1. Palmer, Brooke.

“Solstice Seasons” – A Quadriptych of Passage: A Composition of four seasonal Artpieces which transport the viewer to four of the world’s most magical Places of Ritual and Ceremony: I. “Spring at Newgrange” / II. “Summer at Stonehenge” / III. “Autumn at Iniskim Umaapi” / IV. “Winter at Drombeg”.

Four Paintings / Acrylic on circular Birch Wood Panels / Epoxy resined. Toronto, 2023/2024. Dimensions of each Wood Panel: 44” (112 cm in Diameter, on 5 cm thick panel).

2. [Love – Story Harry Luke/Lillie Leonora Neumann] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lillie Leonora Bird [nee Neumann].

Collection of twentyseven (27) manuscript letters by Sir Harry Luke’s first love, Lillie Leonora Hoffmann, as mentioned in “Cities and Men”, Volume I, pages 105-105 and with a photograph on page 96 / The letters are often reaching over multiple pages and are reflecting on Lillie’s longing for her friendship to Luke becoming more. The letters were written between October 6th, 1906 and Lillie Leonora writes a sad and bitter letter to Luke’s posting at Freetown in Sierra Leone on November 21st, 1908 in which she accuses him to be indifferent to their friendship and she informs him of her need to travel to Mexico until the summer of 1909 when she closes with: “…you do not seem to care ever sufficiently to send me an idea of your daily routine which you would surely do fpr some casual friend & so I say I will not write again….till you write or till we meet goodbye. God bless you. Nov.8 – 08 – Lillie”. On November 24th, a last letter from Lillie reaches Harry Luke who must have written to her in the meantime and the two are friends again after Lillie admits she would not send the letter from Nov.8th if she would have a chance to read it again.. Lilie writes: “I got your letter – we certainly have travelled far from each other …There is nothing to say words seem singularly futile”. After this last letter Lillie Leonora dies in Mexico on April 9th, 1909, suddenly of heart failure. Luke kept i his collection a typed, standardized thank-you-card from Lillie Leonora’s husband, Mr.Robert Macdonald Bird, thanking him for “kindness and great sympathy shewn to him in his recent sorrow” [dated June 1909].

1906-1908. Octavo. Softcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Original envelopes included.

3. [Palestine / Transjordan / Israel / Egypt / Suez] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Burrows, Ines / [Sir Bernard Alexander Brocas Burrows].

Interesting Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) from Harry Luke’s friend, Ines Burrows, wife of British Diplomat, Sir Bernard Alexander Brocas Burrows, written from Sir Bernard’s posting in Bahrain, hinting at “The Suez Crisis” and the “British–French–Israeli invasion of Egypt in 1956”. Written on Stationery of “The Residency – Bahrain – Persian Gulf”, Ines Burrows describes part of their life during Sir Bernard’s posting in 1953 as “Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, based in Bahrain and handling relations with Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the seven Trucial States (Wikipedia). After Ines Burrows asks Sir Harry Luke how long he will be staying with them she describes their life of Dinner Parties and their wish to not constantly be invited by those guests who feel they have to reciprocate. But the interesting parts of the letter clearly hint at meetings between Sir Bernard Burrows and the “Rulers”, just weeks prior to the outbreak of the “Suez Crisis” and the letter also delves into Burrows’ opinion of the Gulf States and into an arrangement of need to know between Sir Bernard’s official work and his wish to not disclose any of it to his wife Ines: “Darling, I quite forgot to say in my last letter (which I thought you knew) that the Goddard ….left Kuwait about a year ago- I don’t know if you thought they had come here ? Anyway I will do my very best to be as free as possible from rehearsals when you do arrive…….This place is still in a State. Bernard is constantly about. The Rulers came and spend 2 1/2 hours in the drawing room yesterday [5th of September,1956] & it was followed by an afternoon at the Palace & another conference. Things are now going a bit better and the news will “break” in due course. Bernard is very discreet & says respectfully that its better I shouldn’t know, in case my eyes should light up ….visible understanding if anything is asked or mentioned at a dinner party. Our [?] trip seems now to be starting on Saturday – if nothing worse happens……Much much Love…Ines”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Bahrain [Persian Gulf], 6th of September, 1956. A4. Four pages on two sheets, with original envelope, cancelled in Bahrain and sent to Sir Harry Luke at Kuching, Sarawak, while staying with Sir Anthony Foster Abell KCMG, then Governor of Sarawak. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

4. [Palestine Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Bentwich, Norman.

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) addressed to Harry Luke by Norman Bentwich, British-appointed Attorney-General of Mandatory Palestine, who is writing to Luke on the occassion of the passing of Sir Harry Luke’s father: “My dear Harry, I am very sorry to read the announcement of your father’s death. I know how devoted you have been to him & what a grief it will be to you. But it is, I hope, some comfort, that you had been able to have some days with him this year + last. I had your letter…..the Jerusalem ….launched this year after all & under your auspices. [?] is now convinced that he must do something at once about ……I believe that he will try to see you + Pirie-Gordon about it in London. Perhaps the ….has already been launched + if so you all have conjured up ….[?]Norman Bentwich”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Jerusalem, 11th of July, 1930. A4. One page on Stationery of “Government of Palestine – Attorney General’s Office, Jerusalem”. With original envelope, cnacelled stamp from Palestine, addressed to Harry Luke at St.James’s Club. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

5. [Malta Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office / Downing Street.

Typed Letter Signed (TLS) addressed to Harry Luke and signed OGR Williams on “Downing Street Stationery” / “The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office”: “Sir, I am directed by Lord Passfield to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th of July and to inform you that the Crown Agents for the Colonies are being authorised to pay to you subsistence allowance at the rate of 25/– a night in respect of your attendance at the Colonial Office Conference for the period 23rd of June to the 15th of July (inclusive). I am, Sir, your obedient servant, OGRWilliams [?]”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [London] Downing Street, 23rd of July, 1930. A4. One page with envelope “On His Majesty’s Service”. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke. Important letter stating Luke’s attendance at the Colonial Conference in 1930, shortly before he started the Governorship on Malta.

6. [Malta Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] / [General Sir John Philip Du Cane].

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) from a friend of Sir Harry Luke, informing Luke about making contact for him with “Johnny du Cane”, clearly because of Luke’s imminet posting as Lieutenant-Governor of Malta, which had been announced the very same day. Du Cane had at this moment been Governor of Malta since 1927: “My dear Harry, I have written to Johnny du Cane for you. He is a real good [?], very intelligent and gloriously indolent – Which a men thinks me in everywhere ! – Ever yours – Archie Weyall [?]”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Petwood / Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, 30th of June, 1930. Octavo. One page letter with envelope. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

7. [Malta Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] / 400 Year Anniversary of Great Siege of Malta.

Unidentified Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) regarding Luke’s resignation [possibly from an order or other form of organization regarding Malta]: “Everyone at the meeting on Saturday was really sorry to hear of your resignation and it was immediately unanimously agreed that you should be invited to be the Guest of Honour at the next Dinner. I think this is particularly appropriate this year, when the 400th anniversary of the Great Siege is being celebrated – and who is there who knows more about the History of Malta than you do !”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [London], 29th of April, 1965. A4. Two pages on one sheet with envelope. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

8. [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.

9. [Pacific Content] – [Luke, Harry / Lukach, Harry / Sir Harry Luke].

Large collection of Material related to the British Western Pacific, kept by Sir Harry in a large envelope from Suva (Fiji), with manuscript-pads, Annotated Typescripts and manuscript notes by Sir Harry Luke, especially material he used to prepare for Lectures and Talks. Among these materials are two different Essays on Easter Island, recorded on June 2nd, 1958 for a broadcast in Malta, also included numerous note-pads with quotes and background-info from important writers, historians and politicians which Luke uses to illustrate the pros and cons of Colonialism, especially connected to the British Empire. From looking at the Material closely, one can clearly understand how Luke structured his lectures (Historical Background of an Island or a country, some humorous stories and a very critical but decisive stance towards the British Empire and its Imperialism, without ever losing his diplomatic loyalty to the Crown). [See full list below].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [London], [1952]. Octavo. 32 pages. Stapled. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

10. [Ecclesiastical Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] / [Lieutenant Governor of Malta (1930 – 1938)] / [Mac Innes, Bishop] / Bickersteth, Rev. E.M.

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) from Reverend E.M.Bickersteth, secretary to Bishop Mac Innes, on stationery of “Jerusalem and the East Mission”: “Dear Mr.Luke, May I be allowed to offer you my congratulations on your appointment to Malta – Everyone connected with Palestine will be very sorry that you have to leave. But Malta certainly needs all the tact, ….+ judgement which you can so clearly bring to your new & very responsible task – so we of Palestine must act grudge you to it. ….Bishop Mac Innes has been successful in getting you the ticket for St.Paul’s, at the reopening service – I have the ticket here –…will you tell me where to send it….”

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, June, 1930. Quarto. 1 leaf / two pages. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.