Latest Acquisitions (April 2021)

This month we have a BUMPER roundup of our latest acquisitions due to the National Restrictions being in place and postponing our open evenings we have quite a backlog to show you.

Sadly we will not be able to see these items on our ‘Finds Table’ just yet, but rest assured once our open evenings begin again you will be able to view these treasures at leisure over a cup of tea and a slice of cake!

Working chronologically here is this month’s acquisitions:

Lord Norcliffe, The Badminton Library: Motors and Motor-Driving (London: Longmans and Co, 1906) 4th edition.

This wonderful hardback book illustrated by H.M. Brock and H. Tringham is an excellent resource for anyone with interests in early motoring during the twentieth century. It contains an extensive mix of practical and technical advice for the Edwardian motorist. This lovely book is a historical study of all things motoring and is the 28th in the Badminton Library series.

The first edition in 1902 was rapidly followed by several more, this being the fully revised fourth edition. It has 26 chapters ranging in subject from 'The Choice of a Motor Car', to 'Tyres' and from 'Roads' to  ‘Automobile Clubs'. In this edition, Lord Norcliffe has added new chapters such as 'Continental Touring,' and 'Lamps'. A series of illustrations of famous racing cars with a chart of racing speeds ( in 1903 in Bordeaux the maximum speed was 62.5mph) is a treasure in itself. The appendix also contains chapters on 'Racing and Trials' and 'The Motor Laws as they exist'. It is also up-to-date with mechanical, ignition and other practical details for the discerning Edwardian motorist.

The book features a glossary of terms in English, French and German together with a comprehensive, full index. It is well illustrated in black and white, many are full-page however most are within the text. A true Edwardian period treasure.

Title: The Badminton Library: Motors and Motor-Driving
Topics: Edwardian motoring, English traffic laws, development of motor cars
Publisher: Longmans, Green and Co, London
Publication Date: 1906
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: H.M. Brock, H. Tringham
Edition: Fourth edition.

Pictures of 1907, 1911-1912: Pall Mall magazine extra

These three editions are from the Pall Mall Extra series and feature 120 pages of culturally significant monochrome paintings from the Royal Academy of Arts (Great Britain), followed by an index to the artists in the galleries. Including paintings and sculpture alongside full and quarter-page black and white advertisements. These are original first editions, not reproductions.

Title: Pall Mall Magazine Extra, Pictures of 1907, 1911-1912
Topics: Royal Academy of Arts (Great Britain), Painting, British, Painting, Modern, Sculpture, British
Publisher: Pall Mall Magazines, London
Publication Date: May 1907, 1911 and 1912
Binding: Paperback
Edition: First edition

1913 USA Autocar Commercial Vehicles catalogue

An excellent review of this catalogue has been added to the SAHB website and can be found here

Title: The Autocar: Commercial delivery vehicle chassis
Publisher: The Autocar. Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Publication Date: 1913
Binding: Paperback
Edition: First edition.

The Tatler (30 June 1926) Vol. C, No. 1305

A well-preserved edition of The Tatler from 1926. Features small advertisements of British brands many of which are household names today. A time before cover models and celebrities, this edition has The Tatler Man, a representation of the original Tatler writer and enlightenment society gossip, Richard Steele.  

Title: The Tatler
Publication Date: 30 June 1926
Binding: Paperback
Edition: Vol. C, No. 1305

1936-1938 Architects Standard Catalogue

This impressive trade catalogue contains over 1000 pages and hundreds of full-colour advertisements. It measures 5 inches thick and weighs 10kg. Each section is tabbed along the page edge for easy referencing.

This example from page 13 is for the London Brick Company & Forders Ltd and features bricks from their housebuilding collections. Each advert is beautifully illustrated and a boon for any researcher of housing, construction and architecture of the interwar years.

Title: 1936-1938 Architects Standard Catalogue
Publisher: The Standard Catalogue Co. Ltd., Bloomsbury Hall, 26 Hart Street, London W.C.1
Publication Date: 1936-1938
Binding: Hardcover
Edition: Fourth edition.

1937 ‘Referee’ office equipment catalogue

Title: Referee Office Equipment Catalogue

Publication Date: 1937
Binding: Paperback
Edition: First edition. Catalogue No 734.

1957 Ford Times, USA

Ford Times was an American periodical published by the Ford Motor Company. Published from 1908 to 1917 with a break until 1943. Finally ceased production in 1993.

Our collection holds copies from March 1957 to June 1957. The publication is similar in nature to The Yankee and Readers Digest. Issues contained stories about destinations for ‘vacations’, historical places of interest and sports by writers such as Edward Ware Smith, Corey Ford and Edward Weeks. Alongside these stories, articles can be found featuring promotional information about contemporary Ford vehicles. Volumes in the first publications until the 50s were black and white. These are from 1957, therefore, are in full colour.

Title: Ford Times
Publisher: Ford Motors USA
Publication Date: March to June 1957
Binding: Paperback
Edition: First edition

The 1950s-1960s Commercial Motorshow

Official catalogues for the International Commercial Motor Transport Exhibition held at Earls Court, London.

The show was under the control of the Chamber of Automotive Industries. The catalogue includes a guide for visitors, layout plans, listings for all exhibitors, details of passenger cars, caravans and trailers, commercial vehicles. Also features lists of motorcycles and exhibitors selling motor accessories.

80+ page catalogues have a stunning full-colour cover and many high-quality promotional advertisements for newly released cars.

Title: The International Commercial Motor Transport Exhibition Catalogue
Publication Date: 1950, 1964, 1968, 196?
Binding: Paperback

Just for fun:

International Commercial Motor Transport Exhibition, 1950. Opening Day

1960 Book of the Braemar Gathering

The annual publication to accompany the highland games event called The Braemar Gathering. It features over 200 pages of Scottish interest stories and articles together with photographs of high society and royalty. Also contains high-quality colour and black and white advertisements for household named products and services.

Title: Book of the Braemar Gathering
Publisher: Herald Press, Arbroath
Publication Date: 1960
Binding: Paperback
Edition: First edition.

1960s Newcastle Life

A monthly society publication along the same lines as Cheshire life and Town and Country. Features articles on society, leisure, sporting and industrial topics. Mostly black and white, the advertisements are extensive and aimed towards well to do and elite members of society.

Title: Newcastle Life
Publication Date: 1960s
Binding: Paperback
Edition: First edition.

Rolls-Royce Springfield Catalogue

A beautifully illustrated set of full-colour plates featuring Rolls-Royce Springfield Ghosts c. 1921.