Collectibles or Cultural Heritage?

Jim McDougall · 14th August 2025, 04:29 AM

Nick Evangelista in "Encyclopedia of the Sword", p.84,
On Sir Richard Burton:
"...he thought there was nothing finer in the world than the sword and the pursuit of knowledge concerning its history and use".

I recall many years ago, after some time searching, I discovered that his actual notes were at the Huntington in California, and I was able to gain an invitation to visit and view these.

When I went there I was overwhelmed as I was guided into a private room by guards, and with white gloves, I beheld the box of notes that turned out to be the manuscript pages of "The Book of the Sword" (1884).
This book was the Genesis of my lifetime of study following his exact course, and I could not believe it as I handled the yellowed pages, with penciled lines of printed words in the tiniest lettering!
Many of the line drawings of the book were pinned to the pages with straight pins.

The corpus of these sheaves of papers and notes were in incredible disarray, and I thought of my own boxes of notes, index cards, articles piled in the same sort of chaos and smiled.

14th August 2025, 04:29 AM	#17
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,571	Sir Richard Francis Burton Nick Evangelista in "Encyclopedia of the Sword", p.84, On Sir Richard Burton: "...he thought there was nothing finer in the world than the sword and the pursuit of knowledge concerning its history and use". I recall many years ago, after some time searching, I discovered that his actual notes were at the Huntington in California, and I was able to gain an invitation to visit and view these. When I went there I was overwhelmed as I was guided into a private room by guards, and with white gloves, I beheld the box of notes that turned out to be the manuscript pages of "The Book of the Sword" (1884). This book was the Genesis of my lifetime of study following his exact course, and I could not believe it as I handled the yellowed pages, with penciled lines of printed words in the tiniest lettering! Many of the line drawings of the book were pinned to the pages with straight pins. The corpus of these sheaves of papers and notes were in incredible disarray, and I thought of my own boxes of notes, index cards, articles piled in the same sort of chaos and smiled. Attached Images