[Murray Adams-Acton] Thirteen Typed Letters Signed to G. K. Menzies, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts, with one Autograph Note Signed to Menzies, and a printed prospectus for Adams-Acton's 'Domestic Architecture and Old Furniture'.

Sizes range from quarto (nine items) to 12mo (two items). Very good. Subjects include a request for 'a photograph of the winning design for the petrol filling station', the award of a Hyde Travelling Scholarship ('Mr. Mitchell appears to have so greatly distinguished himself'), 'Mr. Bossom's suggestions for the wording and particulars for the Proscenium opening for Cinema', the drafting of a reply to Morley Horder's comments ('he errs when he declares the screen is not of the period as I think only a small section of it was added by Mr. Beresford Pite a few years ago'), and Sydney Bernard Burney ('I am putting up Mr. Sydney B. Burney for election [.] Mr. Burney has a very high clientele among the various museums in England and abroad, and specialises in early and archaic sculptures'). A letter of 21 September 1931 (one page, 12mo, on letterhead of Alderbourne Manor) concerns a review in the Society's journal by John Gloag, which Adams-Acton feels 'demands an answer'. 'When, presumably, a sane critic states that the "great designers of the twentieth century" are men like Gimson, Heal, etc., and no mention is made of those who have really assisted the growth of English design, such as Sir Charles Allom and others, I feel there is some justification for the reply'. An autograph postscript reads 'Collecting is a hobby inherent (in the human race: it commences at school when a boy gathers birds eggs & butterflies. There are far more collectors of postage stamps & amateur gardeners in England than collectors of old furniture!' A letter of 28 June 1932 (one page, 12mo, on Alderbourne Manor letterhead) concerns a circular from Frederick Godfrey of 'The Renew Hair Institute of Hair Culture' received by Adams-Acton's cook (two of Godfrey's printed circulars, with an envelope addressed to 'Miss T. Mellor', are included). 'I see that the writer, Mr. Godfrey, uses the letters of the Society after his name. You will know whether he is entitled to do so, and it would be interesting to find out who proposed him. | In any case, I feel this pilfering method of trading on the credulity of maids and persons of similar social standing, together with the wording of his letter, is peculiarly beastly. [.] I have also seen his advertisements in the daily Press. He is a fearful looking person, with his hair standing up on the top of his skull like an overgrown goat!' Also included is a undated typed draft, with manuscript corrections, of a letter regarding Morley Horder and the removal of the 'fine Ionic screen', in which Adams-Acton is quoted as saying that 'only the upper portion of the facade had been re-designed by Mr. Beresford Pite and the whole of the screen that matters, namely, the piers, columns and the three arches were entirely original and the work of Samuel Ware'. The 4-page prospectus, handsomely printed on art paper, carries four illustrations. It is accompanied by a compliment slip carrying a signed autograph note to Menzies reading 'I am hoping that with your influence I am going to sell quite a few hundred copies of my book!!'. …