Tarka the Otter, by Henry Williamson

TUNNICLIFFE, Charles Frederick

An original pen and pencil drawing on paper, 14 x 8.5 cm, sheet size 22 x 15 cm, measurements in pencil to verso, hinge-mounted. An unused design for the front cover of Henry Williamson's story, first published in 1927. The first illustrated edition with wood-engravings by Charles Tunnicliffe appeared in 1932. The artist and author worked closely together, and Tunnicliffe drew directly from many real settings.

Secret Speech: Delivered to the Closed Session of the Twentieth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

KHRUSHCHEV, Nikita Sergeyevich

First edition, first issue, 8vo; original paper wrapper, ink-stamp '3083' to upper cover. Khrushchev's speech, given to a closed session of Communist Party delegates on 25 Feburary 1956, in which he openly denounced Joseph Stalin (who died in March 1953). "Khrushchev recalled Lenin's Testament, a long-suppressed document in which Vladimir Lenin had warned that Stalin was likely to abuse his power, and then he cited numerous instances of such excesses" (Encyclopaedia Britannica Online). This Polish translation of the speech was the only version that circulated during the Cold War, the official Russian text being unknown until its publication in 1989. The CIA counterfeit edition, with false imprint Moscow 1959, was in fact a translation into Russian from the present Polish text, which was smuggled out of Moscow and leaked, via Israel, to the USA. Its consequences, by no means fully foreseen by Khrushchev, shook the Soviet Union to the core, but even more so its communist allies, notably in central Europe. Forces were unleashed that eventually changed the course of history. But at the time, the impact on the delegates was more immediate. Soviet sources now say some were so convulsed as they listened that they suffered heart attacks; others committed suicide afterwards. (Guardian). A fine copy, minor creasing to spine, light sunning to edges.

Personal address book

CARTER, Howard

Personal address book; 8vo; a lease leaf ring binder with original leather covers. The contains approximately 200 addresses many with telephone numbers, hand written by Carter in pencil. Addresses include various family members, friends, acquaintances and colleagues of the archaeologist, including the Duke of Alba in Madrid, Baron Harold de Bildt of the Royal Swedish Legation in Cairo, the Earl & Countess of Carnarvon (including Countess Almina, the wife of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who had supplied financial backing to the search and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb), Earl of Cadogan, William Carter, Samuel Carter, Albert Carter, Lady Colefax, John Drinkwater, Viscount Devonport, the Egyptian legation and consul in London, Lady Melchett, the Press Cutting Association, Sir Horace Rumbold, the Savile Club, Hassan Selius, Professor of Egyptology at the University in Cairo, Air Vice Marshal Francis Rowland Scarlett, Sir Harry Lloyd Verney (private secretary to Queen Mary). Carter was a solitary character and could often be abrasive and admitted to having a hot temper. It has been suggested Carter had an affair with the daughter of the Earl of Carnarvon, but was later rejected by Lady Evelyn herself, who told her daughter Patricia that "at first I was in awe of him, later I was rather frightened of him", resenting Carter's "determination" to come between her and her father. Harold Plenderleith, (whose details are in this book) an associate of Carter's at the British Museum, was quoted as saying that he knew "something about Carter that was not fit to disclose", which some have interpreted as meaning that Plenderleith believed that Carter was homosexual. There is, however, no evidence that Carter enjoyed any close relationships. Fine, a number of pages loose.