A CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE FAMOUS FALCONER "CHAS" KNIGHT AND THE AMERICAN LECTURE MANAGER JAMES "BIM" POND CONSISTING OF SEVERAL LETTERS TOGETHER WITH ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS & PUBLICITY BROCHURES ADVERTISING HIS LECTURES. by Knight, Captain Charles "Chas" William Robert (1884-1957). Naturalist and falconer who was known for his lecture tours with his famous Golden Eagle, Mr. Ramshaw - [1930].

[1920 through 1956]. Circa [1930].. [1930].. Good. - This small archive and correspondence begins with a retained copy of a typed letter from the American lecture manager James "Bim" Pond to his British colleague Gerald Christy of the Gerald Christy Lecture Agency dated May 4th, 1920 admiring Captain Knight's circulars and requesting that Christy send him "fifty or a hundred" of his booklets as he believes he can secure bookings for Captain "Chas" Knight as soon as October. The retained copy of a second letter to Christy, this one dated August 20th, 1920, is in response to Christy's telegram requesting Pond let him know the "fixed" dates for Knight's lectures. The brief telegram is included. Pond replies that he has not yet set dates since it is hard to do so without "proper advertising equipment". He goes on "I must also confess that I have really little heart for working on these unknown English lecturers when you are so little willing to return the effort and put a little energy on a man such as Vachel Lindsay...." In an Autograph Letter Signed by "Chas" Knight, dated January 25, 1926 and penned on a 6-1/2 inch high by 5 inch wide sheet of creamy white paper with an attached blank leaf, the naturalist & falconer invites Pond to come and hear him lecture in New York. Signed "Chas. R. Knight". By September 24, 1928, Pond has signed a contract with Franklin Fisher of the National Geographic Society for a lecture by Knight. The partially printed document on a 10-7/8 inch high by 8-1/4 inch wide sheet is signed by Pond and Fisher. Franklin Fisher was Director of Illustrations at the National Geographic Magazine. A retained copy of a typed letter by Pond, dated February 4, 1931, addressed to Captain Knight hints at a misunderstanding which has resulted in a rift between the two men. "I have always been terribly sorry that we misunderstood each other...." Apparently Knight had gone on to engage the services of one of Pond's competitors as Pond continues "I have said nothing to you of leaving Miss Smith and returning to me as I have not wanted to do anything to hinder her. However, from what I hear your business is not coming along as it should and I am wondering if you would like to come back. If so, the door is wide open...." On October 11th, 1932, Knight writes an exceedingly friendly typed letter to Pond. In this two-and-a-quarter page letter, Knight informs Pond that he'll be over again in January and "will take the liberty of coming to look you up." He writes of his passion "We've had a great Falconry Season, the best show we've had. My Falcons killed just on 60 Crows and Rooks, and my Gos 114 head of game since the middle of August." He playfully closes by saying that "Ramshaw is in the pink, like wise deep in the moult. He sends his love to his Uncle Bim, and to the charming ladies of the staff...." Signed "Chas". In a 3-page Autograph Letter, dated February 22, 1933 on three sheets of 9-1/2 inch high by 6 inch wide Northern Hotel (Billings, Montana) stationery, Knight writes of his "new film" which he is to show at the Harvard Club in New York City in March and hopes that Pond can be there: "I think I can promise you some refreshment". He closes with news of his eagle Mister Ramshaw "The bloody old Eagle is still going strong. Did ya hear how he 'foiled burglars' at William Huff's house??" Signed "Chas". In a friendly, though sad typed letter signed on 9-1/2 inch high by 7-3/4 inch wide light blue air mail paper, dated January 6th, 1956, Knight informs Pond that "So far I have not had any nibbles regarding a return tour." Apparently he'd had a falling out with a promoter named "Mac" and goes on to say "The few dates Mac had obtained for this season have had to be abandoned - as you say there is no telling what he may spread about me. I think the true situation is fairly well known...." He closes with "I feel much depressed, Bim. I wonder what the future has in store for me!" Signed "Chas". Shortly thereafter, on July 3rd, 1956, in a typed letter signed Knight writes "I am really one of the unemployed - except for a few dates I got in the early part of the year and for a T.V. program in which Ramshaw and I appeared...". He then more cheerfully goes on to quote some positive reviews and excerpts. Signed "Chas." Pond has typed annotations in red ink at the top and middle of the letter "Note: I wrote Chas a long amusing (I hope) and cheery letter. Glad he recalled I am alive. Too bad I cant' get over to England, etc. BUT...." <p>Together with 10 original sienna-toned candid photographs, each measuring 3-14 inches high by 4-3/8 inches wide, housed with the original negatives in the photo processor's printed photo envelope. Several of the images depict Captain Knight with his majestic eagle, Mr. Ramshaw, while others depict Ramshaw in flight or landing upon a perch or branch. A few especially stand out as capturing the relationship between Captain Knight and his eagle.<p>The collection also includes 6 brochures advertising lectures by Captain Knight. Each brochure measures approximately 11 inches high by 8- 3/4 inches wide. Among these are a 6-page brochure on "Capt. C.W.R. Knight's latest achievement 'African Adventure' The Story of a 14,000 mile journey to film a bird!" This brochure for a lecture under the agency of Gerald Christy circa 1920, is lacking the cover sheet and its last sheet is detached. Another, a 2-page brochure for a 1938 lecture promoted by William B. Feakins is titled "Capt. Knight's latest and best lecture: 'Monarchs of the Air'". A 2-page 1938 brochure for a lecture promoted by Wiliam B. Feakins, Inc., is titled "'The Leopard of the Air' A Pictorial Record of the National Geographic Society South African Expedition (1937- 38)". A four-page brochure for a 1934 lecture under the agency of William B. Feakins is titled "Monarchs of the African Veldt". Another, this one for a 1936 lecture promoted by Feakins is titled "Two Enthralling Motion Picture Lectures by the Incomparable Capt. C.W.R. Knight: 'Monarchs of the African Veldt' - 'Wild Life in Old World England'". And a slightly smaller 4-page brochure for a 1940 lecture promoted by Feakins is illustrated with a photograph of Knight's famous Martial Eagle "Mr. Ramshaw" on the front cover. This brochure is titled "'The Most Entertaining Man on the Platform' Capt. C.W.R. Knight with two thrilling motion pictures and lectures 'Comedians of the Tree-Tops' (Rare Adventures with Eagles) and 'The Leopart of the Air'". All of these brochures are illustrated. All are folded and several have some minor creasing and occasional tears along the edges of the folds.<p>In addition, there are 2 copies of Pond's flyers for Knight's lecture "Wild Life in the Tree Tops" and an 8-page issue of "The Stoll Herald" for 1927 promoting forthcoming attractions and including a two-page illustrated centerfold for Knight's film: "For Three Days Only. Exclusive to this Theatre, The Filming of The Golden Eagle By Captain C.W.R. Knight".<p>Charles William Robert Knight (1884-1957) served as a sniper with the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment during the First World War, all the while observing wildlife. He even wrote an article "Wildlife in the Trenches" while serving on the front. Working for a tobacconist, he developed a living selling photographs and articles on birds. He soon went on to give lectures on the subject and, in 1924, gave a display of falconry at Wembley Stadium. An authority on falconry, he became best known however for his work with eagles. His 1927 film of eyries in Scotland "The Filming of the Golden Eagle" garnered him recognition. His lectures and appearances gained even more appeal when he developed a relationship with "Mr. Ramshaw", an eagle he discovered in the London Zoo, and with whom he toured the country and Europe. Setting off on a lecture tour to America during the Battle of Britain in 1940, his ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. Forced to abandon ship leaving Mr. Ramshaw in the cargo hold, the despondent Knight was delighted to hear that, not only had the ship not sunk, but was rescued and towed to shore by a British destroyer. The two, inseparable by now, were reunited. In 1955, Mr. Ramshaw, had a cameo role in the film "Geordie" starring Bill Travers and Alistair Sim. Though Mr. Ramshaw was listed in the credits, his trainer Charles Knight was not.