Six Autograph Letters Signed, to [G. E.] Mercer[, Deputy Secretary,] and [J.] Samson[, Assistant Secretary,] of the Royal Society of Arts. Together with manuscript syllabus of a course of lectures.

Architectural historian (1904-92) and curator of Sir John Soane's Museum, 1945-84. Seven leaves, all very good, though some lightly creased and all with staple holes in top left-hand corner. The first three letters to Mercer and the last three to Samson. Three letters docketed. ITEM ONE (two pages, 12mo, 7 August 1958): He is 'much attracted' by the Society's invitation 'to give three Cantor lectures on Country Houses', 'especially as I understand the text of the lectures would be published'. There is however 'one rather grave difficulty. As Slade Professor at Oxford for the academic year 1958-59 I am due to lecture [...] and as all these lectures are specially prepared I don't want to have any other "special" lectures on my hands during those months'. Suggests February or March. 'I don't want to sandwich the Cantors between Nov. & Feb because I shall need the intervening months for working up both sets of lectures'. ITEM TWO (one page, 12mo, 17 January 1959): He encloses 'a note of the title & syllabus of my Cantor lectures' (present on a one-page octavo leaf with Museum letterhead). 'I think this gives all you want. Perhaps I should see a proof of the card before you send it out.' 'The first lecture is now in process of being typed and should be with you early in February. I hope you will not pursue me too closely for Nos. 2 & 3, which it will not be easy to get into proper shape before the lectures are delivered.' ITEM THREE (one page, 12mo, 30 January 1959): He returns the proof of the invitation card and will send 'a list of names [...] in a week or so'. ITEM FOUR (one page, octavo, 18 July 1963): 'I am afraid that a paper on the training of Industrial Designers is quite beyond me - I have no experience of the subject and no qualifications whatsoever.' ITEM FIVE (one page, 12mo, 13 January 1965): 'I will gladly take the chair at the Second of Misha Black's lectures [...] unless, as may just possibly happen, I am out of England. I would give you long notice of this, but if you want to book a dead cert. now perhaps you should ask somebody else.' ITEM SIX (one page, 12mo, 5 December 1965): He will 'gladly take the chair for Peter Murray'. 'Who on earth was Selwyn Brinton? I knew the name quite well - but why? When chairing a Foundation lecture of this kind it is sometimes rather nice to recall the Founder - or the person in whose memory it was founded.'