Lot 223
A Collection of three Edwardian Commonplace Books
Auction: 24 November 2001 at 11:00 GMT
Description
compiled between the years 1901-1911 by Lady Louisa Katherine Longley (nee Scott), daughter of the 3rd Earl of Eldon. She married John Augustine Longley, son of Sir Henry Longley K.C., Chief Charity Commissioner for England and Wales, and grandson of Charles Longley, Archbishop of Canterbury.
This important collection of photographs, pen and ink drawings, watercolours, tickets, programmes and autographs opens with the official copy of the telegram sent from Osborne House to the Home Secretary on 22 January 1901 announcing the death of Queen Victoria (see illustration). The original writing of the telegram has been linked over to ensure legibility as was common practice. It bears the Parliamentary Telegraph Office stamp. Beside it is a pencilled note in the hand of John Longley stating it to be the original. The second item is a large photograph of the Queen's funeral procession around which have been placed signatures of members of the Cabinet in January 1901. Events proceed to the coronation of Edward VII and include a MS note from Sir Francis Knolly's at Buckingham Palace to John Longley dated 7 August 1902 asking him to arrange for the King's message postponing the ceremony due to illness to appear in the morning papers of the following day. A TLS of the King's message is mounted beside this. There are invitations to the King's funeral and the collection concludes with items relating to the coronation of King George and Queen Mary.
The collection is in three various volumes, bound in straight grain morocco, with her monograms, the contents mounted and written on card. The bindings are worn, and the cards mostly loose, but the contents are other wise in very fine condition. The volumes span many of the major events of the period attended by the Longleys and record their annual progress around the country houses of the day including Cawdor Castle, Alnwick Castle (which was recently used as a location for Harry Potter's Hogwarts) and Ardverickie (where Monarch of the Glen is filmed). At many of these Lady Louisa recorded with some talent views of the house and sometimes their occupants, collecting the signatures of their fellow guests and the owners, such as the Queen Mother's parents and Austen Chamberlin. Game records of these weekends are often added. A number of these houses (such as Sauchieburn) no longer exist. There are some illustrations by others, including John Stirling Maxwell's view of his estate at Corrour. There were also visits abroad, where for example they stayed with the Bismarks at Friedrichsruh, where Lady Louisa did a charming watercolour group of the heads of the Bismark children, and collected the signatures of the family. Lady Louisa's talents as an amateur as tist were rewarded in 1911 with the Royal Amateur Art Society's silver medal.
Lady Louisa's brother the Hon. Michael Scott was a celebrated amateur golfer who played in and was the top amatuer in the first Australian Open championship in 1904, and was the winner of the Amateur Italian Champoinship in 1905. There are numerous press cuttings and pictures relating to events in which he took part as well as other golfing enthusiastssuch as Lady Louisa's sister Lady Margaret Hamilton-Russell, winner of the Swiss Ladies Golf Champoinships in 1904-05. A number of telegrams from the latter to Lady Louisa are also included (3)