Family archive of banker, athlete and artist Johan Hendrik Pootjes (1882-1944)
Archive consisting of a notebook with manuscript (and several mounted, printed) aphorisms and quotes, 2 passports of Pootjes (1923 and 1928), identity cards of his wife Antje Pootjes-Beenen (1899-1999, she was a widow for 55 years), dozens of photos, distributie stamkaarten, pocketbook of the army in the Dutch East Indies, a signature book with printed inscription "Makassar 1910 - 23 november 1912", a typed, illustrated farewell poem with 6 signatures, a share (Batavia 1915), printed music scores with dedications in pen, a certificate of Het Tienjaren Teeken of the N.S.B. (12 December 1943), and several books bound in batiked cloth from the possessions of Pootjes.
The extremely versatile, affluent and generous Johan Hendrik Pootjes was vice-president of the Nederlandsch Oost-Indische Escompto Maatschappij, one of the three largest banks in the Dutch East Indies. He was also an excellent athlete who had won many awards in various disciplines, such as nine-pin bowling (Kegelclub de Gladiatoren in Surabay), running and swimming (Zwemvereniging "Het Y"). Pootjes also stood out as a painter and drawing artist. This lot includes: (1) The signature book from Makassar, 1910- 23 November 1912, with 34 signatures (bound in silk, worn); (2) The N.S.B. certificate; (3) A share in the Naamloze vennootschap "Volkshuisvesting te Soerabaja" for 1000 Dutch guilders (with affixed renewal certificate and proof of registration); (4) The book with quotes and aphorisms with the nature of the compiler clearly shining through: "Voor mij is sport niet af te scheiden van de begrippen riddelijkheid, fierheid en eerlijkheid". "Vrouwen zeggen niet wat ze denken en bedenken niet wat ze zeggen." "Zwemmen: O 't heerlijke bibberende onderplonzen in 't koele alle zorgen doodende water!". "Wij zoeken het geluk - het ongeluk zoekt ons." "God could not be everywhere, so He made mothers."; (5-6) Music scores with (farewell) dedications, by the Canadian composer James Willing, Medan, 1918 and a piece signed by Béla Ruha and two of his musicians.