4to. 124 signatures, letters, and original works of art by eminent figures of early 20th century society. Contemporary red morocco, upper cover with central red cross with cream-colored vellum inlays, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, top edge gilt, others uncut, by Hatchards (some rubbing to extremities, front hinge starting, preliminary and concluding leaves sprung). Provenance: Gerald du Maurier (1873-1934), British actor and manager (notation on front free endpaper; compiler); Christie's London, 15 February 1917; "Patricia" (ownership inscription dated 15 February 1917); Christie's London, 29 March 1984, Lot 188.

AN EXTRAORDINARY ASSEMBLAGE OF AUTOGRAPHS AND ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY SOME OF THE LEADING LITERARY, ARTISTIC, SCIENTIFIC, AND POLITICAL FIGURES OF THE AGE, CREATED AND SOLD TO BENEFIT THE BRITISH RED CROSS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. Contributors include Alexander Graham Bell, Laurence Binyon, Robert Bridges, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edmund Dulac, John Galsworthy, Sir H. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling, David Lloyd George, Guglielmo Marconi, Kennerley Rumford, H.G. Wells, and others. A complete list is available upon request.

Including:

1) BELL, Alexander Graham (1847-1922). Autograph note signed ("Alexander Graham Bell"), Washington, D.C., 21 December 1916. 1p., 8vo (178 x 210 mm). In Latin, in full: "Nil desperandum, perseverando vinces" ["Do not despair; by persevering you will conquer"].

2) BINYON, Laurence (1869-1943). Autograph verse signed ("Laurence Binyon"), entitled "To Women." 1p., 8vo (229 x 178 mm).

3) BRIDGES, Robert (1844-1930). Autograph verse signed ("Robert Bridges"), entitled "October." 1p., 8vo (248 x 191 mm).

4) CLARK, Christopher. Original watercolor signed ("C. Clark"), entitled "A Letter from Home," depicting two soldiers in a trench, one reading a letter to the other. 229 x 305 mm.

5) DOYLE, Arthur Conan, Sir (1859-1930). Autograph verse signed ("Arthur Conan Doyle"), Sussex, 25 December 1916. 1p., 8vo (127 x 203 mm). In full: "Cheer on, comrade! When the clouds are past, / And when, in God's own time, the days are lighter / What though this Xmas has been overcast / If duty done makes all the others brighter."

6) DULAC, Edmund (1882-1953). Original watercolor signed ("Edmund Dulac"), dated 1916, depicting a woman in Oriental dress holding a fan. 197 x 241 mm.

7) GALSWORTHY, John (1867-1933). Autograph sentiment signed ("John Galsworthy"), 22 December 1916. 1p., 8vo (210 x 140 mm). In full: "From every well-born soul, Monsieur, humanity is owing."

8) HAGGARD, Henry Rider, Sir (1856-1925). Autograph sentiment signed ("H. Rider Haggard"), Christmas 1916. 1p., 8vo (178 x 114 mm), on Ditchingham House stationery. In full: "With very best wishes for the success of your good work..."

9) HOME, Percy. Original watercolor signed ("Percy Home"), entitled "Dr. Johnson's House, 17 Gough Square." 318 x 229 mm.

10) KIPLING, Rudyard (1865-1936). Autograph sentiment signed ("Rudyard Kipling"). One oblong slip, 121 x 70 mm. In full: "Who dies if England live?"

11) PARTRIDGE, John Bernard, Sir (1861-1945). Original pen-and-ink drawing signed ("Bernard Partridge"), depicting a woman with arms extended, her gown emblazoned with a large red cross. 267 x 210 mm. The frontispiece to the album. Partridge is best known for his artwork for the WWI recruiting poster "Take Up the Sword of Justice," issued in response to the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915.

12) STUDDY, George Ernest (1878-1948). Original ink and gouache drawing signed ("G.E. Studdy"), entitled "A Scrap of Paper," depicting a smiling dog with a torn pound note in its mouth. 292 x 191 mm.

13) WARD, Leslie Matthew, Sir (1851-1922). Original pencil drawing signed ("Leslie Ward"), entitled "After the War," depicting a smiling man with arms crossed. 305 x 216 mm.

A REMARKABLE WARTIME FUNDRAISING PROJECT CONCEIVED BY GERALD DU MAURIER.

Beginning in 1915, the celebrated British actor and theatrical manager organized annual auctions at Christie's in aid of the British Red Cross. For the present volume, du Maurier solicited contributions from an extraordinary cross-section of contemporary cultural life—authors, artists, statesmen, scientists, musicians, and other prominent figures—the resulting manuscripts and original works of art being brought together and specially bound by Hatchards.

The album was sold for the benefit of the British Red Cross at Central Hall, Westminster, on 15 February 1917, with du Maurier himself acting as auctioneer. The proceeds were intended for the purchase of a new ambulance for the organization. Remarkably, the volume retains an ownership inscription dated the very day of the sale and subsequently reappeared at Christie's nearly seven decades later, on 29 March 1984.