SIGNALS

[ Royal Navy and Post Office Packets. ] Two printed forms, proofs completed in manuscript, one with diagrams, the other 'Private Signals for His Majesty's Brigs, Cutters, Luggers, &c. employed in Cruizing on the Coasts of the United Kingdom [...]'.

Author: 
[ Royal Navy and Post Office Packets, signals of 1812 ]
Publication details: 
[ Royal Navy. ] Dating from May 1812, with later notes referring to cancellation in March 1818.
£500.00

Four items, in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper, with slight creasing. ONE: Printed form, partially completed in manuscript. On one side of 31.5 x 19.5 cm piece of laid paper with Britannia watermark. Headed: 'PRIVATE SIGNALS for His Majesty's Brigs, Cutters, Luggers, &c. employed in Cruizing on the Coasts of the United Kingdom, Commanded by Lieutenants, viz.' Above the heading, in manuscript: 'Proof | See letter 1st. October 1812.

[ Vice-Admiral Philip Howard Colomb, inventor. ] Autograph Note Signed ('P H Colomb'), regarding the adoption by the Admiralty of his system of 'signals for the service of the Fleet'.

Author: 
Vice-Admiral Philip Howard Colomb (1831-1899), Royal Navy officer and inventor
Publication details: 
18 Edith Villas | Fulham S.W. [ London ]. 12 February [ 1867? ].
£220.00

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. The identity of the recipient is unknown. Reads: 'My dear Sir | You will be glad I am sure to learn that the Admiralty have finally adopted my signals for the service of the Fleet. | Yrs. try | P H Colomb'. A note in pencil on the reverse of the second leaf states that Colomb 'Devised night System known as "Colomb's Flashing Signals"'. Colomb's contributions to naval warfare and signalling were considerable. His evolutionary signal-book forms the basis of the current system of tactical evolutions at sea.

[ 6 Armoured Divison and 9 Corps of the British Army, Tunisian Campaign, North Africa, 1943. ] Two duplicated documents, the first marked 'SECRET' and titled '6 Armd Div. | Log of R/T Messages on Rear Link and Sitreps to 9 Corps 9-12 Apr 43.'

Author: 
[ 6 Armoured Divison and 9 Corps of the British Army, Tunisian Campaign, North Africa, 1943 ]
Publication details: 
Without place or date, but relating to the 6 Armoured Divison and 9 Corps of the British Army, North Africa, 9-12 and 22-27 April 1943.
£450.00

22pp., 8vo. Each page on a separate leaf. The first document is 9pp. long and the second of 13pp. Both documents with the leaves pinned together. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with strip of paper at the head of the first page of the second document torn away, with all of title except for words '<...> and Sitreps t<...>'. Loosely inserted in buff card folder. The bread and butter of military history: a straight transcription of the messages. The first entry in the first document is typical: '9 Apr 43. | 0730 hrs : To 9 Corps | 0.361 Sitrep 0700 hrs. 26 Armd Bde.

[ Chief Signals Officer, 9 Corps, British Army, North African, Second World War. ] Duplicated typescript: 'C.S.O. 9 Corps | Signal Report on the Tunisian Campaign, 1943.' With coloured maps and diagrams.

Author: 
[ Chief Signals Officer, 9 Corps, British Army, Tunisia Campaign, North Africa, Second World War ]
Publication details: 
[ Tunisian Campaign, 1943. ]
£600.00

29pp., 8vo. On white and pink paper. Followed by three fold-out plates and two diagrams, all in colour ('Battle of Fondouk', 'Battles of Goubellat Plain & Tunis', 'Later Phase of Battle of Tunis', 'Wireless Communications | H.Q. 9 Corps - Apr/May 1943 | Standard Layout', 'Wireless Communications | Corps H.Q. | Suggested requirements'). Stapled, with grey front cover bearing title. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with the last few plates detached.

Sixty-five black-and-white pencil portraits by Antony Brett-James, 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, of Indian soldiers who served under him and his fellow English officers, including the fifteen reproduced in his book 'Report My Signals' (1948).

Author: 
Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, military historian and Sandhurst lecturer
Publication details: 
Executed while on duty with the British Army in Africa and Asia between 1942 and 1945.
£600.00

A feature of Brett-James's well-received war memoir 'Report My Signals' (1948) was the fifteen reproductions of his pencil drawings of Indian men who served under him, the originals of which are present here, together with a further fifty. These indicate Brett-James's skill at conveying character in well-executed pencil sketches. The sixty-five black-and-white pencil drawings in this collection are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper with occasional creasing. They consist of: ONE. The original fifteen portrait heads of men of the Fifth Indian Division reproduced as illustrations in RMS.

Sixty-five black-and-white pencil portraits by Antony Brett-James, 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, of Indian soldiers who served under him and his fellow English officers, including the fifteen reproduced in his book 'Report My Signals' (1948).

Author: 
Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, military historian and Sandhurst lecturer
Publication details: 
Executed while on duty with the British Army in Africa and Asia between 1942 and 1945.
£600.00

A feature of Brett-James's well-received war memoir 'Report My Signals' (1948) was the fifteen reproductions of his pencil drawings of Indian men who served under him, the originals of which are present here, together with a further fifty. These indicate Brett-James's skill at conveying character in well-executed pencil sketches. The sixty-five black-and-white pencil drawings in this collection are in good condition, on lightly-aged paper with occasional creasing. They consist of: ONE. The original fifteen portrait heads of men of the Fifth Indian Division reproduced as illustrations in RMS.

Typescript of 'Report My Signals', war memoir of Antony Brett-James, 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, exhibiting differences from the version published in 1948; with a copy of the book marked up for a projected second edition, and a signed copy.

Author: 
Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, military historian and Sandhurst lecturer
Publication details: 
Typescript undated. Signed copy of book: Hennel Locke Limited, London & Sydney, 1948. Marked-up copy of book: Hennel Locke and George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd, London, 1948.
£450.00

'Report My Signals' (hereafter RMS) was well received on its publication in 1948, a second impression appearing in the same year. The book's dustwrapper blurb describes the contents as 'the war memoirs of a Signals officer who served for three years with the Fifth Indian Division. He was with this illustrious formation from August 1942 (near El Alamein) until the recapture of Rangoon. | The author writes frankly and sincerely of his experiences with Indian soldiers, for whom he expresses affection and admiration.

Seventeen black-and-white pencil portraits of Tibetans by Antony Brett-James, including one of the sirdar Lobsang, who took part in the 1938 Everest expedition; with two portraits of Naga natives.

Author: 
Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, military historian and Sandhurst lecturer [Lobsang (d.1945), Tibetan Sirdar; Himalayan Club; Everest Expedition, 1938]
Publication details: 
Executed in in Darjeeling (11), Dentam (1), Kewzing (1), Namchi (1), Phalut (1), Tanglu (1) and Naga (2) in 1943 (10), in 1944 (2) and 1945 (4).
£600.00

A feature of Brett-James's well-received war memoir 'Report My Signals' (1948) was the fifteen reproductions of his pencil drawings of Indian men who served under him. None of the portraits present here feature in that book or have been reproduced elsewhere, but those published in the book give an excellent idea of Brett-James's skill at conveying character in well-executed pencil sketches. The nineteen drawings in this collection are all in good condition, on aged paper, with occasional light creasing. Eleven are in 8vo, and eight in 12mo.

[North West Frontier Province on eve of Second Mohmand Campaign, 1935] Typed secret British RAF Signals report titled 'Tribal Reconnaissance. Northern Area - Bajaur, Utman Khel, & Mohmand Country.' Describing territory from Shabkadr to Abazai Fort.

Author: 
[Corporal J. P. Murray, Royal Air Force Signals Detachment; North West Frontier Province, British India; Bajaur; Utman Khel; Pashtun Tribes; Afghanistan; Second Mohmand Campaign, 1935.]
Publication details: 
Report undated, with latest date references to '25-4-1933', i.e. 25 April 1933. In envelope marked '1-2-37', i.e. 1 February 1937. Envelope addressed to Corporal J. P. Murray, RAF Signals, Bannu, N.W.F.P. [North West Frontier Province]
£400.00

14pp., foolscap 8vo. Carbon copy of typescript, consisting of a covering page and the report itself, paginated 1-13. With a few minor manuscript emendations. In good condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. In brown paper 1937 OHMS envelope ('S.E.6.'), stamped 'SECRET' twice, with red wax seals of the '20 (A.C.) SQUADRON | R.A.F.', and typed address: '513996. Corporal Murray, J.P. | Royal Air Force Signals Detachment (No. 20 (AC) Squadron). | BANNU, N.W.F.P.' The covering page of the report is stamped 'RESTRICTED', and reads: 'SECRET. | TRIBAL RECONNAISSANCE.

Copy of Typed Letter from Major Antony Brett-James to Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Gwynne Horrocks, recalling his wartime experiences with the 5th Indian Division Signals, while discussing 'what makes a good division'.

Author: 
Major Antony Brett-James (1920-84), 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, lecturer at Sandhurst [Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Gwynne Horrocks (1895-1985), commander of XXX Corps in the Second World War]
Publication details: 
82 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, NW7 [London]. 28 January 1953.
£56.00

3pp., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed by Brett-James in pencil at the head of the first page to 'Lt Gen Sir Brian Horrocks' and with one manuscript correction. The letter begins: 'I do want to say how interesting and worthwhile I found the broadcast discussion last Sunday evening about the factors which make a good division. All that was said was true and most stimulating, but there are a few points which I should like to add.

Autograph Diary, 1950 to 1955, of Captain Antony Brett-James, military historian and Sandhurst lecturer

Author: 
Captain Antony Brett-James (1920-1984), 5th Indian Division Royal Signals, military historian and Sandhurst lecturer, partner of the actress Jill Balcon (1925-2009)
Publication details: 
On pages of a book of letterheads: 'From Captain Brett James, Officer Commanding. Officers' Training Corps (J.D.), Mill Hill School Contingent, School House, Mill Hill, N.W.' 4 January 1950 to 18 September 1955.
£400.00

54pp., 12mo. Neatly written out on pages of a book of leaves of paper for correspondence, comprising numbered letterheads with blank underleaves for carbon copies. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with the cover and first few leaves of the volume missing. Terse, pithy entries, noting down facts concerning work, meetings, lunches, family matters, school activities, holidays. During the course of the diary Brett-James switches work from the publishers Harrap to their rivals Chatto & Windus, and the entries reflect his activities in both the military and cultural world.

Autograph Letter Signed to William Symonds, R.N., with presentation copy of 'Some Remarks on the Rules to be observed in forming a Code of International Signals; with a comparative review of the systems proposed [...] by Captain Levin Joergen Rohde'.

Author: 
Henry Cranmer Phillipps [Henry Cranmer March Phillipps], R.N.; Captain Levin Joergen Rohde, of the Royal Danish Navy, Knight of the Dannebrog; Sir William Symonds
Publication details: 
LETTER: [Avebury, B[uckinghamshire]?], 3 November 1835; PAMPHLET: London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Longman, Paternoster-row. 1835. [Printed by Manning and Smithson, Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row.]
£120.00

Full subtitle: 'With a comparative review of the systems proposed by H. Cranmer Phillipps, R.N. and by Captain Levin Joergen Rohde, of the Royal Danish Navy, Knight of the Dannebrog, &c. &c.' The letter was previously attached by four small pieces of red sealing wax on the verso of its blank second leaf to the title-page of the pamphlet. Letter and pamphlet are now detached, with traces of wax adhering to both, but not affecting the text of either. LETTER: 12mo, one page. Good on aged paper.

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