Illuminated Presentation & Photograph albums. Presented to Ex-Ald.J.H.Hammond.K.C. By the Citizens of Ashfield. July 1926.

Collection of items relating to Ashfield, comprising two superb albums presented to Alderman John Harold Hammond, Ashfield Mayor 1915 to 1917, as well as ephemeral items.

John Harold Hammond (1875-1932) was the son of Mark John Hammond who also served as Mayor of Ashfield between 1882 and 1884. Hammond was called to the New South Wales Bar in 1898 and appointed a QC in 1926. He was appointed Chairman of the Royal Commission on Wireless in 1927, was an alderman of Ashfield Municipal Council for seventeen years and Mayor twice (1915-1917 and 1923).

1. Leather bound photographic album, with gold tooling to cover, of the Ashfield Council main streets and parks. Presented to Ex-Alderman Mr J.H.Hammond.

2. A superb folding illuminated presentation, comprising of three panels dedicated to the outgoing Mayor of Ashfield, Mr John H.Hammond dated, 17 November 1917. Folio, bound in dark brown full Morocco, with gilt lettering and embossing to inside panels, with watercolour illumination on the inside front cover by John Sands Ltd.

• First panel:      A full page illuminated dedication in goauche and watercolour with insets of the townhall at lower left and Australian flowers at lower right, set within a silk border.

• Centre panel:  A full page dedication from the “Committee’.

• Right panel:    A full page list of signatures made up of five columns, at top larger signatures include John Yeo, H.Stephens, Hunter McPherson, Will Donnelly, G.Watson, F.S.Heighway, F.H.G.Hargreaves, E.V.Robson.

Offered with the following ephemeral items;

• 1. Original invitation

• 2. Program 4pp., last page and inside back cover, with a further 16 signatures in pencil including: Clarke, Brookes, Rogers, Rose, McDonald, Spence. Donnelly, Brain.
• 3. Ald. Hammond’s dance card?

• 4. Letter from F.H.G.Hargreaves inviting Ald. Hammond to “a little function in the Town Hall.“