MAY (SIR FRANCIS HENRY), GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, AND FIJI Six family photo albums relating to Sir...

MAY (SIR FRANCIS HENRY), GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, AND FIJISix family photo albums relating to Sir Francis H. May (1860-1922), mostly relating to his service in Hong Kong, including views of the city and environs, Colonial and family gatherings, approximately 800 mostly gelatin silver photographs (with several albumen Cabinet portraits including May as Captain Superintendent of Police, HK in 1899, and Colonial Secretary of HK in 1902), mostly private photographs, mounted between 4 and 8 per pages, mostly captioned in ink, one octavo nineteenth century morocco (defective), the others contemporary cloth or boards, oblong 4to, c.1902-1918Footnotes:An extensive photographic record of the official and family life of Sir Francis Henry 'Hal' May (1860-1822) during his service in Hong Kong, mostly relating to the period when he served as Colonial Secretary (1902-1911), then Governor of Hong Kong (1912-1918), and between 1911 and 1912 as Governor of Fiji. Born and educated in Dublin, May was appointed a Hong Kong cadetship in 1881, from which time he served in Hong Kong, married Helena Barker (daughter of HK Acting Administrator Major-General Digby-Barker) and raised four daughters, before his retirement to Clare Priory, Suffolk in 1918.Approximately 60 images, and 2 hand-drawn ink maps (Viti Levu; and Pacific showing the route of a month long circular voyage undertaken from Savu in Fiji, through the Solomon Islands). Some images depict May's departure from Hong Kong, his wife carried in a sedan chair to City Hall. On their return to HK in 1912 an assassin attempted to shoot May, but the bullet lodged in Mrs. May's sedan chair, voyage via Macao (images includes series of cable repairs, ruin of St. Paul's Church, junks), Government House at Suva, 'native ceremony presenting Yagona' and 'a 'Make' - or native dance' and other welcoming ceremonies, Makluva Island, and Levuka. The majority of images show views and family trips throughout Hong Kong, including visits to Shekko [Shek O], Chek Kang [Chek Keng], Fan Ling (including the Golf course), Taipo, Stonecutters Island [Ngong Shuen Chau], Cheung Chow [Chau], and family life at Mountain Lodge, the Governor's summer residence on Victoria Peak. Activities include a tiger hunt, golfing, birthday parties (Alice in Wonderland theme), picnics on the islands, and theatricals, including a performance of Eden Philpott's 'The Angel in the House' (March 1916), the set of which includes some remarkably modern-symbolist paintings. Some images depict family trips to Britain, Japan and Canada.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com