October 12th Rare Autograph & Document Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/12/2023
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth signed 1891 1971 Visitors Book. From Howard & Bullough, Textile Manufacturers of Accrington, Lancashire. A large original visitors book used at their works in Accrington, starting in 1891 (the first entry being members of the Bullough family), the last in 1971. In all, well over 10, 000 signatures contained on the 300 pages which have entries. Just over half of the book has been used, the remainder being blank. Among the more famous signatures are King George VI and Queen Elizabeth [later styled the Queen Mother] during a visit to the factory on March 8th 1945. There are also signatures of their party including Cynthia Spencer [Lady Diana Spencer's grandmother] and Peter Townsend. The factory was used during the second world war for armament and aircraft production, and there are a number of signatures from a visit by the Ministry of Aircraft Production on August 4th 1944 including Sir Safford Cripps, Sir John Buchanan and A. M. R. Topham. During the wartime period there are various signatures of army, navy and R. A. F. personnel scattered throughout, one notable signature being that of Bruce Grimston D. F. C. on May 16th 1941 he would later be killed in action in July 1944. Throughout the book there are numerous visits by foreign delegations and organisations two Russian members of these include Capt. Levkovitch from the Russian Inspector of Artillery in Petrograd (during 1915) and later, Nikolai Patolichev. Other signatures include William Burdett Coutts M. P., one of the first in the book. What strikes you looking through is the variety of countries the visitors came from particularly so from Russia, India, Brazil, Far East and Scandinavia. The book has been heavily water stained, with some pages loose, torn or bearing old repairs. The photographs should hopefully show the varying degrees of this. Bound in the original black Morocco, though the hinges are broken and some joints split. Overall size approx. 270x430x77mm. Due to the weight, only available for sale in the United Kingdom. Howard & Bullough were a firm of textile machine manufacturers in Accrington, Lancashire, and in the 1860's led the world in supplying power looms. The firm was founded by John Bullough in 1851, after he had perfected a self-acting temple on his handloom. They originally concentrated on looms, but eventually expanded to manufacture the complete range of machinery used in cotton mills. At its peak, the Glebe works dominated the town, employing almost 6000 workers and covered an area of 52 acres. Seventy five per cent of the company's production was exported. Book was taken apart, repaired and rebound in Nov 2015 by John Richardson of Leamington Spa for £200. Good condition.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth signed 1891 1971 Visitors Book.
Click above for larger image.