| RefNo | MDA/C/1/2 |
| Previous numbers | MS 618 |
| Level | File |
| Title | Correspondence relating to the Arundel Library Fund |
| Date | 1925 |
| Description | Continuation f correspondence relating to the sale of rare books, primarily volumes deemed to be of a non-scientific nature, presented to the Royal Society by Henry Howard, Duke of Norfolk.
Correspondents include Messrs Sotheby & Company; Francis Alexander Towle, Assistant Secretary, Royal Society; Professor Archibald Byron Macallum, University of Toronto; Dr Arnold Chaplin; J.F. Fulton; Ernest A. Gardner; P.S. Allen; Sir John Russell; G.T. Campagnac; D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, University St Andrews; Charles Scott Sherrington, President, Royal Society; Edmund Gosse.
Includes discussion of: arrangements for Southeby, Wilkinson & Hodge to appraise the material; the rejection by Sotheby's of the Oriental material on the basis it will be unlikely to realise a good price; insurance for the books being sent to Sotheby's; Professor Macallum's failure to interest anyone in the books being sold by the Society, 12 January 1925; authorisation of sale and arrangements for illustration of the sale catalogue; enquiries made with the Bodleian Library regarding the Oriental volumes, and the University of London regarding the 'lists of books in the basement', 24, 27 January 1925; a request by Sotheby's for permission to break up some of the volumes of tracts due to the higher desirability of some tracts for sale, 30 January 1925; the decision by the Society to retain the books of medical interest; the fixing of the 4 May as the date of sale and printing the catalogue; letters of protest from those who believe the collection should be retained together; whether the Society is in possession of the library of Willibald Pirckheimer, 30 March 1925, what affect that might have on the sale, 15-20 April 1925, and P S Allen and G T Campagnac's view that it should not be dispersed; reserve prices for some books; the retrival of a book of scientific interest passed to Sotheby's in error, 8-9April 1925, and the accidental sale of that volume, 5 May 1925; whether it would be possible or desirable to make arrangements to allow Allen and Campagnac to purchase the books believed to have belonged to Pirckheimer, with lists of those 'certainly' and 'probably' belonging to him; proceeds from the sale; the return of the London Library's purchase of a Gaguin due to it being missing some leaves, and the subsequent request for purchase at a reduced price. |
| Extent | 1 file |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Typescript |
| PhysicalDescription | On paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8256 | Macallum; Archibald Byron (1858 - 1934); biochemist | 1858 - 1934 |
| NA1731 | Russell; Sir; Edward John (1872 - 1965) | 1872 - 1965 |
| NA8281 | Sherrington; Sir; Charles Scott (1857 - 1952); physiologist | 1857 - 1952 |
| NA6267 | Thompson; Sir; D'Arcy Wentworth (1860 - 1948); naturalist and mathematician | 1860 - 1948 |