81. [Sierra Leone Content] – Luke, Harry Charles / [Professor Edward Blyden III].

Collection of two publications and several letters: A Bibliography of Sierra Leone: Preceded By An Essay On The Origin, Character and Peoples of the Colony and Protectorate. [This publication comes with Luke’s personal copy of Sierra Leone Studies No.IX. – August 1927, in which Luke did not only write the Editorial Introduction but we also see included in this issue as an introduction to the section on “Street and Place Names in and around Freetown” (by Dr.R.H.Kennan), a reprinted letter of R.H.Kennan to Luke (page 9 of this issue). Luke notes on the cover of this issue the main reason why this pamphlet is in his private library: “including an account of our Mount Bintumane ascent” [Luke was part of the Mount Bintumane Expedition: “On the 18th August, 1926, Bintumane, the highest peak of the Lomas, the loftiest mountains in Sierra Leone, was climbed for the first time by an officer administering the Government of the Colony….on a fine misty morning we left our rest camp, situated beside a beautiful white-water face, itself more than 2,500 feet above sea level and, headed by the Acting Governor (Mr.Luke), commenced the Ascent [Sir Ransford Slater, Governor of Sierra Leone, made the ascent only the following year (1927)]. This wonderful collection of two publications also includes several loosely inserted Typescripts, Typed Letters and Manuscript-letters between Sir Harry Luke and Professor Edward Blyden III [Four (4) letters] as well as two (2) letters from Dr.P.E.H.Hair from Fourah Bay College, Freetwown, Sierra Leone [with typescripty of Luke’s answer behind one of the letters]/ Also included a manuscript note from Luke, titled “Description of Photographs from Sierra Leone” in which Luke outlines in detail nine (9) illustrations [possibly for a later edition of the work] and mentions: “A Paramount Chief in Gala costume with wives, children and staff-bearer. The wives holding rattles used in the Dances of the Bundu (Women’s secret Society), Mende Tribe, Railway District, Sierra Leone / A Porro Devil on stilts (a Dancer of the Porro or Men’s secret society) etc. etc.]. With Illustrations And Map.

Second, Enlarged Edition. [This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Oxford University Press, 1925. 19 cm x 13 cm. 230 pages, 4 illustrations. Original Hardcover. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy.

82. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry / Edward, Prince of Wales / Edward VIII].

Important Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed from Sir Harry Luke to his Father, Mother & Sister Lily during his second posting in Sierra Leone, this time as Colonial Secretary of Sierra Leone. Sir Harry describes at length the visit of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) to the Colony in 1925: “My dear Father & Mother & Lily, To-day being Easter Monday I am spending in bed in an endeavour to recover from the fatigues of a trying but successful week. The Prince’s visit …..may be said to have been an unqualified success; & I hope you will look out for photos of it in the daily & weekly press”. Luke describes how he was sitting next to the Prince at lunch and later he had a ‘chance of telling him two stories which seemed to amuse him’. In his four-page-letter, Sir Harry continues: ‘I also talked to him at the Garden Party [the photograph of Sir Harry Luke next to the Prince of Wales at the Garden Party is a famous image of the Prince’s visit to Sierra Leone and the original is part of the collection]”. “He is very pleasant, but frightfully nervous & fidgety & leads an impossible life. After the very streanous profanities…..he insisted on playing Squash, despite the great heat, before the Dinner party, then after the ball went motoring to the beach with some of the more attractive of the Ladies, then went to some of their houses & danced & drank cold beer until 5 in the morning. When he went to bed for 2 hours. Apparently he seldom sleeps for more than that. At Dinner, when he was sitting between 2 very dark & matriarchical women (one of the Lady S.) he looked across at me with a smile & a wink. After he left I went for a day’s cruise in ‘HMS Endeavour’, the Survey Ship now working here, for a bit of rest…[..]”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [Freetown] Sierra Leone, 1925. Octavo. 4 page letter (on two sheets). From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

83. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Storrs, Sir Ronald Henry Amherst.

Typed Letter Signed (TLS) on Stationery of Government House, Cyprus, from Sir Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs to Sir Harry Luke. The one – page letter was written by Storrs in July 1927, during his posting as Governor of Cyprus and reached Sir Harry while he was still Colonial Secretary in Sierra Leone. Storrs writes: “My dear Harry – I can hardly bear to read the first and second pages of your letter….and even now feel a sort of suspense created by its maddeningly tantalizing information. I am consoled on the whole by your refusal of the G.C. from which, in spite of the extra cash, there was no possible increment to your now made reputation and which would, as you feared, have infallibly tended to prolong your exile in W.A. [West Africa]..[…]…Archer [that is Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer] has now put in (more surprisingly to me than actual resignation) for a transfer to the West Indies.”

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Cyprus, July 6th, 1927. Octavo. 1 sheet (1 page). From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

84. [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.

85. [Malta Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Deedes, Brigadier General Sir Wyndham Henry.

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) from Wyndham Deedes to Sir Harry Luke. Deedes congratulates Luke on his new appointment [Luke had just become Lieutenant Governor of Malta (he remained at that post from 1930-1938) ].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London / University House, 1930. Octavo. 1 Letter with original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

86. [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.

87. [Pacific Content] – Luke, Harry Charles / Queen of Tonga [Salote Tupou III (born Salote Mafile‘o Pilolevu)]

Islands Of The South Pacific. [With ten (10) letters loosely inserted among which is a wonderful, signed letter to Sir Harry Luke, by the Queen of Tonga, Salote Tupou / (Also included are four (4) items of Ephemera)]. With the printed dedication: “To Leander McCormick-Goodhart – Who knows some of these Islands – Pignus amicitiae per annos LXIII”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London / Toronto / Sydney, etc., George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., 1962. 21,5 cm x 15 cm. 285 pages, 61 illustrations (Many Photographs and some Woodcuts from Robert Gibbings). Original Hardcover with original dustjacket in protective Mylar. Harry Luke’s (Lukach) personal copy. With one annotation by Harry Luke. Some tearing to dustjacket, tanning to spine. Otherwise in good condition. See below a full list of manuscript letters and typed letters which were loosely inserted by Sir Harry Luke in this personal copy of his book on the “Islands of the South Pacific”.

88. [Pacific Content] – [Luke, Harry Sir / Lukach, Harry] Arthur Richards, 1st Baron Milverton.

Eight – page – Manuscript letter (MLS) to Sir Harry together with a 27-page manuscript-evaluation of local personnell at Government House (Fiji) as well as local politicians and possible agitators in Fiji and the British Western Pacific Territories from Arthur Richards, 1st Baron Milverton, in his capacity as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner of the British Western Pacific Territories. This letter and the manuscript evaluations were sent by Richards on July 10th, 1938, on Stationery from Government House (Fiji) in order to inform Luke of the special situation of the posting before Sir Harry would take over the post (from 1938 – 1942). Very intriguing insights into colonial portraiture of possible troublemakers in the colonial service, excellent service men, clerks, and also recommendations for promotions etc. Arthur Richards evaluation of Sir Alport Barker, owner of ‘The Fiji Times & Herald’ is exemplary for the opinionated report to Sir Harry and one of the remarkable reports on ‘European Members of the Legislative Council on Fiji and the British Western Pacific Territories: ‘Aplort Barker – Has been an elected member for about twelve years, ex-mayor of Suva, owns the Fiji Times = Herald – Member of Executive Council / Has a small-minded, narrow outlook partly the result of physical disability. Lame from early days owing to infantile paralysis. Very anxious to get a knighthood. He has an intimate knowledge of local affairs and is often useful. He could be more useful if he were not so petty and spiteful.Very sensitive of slights, real on imaginary. / Apolosi [that was Apolosi Nawai] – Arthur Richards describes him as follows: ‘Apolosi – A man of the people. Fijian agitator & leader. The John the Baptist of a possible future. An ignorant misguided man with a great natural flair for speaking. Can sway words + is to some extent feared by the Chiefs because of his influence. The papers on him are worth reading. He is at present banished to Rotuma but the term expires at the end of 1939, when despite filaria + increasing age (he is well over 50) he will be a man to be watched. / Arthur Richards goes on to report on the ‘Council of Chiefs (Fiji)’’ where matters of interest to the Fijian people are discussed, resolutions are passed and answers are given’ – He informs Sir Harry that ‘The Council has been postponed until Oct. 18th [1938] to enable you to preside. The position of Governor carries immense prestige with the Fijians’. Richards also informs Luke that ‘no ladies, except the Governor’s wife should be present at the opeimus’. In total Arthur Richards talks about c. 32 people in his evaluations and he also gives Sir Harry Luke some information on the Coconut Estates on Fiji, Mines, Suva Yacht Club etc. He goes on to talk about Sir Harry Luke’s arrival and swearing in as governor and taking the oath ‘the whole being relayed over the wireless’ / ‘I assure you that the whole of Fiji + much of the Western Pacific will be listening in, so make a good speech.’ / Magnificent, confidential report between two important representatives of the British Empire during a very sensitive period of world history.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Suva (Fiji), Government House, 1938. Octavo / Quarto From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

89. [Pacific Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry] / McKay, C.G.R. (Compiler – Secretary of Native Affairs) / [Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton].

A Chronology of Western Samoa – Being principally a Record of Chief Events since its First European Discovery in 1722. [Sir Harry Luke’s personal copy with his ownership-signature and ‘Apia 1938’ on endpapers. Interesting annotations, markings and comments in Luke’s hand throughout the Volume. With a Typed Letter (TLS) on the stationery of Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton, signed ‘Alan’ (i.e. “The Rt. Hon. Viscount Boyd of Merton. Secretary of State for the Colonies 1954-59”): “My Dear Harry, I hoped that our paths would have crossed since my letter to you nearly a year ago……” (plus in manuscript hand added: “I often think of you my dear Friend – Your Ever Alan” 16th February 1961)]. Compiled by C.G.R. McKay (Secretary of Native Affairs).

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Apia (Western Samoa), J.W.Liston, 1937. Octavo. XII, 47 pages with two maps. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket. From the library of Sir Harry Luke.

90. [Pacific Content] – Luke, Sir Harry / Queen Salote Tupou.

Queen Salote and her Kingdom. [With some woodcut-illustrations by Robert Gibbings, taken with permission from “A True Tale of Love in Tonga” and “Over the Reefs”].

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Putnam, 1954. Octavo. Frontispiece – Portrait, 136 pages with numerous photographs (14) throughout the Volume. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket. From the library of Sir Harry Luke.