Dossier RAS COLL4/3/8 - Sale of the Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings of Malacca

Correspondence, newspaper cuttings and catalogues concerned with the sale of the Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings of Malacca. These had been donated to the Society by Lieut-Col. William Farquhar in 1827. They had been on permanent loan at the Natural History Museum but were in need of conservation. This the Society could not afford and the Natural History Museum were unable to help. The Society was also in need of funds and therefore a decision was made to sell the drawings. It was eventually sold to a private buyer who donated the drawings to the National Heritage Board of Singapore for display at the Singapore Art Museum. The correspondence covers the decision to sell, the controversy the decision caused, negotiations with the auctioneer, Sotheby's, correspondence with the descendants of Farquhar, with the solicitors, Woodroffes, and with other organisations. The press cuttings also highlight the controversial nature of the possible sale and the nature of the collection. The catalogues are produced by Sotheby's and the Preview catalogue for October 1993, the sales catalogue for "Topographical Paintings, Watercolours and Drawings" for 20 October 1993, and the specific sales catalogue for the Farquhar Collection. There are 177 items of correspondence including a copy of the original letter concerning the permanent loan of the material to the Natural History Museum (1935), 4 press cuttings two of which are photocopies, and 3 catalogues.

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