Signed Books & their inscriptions

[other ranker]

Found a nice inscribed copy of the classic a couple of weeks ago. After much hunting around found the Adjutant on page 297!

[A Lancashire Fusilier by Proxy]

I post on this thread with some diffidence, as the signed copy that I have is nothing like as august as some of those that feature above, but here goes:

While I was editing the diary of my grandfather (A Lancashire Fusilier’s First World War) I was interested to discover that two of the thirty-one officers who went to France on 3 May 1915 with my grandfather’s unit, the 2/5^th LF, were involved in producing the official WW1 history for the entire Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment, The History of the Lancashire Fusiliers 1914 – 1918, published in 1949 in two volumes. The officers in question were Geoffrey Clegg Hutchinson, later an MP, and John Cecil Latter. The former began collecting papers for the work, but it is Major General J.C. Latter who is credited with authorship.

In the course of my researches I came across a signed copy of the History, which I duly acquired. Here is a photograph of the signature page:

My grandfather knew Latter well, and they were two of the five men selected to represent the 2/5^th LF at the unveiling of the Memorial to the 55^th Division at Givenchy on 15 May 1921. On that occasion my grandfather refers to having breakfast with Latter’s parents in London on their way to France, and he refers to Latter by his nickname “Ludwig”. My grandfather also receives a brief acknowledgment in the preface to The History of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

I am curious to know the identity of the John Russell to whom the inscription is addressed, and wonder if there is any way of progressing this.

The reason why I am particularly interested is that my grandfather had an older brother, John Russell Hall, born in 1884, and I fondly imagine that it might be him. I have seen family photographs of him which refer to him by his full names, John Russell Hall, but I recognize that the use of the middle name may be merely to distinguish him from other Johns in the family, rather than being a name which he habitually used, particularly as the family seem to have generally referred to him as “Jack”. But would someone, signing an inscription using a nickname, feel it appropriate to use both the Christian name and the surname of the addressee?

I made enquiries of the bookseller from whom I bought the book as to its provenance, but all he could tell me was that it was one of a mixed lot of books that he had bought from John Nicholson Auctioneers in Surrey some 3 or 4 years ago. The fact that it was in a mixed lot suggests to me that it was probably still in the possession of the family of John Russell, whoever he was, rather than having been subsequently acquired by a specialist collector.

John Russell Hall was, like my grandfather, born in Bury, and died in Bury on 14 January 1963. He does not appear to have served in the armed forces during WW1, so perhaps it is questionable whether he would have been interested in owning the History, though no doubt he would have known many of the men mentioned in it.  Another consideration is that Latter may not have been from Bury bearing in mind his parents were living in London in 1921, and he was living in Naburn when he wrote the preface to his History in 1949, in which case John Russell Hall may not have known him, other than perhaps through my grandfather. Having said that, it does seem likely that Latter may have had some connection with Bury, as he enlisted with the LF.

John Russell Hall did not have any children of his own. His executors were my grandfather and his nephews, George Derrick Hall and James Michael Hall, the sons of his and my grandfather’s brother, George Hall, who, like my grandfather, enlisted with the LF in 1914, serving with the 3/5^th LF. My grandfather certainly did not inherit the book, but possibly one of the nephews might have done. They both died in Bury, in 1971 and 1998 respectively, aged 50 and 80. If one of them inherited the book, and it then made its way to Surrey without passing out of the family, it must have been inherited by one of their children who had moved south. I don't even know whether they had any children, as my father died when I was 12, so we rather lost touch with that side of the family. I haven’t been able to find that probate was granted to either of their estates. I have ordered a copy of John Russell Hall’s will just in case he left his books to someone other than my grandfather or his nephews, though I think it’s very unlikely.

As I say, I like to think that the book may once have been owned by my great uncle, but in all likelihood I am deceiving myself; Russell was probably the surname after all.

Is there anything I can do to take this further?

Edited 4 January , 2021 by A Lancashire Fusilier by Proxy

[other ranker]

I found a copy of 'Poems', by Geoffrey Dearmer. Published by William Hienemann 1918, 1st edn Hard back with the following inscription. Thought DJC would appreciate it.

[Dust Jacket Collector]

3 hours ago, other ranker said:

I found a copy of 'Poems', by Geoffrey Dearmer. Published by William Hienemann 1918, 1st edn Hard back with the following inscription. Thought DJC would appreciate it.

 

Very nice. I particularly like the somewhat self deprecating inscription.

[Dust Jacket Collector]

A rather nice set of Major Gen. Forbes’ History of the Army Ordnance Services which belonged to Major Archibald Becke. Becke was responsible for the 6 volume ‘Order of Battle of Divisions’ from the Official History of the War. He was also somewhat of an authority on Napoleon. He’s underlined a few passages but sadly no textual additions. The work was much praised by Cyril Falls, particularly the chapter on trench warfare. Becke has also slipped some contemporary reviews of the set into the book.

[MikeyH]

No notable names, just a simple dedication in my 2nd edition 1927 'The Battle Book of Ypres'.

I like to think that both would have been veterans of the Salient.  The recipients name A.H.H.Howard

is clear enough, but the other?  My guess:- E.J.Gregory, any other suggestions?

Mike.

Edited 6 April , 2021 by MikeyH

[Resurgam13]

Hello Mike,

The Imperial War Museum holds the Private Papers of Captain A. H. H. Howard (Letters relating to his service with the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1916 - 1918, in Mesopotamia during the the First World War) but I would say the other name is "E. F. Gregory".

Kind regards,
Geoffrey

[MikeyH]

On 07/04/2021 at 08:11, Resurgam13 said:

Hello Mike,

The Imperial War Museum holds the Private Papers of Captain A. H. H. Howard (Letters relating to his service with the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1916 - 1918, in Mesopotamia during the the First World War) but I would say the other name is "E. F. Gregory".

Kind regards,
Geoffrey

 Geoffrey,

Very many thanks for your response.  Yes, feel that E.F.Gregory is correct.

Mike.

Edited 8 April , 2021 by MikeyH

[Overseer]

Just now, Overseer said:

 

Steve,

     I believe the New York City bookseller you reference is the Military Bookman, Harris and Margarette Colt, proprietors.  MB went out of business in 2003 and Mr. Colt passed away in 2004.  My first real German language history of the Great War (Schlachten des Weltkriegs, all 38 volumes) came from their shop.  I do miss it. 

[other ranker]

I had a day in Hay On Wye and actually bought some books! I normally go in hope and leave empty handed. Found a poor copy of 'Peter Jackson Cigar Merchant', by Gilbert Frankau. Found this inside. Look at the price too. A common book, which was a massive seller at the time.

[Dust Jacket Collector]

1 hour ago, other ranker said:

I had a day in Hay On Wye and actually bought some books! I normally go in hope and leave empty handed. Found a poor copy of 'Peter Jackson Cigar Merchant', by Gilbert Frankau. Found this inside. Look at the price too. A common book, which was a massive seller at the time.

 

I used to live in Hove next to the municipal cemetery. Wandering into it one day the first grave I came across was that of Gilbert Frankau and his wife Susan. I have a few of his books that are signed. I assume yours didn’t come in it’s elusive jacket?

[other ranker]

DJC, its a really  tatty copy with no DJ.

[other ranker]

This came from Hay this week also. Duff Cooper's 'Haig volume II' signed by the author and Haig's children. Never had much luck with Hay On Wye before this week.

[Dust Jacket Collector]

3 hours ago, other ranker said:

This came from Hay this week also. Duff Cooper's 'Haig volume II' signed by the author and Haig's children. Never had much luck with Hay On Wye before this week.

 

Never had much joy in Hay but clearly time to give it another go. Was actually quite close to it yesterday in Hereford.

[Dust Jacket Collector]

Just taken delivery of this copy of Graves’ ‘Good-bye to all that’. It’s the 1st issue with the Sassoon poem still intact. It used to belong to the now rather forgotten novelist, Arthur Calder-Marshall (Father of actress Anna & grandfather of actor Tom Burke). Inside is this rather interesting note from him, recalling a conversation with Edmund Blunden.

[charlie2]

Very nice, presumably not the one on offer in central London. 

[other ranker]

1 hour ago, charlie2 said:

Very nice, presumably not the one on offer in central London. 

Wow!

[Dust Jacket Collector]

1 hour ago, charlie2 said:

Very nice, presumably not the one on offer in central London. 

No. Much cheaper than any of those.

[Black Maria]

Excellent ! 

 

[Dust Jacket Collector]

Today’s post brought this volume of poems by W. W. Gibson. They’re poems written between 1928 - 1930 at the core of which are a sequence of 17 poems reflecting on the War. More importantly, it’s inscribed by Gibson to Laurence Binyon. Rather nice, I thought, as both are amongst the 16 War Poets commemorated in Westminster Abbey. 

[other ranker]

4 hours ago, Dust Jacket Collector said:

Today’s post brought this volume of poems by W. W. Gibson. They’re poems written between 1928 - 1930 at the core of which are a sequence of 17 poems reflecting on the War. More importantly, it’s inscribed by Gibson to Laurence Binyon. Rather nice, I thought, as both are amongst the 16 War Poets commemorated in Westminster Abbey. 

Great find DJC.

 

[other ranker]

Trying to keep this thread alive. I found this book. 'Khaki And Gown', by Field Marshal Lord Birdwood. Common enough but this came ultimately from the library of the prolific Military author A J Smithers.

[Dust Jacket Collector]

10 hours ago, other ranker said:

Trying to keep this thread alive. I found this book. 'Khaki And Gown', by Field Marshal Lord Birdwood. Common enough but this came ultimately from the library of the prolific Military author A J Smithers.

Nice find, particularly with that interesting inscription.

[dpolglaze]

Realizing that I had some decent inscriptions, all aviation related, I figured why not? This one is tame, but it was the first I picked off the shelf. A rather tattered just jacket (a much better copy shown on DJC's site) with a simple presentation signature from the author.

 

[Dust Jacket Collector]

Always good to know the author has actually handled your copy. Even more important than having a jacket on it. Look forward to seeing some more.