Hurd Sir Archibald 1869 1959 (6 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. RARE SIGNED COPY : dedication in ink to ffep Archibald Hurd - with two lines within inverted commas { see image } - I can't quite make it out fully! Sound clean copy, covers bright, secure and clean pages, some foxing to ffep only; in a near complete dust jacket, with some chipping and short tears, now internally reinforced. An important account of the often forgotten heroics of the Merchant Navy during the Second World War, ensuring supplies got through. This is particularly relevant following the hidden enemy - the German Submarine. 160 p. : ill. ; 20 cm. Includes bibliographical references. Note about the Author: Hurd was author of the official 'History of the Merchant Navy in the War of 1914-19' (under the auspices of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence), and of numerous other works on naval matters. He contributed numerous naval and other articles to the Fortnightly Review, Nineteenth Century, and other English and American publications. He was on the editorial staff of the Daily Telegraph from 1899 to 1928, and was Joint Editor of Brassey's Naval and Shipping Annual, 1922-28. Signed by Author(s).

Hard back binding in publisher's original blue cloth covers, black title and author lettering to the spine, Hutchinson to the front cover. 8vo. 7½'' x 5¼''. Contains 112 printed pages of text with 41 monochrome photographs throughout. Damp stain to the front board, not affecting the contents. Good condition book in Good condition dust wrapper with small chips to the corners and spine ends, not price clipped, 3/6. SIGNED dedication by General Sir John Winthrop Hackett inside the front cover 'To Barbara James, From Commander Hackett, With many thanks for all the little kindnesses rendered, 22nd November 1943'. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection, it does not adhere to the book or to the dust wrapper. Member of the P.B.F.A. ROYAL NAVY (RN).

All five items are 12mo, 1 p, and in good condition, with the text entirely legible, but with slight discoloration to the extremities and to the blank second leaves of four of the letters. Letter One (17 May 1898): Concerns a letter by Sir William White, regarding which Knowles has not written as 'it seemed to me there was nothing to write about - & I am compelled to write so many letters!' Knowles 'did not at all think that Sir W. White intended any disparaging reflection in your competence by saying that you were not a man "technically trained in naval architecture" '. He is glad that Hurd is now 'convinced to the same effect'. Letter Two (28 Feb. 1900): He will 'give immediate & favourable consideration to the article' suggested by Hurd, 'if type written', 'the sooner the better in view of the great crush of contributions bearing on the War & our Defences against all that it may lead to'. Letter Three (9 March 1900): Knowles has read Hurd's article on 'belated War Ships', and finds it 'rather too full of detail to be suitable for theh General Public to which my Review goes'. It is, he feels, 'more fitted for a service journal'. Letter Four (22 March 1900): Hurd has sent back the article on 'Belated British War Ships', but the changes he has made do not change Knowles's view 'that the article is not quite what I should wish at this juncture'. Letter Five (2 October 1901): He would have written sooner, but has only just returned 'from my Seven Weeks' "exile" - in the shape of an autumn holiday'. He will gladly accept Hurd's article on 'Naval fashions' for publication in November, 'But pardon me if I ask you not to be publishing any articles in our own name in any November periodicals - It is in an author's interest as well as an Editor's not to make himself too frequent - as some men seem unable to prevent making themselves'. Hurd was editor of the Naval and Military Record, 1896-1899, was with the Daily Telegraph, 1899-1928, and was joint editor of Brassey's Naval Shipping Annual, 1921-1928.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written in pencil. A long and interesting complaint, casting an interesting light on the journalistic practices of the period. Hurd begins without preamble, pointing out, with reference to a previous letter, that he 'never promised 35000 words', and stating that the publisher 'would doubtless be able to put in a few extra illustrations to fill it out'. Regarding a proposed 'libel clause' he states that 'it may be & is in fact only a matter of form but as Mr required no such undertaking when I agreed verbally to write the articles he trusting me as I trusted him & I cannot see any way now to sign any such undertaking'. He points out that he has never had such a request made to him, despite having 'had business with a large number of the principal publishers & have written for various publications of your for years'. He concludes with the complaint: 'It seems to me that you are asking me to bind myself very severely down for a matter off £15'. Hurd was author of the official 'History of the Merchant Navy in the War of 1914-19' (under the auspices of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence), and of numerous other works on naval matters. He contributed numerous naval and other articles to the Fortnightly Review, Nineteenth Century, and other English and American publications. He was on the editorial staff of the Daily Telegraph from 1899 to 1928, and was Joint Editor of Brassey's Naval and Shipping Annual, 1922-28. His brother Sir Percy Angier Hurd (1864-1950) was also a journalist, and a Conservative MP for more than thirty years. His great-nephew is the former Tory cabinet minister Douglas Hurd.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the blank second leaf carrying some traces of pink paper mount. Written a couple of months before Haldane's acceptance of a peerage, so that he could become leader of the Liberals in the House of Lords, and in response to Hurd's essay 'The New Policy of Imperial and Home Defence', published in the January 1911 number of 'The Nineteenth Century and After'. The present item begins: 'Dear Mr Hurd, / It was only at the end of the week that I got hold of the "Nineteenth Century" for January. I have read your admirable article & need not say that I entirely agree with it. It is a most friendly and useful contribution to the Controversy. / Yours truly / R B Haldane / P. S. A new edition of the little book is coming out containing a paper written by Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson on the navy view of Invasion.' The 'little book' is Sir Ian Hamilton's 'Compulsory Service', the second edition of which contained 'notes on the Admiralty view of the risk of invasion' by Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson (1842-1921), who was half-way through his disastrous two-year tenure of the position of First Sea Lord. In his memoirs Haldane paints a devastating picture of Wilson's behaviour at the CID meeting over the Agadir Crisis.

4to, 2 pp, 25 lines. Good, on slightly discoloured and grubby paper. Watts takes issue with 'The statement of British Shipbuilding Programmes since 1889' which Hurd has forwarded. 'It was found more convenient to draw up the table again', and Watts is sending 'the result of the investigations which have been made' (table not present). He is in 'complete agreement' with the 'statements under the headings of Battleships, Armoured Cruisers and 1st. class Cruisers', but 'Under the headings of 2nd. and 3rd. class Cruisers, Destroyers, Torpedo Boats & Submarines the figures required a good deal of correction.' Watts presumes a statement by Hurd refers to '18 Torpedo gunboats of the Sharpshooter class built under the Naval Defence Act'. He questions the accuracy of Hurd's title 'because the actual Programmes included certain ships which were never built; whereas the figures given include ships only which were actually built.' Hurd, who was with the Telegraph between 1899 and 1928, had been editor of the Naval and Military Record between 1896 and 1899, and would be joint editor of Brassey's Naval Shipping Annual between 1921 and 1928.