1. [Commonwealth & Colonial History & Law] – Luke, Sir Harry [Lukach, Harry] – ‘the most unwasted life of any man I have known’ – (Sir Ronald Storrs on Sir Harry Luke)

Very Large Archive / Collection of British Colonial Official & Lieutenant-Governor of Malta, Sir Harry Luke. Including 123 Books and Pamphlets, often with multiple annotations and inserted materials / Including the stunning amount of 427 Manuscript-Letters / Typed Letters (among which are also a few Postcards) / Including 95 interesting documents / Inlcuding 171 Items of Ephemera. The Archive is Sir Harry Luke’s very personal and one might say, confidential collection of original autographed letters, correspondence and books he surrounded himself with at the end of his life. The Archive includes important and meaningful personal and official letters from important historical figures in the Arena of the Middle East and especially Palestine with for example interesting legal insights into the Jewish-Arab conflicts of the 1920s, as well as working-copies of books which Luke wrote himself at every location he was posted to during his career. In order to understand the vastness of the Archive you need to visit our website and see the twenty (20) chapters of Material we synchronised chronologically with Sir Harry Luke’s life [Search for “Library & Collections” and find 20 chapters at the bottom of that page]. The Archive contains an unbelievable and impressive array of several highly interesting letters and correspondence regarding key historical events as disparate as the Mudros/Gallipoli-Campaign under Rosslyn Wemyss, the Jaffa Riots, the Western Wall Riots of Jerusalem in 1929 as well as information on diplomatic activity prior to the Suez Crisis, descriptions of locations like Guadalcanal prior to the War in the Pacific, detailed information on personell at Gardner Island / Phoenix Islands during the vanishing of Amelia Earhart, to only name a few bizarre coincidences. The books contain manuscript annotations and preparatory notes for later editions as well as many letters written to Luke regarding the many postings he served at during his long career in the Colonial Service. The Archive includes several hundred pages of correspondence between Luke and other officials within the Colonial Office, often in multi-page letters. Also included is proof of Luke’s connections to the Ecclesiastical World of the Vatican and Lambeth Palace, his diplomatic abilities are praised in letters from friends and officials alike. Luke received cordial letters from Queens (Queen Salote) as well as polarizing letters from Politicians. Included are manuscript notepads as well as confidential reports from other diplomats on locations where Luke was soon to be taking office, e.g. British Western Pacific Islands. The Archive is unique in its form because it represents not only the correspondence between Luke as an official but also allows us a view into the life of a Career Diplomat of the last days of the Colonial British Empire who develops a deep connection with everyone he served with and under. Luke did not only keep correspondence with famous friends like Ronald Storrs but also emotional letters from those who served under him and respectfully stay in touch beyond the termination of Luke’s service. Many letters to family colleagues in the Colonial Office, Politicians, Priests with political functions, are preserved with Luke’s original typescript-answer or initial letter. The official and often explosive and historically meaningful content with striking relevance for reinterpreting Mediterranean, Middle Eastern Conflicts etc. makes this archive a must for research and posterity. This is not just any diplomat’s archive. The majority of these letters are unpublished but are waiting to be discovered (see for example the long letter by Sir Kenneth Roberts-Wray on the Palestine Commission. Also included his Luke’s very valuable, handwritten manuscript-notebook of colonial postings-recipe-collections together with his working copy of the very special cookery book “The Tenth Muse”. The majority of the collection is now catalogued and visible on our website. A collection of c. 89 letters and 43 items of Ephemera has not been catalogued yet.

England / Palestine / Israel / Malta / Cyprus, Fiji / Sierra Leone etc., 1898 – 1968. Octavo / Quarto / Folio. c.15000 pages (books) / Collection of hundreds of Letters (see images) / Photographs and ephemera etc. Original Hardcover / Softover – Bindings (also private interim-bindings), often with the rare dustjackets in protective collector’s Mylar, some without dustjackets. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Please check our website under “Libraries & Collections” and see detailed listings of books and letters, all categorized.

2. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles].

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) from Harry Charles Lukach (Sir Harry Luke) to his father. Luke writes on October 4th, using Stationery of “Government House, Cyprus” from his posting as Private Secretary of Governor Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams in Cyprus, where Luke was posted between November 1911 – c. October 1914. At this time Luke is awaiting a promotion [it will come a few weeks after this letter was written and he is updating his father]: “My dear Father, yours of 27 Sept from Vienna just received…..This is our last week on Troodos…in 5 days we go down to Nicosia, where it will be hot for another 3 weeks or so after we get there. I have not yet said anything to Sir H[amilton Goold-Adams] about the S.A.offer; I think that the best opportunity to do so would be when he actually recommends me for a higher post here. This cannot be done at once, as he will first have to get rid of the present holder (the Asst. Secretary), wh[ich he will try to do when he goes on leave. But don’t mention this, as he has not yet tackled the C.O. I enclose a photo taken lately of a shooting match here between Soldiers & Civilians. Sir H[amilton Goold-Adams] shot for the latter, & I was a spectator (in Colonel Glasses). The Soldiers won. Much love to you three – Your loving son Harry”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cyprus / Government House, 4 October 1912. Octavo. Bifold Octavo, all four pages with manuscript handwriting, signed. Very good condition. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

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

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed (ALS) from Harry Charles Lukach (Sir Harry Luke) to his Father & Mother. Luke writes on August 29th, 1913, using Stationery of “Government House, Cyprus” from his new administrative posting within Government House, Cyprus, where Luke was posted between November 1911 – c. October 1914, still under Goold-Adams. Luke writes: “….the Goold-Adams’ landed in Limasol yesterday….Their new P[ersonal] Sec[retary] is a young Oxford Man called Cunningham – that is all I know about him as yet. I am staying on as Gov[ernment S[ecretary] as guest of the GA’s till I go on leave; I shall probably go down to N’sia to pack next Thursday. My Steamer goes on Sat.8th from Larnaca to Meronia.”

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cyprus / Government House, 29 August, 1913. Octavo. Bifold Octavo, all four pages with manuscript handwriting, signed. Very good condition. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

4. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] /

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) from Lieut – Col. Charles William Henry Sealy (‘CWHS’) to Sir Harry Charles Lukach (later Sir Harry Luke), addressed to Luke as Lieut-Commander H. C. Lukach – Chief Secretary’s Office – Troodos, Cyprus). Sealy apologises profoundly for not writing and informs Luke about prices for certain stamps. But the main reason for the letter seems to be an item Luke had waited for from Sealy, an enclosed Manuscript-Family-Tree of the orientalist James Justinian Morier [Author of ‘The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan (1824)’ and fellow Traveller of the Levant and also emplyed as Diplomat]. he letter was obviously started twice by Sealy, at different dates but the letter was finally finished and sent 25th of July, 1916: “Dear Luke, I am a pig not to write – I’m sory & tomorrow I swear I will sit down & [write] you the letter of the year – / Dear Luke, here is some Morier stuff – if you want any more let me know, there is a reasonable notice of him in DNB. Prices of Salonikas are good – a man has offered twenty guineas for a complete set used on an envelope – and one such envelope has actually been sold for £20 and another – just the same – for £25….Long Island overprinted on Turkish – they ask £15 each ! – No job yet – but I worked at Admiralty yesterday to please a pal. Best salams CWHS”. / The enclosed Family Tree tree begins with James Morier’s father Isaac Morier, and his maternal grandfather David Van Lennep, ‘Dutch Consul general in Smyrna President of Dutch Levant Co’. At the foot is a list of seven works by James Morier, with dates. The Morier – Family Tree also includes Clara van Lennep.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [London], [on stationery of Charles William Henry, 6 Priory Grove, The Boltons, [London], 25 July, 1916. Octavo. 2 pages. Very good condition. From the personal collection of Sir Harry Luke.

5. [Cyprus Content] – Luke, Harry Charles / Jardine, Douglas James / Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton.

The Handbook Of Cyprus: Seventh Issue (1913). [With manuscript letter by Harry Luke on Stationery of Government House, Cyprus]. With Maps and Plans and twelve Illustrations from Photographs by Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Edward Stanford, Ltd., 1913. 19,5 cm x 13,5 cm. XI, 307 pages, 12 illustrations, 5 maps and plans (includes the beautiful, coloured map of Cyprus). Original Hardcover / Privately bound full morocco with gilt ornament to board, gilt lettering to spine and raised bands. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. Some rubbing, bumping to boards and spine. Otherwise in good condition.

6. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] / John P. Foscolo [Photographer J.P. Foscolo].

Photographic Postcard of Harry Luke’s Office in Cyprus (probably Famagusta), photographed by J.P.Foscolo. The Postcard with manuscript message, signed by Harry Luke and sent to his mother on 11th of December, 1918 with the message: “This is a view of my Office – H. 11/12/18”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cyprus / Famagusta, 1918. Postcard size. The photographic Postcard with blindstamped signature of photographer J.P.Foscolo. Very good condition. With two rare stamps (Half Piastre and Ten Piastre, cancelled in Famagusta).

7. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] / John P. Foscolo [Photographer J.P. Foscolo].

Photographic Postcard of St.Sophia, Famagusta, Cyprus, photographed by J.P.Foscolo. The Postcard with manuscript message, sent by Harry Luke to himself at the Armenian Hotel Nicosia. With two Cypriote stamps (5 Paras), cancelled in Nikosia on January 30, 1918.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cyprus / Famagusta, 1918. Postcard size. The photographic Postcard is No.10 of a series of photographic postcards created by photographer J.P.Foscolo. Very good condition.

8. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] / Norton, E.B. [Artist].

Humorous Postcard “Vituperation”, sent to his Mother & Sister from Cyprus to Paris by Harry Lukach (Sir Harry Luke) during the month of March, 1912, while he awaits news about a new posting: “…no news this week”. Luke clearly used the term “Vituperation” as a hint of knowing that deliberations are going on regarding his next career-move. 1912 was an important year for Luke since he had just started under Goold-Adams in Government House, Nicosia. But he was destined for moving up and “At the end of 1912 [he] became a Junior Assistant Secretary to Government together with Douglas Jardine” (C&M I, 217) after Luke had made the decision “to make my career in the Colonial Service”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cyprus / [Nicosia], 1912. Postcard size. The Humorous Postcard designed by E.B.Norton. Very good condition. With three rare stamps, cancelled in Cyprus and Paris.

9. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Hill, Sir George.

A History Of Cyprus: Volume I, II, III and IV. I: To the Conquest by Richard Lion Heart; II: The Frankish Period, 1192-1432; III: The Frankish Period, 1432-1571; IV: The Ottoman Province, The British Colony, 1571-1948. Four volumes (Complete).

Digital Reprint of the Cambridge University Press Edition (1940). [This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010. 23 cm x 16 cm. Pagination: Volume I: XVIII, 352 pages, 16 plates, 3 maps; Volume II: XL, 496 pages, 6 plates, 7 illustrations; Volume III: VI, 702 pages, 14 plates, 4 illustrations, 2 maps; Volume IV: XXXI, 640 pages, 17 plates, map. Original Hardcover. Two corners bumped on Volume IV front board and some mild signs of foxing to cloth. Otherwise this set is in excellent condition.

10. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles] Lukach, Harry Charles / Jardine, Douglas James / Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton.

The Handbook Of Cyprus: Seventh Issue (1913).

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Edward Stanford, Ltd., 1913. 18 cm x 12,5 cm. XI, 307 pages, 12 illustrations, 4 maps and plans. Original Hardcover. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. Some foxing to pages, slight fading to boards and spine. Otherwise in good condition.

11. [Cyprus Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry Charles] Michael Kissaun.

Rakkont Ta’ Safra Fl-Art Imqaddsa Minn Patri Frangiskan Spanjol. [Author’s Own Copy / With a Chapter on Cyprus]. Maqlub Fl-Ingliz Minn Sir Harry Charles Luke, C.M.G., B.Litt., M.A. U Migjub Fil-Malti Minn Michael Kissaun.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Malta, Stamperija tal-Gvern, 1937. 22,5 cm x 15,5 cm. [4], XV, 94 pages including 4 photographic illustrations (1. Map of Palestine with Gaza and “Guda” / 2. Portrait of Sir Harry Luke / 3. Image of the Manuscript / 4. Another image of the Manuscript). Original Softcover. Good condition with some rougher signs of external wear. Extremely rare ! From the library of Sir Harry Luke.

12. [Ecclesiastical Content] – Luke, Harry Charles.

Prophets, Priests And Patriarchs: Sketches of the Sects of Palestine and Syria. [With three original letters].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, The Faith Press Ltd., 1927. 22 cm x 14,5 cm. IX, 130 pages, 30 illustrations and including the beautiful, large fold-out-plan in colour: “Plan of the Holy Sepulchre and Surroundings”. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket in protective Mylar. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. Some tearing to dustjacket. Otherwise in very good condition.

13. [Ecclesiastical Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Bell, George Kennedy Allen.

Typed Letter Signed (TLS) on Lambeth Palace stationery from Bishop George Kennedy Allen Bell to Sir Harry Luke: ‘My dear Luke – very many thanks for your letter and kind congratulations. I am sending this in duplicate to Jerusalem and to the St. James’ Club. I should greatly like to see you when you are in London if this is possible. I do not disguise the sorrow with which I hear of your impending departure from Jerusalem. The loss of yourself following so soon after Deedes’ [Brigadier General Sir Wyndham Henry Deedes] departure must be a great loss to Palestine and in particular to the Patriarchate. I am also very sorry to hear that Barron [J.B.Barron of the Palestine Land Commision Weights and Measure Commission] is leaving and I wonder what is going to happen to the Commission and all its affairs. I shall be leaving Lambeth on March 31st and spending ten days in the Lakes: then I go down at once to Canterbury where I shall be from April 12th to May 5th. I shall be in London for about a fortnight from May 5th onwards. I would greatly like to see you if you are about at that time. Yours very sincerely, G.K.A. Bell.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Lambeth Palace, 18th March 1924. Octavo. 1 page with original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

14. Foran, W. Robert.

A Cuckoo in Kenya – The Reminiscences of a [Irish] Pioneer Police Officer in British East Africa. Illustrated with Photographs by the Author and Others.

London, Hutchinson & Co, no year (c.1936). 15.5 cm x 23.5 cm. Frontispiece, 360 pages. 119 monochrome photographs on 47 plates, including frontispiece. Maps of Kenya on pastedowns and endpapers. Hardcover [publisher’s original green cloth] with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with some clear signs of external wear. Slightly bumped and rubbed. Very minor staining to front board. Binding still firm and strong. Minor foxing to edges. Interior very bright and clean. Very Rare, rather scarce publication !

15. Gavaghan, Terence.

Of Lions and Dung Beetles – [A Man in the Middle of Colonial Administration in Kenya].

Elms Court / Ilfracombe, Arthur H. Stockwell Ltd., 1999. Octavo. III, 322 pages. Illustrated with many photographs. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket in protective collector’s mylar. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Signed by the author on the titlepage. Rare publication !

16. Hobley, C.W.

Kenya – From Chartered Company to Crown Colony, Thirty Years of Exploration and Administration in British East Africa. Illustrated from Photographs. With a Foreword by W.G.A Ormsby Gore M.P (Late Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies).

London, H.F. & G. Witherby, 1929. 14 cm x 22.5 cm. Frontispiece. 256 pages. 19 monochrome images on 10 plates. Hardcover [publisher’s original blue cloth] with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Spine is slightly sunned. Interior very bright and clean with sharp corners. Tissue guard to the frontispiece in near excellent condition.

17. Mair, L.P. / [Lucy Philip Mair].

An African People in the Twentieth Century.

Frontispiece, XV, 300 pages. 8 illustrations. Map near front. London, George Routledge & Sons, 1934. 14 cm x 22.5 cm. Frontispiece, XV, 300 pages with Index. Eight monochrome plates including frontispiece. Hardcover [publisher’s original brown cloth] with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Front pastedown carries bookplate / Exlibris of Charles P Groves.

18. [Malta Content] – Luke, Harry Charles / Skewes-Cox, Lieut.– Colonel Miles.

Letter to and from Lieut.-Colonel Miles Skewes-Cox.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. 1965. 22,5 cm x 20,5 cm. [6] pages. From Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal library.

19. Martin, Robert Montgomery.

The British Colonies; Their History, Extent, Condition and Resources. 6 Volumes bound in 3 Volumes (Text only without maps and illustrations). The Set includes: Volume I – British North America / Volume II – Australia / Volume III – New Zealand, Tasmania / Volume IV – Africa and the West Indies / Volume V – British India / Volume VI – Ceylon, East India and Meditteranean Settlements /

First Edition. London and New York, The London Printing and Publishing Company [that was J. and F. Tallis], no year (c. 1850). Quarto (20 cm x 27 cm). Volume I (British North America [Canada / USA]): Frontispice illustrated titlepage, XXIV, 360 pages with pages 1 – 9 missing / Volume II (Australia): pages 361 – 744 pages / Volume III (New Zealand / Tasmania): II, 384 pages. / Volume IV (Africa and the West Indies): II, 188 pages / Volume V (British India): II, 564 pages with pages 455 – 456 missing / Volume VI (Ceylon, East India and Mediterranean Settlements): II, 172 pages. Hardcover / Original, decorative publisher’s halfleather with gilt lettering and ornament to spines. Bindings rubbed but overall in firm and very good condition with only minor signs of wear. All maps and illustrations besides one illustration removed by a previous owner. In the course of removal of maps and illustrations, one page slightly torn and 11 pages of text missing. This is still one of the most important text-sources of British Colonial History, itsevaluation in Britain and a plethora of data on economical and political impact the Colonies had for the former Empire. No other contemporary 19th century publication includes details on colonial produce, movement of population and local History from Tasmania to Quebec, from Hong Kong to Heligoland (Helgoland), and in general on the depition of “England, the ‘Nursing Mother’ of Nations” (Introductory page XXIV by Montgomery Martin).

20. [Pacific Content] – [Luke, Harry Charles].

[Typescript of Sir Harry Luke’s visit to Noumea in the “Viti” after the fall of France, in August, 1940. [in: The American Mercury / Digest Of World Reading – with several interesting articles, also including an article describing the impression Sir Harry Luke made in the West Pcific in his duty for the British Empire].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. New York, The American Mercury Inc., c. 1941. 20 cm x 14,5 cm. c. 245 pages. Original Hardcover. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. With annotations and markings by Harry Luke. Some spotting on boards, bumping to corners. Otherwise in good condition.