21. [Pacific Content] – Luke, Sir Harry.

People of the Solomon Islands [Essay published in “The Listener”, this being Harry Luke’s personal copy with a minor manuscript correction in his hand].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. BBC, The Listener, 1942. Folio. 4 pages with several photographic illustrations (by H.A.Bernatzik etc.). Stapled. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal working copy. Very good condition.

22. [Pacific Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry] / Arthur Frederick Richards, 1st Baron Milverton (High Commissioner for the Western Pacific 1936 – 1938) / Dawe, A.J. (Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office (also operating from Downing Street)) / Kennedy, Donald Gilbert] / J.C. Barley [R.C. (Resident Commissioner on Ocean Island)].

Four Original, Typed Letters from A.F.Richards [that was Arthur Frederick Richards, 1st Baron Milverton] in his capacity of High Commissioner for the Western Pacific during the years 1936 – 1938. These four letters were compiled as Memorandum of the British Western Pacific Islands, particularly the Gilbert Islands and were compiled by Richards for A.J.Dawe, then Under Secretary of State for the Colonial Office, who sent them on to Sir Harry Luke in an official envelope “On His Majesty’s Service” , stamped with the seal of the Secretary of State – Colonial Department. The letters with manuscript annotations and markings bear manuscript annotations and markings by Sir Harry Luke in pencil. The four letters stretch over 44 Folio-pages and are a detailed “Situation-Report” of nearly all the islands in the realm of the Gilberts and some other Islands. Richards reports for example about Ocean Island, Tarawa, Nauru, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Rotuma and Taveuni, Marshall Islands and Butaritari, Beru, Nanumanga, Vaitupu, Samoa, Fiji, Apolosi, etc. etc. which was forwarded by the Secretary of State-Office to Sir Harry Luke, who succeeded A.F.Richards as High Commissioner for the Western Pacific in 1938, after a brief period in which Sir Cecil Barton was installed as actiong High Commissioner only. The Letters / Memorandum are very detailed and strikingly honest in its assessment of certain colonial officers in charge of their stations. Richards does not hold back in criticism for the lack of style and efficiency in running their stations.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [Pacific], June 1937 – August 1937. Slim Folio. 44 pages, stapled. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal working copy. Very good condition.

23. [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.