Draft of a letter from Edward Burnett Tylor to Robert Hanley Hall, 11 June 1899

Draft of a letter sent from Oxford by Professor Edward Burnett Tylor to Robert Hanley Hall of the Hudson’s Bay Company in Victoria, dated 11 June 1899.

Transcript of letter (3 pages): ‘Dear Sir/ I am much obliged for your letter of May 18 [1899] with the extract from that of the [Hudson’s Bay] Company’s Agent at Port Simpson, as to the totem pole which he has been negotiating for.// Enclosed I send a photograph of Massett totem-poles where the 3rd from the right hand is that which was sent to England by Mr Buxton some years ago. I hope the one it is proposed to buy will be as good or better than this as to art, and that it will be like this one carved all the way up.// The next one (second from the right) with the great raven at the foot, must be a very fine pole. I have full confidence in your project & if you are satisfied with what you know of the proposed pole & recommend the purchase I shall be glad to complete it, or otherwise to follow your advice.’ (Transcription by Philip Grover.)