* Nigeria. A small album with photographs, letters and cuttings, seemingly compiled by Frank Wilson, Her Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul at Fernando Poo [now called Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], West Africa, c. 1860s, the album largely blank but including 2 cut autographs of King Eyo Honesty III [died 1861], one dated 8 May 1961 and pasted at the foot of a manuscript declaration of allegiance to Queen Victoria, written in an unidentified hand on blue paper and tipped in to album, one page, oblong 8vo, the undated cut signature pasted to a pencil note, possibly in the king's hand, hoping to see Captain McKinon(?) and Mr Wilson and asking to 'please bring me some dry tea and sugar', the remaining album containing 3 pasted in cyanotype river views, one showing a small islet with habitation, 11.5 x 15.5 cm and one slightly smaller, plus 3 pressed flowers, 8 pages of printed cuttings and 3 narrow sheets of manuscript geography lessons, one further small cyanotype of a house now completely faded, contemporary roan, worn, 8vo, the rest of the material loosely inserted including a group of 4 further cyanotypes, including 2 small ones of pressed flowers (one torn and faded), one a portrait of a western man in jacket and tie, 13 x 9 cm, and one mounted village scene with posing inhabitants, 11 x 15.5 cm, the mount verso with pencil inscription, 'Owned by Frank Wilson, Consul at Fernando Po, c. 1870-80', 3 amateur pencil sketches of African figures, 9 x 5.5 cm, and a series of 7 letters to Frank Wilson, all from 1869Qty: (approx. 15)NOTESThe letters contained in the lot are in chronological order: 1) George Pepple [Perekule VII, (1849-1888), ruler of the Kingdom of Bonny], autograph letter signed, 'Geo Pepple Rex', Bonny Town, 18 January 1869, concerning a desire to delay a meeting with tribal chiefs, 2 pages with partial remains of integral blank; 2) George Pepple, autograph letter signed, 'Geo Pepple Rex', Bonny Town, 19 January 1869, agreeing that they will attend the meeting at the specified time, one page, 8vo; 3) King Ashbong II [a.k.a. Eyo Asibong II of Akwa Akpa, ruled 1859-1872], letter signed, Duke Town, Old Calabar, 1 February 1869, sending his compliments, one page, 8vo; 4) King Archibong II, letter signed, Duke Town, Old Calabar, 2 February 1869, saying that he will be glad to see Wilson tomorrow, one page, 8vo; 5) King Archibong II, letter signed, Duke Town, Old Calabar, 2 February 1869, concerning protocols of signals of ships with cargo, one page, 8vo; 6) King Eyo Honesty VI, autograph letter signed, Creek Town, 4 February 1869, concerning a promise and hoping to keep the peace of the river, one page, 8vo; 7) Charles Livingstone (1821-1873, brother of David Livingstone), autograph letter signed, Hadleigh House, Highbury New Park, London, 9 March 1869, with general news about his circumstances and the possibility of returning to Fernando Po, collecting payment from the Foreign Office for Wilson, etc., 4 pages, old browning from dampstaining, with original postmarked envelope (dampstained).
