Edwardian Scrap Album containing numerous watercolours and signatures

WITH THE SIGNATURE OF EMMELINE PANKHURST, ON 'VOTES FOR WOMEN' NOTEHEAD PAPER

[WOMEN’S INTEREST]; Miss SIMKIN 

Edwardian Scrap Album containing numerous watercolours and signatures

[Devon], c. 1909

8vo, limp tan calf, all edges gilt, pale yellow paste-downs; containing approximately [pp. lxxxvi] pages of handwritten poems, as well as pen-and-ink, watercolour and crayon illustrations, some incredibly skillful, as well as pencil sketches, and autographs (some flat, others tipped-in); some mottling, spotting and light stains throughout, mostly affecting the outer margins; a couple of pages removed; beginning to crack at internal hinges; inside front cover with some darkening, tearing and repair to the hinge; a very good survival. 

A fascinating compendium of drawings, paintings, autographs and other ephemeral items, seemingly compiled by a Miss Simkin between the years of 1904 and 1914. Among some of the more interesting contributions are; 

• A skillful watercolour painting of two greenfinches on a branch, signed ‘F. G. Adlard’ 

• An autograph of the English actor and stage manager Lewis Waller 

• A self portrait cartoon and signature of the English comedian and singer George Robey

• The calling card of Field Marshal Lord Roberts VC, signed ‘Roberts’ and dated 25th May 1910 (Roberts was one of the foremost British military commanders of the Victorian period, and resided at Englemere House, Ascot until his death in 1914)

• A note from Agnes Elizabeth Weston, responding to a request for a signature, on ‘Royal Sailors’ Rest, Devonport’ headed paper (Weston was a popular and well-liked philanthropist who established the ‘Sailor’s Rest’ in Devonport as a temperance house for sailors who were attempting to abstain from drinking. Upon her death, she became the first woman to be given a full ceremonial Royal Navy funeral). 

• The clipped signature of E. Pankhurst, on ‘Votes for Women’ / The National Women’s Social & Political Union letterhead paper. Pankhurst requires no introduction, being the suffragette and activist who was instrumental in helping women gain the right to vote in 1918.

• The clipped signature of English actress Ada Reeve ‘Yours very truly’. 

• Autograph note signed ‘F B Mildmay’, with House of Commons embossed stamp. Mildmay was MP for Totnes from 1885-1922, and later became the 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete. 

• A typed note on Buckingham Palace headed paper, dated 1906, declining Miss Simkin’s request for a signature. 

A very interesting collection of ephemeral material, including the Pankhurst signature which, even on its own, is scarce in commerce.