A letter about Gertrude Bell’s involvement with the Anti-Suffrage movement, from Lady Jersey to Lady Bell written April 1927. Lady Jersey was president of the female of the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League. The letter replies to a request for Lady Jersey’s memories on this topic by Lady Bell, who was editing and publishing Gertrude Bell’s writings. The letter begins “As regards the Anti-Suff in which Gertrude took such inspiring care, I fear nothing beyond memory remains”. After detailing those memories Lady Jersey writes “The last thing I clearly remember about Gertrude in this connection is that she and I as representatives attended a joint meeting of men & women at Lord Curzon’s House...I hear a rumour that she had ceased to be anti–Suffrage—but I never discussed it with her again.” [Lord Curzon was then President of the National League for Opposing Women’s Suffrage.]

The letter was found tucked in Black Manhattan, and we believe it to be Lady Bell’s copy, as the book hadn’t been disturbed or opened when acquired, and it would have been of her interest. Black Manhattan by James Weldon Johnson is a groundbreaking social history of Black people in New York City. The book, which is collectible on its own, is beautifully designed and in very good condition as is the jacket.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. Laid in is a previously undocumented letter. The Gertrude Bell archive at Newcastle University holds related Item 17 in Miscellaneous: “Copy of notes by Lady Jersey about GB's involvement in the women's anti-suffrage movement.” Very good in very good dust jacket.