ARABIA

From the Henry Williamson papers. The present text does not feature in Williamson’s 1941 memoir of Lawrence ‘Genius of Friendship’, and appears to be unpublished. (According to Williamson’s entry in the Oxford DNB, the publication in 1927 of ‘Tarka the Otter’ ‘attracted the attention of T. E. Lawrence, whose letter of praise started a correspondence and friendship between the two.

Thomas broadcast many of his programmes from the Hammersley Hill estate, overlooking the Catskills. 1p, foolscap 8vo. On cream paper with letterhead in green. In good condition, folded twice for postage. Thomas’s bold signature, also in green, rises at an angle. Reads: ‘Dear Mr. McCormick, / I’ve entirely forgotten. / If you know of an extra copy I would like to add it to my collection. / With best wishes. / Sincerely, / Lowell Thomas’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Written large at the foot of a page on a 4to leaf. In good condition, lightly aged and creased, with a short closed tear to the outer edge just below Glubb’s sprawling signature, which consists of an illegible line of curls. Folded once for postage. At the head of the page is Diane Richard’s Typed Note Signed, addressed to ‘General Glubb’ and requesting that he sign ‘two pictures from my collection’. Glubb replies: ‘Dear Miss RICHARD, / I return your two pictures herewith with much pleasure. / All good wishes, / Your sincerely / [signature]’.

Three plain postcards (no illustrations), with stamps and postmarks, all addressed to Gilruth (author of seven crime novels punlished between 1951 and 1963) at 7 Reston Place, Hyde Park, London. The three cards in fair condition, aged and worn, with staining to corners from mounting, and two of the signatures only half-legible through fading. In the first she says that she is in London until the end of February, and 'would like so much' to see her again: 'Could you come in for drinks with a few friends on Tuesday Feb 17th?' The second begins: 'Thank you ever so much.

Christmas Card, 2 leaves, bifolium, 17 x 12cm, good condition. Photograph of manned raft on Euphrates, 13 x 9cm, good condition. Stark has written "Euphrates 1977" beneath photograph and the following brief note on the verso of the second leaf: "Thank you so much about the 'letter' news. | I thought you might like to see one Raft! | All good wishes from | Freya Stark". The card was found in a copy of the "Letters", vol. four (London, 1977), edited by Lucy Moorehead who could well be the recipient of this card.

Christmas Card, 2 leaves, bifolium, 17 x 12cm, good condition. Photograph of manned raft on Euphrates, 13 x 9cm, good condition. Stark has written "Euphrates 1977" beneath photograph and the following brief note on the verso of the second leaf: "Thank you so much about the 'letter' news. | I thought you might like to see one Raft! | All good wishes from | Freya Stark". The card was found in a copy of the "Letters", vol. four (London, 1977), edited by Lucy Moorehead who could well be the recipient of this card.

13pp., 8vo, paginated 41-53. Stapled, in brown printed wraps. On aged and worn paper, with rusted staples. Largely unopened. A learned exposition, with quotations in the original, beginning: 'It is now possible for me to supplement my Arabic text of Ali Baba by printing in full the only other original version so far known. I shall add some further information which I have gathered on the identity of the scribe of the Bodleian MS. and various notes on the text of that version.' No copy in the British Library, and a total of six copies on OCLC WorldCat and COPAC.

13pp., 8vo, paginated 219-231. Stapled, in yellow printed wraps. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with rusted staples. Publishing 'the text and translation of what is one of the most interesting of the little treatises preserved in the Istanbul manuscript, both because of its contents, and also for the reason that it is the only work of Junayd for which we have a second authority'. No copies of this offprint traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight damage to a corner of the second leaf. Pencil note in another hand at foot of last page. Hamilton (1781-1876), Oriental Secretary to the British Embassy at Constantinople, published 'Antar: A Bedoueen Romance' with the London publisher John Murray in 1819. The present letter therefore relates to a pre-publicity copy of the book, which Wrighte has read with 'great pleasure'. Readers are, he considers, 'much obliged to Mr. Terrick Hamilton for presenting it to the Public in such an elegant English dress'.

14pp., folio. Stapled. In brown wraps with attractive cover illustration of a blockage on a mountain pass by 'D. C. '. In fair condition, aged and worn, with slight rust to staples and closed tears to back cover and last leaf. Editorial reads: 'Even had the guns been still roaring on all fronts, I do not think that any apology is needed for the predominantly light, and sometimes flippant, tone of this little number. It is not the habit of the man on the spot to take life too seriously - on its literary side at least.

All items in good condition. ONE. ALS, 2pp. 8vo. He is responding to receipt of articles about Lawrence of Arabia (present - see below) with memories of encounters with Lawrence.

2pp., foolscap 8vo. On wove paper with the star and crescent watermark of the 'GOUVERNEMENT EGYPTIEN'. Aged and creased, but in fair overall condition. Questions in English and Arabic script, requiring translation between the two languages. Answers in pencil, and marking along both margins in red and blue. Scarce: no copy on COPAC.

One page, 12mo. Very good, with light paperclip spotting. 'Certainly. I am glad to comply with your request.'