Black Friday: Suffragette demonstration

Women's Suffrage: Henry Noel Brailsford

Autograph Letter signed from Henry Noel Brailsford to his mother on Conciliation Committee For Woman Suffrage headed paper. Brailsford was a journalist, political activist and husband of the militant suffragette Jane Brailsford. He was also Secretary and founding member of the Conciliation Committee For Woman Suffrage. The Committee was an all-party group of MPs formed chaired by Lord Lytton, to draft moderate bills granting limited votes to some propertied women, aiming for a compromise that would satisfy both moderate suffragists and anti-suffragists. Three such "Conciliation Bills" were introduced (1910, 1911, 1912) but failed, partly due to government opposition and fears among some MPs that enfranchising women would hurt their parties, with militant suffragettes also rejecting the limited scope. The letter dated 17 December 1910 refers to the event subsequently called "Black Friday" on 18 November 1910 when 300 women marched on Parliament and many were arrested and allegedly sexualy assaulted by the Police and male bystanders. In the letter Brailsford tells his mother "The evidence is simply sickening. The police were worse than usual. They indulged in many instances in the foulest sort of indecent assault". Brailsford was one of the key figures in instigating a public inquiry into Black Friday and he talks of this possibility. A public inquiry was rejected by Winston Churchil and as a result Brailsford collected 135 statements from demonstrators, nearly all of which described acts of violence against the women; 29 of the statements also included details of violence that included indecency. The memorandum they published summarised their findings:The action of which the most frequent complaint is made is variously described as twisting round, pinching, screwing, nipping, or wringing the breast. This was often done in the most public way so as to inflict the utmost humiliation. Not only was it an offence against decency; it caused in many cases intense pain ... The language used by some of the police while performing this action proves that it was consciously sensual. In the letter Brailsford mentions his efforts to arrange for women canvassers in the constituencies of Lloyd George and Churchill and his wife's campaigning in Torquay against an anti - suffragist Liberal MP. a

Autograph signed letter to Eric Gill's daughter Petra

JONES, David

Autograph signed letter; 4to; addressed Northwick Lodge, Harrow-on-the-Hill. Christmas 1948 to Petra Tegetmeier, the daughter of Eric Gill, written on the reverse of a calligraphic print by Jones 'Gloria in Excelsis'. Pera Gill and Jones was engaged for several years and Jones who made some beautiful paintings of her, but she married Denis Tegetmeier, letterer, engraver and cartoonist, in 1930. An affectionate letter of seasons greetings to Petra and Denis. He mentions that this copy of 'Gloria in Excelsis' is the only one he has as all the others were lost in an accident. He is very dismissive of the stained glass of Joseph Edward (Eddie) Nuttgens which fills the church he frequents.....' A pity: but one is not at all bad.... plain glass would be so much nicer'. Although he also states 'of course one might say that of a lot of my watercolours, plain paper would be be much nicer!' Signed much love David. Fine a few creases and marks.