl of Balcarres, (1871 - 1940), styled Lord Balcarres or Lord Balniel between 1880 and 1913, was a British Conservative politician and art connoisseur. As concern grew with Britain's art treasures being sold abroad (principally the United States), Balcarres chaired the National Art Collections Fund beginning in 1903 (through 1921), presiding over the acquisition, together with Robert Witt (q.v.) and Isidore Spielmann (1854-1925), of the Rokeby 'Venus and Cupid' by Velazquez, which was in danger of leaving the country. Sir Isidore Spielmann, CMG FSA was a British civil engineer turned art connoisseur, impresario and exhibition organizer. Subjects of Letters: Meeting with the Prime Minister (postcard and letter dated 12 June1909); request to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Society either to move the resolution re-appointing the Committeee, or support the adoption of the Report (letter from I. Spielman on behalf of Balcarres), 18 April 1906; news that the King has become a Patron (same); congratulations on Terrell's speech, with valuable personal experience (27 April 1906); hoping for Terrell's attendance at the Annual Meeting to take charge of one of the resolutions, valuing his practical assistance to the movement (19 April); Balcarres quotes a letter from a D.M. Probyn writing on behalf of the King who is pleased that Holbein's 'Dichess of Milan' has essentially been saved for the nation, and contributes 100 guineas to the reserve Fund (7 June 1909); the meeting with Asquith informal and quiet, and the difficulty of starting a scheme of legislation which would involve prolonged discussion and work for someone already over-burdened, perhaps limiting to the minimum, namely, an export duty, preparing for a comprehensive bill (12 June 1909); he'll present Terrell's advanced scheme to Asquith, hoping for 'legislation on broader lines' but aware they must be happy with export duty (16 June 1909); he looks forward to Terrell's pamphlet [Terrell had published on economic matters] (28 July 1909); Balcarres discusses the need for a reserve fund at length (21 February 1910); he agrees with Terrell that the Reserve Fund should only be used in exceptional circumstances, maintaining a distinction between the Reserve fund and the ordinary income of our society (28 Feb. 1910); he discusses the need for office accommodation and the attitude of the Government/Treasury, reluctant to establish a precedent (24 July 1912).