UNIONS

[J. H. Thomas, Welsh trade unionist and Labour politician.] Typed Note Signed, as General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, to the future Sir W. D. Ross, written on the eve of the 1919 national rail strike.

Author: 
J. H. Thomas [James Henry Thomas] (1874-1949), Welsh trade unionist and Labour politician, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen during the 1919 nation rail strike [Sir W. D. Ross]
J. H. Thomas,
Publication details: 
22 September 1919. On ornate letterhead of The National Union of Railwaymen, Unity House, Euston Road, London, N.W.1.
£56.00
J. H. Thomas,

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 4to. In good condition, on lightly aged and creased cartridge paper. Folded three times. The letterhead is quite an impressive affair, with an engraving of ‘Unity House’ and lettering in a variety of styles. The letter is addressed to ‘W. D. Ross, Esq., / Oriel College, / Oxford.’ The ink on the ribbon appears to have been running out, as the latter part of the note is faded.

[Ernest Bevin, Labour Party politician, Minister of Labour in Churchill’s wartime coalition.] Typed Letter Signed to [Sir David Ross,] the Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, regarding ‘the visit of the Greek Regent to this country’.

Author: 
Ernest Bevin (1881-1961), Labour Party politician, Minister of Labour in Churchill’s wartime coalition [Sir David Ross [W. D. Ross] (1877-1971), Scottish philosopher, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford]
Ernest Bevin
Publication details: 
1 September 1945; on letterhead of the Foreign Office, S.W.1. [Whitehall, London]
£80.00
Ernest Bevin

See the entries for Bevin and Ross in the Oxford DNB. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Addressed to ‘The Vice Chancellor, / Oxford University’. The two lines of Bevin’s autograph valediction ascending and converging at the same time: ‘Yours sincerely / Ernest Bevin’. He was glad to receive Ross’s letter ‘about the visit of the Greek Regent to this country’. He feels sure that ‘the Regent will wish to accept an invitation to visit Oxford’. He gives tentative dates for his stay, undertaking to ‘have a day at least set aside for this purpose’.

[Ben Purse [Benjamin Ormond Purse], trade unionist and campaigner for the rights of blind people.] Typed Letter with cyclostyled signature, to Carmichael Thomas, describing his ‘interests’ while asking for help in joining the Royal Society of Arts.

Author: 
Ben Purse [Benjamin Ormond Purse] (1874-1950), British trade unionist, social worker and campaigner with the National Institute for the Blind [Carmichael Thomas; Royal Society of Arts]
Publication details: 
21 April 1921; on letterhead of the National Institute for the Blind, London.
£60.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and with two creases from folding for postage. Addressed to ‘Carmichael Thomas, Esq., / Mount Cottage, / Borough Green, / Kent.’ Cyclostyled signature of ‘Ben Purser.’ Begins: ‘For some time I have been desirous of becoming a member of the Royal Society of Arts. Mentioning this matter to your daughter a few days ago, Miss Thomas thought that if I wrote you in this connection you might possibly be able to arrange this matter for me.

[Thomas Burt, trade union leader and Radical Member of Parliament.] Three Autograph Letters Signed and one Secretarial Letter Signed to A.G.L. Rogers, Secretary of the Liberal Publication Department, regarding the composition of publicity leaflets.

Author: 
Thomas Burt (1837-1922), trade union leader and Radical Member of Parliament; General Secretary, Northumberland Miners' Association [A. G. L. Rogers, Secretary, Liberal Publication Department]
Publication details: 
2 June 1892; and 2 and 11 February, and 11 October, 1893. The first two on House of Commons letterhead; the third on letterhead of the Reform Club, Pall Mall; the fourth from Cromer, on letterhead of the Board of Trade [Whitehall, London].
£120.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Under Gladstone Burt served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, 1892-1895. From the papers of Arthur George Liddon Rogers (1864-1944), son of the editor of the economist Thorold Rogers, and written while Rogers was Secretary of the Liberal Publication Department (a sort of public relations department), a position to which he was appointed in November 1891. The four items, all addressed to ‘Dear Mr Rogers’ and signed ‘Thos Burt’, are all bifoliums in good condition, folded for postage. ONE (2 June 1892): 2pp, 12mo.

[ Washington Gledden, religious editor of the New York Independent and opponent of racial segregation. ] Autograph Signature.

Author: 
Washington Gladden (1836-1918), American Congregational pastor and religious editor of New York Independent, prominent in the Social Gospel and Progressive Movements, opponent of racial segregation
Publication details: 
Place not stated. 29 January 1914.
£30.00

On one side of a 12mo piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged, folded once horizontally with traces of glue from mount on blank reverse. Firm signature, underlined. Reads: 'Washington Gledden | Jan 29, 1914'.

[ William Sulzer ] A Collection of Pamphlets, Printed Ephemera and Manuscript Material.

Author: 
[William Sulzer, US Politician, Governor of New York and opponent of Tammany Hall.
Publication details: 
[1902-1923]
£800.00

William Sulzer (1863-1941), nicknamed 'Plain Bill Sulzer', is remembered as the only Governor of New York ever to be impeached. He served as a Representative in Congress from 1895 to 1912, in the latter year chairing the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1913, shortly after his inauguration as 39th Governor of New York State, he was impeached by the State Assembly on charges of having diverted campaign funds to his own use, charges which Sulzer asserted were a 'fit-up' by Tammany Hall boss Charles F.

[ William Sulzer ]A Collection of Pamphlets, Printed Ephmera and Manuscript Material.

Author: 
[William Sulzer, US Politician, Governor of New York and opponent of Tammany Hall.
Publication details: 
[1902-1923]
£600.00

William Sulzer (1863-1941), nicknamed 'Plain Bill Sulzer', is remembered as the only Governor of New York ever to be impeached. He served as a Representative in Congress from 1895 to 1912, in the latter year chairing the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 1913, shortly after his inauguration as 39th Governor of New York State, he was impeached by the State Assembly on charges of having diverted campaign funds to his own use, charges which Sulzer asserted were a 'fit-up' by Tammany Hall boss Charles F.

[ The Original Society of Papermakers, Maidstone. ] 72 printed items

Author: 
The Original Society of Papermakers, Maidstone, Kent [ James Bourke and R. Robertson, Secretaries ]
Publication details: 
Mainly printed by R. W. Burkitt, Maidstone, Kent. Three dating from 1901, the other 69 from between 1920 and 1929.
£450.00

An interesting collection of material relating to trades unions in the paper industry, and a scarce survival. The University of Birmingham, which holds a small collection of pre-twentieth-century material relating to the Original Society of Papermakers, notes that 'Few records have survived, including papers kept by chance and found within later correspondence'.

[ The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, London. ] Folder of material from the papers of screenwriter Jack Pulman, containing 43 items relating to his work for the Guild, including arbitration decisions, reports, circulars, correspondence, minutes.

Author: 
Jack Pulman (1925-1979), British screenwriter [ The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, London ]
Publication details: 
Jack Pulman, 31 Steele's Road, NW3. [ The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, London. ] 1966 and 1967.
£950.00

Folder of material from the Jack Pulman papers. 43 items in good condition, lightly aged. The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, established in 1959, is a Trades Union for writers working in television, radio, film, theatre, books and multimedia. Pulman began his career while studying economics, and his understanding of the business side of screenwriting is evident in his arbitration decisions contained in this collection. His distinguished career is well described on the British Film Institute's website.

Printed handbill headed '"Lest We Forget." Why You Should Join The Merchant Seamen's League Founded at the Great Boycott Meeting in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on Sept. 28th.' (Founded 'to punish the Gerrmans'.) With printed subscription slip.

Author: 
[The Merchant Seamen's League; J. Havelock Wilson, Secretary; Admiral The Lord Beresford; the Great Boycott Meeting, the Royal Albert Hall, 28 September 1917]
Publication details: 
The Merchant Seamen's League, 76, Victoria Street, Westminster, London. Printer: 'St. George's Prress, T.U. Printers, 2, Johnson's Court, Fleet Street, E.C. [London]' [1917.]
£180.00

Both items in good condition, on aged high-acidity paper. The handbill is printed on one side of a piece of 30.5 x 19.5 cm. paper. The meeting is said to have been 'Presided over by Admiral The Lord Beresford, and there is a list of fifteen individuals by whom the resolutions were supported, beginning with 'J. Havelock Wilson, C.B.E., (President of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union)' and 'Commander HOUGHTON, R.N.R. (Marine Service Associatio - Masters and Officers - Liverpool)'.

Original engraving by John Tenniel, for 'Punch, or the London Charivari', October 1867, titled 'The Order of the Day; or, Unions and Fenians.'

Author: 
Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914), illustrators [Punch, or the London Charivari; Fenians; Trade Unions; revolutionary plots]
The Order of the Day; or, Unions and Fenians
Publication details: 
From 'Punch, or the London Charivari', 12 October 1867.
£95.00
The Order of the Day; or, Unions and Fenians

On paper 52 x 33 cm. Tenniel's monogram, with number 58, in bottom left-hand corner. An giant female figure, with black mask, blazing torch and sash on which is written 'MURDER', directs an assemblage of Fenians and Sheffield trade unionists. The caption reads 'Fenian conspiracies and outrages in Ireland and Manchester - co-incident with the revelations of murderous Trade-unionism at Sheffield and elsewhere - agitated the public mind, and seemed like an evocation of the Spirit of Slaughter to trample on the Law.

[Printed British 1944 'Notice for posting' by the Baking Trade Board (England and Wales), on 'Proposal to vary minimum rates of wages for workers employed in the south western district'. [Including table of 'Proposed General Mimium Time Rates'.]

Author: 
G. H. Tregear, Secretary, Baking Trade Board (England and Wales) [Office of Trade Boards; Second World War]
Printed British 1944 'Notice for posting' by the Baking Trade Board
Publication details: 
'3/44' [i.e. March 1944]. 'Issued by order of the Trade Board' [i.e. the Baking Trade Board (England and Wales)].
£56.00
Printed British 1944 'Notice for posting' by the Baking Trade Board

Printed on one side of a long sheet, equivalent to two leaves of landscape 4to on top of one another. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The opening paragraph lays out the purpose of the notice: 'The Baking Trade Board (England and Wales) hereby give notice that they propose to vary for certain classes of workers in certain areas the minimum rates at present operative in the trade and set out in the Trade Board's Notices BK. (SW.) and BK. (19).

Five items relating to the Amalgamated Engineering Union, Birmingham Branch No. 304BE, including two minute books, 1943-1956 and 1957-1980; 'Proposition and Entrance Book', 1966-1976; and two unemployment benefit books, 1956-1978 and 1966-1979.

Author: 
Amalgamated Engineering Union, Birmingham Branch No. 304BE [trades unions; welfare benefits; British labour relations]
Publication details: 
Birmingham. 1943 to 1980.
£400.00

This small archive casts invaluable light on British labour relations at a local level during a turbulent economic period in postwar British history, with specific day-to-day information about persons and events. The two minute books, 1943-1980, are both 4to, with the first of around 200 pp and the second of around 150 pp. Both texts clear and complete, and some matter loosely inserted (including a letter from an individual pursuing a complaint against the branch). In worn bindings, with the boards of the second volume detached.

Dry Stereo Flong for the stereotype printing of a poster headed 'Printers' Night. | Printing and Allied Trades' Amateur Boxing Club'.

Author: 
Printing and Allied Trades' Amateur Boxing Club [stereotype printing; trades unions; pugilism]
Publication details: 
Printing and Allied Trades' Boxing Club. For an event to be held at the Stadium Club, 85, High Holborn, W.C.2., 12 February 1935.
£125.00

The flong is 31.5 x 19 cm. Stamped on reverse 'LIGHT'S - "IDEAL" | HAND CASTING | DRY STEREO FLONG'. Small triangle missing from the top left-hand corner, causing the loss of the first letter of the first line (the 'P' in 'PRINTERS'); apart from that text clear and complete. Top right-hand corner slightly dogeared, crease along one rule, and thin strip of wear at foot (not affecting text). An interesting piece of printing ephemera.

Three Typed Letters Signed (all 'J T. Walker'), and one Autograph Note, to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts. Together with 19 newspaper cuttings relating to unions and strikes in Australia.

Author: 
James Thomas Walker (1841-1923), Australian banker, born in Scotland [unions and strikes in Australia; William Morris Hughes (1862-1952), Prime Minister of Australia; Wharf Labourers Union]
Publication details: 
Two letters of 16 March 1916 and one of 24 March 1916; all three on letterhead of Yaralla Chambers, 109 Pitt Street, Sydney; autograph note of 21 March 1916, from Sydney, New South Wales.
£180.00

The letters and note are good, on lightly aged paper; the third letter with closed tear at foot of both leaves, affecting Walker's signature. Two of the three letters are docketed and bear the Society's stamp. The cuttings good on aged high-acidity paper. Letter One (4to, 1 p): He cannot afford the Society's subscription, due to 'the immensely increased taxation by the Federal Government, and by the State Governments in N.S. Wales and Queensland (not to mention donations to various War Funds)'.

[Railway Reading.] Workmen's Earnings, Strikes, and Savings. By Samuel Smiles, author of 'Life of George Stephenson,' 'Self Help,' etc. Reprinted from the 'Quarterly Review.'

Author: 
Samuel Smiles [Victorian trades unions; strikes; industrial action]
Publication details: 
London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1861. Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street, and Charing Cross.
£120.00

12mo, 168 pp. In original red printed wraps, yellow endpapers. Attractive bookseller's ticket of 'Hunt Books 1919 Southborough Kent England' on front pastedown. Internally sound, with a little light staining and some unobtrusive marking in margins. Wraps chipped and worn at corners and spine, with small ink stain on back. Front wrap headed 'RAILWAY READING.' Small neat ownership stamp of J. D. Bowen at head of title.

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