Seven Autograph Letters Signed, one Letter in a secretarial hand Signed, and two Typed Letters Signed to Sir Henry Truman Wood, Secretary, Society of Arts.

Anglo-German engineer (1842-1927), who administered 'a portion of the conquered territory for the German Government' following the Franco-Prussian War, and who, following his naturalisation as a British citizen in 1876, 'invented practically the mono-rail, now known as the High Speed Mono-Rail System, and obtained two acts of Parliament for the construction of the Manchester and Liverpool Electric Express Railway in 1901 and 1902' ('Who was Who'). No items by this important figure are present in the British Library Department of Manuscripts. All ten letters are 12mo, in very good condition, and each docketed and carrying the Society's stamp. All but one, which is initialed, signed 'F. B. Behr'. The manuscript items are on thick white wove paper, and the typed on grey laid paper. The first seven concern a lecture given by Behr before the Society in March 1901. Item 1 (23 January 1901, 2 pages), 'The date of the 13th of March for the reading of my paper would suit me very well indeed, provided it suits also Sir William Preece. [1834-1913, Chief Engineer of the Post Office]'. Item 2 (1 page), asks for invitation cards to be sent to Lord Monson and Alex Wilson of Liverpool. Item 3 (2 pages), he has made 'a few important corrections' in 'reconsidering' his paper, and asks whether to send a final corrected proof. Item 4 (1 page), as he 'promised a long time ago to lend some of my slides for a Lecture to be given at Siemens Engineering Society, Woolwich', asks that the bearer be allowed to take away his 'book of slides'. Item 5 (1 page), returns the corrected proof, and enquires whether there will be room to show 'a very beautiful model which will be completed for the Lecture'. Item 6 (1 page, in secretarial hand), Prince Christian has replied to his letter, and wishes him 'to convey his regrets to the Council, that he cannot attend the Meeting'. Item 7 (8 March 1901, 2 pages), 'Several of the papers have applied to me for early proofs of my Lecture.' Asks that advance proofs be sent to 'the Editors of the principal London Papers'. Has given instructions regarding the model and diagrams. In items 8 to 10 (September and November 1901, all one page) Behr makes enquiries regarding the next session and requests another couple of copies of his lecture ('I have not a single copy left and I particularly want them.'). Seven items,