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Auction: 17020 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 925

Autographs
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
1909-15 a collection of letters, mostly to the Reverend Samuel Couling who was a missionary in Ching Chou fu in Shantung Province in China. All of these letters are A.L.S. Outside of the Army, Kitchener's passion was for Chinese works of art and porcelain. Rev. Couling negotiated the best prices for Lord Kitchener, in return he would be sent autographs and swords for the reverend's collection.


The first letter, to Mr Clemwell, talks about various artifacts and mentions Mr Couling, it is signed "Kitchener". The remaining letters, all with their original envelopes. 1907 (27 July) he thanks Rev. Couling for packing some objects ready for shipment and indicates others in which he has an interest. Here he states, "... I much prefer to pay a high price for a really good article than a low one for a moderate of second rate merely decorative piece", it is signed "Kitchener" and is with an initialled postscript. 1907 (25 September) the first boxes had arrived and that he has been through his letters for some interesting autographs, signed "Kitchener". 1907 (23 December) he kindly indicates that the porcelain obtained is not very good and has an autograph of de Wet which he had just received, signed "Kitchener".

1909 (26 March) A.L.S. from Capt. Fitzgerald, C. in C's Camp, India, with a message from Lord Kitchener and returning a vase which "... is not quite what we hoped". (6 July) A.L.S. from Capt. Lerrmouth in Simla and states that Lord Kitchener is looking forward to meeting the reverend in Shanghai in October. (4 September) A.L.S. from Capt. Fitzgerald where he asks, "... chief says leave the cloisonné vase in Japan as he will be there in November". (4 October) hand delivered A.L.S. from Capt. Fitzgerald at Pendrey asking if he could bring his pieces over later in the evening. (6 October) hand delivered letter from Capt. Fitzgerald, the envelope marked "with one sword" and with Chinese delivery notation, enclosing a cheque and details of the Persian Blade which was sent.

1911 (19 July) A.L.S. from Capt. Fitzgerald from Polegate in Sussex where he writes, "I am sorry that you did not see the china. It was all on view or a long time at the South Kensington Museum ... is now all packed up and stored away ,,. and will not be opened for years, owing to Lord Kitchener's departure for Egypt".

1914 (10 February) A.L.S. from the British Agency in Cairo requesting to purchase a lacquer screen and asking for other pieces of Chinese work and adds, "I wish I could pay another visit to China - In the meantime I have my hands very full of work here.". Signed "Kitchener". The envelope is marked "via Siberia" and bears the Russian Post Office, Shanghai datestamp on reverse. (15 March) A.L.S. lamenting the loss of the screen and asking him to look out for incised lacquer as "... it is much better than the flat kind" and is signed "Kitchener"

1915 (28 July) A.L.S. from York House, St. James's asking if the four missing panels of the screen had been found, "... I had it done up and it looks well but would be much improved if it was complete", this letter concludes, "... As you can imagine I am hard at work with no time to spare but I sometimes like to think of my Chinese hobbies. All is going well, the Germans are not succeeding & will lose the campaign when all is ready for them. Yours sincerely, Kitchener".


A fascinating group which gives a good insight into Kitchener's acquisitions for his collection and the time he was able to devote to it. Photo

At the conclusion of his time in India Kitchener was promoted to the highest Army rank, Field Marshal, on 10 September 1909 and went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. He stopped in China and Japan en route

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