Manuscript 'Inventory of The Household Furniture and Effects at Stodham Park Liss Hants belonging to Capt B J. Marden December 16th 1920. Made for the Purpose of Fire Insurance.' [by G. Knight & Son, Auctioneers, Midhurst, Sussex]

236 pp, 8vo. In sturdily-bound landscape account book by Drake, Driver & Leaver of London, with black leather half-binding, green cloth boards, and marbled endpapers. Stamped in gilt on front board: 'INVENTORY. | G. KNIGHT & SON. | AUCTIONEER & VALUERS | HOUSE & ESTATE AGENTS | MIDHURST.' Good, on aged paper, in lightly-worn binding. Lined lengthwise across each two pages (like an oversized reporter's or policeman's notebook), each opening carrying a stamped number, and with the text on openings 1 to 119 of the 251 in the account book. The last page (top of opening 119) carries a government pound stamp, and the following declaration: 'The items enumerated in the foregoing Inventory are Valued by us for the purposes of Fire Insurance at the Sum of Ten Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty Six Pounds, Twelve Shillings and Ninepence., the Sixteenth Day of December, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty. | G Knight & Son | [signed] G McM Knight | Auctioneers & Valuers | Midhurst | Sussex'. Ten thousand pounds of property is a substantial amount for the period, and the inventory provides a valuable glimpse into the interior design of an early-twentieth century English country house. A three-page index at the beginning lists the thirty parts into which the valuation is divided, each with its own running valuation, including five Servants' Bedrooms; Maids' Work Room; Oak Bedroom; Bath Room adjoining; Oak Dressing Room; Bedroom No 2 (or Walnut Bedroom); W. C. and Lobby; Day Nursery; Night Nursery; Back Staircase to 1st. Floor; Study; Billiard Room; Bath Room off Back Landing; Servants Bedrooms; Kitchen (Scullery, Larder, Butler's Pantry), Dining Room; Drawing Room; Lounge [sic] Hall; Offices; Silver and Linen. Expensive items include '3 [foot] Lacquered Brass Bound Cabinet on Gelt Stand' at £250; 'Baby Grand Piano in Ebonized Case by Bechstein' at £200, and '8 [foot] x 4 [foot] x 6 [inch] Sheraton Mahogany Dining Table with 1 extra leaf' and '6 [foot] Antique Walnut Inlaid Cabinet fitted 3 long & 3 short drawer top part enclosed by a folding door original handles & escutcheons', both at £150. Other items include 'Geo III Tankard with lid 23 oz 10 dwt' at £47; 'Oil Painting "Dog" by W. J O Billinge in Gilt Frame' at £10; '24 New Bonzoline Balls' at £18; 'Oceda Mop' at 10s; 'Heals Patent Coil Spring Mattress' at £10; 'The Grey Pile Carpet as laid 12 [foot] x 9 [foot] with underfelt' at £18; '2 [foot] 6 [inch] Very finely Carved Mahogany Chippendale Table on Pillar & Claw ball & Claw feet' at £75. Marden was killed by an avalanche while climbing Aconagua in the Andes in July 1928.