LONDON.- Next week Spink will sell a fascinating array of documents and correspondence pertaining to Sir Herbert Kitchener, including a highly important and long A.L.S. from Government House, Suakin to Sir Evelyn Baring (consul-general in Egypt). This letter was written in response to a statement made by Lord Salisbury who stated that “Egypt was only justified in holding Suakin to prevent the slave trade” and gives other important reasons such as not allowing Osman Digna the opportunity to gain support from the surrounding tribes and preventing the Mahdist forces the freedom of the coastline to bring in arms and ammunition, He includes the following paragraph, “At the recent official visit I paid to the Vali of the Hedjaz at Jeddah H.G. was most anxious on this subject & since my return here has telegraphed to me for copies of the Mahdist letters sent to the sheikes of the Hedjaz, which I am about to send him”.

This letter was written shortly after the Battle of Handub, where he was shot in the jaw and is signed “H H Kitchener”. Lot 914, estimated: £1,000 – 1,200

In July 1885 Kitchener became Governor of the Egyptian Provinces of Eastern Sudan and Red Sea Littoral (which in practice consisted of little more than the Port of Suakin). He led his forces in action against the followers of the Mahdi at Handub in January 1888, when he was injured in the jaw.

There is also an array of 1909-15 letters, mostly to the Reverend Samuel Couling who was a missionary in Ching Chou fu in Shantung Province in China. All of these letters are A.L.S. unless otherwise stated.

Outside of the Army, Kitchener’s passion was for Chinese works of art and porcelain. Rev. Couling negotiated the best prices for Lord Kitchener, in return he would be sent autographs and swords for the reverend’s collection. Lot 925, estimated: £3,500 – 4,000

The sale will take place on the 11th July and the catalogue with hi-res images are available on the Spink website.