TREASURES FOR MUSEUM

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7018, 18 September 1929, Page 7

TREASURES FOR MUSEUM

FAMOUS MANUSCRIPTS.

The famous 600-year-old. Luttrcil Psalter, whicih was to have been sold by auction at Sotheby’s on July 29, has been saved for the nation. The Psalter is one of the very few English illuminated manuscripts of absolutely first-class importance remaining in private hands. Instead of asking for bids, the auctioneer told a deeply interested crowd of dealers and members of the public that the book had been withdrawn from the sale, and had been disposed of privately to tho British Museum. “I am asked to announce,” ho added, '‘that a generous benefactor, who desires to be anonymous, has advanced the purchase money, without interest, to the Museum.” It was stated that the price, paid was 30,000 guineas. The psalteh, it was announced, had lately been inherited by Mrs. Alfred Noyes, wife of the famous poet. She was formerly the widow of Mr Richard Weld-Blundeil, of Ince Blundell Hall, and is a grand-daughter of the late Sir Erederdck Weld. Loud cheers which greeted the announcement that the Psalter had been saved, were repeated when, after Mr Quoritch had bought for .£33,000 the almost as famous Bedford Horae, the auctioneer stated that the buyer would hold the book at the disposal of the museum, to which he would be prepared to offer the book at a price not higher than he himself had paid. Mr. Quaritch is prepared to give the museum ample time in which to raise funds for the purpose. Both the famous kISS. had been ia the Weld family for generations. An official of the MSS. department of the British Museum told a Daily Chronicle representative that an appeal was to be issued to the public for contributions to meet the cost of both books. “We shall need roughly £63,000,” he said. “I think there is no doubt that we shall get enough to pay for the Psalter, but we hope very much also to get sufficient to acquire the Horae.”