Henry Royce Autograph Letter with Drawings. Two pages, 8 x 9 1/2 inches, no place; no date. An unsigned letter in pen...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Auction Preview: Preview items may not have yet been properly described or vetted, and items are posted as soon as they have a description or a picture. We are continuing to add and correct information as we approach the auction posting date, so check back here often and Contact us with any comments or suggestions.
Consign your material to be auctioned alongside these items on Thursday, February 26, 2026 in Dallas, TX. Consignment Deadline for this auction is Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Track Item
Share this lot
Description
Henry Royce Autograph Letter with Drawings. Two pages, 8 x 9 1/2 inches, no place; no date. An unsigned letter in pencil addressed to "E. J.," in which Royce describes a design for a "Pump on Carb." In part:"I am not satisfied that we have got this simple enough to be practical...Imagine we could get it good enough for the purpose, which perhaps is not so exacting as we have been aiming for. Try (1) one single plunger...refills in say 5 sec & if throttle slowly opened no petrol is forced through delay valve...(2) no inlet valve....(3) one delivery valve. Spring loaded...(4) restriction on delivery to divide delivered petrol into two equal parts and limit delivery of charge to about 1 second." Royce provides two annotated sketches of his design, the latter of which is colored with red and blue pencil.
Henry Royce founded Rolls-Royce with Charles Rolls and Claude Johnson in 1904, unveiling their first four models at the Paris Salon in December of that year. In his factory, Royce was known to be an autocratic leader, preferring to be personally involved in the design and production of each vehicle component. In 1906, he famously destroyed multiple six-cylinder engine blocks for the Silver Ghost with a sledgehammer after one failed during testing.
Condition: Age-toned with a single smoothed fold at the center. Moderate wear, including chips and separations at the edges, reinforced with cello tape on the recto. Evidence of dampstaining from the left edge to the center. Staple holes at top left.
Auction Info
2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6328 (go to Auction Home page)
Bidding Begins Approx.
January
26th
Monday
Auction Dates
February
26th
Thursday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
36 Days
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 17
Auction Type
Signature®: Heritage Live®:After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature® Floor Sessions
Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
Signature®: Heritage Live®:After Internet bidding closes, live bidding will take place through www.HA.com/Live. Your secret maximum bid placed prior to the live event will compete against the live bids. To maximize your chances of winning, enter realistic secret maximum bids on our site. Many of our proxy bidders are successful at winning lots in these auctions, and usually below their secret maximum. You can also place last minute bids directly with us by e-mailing Bid@HA.com or calling 1-866-835-3243. (Important note: Due to software and Internet latency, live bids may not register in time, so enter realistic proxy bids.)
Signature® Floor Sessions
Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session. During the live auction event, bidding in person is encouraged, and Heritage Live includes streaming audio and often video during the event.
Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms