Item 718 - Autograph book compiled by Anne Hawes King

A letter with the book from Rosewell Parker to Bryan William James Hall, 26 Jan. 1944, suggests that the book was compiled by the writer's 'Grandmother [perhaps Louisa Jane Milward - a letter to her brother Alfred from William Gilson Humphry is included] or Great-aunt', and offers it to Hall for the price of 10 shillings. However, internal evidence suggests that the book was compiled by C. W. King's sister Anne. Perhaps there was a family connection, as yet undiscovered, or perhaps the book changed hands by sale or gift.

Bryan Hall put his bookplate at the front of the book, and it was sold by Bonhams as lot 729 in the sale of Hall's collections, 'The Contents of the Old Rectory, Banningham, Norfolk', on 22 Mar. 2004.

Green leather volume, with embossing and gold decoration. Printed illustration from 'Happy New Year' card pasted to inside front cover. Bookplate, 'Ex Libris Bryan William James Hall', with coat of arms and illustration, pasted to front free endpaper.

Numerous autographs, mostly in the form of ends of letters and addresses on envelopes, pasted into book. Notes beneath items (sometimes also pasted in) often identify writers. Complete letters etc have been described in individual records dependent to this one, referenced by their folio numbers; signatures and addressees are referenced by linked authority record only. Some names remain undeciphered or unidentified.

Compiled by a sister of C. W. King, see part letter from King on f. 14r, 'I enclose the autograph of a distinguished Grecian for your book. With love I am, my dear Sister, yours affect[ionate]ly C. W. King'. Although no first name appears, C. W. King's only sister appears to have been Anne, sometimes known as Annette (1824-1874). A letter from W. G. Clark to C. W. King, preserved on the verso of the flyleaf, was sent with 'some autographs for your friend', and there are also envelopes and letters addressed to William Aldis Wright and other members of Trinity suggesting King was actively gathering material for his sister. The bulk of the collection appears to have been assembled between the late 1860s and early 1870s.