⇚ Position 32 - 1942-00-00 Transaction Summary ⇛
Purchase Date:
1942-00-00
How Purchased:
Gift
Where Purchased:
Auction No.:
Lot No.:
Sound/Fault:
Sound
Catalogue Value:
4,500
Realized:
0
Seller:
Buyer:
Description
Mrs FitzGerald originally offered the Collection to the British Museum in a letter dated 5th February 1942:
"I am venturing to write and ask you whether the British Museum would care for the donation of a very valuable Air-Mail Collection. It is a 'pioneer’ collection, composed of the earliest curiosities, stamps, letters, etc., and has, as far as possible, avoided the inclusion of the popular items generally found in the collections exhibited and sold. This Collection has never been exhibited, and publicity has not been sought for it, but it is not unknown among aerophilatelists. In these uncertain times one is anxious to preserve collections of value in what safety may be possible and I realize that were mine to be in my possession at the time of my death, it would be liable to dispersion, or sale, or loss, and its value as a whole would be completely lost. If this offer is of any interest to the-Philatelic Department of the British Museum, I should be very glad to hear from you. If of no interest, I must apologise for troubling you in the matter."
"I am venturing to write and ask you whether the British Museum would care for the donation of a very valuable Air-Mail Collection. It is a 'pioneer’ collection, composed of the earliest curiosities, stamps, letters, etc., and has, as far as possible, avoided the inclusion of the popular items generally found in the collections exhibited and sold. This Collection has never been exhibited, and publicity has not been sought for it, but it is not unknown among aerophilatelists. In these uncertain times one is anxious to preserve collections of value in what safety may be possible and I realize that were mine to be in my possession at the time of my death, it would be liable to dispersion, or sale, or loss, and its value as a whole would be completely lost. If this offer is of any interest to the-Philatelic Department of the British Museum, I should be very glad to hear from you. If of no interest, I must apologise for troubling you in the matter."