An extensive collection of photographs, letters and ephemera...

Hammer

£420

An extensive collection of photographs, letters and ephemera formerly the property of Robert Edwin Alford, K.B.E, (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) C.M.G., Governor and commander-in-chief of St Helena (between 1958-1962) and Chief Secretary to the Government of Zanzibar, recipient of Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar.
Comprising: Royal Interest: Blue leather visitors book, signed by HRH Princess Margaret simply as ‘Margaret’ in blue ink on the first page and dated October 5th-7th 1956. Includes several other guest signatures including Elizabeth Cavendish, a blue leather-bound visitors book with gilt lettering ‘Chief Secretary To The Government’, with signatures of visitors to Zanzibar starting in 1957, a blue leather-bound visitors book with gilt lettering ‘His Excellency the Acting British Resident’ t cover, inside, ‘On the Occasion of the visit by Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, 5th to 7th October, 1956, with assorted ink signatures within, a green card-cover photograph album containing various black and white photographs of Princess Margaret’s Tour Of East Africa, September - October 1956, Zanzibar (now Known As Tanzania), several showing her escorted by His Highness Sultan Sayyid Khalifa bin Haroub and his wife Sayyida Nunuu, HRH Princess Margaret at The Sultan's Palace, three photos of Margaret in formal evening gown and tiara, verso one ‘Modern Photo Studio, Zanzibar’, one in colour, Images of her inspecting troops, greeting various dignitaries, inspecting woven goods, receiving gifts, verso largest (with canons) stamped ‘public relations department Tanganyika official photograph’, 55 photos in album total, Assorted sizes including 13.5cm x 8.5cm, larger ones 16cm x 12cm, 22cm x 17, album 28cm by 20cm, plus additional loose photos of the Princess Margaret and others, some with pencil notes verso, ‘ie ‘Pity BD pushing his tongue out. This is on arrival so perhaps he was nervous!’, and ‘Ladies Party – Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, Sultana, TMA, HRH.’ ‘After departure Prince Abdulla, B, Peter Nightingale, TWA, HH’, ‘Prince Margaret and Sir Robert’, a fabric flag of the Governor of St Helena, 3ft x 16in with stamped date 1958, Porter Liverpool, with three-masted ship in shield and laurel oval, centred on a union jack background, certificate from Buckingham Palace with ERII heading, ‘By command of Her Majesty The Queen’ the accompanying medal is forwarded to R.E. Alford, Esq, C.M.G. to be worn in commemoration of her Majesty’s Coronation, 2nd June 1953’, printed Dress regulations for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, 2 June 1953, an invitation card, inscribed in ink to Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Alford, to be present at the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Abbey Church of Westminster, 2 June 1953. Stamped verso Earl Marshal’s Office, a letter from the Colonial Office dated 1962, confirming the termination of the commission of R.E. Alford, K.B.E, C.M.G., as Governor and commander-in-chief of St Helena. Plus further folder of correspondence regarding his appointment and leave, including Leave and pay certificate, Confidential telegram from Secretary of State approving extension, letter confirming an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 1957 from Commonwealth Relations Office, Downing Street, a letter from the Colonial Office confirming his appointment as Governor and commander-in-chief of St Helena, and subsequent retirement from the post of Chief Secretary to the Government of Zanzibar, Colonial office maps of St Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands, a card invitation for ‘The Palace, Zanzibar’ Dinner in honour of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, October 1956, with seating plan, card invitation for ‘The Residency, Zanzibar’ for dinner for Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, October 1956, with seating plan and musical program and menu, a card invitation Kasrusada Palace Zanzibar Luncheon in honour of the most reverend Archbishop David Mathew, 1951 (signed by attendees, with menu), The Residency Zanzibar menu for Dinner “On the occasion of the visit of H.M.S. Superb’ 1956., The Palace Zanzibar dinner “On the occasion of the visit of H.M.S. Ceylon, 1957’, and another for June 1954, The Residency 1956, etc., numerous letters of congratulation on appointment of Governorship of St Helena, a folder of correspondence regarding the volcanic eruption on Tristan da Cunha island in 1961, including confidential telegram ‘have been experiencing numerous minor earthquakes during the last 6 weeks. Morale good but nerves are taut…’ and ‘ground cracking badly near settlement…may have to evacuate Nightingale…. Please send all messages in clear no time for decoding’. Another :’first phase of evacuation completed. All people off island.’, letters informing him of his appointment of the Chancellery of the Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, second class by His Majesty the Sultan, three Christmas Cards from the Palace Zanzibar from Their Highnesses the Sultan And Sultana, assorted Cable and Wireless telegrams to Governor of St Helena, including one from Buckingham Palace ‘Would your excellency and Mrs Alford be able to accept invitation to Princess Margarets wedding on My 6 Please wire Lord Chamberlain’. Another from Nairobi from the Press Party on the Royal Tour: ‘Have been asked to check press reports that when sultan of Zanzibar kissed Princess Margarets hand it was the first time he had kissed a hand in public since he assumed Sultanate in nineteen eleven’. One from Princess Margaret: ‘Buckingham Palace I send you and Mrs Alford My warmest thanks for your very kind message which I deeply appreciate – Margaret’, a red hardback Zanzibar Government counter book ‘Confidential Chief Secretary’s Confidential reports’, with pencil notes, a personal photograph album of assorted black and white photos of R.E. Alford, K.B.E and others at various official functions, Plantation House St. Helena, exterior and interior shots, views of Jacob’s Ladder steep steps on St. Helena leading from Jamestown to Ladder Hill Fort, topographical views of St Helena, plus some loose, a Driving License for R Alford 1961, St Helena. School reports from Winchester School. Christmas Card showing Plantation House St. Helena, Death certificate for Robert Edmund Alford, (1904 – 1979), Birth certificate for Ralph Alford (1939), a letter from Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands thanking Alford for his stay. (Pale blue paper and envelope), a folder with typed letters marked SECRET. One a report from Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Station, dated 1944 regarding’ Operation Dragoon’ and Air Beacon Mission, covering 1930 15th August and 26th August, from the HMS Stuart Prince, another report on ‘Operation Husky’ in Sicily by F.D.O in HMS Bulolo by R.E. Alford as Lt RNVR, folder with correspondence regarding Tristan de Cunha, including ‘Confidential’ reports dated 1958, 1959 regarding the island’s financial situation, annual report 1958, letters regarding visitors. (q)
Provenance: Estate of the late Ralph Robert Alford, son of Robert Edwin Alford, K.B.E, C.M.G, and Teresa, Lady Alford, nee Teresa Mary Margaret Knill, who was daughter of Mary Kathleen Knill, grand-daughter of Margaret Mary Knill (married to Henry Francis Purcell), and great-grand daughter of Jane Knill, (married name: Jane Welby Pugin, who was the third wife of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin.)

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The St Helena Flag has holes from moths.