RACIST

[Enoch Powell, Conservative and Unionist politician, controversial after his 1968 'Rivers of Blood' speech.] 14 Typed Letters Signed, with one in Autograph and five other items, to Philip Dosse, regarding his reviewing for ‘Books and Bookmen’.

Author: 
Enoch Powell [John Enoch Powell] (1912-1998), Conservative and Unionist politician, a controversial figure after his 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech on immigration [Philip Dosse (c.1924-1980)]
Powell
Publication details: 
Of Powell's fifteen letters: 2 from 1973, 10 from 1974, 1 from 1975, and 2 (including one in autograph) from 1976. On letterheads of House of Commons and 33 South Eaton Place, London, S.W.1.
£450.00
Powell

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. From the archives of Philip Dosse, proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of the ‘Seven Arts’ group of magazines, including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. The twenty items are in good condition, lightly aged. Of Powell’s fifteen letters (all signed ‘J. Enoch Powell’) five on House of Commons letterheads, four on his Eaton Place letterhead, and the others with the latter address typed.

[Enoch Powell, controversial politician whose 1968 'rivers of blood' speech led to his dismissal from the Conservative shadow cabinet.] Typed Letter Signed to H. V. Shooter, sending the text of an address.

Author: 
Enoch Powell [John Enoch Powell] (1912-1998), politician dismissed from the Conservative shadow cabinet following his 1968 ‘rivers of blood’ speech, subsequently Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament
Publication details: 
11 November 1971; on House of Commons letterhead.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. Folded twice for postage. Elegant signature: 'J Enoch Powell.' He thanks him for his letter, and explains that, as '[t]he reprint or reproduction of the St Lawrence Jewry addresses is hanging fire’, he is enclosing ‘a photocopy of the first, which I think is the one you have in mind’. He hopes it will reach him ‘in time’. The recipient’s address at the foot of the letter reads: ‘H. V. Shooter, Esq. / 225 Makepeace Mansions, / Makepeace Ave, / N.6.’ At the head of the letter, presumably by the recipient: ‘From: The Rt.

[Sir Colin Coote, editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Typescript, with Autograph additions, of essay written in support of apartheid following a visit to South Africa in 1971, with particular reference to the economy, ending with 'White Man's Burdens'.

Author: 
Sir Colin Coote [Sir Colin Reith Coote] (1893-1979), editor of the Daily Telegraph and Liberal politician [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), publisher ‘Books and Bookmen’; South Africa and apartheid]
Publication details: 
No place or date, but circa 1971.
£350.00

An interesting document on the South African situation at the beginning of the 1970s, written in support of apartheid by a leading British journalist. See Coote’s entry in the Oxford DNB. From the papers of Philip Dosse, who was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. There is no indication where, if anywhere, the present item was published.

[Dillibe Onyeama, Nigerian author of a controversial account of the racism he experienced at Eton College in England.] Two Typed Letters Signed to Philip Dosse, publisher of ?Books and Bookmen?, one regarding the trials of a freelance reviewer.

Author: 
Dillibe Onyeama (1951-2022), Nigerian author of a controversial account of his experience of racism as the first African educated at Eton College in England [Philip Dosse (1925-1980), publisher]
Publication details: 
ONE: 15 May 1974; 47a Leigham Court Road, Streatham Hill, London SW16. TWO: no date; c/o 21 Inglethorpe Street, Fulham, London SW6. Also an ANS to 'Mrs Poppmacher' (Dosse's secretary?): 21 February 1973; 169 Breakspears Road, Brockley, London SE4.
£150.00

Onyeama was the second black boy to go to Eton, and the first to complete his education there. See his obituary in the Guardian, 11 February 2022. His hugely-controversial 1972 book ?Nigger at Eton?, which resulted in him being banned from the school, was reprinted by Penguin Books in 2020 under the title ?Black Boy at Eton?. Philip Dosse, the recipient of the first two letters, was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players.

[William McDougall, Anglo-American psychologist and eugenicist.] Typed Letter Signed ('Wm McDougall') to the psychologist Millais Culpin, regarding 'that strange creature Spray' and his 'therapeutic claims'.

Author: 
William McDougall (1871-1939), Anglo-American psychologist and eugenicist, an opponent of behaviourism, some of whose views are controversial [Millais Culpin (1874-1952), psychologist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; 20 November 1936.
£350.00

For the recipient Millais Culpin (1874-1952), see the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged, with thin strip from mount adhering to reverse. Folded a number of times. Addressed to 'Doctor Millais [corrected in autograph from 'Miller'] Culpin | 55, Queen Anne Street | Cavendish Square | London, W. 1'. The letter begins: 'My dear Culpin: | It was good of you to interest yourself in that strange creature Spray. Your findings about him agree very closely with my general impression, but I had hoped that you might find opportunity to put his therapeutic claims to a test.

[John Walter Gregory, geologist and explorer.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J W Gregory') to 'Mrs. Green', explaining that he cannot accept her invitation as he must go to 'the Red Lion dinner'.

Author: 
J. W. Gregory [John Walter Gregory] (1864-1932), English geologist and explorer in Australia and elsewhere, who gives his name to the Gregory Rift in the Great Rift Valley
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the British Association, Oxford. 14 August 1894.
£80.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He cannot accept her dinner invitation as he has 'promised to go to the Red Lion dinner & as the friend who got me the invitation there had I fear some trouble to do so, I do not like to withdraw'.

[ Robert Wilson Shufeldt, American ornithologist and white supremacist. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. W. Shufeldt') to Alexander Ramsey, regarding the 'Scientific Roll'.

Author: 
Robert Wilson Shufeldt (1850-1934), American ornithologist and white supremacist [ Alexander Ramsey ]
Publication details: 
From Fort Wigate, New Mexico. 28 January 1886.
£320.00

1p., 4to. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. A presentation copy of the 'Scientific Roll' has 'just come to hand, as I have been snowed in at this point for a long time': 'if my purse were only as willing as my spirit I would put the shoulder to the wheel with you. It is a splendid work, and I look for the remaining parts with great interest.' He ends by asking to be put down as a subscriber. Ramsay's 'Scientific Roll: A Bibliography, Guide and Index to Climate' appeared between 1880 and 1884, and 'Scientific Roll and Magazine of Systematized Notes' appeared between 1890 and 1900.

Autograph Letter Signed ('F. Madras.') to 'My dear Venables'.

Author: 
Frederick Gell (1820-1902), Anglican Bishop of Madras, India
Publication details: 
14 April 1871; 56 Friar Gate, Derby.
£85.00

12mo, 2 pp. 24 lines of text. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Laid down on a leaf from an album, in such a way as the first line of the second page can only be read in mirror image by holding the item up to the light. Marvellously indicative of the patronising attitude of the governing British classes to their Indian subjects. On visiting Venables he will 'venture to bring with me my native servant' who 'does not require much in the way of accommodation'. If Venables 'has no corner for him' in his house, asks if he can recommend 'a little room somewhere near'.

Typed Letter Signed ('Cyril Burt') to 'Mrs. Place' [i.e. Mrs G. M. Place, of the publishers Pitman].

Author: 
Sir Cyril Burt [Sir Cyril Lodowic Burt] (1883–1971), disgraced psychometric psychologist and eugenicist,
Publication details: 
12 October 1932; on letterhead of 4A, Eton Road, Hampstead, NW3.
£85.00

4to: 2 pages. 37 lines of text. Text clear and entire on slightly discoloured paper, lightly worn and creased and with a few nicks to extremities. Signed properly on the second page. Place's essay, apparently a biographical account of the psychological development of a very young child, 'whiled [sic] away a long train journey last night very pleasantly'.

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