In our June 15th auction we have two very interesting autograph books (Lots 285 & 286). They were put together by Mr Glassop who was a senior official of the Newcastle City Council. Many dignitaries were shunted to Newcastle to view the amazing steel works and our intrepid autograph hunter was always there with book in hand.
Among the notables who signed this book are two future Kings of England. The two brothers Albert and Edward came to Australia in 1927 with Lord Mountbatten on the Renown. They performed official duties in the newly founded city of Canberra and subsequently visited Newcastle.
The brothers Albert and Edward, one of whom later abdicated and the other became the reluctant King, have signed their names. There are famous aviators here too in Jean Batten, Sir Charles Kinsford Smith and Sir Ross Smith. Sporting heroes Sir Donald Bradman and Jack Crawford (Crawford won 6 grand slams including the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles in 1933 and was runner up in the US in the same year). Also here is Walter Lindrum. So in this book are the signatures of the three top Australian sportsmen of the 1930s.
There are many other sportsmen, politicians and important people of the day. Click here to view the auction catalogue!
