London – Historically important documents relating to the history of Tibet from the archive of Sir Basil Gould, the former British Political Officer in Sikkim, have been donated by the family to the people of Tibet. This follows the auction of the Sir Basil Gould Collection at Bonhams on 5 June in London.
The formal handover – by the Gould Family, represented by the granddaughters of the late Sir Basil Gould, to Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration – took place on 23 June 2025 at the Office of Tibet in London. This handover was held in the presence of Her Excellency Mrs Tsering Yangkey (Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama), CTA staff, representatives of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) and Bonhams Group Head, Fine Art (UK), Giles Peppiatt.
The letters will be displayed at the Tibet Museum in Dharamsala.
Tsering Yangkey, UK Representative of the Office of Tibet, commented: “On behalf of the Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM), I wish to extend our profound and heartfelt thanks for the Gould family’s extraordinary generosity, understanding, and vital support concerning the two historic documents formerly scheduled for public auction. Their gracious decision not only to withdraw these important items following our heartfelt appeals, but to go even further by gifting them to the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, is an act of immense goodwill. It stands as a powerful gesture of solidarity with the Tibetan people and a profound recognition of our shared historical ties.”
Frances Cutler & Lorraine Bondarenko, granddaughters of Sir Basil Gould, said: “It is an honour on our part to connect with the Tibet Museum and to be able to donate, on behalf of our family and Sir Basil Gould, these important historic documents to you and the Tibetan people.”
Giles Peppiatt Bonhams Group Head, Fine Art (UK), added: “The Gould Collection was one of the most extraordinary and profoundly important historical sales I have ever been involved with, and I am delighted that the family decided to donate particularly rare and historically significant documents to Tibet, where they will be able to be viewed at the Tibet museum and preserved for future generations.”
Sir Basil Gould played a pivotal role in the enthronement of the 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa on 22 February 1940, representing British interests at the historic event. Arriving in Lhasa as the commander of the British Mission, Gould observed the solemn and elaborate ceremony within the Norbulingka Palace. He recorded the moment when the young Dalai Lama, clad in golden robes and a ceremonial yellow hat, was lifted onto the throne amidst the sound of long Tibetan horns and the rhythmic chanting of monks. Gould later described the child as possessing an extraordinary presence beyond his years, with an air of wisdom and serenity that left a lasting impression on all who attended.
Bonhams describes itself as a global network of auction houses, boasting the largest number of international salerooms and offering the widest range of collecting categories, selling at all price points. Recognised for its bespoke service and a steadfast dedication to nurturing local market relationships—enhanced by a powerful global platform—Bonhams operates 14 salerooms and presents over 1,000 sales annually across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine and spirits, and collector cars. Established in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in over 30 countries and runs flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong; moreover, in 2022, it expanded its international reach by adding four distinguished auction houses to its network: Bukowskis in Stockholm, Bruun Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris and Brussels, and Skinner in Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy stems from recognising the shift towards growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement. For more information and highlights, please click HERE, and to view a full list of forthcoming auctions and details of Bonhams’ specialist departments, visit bonhams.com.
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