1. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Harry].

Collection of eight (8) manuscript letters Sir Harry Luke received during his appointment as acting High Commissioner to the Government of Palestine (July 1928 – December 1928) from his father (J.H.Luke), mother (Eugenie Luke, nee Zamarski) and close family. Especially his father discussing also political matters that effected Sir Harry Luke during his posting in Jerusalem [in one letter from November 30th, 1928 J.H.Luke lets his son know that ‘I obtained two copies of the White Papers dealing with the Wailing Wall incidents – J.H.Luke asks provokingly: “Who was the Dept. Dir. Comm. ?” [during which the incident happened]. Some of the envelopes include multiple pages, plus several letters from other members of family that were posted to Luke’s appointment in Palestine together in one envelope. The letter from his father is of significance because it reflects the conversations Sir Harry Luke had with his father about the time during his posting as High Commissioner in Palestine.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London / Jerusalem, 1928. Octavo. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

2. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Harry / Lukach, Harry] / Pirie-Gordon, Harry.

Fantastic letter from Harry Pirie-Gordon to Sir Harry Luke’s father, helping him to solve an issue regarding a Napoleon-letter / Correspondence between Professor Jean la Cecilia (Professeur d’Anglais au Lycee de Foix), J.H.Luke, the editor of THE TIMES and subsequently a letter from J.H.Luke reporting the outcome to Sir Harry Luke, regarding an original Napoleon – letter, and Napoleon’s Services to European Peace. Interesting correspondence and newspaper – clipping of the published article as a consequence of the correspondence. With some interesting, patriotic remarks. Also included a wonderful letter from J.H.Luke to his son Harry Luke in Palestine on occasion of Luke regarding the Napoleon-letter-incident Priri-Gordon helped him with and to express his disappointment that Harry and family can not holiday with him because he is succeeding (or standing in for) Lord Plumer [that is Field Marshal Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer] in his role as High Commissioner of the British mandate in Palestine: “The one …i can find in that ‘acting’ for a man like Lord Plumer at the outset will add to your prestige…”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London / Cap de la Ville (Foix), 1928. Octavo. Five letters in total. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

3. [Palestine Content] – Luke, Harry Charles.

A Spanish Franciscan’s Narrative Of A Journey To The Holy Land. Translated from The 16th-Century Latin MS. In His Possession And Edited With Notes.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Palestine Exploration Fund’s Office, 1927. 22,5 cm x 14,5 cm. VII, 83 pages. Original Hardcover. Extremely scarce ! Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. Some cockling to boards, bumping to corners. Otherwise in good condition.

4. [Palestine Content] – Luke, Harry Charles / Keith-Roach, Edward.

The Handbook Of Palestine And Trans-Jordan [With a manuscript letter signed / autographed letter signed (MLS / ALS) by Sir Edward Keith-Roach to Luke, dated Jerusalem, 13 th of July, 1930: “Dear Harry Charles, I was very sorry to learn of the death of your father for i know how attached you were to him….please accept my sympathy. We are now full steam ahead with the Handbook…I have sent off over 200 copies ….plus copies of the Times criticism ..I hope we shall be able to capture the early market…Ever yours Keith-Roach”]. Edited by Harry Charles Luke and Edward Keith-Roach. With Introductions By Sir John Chancelor And The Right Hon. Sir Herbert Samuel.

Second Edition, with Frontispiece and Map. [This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Macmillan And Co., Ltd., 1930. 19 cm x 13,5 cm. Frontispiece, XVI, 505 pages, (28) pages. Original Hardcover with gilt Seal of the Government of Palestine stamped to front board of the binding. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. Some occasional wormholes to boards and beginning of the book. Slight tearing to front board. Otherwise in fair condition.

5. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Keith-Roach, Edward.

The Handbook Of Palestine And Trans-Jordan. With Introductions By Sir John Chancelor And The Right Hon. Sir Herbert Samuel.

Second Edition. [This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Macmillan And Co., Ltd., 1930. 19 cm x 13 cm. Frontispiece, XVI, 505 pages, (28) pages. Original Hardcover with gilt Seal of the Government of Palestine stamped to front board of the binding. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. Fading, staining to boards and spine. Otherwise in good condition.

6. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry].

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) from Trinity College, Oxford to congratulate Luke on his new appointment [acting High Commissioner to the Government of Palestine].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Trinity College, Oxford, June 1928. Duodecimo. 1 page with original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

7. [Palestine Content / Malta Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Vilmos, William de.

Important Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) on the Palestine and Malta-Postings from Sir Harry Luke’s Great Uncle William de Vilmos. The letter, written in german, was addressed to Luke just after he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Malta in the year 1931. Remarkably, the letter touches on William de Vilmos being happy that in this year 1931 his nephew Harry Luke, has now escaped Palestine “this impossible place, where the bloody disputes will be neverending…” / “…such life-endangering scenes you had to endure [in Palestine] will hardly occur during your posting in Malta” [free translation]”. The letter reads: ‘Budapest, 20. Jaenner 1931 – Mein geliebter Harry. Du hast mir mit Deinem lieben Brief vom 9. dieses eine grosse Stueck Freude bereitet & ich danke Dir dafuer herzlichst. Deine Neujahrswuensche erwidere ich aufs Herzlichste fuer Dich, wie fuer die liebe Joyce, Peter & Michael. Sehr freut es mich, dass der Aufenthalt in Malta, sowohl was Klima als Behausung, Garten etc. betrifft, jeden Einzelnen von Euch sehr conveniert & Euch viel Vergnuegen bereitet. In der schwierigen Weltlage in der wir jetzt leben, gibt es jetzt ueberall Schwierigkeiten die unausweichbar sind, aber jedenfalls bin ich froh und gluecklich, dass Du von Palaestina, diesem unmoeglichen Fleck Erde, wo die blutigen Zwistigkeiten kaum jemals aufhoeren werden, gluecklich und & lebendig weggekommen bist. Solche Szenen, wie Du durchzuleben gezwungen warst, in fortwaehrender Lebensgefahr Dich befindend, wirst Du in Malta nicht ausgesetzt sein. Ich wuensche Deiner Thaetigkeit den allerbesten Erfolg. Deine liebe Mutter habe ich waehrend den Weihnachtsfeiertagen, die ich in Wien verbrachte, mehrmals gesehen, war mit ihrem Aussehen & ihrem Gemuetsstand recht zufrieden. Mir geht es gottlob gesundheitlich sehr gut. Ich kann selbst ueber mein Alter nicht klagen, denn ich habe gottlob trotz meiner 92 Jahre ueber Altersbeschwerden keinerlei Klagen zu erheben. Leb wohl mein lieber guter Harry, ich gruesse & kuesse Dich & die theuere Joyce in aller Liebe – Dein Onkel Vilmos”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Budapest, 20. Jaenner 1931. Octavo. 1 sheet with a three-page letter. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

8. [Palestine Content / Malta Content / Ecclesiastical] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Valeri, Valerio [Cardinal / Bishop / Apostolic Delegate to Egypt].

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) by Valerio Valeri to Sir Harry Luke upon his departure as deputy High Commissioner of the British Mandate of Palestine to Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Robert Chancellor. [Luke attempted to mediate an agreement between Jewish and Arab leaders, without success’]. The letter by Bishop Valeri reads: ‘Dear Mr.Luke, this is a very confidential letter to express you both my sincere regrets at your departure from Jerusalem and my felicitations for your appointment as Governor of Malta under the present circumstances. Your high qualities are, no doubt, well known at the Colonial and the Foreign Office, a thing at which all the friends and acquaintances you left in Palestine have rejoiced. Wishing you every success in carrying out your work and with my kindest regards I am Sincerely Yours + Valerio Valeri’.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cairo, Delegatio Apostolica Aegypti, July 22nd 1930. Octavo. 1 letter with original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

9. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Roberts-Wray, Sir Kenneth [Order of St Michael and St George].

Six – Page (!) Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) by Sir Kenneth Roberts-Wray to Sir Harry Luke. Stunning manuscript letter in which Roberts-Wray discloses information from the inner workings of the “Palestine Commission”, which investigated Sir Harry Luke and the Wailing Wall – Incident. Roberts-Wray would go on to become an important Legal Adviser for the Crown and the Colonial Office and his star rose steady and led to him writing “Commonwealth and Colonial Law”, the most important work on understanding the british understanding of legal procedure and Colonial Power today.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. German Colony, Jerusalem, , 12th of January, 1930. Small Quarto. 6 pages on 3 sheets with original envelope. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

10. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Wilson, Sir Arnold Talbot.

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) addressed to Harry Luke at “The Athenaeum” to congratulate him on becoming the next Lieutenant-Governor of Malta. Wilson uses the occasion to also spread his “Anti-Zionism” by bragging about a lecture he just held in front of the Palestine Society: “Dear Luke, I want to congratulate you very heartily on your appointment to Malta, to which I may be permitted to add an expression of my personal delight at the report of the Palestine Commission so far as it refers to you. I was confident that you would emerge with credit, & indeed nailed my colours to the mast by lecturing to the [?] Palestine Society in January, in a sense far from [?] to Zionism, & saying that I was confident that the Commission would absolve the principal officials, and that the Zionists had made a great error in making an attack on them. I believe I am the only Anti-Zionist who has ever spoken to them! I can send you if you like a copy of my notes ! It is curious that having had your fill of Jewry you should be posted to Malta where the Vatican will be your principal preoccupation. May God – the God of sound Protestants – speed you ! Yours sincerely A.T.Wilson”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London [Britannic House], 13th of June, 1930. Quarto. 2 pages on one page of Stationery from Wilson’s office at Britannic House. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.